Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"AN ARTICLE OF HEADWEAR"
M ELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an article of headwear. More
particularly, the article of headwear of the present
invention is intended for use in protecting a wearer from
exposure to the elements, for example sun, wind and rain.
QISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
Typically, articles of headwear such as caps and hats have a
crown portion within which a wearer's head :may be received
and a peak or brim. The peak or brim is intended to shield
the wearer from the sun although its effectiveness is
dependent upon the width or length of the peak or brim and
the angle thereof with respect to the position of the sun.
For example, if a wearer is bending forward for a period the
typical brim provided about the circumference of a hat will
not protect the wearer's neck if the sun is positioned
overhead. Further, little protection is provided against
wind and rain by the typical peak or brim arrangement.
$RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention
there is provided an article of headwear characterised by a
substantially forwardly projecting peaks or visor, an
adjustable head engaging band and a length or sheet of
material, the head engaging band being attached or
attachable to the peak or visor at or near a rear edge
thereof, the length or sheet of material being attached or
attachable to the peak or visor and extending rearwardly
thereof, whereby the peak or visor may be positioned on a
wearer's head such that the material covers the wearer's
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head and hangs therefrom about the shoulders and neck of the wearer, wherein
the head engaging band is positioned about a rear of the wearer's head such
that
the peak or visor is held in position thereon, the material having provided
thereon
one or more fastening means whereby the material may be adjusted or arranged
to protect the wearer's neck andlor face, the fastening means being arranged
on
the material such that the material may be drawn to a number of positions in
front
of the wearers neck and/or head andlor face and the material fastened together
releasably in a number of arrangements as desired by the wearer.
Preferably, the length or sheet of material is of sufficient length to reach
the
shoulders of the wearer and to cover their neck. It is further preferable that
the
material be of such dimensions that either side thereof may be drawn around
the
neck and/or face of the wearer and releasably fastened in such a position to
protect same.
Still preferably, a number of releasable attachment means are provided at
various
points on the length of material.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a top view of an article of headwear in accordance with the
present invention;
Figure 2 is an upper perspective view of a wearer placing the headwear of
Figure 1 on his head;
Figure 3 is a rear view of the headwear of Figure 1 on the wearer's head
showing the head engaging band at the rear of the head and the partial
width of the length of material;
Figure 4 is a front view of the headwear of Figure 1 in position on the
wearer's head;
AMENDED SHEET
IPEAJAU
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Figure 5 is a rear view of the headwear of Figure 1 on which a fastening
means is provided allowing the length of material to be held in a partially
raised position;
Figure 6 is a front view of the headwear of Figure 5 having the partially
raised length of material;
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a4MENDED SHEET
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Figures 7 to 22 inclusive show a variety of
configurations of the length of material possible with
various arrangements of releasable attachment means
that are provided thereon; and
Figure 23 is a front view of the headwear of Figure 1
having an insect screen provided thereon to protect the
face of the wearer.
pESCRIPTION
In Figures 1 to 22 there is shown an article of headwear 10
comprising a peak or visor 12, an adjustable head engaging
band 14 and a length or sheet of material 16.
The visor 12 is formed in a substantially crescent shape
describing a hollow 18 in a rear edge and two side or
lateral points 20 projecting rearwardly. The head engaging
band 14 being attached to the visor 12 in a manner such that
at least a portion thereof extends between the points 20, as
is best seen in Figure 1.
The length of material 16 is fixed to an upper surface of
the visor 12 towards the rear edge thereof. Such fixing may
be by way of stitching although th~a should not in any way
be considered to narrow the~scope of the present invention.
The length of material 16 wis gathered or pleated on the
visor 12, as is best seen in Figures 1 and 2. The-length of
material 16 gathered and fixed to the visor 12 covers the
head engaging band 14 also attached to the visor 12.
The material 16 hangs from the visor 12 and has a
substantially lowermost edge 22 and sides 24 when in
P position on a head 26 of a wearer, as is shown in Figure 2.
Typically, the sides 24 of the material hang at the sides of
the wearer's face 28. The lowermost edge 22 hangs adjacent
the shoulders 29 of the wearer and below the neckline, as is
best seen in Figure 4.
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A plurality of releasable fastening means 30 are provided at
various points on the material 16, as is shown in Figures l,
4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 19. The variable placement
of the fastening means 30 allows a variety of arrangements
of the material 16 to be adopted.
The portion of the band 14 extending between the points 20
has provided therein a releasable and adjustable join 32, as
can be seen in Figure 3. The join 32 allows the continuity
of the band 14 to be broken and reattached to adjust the
length of the band 14 to suit the head 26 of the wearer.
The band 14 has provided thereon both components of a hook
and loop type fastener, for example that sold under the
trade name "Velcro". The plurality of releasable fastening
means 30 are also formed of either component of such a hook
and loop type fastener.
In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown the headwear 10 to which
an elongate fastening means, for example a strip 34 is added
at each side 24 of the material 16. The strips 34 may be
held to the band 14 by way of insertion behind a flap 36 of
fastening material provided on the band. Such an
arrangement holds the sides 24 of the material 16 away from
the face 28 of the wearer, as is seen in Figure 6.
In Figures 7 and 8 is shown an arrangement of releasable
fasteners 30 on the material 16 allowing protection of the
wearer's neck in that the sides 24 join under the wearer's
chin.
In Figures 9 and 10 there is shown an arrangement whereby
the sides 24 of the material 16 overlap and cover most of
the face 28 of the wearer other than the eyes. The
overlapping of the sides 24 requires that fastening means 30
be provided at points spaced apart from the sides 24 and the
edge 22.
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In Figures 11 to 13 there is shown an arrangement whereby
the provision of only four fastening means 30 about the
sides 24 and edges 22 of the material allows an overlapping
arrangement linking the sides under the chin of the wearer.
In such an arrangement, a fastening means 30 is provided at
the junction of each side 24 and edge 22 and at .a point
spaced apart therefrom adjacent the edge 22.
In Figures 14 and 15 there is shown an arrangement of
fastening means 30 in combination with the strip 34 of
Figure 5 whereby the majority of the, face 28 may be covered.
Such an arrangement is facilitated by the shaping of the
material 16 at its sides 24, in particular the provision of
point 38 therealong. Further, fastening means 30 are
provided at points 38 on the sides 24, at the edges 22 and
at the junction of the sides 24 and.edges 22.
In Figures 16 to 17 there is , shown a further arrangement
whereby the sides 24 are fastened under the chin of the
wearer leaving the face 28 exposed but in which the side of
the head and the neck are protected. The visor 12 may be
pulled backward off the head 26 so that the headwear 10
hangs from the neck of the wearer, as is shown in Figure 18.
In Figures 19 and 20 are ~~shown an arrangement of the
material 16 whereby the Sides 24 thereof are rolled up (as
indicated by arrows X) and joined to each other behind the
head 26 of the wearer.
Two further possible arrangements of the material 16 are
shown in. Figures 21 and 22. Figure 23 shows the article of
headwear 10 to which has been attached an insect screen 40
to shield the face 28 of the wearer.
In use, the wearer wishing to fit the article of headwear 10
to his head 26 will grip the article of he.adwear 10 by the
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visor 12 and will position same such that the wearer's
forehead is received within the hollow 18 in the rear edge
of the visor 12. The material 16 is draped over the crown
of the wearer's head 26 and hangs therefrom about the
wearer's neck and shoulders 29, as can be seen in Figure 2.
The wearer may at this point adjust the head engaging band
14 about the rear of their head 26 such that the material 16
is held there against and in effect forming a crown for the
article of headwear 10, as is clearly seen in Figures 3 to
6.
It is possible that the length of the head engaging band 14
may be adjusted by the wearer before the article of headwear
is placed on the wearer's head 26.
The wearer may subsequently adjust the article of headwear
10 through manipulation of the material 16 to protect in
addition the wearer's face 28 and/or neck, as can be seen
with reference to Figures 5 to 22.
If the wearer wishes to be protected from insects then he
may choose to attach an insect screen 40 to the article of
headwear 10, as is shown in Figure 23. The insect screen 40
thereby shields the face 28 of the wearer.
It is envisaged that the material 16 be a flexible or
pliable light weight material, for example a material woven
from the fibre marketed under the trade mark "Lycra". For
applications in the wet the material should be water
resistant or water proof. It is also envisaged that one or
more pockets may be provided on the material 16 to
facilitate the carrying of small objects therein. The
material 16 also need not necessarily be gathered on the
upper surface of the visor 12 but may simply be fixed
releasably or otherwise thereto.
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It is still further envisaged that forms of adjustable
fastening means other than "Velcro" may be used; including
press studs, buttons and hooks and eyes. Further, the
strips 34 and the flap 36 may be replaced by press studs,
buttons or hooks and eyes. Still further, the visor 12 may
be provided in a form other than a crescent if so desired.
The article of headwear of the present invention provides
protection against the elements such as sun, wind and rain.
Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to
the skilled addressee upon a reading of the specification
are considered to fall within the scope of the present
invention.
