Inflatable headgear comprising a wind instrument

Abstract

A headgear includes a head portion at least partly surrounding a head, an inflatable portion having an inflatable volume, a mouthpiece, at least one wind instrument, and an air tube defining a flow connection between the mouthpiece and the inflatable volume. A sound is producible by the at least one wind instrument in answer to air blown into the mouthpiece.

Claims

1. A headgear comprising: a head portion configured to at least partly surround a head; an inflatable portion having an inflatable volume; a mouthpiece; at least one wind instrument; and an air tube defining a flow connection between the mouthpiece and the inflatable volume, and wherein a sound is producible by the at least one wind instrument in answer to air blown into the mouthpiece, and wherein the at least one wind instrument is in fluid communication with the inflatable portion at an exit opening thereof.

2. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein walls defining the inflatable portion and/or the head portion are flexible, more particular wherein the walls defining the inflatable portion and/or the head portion are made of a sheet-like textile and/or a sheet-like non-textile.

3. The headgear according to claim 2, including at least one flexible shield having a flexibility less than that of the walls defining an outer side of the head portion, wherein the at least one flexible shield is arranged at a forehead area of the head portion.

4. The headgear according to claim 3, wherein the inflatable portion has plurality of elongated inflatable protrusions, and wherein the headgear, in an inflated state thereof, has a crown shape including a plurality of spikes which are defined by the plurality of elongated inflatable protrusions, and wherein the at least one wind instrument is mounted at a free end of at least one spike of the plurality of spikes, preferably at each spike.

5. The headgear according to claim 4, wherein a central chamber defining a portion of the inflatable volume is provided, the plurality of spikes emanating from the central chamber.

6. The headgear according to claim 2, wherein the inflatable portion has at least one elongated inflatable protrusion coupled to the head portion, and wherein the at least one elongated inflatable protrusion, in a non-inflated state, hangs down from the head portion and, in an inflated state, erects.

7. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein the air tube and the mouthpiece are made out of a non-transparent material.

8. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein the head portion further comprises a mount to adapt a circumference of the head portion to a head circumference of a user, and wherein the mount is one of a snapback fastener, a hook-and-loop fastener, a mounting strap, and a retaining clip.

9. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wind instrument comprises a plurality of wind instruments, and wherein sound is producible simultaneously by the plurality of wind instruments.

10. The headgear according to claim 9, wherein a number of the plurality of wind instruments is within a range of 1 to 10.

11. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable volume is between 100 and 3000 milliliter.

12. A headgear comprising: a head portion configured to at least partly surround a head; an inflatable portion having an inflatable volume, and wherein the inflatable portion has at least one elongated inflatable protrusion coupled to the head portion, and wherein the at least one elongated inflatable protrusion, in a non-inflated state, hangs down from the head portion and, in an inflated state, erects; a mouthpiece; at least one wind instrument; an air tube defining a flow connection between the mouthpiece and the inflatable volume, and wherein a sound is producible by the at least one wind instrument in answer to air blown into the mouthpiece, and wherein walls defining the inflatable portion and/or the head portion are flexible, more particular wherein the walls defining the inflatable portion and/or the head portion are made of a sheet-like textile and/or a sheet-like non-textile; and wherein the at least one wind instrument is arranged at a free end of the at least one elongated inflatable protrusion and is in fluid communication with the inflatable volume so that sound is produced in an at least partly inflated state of the at least one elongated inflatable protrusion.

13. The headgear according to claim 12, wherein flow resistance of the at least one wind instrument is adapted to the flexibility of the wall defining the at least one elongated inflatable protrusion so that the at least one elongated inflatable protrusion is to be inflated before sound is generated by the at least one wind instrument, preferably before air emerges via the at least one wind instrument.

14. A headgear comprising: a head portion configured to at least partly surround a head; an inflatable portion having an inflatable volume; a mouthpiece; at least one wind instrument; and an air tube defining a flow connection between the mouthpiece and the inflatable volume, and wherein a sound is producible by the at least one wind instrument in answer to air blown into the mouthpiece, wherein the headgear further comprises a flexible deflecting element, wherein the flexible deflecting element is provided at an end of the air tube and prevents liquid in the air tube from entering the inflatable volume.

15. The headgear according to claim 14, wherein walls defining the inflatable portion and/or the head portion are flexible, more particular wherein the walls defining the inflatable portion and/or the head portion are made of a sheet-like textile and/or a sheet-like non-textile.

16. The headgear according to claim 15, including at least one flexible shield having a flexibility less than that of the walls defining an outer side of the head portion, wherein the at least one flexible shield is arranged at a forehead area of the head portion.

17. The headgear according to claim 15, wherein the inflatable portion has at least one elongated inflatable protrusion coupled to the head portion, and wherein the at least one elongated inflatable protrusion, in a non-inflated state, hangs down from the head portion and, in an inflated state, erects.

18. The headgear according to claim 14, wherein the air tube and the mouthpiece are made out of a non-transparent material.

19. The headgear according to claim 14, wherein the head portion further comprises a mount to adapt a circumference of the head portion to a head circumference of a user, and wherein the mount is one of a snapback fastener, a hook-and-loop fastener, a mounting strap, and a retaining clip.

20. The headgear according to claim 14, wherein the at least one wind instrument comprises a plurality of wind instruments, and wherein sound is producible simultaneously by the plurality of wind instruments.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Further aspects and characteristics of the invention will ensue from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

(2) FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of the headgear attached to the head of a user,

(3) FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective exploded view of the headgear,

(4) FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective exploded view of the headgear from the back side,

(5) FIG. 4 is another simplified perspective exploded view of the headgear from the back side, and

(6) FIG. 5 is a simplified perspective view of the headgear from the back side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of the headgear 1 attached to the head of a user 2. The headgear 1 substantially has the shape of a crown 3 including several protrusions 4. The protrusions 4 substantially reflect the shape of spikes of the crown 3. The portion of the headgear 1 attached to the forehead region of the user 2 substantially reflects the circlet of the crown 3.

(8) The headgear 1 comprises a head portion 5 which is attached to the forehead, to the sides of the head above the ears, and to the back of the head where the head portion comprises a mount. The headgear 1 further comprises an inflatable portion 6. The inflatable portion 6 has an inflatable volume. The head portion 5 is partly given by the inflatable portion 6. The inflatable portion 6 further comprises several protrusions 4, i.e. spikes.

(9) The combined portion of the head portion 5 and the inflatable portion 6 forms a central chamber. The central chamber substantially reflects the circlet of the crown-shaped headgear 1.

(10) The shape of the headgear 1 is substantially rendered possible by the flexibility of the material of the head portion 5 and the inflatable portion 6. The head portion 5 and the inflatable portion 6 are substantially made out of a flexible material. More particularly, head portion 5 and the inflatable portion 6 are substantially made out of a sheet-like composite textile, except specific parts of these portions.

(11) The headgear 1 further comprises an air tube 7, a mouthpiece 8, and wind instruments 9. The air tube 7 provides a flow connection between the mouthpiece 8 and the inflatable volume of the inflatable portion 6.

(12) The material of the walls defining the inflatable portion 6 and/or the head portion 5 of the headgear 1 (except the air tube 7, the mouthpiece 8, and the wind instruments 9) may be a sheet-like textile or a sheet-like non-textile. In particular, the material may be a composite textile, such as R-Tex fabric, for example.

(13) According to this embodiment, the materials of the walls defining the inflatable portion 6 and the head portion 5, the air tube 7, and the mouthpiece 8 are non-transparent materials. This ensures that the interior space of the inflatable portion 6 and the head portion 5, the air tube 7, and the mouthpiece 8 is not visible from the outside. If, for example, saliva enters the interior space of the air tube 7 via the mouthpiece 8, it is not visible from the outside of the air tube 7. However, the materials of the walls defining the inflatable portion 6 and the head portion 5, the air tube 7, and/or the mouthpiece 8 may also be transparent.

(14) The protrusions 4, i.e. the spikes, have a specific length between the central chamber and the free end 10, wherein the free end 10 substantially has the shape of a tapering according to the typical shape of a spike of a crown 3. The length of a protrusion (spike) 4 according to this embodiment is substantially equal to 217 mm.

(15) According to this embodiment, the headgear 1 comprises seven protrusions (spikes) 4. Two of these protrusions (spikes) 4, hang down on the left side of the user's 2 head, two lie loose on the user's 2 head from the forehead towards the back of the head, and three hang down on the right side of the user's 2 head. The headgear 1 is configured such that the middle protrusions (spikes) 4 of the headgear 1 are prevented from hanging down in front of the user's 2 face. This advantageously ensures that the view of the user 2 is not interfered by the headgear 1.

(16) Wind instruments 9 are attached at the free ends 10 of the protrusions (spikes) 4. The wind instruments 9 are in fluid communication with the inflatable portion 6 at an exit opening 12 thereof. The wind instruments 9 may be horns, party horns, whistles, or other instruments configured to create a sound in response to an airflow.

(17) The air tube 7 has a length of approximately 350 mm. The mouthpiece 8 is attached to the first end of the air tube 7. The second end of the air tube 7 is attached to the inflatable portion 6 of the headgear 1. The mouthpiece 8 can easily be taken into the mouth by the user 2.

(18) If the user 2 blows air into the mouthpiece 8, the airflow is applied to the inflatable portion 6 via the air tube 7. In answer to the airflow, the inflatable portion 6 inflates, the protrusions (spikes) 4 erect, and only after the protrusions (spikes) 4 are erected, a sound is generated by the wind instruments 9. This feature is substantially ensured by positioning the wind instruments at the free ends 10 of the protrusions (spikes) 4 and by a predetermined flow resistance of the wind instruments 9. The flow resistance of the wind instruments 9 is adapted to the flexibility of the outer walls defining the protrusion (spike) 4 such that an erection of the protrusion (spike) 4 is a prerequisite for a generation of a sound of the wind instrument 9 of the protrusion (spike) 4.

(19) FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective exploded view of the headgear 1 with erected protrusions (spikes) 4. There is a first layer 15 and a second layer 16 of the head portion 5 and the inflatable portion 6 which are separated by a distance according to the exploded view. This embodiment shows seven protrusions (spikes) 4 and seven wind instruments 9 positioned at the free ends 10 of the protrusions (spikes) 4 accordingly.

(20) The inflatable portion 6 of the headgear 1 (except the air tube 7, the mouthpiece 8, and the wind instruments 9) is determined by the two layers 15, 16 of a sheet-like material. These are cut according to the shape of the headgear 1 and connected to each other at their outer perimeters 17, 17′, whereas the connection is skipped for specific sections of the outer perimeters 17, 17′ so as to provide possibilities for attaching the air tube 7 and the wind instruments 9. The technique used for connecting both layers 15, 16 may be any appropriate technique, such as stitching, fusing, bonding, pressing, etc. The sheet-like material may also comprise only a single layer, whereas the single layer may be mirror symmetric.

(21) FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective exploded view of the headgear 1 from the back side. A bottom portion 20 of the sheet-like material can be seen which is turned around except for the section 21 where the air tube 7 is attached. In this way, the bottom portion 20 creates a partial slit 22. The head portion 5 further comprises a flexible shield 23, a mount 24, 25, and a headband 26.

(22) In the depicted embodiment, the mount 24, 25 is a two-piece snapback device 24, 25.

(23) The flexible shield 23 is made of felt material. The shape of the flexible shield 23 substantially reflects the lower portion of the crown 3, i.e. the circlet of the crown 3.

(24) The two-piece snapback device 24, 25 is configured to provide a possibility to attach the headgear 1 to a user's 2 head.

(25) The headband 26 is configured to absorb the user's 2 perspiration. The headband 26 advantageously has an appropriate absorptive capacity in order to absorb the user's 2 perspiration. In the present embodiment, the headband is made of cotton. The headband can also be made of a synthetic fiber.

(26) FIG. 4 is another simplified perspective exploded view of the headgear 1 from the back side. The flexible shield 23 is inserted into the partial slit 22 which is generated by turning around the bottom portion 20 of the sheet-like material. The flexible shield 23 stabilizes especially the lower portion of the sheet-like material, i.e. the circlet of the crown 3. The flexible shield has a smaller flexibility than the walls defining the outer side of the head portion 5. The shield is configured to force a desired shape of the adjacent portion of the inflatable portion 6, if the inflatable portion 6 is non-inflated. In other words, the flexible shield 23 is configured such that the middle protrusions (spikes) 4 of the crown 3 do not hang down in front of the face of the user 2, but instead fall down towards the back of the head if no airflow is provided to the inflatable portion 6.

(27) FIG. 5 is a simplified perspective view of the headgear 1 from the back side. The two-piece snapback device is attached to the side end portions of the sheet-like material. The headband 26 is attached to the lower portion of the sheet-like material.

(28) The headband 26 has a substantially rectangular shape, whereas the side ends are turned around to provide a two layer headband 30 in these regions, which provides increased material thickness in these regions. The sheet-like material, the shield 23, the two-piece snapback device 24, 25, and the headband 26 are mounted to each other by stitching 32. Alternatively, a different appropriate technique such as fusing may be used. At the side ends, a twin seam 31 is applied in order to improve the stability of the connection at these portions since these connections have to withstand a tensile force transferred from the mount, i.e. the snapback device 24, 25, if the headgear 1 is attached to a user's 2 head.

(29) Furthermore, the snapback device 24, 25 provides adjustability of the headgear 1 with respect to the head circumference of a user 2. A pin of the first part 24 of the snapback device 24, 25 can be applied to different recesses 32 of the second part 25 of the snapback device 24, 25 which results in different effective circumferences of the head portion 5 of the headgear 1. The effective circumference of the headgear 1 can be suitable for a head circumference of equal to or larger than 520 mm and equal to or less than 630 mm.

(30) Although the invention has been described hereinabove with reference to specific embodiments, it is not limited to these embodiments, and further alternatives will occur to the skilled person that lie within the scope of the invention as claimed.