COOLING BANDANNA APPARATUS

Abstract

A cooling head gear for wear on the head of a human user in temperatures higher than comfortable for a user comprising a drape section and a port section. The drape section and the port section collectively engage the head of the user with the port section disposed proximate to the back of the head of the user. The port section is selectively opened or closed, and the port section includes at least one hook fastener and at least one eye fastener to permit selectively opening or closure of the port section. The drape section may include at least one pocket to accommodate insertion of ice particles to enhance cooling for the user.

Claims

1. A garment which comprises: a cooling head gear for wear on the head of a human user in temperatures higher than comfortable for a user comprising: a. a drape section and b. a port section; said drape section and said port section collectively engaging the head of the user with the port section disposed proximate to the back of the head of the user; said port section being selectively opened or closed, said port section including at least one hook fastener and at least one eye fastener to achieve closure of said port section; said drape section including at least one pocket to accommodate insertion of ice particles to enhance cooling for the user.

2. The garment as described in claim 1 wherein: a flat pattern view of said drape section is symmetrical about a virtual line bisecting said flat pattern view thereof.

3. The garment as described in claim 2 wherein said flat pattern view of said drape section is elongated.

4. The garment as described in claim 2 wherein said flat pattern view of said drape section has axial extremities.

5. The garment as described in claim 4 wherein said axial extremities are wider than any part thereof proximate to said virtual line bisecting said flat pattern view.

6. The garment as described in claim 1 wherein a flat pattern view of said port section is symmetrical about a virtual line bisecting said flat pattern view thereof.

7. The garment as described in claim 6 wherein said flat pattern view of the port section has an arcuate side bisected by the virtual line.

8. The garment as described in claim 1 wherein said flat pattern view of the port section has two rectilinear edges extending from the virtual bisecting line.

9. The garment as described in claim 8 wherein said two edges have an obtuse included angle between them.

10. The garment as described in claim 1 further including an envelope dimensioned and configured for insertion into said pocket.

11. The garment as described in claim 1 further including a waterproof envelope dimensioned and configured for insertion into said pocket.

12. The garment as described in claim 1 further including a porous envelope dimensioned and configured for insertion into said pocket.

13. The garment as described in claim 1 further including an perforated envelope dimensioned and configured for insertion into said pocket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of practice, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which

[0018] FIG. 1 is a front view of the headgear in accordance one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of the headgear illustrated in FIG. 1 in which the dotted line represents a seam joining two discrete fabric sections identified respectively by the reference numerals 10 and 40. For the purpose of description the two discrete fabric sections are referred to herein as a drape section 10 and a port section 40. A seam 50 connects the drape section 10 and the port section as shown in FIG. 2.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a flat pattern view of the drape section 10 (It will be understood that the term flat pattern view is more commonly used to provide, for example, a two-dimensional view of a sheet metal part or blank preceding, for example, a stamping operation that produces one or more folds in the blank.)

[0021] FIG. 4 is a flat pattern view of the port section 40.

[0022] FIG. 5 is another side view illustrating additional aspects of some embodiments of the present invention. More particularly, a pocket 62 for ice particles is shown. It will be understood that the pocket 62 is representative of a pocket 62 on each side of the neck of the user because FIG. 5 is representative of garment that has two identical opposed sides. In a like manner, the fasteners 42, 44 are representative additional fasteners 42, 44 on the opposed side of the garment illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a rear view of an embodiment of the present invention being worn by a woman having a ponytail hair style extending through the section 40.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention being worn by a woman having a ponytail hair style extending through the section 40.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a envelope 45 having a slide fastener 58. The envelope 45 is dimensioned and configured for insertion into a pocket 62 in the portion of the headgear identified by reference numeral 40. In some embodiments of the present invention the envelope is imperforate and waterproof whereby when ice positioned within the envelope melts, that cool water will be contained within the envelope until a user consciously releases the water from the envelope. Some embodiments include a sealed envelope 45 dimensioned to engage, for example, a pocket 62 disposed on one side or both left and right sides of the user's neck. Use or non-use of the plastic waterproof envelopes with or without a sealing slider are a matter of personal preference. The embodiments that are sealed contain a substance that is liquid at room temperature and which will be a solid if precooled in a conventional freezer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Embodiments of the present invention are fabricated from a cloth that substantially impedes ultraviolet light transmission. In addition, the material is selected to hold moisture. This moisture is important to cooling the head of the person wearing the garment. Accordingly, it is desired that even when the wearer is working the garment will not dry out.

[0027] The headgear, in one embodiment, is fabricated from two pieces of cloth. For the purposes of description those two pieces of cloth are described herein as a drape section 10 and a port section 40 depicted in flat pattern views respectively in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0028] Attention is directed to the garment industry term Flat Pattern Cutting. The term flat pattern cutting is used because (although clothes are for bodies in three dimensions) the patterns are cut on a flat surface in two dimensions, where virtually all the lines you create are either at right angles (to resemble the grain of the fabric) or curved to fit the curves of the body.

[0029] The flat pattern views for the drape section 10 and the port section 40 are provided in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Each of the flat pattern views in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is symmetrical about a virtual line bisecting each flat pattern view. More particularly, the flat pattern view of the drape section 10 in FIG. 4 is elongated with first and second axial extremities that wider than the central part thereof proximate to the virtual bisecting line. The flat pattern view of the port section 40 has an arcuate side bisected by the virtual line. The flat pattern view of the port section also includes two rectilinear edges extending from the virtual bisecting line. Those two edges have an obtuse included angle between them.

[0030] The port section 40 is structured to be selectively folded and secured to a closed mode by hook fasteners 42, and eye fasteners 44 or unfolded so that bare skin or skin covered with hair is exposed to ambient air. Velcro or other hook fasteners 42 and loop fasteners 44 are utilized in some embodiments to secure parts of the apparatus. Other embodiments, utilize an envelope that is porous whereby liquid water, resulting from the melting of ice, is absorbed by the clothing to facilitate cooling.

[0031] This construction enables the user to optimize the utilization for the current ambient condition. For example, the unfolded structure allows ambient air access at the option of the user.

[0032] Some embodiments of the invention include pockets 62 on each side of the user's head as shown in FIG. 5. The pockets 62 are dimensioned and configured for insertion of ice particles to further enhance the cooling benefit of the headgear in accordance with the present invention. Still other embodiments utilize envelopes 56 that are sealed with a substance, such as water, that is liquid at room temperature and solid at lower temperatures. Such embodiments avoid any discharge of liquid onto the body of the user.

[0033] Some embodiments may include advertising displays. For example, advertising may be disposed over the user's temples or the back of the garment. Multiple other possible spaces will allow additional advertising space.

[0034] The depending drape section 40 protects the neck of the user from sunlight and sun burn. The depending drape section 40 will in some embodiments cover part of the sides of the user's neck to protect the user's neck from sunlight.

[0035] Accordingly, it will be seen that the drape section 10 and the port section 40 collectively grip the top of the user's head and provide a drape proximate to the sides and rear of the user's face and neck.

[0036] The material chosen to construct the apparatus is preferably somewhat elastic to ensure the garment will stay in place when worn. In addition, elasticity ensures a good fit for different head sizes.

[0037] Unlike known headgear apparatus the present apparatus enables the user to choose between the option of allowing open air flow or closed to prevent air flow. As shown in the figures the garment can be worn under a hard hat or without a hard hat.

[0038] All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0039] Although the description above contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one unless explicitly so stated, but rather one or more. All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase means for.