PROTECTIVE CAP

Abstract

A protective cap for protecting a brain within a head from concussions and brain injuries commonly associated with sports or assault is provided. The protective cap comprises a cap having an outer surface and an inner surface. The cap is constructed from an aramid material and conforms to the shape of the head and snugly fits the head. The cap provides a lightweight, comfortably fitting, safe, effective, and discreet means of protecting the head from impact.

Claims

1. A protective cap for protecting a brain within a head from concussions and brain injuries commonly associated with sports or assault, the protective cap comprising: a cap having an outer surface and an inner surface; wherein the cap is constructed from an aramid material; wherein the cap conforms to the shape of the head and snugly fits the head; and wherein the cap provides a lightweight, comfortably fitting, safe, effective, and discreet means of protecting the head from impact.

2. The protective cap of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the cap is smooth.

3. The protective cap of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the cap is padded with a padding material.

4. The protective cap of claim 3 wherein the padding material is positioned in injury strategic positions about the cap.

5. The protective cap of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the cap is layered in a fleece material.

6. The protective cap of claim 5 wherein the fleece material is mounted to a liner, the liner secured to the inner surface of the cap.

7. The protective cap of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the cap has a slip resistant material.

8. The protective cap of claim 7 wherein the slip resistant material is a plurality of resilient bumps.

9. The protective cap of claim 7 wherein the slip resistant material is applied to a liner, the liner secured to the inner surface of the cap.

10. The protective cap of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the cap has a fleece material and a slip resistant material.

11. The protective cap of claim 1 wherein the cap fits flush against frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes of the brain.

12. The protective cap of claim 1 wherein the cap is wearable below uniform headgear as additional and discreet protection.

13. A method for protecting a brain within a head from concussions and brain injuries commonly associated with sports or assault, the method comprising: providing a cap having an outer surface and an inner surface; constructing the cap from an aramid material; conforming the cap to the shape of the head; snugly fitting the head; and providing a lightweight, comfortably fitting, safe, effective, and discreet means of protecting the head from impact.

14. A protective cap for protecting a brain within a head from concussions and brain injuries commonly associated with sports or assault, the protective cap comprising: a cap having a smooth outer surface and an inner surface; and a liner secured to the inner surface of the cap; wherein the cap is constructed from an aramid material; wherein the cap conforms to the shape of the head and snugly fits the head; and wherein the cap provides a lightweight, comfortably fitting, safe, effective, and discreet means of protecting the head from impact.

15. The protective cap of claim 14 and further comprising: padding material positioned on at least a portion the outer surface of the cap.

16. The protective cap of claim 15 wherein the padding material is positioned in injury strategic positions about the cap.

17. The protective cap of claim 14 and further comprising: a fleece material mounted to the liner.

18. The protective cap of claim 14 and further comprising: a slip resistant material mounted to the liner.

19. The protective cap of claim 18 wherein the slip resistant material is a plurality of resilient bumps.

20. The protective cap of claim 14 and further comprising: a fleece material and a slip resistant material mounted to the liner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a protective cap, constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing a skull cap of an aramid fiber and an inner cap liner with rubber bumps for extra support and gripping ability.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the protective cap, constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the protective cap snugly yet comfortably covering the person's skull area.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the protective cap, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with an inner liner having resilient bumps for extra support and gripping ability.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present invention, hereinafter referred to as a Protective Cap, indicated generally at 10, is a lightweight, extremely strong synthetic fiber cap 12 that helps protect a person's brain from concussions and brain injuries commonly associated with sports or an assault of any kind. Worn alone or under a helmet, the Protective Cap 10 of the present invention provides a lightweight, comfortably fitting, safe, effective and discreet means of protecting one's skull from impact of any kind, including resistance to bullets.

[0019] The Protective Cap 10 of the present invention is configured as a thin cap 12 having an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface of the cap 12 can be smooth allowing a snug, full contact coverage under a helmet or hat or can have additional padded sections positioned in injury strategic positions about the cap 12, as desired by the manufacturer and/or user.

[0020] The inner surface of the cap 12 of the Protective Cap 10 of the present invention is preferably layered in fleece to engender comfort as well as protection and to rest beneath a helmet or hat and fit firmly onto a head of a user. In addition, the inner surface of the cap 12 can have a slip resistant material applied to the inner surface of the cap 12. In a preferred embodiment, the slip resistant material is a plurality of resilient bumps 14 for extra support and gripping ability. The resilient bumps 14 can be constructed from a rubber or other resilient material.

[0021] It should be noted that while the fleece layer and/or resilient bumps 14 of the cap of the Protective Cap 10 of the present invention can be applied directly to the inner surface of the cap 12, it is within the scope of the present invention for the fleece material and/or resilient bumps 14 to be applied to a liner material 16 which in turn is applied directly to the inner surface of the cap 12. Also, it is within the scope of the present invention for the cap 12 to have both a fleece material and resilient bumps 14.

[0022] The cap 12 of the Protective Cap 10 is comprised of a lightweight aramid fiber, commonly known as Kevlar®, or similar type compound. This tensile fiber is exceptionally strong, stronger than steel. The cap 12 fits flush against the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes of a user. The synthetic fiber material used for the cap 12 of the present invention withstands extremely high temperatures without melting or losing its extreme protective strength. Sweat and moisture have no negative or decomposing effect on the Protective Cap 10. Cold and freezing temperatures have no degenerative effects on the Protective Cap 10.

[0023] Sizing for the cap 12 of the Protective Cap 10 of the present invention is preferably small, medium, large, and extra-large. An extra small cap sized for an infant can also be produced. The cap 12 fits flush against the vital lobes of the skull and brain including the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes. Because the cap 12 of the present invention is bullet resistant, it is wearable below uniform headgear as additional and discreet protection.

[0024] Using the Protective Cap 10 of the present invention is simple and straightforward. The athlete, officer, soldier, or guard wears the present invention below their uniform headgear, above their eyebrow ridge. When fitting the Protective Cap 10, a user takes their widest forehead circumference measurement to ensure a proper fit in which there is no room for fingers to slide between the cap 12 and the skull. The user simply slips the Protective Cap 10 on, makes sure it is covering vulnerable aspects of their head, and then covers it with outer headgear that is normally worn for their sport or job. The Protective Cap 10 is weightless and unobtrusive to the user. When the user is no longer using the Protective Cap 10, they simply remove the cap 12 and store it safely.

[0025] The Protective Cap 10 of the present invention functions to totally protect anyone who risks head injury in their daily life. Whether a child on a peewee football league or a professional hockey player, the Protective Cap 10 effectively protects one's brain from risky and powerful hits that happen during these sports as part of the game. The Protective Cap 10 protects the brains of police officers, armed services and armored guards who are assaulted by a person, hit with a weapon, or shot with a gun. Potentially averting disaster by reducing the risk of injury or concussion for many different user types, the Protective Cap 10 lends a sense of security that these individuals have a better chance of avoiding death or an incident that alters the trajectory of their lives.

[0026] Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and various modifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.