Patents Examined by Diana Biefeld
  • Patent number: 5551089
    Abstract: A designer ear muff is disclosed which has (a) a material covered arcuate top section having two ends. The arcuate top section is sized to fit over the top of the head of the wearer and extending downwardly to the wearer's ears where it is attached at each end to a detachable ear covering piece which is removably affixed to each end of the material covered arcuate top section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Inventor: Jenna Whidden
  • Patent number: 5548846
    Abstract: This invention pertains to headware equipped with a weather and environmental protection device insert that stores in a hidden fashion within the headware, and instantly self expands upon removal and upon reattachment to the headware exterior forms a effective protection unit to the head and body of the wearer. The protection device consists of one or more sphere shaped panels, each with a perimeter border of coilable spring wire formed in a loop, such loop covered with a variety of foldable protective fabric to form side or overhead panels. That these panels can deploy singly overhead to create a wide brim effect offering protection from sun and rain, or that such panels can also be joined together to create a tentlike protective framework about the head and body of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Inventor: George Bianchetti
  • Patent number: 5548847
    Abstract: A picture cap for removably retaining a picture or the like and visually displaying the same. The picture cap includes a head covering portion with a window opening formed therein. The cap has an inside and an outside surface. A picture retaining pocket is secured to the inside surface of the head covering portion. The picture retaining pocket has a bottom end, inner and outer walls extending upwardly from the bottom end and an open top end. The bottom end and the walls provide a space therebetween. The outer wall of the pocket extends around the periphery of the window opening and is comprised of transparent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Inventor: John Spicijaric
  • Patent number: 5548841
    Abstract: A headband magnifier comprises a one-piece polypropylene headband having a front portion, a back portion and two opposed sides where the back portion is disengageable so that the headband is movable between an at rest position and a compression position for the headband to provide a compressive force. This headband compressive force provides a comfortable tension for all head sizes. The headband magnifier further provides a flexible holding member having a continuous groove that facilitates interchangeability of lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: MFD Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary F. Sherlock, Marnie C. Averitt, Thomas W. Dowling
  • Patent number: 5548845
    Abstract: An adjustable baseball-style cap with a closed-back or "fitted" look. The adjustability is provided by a fabric tunnel on the back panel of the cap which slidably receives a flexible strap attached to the cap at one end of the tunnel. A free end of the strap protrudes from the opposite end of the tunnel and engages with the cap via a releasable connector material. The cap can be selectively adjusted to sizes between 6 1/2 and 7 5/8 by adjusting the amount of the strap protruding from the tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Colorado Leisure Sportswear Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Gallup
  • Patent number: 5546604
    Abstract: A garment for covering a wearer's head and face including a hood worn over the head with a tailpiece adjacent a rear portion of the head. The hood is made from a non-shrink material. A mesh face mask is attached to the hood to cover and conceal the face while allowing the wearer to see out through the face mask. A cowl is formed along a portion of the junction between the hood and the face mask and extends out over the face mask. The cowl may be formed from a single piece of material or two differently colored pieces of material. A central padded layer may be inserted within the cowl to give it additional thickness and shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Fun World
    Inventor: Alan Geller
  • Patent number: 5546603
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a headband are described, each having a ponytail receiving feature. In some of the embodiments, the ponytail-receiving feature is a separate and distinct ring-like element. In other embodiments, the ponytail-receiving feature is an opening created in the headband itself. The headband may be formed of one or more braided strands. A four-strand braid may have two groups of two strands each, at a ponytail-receiving location, to form the ponytail-receiving feature. In an embodiment, one long strand may be braided back onto itself, its two ends forming loops for defining the extremities of an integral ponytail-receiving feature. In a preferred embodiment, a relatively long strand and a relatively short strand are braided to form a headband with integral ponytail-receiving feature. An optional visor element is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Athletic Images, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles S. Lawhorne, Kerry B. Lawhorne, Laura M. Helyer
  • Patent number: 5546605
    Abstract: The invention relates to a protective strap cover for a baseball-style cap for improving the comfort of fit between the strap assembly of the baseball-style cap and the head of the wearer. The protective strap cover includes first and second portions of flexible material connected to one another along parallel seam lines to define an elongated tubular structure configured to receive and enclose the first and second linear adjustable strap members of a baseball-style cap. At least one the portions of the flexible material is cushioned to provide a pad-like surface for contacting the hear of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventor: Maret L. Mallardi
  • Patent number: 5542124
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a protective garment, such as for example that worn by a firefighter and the like.The garment of the present invention in its broadest terms comprises (a) an outer layer comprising at least one terminal edge (i.e. such as on the garment hemlines, collar, closure edges and sleeve ends), with a minor portion adjacent the terminal edge(s), and a major portion; and (b) an inner layer, divided into a major portion and a minor portion, with the minor portion of the inner layer permanently affixed beneath the minor portion of the outer layer and along the terminal edge(s) (or portions thereof) of the outer layer; and major portion of the inner layer permanently or removably attached beneath the major portion of the outer layer. In this regard, it is desireable to maintain the major portion inner layer(s) of a firefighting garment unbound to terminal ends of the outer layer so that it may more easily shed water, soil and contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Morning Pride
    Inventors: William L. Grilliot, Mary I. Grilliot
  • Patent number: 5542127
    Abstract: An article of headwear providing the advantages of a bandana and that of a baseball-type cape. The article includes a visor brim in the form of a bill, a self-supporting upstanding crown, and a triangular bandana cloth. The bill has a front edge and an arcuate rear edge. The bandana is formed of a flexible fabric having an outer surface, an inner surface, a front edge and a pair of angularly extending side edges. The front edge merges with each of the side edges in a pair of pointed ends, while the side edges merge with each other in another pointed end. The rear edge of the bill is fixedly secured to the front edge of bandana cloth. The crown is a generally triangular shaped, slightly concave member having a concave inner surface, a convex outer surface, and a bottom edge. The crown is disposed under and secured to the bandana cloth so that the inner surface of the bandana cloth engages the convex surface of the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: Matthew Bezanis
  • Patent number: 5542128
    Abstract: A hood or cap for a face mask breathing apparatus formed of flexible material having a narrow front piece which extends down the forehead of the wearer adjacent the nostril which merges into a wider back piece to encompass at least the rear of the head and the rear of the neck of the wearer the front piece and back piece being provided with straps to connect the hood to a face mask and correctly position and maintain the mask on the face of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: Christiane Lomas
  • Patent number: 5539928
    Abstract: A firefighter garment having a low friction liner system which includes an outer shell made of an abrasion resistant material, a moisture barrier layer made of a water-resistant material, a thermal barrier layer and a layer of material having high-lubricity positioned within the outer shell. In one embodiment, the high-lubricity layer is composed of a fire resistant filament yarn and is attached to the inside face of the thermal liner; that is, the face positioned next to the clothing of a wearer of the garment. In another embodiment, the layer of high-lubricity material is positioned to form a substrate for the moisture barrier and is located between the moisture barrier and outer shell. A garment having two layers of high-lubricity material, one forming an inside face of the thermal liner and the other forming an interface between the moisture barrier and outer shell, is also preferable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Lion Apparel, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Aldridge
  • Patent number: 5539929
    Abstract: A cap has a head covering portion with a compartment on the exterior of the headcover portion aligned with a lower edge thereof. A zipper or other sealing device is provided for the compartment. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing device is located on an overlying layer to the head covering portion, the periphery of which is sealed to the head covering portion to define the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Rommy H. Revson
  • Patent number: 5535446
    Abstract: Inflatable air strips for protection of a motorcyclist body in case of a traffic accident are disclosed. The air strips comprise plurality of horizontal and vertical air strips which are all interconnected and inflated with gas from two gas inflators. A gas diffusing process is initiated by an activating cord which is extended from the ignitor unit and attached to the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Pavo Pusic
  • Patent number: 5535447
    Abstract: A new and improved protective mesh garment apparatus for protecting a wearer's head and body includes a flaccid, cylindrical head covering assembly, made from mesh material, for completely covering the head and neck of the wearer, and for covering a portion of the chest, shoulders, and back of the wearer. The apparatus also includes a flaccid, cylindrical body covering assembly, made from mesh material, for completely covering the body of except for a portion of the wearer's legs above the wearer's ankles. The body covering assembly includes a central cylindrical portion and two arm portions. The central cylindrical portion includes a top open end and a bottom open end. The bottom open end has a diameter sufficiently large such that the bottom open end is capable of being lowered over a wearer's head and body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventors: Larry W. Stevens, Karen S. Lapeyrolerie
  • Patent number: 5533208
    Abstract: An eye wear visor includes a visor structure which is provided which can engage the user's head about the upper portion above the user's ears, and is preferably made of durable plastic. The visor has a downwardly sloped forward brim surface which supports a guide rail having a "C" shaped axial cross section which is downwardly disposed and which engages a cylindrical portion of an attachment member. The attachment member can be displaced along the rail and has an opening having a laterally oriented axis, the opening having a hexagonal shape and supports a main hexagonal support. The main hexagonal support individually and independently supports a right and a left lens assembly via hexagonal bores in each of the right and left lens assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventors: Lily Tonoyan, Karen Minasian
  • Patent number: 5533211
    Abstract: A hat having an attached accessory such as a visor is disclosed incorporating a headband formed integrally with a sliding member positioned adjacent the opening in the crown. A track is secured to the crown and slidingly engages the sliding member to permit the crown and attached visor to be rotated relative to the wearer's head without removing the hat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventor: Douglas W. Mehrens
  • Patent number: 5533213
    Abstract: A display attachment formed of a single planar piece of material, such as polyethylene, includes at least one aperture adjacent to its lowermost edge. The at least one aperture is sized such that at least one pin or projection of one portion of a sizing strap can extend through at least one aperture of the display attachment with the at least one projection extending through at least one of the openings on the other portion of a baseball style cap sizing strap so as to secure or engage the display attachment between the two portions of a baseball style cap sizing strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventors: Jay E. Reiner, Camille L. Reiner
  • Patent number: 5530970
    Abstract: A novel, flexible device which is attachable to a visor, baseball cap or like attire and which functions to display various logos, slogans, trademarks and other designs. The invention includes a spring or other flexible attachment means which can be attached to the top button, back, bill or strap of a cap and which supports a rigid display means bearing indicia such as a logo, slogan, trademark or other design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Inventor: Kirby J. Knutson
  • Patent number: 5528774
    Abstract: An earmuff assembly is adapted to be secured to a wearer's head in order to cover the wearer's ears. The earmuff assembly comprises a pair of earmuff elements, a band member and a joining means. Each of the earmuff elements has a pair of spaced-apart sleeve structures disposed thereon. The band member has opposite ends and includes a pair of strap portions. A first one of strap portions is slidably received in a first one of the sleeve structures of each earmuff element and a second one of the strap portions is slidably received in a second one of the sleeve structures of each earmuff element so that the earmuff element may be selectably positioned along the band member between the strap portions. The joining means interconnects the opposite ends of the band member so that the band member may be placed around and retained by the head of the wearer with the earmuff elements oriented to cover the ears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Inventor: Linda I. Sanders