PROTECTIVE HEAD GEAR
A head gear apparatus has a padded member shaped and configured to wrap around a player's head. The padded member includes a first side portion having a first distal end and a first middle-facing edge along a lower margin. A second side portion has a second distal end and a second middle-facing edge along the lower margin. A middle portion is positioned between and connects the first side portion and the second side portion. The lower margin defines an open region below the middle portion and between the first middle-facing edge and the second middle-facing edge. The padded member has at least one strap guide. A rear closure assembly connects the first distal end to the second distal end.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/607,854, filed on Mar. 7, 2012 and U.S. design patent application Ser. No. 29/416,671, filed on Mar. 26, 2012.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to sports equipment and more specifically to protective head gear.
2. Related Art
In the sports of women's lacrosse and field hockey, players are required to wear an assortment of protective gear, including goggles, to reduce the occurrence of injury to the head and face. The rules of these sports dictate that women cannot use a helmet, but that players are allowed to use soft head gear to help reduce injury from incidental blows. Currently, players use foam sweat bands and soccer or rugby head gear on an impromptu basis for head protection in women's lacrosse and field hockey.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONNone of the currently-available products are designed be compatible with goggles mandatory in women's lacrosse and field hockey, nor do these products provide sufficient protection of the front or back portion of the player's head. Currently, players have to contend with head gear that is not designed for the goggles or the sport. Additionally, players must tolerate goggles that are separate from the head gear. This combination of two separate units makes head protection clumsy and difficult for players, particularly when putting the units on and taking them off between times of play.
Accordingly, a need exists for protective head gear suited to the sports of lacrosse and field hockey. More specifically, a need exists for soft, protective head gear that combines easily with existing goggles used in the sports of women's lacrosse and field hockey.
The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a head gear apparatus having a padded member shaped and configured to wrap around a player's head. In one embodiment, the padded member is shaped and configured to wrap around a player's head. The padded member includes a first side portion having a first distal end and a first middle-facing edge along a lower margin. A second side portion has a second distal end and a second middle-facing edge along the lower margin. A middle portion is positioned between and connects the first side portion and the second side portion. The lower margin defines an open region below the middle portion and between the first middle-facing edge and the second middle-facing edge. The padded member has at least one strap guide. A rear closure assembly connects the first distal end to the second distal end.
In another embodiment, the head gear apparatus is a kit including the padded member and rear closure assembly.
In another embodiment, the head gear apparatus also has an upper portion with a distal end and extending transversely from the middle portion to substantially define a T-shape of the padded member.
In another embodiment, the strap guide is movable between an open position and a closed position, where the strap guide in the closed position defines a conduit.
In another embodiment, the at least one strap guide comprises at least one flexible flap secured along a first edge to the padded member.
In another embodiment, the head gear apparatus has a top strap extending between and connecting the rear closure assembly and the distal end of the upper portion.
In another embodiment, the rear closure assembly includes a strap, multiple straps, a lace, a cord, or respective complementary fastener portions on the first distal end and on the second distal end of the padded member.
In another embodiment, the rear closure assembly has a rear strap guide.
In another embodiment, the padded member has at least one goggle retaining strap with one end connected proximate the lower margin of the padded member and the opposite end configured to releasably connect to the padded member with the goggle retaining strap defining a loop.
In another embodiment, the head gear apparatus has at least one pad on the rear closure assembly. In some embodiments, the pad on the rear closure assembly is shaped to mate with the posterior portion of the skull.
In another embodiment, the padded member includes a goggle frame as one piece with the padded member.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in
Due to its flexible materials of construction, padded member 102 more typically takes a shape of being wrapped around the wearer's head as shown in
Padded member 102 has an upper margin 111 and a lower margin 152. Moving from first distal end 116 of first side portion 112 towards middle portion 150, upper margin and lower margin 152 diverge. At a position located approximately the wearer's temple, lower margin 152 then changes direction and continues generally upward along a middle-facing edge 113 of first side portion before changing direction again and continuing along middle portion 150. As it transitions from first side portion 112 to middle portion 150, lower margin 152 follows a first concave curve 152a to a point of intersection 152c with second axis 122. At point of intersection 152c, first concave curve 152a and second concave curve 152b meet. Upper margin 111 and lower margin 152 are substantially mirror images of one another on opposite sides of a centerline or second axis 122 extending through middle portion 150. Second side portion also has a middle-facing edge 213. Having this preferred shape along lower margin 152 defines an open region 155 between first side portion 112, second side portion 212, and middle portion 150 that enables padded member 102 to accept goggles 300 with minimal gap between goggle frame 320 (not shown) and lower margin 152.
Middle portion 150 extends between and connects first proximal portion 114 of first end portion 112 and second proximal portion 214 of second side portion 212. In one embodiment, first distal end 116 and second distal end 216 each have at least one aperture 118, 218, respectively. Apertures 118, 218 are useful for maintaining padded member 102 in a substantially cylindrical shape by drawing together first distal end 116 and second distal end 216 with a strap, rear closure assembly 128 (discussed below), clip, or other connector.
Upper portion 170 of padded member 102 extends from middle portion 150 along second axis 122 transversely (e.g., substantially perpendicular) to first axis 119. Upper portion 170 preferably has one or more openings 172 in a distal end 171.
Padded member 102 is preferably compression molded with compressed regions or gaps 104 that define and separate individual pads 106. In one embodiment, padded member 102 has four-way stretch fabric laminated to polyurethane foam and to 1.7 lb. open-cell foam in a flame laminating process. A two-way stretch fabric may also be used. The multi-layered fabric and foam structure is compressed in a heated press to define multiple foam pads 106 separated by compressed regions or gaps 104. Having multiple pads 106 gives the player protection as well as a comfortable head gear 100 that flexibly conforms to the player's head. Padded member 102 is preferably lined by open-cell foam and has an anti-microbial-treated moisture management fabric.
In one embodiment, padded member 102 is made with a ⅜-inch thick 3-lb. cross-linked polyethylene closed-cell foam laminated to ⅛-inch thick clickable open-cell urethane layer. In another embodiment, padded member 102 is made with a ¼-inch thick 4 lb. cross-linked polyethylene closed-cell foam laminated to an open-cell 12 lb. soft polyurethane core. Vinyl nitrile is an acceptable substitute for the 12 lb. polyurethane core. In another embodiment, padded member 102 is made with a first layer of ⅛-inch thick 6-12 lb. closed-cell cross-linked polyethylene layer, a second layer of ⅜-inch thick 3-4 lb. layer of closed-cell cross-linked polyethylene, and a third layer of open-cell ⅛-inch thick clickable urethane. Other embodiments of padded member 102 have additional or thicker layers of foam as needed to provide the desired protection and thickness.
In yet another embodiment, a polyurethane foam core is encapsulated between a cross-linked polyethylene foam outer shell layer and a urethane liner. Because polyurethane foam is not formable with heat, it is encapsulated between other layers in padded member 102.
In one embodiment of padded member 102, two goggle retaining straps 160 are attached near lower margin 152 to secure goggle 300 to padded member 102. More or fewer goggle retaining straps 160 may be used. In one embodiment, one end of each goggle retaining strap 160 is attached by stitching at or near lower margin 152 of middle portion 150 of padded member 102. Complementary fasteners 202a, 202b on goggle retaining straps 160 and on padded member 102, respectively, attach together, forming goggle retaining straps 160 in a loop around frame 320 of goggle 300. Thus, goggle retaining straps 160 hold or suspend goggle 300 from padded member 102 with goggle 300 positioned in open region 155 (see goggle 300 shown in
In one embodiment of padded member 102, first side portion 112 has a first strap guide 120 and second side portion 212 has a second strap guide 220. First and second strap guides 120, 220 are preferably movable between an open position and a closed position. Strap guides 120, 220 may be made of a fabric flap, a strap, a clip, a loop, a channel, a groove, a raceway, or another structure that defines a conduit or passageway 180 sized to accept a goggle strap 310 (not shown). Conduit 180 may be enclosed like an open-ended tube, or may be open like a channel.
In one embodiment, strap guides 120, 220 include a pair of overlapping fabric pieces 222, 224 that have complementary fastener portions 225a, 225b. Fastener portions 225a, 225b attach together to form a conduit that encloses and retains a goggle strap 310 (shown in
Other methods, such as snaps, buttons, stitching and the like, may be used to secure upper fabric piece 224 to lower fabric piece 222. In one embodiment, two separate fabric pieces 232, 234 are stitched to padded member 102 at a break or compressed region 104 between pads 106 or near the edge of padded member 102. In another embodiment, conduit 180 may be formed with a single piece of fabric that closes onto itself or onto padded member 102.
Referring now to
In another embodiment, head gear 100 has multiple top straps 140 that are spaced apart to accommodate a player's pony tail. For example, two top straps 140 both pass through opening 172 in upper portion 170, but opposite ends of each top strap 140 diverge and attach to spaced-apart portions of rear closure assembly 128. In another example, each of two top straps 140 pass through spaced-apart openings 172 in upper portion 170 of padded member 102 and then connect to spaced-apart locations on rear closure assembly 128. With two top straps 140, for example, ends of top straps 140 attach to upper and/or lower closure straps 130, 132 on opposite lateral sides of strap connectors 142a, 142b as opposed to attaching at a location between strap connectors 142a, 142b as shown in
For improved stability and comfort of head gear 100, optional strap connectors 142a, 142b extend transversely between and connect upper closure strap 130 to lower closure strap 132. In one embodiment, strap connectors 142a, 142b are fabric straps that each loop over closure straps 130, 132 and are secured with stitching and/or a fastener. Strap connectors 142a, 142b help to position and properly space upper and lower closure straps 130, 132 from one another to facilitate assembly of rear closure assembly 128 with padded member 102.
In one embodiment, upper closure strap 130 and lower closure strap 132 have a hook portion 145b on one side and a loop portion 145a on the opposite side of closure strap 132. Thus, by looping ends of upper closure strap 130 through openings 118, 218 of padded member 102 and folding each end of upper closure strap 130 back onto itself, upper closure strap 130 secures rear closure assembly 128 to distal ends 116, 216 of padded member 102.
In one embodiment, rear closure assembly 128 also includes a rear strap guide 146 having an open position and a closed position. Similar to first and second strap guides 130, 230, rear strap guide can be formed with overlapping fabric pieces, overlapping ends of a single fabric piece, clip(s), loop(s) and other structures defining a conduit to accept goggle strap 310 (not shown). In one embodiment, overlapping fabric pieces attach to each other to define a conduit, preferably by using hook-and-loop fasteners.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, rear strap guide 146 of rear closure assembly 128 is made with a piece of fabric folded to define a first fabric portion 146a and a second fabric portion 146b. First fabric portion 146a is secured to strap connectors 142a, 142b (shown in
Other embodiments of rear closure assembly 128 include laces, a single strap, or multiple straps that loop(s) through openings 118, 218 on distal ends 116, 216 of padded member 102. For additional protection to the back of a player's head, rear strap guide 146 is optionally has one or more pads 106 or is made with padded material along first fabric portion 146a and/or second fabric portion 146b. Such padding may be accomplished by making rear strap guide 146 using a compression molding process as is used to make padded member 102. For improved comfort and protection to the back of a player's head, rear strap guide 146 or rear closure assembly 128 includes a pad shaped to accept or mate with the posterior portion of the skull.
As shown in
In another embodiment shown in
Similar to strap guide 120a, channel 122 may also be formed between adjacent pads rather than being formed in pad 160c. Optionally, a fabric flap or the like may be used to cover pads 160a, 160b and pad 160c to close channels 121, 122, respectively.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In another embodiment shown in
The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the specification and claims. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A head gear apparatus comprising:
- a padded member with a lower margin and shaped and configured to wrap around a player's head and comprising: a first side portion having a first distal end and a first middle-facing edge along the lower margin; a second side portion having a second distal end and a second middle-facing edge along the lower margin; and a middle portion positioned between and connecting the first side portion and the second side portion; wherein the lower margin defines an open region below the middle portion and between the first middle-facing edge and the second middle-facing edge;
- at least one strap guide on the padded member; and
- a rear closure assembly connecting the first distal end to the second distal end.
2. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an upper portion with a distal end and extending transversely from the middle portion to substantially define a T-shape of the padded member.
3. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one strap guide is movable between an open position and a closed position and wherein the at least one strap guide in the closed position defines a conduit.
4. The head gear apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one strap guide comprises at least one flexible flap secured along a first edge to the padded member.
5. The head gear apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a top strap extending between and connecting the rear closure assembly and the distal end of the upper portion.
6. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear closure assembly comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a strap, a lace, a cord, and respective complementary fastener portions on the first distal end and on the second distal end of the padded member.
7. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear closure assembly further comprises a rear strap guide.
8. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one goggle retaining strap having a first end connected proximate the lower margin of the padded member and having a second end configured to releasably connect to the padded member with the at least one goggle retaining strap defining a loop.
9. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one pad on the rear closure assembly.
10. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, wherein the padded member further comprises a goggle frame.
11. A head gear kit comprising:
- a padded member shaped and configured to wrap around a player's head and comprising: a first side portion having a first distal end and a first middle-facing edge along the lower margin; a second side portion having a second distal end and a second middle-facing edge along the lower margin; a middle portion positioned between and connecting the first side portion and the second side portion; and at least one strap guide on the padded member; wherein the lower margin defines an open region below the middle portion and between the first middle-facing edge and the second middle-facing edge; and
- a rear closure assembly configured to connect the first distal end to the second distal end and maintain the padded member in a substantially cylindrical shape.
12. The kit of claim 11, wherein the padded member further comprises an upper portion with a distal end and extending transversely from the middle portion to substantially define a T-shape of the padded member.
13. The kit of claim 11, further comprising a top strap configured to extend between and connect the rear closure assembly and the distal end of the upper portion.
14. The kit of claim 11, wherein the at least one strap guide is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the at least one strap guide in the closed position defines a conduit.
15. The kit of claim 13, wherein the at least one strap guide comprises at least one flexible flap secured along a first edge to the padded member.
16. The kit of claim 11, wherein the rear closure assembly comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a strap, a lace, a cord, and respective complementary fastener portions on the first distal end and on the second distal end of the padded member.
17. The kit of claim 11, wherein the rear closure assembly further comprises a rear strap guide.
18. The kit of claim 11, further comprising at least one goggle retaining strap having a first end connected proximate the lower margin of the padded member and having a second end configured to releasably connect to the padded member with the at least one goggle retaining strap defining a loop.
19. The kit of claim 11, further comprising at least one pad on the rear closure assembly.
20. The kit of claim 11, further comprising goggles having a goggle frame and a goggle strap.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 21, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 12, 2013
Applicant: H. R. P. PRODUCTS, INC. (Somersworth, NH)
Inventor: Luke P. Janetos (Rollinsford, NH)
Application Number: 13/773,055