HEAD WORD GARMENT WITH NECK FLAP
A garment comprising a head adherence part that encircles the head of a wearer above the wearer's ears, the head adherence part being, at least partially, elastic such that a restraining force of the head adherence part provides sufficient friction between the garment and the wearer's head to support the garment on the head of the wearer, the head adherence part comprising a front head adherence part and a rear head adherence part, and a neck flap that extends from the rear head adherence part to below the base of the neck of the wearer obscuring the rear of the neck of the wearer and the top of the ears of the wearer.
The present application relates generally to a head worn garment with a neck flap.
REARGROUNDAs more information becomes available regarding the potentially harmful effect of the sun on human skin, more people are becoming interested in ways to protect themselves from such effects.
SUMMARYVarious aspects of examples of the invention are set out in the claims.
A garment comprising a head adherence part that encircles the head of a wearer above the wearer's ears, the head adherence part being, at least partially, elastic such that a restraining force of the head adherence part provides sufficient friction between the garment and the wearer's head to support the garment on the head of the wearer, the head adherence part comprising a front head adherence part and a rear head adherence part, and a neck flap that extends from the rear head adherence part to below the base of the neck of the wearer obscuring the rear of the neck of the wearer and the top of the ears of the wearer.
A method of protecting skin comprising causing wearing of a garment comprising a head adherence part that encircles the head of a wearer above the wearer's ears, the head adherence part being, at least partially, elastic such that a restraining force of the head adherence part provides sufficient friction between the garment and the wearer's head to support the garment on the head of the wearer, the head adherence part comprising a front head adherence part and a rear head adherence part, and a neck flap that extends from the rear head adherence part to below the base of the neck of the wearer obscuring the rear of the neck of the wearer and the top of the ears of the wearer.
A method of advertising comprising causing presentation of advertising information on the neck flap of a garment comprising a head adherence part that encircles the head of a wearer above the wearer's ears, the head adherence part being, at least partially, elastic such that a restraining force of the head adherence part provides sufficient friction between the garment and the wearer's head to support the garment on the head of the wearer, the head adherence part comprising a front head adherence part and a rear head adherence part, and a neck flap that extends from the rear head adherence part to below the base of the neck of the wearer obscuring the rear of the neck of the wearer and the top of the ears of the wearer.
For a more complete understanding of embodiments of the invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
An embodiment of the invention and its potential advantages are understood by referring to
As the potentially harmful effects of sunlight on human skin become better understood, there is a growing desire to find ways to protect humans from these effects. In addition, there are many individuals who have an increased sensitivity to such potentially harmful effects. Such sensitivities may result from current or previous illness, cancer, burn, scarring, and/or the like. In addition, the tops of a person's ears and the back of a person's neck may be particularly vulnerable to sunlight due to the fact that standard apparel fails to cover such body parts. It may be desirable to provide a garment for providing sunlight protection for ears and the back of the neck.
In the examples of
The head adherence part comprises a front head adherence part 101A and a rear head adherence part 101B. The front head adherence part 101A relates to a part of the head adherence part that is situated at the front of the wearer's head when the garment is worn. The rear head adherence part 101B relates to a part of the head adherence part that is situated at the rear of the wearer's head when the garment is worn. In at least one example embodiment, the front head adherence part 101A and rear head adherence part 101B are distinct pieces of the head adherence part. For example, the front head adherence part 101A may relate to at least one separately cut piece that is sewn to the rear head adherence part, which relates to at least one other separately cut piece. In such an example, the boundary between the front head adherence part 101A and the rear head adherence part 101B may relate to a boundary between distinct pieces. Such a boundary may be an attachment of distinct parts, such as a sewn attachment, a glued attachment, a fused attachment, and/or the like. In at least one example embodiment, the front head adherence part 101A and the rear head adherence part 101B are not distinct pieces of the head adherence part. For example, the front head adherence part 101A may relate to a region of the head adherence part associated with the front of the garment, regardless of any boundaries of distinct pieces. In another example, the rear head adherence part 101B may relate to a region of the head adherence part associated with the rear of the garment, regardless of any boundaries of distinct pieces. In yet another example, the head adherence part comprises a single attachment boundary. In such an example, the head adherence part comprises at least one piece that encircles the head of the wearer, and is attached to itself, for example via a sewn attachment, glued attachment, fused attachment, etc. In such an example, the attachment may lie within the front head adherence part 101A, within the rear head adherence part 101B, or at one of the boundaries between the front head adherence part 101A and the rear head adherence part 101B.
In an example embodiment, the head adherence part encircles the head of the wearer without covering the top of the head of the wearer. For example, the head adherence part may comprise an aperture at the top of the head of the wearer. Such an aperture may allow ventilation for the top of the wearer's head. Such an aperture may prevent the garment from restricting flow of air at the top of the wearer's head. For example, if the wearer is wearing a hat on top of the garment, such as illustrated in
The garment comprises a neck flap 102. The neck flap 102 extends below the rear head adherence part. For example, the neck flap 102 may extend from the rear head adherence part 101B. The neck flap 102 may be sized so that the neck flap 102 extends from the rear head adherence part to a point below the base of the neck of the wearer. For example, the neck flap 102 may be sized so that it overlaps with the rear of the collar and/or neck aperture of a shirt worn by the wearer of the garment.
The neck flap 102 is configured to obscure at least part of the wearer from light. The neck flap 102 may obscure from light by being worn such that the neck flap 102 lies between the wearer and a light source, such as the sun, a reflection, and/or the like. In an example embodiment, the neck flap covers the neck such that the neck flap 102 obscures the neck from light above and behind the wearer. Therefore, when the sun is above and/or behind the wearer, the neck flap 102 obscures the neck of the wearer from the sun. The neck flap 102 may be configured such that the neck flap 102 obscures the rear of the neck of the wearer from light when worn. For example, the neck flap 102 may extend around the rear head adherence part sufficiently to allow the neck flap 102 to at least partially encircle the rear of the wearer's neck. The neck flap 102 may be configured such that the neck flap 102 obscures the top of the ears of the wearer from light when worn. In an example embodiment, the neck flap covers the top of the ears such that the neck flap 102 obscures the ears from light above and behind the wearer. Therefore, when the sun is above and/or behind the wearer, the neck flap 102 obscures the ears of the wearer from the sun. For example, the neck flap 102 may extend from the rear head adherence part far enough towards the front head adherence part to cover the top of the ears of the wearer.
In an example embodiment, the neck flap may assist with protection from potentially harmful effects of sunlight. For example, the neck flap may comprise a material having a known minimum sunlight protection value. For example, the sunlight protection value may relate to a Sunlight Protection Factor value (SPF) and/or some other method for quantifying an aspect of sunlight and/or ultra-violet protection. For example, it may be desirable to know that the neck flap provides SPF 50 sunlight protection. The known minimum value may relate to a value which the material has been verified to be above. For example a material may be verified to have a sunlight protection value of at least a specified number. In an example embodiment, a wearer may benefit from knowing the minimum sunlight protection value of the material so that the wearer may adequately access their level of exposure to potential sunlight harm. In addition, such a known minimum sunlight protection value allows doctors to communicate garment requirements to wearers. Furthermore, such minimum sunlight protection value provides a way for requirements for sun protection characteristics of a garment to be incorporated into occupational standards, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. For example, the known minimum sunlight protection value of the material may correlate to a minimum standard of a medical standard, or an occupational standard, and/or the like.
It may be desirable for the material to block over 90% of the sun's ultra-violet A (UVA) light. For example, it may be desirable for the material to block 98% of the sun's UVA light. It should be understood that UVA is used merely as an example of a spectrum of light from which it may be desirable to protect a wearer, and that other spectrums classification may be desirable from which to provide wearer protection.
The material of the garment may have moisture wicking properties. For example, the material may serve to draw the sweat away from the skin to the other side of the material. Such property may make the wearer feel more comfortable. The transfer of moisture may occur due to capillary action. Such materials may be based on fibers that have poor moisture absorbing properties, and strong moisture conducting properties. The material may be synthetic, such as polyester or microfiber. The material may be non-synthetic, such as silk.
It may be desirable for the front head adherence part comprises moisture wicking material. For example, the wearer may desire to have sweat pulled away from their forehead where the front head adherence part contacts the skin of the wearer. Since other parts of the garment may contact the skin, at least intermittently, it may be desirable for other parts of the garment to comprise moisture wicking material. For example, the rear head adherence part may comprise moisture wicking material, the neck flap may comprise moisture wicking material, a stabilization cord, such as stabilization cord 402 of
In the example of
Even though the example of
In an example embodiment, the head adherence part is configured to fit under a hat 105 worn by the wearer without being fastened to the hat 105, as illustrated in
In an example embodiment, the rear head adherence part has elasticity with a stronger restraining force than the front of the head adherence part. For example, the rear head adherence part may comprise at least one elastic band that has a stronger restraining force than the front head adherence part. Such an arrangement may provide strong elasticity without bunching material in the front head adherence part. A wearer may desire to avoid bunching at the front head adherence part because the front head adherence part is more likely to be in direct skin contact for wearers with hair. Such direct skin contact of bunched material may be less comfortable than direct skin contact with non-bunched material.
In an example embodiment, material 303 may lie between elastic band 301 and a hat, such as hat 105 of
In an example embodiment, the neck flap comprises at least one stabilizer. The stabilizer may comprise a clip, a snap, a button, a stabilization cord, and/or the like. In an example embodiment, the stabilizer is affixed to the neck flap such that cord affixment is above the shoulders of the wearer. The stabilizer may be detachably affixed or non-detachably affixed. For example, a wearer may remove and re-apply a detachably affixed stabilizer without damaging or repairing the garment. A wearer may desire stabilizer affixment above the shoulder so that the neck flap does not have bunched material resulting from upward neck flap weight bearing at the stabilizer. In an example embodiment, the stabilizer is affixed to the neck flap at a distance within one inch above the shoulder of the wearer.
A stabilizer may reduce the likelihood and/or amount of neck exposure in windy conditions. For example, if the wind is blowing, the stabilizer may reduce the likelihood that the neck flap will move in the wind and expose the wearer's neck to light. In another example, if the wearer is moving (such as running, riding a vehicle, and/or the like), the stabilizer may reduce the amount of light to which the wearer's neck is exposed by way of neck flap movement.
In an example embodiment, the stabilizer, when in use, allows the neck flap to have at least one downward opening at its base. Such a downward opening may allow debris that may find its way between the neck flap and the wearer to fall downward without becoming trapped between the wearer and the neck flap.
The stabilization cord may stabilize the neck flap by restricting the distance that the neck flap may stray from the back of the neck. In an example embodiment, the stabilization cord is set to a length long enough to allow the neck flap to hang downward from the head adherence part without being pulled toward the neck. In such an example, the stabilization cord may be set to a length short enough to prevent the neck flap from exposing the back of the neck in windy conditions. The stabilization cord may prevent the neck flap from exposing the back of the neck in windy conditions by preventing the neck flap from being blown beyond the distance restricted by the stabilization cord's contact with the front of the wearer's neck.
In the example of
A wearer may benefit from a method of protecting skin comprising causing a wearer to wear the garment described herein. The method may be performed by a physician in order to provide a patient with a garment that will meet their individual needs. Causing a wearer to wear the garment described herein, may relate to writing a prescription, providing a recommendation, providing the garment, and/or the like. The method may further comprise determining a minimum sunlight protection value for a wearer's neck and/or ears, and determining that the head worn garment described herein satisfies the minimum sunlight protection value, wherein the causing of the wearer to wear the garment described herein is performed in response to the determination that the head worn garment described herein satisfies the minimum sunlight protection value. The determination of minimum sunlight protection value may be based on medical requirement, based on medical standard, based on occupational standard, and/or the like. The determination that the head worn garment described herein satisfies the determined minimum sunlight protection value may be based on identification of a product having such specification, ordering manufacture of a product have such specification, and/or the like.
The neck flap of the garment provides a prominent area upon which to display advertising information to others. In addition, the position of the neck flap with regard to other people around the wearer provides a surface that is prominently viewable under various circumstances. For example, the neck flap area provides a larger surface upon which to place advertising information than a baseball cap. In addition, the neck flap provides a more prominently placed viewing area than the back of a shirt. Furthermore, the neck flap provides a surface that may be used to present advertising information in addition to any advertising information comprised in a shirt or a hat. Advertising information may relate to information promoting a business, such as a logo, product information, service information, company information, organization information, and/or the like.
Therefore, an advertiser may benefit from a method of advertising comprising causing presentation of advertising information on the neck flap of the garment.
Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independent claims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations of features from the described embodiments and/or the dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and not solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims.
It is also noted herein that while the above describes example embodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are variations and modifications which may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A garment comprising:
- a head adherence part that encircles the head of a wearer above the wearer's ears without covering the top of the head of the wearer, the head adherence part being, at least partially, elastic such that a restraining force of the head adherence part provides sufficient friction between the garment and the wearer's head to support the garment on the head of the wearer, the head adherence part comprising a front head adherence part and a rear head adherence part; and
- a neck flap that extends from the rear head adherence part to below the base of the neck of the wearer obscuring the rear of the neck of the wearer and the top of the ears of the wearer.
2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the rear head adherence part is upwardly rounded such that at least part of the elasticity of the upper part of the rear head adherence part conforms to the wearer's head.
3. The garment of claim 3, wherein the upper part of the rear head adherence part stabilizes the garment on the head of the wearer.
4. (canceled)
5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the head adherence part is configured to fit under a hat worn by the wearer without being fastened to the hat.
6. The garment of claim 5, wherein the head adherence part is configured to lie between a supporting band of the hat and the head of the wearer.
7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the rear head adherence part has elasticity with a stronger restraining force than the front of the head adherence part.
8. The garment of claim 7, wherein the rear head adherence part comprises at least one elastic band that has a stronger restraining force than the front head adherence part.
9. The garment of claim 1, wherein at least the front of the head adherence part comprises moisture wicking material.
10. The garment of claim 1, wherein the neck flap comprises a material having a known minimum sunlight protection value.
11. The garment of claim 10, wherein the sunlight protection value relates to Sunlight Protection Factor.
12. The garment of claim 10, wherein the known minimum sunlight protection value correlates to a minimum standard of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard.
13. The garment of claim 1, wherein the neck flap covers the neck such that the neck flap obscures the neck from light above and behind the wearer.
14. The garment of claim 1, wherein the neck flap covers the ears such that the neck flap obscures the ears from light above and behind the wearer.
15. The garment of claim 1, wherein the neck flap comprises at least one stabilizer.
16. The garment of claim 1, wherein the neck flap comprises at least one stabilization cord.
17. The garment of claim 16, wherein the stabilization cord is affixed to the neck flap such that cord affixment is above the shoulders of the wearer.
18. The garment of claim 16, further comprising an adjustable coupling between parts of the stabilization cord configurable for varying a length of cord of between the adjustable coupling and the neck flap.
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the neck flap comprises advertising information.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 25, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 28, 2013
Applicant: Solar Armour, LLC (Dallas, TX)
Inventor: Glenn E. Cole (Irving, TX)
Application Number: 13/244,673