PADDED HEADBAND

Abstract

A padded headband. The padded headband includes a padding material. The padded headband also includes a cloth covering surrounding the padding material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Awareness of head and neurological injuries are increasing. In particular, mounting evidence shows that concussions and other head trauma can have long term effects. In particular, youth that suffer head trauma can suffer effects for the rest of their lives. These effects can include nausea, disorientation, balance problems, memory loss, loss of cognitive function and other deleterious effects.

Further, sports culture leads many players to continue to play even after blows to their heads. This can cause a minor injury to become a big problem as low impact blows can cause extensive damage to an already damaged brain. I.e., a minor impact which would not normally cause any damage may become much more serious based on already existing minor trauma. This cascade effect can also mean that players are less likely to notice the damage as symptoms become progressively worse.

Because of these dangers some sports require helmets or other protective gear. However, many sports continue to leave it up to individuals to determine whether to use head protection. Unfortunately, many in these sports choose not to use head protection simply because others make the same choice. I.e., peer pressure within sports leads many players to forego head protection.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for head protection which does not include an entire helmet. Further, there is a need in the art for head protection which protects the areas most vulnerable to trauma. Additionally, there is a need in the art for the head protection to provide other benefits to the user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

One example embodiment includes a padded headband. The padded headband includes a padding material. The padded headband also includes a cloth covering surrounding the padding material.

Another example embodiment includes a padded headband. The padded headband includes a padding material. The padded headband also includes a cloth covering surrounding the padding material. The cloth covering includes a fabric and an elastic material.

Another example embodiment includes a padded headband. The padded headband includes a padding material. The padding material includes a body including a cushioning material and one or more holes in the body. The padded headband also includes a cloth covering surrounding the padding material. The cloth covering includes a fabric and an elastic material.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a padded headband;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a padding material; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a cutaway view of the padded headband.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the figures wherein like structures will be provided with like reference designations. It is understood that the figures are diagrammatic and schematic representations of some embodiments of the invention, and are not limiting of the present invention, nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a padded headband 100. The padded headband 100 can protect the user's head from trauma or other injuries. In particular, the padded headband 100 can provide protection against head injuries. Additionally or alternatively, the padded headband 100 can prevent sweat from running down the user's face.

FIG. 1 shows that the padded headband 100 can include a cloth covering 102. The cloth covering 102 can be configured to be worn around the head of a user. In particular, the cloth covering 102 can absorb sweat during physical activity to keep it from reaching the eyes and face of the user. The cloth covering 102 can be made of any desired material. For example, the cloth covering 102 can include dri fit polyester, nylon, cotton or any other desired cloth material.

Additionally or alternatively, the cloth covering 102 can include an elastic material. For example, the cloth covering 102 can include rubber, an elastomer (a polymer with viscoelasticity), urethane fibers, latex, elastane (aka Spandex or Lycra) or any other elastic material. E.g., the cloth covering 102 can include between 11% and 17% elastic material (i.e., between 11% and 17% of the threads can be composed of elastic material with the rest being made of cloth). For example, the cloth covering 102 can include approximately 14% elastic material. As used in the specification and the claims, the term approximately shall mean that the value is within 10% of the stated value, unless otherwise specified.

Additionally or alternatively, the cloth covering 102 can be configured to protect the head of the user. For example, the cloth covering 102 can be configured to surround the forehead, ears and back of the user's head. The cloth covering 102 can protect the user from weather, sun exposure, wind and other microclimate during use.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a padding material 200. The padding material can be placed in a headband, such as the padded headband 100 of FIG. 1. The padding material 200 can include a single piece of padding or can include multiple portions, allowing the headband to better conform to the size and shape of the user's head.

FIG. 2 shows that the padding material 200 can include a body 202. The body 202 can include any cushioning material intended to soften or spread out a blow in order to protect the user. For example, the body 202 can include Hex padding, memory foam, gel padding, Nike padding, Under Armor padding, McDavid padding, EVA foam (foam rubber) or any other desired padding material. Ethylene vinyl acetate (also known as EVA) is the copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. The weight percent vinyl acetate usually varies from 10 to 40%, with the remainder being ethylene. It is a polymer that approaches elastomeric materials in softness and flexibility, yet can be processed like other thermoplastics.

FIG. 2 also shows that the padding material 200 can include one or more holes 204. The one or more holes 204 can allow the padding material to “breathe.” I.e., the one or more holes 204 can allow air and sweat to pass through the padding material 200, keeping the wearer cooler than he/she would otherwise be with a non-breathable material. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more holes 204 can allow the padding material to be thicker with less weight while offering the same protective properties. I.e., a body 202 with holes 204 may weigh less than a body without holes 204 but offer the same protection to the user. For example, the holes 204 can be between 0.8 and 1.2 cm apart from one another. E.g., the holes 204 can be approximately 1 cm apart from one another. This distance allows the maximum breathability and weight removal, while preserving the padding ability of the body 202.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cutaway view of the padded headband 100. FIG. 3 shows that the padding material 200 can include multiple separate pieces each arranged with the cloth covering. For example, the padded headband 100 can include 10 pieces of padding material 200 aligned vertically with one another. Aligning the pieces vertically can allow the padding material 200 to bend more than otherwise possible.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A padded headband, the padded headband comprising:

a padding material; and

a cloth covering surrounding the padding material;

wherein the padding material includes a plurality of separate sections arranged in a ring, each section having edges thereof abutting adjacent sections of the plurality of sections.

2. The padded headband of claim 1, wherein the cloth covering includes polyester.

3. The padded headband of claim 1, wherein the cloth covering includes nylon.

4. The padded headband of claim 1, wherein the cloth covering includes cotton.

5. The padded headband of claim 1, wherein the cloth covering includes an elastic material.

6. The padded headband of claim 5, wherein the elastic material includes rubber.

7. The padded headband of claim 5, wherein the elastic material includes an elastomer.

8. The padded headband of claim 5, wherein the elastic material includes urethane fibers.

9. The padded headband of claim 5, wherein the elastic material includes latex.

10. The padded headband of claim 5, wherein the elastic material includes elastane.

11. A padded headband, the padded headband comprising:

a padding material; and

a cloth covering surrounding the padding material, wherein the cloth covering includes: a fabric; and an elastic material;

wherein the padding material includes a plurality of separate sections arranged in a ring and each having edges abutting edges of adjacent sections of the plurality of separate sections.

12. The padded headband of claim 11, wherein the elastic material is between 11% and 17% of threads in the cloth cover.

13. The padded headband of claim 12, wherein the elastic material is approximately 14% of the threads in the cloth cover.

14. A padded headband, the padded headband comprising:

a padding material, wherein the padding material includes: a body including a cushioning material; and one or more holes in the body; and

a cloth covering surrounding the padding material, wherein the cloth covering includes: a fabric; and an elastic material;

wherein the padding material includes a plurality of separate sections arranged in a ring and each having two straight edges positioned on opposite sides thereof, each of the straight edges of each section abutting a straight edge of an adjacent section of the plurality of separate sections.

15. The padded headband of claim 14, wherein the cushioning material includes memory foam.

16. The padded headband of claim 14, wherein the cushioning material includes gel padding.

17. The padded headband of claim 14, wherein the cushioning material includes EVA foam.

18. (canceled)

19. The padded headband of claim 14, wherein the one or more holes are spaced between 0.8 cm and 1.2 cm.

20. The padded headband of claim 19, wherein the one or more holes are spaced approximately 1 cm.