Insect Protection Garment
A one piece, self-supporting total body covering for protection against insects to be used by campers, hikers, fisherman, hunters or by professionals who work in the outdoors such as scientists and photographers. The garment will be mostly made of a see-through material impervious to insects. What is new and different about this garment is that it will create and area inside the netting large enough to eat, read, etc, and keep the user protected from insects and comfortable for long periods of time. It will be easy to deploy, wear, remove and transport.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/480,111 entitled “Insect Protection Garment” that was filed Jun. 8, 2009 by Gary Hunt, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
OVERVIEWThis invention is for protection from bothersome and biting insects normally occurring in outdoor areas. It is a one piece, self-supporting total body covering. It will be made mostly of see-through netting material impervious to insects. Most importantly it will create a large enough space, inside the netting, to allow the wearer to eat, drink and relax while doing normal activities, without having to remove the garment, thus reducing exposure to annoying and harmful insects. The netting will be well away from the face making it comfortable to wear for long periods of time. It will be easy to deploy, wear, remove and transport.
FIELD OF DISCLOSUREThis invention is an improvement on all other types of insect protection garments for anyone in an outdoor area where bothersome insects are present. It is designed to be easy to use and comfortable to wear.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPreviously users of the outdoors have had to use either a head net or a head net in combination with a full body suit to protect themselves from insects. Head nets are uncomfortable, especially if you have to wear one for hours, or all day, or day after day as is the case when working or camping outdoors. The netting is only inches from the face, which gets annoying very quickly and makes activities such as eating very difficult. To eat, the head net must either must be removed thus exposing the person to the insects, or the user can try to pull the neck elastic out far enough to get a fork full of food into the mouth, which is difficult, and also creates an opening for insects to enter, thus undermining the protective aspect of the head net. Some try to solve this problem by eating in a tent, this is not recommended because animals are attracted to food smells and bears, skunks etc may come to the tent looking for a meal.
Suit type body protection must be worn over full length clothing as the netting cannot be held away from the skin. This makes suit types very uncomfortable on hot days when insects are present. They also must be used in conjunction with a head net which fails to address the problem of how to eat and perform other necessary tasks without creating an opening for insects to enter or removing the head net.
Some users of the outdoors rely on chemical repellents on their skin or clothing. Recent reports on these chemicals safety on the body make many reluctant to place it on the skin or inhale the vapors given off by these harsh chemicals even when placed on clothing. Some have label warnings of chemical stains if placed on clothing, and have to be re-applied frequently to be effective.
The Alquist et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,990 is a hood arrangement, and fails to address the need for a larger inside area to eat, read etc. The Alquist hood also hangs very close to the face which is annoying. It also fails to address the ability to be folded into a small and more pack able size. Also the crown piece is made of mesh material that provides little shade and no rain protection. It can be raining hard enough to get a person wet, yet not deter the insects. It also appears that the reinforcing cross strips on top lay directly on the head potentially making it uncomfortable after many hours of use. The Alquist et al hood has no openings for convenience, necessitating it to be opened or removed frequently to perform simple tasks.
The Merrill, U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,993 and Myers U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,781 are both suit type of garments that would be extremely hot on even moderately warm days. The face netting can be opened for eating etc, but there is nothing to prevent insects from flying inside the head piece while opened, thus undermining the protective aspect of the garment.
So what is desired is a garment that is one piece, light weight, covers the whole body and has a large enough inside space so you can eat, read etc and has openings for convenience so the garment will need to be removed as little as possible. It has a top that not only blocks insects from entering, but also provides shade and rain protection and allows the user to wear shorts and tee shirt on hot days.
SUMMARYThis invention is intended to be worn to provide protection from insects and to be easy to deploy, wear, remove and transport. It is to be used by people who wish to engage in outdoor activities where enjoyment of such activities may be compromised by bothersome or biting insects.
It can also be used by military personnel deployed in areas where biting insects are a big problem and they are faced with long exposure times and where the possibility of contracting malaria is a factor. This invention could also help the populations in poorer countries or any place where there is a danger of malaria. There are bug nets for the heads and beds but none for the body, this invention fills that need.
A key of this invention is to have insert protection that can be worn over regular clothing, including light weight shirts and shorts that are normally worn outdoors when the weather is hot. Biting insects thrive in hot weather and having to wear a long sleeve shirt and long pants on 90 degree plus days is dreadful and possibly dangerous as such clothing could facilitate heat stroke.
It is the object of this invention to provide a large enough inside space as to not be annoyed by netting close to the face. Also to allow a large enough inside space for activities such as eating, drinking, smoking, sewing, repairing, cleaning gear or reading a map or book or writing in a journal, without fear of biting bugs.
A key of this invention is the spring steel, or plastic ring of the top to be the only support necessary for this garment. Also, the ring of the top will hold the netting well away from the face of the wearer creating a space inside impervious to bugs. Another key to this invention is that the ring on top will be sewn into the outer edge of the top material so as to allow it to be twisted and folded to approximately one third of its unfolded size to make it much easier to pack and transport.
Another important aspect to this invention is the opening in the front, at approximately waist level, will have a fabric hook and loop fastener or similar closure that is large enough to pass a plate of food, a book, etc inside. The opening for men will be located where a zipper on a regular pair of men's pants is located to facilitate the use of a restroom as needed. This will also have a fabric hook and loop fastener or similar closure.
The seating area, which is in back, at waist level, extending down to just above the back of the knee, will be made of a durable material such as nylon so as to reduce the possibility of wear and tear when sitting on abrasive surfaces such as rocks or logs. The opening in the seating area will also be large enough to allow the use of a restroom without removing the garment and will have a fabric hook and loop fastener or similar closure.
There will also be a round piece of cotton or other soft material sewn onto the inside of the top to deny insects the ability to bite the wearer on the head. There will also be a chin strap made of elastic strap material or cloth string with a cord lock, permanently attached to the round piece of cloth material attached to the top. It will be long enough to comfortably reach under the chin of the wearer to hold the garment in place.
There will be a strip of the durable nylon material at the bottom to prevent wear if dragged on the ground. There will be elastic straps sewn to the bottom strip that can be looped under the shoes to hold the garment down far enough to prevent insects from entering from the bottom.
The garment can be rolled up to waist level or to shoulder or neck level depending on how much of the body the wearer wants to protect.
The entire bottom of the garment will be open to allow entry into the garment and make removal easy. Also the garment can be closed at the bottom around the shoes to keep insects from getting inside. This also will allow the wearer to walk around the campsite, etc. Also, if the wearer prefers to bring the feet inside, the entire bottom of the garment can be sealed with the fabric hook and loop fastener.
The above-mentioned aspects of the present invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The embodiments of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention.
In
The top piece 1 will be made of a circular piece of nylon or similar material that is commonly used to make outdoor clothing or tents. The edge will be sewn in such a way as to prevent fraying.
The spring steel or plastic hoop 2 will be sewn into the outer edge of top piece 1. Top piece 1 will be folded over at the edge so the hoop 2 will be between the layers of material. Double stitching for strength is recommended.
The netting 11, that extends down below the top piece 1 will be sewn to the outer edge of the top piece 1. Before sewing the netting 11 to the top piece 1, a strip of nylon 12 should be sewn to the top of the netting 11 where it will be attached to top piece 1. The strip of nylon 12 should be folded over so the top of the netting 11 will be between the layers of the folded nylon 12 and then double stitched for strength. Then the strip of nylon 12 with the netting 11 attached can be sewn to top piece 1 and double stitched for strength. The top piece 1 is tightly stretched across hoop 2 (or resilient loop) to transfer the weight of the netting 11 and hoop 2 to the head piece 8 with minimal sagging of the top piece 1.
The arm openings 3 and 7 may have a permanently attached sleeve (not shown) and allows the wearer to extend the hand and arm outside of the netting to cook, operate a camera, set up a tent, etc. If a sleeve is attached to openings 3 and 7, a strip of nylon should be sewn on the end of the sleeve that will be attached to the garment and then the nylon sewn to the garment. The sleeve should be made of netting or nylon material. With or without the sleeve the opening can be closed, preferably with a fabric hook and loop fastener, or with a zipper or other types of fabric closing systems. The upper front opening 4 should be large enough to pass a plate of food or an article of clothing, etc, inside the garment or passing such items outside of the garment. This opening will be closable with a fabric hook and loop fastener or similar system. The lower front opening 5 will be for the males convenience when using the restroom and can be closed with A fabric hook and loop fastener or similar system.
The bottom opening 6 can be opened to a size large enough to allow the wearer to put the garment on and off. It can also be closed at the bottom with a fabric hook and loop fastener or similar system. It will have a strip of nylon sewn around the entire bottom to prevent wear. It should be sewn to netting 11 the same way as the nylon strip 12 is sewn to netting 11 in
Before a fabric hook and loop fastener is attached to the garment it should be sewn to a piece of nylon first rather than sewing a fabric hook and loop fastener directly to the garment. Then the nylon with the fabric hook and loop fastener attached can be sewn to the garment. Double stitching for strength is recommended everywhere anything is attached.
The circular head piece 8 is sewn to the top piece 1 to keep insects from reaching the wearers head and as an attachment for chin strap 9. The chin strap 9 keeps the garment from sliding around and keeps the garment in place if wind is present. It can be made of an elastic material or cotton, like a shoe string with an adjustable stop so the wearer can adjust for comfort under the chin.
Chin strap 9 is made of either of thin elastic material or cotton material such as a shoe string that has adjustable cord lock, like the type found on stuff sacks, so the chin strap can be adjusted for comfort. It will be sewn to head piece 8 just above the ears. It will prevent the garment from sliding around and keeps the garment in place if wind is present.
The arm opening 7 is shown for the right arm to extend out as needed and close with a fabric hook and loop fastener.
It should be understood that the descriptions of the invention were made as specific as possible and that changes in materials, openings, support systems and closer systems, fall within the true scope of the invention and are covered by the stated claims.
While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention have been disclosed herein, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An insect protection device configured to attach to a head of a user, the insect protection device comprising:
- a head piece adapted to be directly secured to the head of the user;
- a circular top piece secured above the head piece, the top piece having an outer perimeter circumscribing the head piece;
- a resilient loop secured to the circular top piece at the outer perimeter;
- a mesh tube secured to the circular top piece at the outer perimeter and having a height to extend beyond a waist of the user; and
- the resilient loop and the mesh tube both substantially separated from and fully circumscribing the head piece.
2. The insect protection device of claim 1 further comprising
- the circular top piece being tightly stretched across the resilient loop, and
- the mesh tube having a diameter of at least two feet.
3. The insect protection device of claim 1 wherein
- the resilient loop is constructed of a spring steel.
4. The insect protection device of claim 1 wherein
- the mesh tube includes at least two convenience openings selected from a group consisting of: a left arm opening, a right arm opening, an upper front opening, a lower front opening, and a bottom opening.
5. The insect protection device of claim 4 further comprising:
- a fabric hook and loop fastener secured adjacent to at least one of the convenience openings.
6. The insect protection device of claim 1 wherein
- the mesh tube has a bottom opening,
- the mesh tube has a first horizontal perimeter, with a first length, adjacent to the top piece,
- the mesh tube has a second horizontal perimeter, with a second length, midway between the top piece and the bottom opening, and
- the first length is equal to the second length.
7. The insect protection device of claim 6 wherein
- the second horizontal perimeter is separated by the first horizontal perimeter by at least two feet.
8. The insect protection device of claim 6 wherein
- the mesh tube has a third horizontal perimeter with a third length adjacent to the bottom opening, the third length being equal to the first length.
9. The insect protection device of claim 8 further comprising
- the mesh tube including at least one convenience openings selected from a group consisting of: a left arm opening located between the first horizontal perimeter and the second horizontal perimeter, a right arm opening located between the first horizontal perimeter and the second horizontal perimeter, a lower front opening located between the first horizontal perimeter and the third horizontal perimeter, and a lower rear opening located between the first horizontal perimeter and the third horizontal perimeter.
10. The insect protection device of claim 1 wherein
- the circular top piece has a diameter of at least two feet, and
- the mesh tube includes a cylindrical portion with a circumference of at least six feet and a height of at least three feet.
11. The insect protection device of claim 1 wherein
- the top piece is made of a fabric, and
- only the fabric on the top piece connects the head piece to the resilient loop.
12. An insect protection device configured to attach to a head of a user, the insect protection device comprising:
- a head piece adapted to be directly secured to the head of the user;
- a circular top piece secured above the head piece, the top piece having an outer perimeter circumscribing the head piece;
- a resilient loop secured to the circular top piece at the outer perimeter; and
- a mesh tube secured to the circular top piece at the outer perimeter, having a bottom opening, having a first horizontal perimeter with a first length adjacent to the top piece, having a second horizontal perimeter, with a second length, midway between the top piece and the bottom opening, and wherein the first length is substantially equal to the second length.
13. The insect protection device of claim 12 wherein
- the second horizontal perimeter is separated by the first horizontal perimeter by at least two feet.
14. The insect protection device of claim 12 wherein
- the circular top piece is tightly stretched across the resilient loop, and
- the mesh tube includes a convenience opening located between the first horizontal perimeter and the second horizontal perimeter.
15. The insect protection device of claim 12 wherein
- the mesh tube has a third horizontal perimeter, with a third length, adjacent to the bottom opening, the third length being substantially equal to the first length.
16. The insect protection device of claim 15 further comprising
- the mesh tube including at least one convenience openings selected from a group consisting of: a left arm opening located between the first horizontal perimeter and the second horizontal perimeter, a right arm opening located between the first horizontal perimeter and the second horizontal perimeter, a lower front opening located between the first horizontal perimeter and the third horizontal perimeter, and a lower rear opening located between the first horizontal perimeter and the third horizontal perimeter.
17. The insect protection device of claim 12 wherein
- the top piece is made of a fabric, and
- only the fabric on the top piece connects the head piece to the resilient loop.
18. The insect protection device of claim 12 further comprising
- the resilient significantly separated from and fully circumscribing the head piece.
19. The insect protection device of claim 12 further comprising
- the mesh tube significantly separated from and fully circumscribing the head piece.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 14, 2013
Publication Date: Nov 5, 2015
Inventor: Gary Hunt (Silver Spring, MD)
Application Number: 13/967,143