PORTABLE SHADE ARTICLE CONFIGURED TO FIT OVER THE HEAD, OR HEAD AND HAT, OF A USER

Abstract

An article configured to fit over a wearer's head, or head and hat, in a manner to create shade for at least the wearer's ears and neck. The article includes a first circular member defining a first central opening and second circular member defining a second central opening. The first circular member includes a series of cuts about an inner edge proximate to the first central opening with the second circular member joined to the first circular member proximate to the series of cuts. One or more size adjustment fasteners may be employed to accommodate different head sizes.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable device configured to create shade for at least a wearer's ears and neck.

BACKGROUND

As people spend more time outdoors playing sports, hiking, going to the beach, working, etc., the effects of the sun's ultraviolet radiation can take its toll. From sunburned skin to skin cancer, unprotected exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation is harmful but preventable. Sun block and sun screen are commonly used to combat the sun's ultraviolet radiation. However, many persons do not use such products due to irritation, allergies or the like.

It would be advantageous to develop a portable, easy-to-use, device for creating shade (i.e., blocking the sun's ultraviolet radiation) about a wearer's head.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of the present invention are directed to an article configured to fit over a wearer's head or hat in a manner to create shade for at least the wearer's ears and neck. In one embodiment, the article comprises a first circular member defining a first central opening, said first central opening dimensioned to fit over a wearer's head or head and hat when worn, said first circular member having a series of cuts about an inner edge proximate to said first central opening; a second circular member defining a second central opening, said second circular member joined to said first circular member proximate to said series of cuts; and one or more fasteners positioned on said first circular member and/or second circular member.

Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an overhead view of a shade article according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an underside view of the shade article according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the shade article according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an upper perspective view of the shade article in an open, size adjustable position according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an underside view of the shade article in an open, size adjustable position according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the article placed over a wearer's head according to the embodiments of the present invention

FIG. 7 illustrates a top down view of the shade article placed over a wearer's head according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the shade article placed over a wearer's head and hat according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a top down view of the shade article placed over a wearer's head and hat according to the embodiments of the present invention; and

FIGS. 10A through 10C illustrate various stages of the first circular member and second circular member as they are used to fabricate the shade article according to the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the present invention may be made using numerous fabrics and materials and using numerous manufacturing techniques without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIGS. 1 through 3 show overhead, underside and side views of a shade article 100 according to the embodiments of the present invention. The shade article 100 broadly includes a first circular member 110 defining a first central opening 120 and a second circular member 130 defining a second central opening 140. As shown, when first circular member 110 and second circular member 130 are combined or joined, the first central opening 120 and second central opening 140 define the same space.

As shown best in FIG. 2, the first circular member 110 incorporates a series of cuts 115-1 through 115-N along an inner edge 117. The series of cuts 115-1 through 115-N provide flexibility and expansiveness about the central opening 120 of the first circular member 110 which is beneficial when placing the shade article 100 on a wearer's head or hat.

In one embodiment, the first circular member 110 and the second circular member 130 are cut from a flexible, resilient material (e.g., cloth, fabric, latex, etc.) such that the shade article 100 may be easily compressed or scrunched to provide ease of storage. For example, in such an embodiment, the shade article 100 may be placed in the pocket of a pair of pants.

FIG. 4 shows an upper perspective view and FIG. 5 shows an underside view of the shade article 100 in an open, size adjustable position according to the embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, the second circular member 130 includes hook and loop fasteners 135-1, 135-2 configured to adjust the size of the central openings 120, 140 to accommodate various head shapes and sizes. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other fasteners, such as buttons, snaps, zippers, magnets, and the like may be used in place of, or in combination with, the hook and loop fasteners 135-1, 135-2. The fasteners may also be positioned on the first circular member 110 or both the first circular member 110 and second circular member 130.

In one embodiment, the shade article 100 is fabricated by first cutting the first circular member 110 and the second circular member 130 from the flexible and resilient material of choice. As shown in FIG. 10A, since the first circular member 110 acts as the shade it tends to be wider than the second circular member 130 which provides support and adjustability. The first circular member 110 and second circular member 130 define central openings 120, 140 of substantially the same diameter. The series of cuts 115-1 through 115-N are then made on the first circular member 110. The series of cuts 115-1 through 115-N permit the first circular member 110 to fit over a wearer's head, or head and hat, and provide some flexibility. The first circular member 110 and second circular member 130 are then cut completely along their widths at 111, 131. The second circular member 130 is then joined to the first circular member 110 over the series of cuts 115-1 through 115-N along the inner edge 117. The second circular member 130 may be joined to the first circular member 110 using fasteners, adhesives or other means. Now constructed, the shade article 100 may be adjusted to fit a wearer's head, or head and hat. In either instance, the shade article 100 creates shade about at least a user's ears, neck and/or eyes.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. An article comprising:

a first circular member defining a first central opening, said first central opening dimensioned to fit over a wearer's head or head and hat when worn, said first circular member having a series of cuts about an inner edge proximate to said first central opening; and

a second circular member defining a second central opening, said second circular member connected to and over an outer surface of said series of cuts of said first circular member, said second circular member having a width sufficient to conceal therebeneath said series of cuts from view by an observer viewing said outer surface of said article when said article is worn over a wearer's head or head and hat.

2. The article of claim 1 further comprising one or more size adjustment fasteners positioned on said first circular member and/or second circular member.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein said first circular member and said second circular member are cut from a flexible and resilient material.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein said first circular member is wider than said second circular member.

5. The article of claim 2 wherein said one or more size adjustment fasteners comprise hook and loop fasteners attached to opposite ends of said second circular member.

6. An article comprising:

a first circular member defining a first central opening, said first central opening dimensioned to fit over a wearer's head or head and hat when worn, said first circular member having a series of spaced cuts about a circumference of an inner edge proximate to said first central opening;

a second circular member defining a second central opening, said second circular member connected to and over an outer surface of said series of cuts of said first circular member, said second circular member having a width sufficient to conceal said series of cuts from view by an observer viewing said outer surface of said article when said article is worn over a wearer's head or head and hat; and

one or more size adjustment fasteners positioned on said first circular member and/or said second circular member.

7. The article of claim 6 wherein said first circular member and said second circular member are cut from a flexible and resilient material.

8. The article of claim 6 wherein said first circular member is wider than said second circular member.

9. The article of claim 6 wherein said one or more size adjustment fasteners comprise hook and loop fasteners attached to opposite ends of said second circular member.

10. A method of making an article comprising:

(i) cutting a first circular member and a second circular member from a flexible and resilient material, each of said first circular member and second circular member defining a central opening;

(ii) making a series of spaced cuts along a circumference of an inner edge of said first circular member;

(iii) cutting said first circular member and said second circular member along widths thereof; and

(iv) joining said second circular member to said first circular member over the series of cuts along said inner edge.

11. The method of making an article of claim 10 further comprising positioning one or more size adjustment fasteners on said first circular member and/or second circular member

12. The method of making an article of claim 10 further comprising cutting said first circular member and said second circular member cut from a flexible and resilient material.

13. The method of making an article of claim 10 further comprising cutting said first circular member wider than said second circular member.

14. The method of making an article of claim 11 further comprising utilizing one or more size adjustment fasteners comprising hook and loop fasteners attached to opposite ends of said second circular member.