Abstract: An evaporative cooling device and method for removing heat energy from an object in thermally conductive contact with the device that is formed of a flexible and conformable container that is at least partially filled with a liquid absorbing material. When the device is hydrated and placed in thermally conductive contact with an object to be cooled, heat energy is transferred from the object to the device and the liquid that was absorbed by the material is evaporated. The amount of heat transferred is substantially equal to the latent heat of vaporization of the liquid that is evaporated. The use of the liquid absorbing material also allows the container to remain dry to the touch, even after it is hydrated.

Abstract: A garment having pockets or other enclosures capable of mounting cooling packs such as gel packs therein. Thermally sensitive indicators, such as sensitive color gauge strips, are used to display the packs current effective temperatures. Thermal garment openings allow the packs to transmit cold to a user while the thermal indicators inform the user if the packs are too cold or too warm to be effective. Many different types of garments may utilize the principles behind this invention including headbands, wristbands and body vests.

Abstract: A hair band includes a body integrally formed of flexible material and has a first curvature and two engaging end portions each having an engaging slot defined therein and a retaining piece releasably attached to each engaging end portion. Each retaining piece is of a second curvature and includes a resilient snapping member formed on one end thereof for being releasably received in the engaging slot of the body.

Abstract: A skin heat shielding system comprising an elastic headband member positionable about the head of a user; a forehead shielding member constructed from a heat resistance plastic having a first headband attachment portion and a forehead shielding portion extending outwardly from the headband attachment portion, the first headband attachment portion being detachably securable to a first headband section of the headband member with a first detachable fastening mechanism; a neck shielding member constructed from a heat resistance plastic having a second headband attachment portion and a neck shielding portion extending outwardly from the headband attachment portion at an angle of less than sixty degrees, the second headband attachment portion being detachably securable to a second section of the headband member with a second detachable fastening mechanism; and a pair of ear shield members each having a fabric outer shell that is impregnated with metallic particles and that forms an internal compartment that is acc

Abstract: A detachable flower wire tie including a fabric stem enclosing a pliable metal wire, the wire having a hook formed at each of its ends, a pair of bulbs made by wrapping the corresponding ends of the stem around each of the hooks, and a pair of detachable fabric rings, each enclosing an elastic band designed to slidably engage the fabric stem in a functional and decorative manner, particularly when the flowerette and its corresponding bulb are in close proximity to one another and the stem ends are twisted together, similar to a pair of interlocking flowers.

Abstract: A cap, hat, or visor is provided with a headband. The headband has an inner face for engaging the head of a wearer and an outer face. An elongate pocket is formed in the outer face portion of the headband extending along at least half of the headband circumference. An outer closure in the pocket shields the pocket contents from view and contamination. A foldable neckpiece is attached to the interior of the pocket. It may be folded up and contained within the pocket or unfolded to protectively cover the ears and neck. The neckpiece may be detachable for laundering.

Abstract: A flexible, perspiration-absorbing headband includes a downwardly extending flexible strip having a first end fixed to the headband and a second end end releasably attachable to the headband. The second end of the strip may be looped around a nose bridge of a pair of eyeglasses and attached to the headband to secure the eyeglasses.

Abstract: A strong, lightweight, soft, pliable, perspiration absorbent, economically disposable, foldable to a small packageable size, and reusable, sweatband (15) formed from a unitary body member comprising a perspiration absorbing pad (4) with drain channel (5) and a perspiration absorbing see through removable wiping towel/veil/windscreen (8) which can be protected from perspiration by a removable perspiration shield (14) provided in the pocket (7) of the sweatband to prevent the removable wiping towel (8) from becoming wet from perspiration if the wearer prefers not to have the wiping towel wet. Money, identification, packaged antimicrobial wipes and other items may also be carried in the sweatband pocket (7). The folded, porus, see through, removable wiping towel/veil/windscreen (8), can be easily removed by one hand from the sweatband through a access opening (12) located on the front face of the sweatbands second elongated envelope (2).

Abstract: This invention is a headband and bow combination where the bows can be changed to create different looks. The headband has an over-hand knot tied in it, which may be loosened to receive a bow and then tightened to hold the bow in place. The headband is of an expandable material and the wearing of the headband around the user's head serves to maintain the knot in its tightened condition and correspondingly maintain the bow in place.

Abstract: A self-adjusting, fabric-covered sweat band for a hat including a crown having a base of an inner circumference, includes an elastic material which has a length of a first dimension, which is shorter than the inner circumference of the base of the crown of the hat, and a width of a second dimension and which has a front edge, rear edge, a first edge and a second edge running lengthwise and a fabric material which has a length of a third dimension, which is longer than the circumference of the inner base of the crown of the hat, and a width of a fourth dimension, which is greater than four times the second dimension and which has been folded over along a lengthwise centerline.

Abstract: A protective head covering is disclosed. The covering includes two bands of material each extending from opposite sides of a central band. The central band includes a top rounded edge for being positioned beneath the hairline on the back of the head for substantially abuting against the back of the neck. The central band includes a flap portion that extends down the back of the neck as well. The central band and each of the side bands can be formed from fire retardant and fire resistant material such as polytatrafluoroethylene also referred to as Teflon and the like, or can be shirting with a lining of aramid material which is very heat resistant. The side bands can be connected together by nylon type hooks and loops such as Velcro and the like. Alternatively, the side bands can be fastened together by buttons, snaps and the like.

Abstract: The headband unit includes two enlarged fabric pockets disposed to overlie and cover the ears of the person wearing the unit. Each pocket is formed between two layers of fabric and contains an audio speaker support in the form of a strip of flexible plastic secured around its edges to the layer of fabric that engages the ear of the person wearing the unit, and having therein a plurality of spaced openings or slots each of which is adapted to receive and removably support an audio speaker in any of a plurality of different positions in the associated pocket so as to be registrable selectively with the ear of the person wearing the unit.

Abstract: A hat or collar uses a tubular sleeve of an oval annular configuration. The sleeve is composed of a flexible fabric having sufficient body and firmness to retain full malleable wire capable of being deformed by hand and is placed within the sleeve. The wire is of such length and general configuration as to fit within, conform to and generally define an outer periphery of the annular configuration of the sleeve throughout most of the length of that periphery. It preferably is stitched in position so that it can slip somewhat relative to the fabric as the malleable wire is deformed by hand. Forming the wire by hand changes the shape and appearance of the hat such that it retains such changed shape until again deformed by hand. The elastic connector attached to each of the respective ends of the tubular sleeve elastically interconnects those ends so that sufficient stretch is provided that the inner periphery of the annulus can serve as a hat band adjusting to the wearer's head size.

Abstract: An ergonomic head band which may be comfortably worn for extended periods of time. The head band includes a strap having first and second upwardly curved side arcuate segments, a front arcuate region, and tails which couple together at the back of a wearer's head. Platform regions are provided between the front arcuate region and side arcuate segments. The side arcuate segments comfortably accommodate the ears of a wearer while the head band is worn, while the front arcuate region is positioned adjacent the wearer's head. The platform regions allow face shields or other apparatus to be coupled to the head band.

Abstract: A headband designed particularly, but not limited exclusively, for a person having a ponytail includes an elongated member having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first generally U-shaped end having a pair of outwardly extending legs, and a second generally U-shaped end having a pair of outwardly extending legs. The headband further includes a pair of hook-type VELCRO strips placed on the outer surface of the outwardly extending legs of the first generally U-shaped end and a pair of loop-type VELCRO strips, fastenable with the pair of hook-type VELCRO strips, placed on the inner surface of the outwardly extending legs of the second generally U-shaped end. The pair of hook-type VELCRO strips and the pair of loop-type VELCRO strips serve as a means for attaching the first generally U-shaped end to the second generally U-shaped end. The attachment of the first generally U-shaped end to the second generally U-shaped end creates a generally oval opening enabling the pony tail to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A combined hairband and hair-retainer includes an elastic, absorbent headband having a hair retainer attached thereto. The hair retainer is an elongated member which is sufficiently flexible to be deformed by hand from one shape to another sufficiently rigid to retain any shape into which it is formed. Hair is retained by gathering hair into a pony-tail form and twisting the hair-retainer around the pony-tail to retain the hair in this form.

Abstract: The present invention involves a hairdo spacer and protective device having a headband, which can be used alone or in combination with at least one arc wherein each arc forms an arch over the base headband and is attached to the base headband by an attaching means. Both the base headband and arcs, if any, have a spacing means for spacing the base headband and arcs, if any, away from a person's hairdo or scalp.

Abstract: A visor adapted to be worn on the head of a user includes a browband having a top surface and a bottom surface extending between a first end and a second end. An attachment strap extends between the first and second end to form with the browband a headband variable in length to facilitate snug engagement on the head of the user. A sunshade extends outwardly from the bottom surface of the browband in a fixed relationship with the headband. A first tube is included in the browband and has a first axis extending between the first end and the second end of the browband. Similarly, a second tube is included in the browband and has a second axis. The first tube is disposed tangential to the second tube with the first axis generally parallel to the second axis. A water absorbent cooling material is disposed in at least one of the first and second tube to facilitate evaporation while cooling the head of the user.

Abstract: A disposable liner is fitted against the inside surface of a sweatband of a cap or hat. The liner functions to absorb moisture and oils, and to eliminate odor. The liner wicks moisture away from a user and may hold moisture away from the hat. The liner may wick moisture to an evaporation region to be evaporated. The evaporation region may be separated from the hat by a cover layer to prevent wicking into the crown of the hat. The liner may be configured to adjust the size, and thus the fit of the hat on the head of the user. To secure a hat on the head of a user, the liner may include a compressible, foamed, polymeric core. The core may be treated with an antibacterial agent and a deodorizing agent for eliminating odors. To one side of the core is attached an adhesive layer for securing the to the sweatband of the hat. The adhesive is selected for firmness yet easy removal and disposal of the liner. The adhesive may be heat-sensitive.

Abstract: A headband magnifier comprises a one-piece polypropylene headband having a front portion, a back portion and two opposed sides where the back portion is disengageable so that the headband is movable between an at rest position and a compression position for the headband to provide a compressive force. This headband compressive force provides a comfortable tension for all head sizes. The headband magnifier further provides a flexible holding member having a continuous groove that facilitates interchangeability of lenses.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a headband are described, each having a ponytail receiving feature. In some of the embodiments, the ponytail-receiving feature is a separate and distinct ring-like element. In other embodiments, the ponytail-receiving feature is an opening created in the headband itself. The headband may be formed of one or more braided strands. A four-strand braid may have two groups of two strands each, at a ponytail-receiving location, to form the ponytail-receiving feature. In an embodiment, one long strand may be braided back onto itself, its two ends forming loops for defining the extremities of an integral ponytail-receiving feature. In a preferred embodiment, a relatively long strand and a relatively short strand are braided to form a headband with integral ponytail-receiving feature. An optional visor element is also described.

Abstract: An earmuff assembly is adapted to be secured to a wearer's head in order to cover the wearer's ears. The earmuff assembly comprises a pair of earmuff elements, a band member and a joining means. Each of the earmuff elements has a pair of spaced-apart sleeve structures disposed thereon. The band member has opposite ends and includes a pair of strap portions. A first one of strap portions is slidably received in a first one of the sleeve structures of each earmuff element and a second one of the strap portions is slidably received in a second one of the sleeve structures of each earmuff element so that the earmuff element may be selectably positioned along the band member between the strap portions. The joining means interconnects the opposite ends of the band member so that the band member may be placed around and retained by the head of the wearer with the earmuff elements oriented to cover the ears.

Abstract: A moisture management hat is constructed of a shell fabric and includes a moisture management band. The moisture management band is located along an inside perimeter of the hat for residing next to at least the forehead of the wearer during garment wear. The moisture management band includes a first, moisture wicking fabric layer having a skin-side surface and a shell-side surface. The first fabric layer is constructed of hydrophobic fibers for residing nearest the head of the wearer for moving moisture outwardly away from the head. A second, moisture dispersal fabric layer having a skin-side surface and a shell-side surface resides adjacent to the shell-side surface of the first fabric layer. The second fabric layer is constructed of hydrophilic fibers for receiving and dispersing moisture wicked outwardly by the first fabric layer.

Abstract: A cushioning, sweat-absorbing, advertising sweatband which is easily attached and removed from an existing hat or headgear that has an exposed headband. The band is a piece of material that has a foam cushion inserted inside the material and sewn in such a way as to form three distinct rectangles which are wrapped around each other and mate together through hook and loop fasteners over the exposed headband of a hat, such as an adjustable baseball cap.

Abstract: An ornament, e.g., a hair band, headband, hat band, etc., and method of making it. The ornament comprises a plurality of looped links and a looped connecting member. Each of the looped links is formed of an flexible, somewhat elastic, e.g., knitted, material in the nominal shape of a toroidal loop, but bent into a shape having a bridging midsection and a pair of openings on each side of the bridging midsection. The looped connecting member is in the form of a loop of the same material and has a central opening. The looped links are interconnected with one another so that the bridging midsection of one looped link extends through the openings in the immediately adjacent looped link to form an elongated chain-link strip having a pair of ends. One of the ends of the chain-linked strip comprising the looped connecting member and the other end comprises the looped link forming that end.

Abstract: A headband protects a woman from injury to the skin adjacent to the hairline during hair treatment. The headband is made of a flat, heat-insulating, moisture-absorbing material and its top edge is arcuate in the region covering the temples and forehead of the wearer, protruded in the region covering the ears, and substantially straight in the region covering the back of the neck, so that the headband follows the contour of the hairline when secured on the head of the wearer.

Abstract: A headband and flashlight holding construction includes a plurality of equal length straps. Two of the straps are joined together to form a headband, and two of the straps are orthogonally joined to the headband forming semi-loops so that, when the headband is situated on a user's head, the semi-loops span across the cranium of the user. The straps have loop-type material surfaces. At least the two straps that span across the cranium of the user, when in used have the loop-type material surfaces radially outermost. Holding devices are secured to small flashlights. These holding devices have hook-type material situated radially outwardly. Thus, the flashlight may be joined to the cranium spanning straps by simply pressing the holding devices against the straps allowing the hook-type material to intermesh with the loop-type material. Hook-type material fasteners are used to join the remaining two straps to form a full loop for the headband.

Abstract: A sweatband comprises an elongated, decorative, cloth element made of a stretchable material, and a water-absorber retained by the cloth element. The cloth element has end portions that can be secured together so that when the sweatband is placed around a body part, the band is held in place so the water-absorber can absorb sweat from the body part. The sweatband has a combination of comfort, high sweat absorbance.

Abstract: An improved hat band adapted to be wrapped around the body of a hat with free ends detachably connected to each other, the band being held in place by tension and slideably adjustable around the hat body to properly position the band on the hat.

Abstract: An elongated, semi-flat tubular body constructed of flexible fluid impervious material is provided and the tubular body is divided into separate longitudinally spaced compartments along longitudinally spaced flexible transverse zones of the body. The compartments are filled with a fluid eutectic solution and the body may be folded along the transverse zones for relative angular displacement of the adjacent compartments. The elongated, semi-flat tubular body may removably supported within the channel defined by the sweat band of a hat or cap and may be used to absorb heat from the adjacent head areas of the wearer of the hat or to provide heat to those adjacent head areas.

Abstract: A combination headband and stereo earphones having two elongated strips of material releasably attached to each other. The ends of the strips can be attached to form a headband. The wires attached to each earphone are placed in the headband and maintained in place when the strips of the headband are attached to each other. The strips can be imprinted with names, logos and designs for promotional and sponsorship advertising.

Abstract: An improved device for protective headgear for shielding ears and neck from ultraviolet rays which can be worn alone or in conjunction with a hat. This device is a stretchable headband with a crescent shaped sun shield attached to the headband. The sun shield gathers slightly when worn, and extends outwardly from the head so that it does not lay directly over the ears. The shield is made of a tightly woven material which is also breathable, a single ply or preferably a two-ply material with a tightly woven micro denier on the outside and an all-cotton liner on the underside which will be in contact with the back of the neck. A method for making the device also disclosed.

Abstract: A disposable device for absorbing perspiration that can be placed into the forehead area of a variety of styles and sizes of headwear. The invention consists of a flexible, liquid absorbent pad made from a material such as cloth having an absorbent nap, such as terry cloth, or absorbent paper, which may be cut by the user to fit the forehead area of the headwear. The absorbent pad may be of varying degrees of thickness. The absorbent pad is coated on one side with an adhesive, which temporarily but firmly adheres the absorbent pad to the headwear. After the absorbent pad becomes soiled, the invention can be removed from headwear by the user, disposed of, and replaced with a new absorbent pad. The non-adhesive side of the absorbent pad may be readily printable, so that advertising, slogans or other messages may be printed thereon.

Abstract: A headwear piece having a crown with a surface defining an opening for receiving the head of a wearer, a bladder having first and second layers defining a space therebetween for containing a displaceable fluid, structure for connecting the first and second layers to each other to divide the bladder space into first and second chambers with their being a communication path through the bladder space between the first and second chambers, and structure for connecting the bladder to the crown so that the bladder defines a deformable cushion layer to conform to the head of a wearer.

Abstract: A sports band for absorbing perspiration and for cooling the wearer is comprised of a band of elastic absorbent material, generally toroidal in shape, and is configured to be worn upon a person's head or wrist. The sports band has a slit formed upon its inner surface such that a flexible cold pack may be received thereby and disposed within the band. The sports band may alternatively be generally comprised of a comparatively inelastic material and have a strip of elastic material inserted as a portion of the band to provide the required stretchability. A layer of insulating material may optionally be formed along the inner layer of the generally toroidal band to reduce the rate of heat transfer between the wearer and the cold pack such that the sensation of cold is reduced and the useful life of the cold pack is increased.

Abstract: A sweatband and earphone system utilizing a head sweatband preferably formed of an elastic fabric having internal pockets defined therein for receiving earphones connected to a radio or tape player. The sweatband comfortably and securely maintains the earphones upon the wearer's ears, and the sweatband includes stretchable openings permitting the earphones to be readily inserted and removed.

Abstract: A multi-layer moisture management elastic fabric including a moisture transport fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns and defining a first fabric face for residing in skin contact during garment wear and for wicking moisture away from the skin. A moisture dispersal fabric layer is constructed of hydrophilic yarns and defines a second fabric face for residing in spaced-apart relation from the skin during garment wear and for receiving moisture from the hydrophobic moisture transport layer. Elastic yarns are integrated with the yarns of the moisture transport fabric layer and the yarns of the moisture dispersal fabric layer to form a single, integrated fabric which is highly elastic. The fabric is useful as waistband material and as athletic headbands, wristbands and as medical bandages and braces.

Abstract: A moisture-management garment having a moisture management panel constructed of a moisture management fabric which extends generally between a crotch area of the garment and a waist area of the garment. The moisture management panel includes a first fabric having an inner moisture transport fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns for residing in skin contact during garment wear and an inner dispersal fabric layer constructed of hydrophilic yarns and positioned adjacent to the inner moisture transport layer to receive and disperse moisture transported to it by the inner moisture transport layer. A second fabric is provided having an outer moisture vaporization fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns which is the outermost surface of the moisture management fabric during wear, and an outer moisture dispersal fabric layer constructed of hydrophilic yarns and positioned adjacent to the outer moisture vaporization layer.

Abstract: A fabric-covered foam rubber pad that is in a semicircular shape with a small slot gap in the center of the foam rubber pad that provides a hinge to allow it to easily fold in half and provide room for the sizing strap of a baseball-style cap. Hooh-and-loop fasteners are attached to one side of the structure so that when placed up, under, and over a baseball-style cap's sizing strap it can be folded in half and secured in place.

Abstract: An ear muff device is arranged to include a resilient band, with the band of a generally semi-circular configuration of resilient construction, including a glove-shaped member at each end thereof, wherein each glove-shaped member is arranged to receive an ear of an individual in surrounding relationship relative to the ear to impart warmth to the ear in use. A modification of the invention includes audio conduit structure directed through the glove members to direct and ease audio hearing of an individual in use of the organization.

Abstract: An adjustable facial dressing for compression and/or support of facial features for medical treatment is disclosed. A main band elastic can be positioned on the face (head or neck) in various positions by adjusting the position of an integral hook tape tab at any position along the main band. A separate anchor strap has hook tape tabs at its ends. The hook tape tabs each engage one of two generally opposite sides of the main band around only one side of the face (head or neck). The anchor strap hook tape tabs can engage the main band at any position along the main band, to thereby provide compression or support of the face/head/neck area covered and assist in maintaining the position of the main band on the face. More than one anchor strap may be used.

Abstract: Game apparatus comprises a projectile and a head garment. The head garment includes a head-fitting member configured and dimensioned to be releasably worn on the head of the player. The head garment also includes a visor attached to said head-fitting member, wherein the visor is configured with an aperture of sufficient size to allow said projectile to pass through the aperture.

Abstract: A removable liner for lining a forehead-contacting portion of a headgear of a protective head covering such as a hard hat includes a piece of material configured with a bottom edge, side edges extending outwardly and upwardly from the bottom edge to a top edge, and a top edge with top edge end portions sloping upwardly to a central top edge portion. Fastening means, such as snaps, are provided at the ends of and intermediate the top edge of the liner with respective mating fastening means at the ends of and intermediate the bottom edge so that the liner can be folded around the forehead-contacting strap and flap and the fastening means fastened to hold the liner in position. The fastening means along the bottom edge of the liner are all offset inwardly or toward one another from their respective mating fastening means along the top edge so as to provide a good fit around the strap and flap with a minimum of bunching and wrinkling.

Abstract: This invention teaches a method of forming a low cost, breathable, light weight, soft, disposable elastic structure with surface properties that are characterized by a controlled irregularity of the pleats or shirrs that make up the broad surfaces of the structure. The structure is a layered structure with outer layers of low basis weight breathable material, a central elastic layer, and an adhesive layer that serves to join all the layers together to form a unitary elastic structure.

Abstract: A premature baby elastic strip-like headband having expansion limiting structure with opposite ends of which one end has male hook-like multiple alternate attaching elements and of which a remaining opposite end has female loop-like attaching elements detachably securable to one-another at optionally alternate locations thereof, and having nasal cannulas oxygen tubes-securing structures positioned and mounted on the headband such that the nasal cannulas oxygen tubes are located on opposite side of a baby's head the headband is mounted thereof.

Abstract: An absorbent headband is provided which includes a resilient inner frame and one or more absorbent outer covers. The outer cover is generally tubular, and closed at each end. The outer cover is provided with a slot for removably inserting the inner frame member into the interior of the outer cover. A method is provided for absorbing perspiration which includes the steps of providing a resilient inner member which is generally u-shaped, providing a tubular outer cover, inserting the inner member into the outer cover, and placing the headband on the head of the wearer. The method may also include the steps of removing the inner member from the outer cover and inserting it into a second outer cover which may be dry, or of a different color as desired.

Abstract: A convertible fur piece is disclosed which consists of an elongated strip of fur having hook and loop connecting strips secured to its opposed longitudinal edges which enable the strip of fur to be folded in half with its edges secured together to form an elongated hollow tube which receives a shoulder bag strap, or the like, to form a decorative element for the shoulder bag strap and a protective guard to reduce wear resulting from rubbing of the shoulder bag strap against the fur coat. Additionally, the ends of the fur strip have additional hook and loop connecting strips respectively secured thereto enable the fur strip to also serve as a head band.

Abstract: A safety hunter's garment that permits the selective interchangeability of camouflage on the garment to a plurality of bands of Hunter's orange, the blazing fluorescent orange by simply reversing the bands to expose or cover the selected mode. An arrangement of a plurality of fasteners on a band of opposed materials of camouflage and Hunter's orange enables this exchange.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved elastic band and in particular to one including a first portion with a plurality of longitudinal serrated projections and a second portion with smooth surface, whereby articles with a cylindrical contour may be conveniently secured together without worrying about the separation of the articles.

Abstract: An improved sweatband is disclosed comprising a first fabric configured to fit about the head of a wearer. A second fabric is attached to the first fabric and a third fabric is partially secured to the second fabric thereby forming a pocket therebetween. A removable package for holding granular moisture absorbing material is configured to fit withnin the pocket. The sweatband is secured to head of the wearer to absorb perspiration. The removable package can be removed and dried upon saturation of the granular moisture absorbing material.