AU2009100116A4 - Hat with Insect Screen - Google Patents

Description

Middletons Middletons 2/9/2009 5:20:33 PM PAGE 404 FxSre 4/014 Fax Server F/O01/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Hat with Insect Screen The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: COMS ID No: ARCS-22291 3 Received by P1 Australia: Time 17:24 Date 2009-02-09 Middletons 2/9/2009 5:20:33 PM PAGE 5/014 Fax Server Title C) Hat with insect screen.

O Field of the invention The present invention relates to headgear which is provided with an integral, deployable IDinsect screen. Although embodiments of the invention are described in the context of a sun visor, the invention is applicable to a wide range of headgear.

Background of the invention For many years, bush flies (Musca vetustissima) have been a significant nuisance and health factor in Australia. The problem is expected to get significantly worse as bush flies thrive in hot, dry conditions.

The nuisance of bush flies has in the past been addressed by use of relatively fine-mesh insect nets, such as mosquito nets. When used to protect the face of a wearer from bush flies, such fine-mesh nets are the cause of some inconvenience and discomfort. This is because the fine mesh obscures the vision and limits ventilation.

The inventor has experimented with the use of relatively large-mesh nets for protecting the face of the wearer. Experimentation has demonstrated that bush flies are deterred from passing through such nets, even though the mesh size is too large for the net to act as a physical barrier to the bush flies.

Summary of the invention Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides head covering which is adapted to protect its wearer from the common bush fly, comprising, in combination: a hat brim; and a net: which is attached to the head covering; and which has a mesh size of between about 10mm and such that, when the head covering is in use, the net can be positioned to: cover the entire hat brim, and extend beyond the hat brim to a point just below the wearer's chin and ears.

COMS ID No: ARCS-222913 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:24 Date 2009-02-09 Middletons 2/9/2009 5:20:33 PM PAGE 6/014 Fax Server It is preferred that the net has a circumference along its median line of about 52cm.

C)

It is preferred that the head covering is in the form of a sun visor, the sun visor O comprising: a bill which forms the hat brim; and -a head band: Swhich is attached to the bill in the region of one edge of the bill; and 0 which contains a compartment which carries the net; one edge of the net Sbeing fixed within the compartment.

10 It is preferred that the head covering further comprises a zipper which closes the compartment.

It is preferred that the net is tailored to comprise a substantially conical portion which is adapted to lay on the bill and a substantially conical portion which is adapted to depend from an outer rim of the bill.

It is preferred that the net is made from a material which is chosen from the group consisting of cotton, polyester and nylon. When the net is made from either cotton or polyester, it is preferred that the mesh size of the net is about 15mm by 15mm to about by 40mm. When the net is made from nylon, it is preferred that the mesh size is about 10mm by 10mm to about 25mm by 26mm.

Embodiments of the present invention accordingly provide means for protecting a wearer from bush flies without reliance on, and heavy use of, chemical fly repellents.

Brief description of the drawings This specification describes preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which: figure I is a perspective view from above and to the front of an embodiment of the present invention; figure 2 is a perspective view from below and to the rear of the embodiment of figure 1; figure 3 is a perspective view, from the same view-point as in figure 1, illustrating -2- COMS ID No: ARCS-222913 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:24 Date 2009-02-09 Middletons Middletons 2/8/2009 5:20:33 PM PAGE 704 FxSre 7/014 Fax Server operation of the embodiment of figure 1; and C) figure 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 1 when it is in use by a wearer; and 0 figure 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 1 when it is ready for use by a wearer.

VaO o Description of preferred embodiments of the invention 0 Figure 1 illustrates a sun visor 1 according to preferred embodiments of the present ON invention which is configured ready for wearing as a sun shade, without deployment of the 0 10 insect net.

The sun visor 1 has a head band 2, a bill 3 and an insect net 12.

The bill 3 has a crescent-like shape and has an inner, semi-flexible insert which is encased in fabric. The bill 3 has an outer rim 13 and an inner rim 14. The head band 2 and the bill 3 are fixed together in the region of the inner rim 14 of the bill 3.

When the bill 3 is in its "~relaxed" configuration which is illustrated in figure 2, it has a crescent-like shape. When the bill is in the configuration which is illustrated in figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 its surface approximately conforms to a portion of the curved surface of a shallow cone.

The head band 2 is made of a fabric material and has an inner compartment (which is not shown in the drawings) for receipt of the insect net 12. The inner compartment extends substantially the entire length of the head band 2 and communicates with the exterior of the head band 2 through an opening in its lower region which is finted with a zip fastener.

The zip fastener 12 is of the "invisible" type which is not readily apparent to an observer when it is closed. It is operated by use of the slider handle 9.

As is illustrated in figure 2, hook and loop fasteners 7 and 8, such as VelcroM fasteners, are provided at opposed ends 4 and 5 of the head band 2 for detachably connecting those ends together in the configuration which is shown in figures 1, 3 and 4.

Figure 3 illustrates the net 12 as it is being deployed from within the head band 2. The -3- COMS ID No: ARCS-222913 Received by IP Australia: lime 17:24 Date 2009-02-09 Middletons Middletons 2/9/2009 5:20:33 PM PAGE 504 FxSre 8/014 Fax Server net 12 is substantially rectangular in shape when laid flat and has one edge fixed within C) the inner compartment of the head band 2. That edge is sewn into the inner lining of the headband 2, preferably about 10 millimetres from the bottom edge of the head band. The 0 net is manufactured to provide a continuous peripheral edge 16, that is, the net 12 is not simply cut from a sheet of netting.

IND

o As is illustrated in figure 4 and 5, the net extends laterally along the headband 2, beyond 0 the zone of the bill 3, to points adjacent to the hook and loop fasteners 7 and 9.

0 10 In an activated state, that is, with the net 12 withdrawn from the head band 2, the net 12 is suspended from the point of attachment within the headband to cover the entire bill 3 and beyond to a point just below the wearer's chin and ears. When the net 12 is activated, zipper 11I remains open. The net is tailored and ruffled into the inner compartment of the head band 2 to create a net shape that has a substantially conical portion which lays on the bill 3 and a substantially conical portion which depends from the outer rim 13 of the bill 3.

As is illustrated in figures 4 and 5, the depth and breadth of the bill 3 is preferably such as to ensure that the activated net, when draped over and beyond the bill 3, does not come into direct or sustained contact with any part of the face or ears, although the bottom edge of the net 12 may lightly touch the wearer in the region of the breast bone. Suitable dimensions for the bill 3 (measured when it is in the "relaxed" state which is illustrated in figure 2) are: about 280mm in width (that is, from tip to tip when measured in a straight line); and about 235 mm in depth at its deepest point (that is, from the forward tip of the: bill along the median line of the bill to the head ban d 2).

When the bill 2 is of these dimensions is being worn by a user, it provides a maximum coverage of about I1I0mm to the user, as measured horizontally out from the wearer's forehead. Correspondingly, a suitable length for the mesh 12 for a bill of these dimensions is 52cm at its longest point at the median line of the visor (that is, in line with the wearer's nose).

The net 12 is preferably double-knotted cotton, polyester or nylon. Suitable mesh sizes for the net are: -4- COMS ID No: ARCS-222913 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:24 Date 2009-02-09 Middletons 2/9/2009 5:20:33 PM PAGE 9/014 Fax Server about 15mm by 15mm to about 40mm by 40mm when the mesh is cotton or C) polyester; and about 10 Omm by 10mm to about 25mm by 25 mm when the mesh is clear nylon.

0 While the present invention has been described with reference to a few specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as o limiting the invention. Various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without Sdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended Sclaims.

S "Comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

In the claims, each dependent claim is to be read as being within the scope of its parent claim or claims, in the sense that a dependent claim is not to be interpreted as infringed unless its parent claims are also infringed.

COMS ID No: ARCS-222913 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:24 Date 2009-02-09

Claims (4)

1. 2. A head covering as claimed in claim 1, in which the head covering is in the form of a sun visor and in which the crown portion comprises a head band.
2. 3. A head covering as claimed in claim I or claim 2, in which the net has a circumference along its median line of about 52cm.
3. 4. A head covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the net is tailored to comprise a substantially conical portion which is adapted to lay on the bill and a substantially conical portion which is adapted to depend from an outer rim of the bill.
4. 5. A head covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the net is made from a material which is chosen from the group consisting of cotton, polyester and nylon. -6- COMS ID No: ARCS-222913 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:24 Date 2009-02-09