AU2011101042A4 - A Headgear Assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A headgear assembly includes an article of headgear. A chin strap comprises at least one length of flexible material. One end of the, or each, length is connected in a detachable manner to respective sides of the article of headgear to permit the chin strap to be attached and re-attached to the article of headgear. '/3 t

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION A headgear assembly FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a headgear assembly. 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many different types of headgear include a chinstrap or tie to prevent the headgear from being accidentally knocked or blown off a wearer's head. An example of such headgear is that worn by children. In the case of chinstraps, it is convenient and desirable for an adjustment mechanism to connect two cords or to be engaged with a single cord. 10 However, it is often desirable for articles of headgear to be reversible in the sense that they are turned inside out to reveal a different pattern or colour. With headgear for children, such functionality can be useful, for example, to hide markings and also to retain a child's interest in a particular article of headgear. Such functionality is also useful in the sense that it effectively provides two articles of headgear for the price of one. 15 Turning a hat with a chinstrap inside out would result in one configuration having the cord pressing the brim flat against the sides of a wearer's head. This removes the protective effect provided by the brim. It can also reduce the aesthetic appeal of the hat. It follows that attempts have been made to address this problem by providing two lengths of cord that pass through respective openings in the brim. Each length of cord has some form 20 of retaining or stop formation, which could be a simple knot, to prevent the cord from being drawn entirely through the brim. With such a configuration, the hat can be turned inside out and the cords pulled through into operative positions. With such a configuration, connection of free ends of the cords must be in the form of a knot since it would not be feasible for some form of connector also to be drawn through the brim. 25 Such an arrangement can be inconvenient. Also, adjustment can be difficult due to its manual nature. Furthermore, it has been found that it can be unsafe for children to have loose ends of cords dangling from the brim. This encourages ingestion and possible choking. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is provided a headgear assembly that comprises 30 an article of headgear; and a chin strap, the chin strap comprising at least one length of flexible material, one end of the, or each, length connected in a detachable manner to respective sides of the article of headgear to permit the chin strap to be attached and re-attached to the article of headgear.

2 The article of headgear may define at least one opening in each side. An end portion of the, or each, length of the flexible material may be configured to be received through the, or each, respective opening. An attachment device or arrangement may be positioned on each of the said end portions so that, once received through the, or each respective, opening the end 5 portion can be secured to the article of headgear in a detachable manner. The chin strap may include an adjustment mechanism to adjust an operative length of the chin strap. In an embodiment where two lengths of material are provided, the adjustment mechanism may be secured to both lengths of material in a manner that inhibits removal of the adjustment mechanism from either of the lengths. This will assist in prohibiting a wearer, 10 particularly a child, from ingesting the adjustment mechanism. Thus, in one particular embodiment, the chin strap includes a single length of the flexible material. In the remainder of this document, the word "cord" is to be understood as meaning any length of flexible material suitable for use as a chin strap for an article of headgear. Furthermore, the cord may be comprised of two lengths of the flexible material connected 15 together in a manner in which disconnection by a wearer is inhibited. This may be necessary for manufacturing purposes. Thus, the cord need not be continuous and is simply described in the singular for the purposes of clarity and convenience. In one embodiment, the article of headgear may define a pair of openings in each side. Each end portion may then be configured to be received consecutively through each opening of an 20 associated pair and to be secured, in a releasable manner, to a remaining portion of the cord. In the case of a soft brim, the openings may be in the form of buttonholes. Thus, each opening may be defined by an insert or incision with a reinforced edge to prevent fraying and to maintain its dimensions after repeated use, washing and wearing. In this embodiment, each end portion and corresponding respective remaining portions may 25 have complementary connecting mechanisms. In one example, the connecting mechanisms may be in the form of complementary hook and eye strips, for example, hook and eye strips known as Velcro (trade mark). Instead, the complementary connecting mechanisms can be in the form of complementary snap buttons or press studs. It is to be appreciated that the connecting mechanisms can be in the form of a number of other configurations, such as a 30 button on each end portion and a buttonhole in each respective remaining portion. In another embodiment, the article of headgear may define a single opening in each side. A retaining member may then be connected to each end portion. The retaining members and the opening may be configured so that the retaining members can be manipulated through the openings and retained against subsequent withdrawal to require subsequent 35 manipulation to be drawn back through the openings. For example, the retaining members 3 may be in the form of buttons while the openings can be in the form of buttonholes which correspond to the buttons. As before, each opening may be defined by an insert or incision with a reinforced edge to prevent fraying and to maintain its dimensions after repeated use, washing and wearing. 5 Effectively, then, the cord can be buttoned or unbuttoned from the article of headgear. The article of headgear may include a crown portion and a brim portion depending from the crown portion. The openings or the pairs of openings may be defined in the brim portion, on either side of the crown portion. The adjustment mechanism may be in the form of a conventional adjustment mechanism 10 having a body with a pair of openings to receive the cord. In one embodiment, a spring mounted catch may be arranged on the body of the adjustment mechanism to engage or disengage the cord such that a length of the cord between the body and the article of headgear can be adjusted. The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying 15 drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a headgear assembly, in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 shows a detailed view of an attachment of a cord of the assembly of figure 1 to an 20 article of headgear of the assembly. Figure 3 shows a chinstrap of the assembly of figure 1. Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a headgear assembly, in accordance with the invention. Figure 5 shows a detailed view of an attachment of a cord of the assembly of figure 4 to an 25 article of headgear of the assembly. Figure 6 shows a chinstrap of the assembly of figure 4. Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of a headgear assembly, in accordance with the invention. Figure 8 shows a detailed view of an attachment of a cord of the assembly of figure 7 to an 30 article of headgear of the assembly. Figure 9 shows a chinstrap of the assembly of figure 7.

4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In figure 1, reference number 10 generally indicates a first embodiment of a headgear assembly, in accordance with the invention. The assembly 10 includes an article of headgear 12. The article of headgear 12 is in the form 5 of a hat. However, it is to be appreciated that the article 12 can take many other forms, such as a cap, visor, etc. The article 12 can be of any material suitable for headgear. This can include a woven material that is a synthetic, natural or homogenous material, such as a plastics material. The hat 12 includes a crown portion or crown 14 and a brim 16 depending from the crown 10 14. In this particular example, the brim 16 depends from an entire periphery of the crown 14. However, it will be appreciated that the brim 16 can also depend from part of the periphery of the crown 14. An example would be a cap or the like. The assembly 10 includes a chinstrap 18. The chinstrap 18 includes a single length of flexible material in the form of a cord 20. The cord 20 has a flattened profile. However, it can 15 also be of another profile, such as a cylindrical or rectangular profile. The cord 20 can also be of any material suitable for use as a chinstrap. In one example, the cord 20 can be of a woven material. However, it can also be of a plastics material, such as synthetic leather, or of leather. The chinstrap 18 includes an adjustment mechanism 22. The adjustment mechanism 22 is 20 conventional in the sense that it includes a body 24 that defines a pair of passages to receive the cord 20. A spring mounted catch 26 is arranged on the body 24 to retain or release the cord 20 with respect to the body 24, so adjusting an operative length of the cord 20. The provision of a single cord 20 inhibits ingestion of the adjustment mechanism 22, by a wearer, particularly a child. However, it will readily be appreciated that a similar advantage 25 can be achieved by fastening together two cords on an inoperative side of the adjustment mechanism 22 or inhibiting each of two cords from being withdrawn from the passages in the body 24. It follows that the scope of this invention is intended to cover such arrangements. A strip 30 of hook and eye material is fast with each of a pair of end portions 28 of the cord 20. Complementary strips 32 of hook and eye material are fast with respective remaining 30 portions 34 of the cord 20. The hook and eye material may be of that known as Velcro (trade mark). The brim 16 defines a pair of slotted openings 36 on one side of the crown 14 and a pair of slotted openings 36 on an opposite side of the crown 14. The slotted openings 36 are dimensioned to permit the end portions 28 to be threaded consecutively through respective 5 pairs of the slotted openings 36. As can be seen in figures 1 and 2, each end portion 28 is threaded consecutively through a respective pair of openings 36. The strips 30 are then engaged with the strips 32 to secure the cord 20 to the brim 16. The end portions 28 are simply pulled away from the remaining 5 portions 34 to disengage the strips 30, 32. The end portions 28 can then be pulled back through the brim 16 to remove the cord 20 from the hat 12. In figure 4, reference number 40 generally indicates a second embodiment of a headgear assembly, in accordance with the invention. With reference to figures 1 to 3, like reference numbers refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. 10 The headgear assembly 40 is largely the same as the headgear assembly 10. However, instead of the complementary strips of hook and eye material, complementary snap button or press stud fasteners 42, 44 are fast with the end portions 28 and the remaining portions 34. In particular, a male press stud 42 is fastened to each remaining portion 34 while female press studs 44 are fastened to respective end portions 28. 15 Thus, in use, each end portion 28 is threaded consecutively through a respective pair of openings 36. This is shown in some detail in figure 5. The fasteners 42, 44 are then clipped together to secure the cord 20 to the brim 16. The fasteners 42, 44 are simply clipped apart to permit the end portions 28 to be pulled back through the brim 16 to remove the cord 20 from the hat 12. 20 In this example, the openings 36 are in the form of buttonholes formed in the brim 16. In figure 7, reference number 50 generally indicates a third embodiment of a headgear assembly, in accordance with the invention. With reference to figures 1 to 6, like reference numbers refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. Instead of a pair of slotted openings on each side of the crown 14, the brim 16 defines a 25 single slotted opening in the form of a buttonhole 52 on each side of the crown 14. A button 54 is fast with each end portion 28 so that the end portion 28 can be buttoned to, or unbuttoned from, the brim 16. The hat 10 is reversible in the sense that it can be turned inside out to reveal a different pattern or colour, for example. In use, the chinstrap 18 is detached from the brim 16, in the 30 manner described above. The hat 10 can then be reversed and the chinstrap 18 reattached in the manner described above. It will be appreciated that this manner of attachment and reattachment does not interfere with the orientation of the brim 16, in use, allowing the brim 16 to retain full functionality. Furthermore, it is not necessary to separate the cord 20 from the adjustment mechanism 22.

6 Thus, the safety of the chinstrap is maintained since ingestion of an end of the cord 20 is inhibited, as is ingestion of the adjustment mechanism. Throughout the specification, including the claims, where the context permits, the term "comprising" and variants thereof such as "comprise" or "comprises" are to be interpreted as 5 including the stated integer or integers without necessarily excluding any other integers. It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The described embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practiced with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled 10 in the art. Various substantially and specifically practical and useful exemplary embodiments of the claimed subject matter, are described herein, textually and/or graphically, including the best mode, if any, known to the inventors for carrying out the claimed subject matter. Variations (e.g., modifications and/or enhancements) of one or more embodiments described herein 15 might become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this application. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the claimed subject matter to be practiced other than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, as permitted by law, the claimed subject matter includes and covers all equivalents of the claimed subject matter and all improvements to the claimed subject 20 matter. Moreover, every combination of the above described elements, activities, and all possible variations thereof are encompassed by the claimed subject matter unless otherwise clearly indicated herein, clearly and specifically disclaimed, or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is 25 intended merely to better illuminate one or more embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any claimed subject matter unless otherwise stated. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed subject matter as essential to the practice of the claimed subject matter. Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, 30 description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, or clearly contradicted by context, with respect to any claim, whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise: e there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular described or illustrated 35 characteristic, function, activity, or element, any particular sequence of activities, or 7 any particular interrelationship of elements; e no characteristic, function, activity, or element is "essential"; e any elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated; e any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, 5 and/or any activity can be performed in multiple jurisdictions; and " any activity or element can be specifically excluded, the sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of elements can vary. The use of the terms "a", "an", "said", "the", and/or similar referents in the context of describing various embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be 10 construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, 15 drawing figure, etc.) of this application, other than the claims themselves, is to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and the scope of subject matter protected by any patent that issues based on this application is defined only by the claims of that patent.

Claims (5)

1. A headgear assembly that comprises an article of headgear; and a chin strap, the chin strap comprising at least one length of flexible material, one end 5 of the, or each, length connected in a detachable manner to respective sides of the article of headgear to permit the chin strap to be attached and re-attached to the article of headgear.

2. A headgear assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the article of headgear defines at least one opening in each side, an end portion of the, or each, length of the flexible 10 material being configured to be received through the, or each, opening and an attachment device or arrangement being positioned on each of said end portions so that, once received through the, or each respective, opening the end portions can be secured to the article of headgear in a detachable manner. 15

3. A headgear assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the chin strap includes an adjustment mechanism to adjust an operative length of the chin strap, the chinstrap including a single length of the flexible material in the form of a cord engaged with the adjustment mechanism so that an operative length of the cord can be adjusted. 20

4. A headgear assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which the article of headgear includes a crown and a brim depending from the crown, the brim defining a pair of openings on each side of the crown with end portions of the cord being configured to be received consecutively through each opening of a respective pair and to be secured, in a releasable manner, to a respective remaining portion of the cord. 25

5. A headgear assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.