AU2011101083A4 - A head and neck warmer - Google Patents

Abstract

A head and neck warmer having a hood with a looped band to the rear of the hood. The 5 looped band able to be pulled over the hood to cover the nose and mouth of the wearer and both the hood and looped band able to be pulled downwards to expose the entire head of the wearer thereby also functioning as a thick scarf and neck warmer. -6 F kc.3

Description

INNOVATION PATENT APPLICATION A HEAD AND NECK WARMER FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to upper body garments in particular to a combination multipurpose head and neck warmer with specially adapted features. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When engaging in outdoor activities including sport in colder climates, there are o numerous prior art garments which provide protection against the cold to the head and neck region of the wearer. These include scarves for wrapping around the neck, hats known as beanies for covering the head as well as balaclavas which not only cover the head completely but have eye holes or apertures to expose the face. The prior art is fairly established where regions of the head and neck are covered and 5 where cold weather is a problem. The use of these garments in cold and windy conditions exacerbates the problem of wearing them as well as keeping them on the body. The wearing of a scarf, balaclava or hat together can be a problem especially where multiple items of apparel can become unravelled and there is a possibility of losing any '0 of them. Furthermore there is also a problem that such garments are difficult to keep track of when engaging in various activities such as sailing, riding a motorcycle or construction work in the cold and early hours of the morning. Keeping track of numerous articles of clothing is difficult enough. The packaging and storing of such articles where space is 25 confined is a problem. Where sun exposure is a concern, coverage of certain parts of the head, face and neck regions with multiple items of clothing invite the same problems. It is rare to have the prior art items of clothing made of the same material. Scarves designed for very cold climates are often not suitable to be worn when the weather is 30 warmer. The same problem applies to balaclavas where balaclavas are designed for extremely cold weather only have the eye holes exposed and cover the nose and mouth whereas balaclavas designed for less cold weather usually have the entire facial area exposed. Where multiple garments are worn, for example, in the activity of motorcycling, individual 35 or separate prior art garments are often not adapted to suit the wearing of goggles, visors or glasses. Such garments are difficult to secure and to wear under helmets or hard hats and are often not compact enough to be stored in the glove compartment of vehicles, fishing tackle boxes or saddle bags of a motorcycle. 5 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to seek or ameliorate some or eliminate some of the problems of the prior art or to at least to provide the public with a useful choice of an innovative and novel garment. 0 STATEMENT OF INVENTION In one aspect therefore the invention resides in a head and neck warmer including a hood portion adapted to cover the head of the wearer, said hood portion having an aperture exposing the wearers face; 5 the hood having an extended skirt below the aperture to form a scarf worn bunched around the wearers neck, a looped band joined to the rear of the hood such that the looped band can be pulled over the hood to cover the wearer's lower face, and wherein the hood and the band can be pulled downwards together to expose the .0 entire head of the wearer thereby also functioning as a substantially thicker scarf or neck warmer. Preferably the warmer is fabricated from a stretchable textile or fabric, typically wool fleece or an equivalent artificial fibre such as a polyester cotton blend. Preferably, the type and or thickness of the textile or fabric is selected to suit the climate 25 and environment in which the warmer is to be used. Preferably the warmer is both hand and machine washable. In a preferred example, the garment is made in one piece. In the alternative, the band and extended skirt portions may be removably attached from the hood using known fastening means such as hook and loop fastening strips, press 30 studs, or separable zippers. -2- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order for the invention to be better understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein; Figures 1 to 4 show a preferred embodiment and use of the invention. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to Figure 1 to 4 there is shown preferred head and neck warmer according to the invention. The head and neck warmer 10 is shown having a hood portion 10a having an extended skirt portion 10b. The extended skirt portion is rolled up 0 or worn bunched around the wearers neck as a scarf 10d. The hood portion has a aperture 1 Oc to expose the face of the wearer. The looped band 12 is joined at the back of the hood portion. The looped band it can be pulled over the aperture 1Oc as shown in Figure 2 by arrow 14 to cover the region mainly the nose and mouth while exposing the eyes as shown by Figure 3. The looped band and hood may be pulled completely 5 downwards exposing the wearers head 14 to form a thicker scarf or neck warmer 1Od as shown in Figure 4. -3- VARIATIONS It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope 5 and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. In the specification the terms "comprising" and "containing" shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term "including" and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of 0 any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the terms "comprising" and "containing" such as "comprise", "comprises", ."contain" and "contains". 5 0 25 30 35 -4-

Claims (5)

1. A head and neck warmer including a hood portion adapted to cover the head of the wearer, said hood portion having an aperture exposing the wearers face; 5 the hood having an extended skirt below the aperture to form a scarf worn bunched around the wearers neck, a looped band joined to the rear of the hood such that the looped band can be pulled over the hood to cover the wearer's lower face, and wherein the hood and the band can be pulled downwards together to expose the 0 entire head of the wearer thereby also functioning as a substantially thicker scarf or neck warmer.

2. The head and neck warmer as claimed in claim 1 fabricated from a stretchable textile or fabric, typically wool fleece or an equivalent artificial fibre inclusive of a polyester cotton blend. 5 i

3. The head and neck warmer as claimed in claim 2 wherein the type and or thickness of the textile or fabric is selected to suit the climate or environment in which the warmer is to be used.

4. The head and neck warmer as claimed in any of the above claims made in one piece. 0

5. The head and neck warmer as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the band and extended skirt portions are removably attached to the hood using known fastening means inclusive of hook and loop fastening strips, press studs, or separable zippers. 25 -5