ES2900123T3 - protective headband - Google Patents

Abstract

An impact absorbing headband (10) designed to protect at least one temple of a user wearing the headband (10), the headband (10) further comprising an inner layer (40 ), a gel pack (42), and a foam layer (44) being provided on top of the gel pack (42), the gel pack (42) comprising a liquid, a first foil sheet and a second foil sheet, the liquid being enclosed by the first foil sheet and the second foil sheet, the first foil sheet and the second foil sheet being joined along an edge of the outer foil (21), wherein the The first foil sheet and the second foil sheet are joined together at one or more welds (30) spaced from the edge of the outer foil (21).

Description

DESCRIPTION

protective headband

The present disclosure relates to a protective garment, in particular a headband, such as a protective headband configured to reduce the risk of head injury, e.g. eg in sports, such as football, handball, basketball, cycling or the like.

Background

Document DE 202005002141 U1 describes a ring-shaped shock absorption device to be worn on the head, filled with absorbent substance and provided with internal partitions. A flowing design and various features provide an energy-absorbing and shock-absorbing effect to protect the skull and brain.

US 4,854,319 discloses sports apparel in the form of wrap around headbands or the like with a tube of plastic sheet material defining pockets filled with cooling gel.

Compendium

The present disclosure relates to a gel pack for a protective garment and a protective garment comprising a gel pack. The protective garment is a protective headband. Furthermore, the gel pack can be used as an insert, such as an insert for a helmet.

The invention relates to a protective headband as defined in independent claim 1. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments. These embodiments and additional non-claimed embodiments, which are examples of related art to assist in understanding the claimed invention, are described in more detail below. The described embodiments should not be considered as necessarily defining the invention unless they come within the scope of the claims.

The present invention relates to a protective headband, such as a protective headband that can reduce the risk of head injury for players in sports, such as football, handball, basketball or the like, by reducing the impact of hitting, falling as well as being hit and headbutting the ball.

The headband can be made in various designs, for different types of players and/or different age groups.

The protective garment comprises an inner layer. The inner layer may be a microporous fabric, such as a breathable fabric. For example, to facilitate the transport of sweat and/or heat away from the head of the user wearing the headband.

The protective garment comprises a core of a liquid, e.g. eg a gel. The liquid may be substantially incompressible. The liquid is encapsulated in a foil, such as a plastic sheet. The encapsulated liquid is filled with foam, e.g. eg to provide more effective shock absorption. The liquid and the sheet that encapsulates the liquid are called a gel pack. The gel pack comprises the liquid.

The gel pack comprises the liquid and a sheet comprising a first sheet of sheet and a second sheet of sheet. The liquid is enclosed by the first foil sheet and the second foil sheet which are joined together along an outer edge.

The liquid has a viscosity. The viscosity of the liquid can remain substantially unchanged after an impact. For example, the viscosity of the liquid after an impact may be substantially the same as before the impact. The viscosity of the liquid can change during impact and, optionally, immediately after impact. However, after a relaxation time after an impact, the viscosity of the liquid can be substantially the same as before the impact. The liquid can be a generally Newtonian fluid, such as water. Alternatively, the liquid may be a fluid with shear thinning behavior.

The liquid can be held in place so that the same protection is provided in all areas of the belt, e.g. eg through a pattern on the plastic sheet. For example, the sheet can be welded by one or more welds in a pattern. The one or more welds separate from the edge of the outer sheet. The one or more welds may extend along one or more weld paths, e.g. eg a first weld may extend along a first weld path and/or a second weld may extend along a second weld path. The one or more welds may comprise one or more spot welds, e.g. eg a third weld may be a third spot weld and/or a fourth weld may be a fourth spot weld. For example, the first foil sheet and the second foil sheet may be joined together at one or more points and/or paths, e.g. eg welding points and/or welding paths, such as a plurality of points and/or paths, such as more than 5 points and/or paths, such as more than 10 points and/or paths. The joint can be designed to allow fluid to move from one pattern compartment to another to allow fluid to disperse from the impact area, thus maximizing the shock absorbing effect. At the same time, the junction can be designed to keep liquid throughout the gel pack, e.g. eg to prevent the liquid from shifting so that it is only present in most of the lower parts of the gel pack.

The gel pack may be removable from the protective garment. For example, the protective garment may comprise an opening. The opening can facilitate changing the gel pack comprising the liquid.

The gel pack can be set to burst if the impact is strong enough, e.g. eg to enhance the shock absorption effect.

The gel pack may comprise a plurality of compartments, e.g. eg including a first compartment and a second compartment. The plurality of compartments may include a third compartment and/or a fourth compartment. The plurality of compartments can be designed to protect different locations. For example, the first compartment may be a first temple compartment, e.g. eg configured to be placed on a first part of the temple, e.g. eg to protect a first temple against impact. The second compartment may be a second temple compartment configured to be placed on a second temple portion, e.g. eg to protect a second temple against impact. The third compartment can be a rear compartment, e.g. eg configured to be placed on a rear, e.g. eg to protect the back of the head. The fourth compartment can be a front compartment, e.g. eg configured to be placed in a front, e.g. eg to protect the forehead against impacts.

The plurality of compartments can be connected, ie the liquid can flow from one compartment to another. Alternatively, the plurality of compartments may be disconnected, ie liquid from one compartment may not flow to another compartment.

The protective garment comprises a layer of foam. The foam layer is provided on top of the gel pack. The foam layer may be a high density foam. The foam layer can be provided to distribute external pressure over an area of the underlying gel pack.

The protective garment may comprise a surface layer. The skin layer can be provided on top of the foam layer and/or the gel pack. The surface layer can be provided to also cover the inner layer, e.g. eg so that the surface layer extends over the inside and outside of the protective garment. The surface layer may be provided with a print.

The protective garment may be provided with a material, such as silicone, to provide increased friction, e.g. eg to provide improved grip, such as to allow improved control of a ball during a header, e.g. eg when the protective garment is a headband worn in a football match. The material (or other material that facilitates increased friction) may be provided on the inside of the protective garment, so as to facilitate a better fit of the protective garment to the wearer.

The headband, such as foil and/or foam, is designed to protect the temple and optionally the back of the head. For example, the temple portions of the headband may have a shape that extends to a position below a lower portion of a rear portion and a front portion. The headband may further be shaped to fit above the wearer's ear, e.g. eg without covering the user's ear.

The headband can be designed to allow an unimpeded header at a ball e.g. eg while providing some impact protection. For example, the headband can be provided, such as foil and/or foam, so that liquid does not reach the forehead. For example, the liquid can be provided in less than 90%, such as less than 80%, such as less than 70% of the circumference of the head. Alternatively, the headband may be provided with the liquid being provided around substantially the entire circumference of the head.

The headband can be designed to improve heading ability, e.g. eg by increasing the friction between the forehead (eg, front of the headband) and the ball, e.g. eg allowing players to better direct the direction of the ball when heading. For example, the headband may comprise an outer surface, e.g. eg an outer surface of the front of the headband, which provides increased friction. For example, the outer surface, such as the outer surface of the front of the headband, may be provided with silicone.

The outer surface of the headband can be made to print. For example, sponsors, club name, player number, name, etc. They can be printed on the outer surface of the headband.

The headband can form a closed ring. For example, the headband can be made without a closure mechanism. Alternatively, the headband can be made with a closure mechanism, such as Velcro.

An inner surface of the headband, such as the surface of the headband configured to contact the wearer's head, may be provided with silicone, e.g. eg to make it easier for the headband to stay in place on the wearer's head, e.g. eg to allow the headband to be made in one piece, e.g. eg by allowing the headband to stay in place without any other mechanism.

The headband may be equipped with a GPS module, such as to enable GPS tracking of the headband, such as to enable GPS tracking of the user wearing the headband. GPS tracking can be used to record a player's movement on the field of play.

The headband may comprise a heart rate monitoring module, e.g. eg configured to record the user's heart rate, e.g. eg through the blood vessels near the temple.

Brief description of the figures

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described in more detail below with respect to the accompanying figures. The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and should not be construed as limiting other possible embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended set of claims.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a user wearing an exemplary protective garment,

Figure 2 schematically illustrates an exemplary sheet for encapsulating a liquid,

Figures 3-9 schematically illustrate layers of an exemplary protective garment.

Detailed description

Various exemplary embodiments and details are described below, with reference to the figures where relevant. It should be noted that the figures may or may not be drawn to scale and that elements of similar structure or function are represented by similar reference numerals throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention or a limitation of the scope of the invention. Furthermore, an illustrated embodiment need not have all of the features or advantages shown. An aspect or advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and may be implemented in any other embodiment even if not so illustrated or so explicitly described.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a wearer 2 wearing an exemplary protective garment in the form of a headband 10. The headband comprises a front portion 12 and a rear portion 16. The headband comprises a first portion of temple 14. The headband comprises a second temple part (not visible) opposite the first temple part 14.

The front part 12 is configured to protect the forehead of the user 2 against impacts. The rear part 16 is configured to protect the back of the head of the user 2. The temple parts, such as the first temple part 14 and the second temple part, are configured to protect the temples of the user 2.

The temple portions, such as the first temple portion 14 and the second temple portion, are configured to extend to a position below the bottom of the rear portion 16 and the front portion 12. The headband further has a shape to fit above the ear. user 2, e.g. eg without covering the user's ear 2.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates an exemplary sheet 20 for encapsulating a liquid. For example, the sheet 20 together with the liquid, e.g. eg gel, forms a gel pack.

The sheet 20 comprises two layers, such as a first sheet of sheet and a second sheet of sheet, which are joined, such as welded, such as heat-welded, together along edge 21. The sheet thereby provides an enclosure to encapsulate the liquid. An opening 28 may be provided, e.g. eg initially, to allow injection of the liquid through the opening 28. The opening 28 may be sealed, e.g. eg by welding, such as heat welding, after injection of the liquid through the opening 28.

The sheet 20 may comprise a plurality of weld points 30. The weld points 30 may be points along the sheet where the two layers meet each other so as to form a certain pattern of the enclosure, e.g. eg to limit the flow of the liquid, e.g. eg such that the liquid is substantially uniformly dispersed throughout the enclosure, as opposed to the liquid moving to the bottom of the enclosure due to gravity. Welded spots 30 may be provided to allow liquid to move through the compartment(s) so as to allow liquid to disperse away from the impact area, thus maximizing the shock absorbing effect. Spot welds 30 may, in an alternative embodiment, be provided as a plurality of weld paths, e.g. eg connecting two or more of the illustrated solder points 30.

Sheet 20 can be divided into a plurality of compartments, e.g. eg a first temple compartment 24 and a second temple compartment 26, and a rear compartment 22. In the illustrated example, the plurality of compartments are connected, ie liquid can flow from one compartment to another. However, in examples Alternatively, the plurality of compartments can be disconnected, so that liquid from one compartment cannot flow into another compartment. Although not shown, the sheet may comprise a front compartment.

The first temple compartment 24 may be configured to be positioned at a temple portion, such as the first temple portion 14 of the headband 10 (FIG. 1), eg. eg to protect a temple against impact. The second temple compartment 26 can be configured to be placed on another temple portion, such as the second temple portion of the headband 10 (FIG. 1), eg. eg to protect the opposite temple from impact. The rear compartment 22 can be configured to be positioned at the rear 16 of the headband 10 (FIG. 1), eg. to protect the back of the wearer's head from impact.

Figures 3-9 schematically illustrate layers of an exemplary protective garment in the form of a headband 10, such as the headband 10 shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an inner layer 40 of the headband. The inner layer 40 may be a microporous fabric, such as a breathable fabric, to facilitate the transport of sweat and/or heat away from the head of the user wearing the headband.

Figure 4 shows the inner layer 40 with a gel pack 42 comprising a liquid. The gel pack comprises a sheet (such as sheet 20 described in relation to Figure 2) that encapsulates a liquid. The gel pack 42 is positioned to protect the temples and the back of the user's head from impact. As shown in the illustrated example, the gel pack 42 is positioned so as not to cover the user's forehead. This can provide the ability for the user to head a ball e.g. eg if he plays soccer. In another example (eg, if the ability to head a ball is not needed), the gel pack 42 can be positioned to also protect the user's forehead.

Figure 5 shows a foam layer 44 that is provided on top of the gel pack 42 as shown in Figure 4. The foam layer 44 may be a high density foam. The foam layer 44 may be provided to distribute external pressure over an area of the underlying gel pack 42.

Figure 6 shows a front layer 46 that is provided over the forehead, eg. eg above the user's forehead when wearing the headband. The front layer 46 may be a foam layer, such as a microporous foam, to facilitate the transport of sweat and/or heat away from the head of the user wearing the headband.

Figure 7 shows a skin layer 48 which is provided on top of foam layers 44; 46 and gel pack 42. Surface layer 48 may be provided to also cover inner layer 40, e.g. eg so that the surface layer 48 extends on the inside and outside of the headband.

Figure 8 shows an exemplary print that is provided on the surface layer 48.

Figure 9 shows the headband provided with a material 50, such as silicone, to provide improved grip, such as to allow improved ball control when heading, eg. eg when used in a football game. The material 50 may be provided at the front of the headband, such as the portion of the headband that sits on the forehead of the wearer. Material 50 may be provided in a pattern, such as in small dots, as shown, and/or in an in-line pattern with a sponsor logo or the like.

Material 50 (or other material that facilitates increased friction) may also be provided on the inside of the headband so as to facilitate a better fit of the headband to the wearer's head.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment.

However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and alterations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Throughout the disclosure, the use of the terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth", "primary", "secondary", "tertiary", etc., does not imply any particular order or importance, but they are included to identify individual elements. Furthermore, the labeling of a first element does not imply the presence of a second element and vice versa.

Claims (6)

1. An impact absorbing headband (10) designed to protect at least one temple of a user wearing the headband (10), the headband (10) further comprising an inner layer (40), a gel pack (42), and a foam layer (44) being provided on top of the gel pack (42), the gel pack (42) comprising a liquid, a first foil sheet and a second foil sheet, the liquid being enclosed by the first foil sheet and the second foil sheet, the first foil sheet and the second foil sheet being joined along an edge of the outer foil (21), in wherein the first foil sheet and the second foil sheet are joined together at one or more welds (30) spaced from the edge of the outer foil (21). 2. Protective headband according to claim 1, wherein one or more welds (30) comprise one or more weld points. 3. Protective headband according to any of claims 1-2, wherein one or more welds (30) extend along one or more weld paths. 4. Protective headband according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid has a viscosity, wherein the viscosity of the liquid after an impact is substantially the same as before the impact. 5. Protective headband according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid is generally a Newtonian fluid. 6. Protective headband according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the liquid is a fluid with pseudoplastic behavior.