GB2220556A

GB2220556A - Head protector

Info

Publication number: GB2220556A
Application number: GB8817004A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeremy Kam Wah Yau
Original assignee: YAM Ltd
Current assignee: YAM Ltd
Priority date: 1988-07-16
Filing date: 1988-07-16
Publication date: 1990-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2008-07-16
Also published as: GB2220556B; GB8817004D0

Abstract

Head protector for preventing or reducing head injuries eg during sporting activities is a bridle-like harness mainly formed of elongated flexible padded cushion members typically consisting of shock-absorbent plastics of other flexible padding covered with flexible sheet material and disposed and flexibly interconnected to be secured on the head, said members including a head band (10), a crown member (14) looped to a front region of member 10 and having a rear end passed through an elasticated loop (12) of the head band member so that the effective length of the crown engaging portion is adjustable, side cushion members (26, 28) for protecting the region of the user's ears and temples, and securing means in the form of a chin strap (30) passing round the user's chin and nape of the neck and connected at the rear to the lower end of the crown member. <IMAGE>

Description

HEAD PROTECTOR This invention relates to head protectors for preventing or reducing the likelihood of injury due to impact on a user's head e.g. due to falling onto a hard surface or collision with a solid object and/or due to blows or other violent bodily contact with other persons e.g. during sporting or other hazardous activities.

The invention is particularly but not exclusively applicable to head protectors for use when participating in combative sports such as the martial arts (Kung-fu or the like), boxing or sparring, gymnastics, or various field sports and pursuits such as football, cycling, riding, climbing etc.

'any forms of head protector are known but much of th protective head ear available, for example helmet and the like, are costly to provide (which may preclude their use where the resources of the participants are limited) and in many cases are uncomfortable and inconvenient to wear due to lack of ventilation to the head, restriction of all round vision, and overall size and weight. 'any known head protectors have to be manufactured in a range of different sizes as they are only effective and safe if they fit the user accurately.

again this adds to the cost and is a further deterrent to their use particularly by children and young people.

Furthermore the helmets or head gear themselves may be a hazard to participants in the sport or activity other than the user e.g. a heavy helmet would be dangerous and impractical in a sport such as Kuno-fu.

There is increasing concern about the high incidence of injury resulting from sports and leisure pursuits and head injuries can be extremely serious. Even with proper training and supervision (which is often lacking in practice) some risk of injury remains and a serious injury can bring a sport into unjustified disrepute anc criticism and discourage participation.

The object of the invention is to provide a head protector which is inexpensive yet effective in use: which is of simple construction, easy to put on and wear and readily adjustable for the optimum fit on a range of head sizes, which is comfortable, convenient and unrestricting in use, and which does not constitute any hazard to other persons while being worn.

According to the invention there is provided a head protector comprising a bridle-like harness of elongated flexible padded cushion members disposed and flexibly interconnected to be secured on a user's head in use characterised in that said cushion members include a head band member for encircling the major girth of the head in a generally horizontal plane, a crown member having a front end secured to a front region of the head band member to extend ove the crown of the head with its rear end portion passed slidingly through a locating loop of the rear of the head band to permit adjustment of thE effective length of the crown engaging portion of thE crown member, and a plurality of side cushion members adjustahly or otherwise linked to side regions of the headJand member in proximity to the user's ears in use.

Preferably the headband includes an elasticated section (e.c. constitutin the said locating loop) to fit tightly on a range of head sizes.

Securing means of the protector may include a chin strap which cen be releasably secured about the user's chin extending rearwardly around the nape of the neck and which may be adjustable in effective length and/or elasticated at least in part, the rear end of the crown member including a loop engaged with said strap and the side cushion members also connecting therewith at the lower ends.

An embodiment of the invention is now more particularly deszribed with reference to the accompanyin drawing being a perspective view of a head protector disposed in its position of wear and use.

The protector takes the form of a bridle-like harness whose main parts are elongated flexible padded cushion members. In the example shown these members all consist of lengths of shock absorbent flexible padding, for example expanded neoprene or other foamed plastics covered with flexible sheet material e.g. PVC plastics sewn and/or welded. Other flexible sheet material could be used e.g. woven fabric and/or fabric reinforced plastics. Said members are of rectangular section approximately 30x20mm in undeformed condition.

A first of said members is a headband member 10 having its ends connected by a double elasticated section 12 at the rear which not only permits stretching to increase the effective girth of the band but also provides a locating loop referred to hereafter.

Another of the major cushion members is a crown member 14 whose front end is in the form of a loop 16 securing it to a front region of member 10. Member 14 extends upwardly and rearwardly to embrace the crown of the user's head in use, its rear end portion being passec through the 100D of elastic 12 to project downwardly of member 10, its extreme rear end terminating in another loots 18.

or added security and protection in this example the cushion members further include a pair of transverse members 20 each having a loop 22 at its lower end which is engaged on side regions of the headband member 10 and being connected at their upper ends by a further elasticated section 24 which also forms a loop engaged slidingly with the crown engaging portion of the member 14 at about its centre.

There are also side cushion members for protecting the region of the user's ears and temples. R pair of these ear members 2 is disposed at each side 0 the protector, each said member having a loop at its upper end which is slidingly engaged with front anc rear regions of the sides of the headband member 10 in front of ano behind locps 22 of the transverse members 2C. The lower ends of each pair of members 26 are flexibly interconnected by a short horizontal side cushion member 2E (one only visible) which will be positioned immediately below the user's ears when worn.

Securing means of the protector includes a chin strap 30 a major part of which is formed of elasticated material and which passes through the lower end loop 18 of the crown member 14 and is connected by a pair of elasticated side loops 32 to the horizontal ear members 28.

A front portion of chin strap 30 is a webbing assembly 34 engaging around the front of and below the chin and a releasable fastening 35, in this example formed of VELCRO' (Trade ar) material is provided so that the strap can be firmly secured about the user's chin and nape of the neck again allowing adjustment to suit various sizes of wearer and comfort in use. assisted by the elasticated material.

It will be seen that the relative positioninc, angles and effective lengths of the various members can be adjusted by means of the sliding loops, and/or can be stretched due to the elasticated sections, to accomrodate a range of head sizes while giving a secure, effective and comfortable fit.

The protector does not include any buckles or other components of hard material which could themselves cause injury or hazard, it is light in weight and does not impede full ventilation and free movement of the head nor does it obstruct or restrict the user's sight yet it provides a substantial measure of protection to the head particularly in its vulnerable areas. The protector is easily washed or cleaned.

While this open form of protector is preferred for many activities e.g. martial arts such as Suns-fu it Lill be appreciated that additional protective elements coulc be mounted or incorporated on the harness shown, fo example it could serve as the basis for a lightweight helmet e.g. for rock climbing or cycling and/or vizors, eye shields, nose or mouth protection and/or more substantial ear protection could be readily incorporated or possibly releasably mounted on the basic harness.

Claims

1. A head protector comprising a bridle-like harness of elongated flexible padded cushion members disposed and flexibly interconnected to be secured on a user's head in use characterised in that said cushion members include a head band member for encircling the major girth of the head in a generally horizontal plane, a crown member having a front end secured to a front region of the head band member to extend over the crown of the head with its rear end portion passed slidingly through a locating loop of the rear of the head band to permit adjustment of the effective length of the crown engaging portion of the crown member, and a plurality of side cushion members adjustably or otherwise linked to side regions of the headband member in proximity to the user's ears in use.

2. A protector as in Claim 1 wherein the head band includes an elasticated section to fit tightly on a range of head sizes.

3. A head band as in Claim 2 wherein said elasticated section constitutes said locating loop.

4. A protector as in any preceding claim wherein securing means of the protector includes a chin strap shaped to be releasably secured about the user's chin to extend rearwardly around the nape of the user's neck.

5. A protector as in Claim 4 wherein the chin strap is adjustable in effective length and/or elasticated at least in part.

6. A protector as in Claim 4 or 5 wherein the rear end of the crown member includes a loop engaged with the chin strap.

7. A protector as in Claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the side cushion members are connected to the chin strap at their lower ends.

& A protector as in any preceding claim wherein the cushion members further include a pair of transverse members each having a loop at its lower end engaged on a respective side region of the head band member and being connected at their upper ends by a loop engaged slidingly with the crown engaging portion of the crown member.

9. A protector as in any preceding claim wherein the side cushion members comprise a pair of ear members disposed at each side of the protector, the upper ends of said ear members being in looped sliding engagement with front and rear regions of the sides of the head band member for protection of the region of the user's ears and temples in use.

10. A protector as in Claim 9 wherein the lower ends of each pair of ear members are flexibly interconnected by a horizontal side cushion member to be positioned below the user's ears when worn.

11. A protector as in any preceding claim wherein the cushion members consist of lengths of shock-absorbent flexible padding covered with flexible sheet material.

12. A protector as in Claim 11 wherein said padding is expanded Neoprene or other foamed plastics material.

13. A head protector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.