GB2358342A - Helmet liner - Google Patents

Abstract

A liner <B>5</B> for releasably mounting inside a riding hat <B>1</B> is of a material which is shaped to substantially follow the contour of the inside of the hat <B>1</B>. The liner <B>5</B> is removable for cleaning. Releasable fastening means for releasably fastening the liner <B>5</B> in place inside the hat <B>1</B> is provide by strips <B>10</B> of a releasable fastening material of the hook and loop type. The releasable fastening may be of the type which releasably engages with a suitable cloth inside the hat.

Description

2358342 "Improvements in and rel "tm to hats

Introduction

The invention relates to hats and especially to improvements in riding hats.

Mere are a wide variety of riding hats available. Generally, they comprise an inner relatively hard shell encased in a relatively soft styled outer cover. The hat in some cases includes a soft band fbr engaging a wearers head.

One of the problems with such hats is that due to perspiration generated by the wearer they become soiled, even after short periods of use. Because of the construction of the hat they are difficult to dean, even using specialised hat cleaning equipment.

I'his invention is directed towards providing a solution to these problems.

Statements of Inventio

According to the invention there is provided a liner for a hat, especially a riding hat, comprising an inner liner for mounting inside a hat and relemble fastening means for rcleasably fastening the liner to a hat. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the liner is of a cleanable material 25 such as cloth or the Mce. Ideally the liner is of a washable material.

Preferably the liner has releasable fastening means for engagement and disengagement with a hat, The releasable fastenings are preferably provided at least at a rim of the liner.

2 In a preferred embodiment the relcasable fastening means cr,prjse I complementary interengagable formations. The fastening means may bd'I of tic hook and loop type such as those available under the trademark Velcro.

The liner is preferably pre-shaped to a hat engaging shape.

In a preferred embodiment the liner is pre-shaped to conform to an intern I at shape. Preferably the liner comprises a head band covering section. Idei a t ie head band covering section is of a material to accommodate range of ba, jIt $izes.

Preferably the covering section is stretchable.

in a preferred embodiment the liner includes a crown section attached 14% tie covering section. Preferably the crown section is of sfiffer material than tha t I f ffic covering section. In a prefmed embodiment the crown section is retained j jL U Se behind an upperrimof ahatheadband. Preferably the -crown section inchu i z; m extension for locating behind an upper rim of a hat: head band. Id[ea 111, tic extension of the crown section is located behind the covering section of the.:,Ii: er, The invention also provides a hat especially a riding hat, having a liner of tie invention.

p The hat may have releasablc fastming means for releasably engaging the li; A a preferred embodiment the liner has releasable fastening means fbr engajY,,( i neu with the releasable fasiming means of the hat. Preferably the releasable 1-4 st ni ig means are of the hook and loop type- Brief Dmeripdoon of the Drawings Me invention will be more clearly understood from the following des ti(M thereof given by way of example only with reference to the acco ilg Y11 drawings, in which:- 3 Fig. 1 is a ctoss sectional view of a conventional riding hat, Fig. IA is a perspective view of the hat of Fig- 1 Fig- 2 is a perspective view of a liner for the hat., Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the liner; Fig- 4 is a cross sectional view of the hat with the liner in position; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of portion of the hat and liner, Detailed Descdnt Referring to the drawings tl=e is illustrated m Fig. 1 a conventional fiding hat or helmet comprising a preformed hardened protective shell 1. A relatively soft styled outer cover (not shown) is usually adhesively bonded to the shell 1. The shcH may be of unitary construction or may comprise an inner shel 4 of shock absorbing material and an outer shell 1 of high impact resistant material. A head band 2 of relatively soft m such as fabric covered foam is typically attached to the wearer engaging ritn of the hat to provide a soft cushion fbr the wearer.

Conventional straps 3 are used to secure the hat 1 to a wearer.

The invention provides an inner finer 5 for releasably mounting inside the hat 1 and releasable fastening means for releasably securing the liner 5 inside the hat 1.

ne liner 5 is of a conformable material such as clod which is pre-shaped to follow the contour of the inside of the hat 1. The liner 5 i removable fbr cleaning.

It is especially preferred that the liner 5 be of a suitable ruachine washable fabric.

4 ReIcasable fastening means fbr releasably fastening the liner 5 in place in# e shell of the hat I is in this case provided by strips 10 -of a releasable f4 material attached to the liner. The releasable fastening material is typica]l e hook and loop type, which is available under the trademark Velcro.'I e releasable fastening may be of the qW wbich releasably engages with a s e surface or cloth of the head band or with a number of trips of complcz fastening material placed around the inside of the hat, especially around al margin of the dome of the hat. A number of strips of such fastening mater" also be placed at difFerent locations in the dome of the hat, for eXample uppermost extent and/or in a band or interrupted band at -..an upper position dome with complementary fastenings correspondingly located on the liner S.

this way the liner 5 may more closely securely follow the cbntour of the hat The liner 5 may include shape conforming rne=: such as a su t reinforcement, for example whale bone or strips of other suitable flexEble mA such as a plastics.

The liner 5 may be attached at the lower end thereof to any suitable location inside or outside the hat. The liner is preferably outside the, bead band 2 to pib the band 2 against soiling.

Me hat may include a cover band for covering a rim joint etween the liner, %n a hat covering- In use, the liner 5 which comes into contact with the wparers head is re 4C ' Y retnovablc for cleaning and after cleaning, preferably by machine Washil, is readily re-attached for finiher use.

In more detail, the liner comprises a lower, preferably head band covering se n 20 which is ideally capable of accommodating a range of hat sizes. abil e covering section 20 is of a Oretchable material. The liner also comprises a ci'O'i section 25 attached to the covering section 20. The crown section 25 is of a stiffer material than that of the covering section 20 so that the::. crown section retains its shape without the necessity of another releasable fastening means. In addition, the crown section 25 may be retained behind an upper ri#I of the hat head band 2.

The upper rim is not fastened to the sheU of the hat and an extension 26 of the crown section 25 extending behind the covering section 2.0 may be readily inserted behind the band rim which is self supporting and retains thc liner extension 26 in position.

The liner is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction and is easy to use.

Many -variants on the invention will be readily apparqnt and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore idescnibed, which may be varied in detail.

6 A liner for a hat especially a riding hat, coinplimg an mner lin r 01 mounting inside a hat and releasable fastening means for releai ly ly fastening the liner to a hat. i 1 2. A liner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liner is of a cleanable material 3. A liner as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the liner is o a washable material.

4. A liner as claimed in any preceding claim having releasable fastepl 9 means for engagement and disengagement with a hat.

is 5. A liner as claimed in claim 4 wherein the releasable fig memis c provided at least at a rim of the liner.

6. A liner as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the relegsable fastemng rafi 5 comprise complementary figable ffirmations.' 7. A liner as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 wherein the fastening mcai of the hook andlor loop type.

halm 8- A liner as claimed in any preceding claim wherein & liner is pre-s a o conform to an in hat shape.

9. A liner as claimed in any preceding claim whereinthe liner compriso a head band covering section.

q 10- A liner as claimed in claim 9 wherein the head band:covering section s f a material to accommodate range of hat sizes.

7 11- A liner as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the covering section is stretchable.

12. A liner as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11 wherci 6 the liner includes a crown section attached to the covering section.

13. A liner as claimed in claim 12 wherein the crown section is of stifier material than that of the covering section.

14. A liner as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the cr section is retained in use behind an upper rim of a hat head band.

15. A liner as claimed in any of clabm 12 to 14 wherein the crown section includes an extension fbr locating behind an upper rim of a hat head band, 16. A liner as claimed in claim 15 wherein the extensiot of ffle crown section is located behind the covering section of the liner.

17. A liner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference- to the accompanying drawings.

18. A hat especially a riding hat having a liner as claimed in any preceding claim.

19. A hat as clairned.in claim 18 wherein the hat ha releasable b4 means for rekasably engaging the liner.

20. A hat as claimed in dairn 19 wherein the liner hs releasable flastening me= fbr engagct with the releasable fastening Teans of the hat.

21. A hat as claimed in claim 19 or 20 wherein the releasable fastening are of the hook and loop type.

22. A hat substantiaUy as hereinbefore ibed with refbrence 't accompanying drawings.