GB2390797A

GB2390797A - A safety hat

Info

Publication number: GB2390797A
Application number: GB0216586A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eamon John O'flaherty; Matthew Joseph Cahill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-07-17
Filing date: 2002-07-17
Publication date: 2004-01-21
Also published as: GB0216586D0

Abstract

A safety hat comprising a fabric hat body 2 with an internal cushioned layer 6 to protect against blows and a layer of heat modifying material 8 that alters the temperature inside the hat, the additional layers are located between the body of the hat and the wearer's head. The hat protects the wearer's head against blows from golf balls. The heat modifying material 8 may be a layer of heat reflective material or phase change material such as Outlast (RTM) that may be a separate layer to or integral with the cushioning layer 6. The cushioning layer 6 may be made from foam that may be elastic to accommodate various head sizes and include projections 7 to allow air flow and have a gauze layer 9. The hat may also include a front peak 3, detachable neck flap, padded side flaps 10A, 10B and removable sun visor 11.

Description

1 2390797

Title: Safety Hat The present invention relates to a safety hat.

Many people watch golf toumaments. As these tournaments are often held when the sun is shining, spectators often wear hats such as caps with peaks. Very occasionally, a golf ball lands on the head of a spectator which can lead to serious injury or a fatality.

Also' on hot days, such known hats can be hot to wear causing the head to sweat. On cold days known hats do not always keep the head warm.

The invention seeks to provide a safety hat for use in particular for spectators at golf matches.

According to the present invention there is provided a safety hat comprising: a) a hat body formed from fabric, b) a cushioning layer lining the hat body to lie between the head and the hat body, and c) a heat modifying material between the head and the hat body.

The heat modifying material may be a separate layer to the cushioning layer, and may be between the cushioning layer and the hat body or between Be cushioning layer and die head. Alternatively the heat modifying material may be integrated with the cushioning layer,

The heat modifying material may be a layer of reflective material, or may be in the form of phase change material. The phase change material may be in the form of fibres incorporating phase ( Id) change material, e.g. of the type sold under the US Trade Mark 'Outlast".

The hat body may include a front peak. The hat may include a rear flap to protect the neck of a wearer, which flap may be detachable.

The cushioning layer may be moulded generally to the shape of the top of the head. The cushioning layer may be elastic or otherwise adjustable in size to accommodate various sizes of heads. The cushioning layer may include a plurality of projections thereon to space the cushioning layer from the head so as to create an airflow space between the cushioning layer and the head.

A gauze layer may be provided between the projections and the head to spread the load of the projections to add comfort to the hat.

The safety hat may further include a pair of side flaps to protect the temples of the wearer.

The safety hat may further include a sun visor. The visor may be removable.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing an exploded perspective view of one embodiment.

Referring to the drawing there is provided a safety hat 1. Hat 1 comprises a hat body 2 formed from fabric such as a cotton textile and may be formed from sewing segments together. The hat body 2 may include a peak 3. Hat body 2 has a rear strap 4 adjustable in length by means of a buckle 5. Hat body 2 with the peak 3 and strap 4 and buckle S may be similar to caps or hats well known in the art.

A cushioning layer 6 lines the hat body 2 to lie between the head of the wearer and the hat body.

Tle cushioning layer may be moulded generally to the shape of the top of the head, and may be formed from a foam such as a closed cell foam, e.g. cross-linked polyethylene. The cushioning layer may include a plurality of projections 7 on its inner surface to space the cushioning layer from the head so as to create a space between He cushioning layer and the head The cushioning layer may be elastic or otherwise adjustable in size to accommodate various sizes of heads.

Heat modifying material in the forth of a heat reflective layer 8 is provided between the hat body 2 and the cushioning, layer 6. The heat reflective layer may be formed from a textile with a reflective coating, or a reflective foil.

A gauze layer 9 is provided between the projections 7 and the head to spread the load of the projections to add comfort to the hat.

( Extending from the hat body 2 are a pair of padded side flaps lOA,lOB to protect the temples of a wearer. A sun visor 11 is provided for the hat 1. The visor 11 may be removable and may connect to side flaps I OA, I OB, e.g. by means of poppers. Alternatively the sun visor I 1 could be connect inside the rim of the hat, e.g with Velcro,(trade mark).

In use the hat 1 may be worn by a golf spectator. The peak keeps the sun off the face and the visor acts like sun glasses. The heat reflective layer reflects any heat absorbed by the cap body 2 away from the wearer's head. The projections 7 and gauze 9 allow air to circulate between the head and the cushioning layer 6 so that sweat can evaporate from the head.

If a golf ball should land on the hat, the cushioning layer will absorb much of the shock so preventing damage to the wearer's head. The gauze also helps to dissipate the shock over the surface of the head.

The hat of the invention may be formed from any desired colour/s and/or pattern/s. The cap may support printed infonnation such as advertising messages.

The hat of the invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example the gauze and/or projections could be omitted, as could the peak and the side flaps andlor visor.

( The heat modifying material such as the layer 8 may be between the cushioning layer and the head. Alternatively the heat modifying material may be integrated with the cushioning layer. The heat modifying material may be in the form of phase change material. The phase change material may be in the forth of fibres incorporating phase change material, e.g. of the type sold under the US Trade Mark 'Outlast'\. The phase change material may be used in a separate layer or integrated in the cushioning layer. Use of phase change material would keep the head cool on hot days and warm on cold days. The hat may include a rear flap to protect the neck of a wearer from the sun andlor keep the neck warm, and the rear flap may be detachable.

The hat of the invention may be used for activities other than watching golf. For example it could be worn when watching cricket or baseball or any other game where a relatively hard ball is used.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

6. Ctaim: Safety Cap Cushioned layer to absorb light blows intergrated

Phase Change Material to enable the cap to stableize at a constant