GB2478110A

GB2478110A - Scarf

Info

Publication number: GB2478110A
Application number: GB1001244A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jagjeet Kaur Rayat
Original assignee: Ravensbourne College Of Design & Comm
Current assignee: Ravensbourne College Of Design & Comm
Priority date: 2010-01-26
Filing date: 2010-01-26
Publication date: 2011-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 2030-01-26
Also published as: GB2478110B; GB201001244D0

Abstract

A scarf 2 includes a scarf body 3 and a pair of ear protectors, wherein the ear protectors include two ear covering elements 4, 6 joined by a resiliently deformable connector (12) and the connector is secured to the scarf body. The ear covering elements may comprise a bamboo cotton anti-bacterial layer and may further include a layer of wicking fibres and cashmere wool. The ear protectors may comprise inner and outer rings which are crimped together and a sealing gasket formed from latex rubber. The connector is formed from two arms which include an adjuster. The adjuster may comprise captive nut and gear wheel. The scarf provides a single garment capable of protecting both the neck and the ears of a user.

Description

The present invention relates to a scarf to be worn around the neck area and, in particular, to a scarf which incorporate ear protectors.

In cold, windy and/or wet weather conditions, people try to cover exposed areas of skin and scarves have been found to be ideal in covering the neck area. However, ears often remain exposed and can become quite uncomfortable in cold weather. This is particularly true for sufferers of Ménière's disease, which presents the symptoms of tinnitus (ringing, buzzing and whistling sound in the ears) and is characterised by fluid accumulation within the labyrinth part of the inner ear. In addition, sufferers may experience episodes of dizziness, loss of balance and nausea, which affects balance and hearing. Windy weather, can result in or increase the buzzing, whistling or ringing in the ears, loss of balance, nausia and/or acute pain in the sides of the neck.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a scarf including a scarf body and a pair of ear protectors, wherein the ear protectors include two ear covering elements joined by a resiliently deformable connector and wherein the connector is secured to the scarf body.

The scarf is therefore able to protect both the neck area and the ears with one single garment.

In order to minimise or prevent airflow between the ear protectors and the respective ear area of a user in use, the ear covering elements may each include a flexible gasket. The gasket is typically located about the periphery of each ear covering element and may, for example, be formed from a flexible material such as silicone or latex rubber.

Each ear covering element suitably includes a frame adapted to define the shape and configuration of the element. This frame may be formed from a resiliently deformable material, such as a metal or a polymeric material (e.g. acrylonitrile butadiene styrene -ABS). In view of its postulated healing properties, the frame may be formed from copper. Additionally or alternatively, it is known that silver has anti-bacterial qualities. As such, the frame may be formed from or include silver or a silver compound.

The frame of each ear covering element typically defines a substantially circular or oval shape. Thus, each ear covering element may define a substantially circular or oval cross-section.

Each ear covering element may include one or more layers of a fabric material to protect the ear of a user in use. The fabric may be a natural fabric or a synthetic fabric and may be woven or non-woven.

Each frame may be a two-piece construction, wherein one or more layers of a fabric material forming a part of the relevant ear covering element may be sandwiched between the two frame pieces and retained therebetween. Thus, in such an embodiment, the two frame pieces may snap-fit together or may form a friction fit between the two pieces to securely couple the two pieces and form the frame.

In an embodiment of the invention, each ear covering element includes an inner fabric layer impregnated with or formed from an anti-bacterial material. The term "inner layer" should be construed as the layer arranged to lie adjacent to the ear in use. The anti-bacterial properties of such a layer prevents or minimises the likelihood of a bacterial ear infection being contracted whilst wearing the scarf as defined anywhere herein. Anti-bacterial materials which can be woven into or impregnated into fabric layers are well known. Additionally or alternatively, the inner fabric layer may be formed from a naturally anti-bacterial material, such as bamboo cotton.

In a further embodiment of the invention as defined anywhere herein, each ear covering element includes an insulating layer formed from a thermally insulating material. Such a layer helps retain the body heat that would otherwise be lost from the ears of the user. This prevents or minimises the discomfort that can be experienced by the relatively rapid loss of heat through the ears.

In a yet further embodiment of the invention, each ear covering element includes a layer of wicking fibres including moisture channels adapted to wick moisture away from the skin of a user. Such wicking fibres are well known in the textile field and may be hollow or cylindrical fibres which draw moisture into the channels formed therein by capillary action and retain it within the channels, thus allowing the skin to "breathe" and remain dry.

Each ear covering element may include an outer layer of fabric (i.e. the layer further from the user) which may be waterproof, either inherently or is treated to be waterproof, to prevent water penetrating the ear covering element and thus keeping dry the ears.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the connector is formed from metal or a polymeric material. Suitably, the connector is formed from the same material as the frames for the ear covering elements. Accordingly, the connector may be formed from ABS, copper, one or more other metals or one or more other polymers. Where the connector is formed from the same material as the frames for the ear covering elements, the frames and the connector may be formed as a unitary or one-piece construction.

The connector is resiliently deformable and typically defines a spacing between the ear covering elements which is less than the diameter of a user's head. In such an arrangement, the ear covering elements are urged apart by a user such that the ear covering elements may be placed over the ears and the connector applies an inwardly directed (i.e. towards the head of the user) biasing force which maintains the ear covering elements in place.

The connector may include two arm members and an adjuster, wherein the arm members extend outwardly from the adjuster in opposite directions and the displacement of the distal end of each arm member from the adjuster is variable within a pre-defined range. Such an adjuster is capable of providing a variable spacing between the ear covering elements in order that the scarf can be worn comfortably by users having differently sized heads.

Typically, the two arms are connected such that movement of one of the arms in one direction (e.g. towards the adjuster) causes an equal and opposite movement of the other arm.

In an embodiment of the invention as defined anywhere herein, each arm member carries a series of teeth on a portion thereof and the adjuster includes a captive drive wheel which carries one or more engagement elements which are in meshed engagement with the teeth, whereby rotation of the captive drive wheel by a user urges each arm member to move away from or towards the adjuster.

According to this embodiment, the spacing between the ear covering elements is varied simply by rotating the captive drive wheel.

Alternatively, the adjuster may include one or more biased pawls which are biased to engagement with the teeth, whereby a movement which urges the pawl(s) out of engagement with the teeth allows the or each arm member to move relative to the adjuster.

In a further alternative embodiment, the adjuster may be located at the distal end of a first arm (i.e. a static arm). A second arm (i.e. a moving arm) is operatively coupled to the adjuster such that the second arm is adapted to move relative to the first arm such that the spacing between the ear covering elements is variable and controlled by the displacement of the distal end of the second arm from the adjuster. In this embodiment, the second arm may carry a series of teeth on a portion thereof and the adjuster may include a captive toothed drive wheel or a biased pawl to engage the teeth of the second arm.

The scarf typically comprises a body which defines therein a pocket and at least a portion of the connector is secured within the pocket. In this embodiment, the scarf and ear protectors in use form a single integrated garment, but can be separated, e.g. for washing. The pocket may be defined substantially at the mid-point of the scarf.

The skilled person will appreciate that the features specified above in connection with embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other and any of the aspects of the invention as defined. Thus, the present invention includes within its scope an aspect of the invention combined with two or more of the features described anywhere herein as optional features. All such combinations of features described herein are considered to be made available to the skilled person.

An Embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a rear view of a scarf according to the invention being worn by a user; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a frame and connector of the scarf; and Figure 3 is an exploded cut-away section of the fabric layers for an ear covering element.

For the avoidance of doubt, the skilled person will appreciate that in this specification, the terms "up", "down", "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "width", etc. refer to the orientation of the components as found in the scarf when worn for normal use as shown in the Figures.

A scarf 2 is shown generally in Figure 1. The scarf 2 includes a scarf body 3 and a pair of ear protectors including a pair of ear covering elements 4, 6. The ear covering elements 4, 6 are located at the mid-point of the scarf body 3 such that elongate end portions lOa, lOb of the scarf body extend either side of the section of the scarf body 3 that contains the ear covering elements 4, 6. In this way, the end portions lOa, lOb of the scarf 2 can be wrapped around the neck in the usual way.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the central portion of the scarf body 3 is located at the back of the neck of a user 8 and the ear covering elements 4, 6 extend upwards to cover the ears of the user 8.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the ear covering elements 4, 6 of the ear protectors each include a frame 16 which defines an oval shape. The ear protectors further includes an elongate connector 12, which connects the frames 16 such that one of the frames 16 is located at a first end 14a of the connector 12 and the other frame 16 is located at the opposite end 14b of the connector 12.

The frames 16 and the connector 12 are made from copper and the frames are connected to the connector by a crimped mechanical connection, However, the skilled person will appreciate that the connector could be secured to the frames by welding, braising or any other suitable method of connecting two metal elements.

The connector 12 is in the form of a copper strip which has a substantially constant thickness, but which has a width that tapers from the ends 14a, 14b to the central portion. The connector is resiliently deformable outwards from a rest position.

As can be seen from Figure 3, each of the frames 16 is a two part construction consisting of an inner frame ring 16a and an outer frame ring 16b. Sandwiched between the inner and outer frame rings 16a, 16b are a number of fabric layers detailed below.

Each ear covering element 4, 6 includes a layer of bamboo cotton 20 arranged as the innermost layer (i.e. in contact with the ear in use). The bamboo cotton has natural anti-bacterial properties.

The bamboo cotton layer 20 is stitched to an inwardly facing surface 22 of a scarf lining layer formed from polyethylene terephthalate fibres (sold under the THINSULATE trade mark by 3M Corporation).

The scarf lining layer 22 is in turn stitched to an outwardly facing layer of scarf material 34 formed from cashmere wool laminated with a Gore-Tex (Trade Mark) fabric.

In between the inner scarf layer 22 and the outer scarf layer 34 is a layer of hollow wicking fibres 28 to absorb and retain moisture via a capillary action and an insulating layer 30 of polyethylene terephthalate fibres (sold under the THINSULATE trade mark by 3M Corporation). The wicking fibre layer 28 and the insulating layer 30 are sandwiched between a pair of cotton layers 26, 32 which provide protection to the inner layers.

The layers 26, 28, 30, 32 are all secured between the inner and outer frame rings 16a, 16b, which are crimped together to prevent separation.

About the inwardly facing periphery of each ear covering element 4, 6 is a sealing gasket 24 formed from latex rubber.

To assemble the scarf, the layers 26, 28, 30, 32 are crimped between the inner and outer frame rings 16a, 16b to form each ear covering element 4, 6. The ear covering elements 4, 6 are then secured to the relevant ends 14a, 14b of the connector 12 via additional mechanical crimps to form the pair of ear protectors.

The ear protectors are then placed within a pocket defined by the scarf body 3 about its mid-point such that each frame 16 is aligned with its respective gasket 24 and bamboo cotton layer 20.

In use, the scarf is placed around the back of the neck of the user 8 and the two ear covering elements 4, 6 are urged apart and then placed over the ears of the user 8. The resiliently deformable connector 12 urges the ear covering elements inwards towards the head of the user 8 such that the ear covering elements 4, 6 are held in place by a friction fit. The free ends lOa, lObof the scarf body 3 are then wrapped around the neck and optionally around the lower portion of the face as usual.

The bamboo cotton layer 20 provides a soft, ant-bacterial layer against the skin of the user 8. The wicking fibre layer 28 and the insulating layer 30 prevent moisture build-up and heat loss and the outer layer 34 of the scarf, together with the gasket 24 prevents external water ingress.

In a further embodiment of the invention (not shown), the connector includes an adjuster to adjust the spacing between the ear covering elements 4, 6. The adjuster includes a housing which contains a captive nut. The nut includes a body portion having a circular cross-section which carries thereon a plurality of teeth to form a gear wheel. The captive nut further includes a radially extending flange having a knurled peripheral edge portion.

The housing permits access to opposed arcuate portions of the flange such that it can be rotated about its central axis by a user, thus causing the gear wheel to rotate.

In this embodiment, the connector 12 is formed from two arms, the adjacent ends of which are partly housed within the adjuster.

The teeth of the gear wheel are meshed with corresponding teeth carried by adjacent end portions of the connector arms such that the end portions of the arms are located on opposite sides of the gear wheel.

In this arrangement, rotation of the gear wheel in one sense will cause the arms to be displaced towards each other and the spacing between the frames 16 is reduced, and rotation in the opposite sense will cause the arms to be displaced away from each other such that the spacing between the frames 16 is increased.

Such an adjuster arrangement is well known in the art for various mechanical devices and will be well understood by a person skilled in engineering.

Claims

Claims 1. A scarf including a scarf body and a pair of ear protectors, wherein the ear protectors include two ear covering elements joined by a resiliently deformable connector and the connector is secured to the scarf body.
2. A scarf according to Claim 1, wherein the ear covering elements each include a flexible gasket adapted to limit airflow between the ear covering elements and a user.
3. A scarf according to Claim 2, wherein the gasket is formed from silicone or latex rubber.
4. A scarf according to any preceding claim, wherein the connector is formed from metal or a polymeric material.
5. A scarf according to any preceding claim, wherein the connector includes two arm members and an adjuster, wherein the arm members extend outwardly from the adjuster in opposite directions and the displacement of the distal end of each arm member from the adjuster is variable within a pre-defined range.
6. A scarf according to Claim 5, wherein each arm member carries a series of teeth on a portion thereof and the adjuster includes a captive drive wheel which carries one or more engagement elements which are in meshed engagement with the teeth, whereby rotation of the captive drive wheel by a user urges each arm member to move away from or towards the adjuster.
7. A scarf according to any preceding claim, wherein the scarf body defines therein a pocket and at least a portion of the connector is secured within the pocket.
8. A scarf according to any preceding claim, wherein each ear covering element includes an inner fabric layer impregnated with or formed from an anti-bacterial material.
9. A scarf according to any preceding claim, wherein each ear covering element includes a layer of wicking fibres including moisture channels adapted to wick moisture away from the skin of a user.
10. A scarf according to any preceding claim, wherein each ear covering element includes an outer layer of waterproof material.