GB2589613A

GB2589613A - Sun cape attachment for a browguard

Info

Publication number: GB2589613A
Application number: GB1917780.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wyld Jack; Johnstone Clive
Original assignee: JSP Ltd
Current assignee: JSP Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-05
Filing date: 2019-12-05
Publication date: 2021-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-05
Also published as: FR3104003B3; GB2589613B; FR3104003A3; ES1268509Y; GB201917780D0; ES1268509U; DE202020106959U1

Abstract

A sun cape attachment for use with a browguard 100, comprising: a frame 200 configured to be attached to the browguard and to cover the crown of the wearer’s head; a front connector (210, fig. 4) engaging the front section of the brow guard and a rear connector (230, fig.4) that engages the rear section of the browguard; and a sun cape 300 formed from pliable fabric that sits over the frame portion and has a crown covering portion and a neck covering portion. The frame preferably has ventilation holes. The front connector is preferably a projecting tab or a resilient arm, and the sun cape has a slot that the tab can extend through. The rear connector may be a rearwardly projecting hook. Also claimed is a browguard assembly in combination with such an attachment, and a kit for modifying a brow guard.

Description

Sun Cape Attachment for a Browguard

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to sun capes (also known as neck capes, neck shades, neck flaps and/or neck shields) that are used by operators working in outdoor environments to protect against direct exposure to, for example, sun / UV rays, dust and/or liquids. In particular, the invention relates to a sun cape that can be removably attached to a browguard to substantially cover the wearer's head and neck.

Background Art

[0002] Sun capes / neck capes are widely used by operators working in outdoor environments to protect against direct exposure to, for example, sun / UV rays, dust and/or liquids. Such capes are generally designed to be attached to safety helmets and/or bump caps and to only cover the rear and/or sides of the wearer's head, as the top of the wearer's head is usually already covered by the safety helmet and/or the bump cap.

[0003] US 2822546 A (BARKER JR LUTHER PAUL) discloses a helmet structure, comprising: a helmet member having a crown; a plurality of snap fastener elements arranged in spaced relation within the crown; a suspension means including a sweatband and means having snap fastener members for attachment to said snap fastener elements thereby to dispose said sweatband in spaced relation to said crown; a cape attachment member, including a flexible strip having a plurality of spaced offset tongues extending parallel therewith to form horizontal recesses, the tongues and recesses at either side of the mid portion of said strip being directed toward the extremity of said strip, said strip being disposed under a series of said snap fastener elements and their attached snap fastener members with said tongues extending thereover; and a cape continuously secured by a margin thereof to said strip.

[0004] US 5701609 A (BRIDGES, KARIN HOHERCHAK) discloses a substantially rectangular, protective drape which is selectively attachable to a hard hat, preferably includes a strip of "hook and loop" fastener along one edge. A complementary strip of "hook and loop" fastening material is attached to the inner wall of the hard hat. The drape is used to protect the neck and, selectively, the ears, of the user from the elements.

[0005] Some neck capes / sun capes are hood-shaped. Such capes can be designed to be worn under the head harness / headband of a safety helmet, bump cap and/or browguard (i.e. between the wearer's head and the head harness / headband). These are generally known as hard hat liners, hard hat pads with neck shades, welding caps and/or welding skull caps.

[0006] Some hood-shaped neck capes are designed to be worn over safety helmets, bump caps and/or browguards. These are generally known as full face respiratory hoods. For example, the SATA® air visionTM 5000 system comprises a hood-shaped neck cape designed to be attached to a safety helmet and worn over the safety helmet, and the SATA® vision 20001m system comprises a hood-shaped neck cape designed to be attached to a browguard and worn over the browguard (including the head harness).

[0007] Hood-shaped neck capes suitable for browguards are typically come into contact with the top of the wearer's head. This can be uncomfortable to the wearer, especially if the wearer is using the neck cape outdoors to protect against direct sun / UV exposure, as it can lead to an uncomfortable microclimate (i.e. temperature and humidity) between the neck cape and the top of the wearer's head.

[0008] Browguards with spacing features that stop hood-shaped neck capes from falling into contact with the top of the wearer's head have been disclosed (e.g. US20100037375A1 (CYLENA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.)). However, they do not appear to be suitable for, for example, operators working in windy outdoor environments as the spacing features only provide a support on which the rear crown portion of the neck cape rests (i.e. the spacing features do not ensure that a fixed space is defined between the neck cape and the top of the wearer's head).

[0009] There exists a need to provide a browguard / sun cape solution capable of defining a fixed space between the crown portion of a hood-shaped neck cape and the top of the wearer's head.

[0010] This invention aims to provide a sun cape attachment for browguards to address said need.

Disclosure of Invention

[0011] The invention provides a sun cape attachment for use with a browguard, comprising: a frame configured to be attached to the browguard and cover the top of the wearer's head; and a sun cape that sits over the frame, covers the top of the wearer's head and hangs down from the frame to cover the rear and/or sides of the wearer's head. One aspect of the invention provides a sun cape attachment for use with a brow guard, comprising a structure configured to fit around a user's head and including: a front part that sits on the brow of the user's head, and a rear part that extends around a rear part of the crown of the user's head so as to define a space over at least part of the crown of the user's head, and the sun cape attachment comprising a frame that fits within the brow guard and includes a crown section that extends across the space defined by the brow guard, a front connector that engages the front part of the brow guard, and a rear connector that engages the rear part of the brow guard; and a sun cape formed from a pliable fabric that extends over the frame, comprising a crown portion that covers the crown section of the frame to cover the user's head, and a neck portion that hangs down from the rear of the crown portion to cover the user's neck.

[0012] The neck portion of the sun cape can also cover the sides of the user's head and neck.

[0013] The frame can comprise a rear peak that extends rearwardly from the rear of the crown section of the frame and projects beyond the rear of the user's head.

[0014] The neck portion of the sun cape can hang down from the rear peak.

[0015] The frame can be positioned to maintain a space between the sun cape and the user's head.

[0016] The frame can comprise ventilation holes.

[0017] The crown portion of the sun cape can comprise a slot through which the rear connector of the frame extends to engage the brow guard.

[0018] The front connector can comprise a projecting tab, and the sun cape can comprise a slot at the front through which the tab extends to engage the front part of the brow guard.

[0019] The front connector can comprise a resilient arm that protrudes from the front of the frame and further comprises a channel that engages the front portion of the brow guard.

[0020] The rear connector of the frame can comprise a rearwardly projecting hook.

[0021] The sun cape can comprise ear openings, and flaps that can be moved to cover or uncover the ear openings.

[0022] A further aspect of the invention provides brow guard assembly, comprising a structure configured to fit around a user's head and including a front part that sits on the brow of the user's head, and a rear part that extends around a rear part of the crown of the user's head so as to define a space over at least part of the crown of the user's head, a frame that fits within the brow guard and includes a crown section that extends across the space defined by the brow guard, the frame including a front connector that engages the front part of the brow guard, and a rear connector that engages the rear part of the brow guard; and a sun cape formed from a pliable fabric that extends over the frame, comprising a crown portion that covers the crown section of the frame to cover the user's head, and a neck portion that hangs down from the rear of the crown portion to cover the user's neck.

[0023] The brow guard assembly can further comprise an adjustable head harness, wherein the frame sits between the adjustable head harness and the structure.

[0024] The frame can comprise a rear peak that projects beyond a rearmost part of the adjustable head harness.

[0025] A further aspect of the invention provides a kit for modifying a brow guard comprising a structure configured to fit around a user's head and including: a front part that sits on the brow of the user's head, and a rear part that extends around a rear part of the crown of the user's head so as to define a space over at least pad of the crown of the user's head; the kit comprising a frame that fits within the brow guard and includes a crown section that extends across the space defined by the brow guard, the frame including a front connector that engages the front part of the brow guard, and a rear connector that engages the rear part of the brow guard; and a sun cape formed from a pliable fabric that extends over the frame, comprising a crown portion that covers the crown section of the frame to cover the user's head, and a neck portion that hangs down from the rear of the crown portion to cover the user's neck.

[0026] Further aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0027] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brow guard.

[0028] Figure 2 is a side view of a person wearing the brow guard of Figure 1 with various accessories attached to the brow guard.

[0029] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a frame.

[0030] Figure 4 shows the frame of Figure 3 mounted onto the brow guard of Figure 1 [0031] Figure 5 is a bottom view of the frame of Figure 3 mounted onto the brow guard of Figure 1 with a sun cape mounted between the frame and the brow guard.

[0032] Figure 6 is a side view of a person wearing the brow guard of Figure 1 with various accessories attached to the brow guard including the frame of Figure 3 and the sun cape of Figure 5.

[0033] Figure 7 is a rear view of a person wearing the brow guard of Figure 1 with various accessories attached to the brow guard including the frame of Figure 3 and the sun cape of Figure 5.

Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention [0034] This invention provides a suncape that can be used with a brow guard. The embodiments described below comprise a brow guard and a suncape attachment including a frame and a cape. This invention relates to this combination, and to the fame and cape, both together and separately.

[0035] Figure 1 shows a brow guard 100 having a generally ring-like structure to fit around a user's head, comprising a curved brow part 110 that is configured to fit around the front of a user's head; and a rear crown part 120 that extends around and over a rear part of the user's head behind the brow part 100. In the embodiment show in Figure 1, the rear crown part 120 bridges the top of the crown of the user's head. In other embodiments, this part may sit behind the crown or around the rear of the user's head. The front part 110 and rear part 120 form a loop and define an open space 130 that will be positioned over at least part of the crown region of the user's head. The rear part 120 includes two slots 121. The sides of the brow guard 100 comprise slots, holes, or other apertures 111 for mounting accessories onto the brow guard 100. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the slots 111 can be used to mount a visor and ear defenders to the brow guard 100. The brow guard 100 also comprises features that allow a harness 140 to be mounted inside it so that it can be adjusted to fit properly on the user's head and can include comfort features such as padding and sweat bands.

[0036] Figure 3 and 4 show a frame 200 that can be fitted within the brow guard 100. The frame 200 is generally dome-shaped shell that comprises a crown section 202, which corresponds generally to the shape of the crown of the user's head, and a rear peak 250 that extends from the rear of the crown section 202 of the frame 200 and projects beyond the rearmost part of the brow guard 100. The front of the frame 200 includes a front connector comprising a resilient arm 210 and two projecting tabs 220. The rear of the crown section of the frame 200 includes a rear connector comprising two realwardly projecting hook-like arms 230. The structure of the frame 200 also defines ventilation holes 240.

[0037] S211 in the edge of the front of the frame 200 allow the arm 210 to bend radially inwards or outwards relative to the main body of the frame 200 at the join 212 between the arm 210 and the main body of the frame 200. The lower end of the arm 210 protrudes from the outer convex surface of the main body of the frame 200 and comprises a U-shaped channel 213 configured to engage the front portion 110 of the brow guard 100 when the frame 200 is attached in the brow guard 100.

[0038] The two tabs 220 abut a downward facing surface of the brow guard 100 when the frame 200 is attached to the brow guard 100.

[0039] Each hook-like arm 230 defines a downward facing U-shaped groove 231, that engages the rear part 120 of the brow guard 100 and extends through slots 121.

[0040] The frame 200 allows a sun cape 300 to be removably attached to the brow guard 100 to cover the wearer's head and neck from direct sun / UV exposure.

[0041] The sun cape 300, shown in Figure 5, is a fabric hood configured to be fitted between the frame 200 and the brow guard 100. The fabric is pliable and can be woven or laminated so as to be waterproof or weatherproof, and resistant to certain corrosive materials. The fabric can be brightly coloured for visibility and can include reflective portions. The sun cape 300 comprises a crown portion 302 and a neck portion 304. The crown portion 302 of the sun cape 300 is sized and shaped to cover the crown portion 202 of the frame 200, and thus also covers the crown of the user's head. The neck portion 304 of the sun cape 300 hangs down from the crown portion 202 of the frame 200 and is sized and shaped to cover the sides and rear of the user's head and neck. The sun cape 300 is provided with slots 306, 308 through which the tabs 220 and the hook-like arms 230 extend to contact the brow guard 100. The sun cape 300 also comprises openings 310 in its sides (i.e. its neck portion) that are sized and shaped to allow ear defenders to be worn through them so as to minimise sound leakage and increase comfort by allowing the cushions of the ear defenders to sit directly against the user's ears.

[0042] Rectangular fabric flaps 320 are provided on each side of the sun cape 300 adjacent to the ear openings 310. Each flap 320 is fixed to the sun cape 300 only at its rear edge so that the flaps 320 can be folded to cover the holes 310 when not required (e.g. when ear defenders are not being used), as shown in Figure 5, and uncover the openings 310 when required (e.g. when ear defenders are to be used), as shown in Figure 6 and 7.

[0043] The inner side 321 of each flap 320 comprises two strips of hook-and-loop fasteners 322, 323. The first strip 322 is complementary to a strip of hookand-loop fasteners 324 provided on each side of the external surface of the neck portion of the sun cape 300, adjacent to the openings 310. The second strip 323 is complementary to a strip of hook-and-loop fasteners (not shown) provided on the outer side of each flap 320.

[0044] When the flaps 320 are arranged to cover the ear openings 310, the first strip 322 engages the complementary strip 324 provided on each side of the sun cape. When the openings 310 are to be uncovered, the flaps 320 are bent backwards so that one flap 320 overlaps the other and the second 323 engages the provided on the outer side of the other flap 320.

[0045] When the frame 200 and the harness 140 is attached to the brow guard 100, the rear peak 250 extends beyond the rearmost end of the brow guard 100 and harness 140 (e.g. the harness adjustment mechanism) to ensure that the sun cape 300 is spaced from the user's neck.

[0046] To mount the sun cape 300 onto the brow guard 100, the user first mounts the sun cape 300 onto the frame 200 by placing the crown portion of the sun cape 300 directly over the crown portion of the frame and allowing the tabs 220 and hook-like arms 230 to extend through the corresponding slots (not shown). The user then mounts the frame 200 into the brow guard 100 by engaging the hook-like arms 230 with the rear part 120 of the brow guard 100 from within the brow guard 100, and subsequently moves the front portion of the frame 200 upwards relative to the brow guard 100 (i.e. towards the front part 110 of the brow guard), until the resilient arm 210 is deflected inwards by the internal surface of the front part 110, and then springs back outwards when the U-shaped channel 213 aligns with a corresponding feature provided at the front part 110.

[0047] The crown portion of the sun cape 300 is thus held in place between the frame 200 and the brow guard 100. the frame 200 ensures that a space is maintained between the top of the user's head and the crown portion of the sun cape 300. This space, along with the ventilation holes 240, helps provide a comfortable experience for the user.

[0048] To remove the sun cape 300 from the brow guard 100, the user essentially reverses the procedure descried above.

[0049] Further changes can be made within the scope of this invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A sun cape attachment for use with a brow guard, comprising a structure configured to fit around a user's head and including: a front part that sits on the brow of the user's head, and a rear part that extends around a rear part of the crown of the user's head so as to define a space over at least part of the crown of the users head, and the sun cape attachment comprising: a frame that fits within the brow guard and includes a crown section that extends across the space defined by the brow guard, a front connector that engages the front part of the brow guard, and a rear connector that engages the rear part of the brow guard; and a sun cape formed from a pliable fabric that extends over the frame, comprising a crown portion that covers the crown section of the frame to cover the user's head, and a neck portion that hangs down from the rear of the crown portion to cover the user's neck.
2. A sun cape attachment according to claim 1, wherein the neck portion of the sun cape also covers the sides of the user's head and neck.
3. A sun cape attachment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame comprises a rear peak that extends rearwardly from the rear of the crown section of the frame and projects beyond the rear of the user's head.
4. A sun cape attachment according to claim 3, wherein the neck portion of the sun cape hangs down from the rear peak.
5. A sun cape attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame is positioned to maintain a space between the sun cape and the user's head.
6. A sun cape attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame comprises ventilation holes.
7. A sun cape attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the crown portion of the sun cape comprises a slot through which rear connector of the frame extends to engage the brow guard.
8. A sun cape attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the front connector comprises a projecting tab.
9. A sun cape attachment according to claim 8, wherein the sun cape comprises a slot at the front through which the tab extends to engage the front part of the brow guard.
10.A sun cape attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the front connector comprises a resilient arm that protrudes from the front of the frame and further comprises a channel that engages the front portion of the brow guard.
11.A sun cape attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rear connector of the frame comprises a rearwardly projecting hook.
12.A sun cape attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sun cape comprises ear openings.
13.A sun cape attachment according to claim 12, wherein the sun cape comprises flaps that can be moved to cover or uncover the ear openings.
14.A brow guard assembly, comprising: a structure configured to fit around a user's head and including: a front part that sits on the brow of the user's head, and a rear part that extends around a rear part of the crown of the user's head so as to define a space over at least part of the crown of the user's head, a frame that fits within the brow guard and includes a crown section that extends across the space defined by the brow guard, the frame including: a front connector that engages the front part of the brow guard, and a rear connector that engages the rear part of the brow guard; and a sun cape formed from a pliable fabric that extends over the frame, comprising a crown portion that covers the crown section of the frame to cover the user's head, and a neck portion that hangs down from the rear of the crown portion to cover the user's neck.
15.A brow guard assembly according to claim 14, further comprising an adjustable head harness, wherein the frame sits between the adjustable head harness and the structure.
16.A brow guard assembly according to claim 15, wherein the frame comprises a rear peak that projects beyond a rearmost part of the adjustable head harness.
17.A kit for modifying a brow guard comprising: a structure configured to fit around a user's head and including: a front part that sits on the brow of the user's head, and a rear part that extends around a rear part of the crown of the user's head so as to define a space over at least part of the crown of the user's head; the kit comprising a frame that fits within the brow guard and includes a crown section that extends across the space defined by the brow guard, the frame including: a front connector that engages the front part of the brow guard, and a rear connector that engages the rear part of the brow guard; and a sun cape formed from a pliable fabric that extends over the frame, comprising a crown portion that covers the crown section of the frame to cover the user's head, and a neck portion that hangs down from the rear of the crown portion to cover the user's neck.