US3755819A

US3755819A - Swimming headgear

Info

Publication number: US3755819A
Application number: US00197691A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Douglas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-11-11
Filing date: 1971-11-11
Publication date: 1973-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-04
Also published as: GB1379144A; AU4874272A; IT973445B; CA965552A; FR2160190A5; JPS4857736A; DE2255238A1

Abstract

The swimming headgear comprises a protective head covering member. This member may consist essentially of a substantially semi-rigid plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual, or a plastic bonnet, or both. Head-contacting peripheral means substantially excludes environmental water from entrance under the covering member. Preferred head-contacting peripheral means comprises a substantially water-tight seal structure including a flexible conformable plastic film shaped into a tubular chamber and a porous deformable and resilient organic plastic body strip extending throughout the tubular chamber and completely enclosed therewithin. Details of the illustrated sheath include eye accommodating portions on each side of a nose accommodating portion, with lateral perimeter portions of the sheath contoured toward temple areas of a user individual. Each eye portion comprises outer and inner plate members. The outer plate member extends from the nose accommodating portion to the respective lateral sheath perimeter portion or ''''temple'''' portion adjacent the eye portion. The outer plate member has transparent eyevision area. The inner plate member is equipped with an opening therein aligned to coincide over the eye-vision area and form a visual border thereabout. Between the plate members, and formed by the plate members, is an internal annular channel recess. It extends peripherally outward from the eye-vision area, and particularly extends as a contoured recess laterally rearward within the sheath toward the temple area. The channel recess is adapted to serve as a water reservoir permitting the wearer of the headgear to preliminarily place a small amount of water in the recess for use while swimming to slosh over the eye-vision area to clear it of fog. The contour of the channel recess is such that the sloshing water does not migrate over the eye vision area during normal head movements, except a head movement in a downward looking stance. The nature of the water reservoir recess, especially at the temple area, permits upside down swimming substantially without the annoyance of water spilling out of the recess onto the eyes.

Description

W DOllglas States Patent [1 1 SWIMMING HEADGEAR [76] Inventor: Donald J. Douglas, 10 Glasgow Rd.,

White Bear Lake, Minn. 55110 [22] Filed: Nov. 11, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 197,691

2,465,998 4/1949 Bowditch 2/68 2,581,007 1/1952 Douglas et al. 2/14 W X 2,612,640 10/1952 Palmes 2/14 K 2,705,802 4/1955 Tellier.... 2/14 WX 3,394,406 7/1968 Bergens 2/68 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 962,705 12/1949 France 2/14 N Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant ExaminerPeter Nerbun Att0meyR0bert C. Baker I 57] ABSTRACT The swimming headgear comprises a protective head covering member. This member may consist essentially of a substantially semi-rigid plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual, or a plastic bonnet, or both. Head-contacting peripheral means substantially excludes environmental water from entrance under the 1111 3,755,819 1 Sept. 4, 1973 covering member. Preferred head-contacting peripheral means comprises a substantially water-tight seal structure including a flexible conformable plastic film shaped into a tubular chamber and a porous deformable and resilient organic plastic body strip extending throughout the tubular chamber and completely enclosed therewithin. Details of the illustrated sheath in elude eye accommodating portions on each side of a nose accommodating portion, with lateral perimeter portions of the sheath contoured toward temple areas of a user individual. Each eye portion comprises outer and inner plate members. The outer plate member extends from the nose accommodating portion to the respective lateral sheath perimeter portion or temple portion adjacent the eye portion. The outer plate member has transparent eye-vision area. The inner plate member is equipped with an opening therein aligned to coincide over the eye-vision area and form a visual border thereabout. Between the plate members, and formed by the plate members, is an internal annular channel recess. It extends peripherally outward from the eyevision area, and particularly extends as a contoured recess laterally rearward within the sheath toward the temple area. The channel recess is adapted to serve as a water reservoir permitting the wearer of the headgear to preliminarily place a small amount of water in the recess for use while swimming to slosh over the eye-vision area to clear it of fog. The contour of the channel recess is such that the sloshing water does not migrate over the eye vision area during normal head movements, except a head movement in a downward looking stance. The nature of the water reservoir re- .cess, especially at the temple area, permits upside down 25 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures SWIMMING HEADGEA'R This invention relates to new and improvedheadgear for humans to wear while engaging in swiming above or underneath the water, or while engaging in any variety of water activity.

The invention provides new head-contacting substantially water-tight seal means for swimming headgear; and it also provides new substantially-annoyance-free sloshing water reservoirs for clearing internal fog or mist from eye vision parts of the headgear.

For comfort reasons the nose as well as the eyes (and also the ears) are preferably protected by swimming headgear. However, a major problem with headgear of this type is thatof fog or mist accumulating on internal surfaces of the transparent eye-vision portions. Mild breadth movement in and out of the nose contributes to such fogging or misting; and warm body perspiration alone can generate sufficient moisture to cause fogging as the warm moisture vapor condenses on the cooler internal surfaces of the headgear. The internal coating of fog obscures vision and must be removed. While it is conveniently removed by sloshing water over the fogged surface, no heretofore known headgear permits such sloshing to take place without creating other problems, especially the problem of discomfort arising as a result of some of the sloshing water hittingthe users eyes. The storage of sloshing water inside prior art headgear is not such as to substantially confine the sloshing water during normal head movements as common in water play (such as somersaults, barrel rolls, upside-down swimming or swimming on ones back, and the like). Roaming of sloshing water can create annoyance and distraction and an obstruction to vision equal to the problem of the unwanted fog or mist on the interior transparent eye covering surfaces of headgear.

By employing teachings of this invention, sloshing water is contained in reservoirs within the headgear and thereby substantially confined in movement except when the underwater swimmer bends his head to look down. By bending his head to look down, and then moving or shaking his head (back and forth; or up and down) in any direction while maintaining his head in a substantially downward-looking stance, the swimmer causes the sloshing water to leave the reservoirs and move back and forth (or up and down) across the interior of the transparent eye covering surface to remove accumulated fog or mist therefrom.

, An important point to be made is that this invention is not primarily directed to improvements in highly expensive and sophisticated underwater headgear (although teachings hereof may be used in making such headgear), but instead is primarily directed to the economical variety of headgear of popular concern for use in recreational pursuits. A variety of different styles of headgear may be made incorporating teachings hereof.

Underwater headgear incorporating the new seal means hereof comprises, as the basic part of the structure, a protective covering member for at least a portion of the head of an individual. This protective covering member may consist essentially of a semi-rigid plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual. It may also include a hair-covering organic plastic bonnet, either alone or fixed to a plastic eye-covering sheath. The plastic bonnet may be formed of flexible stretchable plastic or a semi-rigid plastic, either opaque or transparent. The bonnet may include a pie-shaped flexible expansion insert and a zipper closure. In the case of the bonnet approach, the peripheral edge portion of the total head covering generally will extend along a line about the head of the individual approximately defined as a line across the upper lip, below the. ears, and across the nape. of the neck of the individual.

Atperipheraledge portions of the selected protective head covering member extends the substantially watertight seal means of the invention. The seal is adapted to conform to a variety of head contours. Thestructure of the. seal includes a flexible comfortable plastic film in the shape of atubular member or chamber extending about (or aligned with and affixed to) peripheral edge portions of the head covering. Within this tubular chamber extends a porous deformable and resilient organic rubbery plasticbody strip. The body strip is preferably unitary; and it extends substantially throughout the tubular chamber. and is completely enclosed within the tubular chamber. Optionally, but preferably, a strap member may be fixed in alignment over the exterior or outer part of the body strip (either directly upon the exterior. of the body strip or exterior to the closed chamber, but over the body strip) for increasing pressure upon the body strip to press it against portions of the head contacted by the seal means; and this strip member may consist essentially of an elastic band. The interior of the tubular chamber is itself sealed or closed against open passage communication with water or air environment exterior thereto. It, however, may be equipped with valve means, to provide an openable and closeable passage for pneumatic inflation of it to a higher degree of air pressure than at atmospheric condition. A suitable valve comprises a flexible tube affixed at one end for communication with the interior of the tubular chamber and adapted to be closed by folding the tube upon itself after oral inflation of the tubular chamber.

In this sea] structure, the porous plastic body strip is always acting as a resilient cushion pressing the tubular chamber against the head or facial contour of the user individual. This is true whether or not loss of inflation air within the tubular member takes place accidentally during underwater activity. Of course, a practical point is that the plastic materials out of which the tubular member is normally formed are inherently not likely to maintain augmented inflation pressures ad infinitum. In this respect, water tight is used herein in a relative sense, in that the practical performance of this new edge seal means of the invention, under the shallow water recreational use for which the headgear of the invention is primarily designed, is entirely effective to provide practical protection against unwanted entrance of water. (Illustratively, the headgear may, for example, be used to protect an infected car while engaged in swimming practice sessions. It may be used to protect eyes, ears and nose from polluted water. But by far the widest use is that of comfortably freeing a swimmer of the general annoyance of water in his eyes, ears, and nose.)

An optional but desirable additional improvement for bonnet-type headgear is that of means for pressing into or filling the mandible base depressions of the human head. These depressions are below the cars at the base of the jaw. In bonnet headgear, cushioning internal projections may be located interiorly in the bonnet at each portion thereof adapted to extend across a mandible base depression. The projections are located immediately contiguous to (or as an internal projection from) the tubular chamber; thus they coact with the tubular chamber to augment the substantially water-tight seal means of the invention.

Underwater headgear incorporating the new sloshing water reservoir teachings hereof comprises a substantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship as a covering over the eyes and nose of a user individual. Additionally, this headgear includes head-contacting peripheral means, or means extending about the periphery of the headgear (whether said headgear covers only the eye and nose area or also includes a bonnet covering for the hair of the head) for substantially excluding environmental water from entrance into the space between the sheath structure and the eyes and nose of the individual wearing the headgear.

The sheath structure has lateral eye accommodating portions on each side of a nose accommodating portion, with the lateral perimeter portions of the sheath structure contoured toward temple areas of the user individual. Each eye portion comprises an outer plate member, an inner plate member, and a special channel recess structure. The outer plate member extends from the nose accommodating portion to the respective lateral sheath perimeter portion adjacent the eye portion; and the outer plate member includes a transparent eyevision area. The inner plate member has an opening therein aligned to coincide over the eye-vision area. The opening forms a visual border about the eye-vision area as that area is looked through by the user of the Headgear. Further, the inner plate member has a contour at its perimeter portions for mating with the outer plate member substantially along perimeter portions of the outer plate member. Both plate members are united in a substantially water-tight manner at those mated perimeter portions.

An internal annular channel recess extends peripherally outward from the eye-vision area to mated perimeter portions of the plate members. This channel recess extends annularly about the eye-vision area, and is defined by an outer wall consisting of the outer plate member and an inner wall formed by the inner plate member. Portions of the inner plate member bordering the eye-vision area are contoured toward the outer plate member but terminate in space relationship therefrom. Portions of the inner plate member contiguous to and peripherally outward from the bordering portions are contoured to be more greatly spaced from the outer plate member than the bordering portions. Thus, the channel recess is wider in contiguous portions than in bordering portions. It extends as a contoured recess laterally rearward to. the lateral sheath perimeter portion adjacent the eye portion.

The recess serves as a water reservoir permitting the wearer of the headgear to preliminarily place a small amount of water in a portion of the recess. This reservoir water is available for sloshing from one portion of the recess to another portion thereof across the internal surface of eye-vision area of the outer plate member to clear the same of fog as may accumulate thereon during use. The contour of the recess between the plate members includes a laterally rearward part extending toward the temple perimeter area; and this feature is especially advantageous in terms of substantially holding or confining the reservoir water within the channel recess for all head movements (including those accompanying a somersault, barrel roll, or swimming on ones back) other than that of a downward looking stance.

Additional benefits and advantages of the teachings of this invention will become evident as the description proceeds. The invention will be described with the aid of a drawing made a part hereof wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one type of headgear according to the invention wherein the protective head covering consists essentially of a composite sheath structure for the eyes and nose;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic perspective crosssectional views taken on

lines

22 and 33, respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic perspective views of other types of headgear, characterized as headgear which cover the entire upper part of the head of the individual;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary or broken schematic perspective sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary broken schematic perspective view of the interior of a bonnet headgear, showing the approximate location of a cushion projection for a mandible base depression;

FIG. 8, is a schematic perspective view of headgear including a flexible expansion panel plus a zipper closure; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic fragmentary perpsective crosssectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 1-3, inclusive, the substantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure 10 for the eyes and nose will first be described. This sheath structure has laterally spaced eye accommodating portions 11 and 11a on each side of a nose accommodating portion 12. The sheath structure 10 is contoured to form the eye and nose accommodating portions; and the lateral perimeter portions 13 of the sheath structure are contoured toward temple areas of a user individual.

Each eye accommodating portion 111 and Ila comprises an outer plate member 41 having a transparent eye-vision or look through area 15, plus an inner plate member 16 having an opening therein aligned to coincide over the eye-vision area 15 and form a visual border 17 thereabout. Outer plate member 14 extends from the nose accommodating portion 12 (and may be unified or molded to be integral with the nose H2), preferably in a curved contour of generally smooth or gradual character, to the lateral sheath perimeter portion 13 or temple area adjacent the eye portion. Inner plate member 16 is of such contour at its

perimeter portions

19, 20 and 21 to mate with the outer plate member 14 substanitally along the outer plate perimeter portions (of like numerical designation in the drawing). These perimeter portions may vary in contour, but are united in a substantially water-tight manner.

Additionally, each eye accommodating portion includes an internal annular channel recess 18, which is located interiorly of the outer plate member 14. It extends peripherally outward from the eye-vision area to the

perimeter mating portions

19, 20, and 21.

Each channel recess 18 is defined by an outer wall consisting of outer plate member 14 and an inner wall consisting of inner plate member 16. POrtions of inner plate member 16 which border eye-vision area 15 are contoured toward without touching) outer plate member 14. Border portions 17 terminate in spaced relationship from outer plate member 14. They thus form the visual borders 17 about eye-vision areas 15. The spacing is preferably just sufficient to allow a film of water (about a half cubic centimeter per eye portion) to move on the interior surface of the outer plate member 14 without contacting the border edge 17 of the interior or inner plate member 16. lllustratively, this spacing may vary from a lower limit of approximately one-eighth inch or a couple millimeters up to an upper distance as great as possibly a half inch or about one centimeter. It is preferable, however, that the spacing be minimal; normally no greater than about one-fourth inch or about a half centimeter.

Contiguous to and peripherally outward from border portions 17 is an enlarged reservoir or space 18 between the inner 16 and outer 14 plate members. Reservoir 18 is formed by contouring the portion of the inner plate member 16 contiguous to the bordering portion 17 so that the contiguous portion is more greatly spaced from the outer plate member 14 than the border part 17. Reservoir recess 18 is open or accessible along the periphery of the interior surface of the eye-vision area 15. Channel recess 18 extends in a peripherally outward direction from an eye-vision area to the

mating perimeter portions

19, 20, and 21. The sealing or uniting of

plate members

14 and 16 at such perimeter portions may be accomplished by any suitable means, such as by heat, dielectric means, special adhesives, intermediate films or bands as unifiers, or by any other suitable technique involving the formation of a substantially water-tight joint or union.

Channel recess 18 extends laterally rearward toward the lateral sheath perimeter portion 13 (which is at the location of the temple area for seal 19 between the inner and outer plate members). This rearward extension of recess 18 provides a rearward extending pocket for sloshing water to flow to as a swimmer engages in somersaults or swimming on his back. Recess 18 is not cylindrically symetrical, but is instead asymetrical and equipped with a temple pocket.

A practical method for manufacturing the semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure as a composite is that of forming first a semi-rigid outer plate as a unitary member for the entire expanse of the sheath, with the nose-accommodating portion 13 molded in it and with the peripheral or perimeter portions of the plate l4 contoured for approximate fitting toward those facial areas characterized as lying in a line approximately running underneath the nose (or across the upper lip), below cheekbones, across temple areas, and over eyebrows across the forehead. The main body of the unitary outer plate 14, particularly in the eye accommodating portions thereof, bulges outwardly from peripheral edge portions 19; and the nose accommodating portion bulges outwardly in an approximate shape for the nose. The contour of the outer plate member across the eyes is preferably curved gradually, but may optionally be substantially flat at least over the eye-vision area. Each eye accommodating portion, over the eyevision areas or portions thereof, may be perfectly flat and lie in a single plane across both eye-vision areas. Preferably, however, the outer plate or sheet member will be curved gradually in the eye accommodating portion so as to avoid the projection of those portions outwardly as would be required where both eye accommodating portions lie in a single plane across the eyes. Parts of the outer plate 14 other than the eye-vision areas 15 may, if desired, be formed of opaque or pigmented or colored,.plastic. At least the eye-vision areas 15 of the outer plate M are transparent (but may be color tinted or'polarized similarly to sun glasses). Preferably, the entire plate 14 is formed of substantially clear transparent organic plastic such as, for example, semi-rigid polyvinyl chloride material, acrylic-type polymers including polymethyl methacrylate, butyrate polymersincluding cellulose acetate butyrate, polycarbonates, or any suitable transparent organic plastic material of substantially semi-rigid shatter-resistant optically transparent character at thicknesses varying from about a tenth millimeter up to possibly 2, or even 5 or more, millimeters. As used herein, semi-rigid refers to a shape retaining structure which optionally may be flexible enought to be slightly bent or temporarily altered in shape, but which, upon release of distortion or bending forces, will return substantially to its original shape.

The inner plate 16 for the entire sheath structure may likewise be formed as a unitary sheet or plate structure of semirigid character, although it suitably may be formed of somewhat more flexible (or more plasticized) organic plastic than the outer plate member 14. A nose accommodating portion may be formed or molded in the inner plate or sheet 16. While a single unitary inner plate 16 may be used, it is nevertheless preferable to form the annular channel recesses 18 about eye-visionareas 15 as discrete or separate entities not in communication with eachother. Thus, a recess perimeter seal line or lines 20* and 21 should separate the recesses at the nose area. (If water from one annular channel recess 18 were permitted to flow between unitary inner 16 and unitary outer M plates across the nose portion into the recess 11 for the other eye-vision area, the added build up of water in the recess for one eye portion would greatly increase the likelihook of spillage out of the recess onto ones eyes.)

Preferably, the inner plate member 16 for each eye accommodating portion is formed as a separate unit. Where this is done, the portion of the inner plate proximate to the base of the projection for the nose accom modating portion of the outer sheet is contoured to meet the base of the nose accommodating portion and then sealed at the juncture, which juncture, for illustrative purposes, is about at numeral 211 in FIGS. 1 and 3. Likewise, the portion of such separate inner plate members 16 extending along an edge 21 of the bridge of the nose (from the upper part of the nose to the top of the sheath structure) is contoured toward the outer plate member 14 and sealed to it at edge 21. This struc ture separates the water reservoir 18 for each eye accommodating portion so that water does not transfer from one to the other reservoir 18.

Optionally, inner platev structure 16 can be formed as a unitary structure for a nose portion plus both eye accommodating portions, with outer plate formed as a unitary structure except for omitting the nose projectrated

mating perimeter parts

19, 20, and 21. The important feature to retain, however, is the large water recess 18 having the critical rearward extension toward the temple area.

Where the protective head covering member for the headgear consists essentially of a plastic sheath structure for the eyes and nose, the head contacting peripheral means 22 for substantially excluding water will extend about the perimeter of the sheath itself. This head contacting peripheral means is employed to substantially exclude environmental water from entrance between the sheath structure and the eyes and nose of the individual. Preferably, this head contacting peripheral means comprises the substantially water-tight tubular chamber seal means of this invention.

The tubular substantially water-tight seal means includes a flexible conformable plastic film in the shape of a closed tubular chamber 23 extending about and fixed to the peripheral edge portions of a protective covering member, which in the case of FIGS. 1 3, inclusive, consists of sheath 10.

A foamed porous deformable and resilient organic rubbery plastic body strip 24 extends substantially throughout the interior of the closed tubular chamber. This body strip 24 is completely enclosed within the tubular member or chamber 23. Also, body strip 24 is preferably a unitary strip (as distinguished from plural chunks of resilient plastic enclosed within tubular member 23); and preferably the width of the body strip is at least a half centimeter up to about 2 or even 3 centimeters, with a thickness of at least about a quarter or even a half centimeter up to about 1 or 2 centimeters. It is normally wider than it is thick, and may be oval or substantially rectangular in cross section. Opitonally, the body strip 24 may be, if desired, unified to the interior surface of the tubular member 23, either to the entire interior surface thereof, or at a band section along the length of the tube. Indeed, if desired, the central interior of the body strip may be open as an elongated passage. But the walls of the tubular member 23 are closed in use to bar open passage communication from its interior to environment exterior thereto. It may be permanently sealed to close off any such open passage communication; but alternately, valve means openable for inflating it may be present. The material forming tubular chamber 23 is substantially water-impervious.

The portion of the tubular chamber 23 sealed to peripheral edge portions 19 of the sheath structure may consist of a common wall with the material forming peripheral edge areas of the sheath structure. Thus, tubular chamber 23 may be formed by using a flexible plastic strip and longitudinally sealing it along edges of it to the internal surface of peripheral areas of the plastic sheath. Thus, one wall or side of the tubular chamber 23 is formed of the material forming the peripheral edge areas of the plastic sheath itself. Preferably, however, tubular member 23 is preformed as a tube chamber and sealed to perimeter edges of the sheath, suitably with a flexible connector strip between it and the sheath, as hereinafter explained.

Tubular chamber 23, with its internal resilient body strip 24, deforms to conform to facial or head contours when the headgear is fitted upon an individual about to engage in swimming. Thus, it always provides cushioning contact pressures serving as a barrier to water entrance, and does not in any way depend upon water absorption into the body strip 24 for this barrier effect.

The flexible plastic film used to form tubular member 23 may be plasticized polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl butyral, polyurethanes, or any of a variety of flexible plastic.film materials, including rubbery materials. Even materials which exhibit somewhat significant vapor transmission rates at the thin thickness (e.g., l or 2 mils up to about 10 or 20 or even possibly 50 mils thickness) most practical to employ for the tubular member can be satisfactory. For the porous body strip 24, foamed polyurethane synthetic rubbery polymers are excellent. However, any number of other synthetic or natural rubbery materials may be compounded and foamed to exhibit the conformability and resiliency necessary for a cushion against various contours of the head.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an elastic flexible band 25, or other strap member adjustable to head-size, is suitably fixed to the composite plastic sheath structure 10 by fastening means 26 located near the temple areas of the sheath structure. Snap fasteners, buckles or the like may be employed. Alternately, the ends of a flexible elastic band 25 may be permanently anchored at the temple areas.

In the headgear illustrated in FIG. 4, a semirigid organic plastic sheath structure 10 is employed, plus a flexible organic plastic film bonnet covering 27 for the head. Flexible bonnets may be formed out of film material such as aforediscussed for the tubular chamber 23. The bonnet is fixed to perimeter edges of the plastic sheath structure (at least the upper or top part and temple portions of the sheath structure) by any suitable seal means. The peripheral edge portion of this composite protective head covering extends along a line about the head of the individual defined as a line across the upper lip, below the ears, and across the nape of the neck. The head-contacting peripheral edge portion of this head covering may comprise an elastic band 28 fixed to the lower peripheral edge portion of the head covering. Suitably, an edge of the elastic band 28 may be sealed to the film material forming the bonnet. It is preferable to employ a narrow stretch (such as a quarter or half centimeter) of the flexible bonnet film underneath or along the bottom of the plastic sheath structure 10 and then seal an edge of the elastic band 28 to that narrow strip of film. Alternately, an elastic band may be enclosed within a tubular roll at the peripheral edge of the composite headcovering. Or belt loops may be employed for retaining an elastic band over peripheral portions of the composite headcovermg.

In FIGS. 5 7, inclusive, and FIG. 9, the illustrated headgear again (analogous to FIG. 4) comprises a protective headcovering member including a sheath structure for the eyes and nose (as, for example, sheath structure 10) and a plastic bonnet 29. In this structure, the preferred substantially watertight seal means of this invention extends along the peripheral or perimeter edge areas of the structure. This seal means includes the tubular chamber 23 and internal porous and resilient body strip 24, as aforediscussed. Also, at the portion of this headcovering along the bottom edge of a sheath 10, a narrow strip 40 of flexible plastic film is employed as the connecting means to attach the tubular chamber 23 to the bottom of the sheath 10. This is done in preference to direct attachment of the tubular chamber 23 to the interior of the bottom edge of the sheath 10 for the reason that greater comfort is realized when slight adjustments of the sheath with'respect to the peripheral seal are possible. The sheath it) must be in close contact with head areas (such as upper lip facial areas) of a user; but it need not be placed in any special pressure contact. Slight adjustability of the semi-rigid sheath with respect to the peripheral seal chamber 23 contributes to comfort. Also, if desired, a narrow strip of padding, or intermitant patches of padding, may be attached at perimeter areas of the sheath for comfort reasons or as minimal spacers to keep the sheath from direct pressing contact upon forehead, temple or lip areas. But it also is important to maintain the tubular chamber seal means 23 as close as possible to the bottom peripheral edge of the sheath lit), preferably without obstructing the nostrils for breathing. This is necessary so that the tubular chamber seal 23 will rest along the upper lip area, below the nose, instead of being so far down from the bottom edge of the sheath that it tends to ride or slide into the mouth of a user individual. Mild nostril breathing is thus permitted, which relieves panic.

As shown in FIG. 6, an inch or so of the portion of the perimeter of a flexible bonnet adapted to pass over the nape of the neck of an individual may be left free of the substantially water-tight tubular seal means; and when this approach is employed, the rear bonnet portion free of that tubular member 23 is folded in use to pull the ends of the tubular member 23 into abutting relationship. Then, they are held in that relationship on the head of a user by a supplemental belt 30 or band (preferably elastic) which is aligned exteriorly over the tubular member 23 and held in position, as by belt loops 3ll (see FIG. 5).

Altemately, an elastic belt or strap 30 may be substanitally permanently adhesively attached or otherwise united along a longitudinal medial location over the outer part of porous resilient body strip 24 (either directly attached to an elastic and resilient body strip and therefore located inside tubular chamber 23 with the body strip 24 or indirectly attached as by securing it with flexible adhesive over the outer surface of tubular chamber 23in a position as illustrated in FIG. 5 and 6). A supplemental elastic strip increases the pressure of the body strip against portions of a users head contacted by the tubular chamber seal means; and the increased pressure contributes to improvement of the substantial water-tightness of the contact. The elastic belt 30 may suitably be a continuous band (with a porous and resilient body strip 24 likewise as a continuous band) where the bonnet is formed of elastic flexible film material. Altemately, especially when a structure as illustrated in FIG. 8 is employed, the elastic belt may be of a discrete length and joined together by a hook or buckle means after the bonnet is positioned on ones head.

Optional valve means 32 (see FIG. 6) may be incorporated in the wall of the tubular member 23 to permit pneumatic inflation of the tubular member to a higher degree of air pressure than at atmospheric condition. A suitable valve 32 consists essentially of a small flexible plastic tube affixed at one end for communication with the interior of the tubular member 23 and adapted to be closed by folding the tube upon itself after oral inflation of the tubular member. The outermost end of the tube valve member may be inserted, after folding, in a pocket specially provided to hold the tube in folded condition after oral inflation; but it is quite suitable to merely fold the flexible tube valve 32 after oral inflalitllt tion and fix the headgear upon oneself so that the tubular valve 32 is pressed in folded condition against the nape of the neck during use.

Also, special supplementary means for cushion filling of the mandible base depressions in the human head may be employed. lllustratively, cushioning internal projections may be placed inside the bonnet portions at the approximate locations adapted to extend over the mandible base depressions. Each cushioning projection may be formed by providing a pocket 33 of flexible plastic inside the bonnet, in contiguous relationship to tubular chamber 23, or so as to extend at least partially over or upon the internal head-contacting surface of tubular chamber 23. A removable and adjustable resilient foam or porous rubbery plastic flller body 34 (see FIG. 7) is provided as a cushioning member for insertion inside the pocket. A user may adhesively secure the filler body 34 inside the pocket at the precise location needed to fill his mandible base depressions.

The particular adhesive chosen to fix a filler body 34, in position, as well as the particular adhesive chosen to fix an elastic band to press upon a body strip 24, will vary depending upon the particular plastic material or materials to which adhesion is desired. Illustrative adhesives are pressure sensitive adhesives, especially of the acrylic type, vinyl rubber adhesives, and a variety of rubbery elastic contact cements.

Where desired, a breathing valve such as described in Douglas et-al U. S. Pat. No. 2,581,007 may be incorporated in the headgear.

A further optional bonnet feature is that of an expansion panel as illustrated in H6. 8;, The bonnet may be equipped with a flexible pie-shpaed (i.e., substantially triangular) flap or flexible expansion insert 35 (analogous to an overshoe expansion insert). The insert preferably extends from a location exterior to the peripheral area or perimeter edge of the bonnet to a medial area of the bonnet (suitably near the crown portion of ones head). The insert should extend outwardly to a location exterior to or beyond the substantially watertight seal means at the periphery of the headgear to insure the least likelihood of water leakage under the bonnet covering at the flap insert area. Zipper closure means 36; may be fixed along lateral edges of the flap insert (that is, along lateral edges of the bonnet slit at the location of the insert 35). Auxiliary fastener means, such as Velcro"

fastener elements

37 and 33, or analoguous mating elements which can be hooked together, may be employed at the perimeter edge of the bonnet to hold ends of the tubular chamber seal means 39 together.

While bonnet parts of the headgear may be formed out of flexible plastic films (including stretchible and resilient or rubbery organic plastic films such as butyl rubber films), it also is contemplated that semi-rigid thin plastic sheets (eigher clear or tinted and transparent, or opaque pigmented sheets) may be preformed or molded into a bonnet shape for the headgear. Transparent semi-rigid bonnets, suitably formed out of materials as aforenoted for making a sheath, are especially appealing to those who have groomed their hair and desire minimal crushing or disruption of it, together with retention of the appearance of hair (instead of a col ored scalp appearance), as they wear a bathing cap for a swim. Such semi-rigid bonnets are conveniently equipped with the flap insert as illustrated in H6. 3. The semi-rigid bonnet is sufficiently flexible to permit the slight bending or twisting of it to gain the advantage of the flexible expansion feature of the insert 35; but the bonnet returns substantially to its original shape after being placed on ones head. Tubular chamber 39, with elastic press-band 30, may be fixed along peripheral edges of this head covering; or an intermediate narrow flexible connector strip 41 (similar to 40 of FIG. may extend between the perimeter of the complete semi-rigid head covering and the head-contacting flexible tubular chamber seal means 39.

Although the sheath may be formed by shaping or molding preformed flat plates or sheets into the shapes required, it is also contemplated that the sheath (or the shaped plates or sheets forming it) may be fabricated by the molding, as by injection molding, of pellet-type or other raw plastic. Plates may be uniformly thick, or have thicker edges or bands for reinforcement.

There is thus taught herein a new sheath structure which permits nostril breath movement, and which relies upon water sloshing to remove any resulting internal condensed fog or mist on eye-vision areas. The permitted nostril breath movement, even though extremely limited, does reduce the tendency toward panic for an underwater swimmer, and is especially important to those whose underwater efforts would necessarily be cut short, or possibly prove fatal, but for the ability to gain the psychological relief of a few nostril breath movements while below the surface of the water. Where a bonnet is part of the headgear, the bonnet itself (in the space between it and the head of the individual) suitably serves as a reservoir for receiving and giving up air for nostril breathing.

If desired, a passage from the nose accommodating portion to the upper perimeter of the sheath may be employed to port nostril breath underneath a bonnet or to a special nostril breath reservoir, as taught in my copending application of even date.

That which is claimed is:

1. Swimming headgear comprising a protective covering member including a substantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and 'nose of an individual and head-contacting peripheral means about said covering member for substantially excluding environmental water from entrance into the space between said sheath structure and the eyes and nose of said individual, said semi-rigid sheath structure being characterized by the fact that it comprises, in combination, an outwardly projecting contoured nose accommodating portion, lateral eye accommodating portions on each side of said nose accommodating portion, with the lateral perimeter portions of said sheath structure being contoured toward temple areas of said individual, each said eye portion comprising (i) an outer plate member extending from said nose accommodating portion to the respective lateral sheath perimeter portion contoured toward the temple area adjacent said eye portion, said outer plate member including a transparent eye-vision area, (ii) an inner plate member having an opening therein aligned to coincide over said eye-vision area and form a border thereabout, said inner plate member having a contour at perimeter portions thereof for mating with said outer plate member substantantially along perimeter portions of said outer plate member and being united in a substantially water-tight manher to said outer plate member at said perimeter portions, and (iii) an internal annular channel recess extending peripherally outward from said eye-vision area to said mated perimeter portions, said channel recess being essentially defined by an outer wall consisting of said outer plate member and an inner wall consisting of said inner plate member, the portions of said inner plate member bordering said eye-vision area being contoured toward said outer plate member but terminating in spaced relationship therefrom, and the portions of said inner plate member contiguous to said bordering portions being contoured to be more greatly spaced from said outer plate member than said bordering portions, whereby said channel recess is wider in said contiguous portions than said bordering portions, said channel recess being characterized by the fact that it extends as a contoured recess laterally rearward to said lateral sheath perimeter portion contoured toward the temple area adjacent said eye portion, said recess being adapted to oold reservoir water for sloshing from one portion of said reces to another portion thereof across the internal surface of said eye-vision area.

2. The headgear of claim ll wherein said headcontacting peripheral means comprises a flexible conformable organic film shaped to form a tubular chamber extending about peripheral edge portions of said covering member, and a porous deformable and resilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout said tubular chamber and completely enclosed therewithin.

3. The headgear of claim 2 additionally comprising openable and closeable valve means for pneumatic inflation of said tubular chamber to a higher degree of air pressure than at atmospheric condition.

4. The headgear of claim 2 hherein said tubular chamber is flexibly fixed to lower perimeter areas of said sheath structure in a manner permitting adjust ment of the exact location of said sheath structure with respect to the exact location of said tubular chamber across the upper lip of an individual.

5. The headgear of claim 1 wherein said covering member consists essentially of said plastic sheath structure.

6. The headgear of claim l wherein a single unitary outer plate forms the outer plate member of both of said eye accommodating portions of said sheath structure.

7. The headgear of claim ll wherein the perimeter portions of said sheath structure are contoured for approximate fitting toward those facial area characterized as lying in a line approximately extending across tee upper lip, below cheekbones, across temple areas, and over eyebrows across the forehead.

8. The headgear of claim l wherein said protective overing member additionally comprises a hair-covering bonnet fixed to upper and lateral perimeter areas of said sheath structure.

9. The headgear of claim 8 wherein said bonnet is formed of transparent semi-rigid plastic and is equipped with a pie-shaped flexible expansion insert extending from a location exterior to peripheral edge portions thereof toward a medial area thereof, and zipper closure means for drawing the edges of said bonnet along said expansion insert together after said bonnet is placed on an individuals head.

10. The headgear of claim 8 wherein said headcontacting peripheral means about said covering member comprises a substantially water-tight seal means, said seal means being adapted to be confromed to the lid contour of the head of an individual at peripheral edge portions of said covering member, said seal means comprising a flexible conformable film shaped to form a tubular chamber extending about said peripheral edge portions of said protective covering member, and a porous deformable and resilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout said tubular chamber and completely enclosed threrwithin.

ii. The headgear of claim g including cushioning in ternal projections inside bonnet portions of the protective covering member at approximate locations adapted to extend over the mandible base depressions of a human head.

12. Swimming headgear comprising a protective covering member including a substantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual, said sheath structure comprising an outwardly projecting contoured nose accommodating portion and lateral eye accommodating portions on each side of said nose accommodating portion, the lower edge portion of said sheath structure being contoured to lie in a line approximately extending across the upper lip of the individual, and head-contacting substantially watertight seal means at peripheral edge portions of said covering member, said seal means being adapted to be conformed to the contour of the head of said individual at said peripheral edge portions, and comprising a flexible conformable organic film shaped to form a substan tially water-impervious tubular chamber extending about said peripheral edge portions, and a porous deformable and resilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout said tubular chamber and completely enclosed therewith, means flexibly securing said tubular chamber to the lower edge portion of said sheath structure in a manner permitting adjustment of the exact location of said sheath structure with respect to the exact location of said tubular chamber across the upper lip of the individual.

13. The headgear of claim 12 wherein said seal means additionally comprises a strap member extending in longitudinal alignment to press upon the exterior part of said body strip for increasing the pressure upon said body strip against portions of a user individuals head contacted by said seal means.

lid. The headgear of claim i3 wherein said strap member comprises an elastic band.

115. The headgear of claim 12 additionally comprising valve means for pneumatic inflation of said tubular chamber to a higher degree of air pressure than at atlid mospheric condition.

in. The headgear of claim l5 wherein said valve means comprises a flexible tube affixed at one end for communication with the interior of said tubular chamber and adapted to be closed by folding the tube upon itself after oral inflation of said tubular chamber.

T7. The headgear of claim 12 wherein said protective covering member compriss a haircovering bonnet.

it The headgear of claim 117 wherein said bonnet is formed of semi-rigid plastic.

119. The headgear of claim H7 wherein said bonnet is formed of transparent semi-rigid plastic and is equipped with a pie-shaped flexible expansion insert extending from a location exterior to peripheral edge portions of said covering member toward a medial area of said bonnet, and zipper closure means for drawing the edges of said bonnet along said expansion insert together after said bonnet is placed on an individuals head.

20. The headgear of claim 12 wherein said protective covering member consists essentially of said semi-rigid plastic sheath structure.

211. The headgear of claim 32 wherein said protective covering member comprises a hair-covering bonnet fixed to said plastic sheath, with the peripheral edge portion of said protective covering member adapted to extend along a line about the head of a user individual approximately defined as across the upper lip, below the ears, and across the nape of the neck.

22. The headgear of claim 2i additionally comprising cushioning internal projections inside bonnet portions of the protective covering member at approximate locations adapted to extend over the mandible base depressions of a human head, said projections being immediately contiguous to said tubular chamber and coacting therewith to augment said substantially watertight seal means.

23. The headgear of claim 21 wherein each said internal projection consists essentially of pocket means and an adjustable resilient cushioning member in said pocket means.

24. The headgear of claim ll wherein the internal annular channel recess of one said eye portion is a discrete entity separate from the internal annular channel recess of the other said eye portion.

25. The headgear of claim 243- wherein said inner plate member for each said eye portion is sealed to said outer plate member at said nose accommodating portion.

a; =3: i t

hmrsh STATES rlrrhr swim @hhlltlllh'tll @IF @CRWEMWN Patent No. 3, 755, 819 Dated. September L1,, 1.973

lnventofls) Donald J. Douglas It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown "below:

Column 6, line 6L "Feigher", should read either Column 10, line 33 "pie-shpaed, should read pieshaped Column 12, line 18, "cold" should read hold ----3 line 19, "reoes'", should read recess line 33, "hherein", should read wherein line hi3, "area", should read areas: line M9, "tee" should read the line 53, overing", should read covering Column 1h, line 8, "comprise", should read comprises Signed and sealed this 26th day of February 197M...

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M..FLETCHER JRm ALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F ORM PC4050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC suave-Pas U.S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I959 0-355-334, v

Claims

1. Swimming headgear comprising a protective covering member including a substantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual, and head-contacting peripheral means about said covering member for substantially excluding environmental water from entrance into the space between said sheath structure and the eyes and nose of said individual, said semi-rigid sheath structure being characterized by the fact that it comprises, in combination, an outwardly projecting contoured nose accommodating portion, lateral eye accommodating portions on each side of said nose accommodating portion, with the lateral perimeter portions of said sheath structure being contoured toward temple areas of said individual, each said eye portion comprising (i) an outer plate member extending from said nose accommodating portion to the respective lateral sheath perimeter portion contoured toward the temple area adjacent said eye portion, said outer plate member including a transparent eyevision area, (ii) an inner plate member having an opening therein aligned to coincide over said eye-vision area and form a border thereabout, said inner plate member having a contour at perimeter portions thereof for mating with said outer plate member substantantially along perimeter portions of said outer plate member and being united in a substantially water-tight manner to said outer plate member at said perimeter portions, and (iii) an internal annular channel recess extending peripherally outward from said eye-vision area to said mated perimeter portions, said channel recess being essentially defined by an outer wall consisting of said outer plate member and an inner wall consisting of said inner plate member, the portions of said inner plate member bordering said eye-vision area being contoured toward said outer plate member but terminating in spaced relationship therefrom, and the portions of said inner plate member contiguous to said bordering portions being contoured to be more greatly spaced from said outer plate member than said bordering portions, whereby said channel recess is wider in said contiguous portions than said bordering portions, said channel recess being characterized by the fact that it extends as a contoured recess laterally rearward to said lateral sheath perimeter portion contoured toward the temple area adjacent said eye portion, said recess being adapted to oold reservoir water for sloshing from one portion of said reces to another portion thereof across the internal surface of said eye-vision area.

2. The headgear of claim 1 wherein said head-contacting peripheral means comprises a flexible conformable organic film shaped to form a tubular chamber extending about peripheral edge portions of said covering member, and a porous deformable and resilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout said tubular chamber and completely enclosed therewithin.

4. The headgear of claim 2 hherein said tubular chamber is flexibly fixed to lower perimeter areas of said sheath structure in a manner permitting adjustment of the exact location of said sheath structure with respect to the exact location of said tubular chamber across the upper lip of an individual.

6. The headgear of claim 1 wherein a single unitary outer plate forms the outer plate member of both of said eye accommodating portions of said sheath structure.

7. The headgear of claim 1 wherein the perimeter portions of said sheath structure are contoured for apProximate fitting toward those facial area characterized as lying in a line approximately extending across tee upper lip, below cheekbones, across temple areas, and over eyebrows across the forehead.

8. The headgear of claim 1 wherein said protective overing member additionally comprises a hair-covering bonnet fixed to upper and lateral perimeter areas of said sheath structure.

9. The headgear of claim 8 wherein said bonnet is formed of transparent semi-rigid plastic and is equipped with a pie-shaped flexible expansion insert extending from a location exterior to peripheral edge portions thereof toward a medial area thereof, and zipper closure means for drawing the edges of said bonnet along said expansion insert together after said bonnet is placed on an individual''s head.

10. The headgear of claim 8 wherein said head-contacting peripheral means about said covering member comprises a substantially water-tight seal means, said seal means being adapted to be confromed to the contour of the head of an individual at peripheral edge portions of said covering member, said seal means comprising a flexible conformable film shaped to form a tubular chamber extending about said peripheral edge portions of said protective covering member, and a porous deformable and resilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout said tubular chamber and completely enclosed threrwithin.

11. The headgear of claim 8 including cushioning internal projections inside bonnet portions of the protective covering member at approximate locations adapted to extend over the mandible base depressions of a human head.

12. Swimming headgear comprising a protective covering member including a substantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual, said sheath structure comprising an outwardly projecting contoured nose accommodating portion and lateral eye accommodating portions on each side of said nose accommodating portion, the lower edge portion of said sheath structure being contoured to lie in a line approximately extending across the upper lip of the individual, and head-contacting substantially water-tight seal means at peripheral edge portions of said covering member, said seal means being adapted to be conformed to the contour of the head of said individual at said peripheral edge portions, and comprising a flexible conformable organic film shaped to form a substantially water-impervious tubular chamber extending about said peripheral edge portions, and a porous deformable and resilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout said tubular chamber and completely enclosed therewith, means flexibly securing said tubular chamber to the lower edge portion of said sheath structure in a manner permitting adjustment of the exact location of said sheath structure with respect to the exact location of said tubular chamber across the upper lip of the individual.

13. The headgear of claim 12 wherein said seal means additionally comprises a strap member extending in longitudinal alignment to press upon the exterior part of said body strip for increasing the pressure upon said body strip against portions of a user individual''s head contacted by said seal means.

14. The headgear of claim 13 wherein said strap member comprises an elastic band.

15. The headgear of claim 12 additionally comprising valve means for pneumatic inflation of said tubular chamber to a higher degree of air pressure than at atmospheric condition.

16. The headgear of claim 15 wherein said valve means comprises a flexible tube affixed at one end for communication with the interior of said tubular chamber and adapted to be closed by folding the tube upon itself after oral inflation of said tubular chamber.

17. The headgear of claim 12 wherein said protective covering member compriss a hair-covering bonnet.

18. The headgear of claim 17 wherein said bonnet is formed of semi-rigid plastic.

19. The headgear of Claim 17 wherein said bonnet is formed of transparent semi-rigid plastic and is equipped with a pie-shaped flexible expansion insert extending from a location exterior to peripheral edge portions of said covering member toward a medial area of said bonnet, and zipper closure means for drawing the edges of said bonnet along said expansion insert together after said bonnet is placed on an individual''s head.

21. The headgear of claim 12 wherein said protective covering member comprises a hair-covering bonnet fixed to said plastic sheath, with the peripheral edge portion of said protective covering member adapted to extend along a line about the head of a user individual approximately defined as across the upper lip, below the ears, and across the nape of the neck.

22. The headgear of claim 21 additionally comprising cushioning internal projections inside bonnet portions of the protective covering member at approximate locations adapted to extend over the mandible base depressions of a human head, said projections being immediately contiguous to said tubular chamber and coacting therewith to augment said substantially water-tight seal means.

24. The headgear of claim 1 wherein the internal annular channel recess of one said eye portion is a discrete entity separate from the internal annular channel recess of the other said eye portion.

25. The headgear of claim 24 wherein said inner plate member for each said eye portion is sealed to said outer plate member at said nose accommodating portion.