WO1997008967A1

WO1997008967A1 - Head protector

Info

Publication number: WO1997008967A1
Application number: PCT/AU1996/000553
Authority: WO
Inventors: Isla Kaylene George; Andrew Robert Stephenson
Original assignee: Pellow, Leslie, Valentine
Priority date: 1995-09-07
Filing date: 1996-09-09
Publication date: 1997-03-13

Abstract

A head protector (20) having a first resiliently deformable circular member (11) which in use encircles the head and at least partially convers the forehead, the first member having adjustment means for adjusting the first member to conform to different head sizes, a second resiliently deformable member (22) having two ends, each end being attachable to an opposite side of the first member such that in use the second member locates over the head and at least partially covers a top portion of the head and a third resiliently deformable member (24) having two ends, each end being attachable to an opposite side of the first member such that in use the third member at least partially covers a lower rear portion of the head.

Description

TITLE HEAD PROTECTOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a head protector. In particular, the invention relates to a head protector for use by babies and small children.

BACKGROUND ART

The head protector of the present invention may be used to protect the head of any person requiring or desiring such protection. Although the protector is described with reference to use by a child, no limitation is intended thereby.

Babies often bump their head when learning to crawl. Toddlers also bump their head during their many falls whilst learning to walk or during play. The forehead, fontanelle and the sides of the head are generally the parts of the head which take the force of such bumps and knocks. The baby or child may experience cuts and bruising or even more severe injuries. Older children who may be autistic, adults with various disabilities or the aged may also be susceptible to falls or knocks in their daily activities and require some form of head protection.

There are many different types of protective headgear available. However, these are generally specifically designed to be worn by older children or adults to protect the head during activities such as cycling, horse riding, ball sports or the like.

This protective headwear typically comprises a hard outer shell and a resilient liner. Such headwear is not suitable to be worn by babies and small children. The helmets are too heavy and are uncomfortable to wear, particularly for long periods. Further, the helmets are of limited adjustability in size and thus when worn by children, must be regularly replaced as the child grows.

There are other types of headwear which do not have an outer shell. Such types of headwear typically have a number of padded members which fit over the top of the head. These protectors are generally used to protect a player's head in contact sports such as rugby league. Because of the nature of the game it is essential that most or all of the head should be protected. Thus, these types of protectors are designed to protect the whole head. Such an arrangement is accordingly complicated and expensive to make. Also, the types of injuries sustained by a rugby league player are quite different to that of a child learning to walk. Thus, these types of protection are also not suitable for small children.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a head protector which may overcome at least some of the above disadvantages. According to a first broad form of the present invention, there is provided a head protector having; a first resiliently deformable circular member which in use encircles the head and at least partially covers the forehead, the first member having adjustment means for adjusting the first member to conform to different head sizes and a second resiliently deformable member which is adapted to be attached to the first member at opposite sides of said member, such that in use the second member locates over the head and at least partially covers a top portion of the head.

The protector may further include a third resiliently deformable member which is attachable to the first member so that in use it covers a lower rear potion of the head such as the base of the skull. This provides additional protection should the user take a backwards fall. The third member may also assist in holding the protector in place on the head.

According to a second broad form of the invention there is provided a head protector having; a first resiliently deformable circular member which in use encircles the head and at least partially covers the forehead, the first member having adjustment means for adjusting the first member to conform to different head sizes, a second resiliently deformable member having two ends, each end being attachable to an opposite side of the first member such that in use the second member locates over the head and at least partially covers a top portion of the head and a third resiliently deformable member having two ends, each end being attachable to an opposite side of the first member such that in use the third member at least partially covers a lower rear portion of the head. The first, second and preferably third members of the protector of the present invention are resiliently deformable. The members may comprise any material or combination of materials which have these properties. Preferably, the members comprise a foam or rubber material. Suitable foams are polyurethane, polyethylene or ethylene vinyl acetate. Preferred materials are closed cell foams and in particular, ethylene-vinyl acetate foam.

Preferably, the materials are water resistant. This allows the protector to be used immediately after washing without waiting for the protection to dry.

Preferably, the members further comprise an outer cover. The outer cover is preferably a fabric material. The cover preferably is comfortable against the skin.

The cover may also serve to contain any loose particles of the foam or the like which may break off during use or when the foam is chewed by a child. This may prevent swallowing of such particles by the child. The thickness of the first and second members is variable and depends upon the intended use and protection required and the impact resistant qualities of the material.

The first, second or third members may be of the same or different construction.

In use, the first member fits around the head and at least partially covers the forehead. The width of the member is variable and it is only necessary that at least part of the forehead is covered. The first member may comprise a circular band which may be formed by joining the ends of a linear piece of material. The two ends of the material may be permanently or detachably joined. Preferably, the ends are detachably joined. Preferably, one end is attachable at staged locations on the other end. Alternatively or in addition to the ends of the first member being joined at staged locations, the first member may be made from an elastic material or have elasticised portions inserted therein. The ends may be joined by any suitable means such as clips or buttons. Preferably, a hook and eye type fastener such as that sold under the trade name VELCRO is used. For example one part of a hook and eye fastener may be sewn or glued onto the outer face of one end and a strip of the complimentary portion of the hook and eye fastener may be sewn or glued onto the inner face of the other end . The ends are joined by attaching the outer face of one end to the strip located on the inner face. In this way the band may be adjusted to fit snugly about the head of different users. Further, the circumference of the circular member may be adjusted as desired as a child grows.

In a preferred embodiment, the second member may be an elongate member having two ends, each end being attachable to the first member. Typically, each end attaches to the first member at a point near each ear so that the second member fits over the top of the head.

Alternatively, the second member may be a circular band. Diametrically opposed portions of the circular second member are adapted to attach to the opposite sides of the first member. The location of the attachment points on the first member corresponds to points near the ears of a user. One half of the second member extends over the top of the head and the other half extends behind the head and covers the head near or at the base of the scull. Preferably the circular band is formed by joining two free ends of an elongate member. Preferably the ends may be joined at stage location in a manner similar to that described for the first member.

Preferably, the second member is attachable at different attachment points on the first member. Preferably the angle of attachment of second member to the first member may also be varied if desired. Thus the location of the second member over the head may be modified as desired. This allows the protector to be "customised" to fit different users. For example, the location of the anterior or frontal fontanelle may be slightly different between children. The protector of a preferred embodiment of the invention may accordingly be assembled so as to provide optimum protection of the fontanelle. Also different parts of the head may be prone to injury as a child progresses from crawling to walking. Thus, the position of the second member on the head may also be moved to protect different parts of the head as required. Even further, the size of the protector of this preferred embodiment may be modified as desired to accommodate the growing child. Typically a preferred protector of the present invention may be modified to fit children between the age of 6 months to three years.

The third member of the second broad form is also attachable to the first member. Preferably the third member is also detachably joined to the first member at different points on the first member. In this way the protection provided by the third member may be modified in a manner similar to the second member as described above.

The respective members may be partly or completely detached when not in use. This may assist in cleaning or replacement of damaged or worn members.

The first and second members are attachable to the first member by any suitable means and may be sewn or glued together or detachably joined by clips, buttons or by hook and eye type fasteners. Typically one part of the hook or eye fastener is sewn or glued to each end of the second and third members. A strip of the complimentary portion of the hook and eye fastener is sewn or glued onto an inner face of the first member.

Typically the first, second and preferably third members are elongate, although any suitable shape may be used. By way of example only, the present invention will be described with reference to the following illustrations in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a plan view of a first member of a preferred head protector of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of a preferred head protector of the present invention when worn by a user.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the head protector of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a side view of a further preferred head protector of the present invention in use.

BEST MODE

Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of the first member 11 of a head protector. The first member 11 is elongate and has two free ends 12 13. The first member is made of a polyethylene vinyl acetate closed cell foam enclosed in a fabric jacket. The length of the fabric is longer than the foam so that fabric tabs 14 15 extend from the respective ends 12 13. On the inner face of the tab 14 is attached a strip 16 of the eye part of a VELCRO type fastener. This strip covers a portion of the inner face 17 which extends from the tab 14. On the outer face of the other end 15 is attached a strip of the hook part

18 of the VELCRO type fastener. This strip 18 covers a portion of the outer face which extends from the end 13.

The two ends 12 13 of the member are joined by attaching the eye part 16 to the hook part 18 to form a circular member. The parts may be attached at staged locations thereon so that the member may be adapted to provide a snug fit to the user. The inner face 17 of the first member 11 has a second strip 19 of the eye part of the

VELCRO attached thereto. This second eye strip 19 is located on a part of the inner face 17 such that when the two ends are joined, the respective eye strips are located on opposing sides of the inner face 17. The second member of the protector (not illustrated) has ends which have complimentary hook parts of the VELCRO type fastener attached thereto. In use, the respective ends of the second member are attached to the two opposing inner strips 16 19.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a preferred protector 20 when worn about the head 21 of a user. The inner face of the tab 14 is attached to the outer face of strip 18 to provide a snug fit about the head. The ends 12 13 of the first member located at the rear of the head as illustrated in Figure 3. The protector 20 has a second member 22. The second member is constructed in the same manner as the first member 11 and has two fabric tabs located at each end. Each tab has a segment 23 of the hook part of a VELCRO type fastener attached thereto. The tabs of the second member are attached to the opposing hook strips 16 19 located on the inner face of the first member 11. With reference to Figure 1 it can be seen that the tabs 23 of the second member may be attached at staged locations on the strip 16 19. Thus the position of the second member 22 with respect to the first member 11 as desired. The second member attaches to the first member at a location about the ear of the wearer. The second member 21 extends over the head and covers a frontal portion thereof.

The protector 20 has a third member 24 which is attached to the first member 11 and covers the lower portion of the back of the head as illustrated in Figure 3. The third member is of similar construction to the first and third members and has a foam core in a fabric jacket. The member has fabric tags at each end thereof. The tags each have a segment 25 of a hook part of a VELCRO type fastener attached thereto. These tags are attached to the eye segments 16 19 which are located on the inner face of the first member. It can be see from Figure 3 that the third member protects the lower portion of the head if the wearer should take a backwards fall.

Figure 4 shows a similar protector to that illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 except it does not have a third member. In Figures 2 to 4, it can be seen that both the angle and location of the second member with respect to the first member may be varied. This means that it is possible for the protector to be modified as desired so as to cover different portions of the head. Thus the protector can be "customised" to fit different children and also to be modified as the child grows. Similarly, the position of the third member can be modified as desired.

The protector may typically be fitted to the user as follows: One end of the second member and one end of the third member are attached to the inside of the first member. The first member is placed around the head of a wearer. The free ends of the first member are attached using the hook and eye fasteners so as to provide a snug fit about the head. The position of the first member is adjusted, if necessary, so that the attached end of the second member locates at above the ear of the wearer. The second member is then placed over the head and the free end attached to the opposite side of the first member to provide a snug fit over the top of the head. The third member is similarly fitted to provide a snug fit about the lower rear of the head.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A head protector having; a first resiliently deformable circular member which in use encircles the head and at least partially covers the forehead, the first member having adjustment means for adjusting the first member to conform to different head sizes and a second resiliently deformable member which is adapted to be attached to the first member at opposite sides of said member, such that in use the second member locates over the head and at least partially covers a top portion of the head.

2. The protector of claim 1, wherein the first member is formed from an elongate member having two end portions, one end portion being adapted to attach to the other end portion at different locations thereon.

3. The protector of claim 1, wherein the second member has two ends, each end being adapted to be attached to the first member.

4. The protector of claim 3, wherein each end of the second member is able to be detachably joined to the first member at more than one location thereon, such that the location of the second member over the head may be varied as desired.

5. The protector of claim 4, wherein the second member is attachable to the first member by means of one part of a hook and eye fastener located on each end of the second member being attachable to complimentary strips of the hook and eye fastener located on an inner face of the first member.

6. The protector of claim 3 which further comprises a third resiliently deformable member having two ends, each end being attachable to opposite sides of the first member such that in use the third member at least partially covers a lower rear portion of the head.

7. The protector of claim 6, wherein each end of the third member is able to be detachably joined to the first member at more than one location thereon, such that the member may be moved to cover different lower portions of the head as desired.

8. The protector of claim 7 wherein the third member is attachable to the first member by means of one part of a hook and eye fastener located on the ends of the third member being attachable to complimentary strips of the hook and eye fastener located on an inner face of the first member.

9. The protector of claim 6, wherein, each member comprises an inner deformable plastics layer and an outer fabric layer.

10. A head protector having; a first resiliently deformable circular member which in use encircles the head and at least partially covers the forehead, the first member having adjustment means for adjusting the first member to conform to different head sizes, a second resiliently deformable member having two ends, each end being attachable to an opposite side of the first member such that in use the second member locates over the head and at least partially covers a top portion of the head and a third resiliently deformable member having two ends, each end being attachable to an opposite side of the first member such that in use the third member at least partially covers a lower rear portion of the head.