WO2007013808A1

WO2007013808A1 - Multifunctional head covering

Info

Publication number: WO2007013808A1
Application number: PCT/NL2006/000401
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mohamed Yahia Khanfar
Original assignee: Mohamed Yahia Khanfar
Priority date: 2005-07-26
Filing date: 2006-07-18
Publication date: 2007-02-01
Also published as: NL1029616C2; EP1906780A1

Abstract

What is disclosed is a head covering comprising various thermal materials, which are accommodated in at least partially overlapping compartments. The thermal materials have a thermal capacity which is greater than or equal to that of water. Examples of suitable natural materials that are generally available on site for filling the compartments include: water, which may or may not be potable, sand, stones of salt in fine or coarse form.

Description

MULTIFUNCTIONAL HEAD COVERING

The present invention relates to a head covering comprising various thermal materials, which are accommodated in at least partially overlapping compartments.

The present invention furthermore relates to a method wherein cold is provided to the head of a user of the head covering.

Such a head covering and method are known from US- 6,237,154. The known head covering is a head covering built up of several thermally insulating layers, which enfolds the user's head practically entirely with the exception of the user's face.

A drawback of the known head covering, which enfolds substantially the entire head, is that it is unpleasant to wear, in particular in hot regions.

If a head covering that covers the head only partially were to be used, the use of thermally insulating materials for providing heat or cold to the head will be less effective.

The object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional head covering which can be used in a simple but effective manner in hot as well as in cold regions.

In order to accomplish that object, the head covering according to the invention is characterised in that the thermal materials have a thermal capacity which is greater than or equal to that of water.

The advantage of the head covering according to the invention is that in practice a comfortable head covering that covers the head partially yet effectively is obtained through the use of materials having a comparatively large heat or cold absorption capacity, also referred to as thermal capacity. Surprisingly, the inventor has found that in very hot or very cold temperature conditions, which conditions are difficult to endure for humans, the extent to which such temperatures are found to be objectionable is advantageously affected by providing cold or heat, respectively, to the head, even if only part of the head is cooled or heated, which can be realised by using a minimum of materials.

One embodiment of the head covering according to the invention is characterised in that at least one of the materials comprises a liquid, such as water, and one of the other materials comprises at least sand, stones of salt in fine or coarse form.

The advantage of this is that the head covering itself can be light in weight, and that it is readily possible to use natural, locally available materials that can be accommodated in the head covering.

The liquid, which may or may not be potable, may be heated or cooled, if desired, before the compartments in question are filled, usually via a filling opening, which process may be repeated. Said filling opening may be connectable to a hose fitted with a mouthpiece, enabling the user to drink the potable liquid or sprinkle the water onto the head covering for cooling the head covering and the materials thereof.

An embodiment that can be adapted to the locally prevailing climatic conditions in a flexible manner is obtained when the thermally insulating materials are accommodated in compartments that can be detached from the head covering .

One embodiment of the head covering according to the invention is characterised in that at least one of the compartments, which may or may not be detachable, is dome- shaped .

Said dome shape is preferred because it only covers, cools or heats the upper side of the head via the thermal materials that are used, which is generally sufficient. Moreover, said shape or shapes (if several compartment layers are used) contribute (s) to a uniform distribution of the weight of the materials over the head.

Further advantageous embodiments of the head covering according to the present invention are defined in the remaining dependent claims .

According to the invention, the corresponding method according to the invention comprises the aspects defined in claim 12.

The head covering and the method according to the present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the figures below, in which like parts are indicated by the same numerals. In the figures:

Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the head covering according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a second embodiment of the head covering according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a side view of a third embodiment of the head covering according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a head covering 1, for example a cap, a hat, a hood or a helmet. The head covering 1 comprises a head portion 2 and possibly a peak 3, which is or can be connected to the head portion 2. For reasons of wearing comfort the head covering 1 generally comprises compartments 4 arranged in a layered structure, which generally overlap and which may contain various thermal materials. In practice at least some of the thermal materials will have a thermal capacity which is greater than or equal to that of water, so that it will be capable of absorbing a comparatively great deal of heat or cold. The materials are suitably heated, for example by immersing them in hot water, or cooled, by putting them in a refrigerator or freezer a for some time, before the head covering 1 is put on.

The compartments 4, which may comprise additional means, such as a zipper or Velcro, for opening and closing a filling opening that may be present, may be filled on site, if desired, for example with sand, stones or salt in fine or coarse form. Furthermore, bags to be filled with material on site may be placed in the compartments 4. By removing the upper layer from the bottom when present in free nature, for example in tropical regions, and taking the aforesaid materials from deeper-down layers in the earth, the user will generally obtain cooler materials, whilst in addition the user's head will be protected against direct radiation from the sun when said materials are used in the head covering 1.

One or more compartments 4 or portions thereof comprise a reservoir 5, which is suitable for being filled with a liquid such as water, which may or may not be potable. Connected to the filling opening of the reservoir 5 is a hose 6 provided with a mouthpiece 7, so that the user can drink therefrom if the liquid is potable. Alternatively the liquid may be used for being sprinkled onto the head covering 1 or the materials so as to obtain an additional cooling effect through evaporation. In one embodiment of the head covering 1, the thermally insulating materials may be provided in compartments 4, if desired, which can be detached from the head covering. This can be achieved by means of Velcro or press-studs, for example. The compartments 4 may in particular have a dome-shaped, arcuate or vaulted configuration .

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the head covering 1, in which the aforesaid dome shape is formed by spiral compartment elements. Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the head covering 1, in which the aforesaid dome shape is formed by radiate compartment elements .

In the illustrated embodiments the dimensions used are 11 x 24.5 cm, expanding into a circular edge having a circumferential dimension of 59.5 cm. Other dimensions are also possible, of course.

As a variant, one of the compartments 4 may contain air so as to form an insulating layer. The compartment 4 in question may be inflatable in that case. In the embodiment that is shown in figure 1, one of the compartments 4 is configured with a peak 3 on the side 8 thereof, which peak is hollow and which may be provided with at least one of the aforesaid thermal materials.

In the embodiment that is shown in figure 2, the spirally expanding compartment elements 4 lying side by side abut one another in a curved, spiral, recessed, circumferential liquid channel 9. When a liquid capable of evaporation, usually water, is sprinkled on the top 10, it will spirally flow downwards through the substantially circular channels 9, and as a result of the use of this cooling method a forced evaporation and an additional cooling effect is obtained in the head covering 1 and the materials present therein on account of the enlarged surface area of the liquid in the channel 9. In principle the aforesaid thermal or thermally insulating materials can also be used for other objects or applications, usually in combination with air- or gas- containing materials, for example cotton wool. Think in this connection of the use thereof in buildings for keeping out the heat or for keeping the heat inside, as the case may be. In particular in permanent or temporary houses, accommodations or buildings, but also in tent materials, as well as in furniture, such as beds, couches and chairs, and also in, for example, cooling bags or heat bags or boxes as used by couriers for delivering meals or pizzas. The cooling bag itself may also be provided with a liquid reservoir, which is designed to keep the outside of the bag wet, for example via the aforesaid hose and mouthpiece. Furthermore, use in technical objects may be considered, for example in gas filters to be insulated.

Further applications of a more general kind than in head coverings include the use of the materials in clothes designed for use in tropical regions or for mountaineering, at which locations the materials that need to be used are naturally available.

It is furthermore possible to use the materials for manufacturing bags which, like the head covering, can be placed in a freezer or a microwave oven, whether or not after being wetted. Said wetting has an insulating effect and cools the contents of the bag in the summer, whilst said contents will remain hot longer in the winter.

When used in clothing, the strong materials furthermore protect the wearer against penetrating bullets. The clothing may be combined with the head covering 1, if desired, or be integral therewith.

Claims

1. A head covering comprising various thermal materials, which are accommodated in at least partially overlapping compartments, characterized in that the thermal materials have a thermal capacity which is greater than or equal to that of water.

2. A head covering according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the materials comprises a liquid, such as water, and one of the other materials comprises at least sand, stones of salt in fine or coarse form.

3. A head covering according to claim 2, wherein the liquid, which may or may not be potable, is heated or cooled.

4. A head covering according to any one of the claims 1-3, wherein the thermally insulating materials are accommodated in compartments that can be detached from the head covering.

5. A head covering according to any one of the claims 1-4, wherein at least one compartment is provided with a filling opening.

6. A head covering according to claim 5, wherein the filling opening of said at least one compartment filled with a potable liquid is provided with a hose fitted with a mouthpiece.

7. A head covering according to any one of the claims 1-6, wherein said head covering is a cap, a hat, a hood or a helmet .

8. A head covering according to any one of the claims 1-7, wherein at least one of the compartments, which may or may not be detachable, is dome-shaped.

9. A head covering according to claim 8, wherein the aforesaid dome shape is formed by spiral, concentric, radiate, arcuate or vaulted compartment elements, one of which may be inflatable so as to form an insulating layer.

10. A head covering according to any one of the claims 1-9, wherein spirally expanding compartment elements lying side by side abut one another in a curved, spiral, recessed, liquid channel.

11. A head covering according to any one of the claims 1-10, wherein at least one of said compartments is configured as a peak which is provided with at least one of the aforesaid thermal materials.

12. A method wherein cold is provided to the head of a user of the head covering according to any one of the claims 1-11, characterized in that said provision of cold takes place in that a liquid capable of evaporation flows downwards in a curved, spiral, recessed liquid channel formed by spirally expanding compartment elements of the head covering arranged in side-by-side relationship.

13. An object, comprising an article of furniture, such as a bed, a couch or chair, a bag or an article of clothing, in particular a head covering according to any one of the claims 1-11, comprising various thermal materials, which are accommodated in at least partially overlapping compartments, characterized in that the contents of said compartments is selected in dependence on the climatic conditions in which the object is used.