PROTECTIVE HEAD COVERING

2,969,547

Pkteffitefl Jarii 31, 1961

2,969,547

Protective; Head Covering

Edward R. Dye, 540 S. Buffalo Road, Orchard Park, N.Y. Filed Dec. 17,1958, Set. No. 781,029 1 Claim: (CI. 2^-3)

This invention relates to a head covering, and more particularly to a device adapted to be worn by children for protecting their heads from injury caused by blows.

_Youhg. people, especially' children, are prone to head injuries during ordinary forms of play and physical exercise. Conventional hats or caps afford little or no protection; and prior devices, which were adapted to be worn by, children to protect their heads from injury, were difficult to put oh, uncomfortable to wear, and interfered with their, activities to such an extent that they; were either entirely impractical, of the child refused to wear the devices while engaged in unsupervised playV

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a resilient head protective device adapted , to be worn by children which is simple to put on, comfortable to wear, and will not interfere with the wearer's activities. r Another object of this invention is to provide a1 device of the character described which can be^ made an appurtenance of the child's play by being colored and/or provided with attachments, such as feathers, to form a headdress for a particular game or activity.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved means for adjustably securing it to the wearer's head.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a protective head covering which in the main is made of one piece of resilient material.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a protective head covering which has improved means for securing a chin strap and head band strap to the resilient piece.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a head covering of the character described which can be worn as a liner for a hardshell helmet.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described having simple means for fastening the head covering to the inner surface of a hardshell helmet.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved head covering of the character described which is light weight, effective in use, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in construction.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the drawing, the specification, and the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a protective head covering constructed according to one embodiment of this invention when unwrapped and flat;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the unwrapped and flat head covering;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 3—3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a profile view of a person wearing the protective head covering and showing the protective head covering in the position in which it is worn;

Fig. 5 is a rear view, of the person and of the protective head covering being worn;

Fig. 6 is a profile view showing a person wearing fhfe' protective head covering fitted with ornamental attach-~ ments to resemble an Indian headdress; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a hardshell helmet adapted

& to be worn over the protective head covering showing means for securing the flexible helmet to the protective' head covering.

The protective head covering illustrated is made from a single strip 10 of a flexible resilient plastic, such as

10 "ensoiite" which is of relatively high density and which lias energy absorbing characteristics. The strip 10, which is from one-half to three quarters of an inch thick, may' be stamped out vsath a die or cut with a band saw. It" comprises a head band portion 11 having two integrally

15 formed; downwardly extending cheek pieces 12, and five7 integrally formed upwardly extending spaced crown pieces 14.

The head band portion 11 is adapted to fit around the5 head, and at opposite ends it has securely attached two

20 securing straps 15. The straps 15 are adapted to be connected by a string 16 which interlaces through openings 17 in each of the straps 15 to draw the band portions 11 tightly over the wearer's head. The two securing straps, which may be made of leather or canvas, for

25 example, are secured to opposite ends of the head band portion 11 by inserting each of the straps 15 in a respective slit 18 formed in each end of the head band Hi and then gluing the straps in the slits. Each of the slits1 18 may extend info the head band 11 as far as the

30 dotted lines 19 in Fig. i.

The cheek pieces 12, which are adapted to extend downward in front of each ear to protect the tender ear cartilage and the vulnerable temple portions of the head, are connected by cooperating chin straps 21, which are

35 attached to the lower end of the cheek pieces' 12; and are removably and adjustably attached to each other by cooperating snap members 22. The chin strap portions 21, which may be made of canvas or leather, for example, may also be secured to the cheek piece 12 by inserting

40 and gluing each end of a chin strap 21 in a respective slit 23 in the lower end of each cheek piece. The slits may extend to the dotted lines 24 (see Fig. 1). Both the straps 15 and the chin straps 21 are glued on both sides in their respective slits 18 and 23, and the opposing inner

45 surfaces of the slits not covered by the inserted pieces are glued together.

The upwardly extending crown pieces 14 protect the upper portions of the head, and can be adjustably drawn together around the top of the wearer's head by means

5q of a draw-string 25, which is adapted to be laced through openings 26 in each of the crown pieces 14, and tied at its opposite ends, as shown in Fig. 5.

It is apparent from the preceding description that the protective head covering may be adjusted to fit

55 many sizes and shapes of heads; and once the drawstring 25 and the string 16 have been adjustably tied, it is only necessary to fasten and unfasten the snaps 22 on the chin strap 21 to put on and take off the device.

go The strip 10 may be dipped in a latex solution or vinyl plastic to seal its porous surfaces, thereby making it water-proof; and it also can be dipped in colored elastic paint to add to its appearance. The upper edge of the head band 11 between the crown pieces 14 is provided

gg with holes 28 (see Fig. 1), each of which is adapted to receive the quill portion of a colored feather 29 (see Fig. 6); and a beaded or otherwise painted decoration such as 30 may be put on the head band 11, so that the device resembles an Indian headdress.

During more dangerous forms of activities where it is desired to protect the wearer's head from injury caused by sharp pointed instruments, a non-frangible helmet 2,01

3

35, such as shown in Fig. 7, which may be made of fiberglass or any other rigid material, can be worn over the protective head covering. When used in this manner, the resilient head covering acts as a cushioning and shock absorbing device between the head and the inner hard surface of the helmet 35, with the cheek pieces 12 giving added protection to the temples and the cartilage of the ears.

The inner surface of the hard shell helmet 35 is provided with attached strips of pressure sensitive tape 36 which is preferably placed to contact the head band 11 and the crown pieces 14, so that when the flexible head covering 10 is inserted therein, it is securely held in the helmet 35. Because pressure sensitive tape is very effective for shear resistance, the resilient covering 10 can be firmly secured in the helment 35. Because it is comparatively ineffective against direct tension, the flexible covering 10 can be easily peeled off the tape without injury or marring of the head covering 10 when it is desired to be used without the helmet 35. The helmet 35 may also be painted, and have proper decalcomania thereon to resemble, for example, a motor cycle policeman, a jet pilot, or a spaceman.

Although intended primarily as a safety device for children, the flexible head covering herein may also be worn by persons engaged in hazardous occupations, such as boxers, shipyard and construction workers, automobile racing car drivers and the like.

It is also useful to protect the heads of the aged or infirm who are in danger of falling while walking. It is not only an effective protective head covering but can be comfortably and inconspicuously worn beneath a conventional hat. Also, when riding or driving an automobile, the protective head covering herein can be worn to protect the wearer's head against impact in the event of sudden or panic stops.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this ap

19,547

4

plication is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or 5 customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims. I claim:

10 A head gear, comprising a single piece of resilient, plastic, energy-absorbing material having a narrow headband portion, a plurality of equi-spaced fingers integral with said headband portion and extending upwardly from the upper side of said head band portion approximately at

15 right angles thereto, two narrow cheek pieces integral with said head band portion and depending downwardly from the lower side of said headband portion at approximately right angles thereto, means for adjustably lacing opposed ends of said narrow head band portion together about

20 the temples of a wearer of the head covering, means for adjustably drawing said fingers together around the head of the wearer above the temples so that said fingers extend over the crown of the wearer's head approximately along arcs of a hemisphere, each of said cheek pieces

25 being disposed, when said head band portion and said fingers are in the described positions on the head of the wearer, in front of the ears of the wearer, and means adapted to be passed under the chain of the wearer to connect said cheek pieces together, said energy-absorb

30 ing material when in position on the wearer's head constituting in itself a protective head covering.

References Cited in the file of this patent
UNITED STATES PATENTS

35 1,375,845 Horan Apr. 26, 1921

2,140,716 Pryale Dec. 20, 1938

2,338,535 Pfleumer Jan. 4, 1944

2,458,025 Portal Jan. 4, 1949

2,717,384 Frothingham Sept. 13, 1955