DETASSELING SAFETY HEADWEAR

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a new and improved form of protective headwear that incorporates a shield composed of a strong, durable mesh material that protects the wearer from cuts, scratches, scrapes, and other injuries to the face, eyes, and/or neck. An embodiment of the present invention comprises an article of headwear having a shield securely or releasably attached to a portion of the headwear with the shield shaped and sized such that it covers a substantial portion of the wearer's face and/or neck.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61,567,974 having a filing date of Dec. 7, 2011, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] [Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[0003] [Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention relates to headwear that is useful in protecting a wearer from cuts, scratches, scrapes, and/or other injuries to the face, eyes, and/or neck.

[0005] There are some jobs and activities that expose a person's face and neck to conditions where they are susceptible to cuts, scratches, scrapes, and/or other injuries. A prime example of such a job or activity is detasseling.

[0006] Detasseling is the act of removing the pollen-producing flowers (i.e., tassels) from the tops of corn plants in order to facilitate cross-breeding, or hybridization. Detasseling is often done by workers that must walk through the fields and remove the tassels by hand. While walking through the fields workers are often subjected to sharp leaves and other portions of corn plants and other plants in the fields. If these leaves are allowed to make contact with a worker's skin they are likely to cause cuts, scratches, scrapes, and/or other injuries. For this reason, it is recommended (and sometimes mandatory) for workers to wear protective clothing such as long pants, long sleeve shirts, gloves, safety glasses, and hats. However, even with all of this protection, workers' faces, necks, and eyes are often left exposed to injury.

[0007] Previous attempts have been made to reduce the risk of sustaining these types of injuries. For example, nets have been used and even incorporated into various types of headwear in order to provide protection to the face, neck, and eyes. However, due to the flimsy nature of the prior art shielding, they are often ineffective in preventing sharp leaves from making contact with the wearer's skin and causing injury. Additionally, nets are very susceptible to wear and tear that can create gaps in protection, and therefore, prior art nets require frequent replacement.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is directed to a new and improved form of protective headwear that incorporates a shield composed of a strong, durable mesh material that protects the wearer from cuts, scratches, scrapes, and other injuries to the face, eyes, and/or neck.

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention comprises an article of headwear having a shield securely or releasably attached to a portion of the headwear with the shield shaped and sized such that it covers a substantial portion of the wearer's face and/or neck.

[0010] Many types of headwear may be used including, but not limited to, baseball caps, boonies, bowlers, bucket hats, hard hats, panama hats, planter's hats, sombreros, Stetsons, and trucker hats. Preferably, the article of headwear used will have either a bill or a brim to facilitate attachment of the face shield to the headwear. However, a bill or brim is not necessary.

[0011] The shield is composed of a durable and flexible mesh material. The material should be sufficiently rigid to prevent sharp objects from penetrating the shield and making contact with the wearer's skin. The material should also be capable of being molded and shaped to fit various forms of headwear. For example, an acceptable material is PVC-coated fiberglass.

[0012] The shield comprises a mesh lattice. The geometry of the mesh lattice will determine the amount of protection and visibility provided by the shield. For example, the shield may comprise a rectangular mesh lattice measuring approximately eighteen (18) vertical divisions per inch by approximately sixteen (16) horizontal divisions per inch. Of course, more or fewer divisions could be used, to achieve the desired visibility and protection levels. The mesh lattice may have a border that runs around at least a portion of the circumference of the mesh lattice.

[0013] The shield is securely or releasably attached to the headwear. The shield may be attached to any portion of the headwear that positions the shield such that it covers the face and/or neck of the wearer. For example, the shield may be attached to a portion of the brim (or bill, depending on the type of headwear used) of the headwear. As another example, the shield may be attached to a portion of the brim (or bill) and/or a portion of the crown of the headwear. The shield may be attached around the entire circumference of the headwear or only a portion of the circumference.

[0014] An alternative embodiment of the invention comprises a face shield that is molded and/or shaped so that the face shield may be attached to a standard article of headwear such that the face shield covers a substantial portion of the wearer's face and/or neck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS,

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cap embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a top view plan of the cap embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the cap embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a right side elevation view of the cap embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a boonie embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the boonie embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a right side elevation view of the boonie embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a visor embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the visor embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 10 is a right side elevation view of the visor embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a face shield embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The subject matter of this disclosure will now be described more fully, and one or more embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are examples of the invention, which has the full scope indicated in the language of the claims.

[0027] In FIGS. 1-4, one embodiment of the present invention is shown as protective headwear apparatus 20. Headwear apparatus 20 is comprised of a standard baseball-style cap 22 with a shield 24 attached thereto.

[0028] The cap 22 is comprised of a crown 26 and a bill 28. The bill 28 has a top surface 30, a bottom surface 32, and an edge 34. The crown 26 has an outer surface 36, an inner surface 37, and a base 38.

[0029] The shield 24 is comprised of a mesh lattice 40 and an optional border 42. The mesh lattice 40 may be composed of various geometries including, but not limited to, rhombic, square, hexagonal, rectangular, or oblique. The geometry of the mesh lattice 40 will determine the amount of protection and visibility that the shield 24 provides. For example, the mesh lattice 40 may take the form of a rectangular mesh lattice measuring approximately eighteen (18) vertical divisions per inch by sixteen (16) horizontal divisions per inch.

[0030] The shield 24 is composed of a hard, mesh material that is capable of being molded and/or shaped. For example, the shield 24 may be composed of PVC-coated fiberglass.

[0031] The shield 24 is attached to at least a portion of the cap 22 such that the shield 24 is positioned to protect the wearer's face and neck. As seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the shield 24 may be attached to a portion of the bill 28 and a portion of the base 38 of the crown 26. However, multiple points of attachment are contemplated. For example, the shield 24 may be attached to one or more of the following including, but not limited to, a portion of the top surface 30 of the bill 28, a portion of the edge 34 of the bill 28, a portion of the bottom surface 32 of the bill 28, a portion of the outer surface 36 of the crown 26, and/or a portion of the base 38 of the crown 26 (on either the inside surface 37 and/or outside surface 38).

[0032] As seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the shield 24 may extend around only a portion of the circumference of the cap 22 including the bill 28 and at least a portion of the crown 26. However, depending on the amount of protection desired, the shield 24 may alternatively extend around the entire circumference of the cap 22.

[0033] The shield 24 may be either securely or releasably attached to the cap 22. Types of secure attachment include, but are not limited to, gluing, sewing, and/or stapling. Types of releasable attachment include, but are not limited to, buttoning, clipping, tying, and/or hook-and-loop fastening, e.g., Velcro.

[0034] The dimensions and geometry of the shield 24 may vary and will depend in part on the type of headwear used (e.g., cap 22) and the points of attachment to the headwear. As seen in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the shield 24 may be molded and/or shaped around the wearer's face and neck. The shield 24 may also take many other forms including, but not limited to, forms that include portions that are flat/planar, cylindrical, conical, and/or generally trace the contour of the wearer's face and/or neck.

[0035] As seen in FIG. 4, the height 44 of the shield 24 is the vertical distance from the point of attachment to the cap 22 to the bottom edge 46 of the shield 24. The height 44 may vary depending on the point of attachment it is measured from. However, if the height 44 exceeds a certain point, the headwear apparatus 20 will reduce the range of motion of the wearer's neck and head because the bottom edge 46 will come in contact with the wearer's chest, shoulders, neck, and/or back. Depending on the points of attachment and the size of the wearer, the preferred height 44 may be approximately twelve (12) inches. Preferably, on a cap 22 as shown in FIG. 4, the shield 24 has a height 44 that measures between about nine (9) and eleven (11) inches, and the length of the portion of the shield 24 attached to the cap 22 measures between about twenty-two (22) and twenty-three (23) inches.

[0036] In FIGS. 5-7, another embodiment of the present invention is shown as protective headwear apparatus 60. Headwear apparatus 60 is comprised of a standard boonie 62 with a shield 24 attached thereto.

[0037] The boonie 62 is comprised of a crown 64 and a brim 66. The brim 66 has a top surface 70, a bottom surface 72, and an edge 74. The crown 64 has a base 68.

[0038] The shield 24 is attached to at least a portion of the boonie 62 such that the shield 24 is positioned to protect the wearer's face and neck. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, the shield 24 may be attached to a portion of the brim 66. However, multiple points of attachment are contemplated. For example, the shield 24 may be attached to one or more of the following including, but not limited to, a portion of the top surface 70 of the brim 66, a portion of the bottom surface 72 of the brim 66, a portion of the edge 74 of the brim 66, and/or a portion of the base 68 along the inner surface of the crown 64. Preferably, on a boonie 62 as shown in FIG. 5, the shield 24 has a height that measures between about nine (9) and eleven (11) inches from the point of attachment to the boonie 62, and the length of the portion of the shield 24 attached to the boonie 62 measures between about twenty-two (22) and twenty-three (23) inches.

[0039] In FIGS. 8-10, another embodiment of the present invention is shown as protective headwear apparatus 80. Headwear apparatus 80 is comprised of a standard visor 82 with a shield 24 attached thereto.

[0040] The visor 82 is comprised of a partial crown 84 and a bill 86. The bill 86 has a top surface 88, a bottom surface 90, and an edge 92. The partial crown 84 has an outer surface 94 and an inner surface 96.

[0041] The shield 24 is attached to at least a portion of the visor 82 such that the shield 24 is positioned to protect the wearer's face and neck. As seen in FIGS. 8 and 10, the shield 24 may be attached to a portion of the bill 86 and a portion of the outer surface 94 of the partial crown 84. However multiple points of attachment are contemplated. For example, the shield 24 may be attached to one or more of the following including, but not limited to, a portion of the top surface 88 of the bill 86, a portion of the bottom surface 90 of the bill 86, a portion of the edge 92 of the bill 86, a portion of the outer surface 94 of the partial crown 84, and/or a portion of the inner surface 96 of the partial crown 84. Preferably, on a visor 82 as shown in FIG. 8, the shield 24 has a height that measures between about nine (9) and eleven (11) inches from the point of attachment to the visor 82, and the length of the portion of the shield 24 attached to the visor 82 measures between about twenty-two (22) and twenty-three (23) inches.

[0042] Other embodiments of the present invention may be practiced by attaching the shield 24 to various other types of headwear. Types of headwear that may be used include, but are not limited to, baseball caps, boonies, bowlers, bucket hats, hard hats, panama hats, planter's hats, sombreros, Stetsons, and trucker hats. Preferably, the headwear used will have either a bill or a brim to facilitate attachment of the shield 24 to the headwear. However, a bill or brim is not necessary.

[0043] In FIG. 11, another embodiment of the present invention is shown as face shield 110. Face shield 110 is comprised of a mesh lattice 112 having an outer surface 114, an inner surface 116, and an edge 118. The face shield 110 may also have a border 120 that runs around at least a portion of the edge 118 of the mesh lattice 112 on the inner 116 and/or outer 114 surfaces of the mesh lattice 112.

[0044] The face shield 110 is composed of a durable and flexible mesh material. The material should be sufficiently rigid to prevent sharp objects from penetrating the face shield 110 and making contact with the wearer's skin. The material should also be capable of being molded and shaped to fit various forms of headwear. For example, an acceptable material is PVC-coated fiberglass.

[0045] Face shield 110 is formed so that at least a portion of the mesh lattice 112 along at least a portion of the edge 118 is capable of being attached to an article of headwear. A means of attachment may be included in the face shield 110 or it may be incorporated at a later time when the face shield 110 is attached to an article of headwear. The face shield 110 may be formed to include a means of attachment that is either secure or releasable. Types of secure attachment include, but are not limited to, gluing, sewing, and/or stapling. Types of releasable attachment include, but are not limited to, buttoning, clipping, tying, and/or hook-and-loop fastening, e.g., Velcro.

[0046] The means of attachment are located either in the mesh lattice 112 itself, or in an optional border 120 that may be included in the face shield 110. The border 120 may run along the entire edge 118 of the mesh lattice 112 or it may run along only a portion of the edge 118, e.g., the portion of the edge 118 where the means of attachment will be located. The border 120 may be composed of the same material as the mesh lattice 112, or alternatively, may be composed of any material that facilitates attachment to an article of headwear including, but not limited to, textiles, leather, polymers, nylon, and/or polyesters.

[0047] The mesh lattice 112 may be composed of various geometries including, but not limited to, rhombic, square, hexagonal, rectangular, or oblique. The geometry of the mesh lattice 112 will determine the amount of protection and visibility that the face shield 110 provides. For example, the mesh lattice 112 may take the form of a rectangular mesh lattice measuring approximately eighteen (18) vertical divisions per inch by sixteen (16) horizontal divisions inch. Of course, more or fewer divisions could be used, to achieve the desired visibility and protection levels.

[0048] The dimensions and geometry of the face shield 110 may vary and will depend in part on the type of headwear the face shield 110 is made to be attached to. The face shield 110 may be molded and/or shaped around the wearer's face and neck. The face shield 110 may also take many other forms including, but not limited to, forms that include portions that are flat/planar, cylindrical, conical, and/or generally trace the contour of the wearer's face and/or neck.

[0049] The height 122 of the face shield 110 is the vertical distance from the portion of the edge 118 that is formed to be attached to an article of headwear to the portion of the edge 118 that extends directly below it. The preferred height 122 is up to approximately 12 inches, but could be greater. The width 124 of the face shield 110 is the length of the portion of the edge 118 that is formed to be attached to an article of headwear. Preferably, the dimensions of the face shield 110 would be approximately nine (9) to eleven (11) inches in height and approximately twenty-two (22) to twenty-three (23) inches in width.

[0050] Although specific embodiments have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only. The words used are words of description rather than of limitation. It is to be understood that changes and variations can be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments can be interchanged either in whole or in part. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the specific versions contained herein.

Claims

1. A protective headwear apparatus comprising: an article of headwear comprising a portion contacting the head of a wearer and a brim portion; and a shield attached to the brim portion of the headwear; wherein the shield is comprised of a mesh lattice composed of a durable and flexible material.

2. The protective headwear of claim 1 in which the shield material is composed of PVC-coated fiberglass.

3. The protective headwear of claim 2 in which the shield measures between twenty-two (22) and twenty-three (23) inches along a length attached to the brim, and has a maximum height measured from the brim between nine (9) and eleven (11) inches.

4. The protective headwear of claim 1 in which the mesh lattice is a square mesh lattice measuring between 16 to 20 squares per inch.

5. The protective headwear of claim 1 in which the mesh lattice is a rectangular mesh lattice measuring between 16 to 20 vertical divisions per inch and between 16 to 20 horizontal divisions per inch.

6. The protective headwear of claim 4 in which the shield measures between twenty-two (22) and twenty-three (23) inches along a length attached to the brim, and has a height measured from the brim between nine (9) and eleven (11) inches.

7. The protective headwear of claim 5 in which the shield measures between twenty-two (22) and twenty-three (23) inches along a length attached to the brim, and has a height measured from the brim between nine (9) and eleven (11) inches.

8. The protective headwear of claim 6 in which the shield material is composed of PVC-coated fiberglass.

9. The protective headwear of claim 7 in which the shield material is composed of PVC-coated fiberglass.

10. The protective headwear of claim 3 in which the headwear apparatus comprises a baseball-style cap.

11. The protective headwear of claim 3 in which the headwear apparatus comprises a boonie-style hat.

12. The protective headwear of claim 3 in which the headwear apparatus comprises a visor.

13. A face shield comprising: a mesh lattice composed of a durable and flexible material; wherein at least a portion of one edge of the mesh lattice is adapted to be attached to a headwear article such that the face shield protects a substantial portion of the wearer's face and/or neck.

14. The face shield of claim 13 in which the material the mesh lattice is composed of PVC-coated fiberglass.

15. The face shield of claim 14 in which the face shield measures between twenty-two (22) and twenty-three (23) inches along a length attached to the article, and has a height measured extending from the article between nine (9) and eleven (11) inches.

16. The face shield of claim 15 in which the mesh lattice is a square mesh lattice measuring between 16 to 20 squares per inch.

17. The face shield of claim 15 in which the mesh lattice is a rectangular mesh lattice measuring between 16 to 20 vertical divisions per inch and between 16 to 20 horizontal divisions per inch.

18. The face shield of claim 13 in which the mesh lattice is a square mesh lattice measuring between 16 to 20 squares per inch.

19. The face shield of claim 13 in which the mesh lattice is a rectangular mesh lattice measuring between 16 to 20 vertical divisions per inch and between 16 to 20 horizontal divisions per inch.

20. The face shield of claim 18 in which the face shield measures between twenty-two (22) and twenty-three (23) inches wide and has a maximum height between nine (9) and eleven (11) inches.

21. The face shield of claim 19 in which the face shield measures between twenty-two (22) and twenty-three (23) inches wide and has a maximum height between nine (9) and eleven (11) inches.

Images