US20130042395A1

US20130042395A1 - Protective head cover liner

Info

Publication number: US20130042395A1
Application number: US13/199,014
Authority: US
Inventors: Randy Litterini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-08-16
Filing date: 2011-08-16
Publication date: 2013-02-21

Abstract

A protective head cover liner is comprised of a substantially oval shock-absorbing material such as rubber or the like adapted to absorb impact and sized and shaped to conform to a user's head and the inside of a head cover, such as a hat or cap. The protective head cover liner includes reliefs such as slits or the absence of material to form a concave shape approximating that of the intended user's head. The protective head cover liner may include ventilation slots and may comprise a pocket encapsulating a liquid or gel to aid in absorbing impact. The encapsulated material may be chosen to possess a high specific heat allowing the protective head cover liner to be chilled prior to use to aid in the dissipation of heat from the intended user's head over an extended period.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a protective head cover liner. More specifically, the invention relates to a substantially oval liner comprised of rubber or like material adapted to absorb impact and sized and shaped to conform to the inside of a head cover, such as a hat or skull cap.

Description of the Prior Art

Without some form of protection, even casual contact with an object can cause pain to a user's head or result in cuts, scrapes, or bruises. However, the use of protective head gear is well known in the art. Simply wearing a baseball cap or cowboy hat can provide a minimal amount of protection from contact with items that would otherwise harm a user. In the construction industry, a hard-hat may be used to mitigate damage caused by falling objects. However, it is not often practical for a user to wear a hard-hat and other traditional head gear, such as a baseball cap, cowboy hat, or skull cap, simply do not provide enough protection for the user's head. Accordingly, there is a need for enhancing traditional head cover with a protective apparatus. An object of the instant invention is to increase protection from contact with objects while allowing a user to wear traditional head cover such as a baseball cap, cowboy hat, or skull cap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of the prior arts by enhancing protection offered by traditional head cover. The present invention is a substantially oval liner comprised of rubber or like material adapted to absorb impact. The liner includes numerous reliefs to allow the liner to conform to the inside of head cover, such as a baseball cap, cowboy hat, or skull cap, and also to conform to the user's head. In addition to the indicated reliefs, the liner may also include ventilation slots. The liner may encapsulate a liquid or gel material to aid in the absorption of impact. The encapsulated liquid or gel may possess a high specific heat, allowing the encapsulated liquid or gel to be cooled prior to use and providing extended cooling to the user. The indicated reliefs allow the liner to be adjustable and the liner is intended to be removable, allowing it to be used in multiple head covers.
Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from the description in the specification that follows and from the novel features particularly pointed out in the following claims. Therefore, this invention comprises the features hereinafter illustrated in the drawings, fully described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such drawings and description, as well as this Summary of the Invention, disclose just a few of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced and are not limiting on the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a protective head cover liner, according to the invention, including multiple reliefs disposed over a front half, a back half, a left side, and a right side.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the protective head cover liner of FIG. 1, further including ventilation slots and a pocket for encapsulating liquid or gel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of the prior arts by providing a means of enhancing protection offered by traditional head cover such as hats and other head gear.
Referring to the figures, wherein like parts are designated with like reference numerals and symbols, FIG. 1 is an illustration of a protective head cover liner 10 comprised of a substantially oval shock-absorbing material 11 such as rubber or the like including a front half 12, a back half 14, a left side 16 of the back half 14, a right side 18 of the back half 14, a first relief 20 disposed at the approximate center of the front half 12, a second relief 22 disposed at the approximate center of the back half 14, a third relief 24 disposed at the approximate center of the left side 16 of the back half 14, and a fourth relief 26 disposed at the approximate center of the right side 18 of the back half 14. The protective head cover liner 10 is adapted to be inserted into a head cover such as a baseball cap, a cowboy hat, or a skull cap.
In this embodiment of the invention, the reliefs 20, 22, 24, and 26 are simply slits cut into the protective head cover liner 10, allowing portions of the substantially oval shock-absorbing material to overlap and to create a concave shape approximating that of the intended user's head and the inside of the intended head cover. While this embodiment of the invention is illustrated with four (4) reliefs, more reliefs may be used to enhance the protective head cover liner's ability to conform to the intended user's head and the inside of the intended head cover.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of the protective head cover liner 10 of FIG. 1 wherein the first relief 120, the second relief 122, the third relief 124, and the fourth relief 126 are more than simple slits in the substantially oval shock-absorbing material 11.
Here, the reliefs 120, 122, 124, and 126 are formed by absence of material, allowing the protective head cover liner 10 to be formed into a concave shape approximating that of the intended user's head and the intended head cover without portions of the substantially oval shock-absorbing material 11 overlapping.
FIG. 2 also illustrates the inclusion of ventilation slots 128 to aid in the dissipation of heat from the intended user's head. Furthermore, the substantially oval shock-absorbing material 11 comprises a pocket 130 which encapsulates additional shock absorbing material 132 such as a liquid or gel.
As an additional benefit, this additional shock-absorbing material 130 may comprise a material having a high specific heat allowing the protective head cover liner 10 to be placed into a refrigerator or freezing to reduce its temperature and then to aid in the dissipation of heat from the intended user's head over an extended period.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A protective head cover liner comprising, a substantially oval shock-absorbing material sized and shaped to conform to a user's head comprising a first relief located at an approximate center of a front half of the liner, a second relief located at an approximate center of a back half of the liner, a third relief located at an approximate center of a left side of the back half of the liner, and a fourth relief located at an approximate center of a right side of the back half of the liner.

2. The protective head cover liner of claim 1, wherein the substantially oval shock-absorbing material comprises rubber.

3. The protective head cover liner of claim 1, wherein the first relief comprises a first slit in the substantially oval shock-absorbing material, the second relief comprises a second slit in the substantially oval shock-absorbing material, the third relief comprises a third slit in the substantially oval shock-absorbing material, and the fourth relief comprises a fourth slit in the substantially oval shock-absorbing material.

4. The protective head cover liner of claim 1, wherein the first relief comprises a first absence of material in the substantially oval shock-absorbing material, the second relief comprises a second absence of material in the substantially oval shock-absorbing material, the third relief comprises a third absence of material in the substantially oval shock-absorbing material, and the fourth relief comprises a fourth absence of material in the substantially oval shock-absorbing material.

5. The protective head cover liner of claim 1, wherein the substantially oval shock-absorbing material comprises a ventilation slot.

6. The protective head cover liner of claim 1, wherein the substantially oval shock-absorbing material comprises a pocket encapsulating an additional shock-absorbing material.

7. The protective head cover liner of claim 6, wherein the additional shock-absorbing material comprises a liquid.

8. The protective head cover liner of claim 6, wherein the additional shock-absorbing material comprises a gel.

9. The protective head cover liner of claim 6, wherein the additional shock-absorbing material possesses a high specific heat.