Patent Application
20250113892
The present general inventive concept relates generally to fluid dispersing apparel, and particularly, to a hard hat that has an integrated, self contained misting system.
The use and design of conventional hard hats used for protection of the head in workplace environments such as industrial or construction sites is well known. Hard hats generally aim to provide protection to a wearer from falling objects, impact with other objects, debris, rain, and electric shock and are often required by law or regulation for workers on such sites.
A problem which still exists, however, arises from the use of hard hat in hot and/or humid weather because the wearing hat may make it more difficult for the user to maintain a comfortable and/or safe body temperature. Existing structural solutions to this problem, typically involving the use of integrated fans, generally only move around hot ambient air and thus may not make a substantial difference to a user.
Thus, there remains a need for a hard hat having an integral misting system which would operate to cool a wearer by spraying mist on the wearer. It would be helpful if such a hard hat having an integral misting system included a reservoir allow for the storage of liquid to be misted. It would be additionally desirable for such a hard hat having a distribution system which included a pump and conduit network operative to deliver liquid in the reservoir to misting ducts.
The present general inventive concept provides a hard hat having an integral misting system.
Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.
The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a hard hat, including a hat base having a shell, a reservoir disposed within at least a portion of the hat base to store at least one liquid therein, a distribution system disposed within at least a portion of the hat base, the distribution system including an electric pump connected to the reservoir to extract the at least one liquid from the reservoir, and a flexible conduit disposed at a first end on at least a portion of the reservoir and at a second end on at least a portion of the electric pump to direct the at least one liquid from the reservoir to the electric pump, and a misting unit disposed within at least a portion of the hat base to receive the at least one liquid from the distribution system and create a mist therefrom.
The reservoir may be disposed at a position between a top of the shell and a center of the shell with respect to a base of the hat base that is disposed at a distance furthest from the top of the shell.
The distribution system may further include a sealable access port disposed on at least a portion of the reservoir to prevent backflow of the at least one liquid into the reservoir in response to sealing.
The misting unit may include a plurality of dispensing conduits, each of the plurality of dispensing conduits disposed at a first end on at least a portion of the electric pump to receive the at least one liquid and direct the at least one liquid away from the electric pump, and a plurality of swivel misting nozzles, each of the plurality of swivel misting nozzles disposed at a second end of at least one of the plurality of dispensing conduits to dispense the at least one liquid therefrom as the mist.
Each of the plurality of swivel misting nozzles may oscillate in a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction.
Each of the plurality of swivel misting nozzles may generate the mist prior to the at least one liquid being dispensed.
The misting unit may include a plurality of attached clips disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of dispensing conduits.
Each of the plurality of attached clips may detachably connect to the hat base.
Each of the plurality of attached clips detachably may connect to an adjustment strap within the hat base.
These and/or other features and utilities of the present generally inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity.
Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description.
It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein.
The hard hat 100 may be constructed from at least one of metal, plastic, wood, and rubber, etc., but is not limited thereto.
Referring to
Referring again to
The adjustment strap 103 may be circumferentially disposed around at least a portion of a perimeter on an interior surface of the shell 102. The adjustment strap 103 may be worn on the head of the user and is flexible (i.e., elastic). In other words, the adjustment strap 103 may at least partially deform (i.e., bend, stretch, expand) in response to an application of force (e.g., pushing, pulling) while being worn on the head. It is contemplated, however, that in alternate embodiments, alternate known hard hat designs and a suspension system may be employed for the hat base 101. For example, in one embodiment, the suspension system includes a headband constructed of a hyper evaporative cooling material or other sweat wicking material.
The tension dial 104 may be movably (i.e., rotatably) disposed on at least a portion of the adjustment strap 103. The tension dial 104 may move (i.e., rotate) in a first rotational direction (i.e., clockwise) or a second rotational direction (i.e., counterclockwise) to adjust a tension level of the adjustment strap 103. For example, the tension level of the adjustment strap 103 may increase in response to the tension dial 104 moving in the first rotational direction or the second rotational direction, and the tension level of the adjustment strap 103 may decrease in response to the tension dial 104 moving in the second rotational direction or the first rotational direction.
The reservoir 110 may be disposed in the hat base 101. Also, the reservoir may be filled with at least one liquid (e.g., water and/or any other liquid) for use by the misting unit 120 for distribution. In the illustrated embodiment, the reservoir 110 may be positioned inside the hat base 101 against a portion of the top of the interior surface of the shell 102. It is contemplated that by positioning the reservoir 110 in this position, it may be held against the top of the shell 102 and above the adjustment strap 103, such that that the reservoir 110 may be held in a gap space (e.g., between the top of the shell 102 and a center of the shell 102 with respect to a base of the hat base 101 that is disposed at a distance furthest from the top of the shell 102) and does not contact the head of the user when the hard hat 100 is being worn.
In the preferred embodiment, the reservoir 110 is attached to the hat base 101 though a fastener, such as an adhesive (e.g., tape, glue), a screw, a nail, a bolt, a washer, a nut, a magnet, and/or any other permanent fastener. In other embodiments, the reservoir 110 may be removably connected through a surface fastener, such as a hook and loop fastener.
The distribution system 120 may include an electric pump 121, a flexible conduit 122, a rechargeable power source 123, a hose clamp 124, and a sealable access port 125, but is not limited thereto.
The distribution system 120 may be disposed within at least a portion of the hat base 101. The distribution system 120 may operate to transport the water from the reservoir 110 and deliver it to the misting unit 130.
The electric pump 121 may be connected to the reservoir 110. The electric pump 121 may extract the water from the reservoir 110 in response to moving (i.e., rotating).
The flexible conduit 122 may be disposed at a first end on at least a portion of the reservoir 110 and at a second end to the electric pump 121. The flexible conduit 122 may direct the water from the reservoir 110 to the electric pump 121. Furthermore, the flexible conduit 122 may at least partially deform (e.g., bend, fold) in response to an application of force (e.g., pushing, pulling) thereto. In other words, a shape of the flexible conduit 122 may be adjusted based on needs of the user. For example, the shape of the flexible conduit 122 may be adjusted to better fit the gap within the shell 102.
The rechargeable power source 123 may include a battery (e.g., a lithium-ion battery) and a solar cell, but is not limited thereto.
The rechargeable power source 123 may be disposed on at least a portion of the electric pump 121. The rechargeable power source 123 may provide power (i.e., electricity) to the electric pump 121.
The hose clamp 124 may be removably connected at the second end of the flexible conduit 122, which connects the flexible conduit 122 to the electric pump 121.
Also, the solar cell of the rechargeable power source 123 may be disposed on the hat base 101 to generate and supply electricity to the battery of the rechargeable power source 123.
The sealable access port 125 may be disposed on at least a portion of the reservoir 110. The sealable access port 125 may selectively (i.e., via a one-way valve) allow the water and/or any other liquid within the reservoir 110 to move into the flexible conduit 121. Subsequently, the sealable access port 125 may seal to prevent backflow of the water into the reservoir 110.
The flexible conduit 122 may direct the water pumped from the electric pump 121 to the misting unit 130.
The misting unit 130 may include a plurality of dispensing conduits 131, a plurality of swivel misting nozzles 132, and a plurality of attached clips 133, but is not limited thereto.
Each of the plurality of dispensing conduits 131 may be disposed at a first end on at least a portion of the electric pump 121. Each of the plurality of dispensing conduits 131 may receive the water and/or direct the water away from the electric pump 121.
Each of the plurality of swivel misting nozzles 132 may be disposed at a second end of at least one of the plurality of dispensing conduits 131. Moreover, each of the plurality of swivel misting nozzles 132 may move (i.e., swivel, pivot, oscillate in a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction) via an internal motor and dispense the water therefrom as a mist (i.e., vapor). In other words, each of the plurality of swivel misting nozzles 132 may generate the mist prior to the water and/or the at least one liquid being dispensed. Thus, the plurality of swivel misting nozzles 132 may decrease a temperature level of the user due to the mist.
Each of the plurality of attached clips 133 may be disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of dispensing conduits 131. Each of the plurality of attached clips 133 may detachably connect the plurality of dispensing conduits 131 to the hat base 101. Alternatively, each of the plurality of attached clips 133 may be a discrete body that detachably connects to the adjustment strap 103 and/or the hat base 101.
Therefore, the hard hat 100 may decrease the temperature level of the user during work as a result of the misting.
The present general inventive concept may include a hard hat 100, including a hat base 101 having a shell 102, a reservoir 110 disposed within at least a portion of the hat base 101 to store at least one liquid therein, a distribution system 120 disposed within at least a portion of the hat base 101, the distribution system 120 including an electric pump 121 connected to the reservoir 110 to extract the at least one liquid from the reservoir 110, and a flexible conduit 122 disposed at a first end on at least a portion of the reservoir 110 and at a second end on at least a portion of the electric pump 121 to direct the at least one liquid from the reservoir 110 to the electric pump 121, and a misting unit 130 disposed within at least a portion of the hat base 101 to receive the at least one liquid from the distribution system 120 and create a mist therefrom.
The reservoir 110 may be disposed at a position between a top of the shell 102 and a center of the shell 102 with respect to a base of the hat base 101 that is disposed at a distance furthest from the top of the shell 102.
The distribution system 120 may further include a sealable access port 125 disposed on at least a portion of the reservoir 110 to prevent backflow of the at least one liquid into the reservoir 110 in response to sealing.
The misting unit 130 may include a plurality of dispensing conduits 131, each of the plurality of dispensing conduits 131 disposed at a first end on at least a portion of the electric pump 121 to receive the at least one liquid and direct the at least one liquid away from the electric pump 121, and a plurality of swivel misting nozzles 132, each of the plurality of swivel misting nozzles 132 disposed at a second end of at least one of the plurality of dispensing conduits 131 to dispense the at least one liquid therefrom as the mist.
Each of the plurality of swivel misting nozzles 132 may oscillate in a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction.
Each of the plurality of swivel misting nozzles 132 may generate the mist prior to the at least one liquid being dispensed.
The misting unit 130 may include a plurality of attached clips 133 disposed on at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of dispensing conduits 131.
Each of the plurality of attached clips 133 may detachably connect to the hat base 101.
Each of the plurality of attached clips 133 detachably may connect to an adjustment strap 103 within the hat base 101.
Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.
