The invention relates to the field of headwear and more particularly winter and extreme weather hats that are modular/multifunctional and contain several elements that can be attached and detached or flipped in and out of place.
Warm winter clothing, including hats, is essential for the comfortable enjoyment of winter sports and outdoor activities. If the temperature is sufficiently low, a hat that covers the ears is preferable; if it is even lower, a face mask that also covers the face is preferable. Furthermore, headwear is also useful for protection from other forms of extreme weather, such as strong wind or rain. In summer weather, hats are essential for protecting the wearer against the sun or wind, and a face mask is useful for protection against pollution, car exhaust, or other similar air contaminants.
There are many winter hats on the market that include ear protection, and balaclavas or face masks that are separate; however, those hats can be overly warm when the temperature rises and none of them are modular/multifunctional. Depending on the activity and the weather, a user may require a full face mask in the morning, and only a simple hat in the afternoon. This means that for comfortable enjoyment of an extreme-weather activity, a user may have to carry several hats of different level of warmth. While it is theoretically possible to carry a separate face mask, the gaps between the face mask and the hat may let in cold air and snow and make it uncomfortable for the user. In the summer, a user may require a face mask only some of the time, and may want their face free some other times.
Furthermore, a user may need a hat to which other modules may be attached—for example, ski goggles, a helmet shell, headphones, safety lights, or the microphone for a walkie-talkie. For travel or extreme sports, other modules may be required—a virtual-reality goggle such as the Google Glass, pockets, an inflatable pillow, a USB port, and so on. In the summer, a cooling module (whether a fan or a special fabric that can be wetted) may be necessary to prevent heatstroke. A special wicking fabric may also be used to minimize sweating and to keep the user dry. This would be beneficial in cold or warm weather.
A need therefore exists for a multifunction hat system that can be changed from a simple hat that protects the head, to a hat that also protects the ears, to a hat with a face mask that also protects the face, to a hat with a scarf that protects the neck, and so on, depending on the modules desired.
An object of the present invention is to provide a modular hat that may be customized to meet the needs of the user at a given time and in given weather conditions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular hat comprising a head covering unit, at least one ear covering unit that covers at least one of the user's ears, and a face covering unit, all of which are attached to each other. The ear covering unit preferably covers both ears and the back of the user's neck, and attaches to the head covering unit by a permanent or removable fastener that extends over the entire length of the ear covering unit and part of the circumference of the head covering unit.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the face covering unit comprises a left half and a right half, the two halves joined together by a fastener at the front or slightly to the side of the user's face. When the face covering unit is not needed, it may be stowed away at the back of the user's head by unfastening the fastener, folding up each half individually, and fastening them to the back of the head covering unit in a folded position by means of a fastener such as a Velcro strap or a strap with a snap, or by inserting them into a pocket.
In one embodiment of the invention, the modular hat also comprises a scarf removably or permanently attached to the head covering unit, the ear covering unit, or the face covering unit. The attachment means may be a sewn connection, snaps, buttons, zippers, Velcro, or any other fastener capable of securely attaching the scarf.
In one embodiment of the invention, the modular hat also comprises ski goggles removably or permanently attached to the head covering unit, the face covering unit, or both. The attachment means may be a sewn connection, snaps, zippers, buttons, Velcro, or any other fastener capable of securely attaching the ski goggles.
In one embodiment of the invention, the modular hat also comprises a removable air filter. The air filter can be an activated carbon filter, a woven or nonwoven filter, a foam, an activated charcoal cloth, or a respirator such as an air purifying escape respirator or a positive pressure respirator.
In one embodiment of the invention, the face covering unit also comprises a moldable wire in its top edge that can be used to mold the face covering unit to the user's facial contours and prevent cold air from getting in.
In one embodiment of the invention, the modular hat also comprises a visor removably or permanently attached to the head covering unit. The attachment means may be a sewn connection, snaps, zippers, buttons, Velcro, or any other fastener capable of securely attaching the visor.
In one embodiment of the invention, the modular hat also comprises a helmet shell removably or permanently attached to the head covering unit and possibly also to the ear covering unit. The helmet shell may attach on the inside or the outside of the head covering unit and ear covering unit, or may be permanently attached between two layers of fabric. The attachment means may be adhesives, sewing, snaps, zippers, buttons, Velcro, or any other fastener capable of securely attaching the helmet shell.
In other embodiments of the invention, the modular hat may also comprise various communication, safety, and/or entertainment modules, such as headphones, Bluetooth headsets, walkie-talkie microphones, GPS modules, safety lights, and so on. These modules are also removably or permanently attached to the multifunction hat by fasteners such as sewing, snaps, zippers, buttons, Velcro, or any other fasteners suitable for the purpose.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is now described. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
The language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention.
As shown in
Scarf unit 130 is preferably attached to the back of the ear covering unit 110 by fasteners. The fasteners may be snaps, buttons, Velcro, or any other permanent or removable fastener. The scarf unit 130 may also be attached to the back of the head covering unit 100 or to the mask unit 120 instead of the ear covering unit 110.
The mask unit 120 is preferably attached to the back of the head covering unit 100 or the ear covering unit 110 by fasteners 125, as shown in
In an alternate embodiment shown in
In an alternate embodiment shown in
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As shown in
In an embodiment, the hat and mask unit may be made of breathable material stretched over the portions of the face a user wishes to cover or protect.
In an alternate embodiment shown in
In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the mask unit may also comprise a rigid shell similar in rigidity and material to the helmet insert. The rigid shell may be connected to helmet insert by hinges that enable it to swing up onto the top of the user's head or down below the user's chin when not needed.
In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the ear covering unit and the face covering unit may comprise communication devices such as a microphone and earphones. The microphone and earphones may be wireless (such as Bluetooth) or may be connected to a device such as a walkie-talkie or a cell phone by wires.
In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the mask unit or the ear covering unit can attach to the collar of a jacket or sweatshirt to prevent cold air from getting through the gaps. The fasteners can be Velcro, clips, snaps, zippers, or any other fasteners known in the art.
In an alternate embodiment, as shown in
The present invention can be made of any material suitable for making headwear, such as cloth, fur, knitted fabric, artificial fur, leather, and any other material that has the flexibility, insulating properties, and softness necessary for headwear making purposes. The preferred embodiment is made of a cloth fabric lined with artificial fur. In an embodiment, the present invention is made wholly or partially of reflective fabric to improve visibility and safety.
This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 13/926,448, filed Jun. 25, 2013, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/663,795, filed on Jun. 25, 2012, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.