Patent Application
20240423311
The present invention relates generally to the field of protective devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a protective headgear device with protective earcups and padded straps that protect the head of a user. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
Children who exhibit self-harming behaviors or tendencies may do so as a result of certain medical conditions, such as autism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other neurological or psychological disorders. For example, children with autism may have difficulty understanding or expressing their emotions, leading to frustration and a tendency to resort to self-harming behaviors as a way to cope with overwhelming feelings. Beyond the immediate physical consequences, self-harm can have long-term effects on a child's overall health and well-being. Severe bruising, lacerations, or other injuries resulting from self-harming behaviors can lead to infections and complications if left untreated.
In some cases, children who rely on medical accessories such as hearing aids or glasses may find themselves facing unique challenges concerning self-harm. Accidentally damaging or misplacing these important devices can cause frustration and distress, potentially leading to self-harming behaviors as a way to cope with stress.
To help children who engage in self-harming behaviors, a multidisciplinary approach is often required. This approach involves the collaboration of various professionals, such as pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and educators. By working together, they can assess the child's needs comprehensively, identify triggers, and implement tailored interventions aimed at reducing self-harm and promoting overall well-being. However, instances still arise when a child's attempt at self-harm cannot be prevented.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a device that protects users against self-harm. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a protective headgear device that protects a user's head against self-harm. Furthermore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a protective headgear device that protects a user's head against self-harm wherein the device can be comfortably worn with glasses, hearing aids, or other head-worn items. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a protective headgear device that can be comfortably worn in hot environments.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a protective headgear device. The device is preferably comprised of two ventilated ear cups secured to a user's head via at least one strap. The strap has a padded cover which provides comfort to a user's head and also protects the user's head from impacts. In addition, the ear cups may be comprised of cushions with recessed areas that may receive glasses arms, hearing aids, etc. The strap is preferably adjustable such that the device can be tightened/loosened on a user's head.
In this manner, the protective headgear device of the present invention accomplishes all the foregoing objectives and provides a device that protects a user's head against self-harm. While doing so, the device can be comfortably worn with glasses, hearing aids, or other head-worn items. In addition, the device can be comfortably worn in hot environments.
The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a protective headgear device. The device can be worn by children, adults, or other users who may be prone to self-harm in order to protect said user's head from impacts while allowing a user to easily wear glasses, hearing aids, etc., with the device. Furthermore, the device protects but does not cover, the entire head of a user, which allows a user to stay cool.
The device is comprised of at least one, but preferably two ear cups that enclose each ear of a user. To increase comfort, the cup may be comprised of at least one cushion. In one embodiment, the cushion is comprised of at least one recessed area that receives various head-worn items such as, but not limited to, glasses, hearing aids, etc.
The device attaches around the head of a user via at least one fastening strap. The strap attaches to the ear cup via at least one attachment point on the ear cup. In the preferred embodiment, the strap attaches to both ear cups in a horizontal (i.e., ear-to-ear) direction. The fastening strap is adjustable to allow the device to be tightened/loosened on a user's head. While the device is worn, the straps are designed to travel across the head, forehead, and under the chin of a user from ear cup to ear cup.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a first ear cup with at least one first attachment point, at least one-second ear cup with at least one-second attachment point, and at least one fastening strap that attaches to the first attachment point and second attachment point, wherein the strap is comprised of at least one cover. Then, the first ear cup and second ear cup are placed over the ears of a user, wherein a glasses frame arm, a hearing aid, or other head-worn item is placed within at least one recessed area of a cushion of the ear cups. Next, the strap can be placed across a user's head (and/or chin) and tightened via at least one fastener of the strap to secure the device to the head of the user.
Accordingly, the protective headgear device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a device that protects a user's head against self-harm. While doing so, the device can be comfortably worn with glasses, hearing aids, or other head-worn items. In addition, the device can be comfortably worn in hot environments. In this manner, the protective headgear device provides a solution to protect users against self-harm in a comfortable manner.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a device that protects users against self-harm. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a protective headgear device that protects a user's head against self-harm. Furthermore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a protective headgear device that protects a user's head against self-harm wherein the device can be comfortably worn with glasses, hearing aids, or other head-worn items. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a protective headgear device that can be comfortably worn in hot environments.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a protective headgear device that can be worn by children, adults, or other users who may be prone to self-harm in order to protect said user's head from impacts while allowing a user to casily wear glasses, hearing aids, etc., with the device. Furthermore, the device protects but does not cover, the entire head of a user, which allows a user to stay cool.
The device is comprised of at least one, but preferably two ear cups that enclose each ear of a user, wherein each ear cup may be comprised of at least one cushion. In one embodiment, the cushion is comprised of at least one recessed area that receives various head-worn items such as, but not limited to, glasses, hearing aids, etc.
The device attaches around the head of a user via at least one fastening strap that attaches to the ear cup via at least one attachment point on the ear cup. In the preferred embodiment, the strap attaches to both ear cups in a horizontal (i.e., ear-to-ear) direction. The fastening strap is adjustable to allow the device to be tightened/loosened on a user's head. While the device is worn, the straps are designed to travel across the head, forehead, and under the chin of a user from ear cup to ear cup.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a first ear cup with at least one first attachment point, at least one-second ear cup with at least one-second attachment point, and at least one fastening strap that attaches to the first attachment point and second attachment point, wherein the strap is comprised of at least one cover. Then, the first ear cup and second ear cup are placed over the ears of a user, wherein a glasses frame arm, a hearing aid, or other head-worn item is placed within at least one recessed area of a cushion of the ear cups. Next, the strap can be placed across a user's head (and/or chin) and tightened via at least one fastener of the strap to secure the device to the head of the user.
Accordingly, the protective headgear device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a device that protects a user's head against self-harm. While doing so, the device can be comfortably worn with glasses, hearing aids, or other head-worn items. In addition, the device can be comfortably worn in hot environments. In this manner, the protective headgear device provides a solution to protect users against self-harm in a comfortable manner.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The device 100 is comprised of at least one, but preferably two ear cups 110 that enclose each ear of a user. Each ear cup 110 is generally dome-like in shape and is comprised of a rigid, impact material such as, but not limited to, plastic. The cup 110 may be comprised of at least one ventilation hole 114 for breathability.
To increase comfort, the cup 110 may be comprised of at least one cushion 116 that surrounds an ear opening 111 in the cup 110, which receives the ear of the wearer on the interior of the cup 110. The cushion 116 may be made from any foam, padding, or gel material known in the art.
In one embodiment, the cushion 116 is comprised of at least one recessed area 118, as seen in
The device 100 attaches around the head of a user via at least one fastening strap 120. The strap 120 may be comprised of any fabric and/or elastic material known in the art. The strap 120 attaches to the ear cup 110 via at least one attachment point 112 on the ear cup 110, such as, but not limited to, a fabric loop, a metal ring, or any other similar fastener of the like. In the preferred embodiment, the strap 120 attaches to both ear cups 110 in a horizontal (i.e., ear-to-ear) direction.
The fastening strap 120 is adjustable to allow the device 100 to be tightened/loosened on a user's head. More specifically, the first end 121 of the strap 120 is preferably fixedly attached to the attachment point 112 of one of the two ear cups 110 via at least one fixed fastener 126, such as, but not limited to, a rivet, a button, a pin, an adhesive, a stitch, etc. Then, a second end 123 of the strap 120 is fed through the attachment point 112 of the second ear cup 110. The strap 120 is comprised of a rear surface 122 with at least one adjustable fastener 124 that allows the fastener 120 to attach to itself at various lengths to tighten/loosen the strap 120, as seen in
While the device 100 is worn, the straps 120 are designed to travel across the head, forehead, and under the chin of a user from ear cup 110 to ear cup 110, as seen in
In addition, each strap 120 may be comprised of a padded cover 130. The cover 130 slides over a portion of the entire strap 120 (and is parallel to the strap 120) and provides a cushion between the strap 120 and the head of a user. The cover 130 also protects a user's head from impacts. The cover 130 may be any padding material known in the art such as, but not limited to, gel, foam, padding, etc.
Further, one embodiment of the device 100 is comprised of at least one central strap cover 140. The cover 140 centers the device 100 on a user's head when the device 100 is worn, as seen in
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using 200 the device 100. First, a device 100 is provided comprised of a first ear cup 110 with at least one first attachment point 112, at least one-second ear cup 110 with at least one-second attachment point 112, and at least one fastening strap 120 that attaches to the first attachment point 112 and second attachment point 112, wherein the strap 120 is comprised of at least one cover 130 [Step 202]. Then, the first ear cup 110 and second ear cup 110 are placed over the ears of a user, wherein a glasses frame arm, a hearing aid, or other head-worn item is placed within at least one recessed area 118 of a cushion 116 of the ear cups 110 [Step 204]. Next, the strap 120 can be placed across a user's head (and/or chin) and tightened via at least one fastener 124 of the strap 130 to secure the device 100 to the head of the user [Step 206].
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons, may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “protective headgear device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the protective headgear device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the protective headgear device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the protective headgear device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the protective headgear device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the protective headgear device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the protective headgear device 100 may be of any size, shape, and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/509,042, which was filed on Jun. 20, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63509042 | Jun 2023 | US |
