Twisted Loops Surface Hard Hat Liner

Abstract

A hard hat liner defined by a plurality of twisted loops on the interior and exterior surface thereof, adapted to be worn on the head of the wearer under a hard hat, structured from a symmetric panel of dual sided twisted loops pile fabric, pleated at the fore head so as to conform to the head of the wearer, extending horizontally across the fore head and curving downward at approximately 90% relative to the headband horizontal position, over the ear, extending to the shoulder, and continuing to cover the head and back neck of the wearer, ear to ear, having an elongated head band housing elastic portions and buckles for head size adjustability, with a bias tape hem to secure the edge of said symmetric panel not attached to said headband.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention is related to the field of headwear, and more specifically to the field of hard hats worn in the construction trade, and also to the field of headwear cooling accessories, and more particularly to a headwear which affords the head and neck of the wearer a barrier from the harmful effects of the sun.

Out door industrial workers for whom use of a hard hat is mandatory, find themselves exposed to the harmful effects of heat and sun with little means of staying cool or removing sweat from the face and neck during work hours. Heat related illness is a major work place hazard, at times leading to injury and death, highlighted by warnings from OSHA, NIOSH and CDC, among other government institutions.

The effects of climate change contribute to the hotter than average out door temperatures. A recent report from NOAA confirms that 2016 was the hottest year ever. A trend expected to worsen, thus making the need for an effective workplace head and neck cover even more urgent.

Additionally, at times of recreation, such as at beaches or at out door festivals where trees or shade structures are unavailable, the need to protect one's head froze heat and sun is similar to the challenges faced by industrial workers.

The present invention is directed at a headwear for industrial and recreational use, which cools and protects the head, ears and neck of the wearer.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Prior art consist of a transparent waterproof fabric curtain attached to the rim of a hard hat, and covering the neck of the wearer. Alternatively, a curtain attached to the underside of the hard hat is known. Other embodiments, detached from a hard hat, exist, however, those offer no means of absorbing sweat, and retaining a layer of water over the head and neck of the wearer, or provide any padding between the hard hat and the head of the wearer.

Accordingly, a need exist for a head and neck cover hard hat liner which absorbs sweat and retains a reservoir of water over the head and neck of the wearer, and providing a comfort cushion between the hard hat and head of the wearer, and allows the wearer the additional benefit of a face wipe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, one object of the present invention is to provide a hard hat liner with twisted loops on the inner and outer surface thereof, to protect the neck, face, and ear of the wearer from direct sunlight.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hard hat liner with twisted loops on the inner and outer surface thereof, that also absorbs sweat, keeping it out of the eyes and face of the wearer.

A yet further objective of the invention is to provide a hard hat liner with twisted loops on the inner and outer surface thereof, capable of retaining a reservoir of water over the head and neck of the wearer.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a hard hat liner with twisted loops on the inner and outer surface thereof, that also functions as a cushion between the hard hat and head of the wearer

A still further objective of the invention is to provide a hard hat liner with twisted loops on the inner and outer surface thereof, that also functions as a convenient face wipe for removing any debris or particles a worker might encounter

Another objective of the invention is to provide a hard hat liner with twisted loops on the inner and outer surface thereof, that can also be used as a washcloth for quick clean up when needed.

Said objectives are embodied in a size adjustable hard hat liner which covers the forehead, ears, and back neck of the wearer, ear to ear, adapted for industrial and recreational application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the twisted loops surface symmetric pile fabric panel.

FIG. 2 is a twisted loops removed from the surface of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the right side portion of the twisted loops headband.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the left side portion of the twisted loops headband.

FIG. 5 is s top plan view of the frontal portion of the twisted loops headband.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the sweatband.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the elastic back right side, and left side portions, 31 and 32.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of buckles, 21 and 22.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the twisted loops surface symmetric pile fabric panel showing the frontal pleats outline.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a back elevational view thereof.

FIG. 12 is atop plan view thereof.

FIG. 13 is a top plain view of a fragment of the twisted loops surface pile fabric panel enclosed with bias tape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, a pile fabric panel with absorbent twisted loops incorporated on the top and bottom surfaces thereof, is shaped in the form of a smaller convex semi circle at the apex , above a larger concave semi circle at the base, reconciled by right side and left side curves joining the smaller semi circle with the larger. Pleats are formed along the frontal contour of said smaller semi circle so as to conform said symmetric panel as a whole to the forehead of the wearer, and extending horizontally across the forehead and curving downward along the side of the face over the ear at approximately 90% relative to the aforementioned headband horizontal position, to the shoulders so as to cover the head and back neck of the wearer, ear to ear. A headband frontal portion FIG. 5 is stitched at one end to FIG. 3, and at the other end to FIG. 4. Adjoined headpiece frontal portion FIG. 5, to FIG. 3 and to FIG. 4, is stitched along the open horizontal edge to the pleated contour of FIG. 9. A highly absorbent sweatband is enclosed within the three formed seams of said frontal portion FIG. 5. The remaining horizontal edge of said frontal portion FIG. 5 is folded over said sweatband and secured by top stitch along the first formed horizontal seam between FIG. 5 and FIG. 9. Elastic back right side portion 31 is sewn to right side portion FIG. 3. The open end of the elastic portion 31 is threaded over and around column 40 of buckle 21 and stitched to itself so as to form a closed loop around 40. Elastic back left side portion 32 is sewn to the left side portion extension of FIG. 4. The open end elastic portion 32 is first threaded through buckle 22, under column 60, over column 61, and under column 62, further threaded through buckle 21, under column 42, then wrapped over and around 41, and returning to buckle 22, reversed threaded around column 61 from the underside and stitched to itself to form a closed loop around column 61. Considering the headband as a whole, buckle 22 is allowed horizontal movement along elastic back left side portion 32, thereby providing means of adjusting the size of the headwear. The border of the twisted loop fabric panel not enclosed by the headband, is secured with double folded bias tape stitched thereto.

The preferred embodiment described herein is intended as illustrative rather than restrictive. It is not intended that the invention be limited in scope to the detailed configuration herein disclosed as related to condensation of pleats and radius of subject semi circles.

Claims

1. A hard hat liner defined by a plurality of twisted loops incorporated on the interior and exterior surface of a size adjustable head and back neck cover headpiece adapted to be worn under a hard hat of the wearer, comprising: a symmetric panel formed from dual sided twisted loops pile fabric, with pleats formed at the smaller frontal curve so as to conform to the fore head of the wearer, extending horizontally across the fore head and curving downward at approximately 90% relative to the headband horizontal position, over the ear to the shoulder, and continuing to cover the head and back neck of the wearer, ear to ear.an elongated headband having a frontal portion fabricated from same dual sided twisted loops pile fabric, attached to a right side portion and a left side portion, both portions made of same dual sided twisted loops pile fabric, connected to an elastic band formed from two parts of elastic looped through two buckles so as to provide size adjustability, secured as a whole by stitching, at said frontal portion, to the pleated area of said symmetric panel.

2. A hard hat liner according to claim 1 wherein the border of the dual sided twisted loops pile fabric headpiece, not enclosed by the head band frontal portion is reinforced by stitching said border within the fold of double folded bias tape.

3. A hard hat liner according to claim 2 wherein woven terry cloth is employed as the dual sided twisted loops pile fabric.