Patent Application
20220346472
The present invention is directed towards a hat or other article of apparel worn on the head including a transparent, impermeable veil to prevent transmission of droplet in or out of the veil's coverage area.
It is generally understood that small droplets of water are emitted from people's mouth's as they cough, sneeze, speak, and breath. Some of these droplets can hang in the air for sufficient time that they may be inhaled by another person. This has been recognized as a significant vector for transmissible diseases, such as viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
Due to the risk of disease transmission through droplets, various types of face coverings have been deployed. Some of these face coverings prevent normal activities, such as eating or drinking, as the prevent access to the wearers mouth. Additionally, some face coverings provide insufficient coverage, allowing too high a likelihood of droplets passing between wearer and other people. There exists a need for an improvement upon currently available face coverings.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that is further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The present invention is defined by the claims.
The present invention is directed towards a hat or other article of apparel worn on the head having a brim which includes a transparent, impermeable veil hanging down from the brim on all sides such that the veil surrounds the head, face, neck, and upper shoulder region of the wearer. As such, the present invention may prevent the spread of any droplets from the veil's covered area, instead causing droplets to drop down to the ground. Additionally, the present invention may protect the wearer from breathing in any droplets present outside of the veil's coverage area. As droplets are a known vector for viral transmission, the present invention may aid in preventing the transmission of viruses between people.
The present invention may eliminate some of the need for social distancing in public accommodations when worn, as a wearer may be able to safely take various action that normally require the mouth to be uncovered, such as eating and drinking, without losing the protection provided by the veil.
The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
Some embodiments of the present invention are described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the scope of the invention is not intended to be defined by the description itself. The claimed subject matter may be embodied as to include different features, elements, components, steps, or combinations of steps, similar to those described herein, and in combination with other existing or future technologies. Moreover, although the term “step” might be used to connote different elements of the methods employed, this term should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except the order of individual steps is explicitly described or required.
The present invention is directed towards a hat having a brim which includes a veil made of transparent, impermeable material, for example, a clear non-toxic plastic material. One having skill in the arts will recognize which materials would be suitable for this purpose. The veil may hang down from the brim such that the veil surrounds the head, neck, and upper shoulder of the wearer in 360 degrees around the hat. The veil may remain open at the bottom edge allowing for actions, including but not limited to eating and drinking, that require access to the wearer's mouth and/or the rest of the face. The word “hat”, as used herein, refers to any article of apparel that may be worn on the head. The word “brim”, as used herein, refers to any structural element of a hat that extends outward for the hat, away from the wearer as worn.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the length of the veil may be such that it covers the entire face, neck, and upper chest of the wearer. In some embodiments of the present invention, this may constitute a veil of around one (1) foot long, though the optimal length may be dependent on characteristics of the intended wearer, such as the wearer's height. This length provides superior protection as compared to any such veil or barrier that fails to cover all of the face, neck, and upper chest. Additionally, the 360-degree coverage of the veil in some embodiments of the present invention provides superior protection that fails to provide such complete coverage, such as a protective barrier that only covers the front of the face and fails to cover the ears and back of the head.
With continued reference to
Embodiments of the present invention have been described, as required by statute, to be illustrative, but should not be interpreted to be restrictive. One having skill in the art will recognize that many different arrangements of the various components depicted are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below, as well as arrangements including components not explicitly shown.
One having skill in the art will understand that certain combinations and/or sub-combinations of elements and features are of utility and may be employed without reference to other combinations and/or sub-combinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 17/068,860, filed Oct. 23, 2020, entitled FULL FACE PROTECTIVE SHIELD. The forgoing application is incorporated in its entirety by reference.
