Apparel – Head coverings – Flapped
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-13
2001-07-17
Vanatta, Amy B (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Head coverings
Flapped
C002S209130, C002S175600, C002S175300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260204
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flexible protector for the back of the neck. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flexible protector for the back of the neck of a wearer of a hard hat.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for head shields have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.
A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,319 to Daniels teaches a weather protective unitary contiguous substantially flat face and neck cover for use with hard head gear. The cover has an outer layer of non-stretchable waterproof highly reflective nylon having a liner of thermally insulated material. The cover has a top bridge portion above the face of the wearer which terminates in side flaps. Waterproof elastic piping is secured about the free edge of cover to seat tightly about the portions of the hard hat with which it is in contact as well as to seat tightly about the face and neck of the wearer to shut out weather elements such as wind, snow, rain and the like from contact with the wearer over the area covered by the unitary face and neck cover. The side flaps extending off the top bridge portion have flap securing means to maintain the flaps connected at their free ends beneath the chin of the wearer.
A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,081 to Fulghum teaches a flexible sun shield that is detachably connectable around the circumference of a hard hat or military helmet for shielding eyes, face and neck from excessive sun exposure. The sun shield includes a brim formed of a curved length of flexible, pliable flat material formed generally into the shape of a portion of an oval ring in-the-flat and an upstanding flexible flange connected along the inner margin of the brim. The flange is releasably connectable circumferentially around the hard hat such that the brim extends outwardly and slopes downwardly from the hard hat.
A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,491 to Barrett, Jr. teaches a device for protective headgear for shielding ears and neck from ultraviolet rays which can be worn alone or in conjunction with a hat. This device is a stretchable headband with a crescent shaped sun shield attached to the headband. The sun shield gathers slightly when worn, and extends outwardly from the head so that it does not lay directly over the ears. The shield is made of a tightly woven material which is also breathable, a single ply or preferably a two-ply material with a tightly woven micro denier on the outside and an all-cotton liner on the underside which will be in contact with the back of the neck. A method for making the device also disclosed.
A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,609 to Bridges teaches a substantially rectangular, protective drape which is selectively attachable to a hard hat, preferably includes a strip of “hook and loop” fastener along one edge. A complementary strip of “hook and loop” fastening material is attached to the inner wall of the hard hat. The drape is used to protect the neck and, selectively, the ears, of the user from the elements.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for head shields have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a flexible protector for the back of the neck of a wearer of a hard hat that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a flexible protector for the back of the neck of a wearer of a hard hat that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a flexible protector for the back of the neck of a wearer of a hard hat that is simple to use.
BRIEFLY STATED, YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a flexible protector for the back of the neck of a wearer of a hard hat. The protector includes a brim, a drape, and apparatus. The brim receives the crown of the hard hat and rests on the peak of the hard hat. The drape depends from the brim and protects the back of the neck of the wearer of the hard hat. The apparatus is associated with the brim and selectively maintains the brim on the hard hat. The apparatus includes an anterior pocket that releasably captures the anterior portion of the peak of the hard hat, a posterior pocket that releasably captures the posterior portion of the peak of the hard hat, and mating portions of hook and loop fasteners that are disposed on facing surfaces of the brim and the posterior pocket of the apparatus and retains the posterior portion of the peak of the hard hat in the posterior pocket of the apparatus when mated and surrenders the posterior portion of the peak of the hard hat from the posterior pocket of the apparatus when unmated so as to facilitate donning and undonning the flexible protector relative to the hard hat.
The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 350398 (1886-10-01), Shunk
patent: 1075181 (1913-10-01), Zick
patent: 3166766 (1965-01-01), Banello, Jr.
patent: 3469264 (1969-09-01), Harris
patent: 4887319 (1989-12-01), Daniels
patent: 4993081 (1991-02-01), Fulghum
patent: 5323491 (1994-06-01), Barrett, Jr.
patent: 5406645 (1995-04-01), Lin
patent: 5694647 (1997-12-01), Crickmore
patent: 5701609 (1997-12-01), Bridges
patent: 5862520 (1999-01-01), Wyant
patent: 5950241 (1999-09-01), Gomez
patent: 6061836 (2000-05-01), Peters
patent: 10951 (1901-04-01), None
patent: 15232 (1909-11-01), None
patent: 176070 (1922-02-01), None
Miller, P.E Richard L.
Vanatta Amy B
LandOfFree
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