AN ARTICLE OF HEADWEAR

Abstract: An article of headwear (10) characterised by a substantially forwardly projecting peak or visor (12), an adjustable head engaging band (14) and a length or sheet of material (16), the head engaging band (14) being attached or attachable to the peak or visor (12) at or near a rear edge thereof, the length or sheet of material (16) being attached or attachable to the peak or visor (12) and extending rearwardly thereof, whereby the peak or visor (12) may be positioned on a wearer's head (26) such that the material (16) covers the wear's head (26) and hangs therefrom about the shoulders (29) and neck of the wearer, wherein the head engaging band (14) is positioned about a rear of the wearer's head (26) such that the peak or visor (12) is held in position thereon.

Description: TITLE "AN ARTICLE OF HEADWEAR" FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an article of headwear. More particularly, the article of headwear of the present invention is intended for use in protecting a wearer from exposure to the elements, for example sun, wind and rain. DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART Typically, articles of headwear such as caps and hats have a crown portion within which a wearer's head may be received and a peak or brim. The peak or brim is intended to shield the wearer from the sun although its effectiveness is dependent upon the width or length of the peak or brim and the angle thereof with respect to the position of the sun. For example, if a wearer is bending forward for a period the typical brim provided about the circumference of a hat will not protect the wearer's neck if the sun is positioned overhead. Further, little protection is provided against wind and rain by the typical peak or brim arrangement. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an article of headwear characterised by a substantially forwardly projecting peak or visor, an adjustable head engaging band and a length or sheet of material, the head engaging band being attached or attachable to the peak or visor at or near a rear edge thereof, the length or sheet of material being attached or attachable to the peak or visor and extending rearwardly thereof, whereby the peak or visor may be positioned on a wearer's head such that the material covers the wearer's head and hangs therefrom about the shoulders and neck of the wearer, wherein the head engaging band is positioned about a rear of the wearer's head such that the peak or visor is held in position thereon. Preferably, the length or sheet of material is of sufficient length to reach the shoulders of the wearer and to cover their neck. It is further preferable that the material be of such dimensions that either side thereof may be drawn around the neck and/or face of the wearer and releasably fastened in such a position to protect same. Still preferably, a number of releasable attachment means are provided at various points on the length of material. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top view of an article of headwear in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an upper perspective view of a wearer placing the headwear of Figure 1 on his head; Figure 3 is a rear view of the headwear of Figure 1 on the wearer's head showing the head engaging band at the rear of the head and the partial width of the length of material; Figure 4 is a front view of the headwear of Figure 1 in position on the wearer's head; Figure 5 is a rear view of the headwear of Figure 1 on which a fastening means is provided allowing the length of material to be held in a partially raised position; Figure 6 is a front view of the headwear of Figure 5 having the partially raised length of material; ; Figures 7 to 22 inclusive show a variety of configurations of the length of material possible with various arrangements of releasable attachment means that are provided thereon; and Figure 23 is a front view of the headwear of Figure 1 having an insect screen provided thereon to protect the face of the wearer. DESCRIPTION In Figures 1 to 22 there is shown an article of headwear 10 comprising a peak or visor 12, an adjustable head engaging band 14 and a length or sheet of material 16. The visor 12 is formed in a substantially crescent shape describing a hollow 18 in a rear edge and two side or lateral points 20 projecting rearwardly. The head engaging band 14 being attached to the visor 12 in a manner such that at least a portion thereof extends between the points 20, as is best seen in Figure 1. The length of material 16 is fixed to an upper surface of the visor 12 towards the rear edge thereof. Such fixing may be by way of stitching although this should not in any way be considered to narrow the'scope of the present invention. The length of material 16 sis gathered or pleated on the visor 12, as is best seen in Figures 1 and 2. Thelength of material 16 gathered and fixed to the visor 12 covers the head engaging band 14 also attached to the visor 12. The material 16 hangs from the visor 12 and has a substantially lowermost edge 22 and sides 24 when in position on a head 26 of a wearer, as is shown in Figure 2. Typically, the sides 24 of the material hang at the sides of the wearer's face 28. The lowermost edge 22 hangs adjacent the shoulders 29 of the wearer and below the neckline, as is best seen in Figure 4. A plurality of releasable fastening means 30 are provided at various points on the material 16, as is shown in Figures 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 19. The variable placement of the fastening means 30 allows a variety of arrangements of the material 16 to be adopted. The portion of the band 14 extending between the points 20 has provided therein a releasable and adjustable join 32, as can be seen in Figure 3. The join 32 allows the continuity of the band 14 to be broken and reattached to adjust the length of the band 14 to suit the head 26 of the wearer. The band 14 has provided thereon both components of a hook and loop type fastener, for example that sold under the trade name "Velcro". The plurality of releasable fastening means 30 are also formed of either component of such a hook and loop type fastener. In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown the headwear 10 to which an elongate fastening means, for example a strip 34 is added at each side 24 of the material 16. The strips 34 may be held to the band 14 by way of insertion behind a flap 36 of fastening material provided on the band. Such an arrangement holds the sides 24 of the material 16 away from the face 28 of the wearer, as is seen in Figure 6. In Figures 7 and 8 is shown an arrangement of releasable fasteners 30 on the material 16 allowing protection of the wearer's neck in that the sides 24 join under the wearer's chin. In Figures 9 and 10 there is shown an arrangement whereby the sides 24 of the material 16 overlap and cover most of the face 28 of the wearer other than the eyes. The overlapping of the sides 24 requires that fastening means 30 be provided at points spaced apart from the sides 24 and the edge 22. In Figures 11 to 13 there is shown an arrangement whereby the provision of only four fastening means 30 about the sides 24 and edges 22 of the material allows an overlapping arrangement linking the sides under the chin of the wearer. In such an arrangement, a fastening means 30 is provided at the junction of each side 24 and edge 22 and at a point spaced apart therefrom adjacent the edge 22. In Figures 14 and 15 there is shown an arrangement of fastening means 30 in combination with the strap 34 of Figure 5 whereby the majority of the face 28 may be covered. Such an arrangement is facilitated by the shaping of the material 16 at its sides 24, in particular the provision of point 38 therealong. Further, fastening means 30 are provided at points 38 on the sides 24, at the edges 22 and at the junction of the sides 24 and edges 22. In Figures 16 to 17 there is shown a further arrangement whereby the sides 24 are fastened under the chin of the wearer leaving the face 28 exposed but in which the side of the head and the neck are protected. The visor 12 may be pulled backward off the head 26 so that the headwear 10 hangs from the neck of the wearer, as is shown in Figure 18. In Figures 19 and 20 are shown an arrangement of the material 16 whereby the sides 24 thereof are rolled up (as indicated by arrows X) and joined to each other behind the head 26 of the wearer. Two further possible arrangements of the material 16 are shown in Figures 21 and 22. Figure 23 shows the article of headwear 10 to which has been attached an insect screen 40 to shield the face 28 of the wearer. In use, the wearer wishing to fit the article of headwear 10 to his head 26 will grip the article of headwear 10 by the visor 12 and will position same such that the wearer's forehead is received within the hollow 18 in the rear edge of the visor 12. The material 16 is draped over the crown of the wearer's head 26 and hangs therefrom about the wearer's neck and shoulders 29, as can be seen in Figure 2. The wearer may at this point adjust the head engaging band 14 about the rear of their head 26 such that the material 16 is held there against and in effect forming a crown for the article of headwear 10, as is clearly seen in Figures 3 to 6. It is possible that the length of the head engaging band 14 may be adjusted by the wearer before the article of headwear 10 is placed on the wearer's head 26. The wearer may subsequently adjust the article of headwear 10 through manipulation of the material 16 to protect in addition the wearer's face 28 and/or neck, as can be seen with reference to Figures 5 to 22. If the wearer wishes to be protected from insects then he may choose to attach an insect screen 40 to the article of headwear 10, as is shown in Figure 23. The insect screen 40 thereby shields the face 28 of the wearer. It is envisaged that the material 16 be a flexible or pliable light weight material, for example a material woven from the fibre marketed under the trade mark "Lycra". For applications in the wet the material should be water resistant or water proof. It is also envisaged that one or more pockets may be provided on the material 16 to facilitate the carrying of small objects therein. The material 16 also need not necessarily be gathered on the upper surface of the visor 12 but may simply be fixed releasably or otherwise thereto. It is still further envisaged that forms of adjustable fastening means other than "Velcro" may be used, including press studs, buttons and hooks and eyes. Further, the strips 34 and the flap 36 may be replaced by press studs, buttons or hooks and eyes. Still further, the visor 12 may be provided in a form other than a crescent if so desired. The article of headwear of the present invention provides protection against the elements such as sun, wind and rain. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee upon a reading of the specification are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An article of headwear characterised by a substantially forwardly projecting peak or visor, an adjustable head engaging band and a length or sheet of material, the head engaging band being attached or attachable to the peak or visor at or near a rear edge thereof, the length or sheet of material being attached or attachable to the peak or visor and extending rearwardly thereof, whereby the peak or visor may be positioned on a wearer's head such that the material covers the wearer's head and hangs therefrom about the shoulders and neck of the wearer, wherein the head engaging band is positioned about a rear of the wearer's head such that the peak or visor is held in position thereon. 2. An article of headwear according to claim 1, characterised in that the material is a flexible or pliable material able to conform to the crown of the wearer's head and hang therefrom. 3. An article of headwear according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by one or more fastening means being provided on the material so that the material may be adjusted or arranged to protect the wearer's head, neck and/or face. 4. An article of headwear according to claim 3, characterised in that a number of fastening means are provided about a lowermost edge and sides of the material when in position on a wearer's head whereby the sides may be drawn together and fastened to protect the wearer. 5. An article of headwear according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the fastening means are in the form of a hook and loop type fastener. 6. An article of headwear according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the head engaging band has an adjustable join provided therein allowing the length of the band to be adjusted to suit the size of the wearer's head. 7. An article of headwear according to claim 6, characterised in that the band is formed in part from a hook and loop type fastening allowing the length of the band to be adjusted. 8. An article of headwear according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material has one or more fastening means provided thereon allowing the material to be releasably attached to the band. 9. An article of headwear according to claim 8, characterised in that the fastening means allowing the material to be releasably attached to the band is provided in the form of one or more straps able to be held to the band. 10. An article of headwear according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the peak or visor is formed of a rigid material in a crescent shape whereby the forehead of the wearer is received within the hollow described by the crescent shaped peak or visor. 11. An article of headwear according to claim 10, characterised in that the material is fixedly attached to the peak or visor at or adjacent a rear edge thereof. 12. An article of headwear substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, 11 to 13, 14 and 15, 16 to 18, 19 and 20, 21 or 22.

Inventors: HALL JASON HAMILTON, HALL, JASON, HAMILTON
Applicants: HALL JASON H, HALL, JASON, HAMILTON
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A42B1
IPC codes: A42B1