Abstract:
A hood apparatus has structure to be removably engagable to a jacket and further structure to help eliminate reduced user peripheral vision from the hood via the user turning their head side to side. The structure of the hood is to create a slackened removable engagement between the hood and the jacket. Further structure of the hood is to provide multiple axes of adjustability for the hood to form around a user&#39;s head in effect causing the hood move in lockstep to the user&#39;s side to side head movement. These multiple axes of adjustability include a circumferential elastic drawstring positioned about the user&#39;s face periphery and an added independent lateral elastic drawstring that is partially parallel to the circumferential elastic drawstring for about an upper one-third of the user&#39;s face periphery wherein the lateral elastic drawstring is routed laterally toward the rear of the hood.

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/816,734 filed on Apr. 27, 2013 by Sirena Rolfe of Westminster, Colorado, U.S. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for an adjustable hood system for outerwear. More specifically, the present invention relates to the field of a portable, stowable, and removably engagable hood apparatus for providing optimal hood adjustability thus providing a custom type fit for the hood to accommodate various head sizes and shapes thus increasing the user&#39;s comfort and usability of the hood during extended time periods for sports activities outside than would normally be available with the built in hood that the user&#39;s desired coat would have included with it. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    A typical hood that is included with a coat or jacket is usually a design afterthought in the amount of design utility that the hood could possess, as typically the included hood with the coat or jacket usually has a face opening having a periphery with a circumferential elastic drawstring positioned within a fold about the user&#39;s face within a margin passageway of the hood face opening. The drawstring has a free end extending beyond the termination of the margin passageway at each end of the hood face opening that faces downward, resulting in two drawstring free ends. Wherein the drawstring free ends typically are able to be “cinched up” at each free end to add axial tension to the drawstring thus resulting in a reduction in the face opening via reducing the periphery to wrap the hood around the front of the user&#39;s face thus limiting environmental exposure of the user&#39;s face to eyes, nose, and mount of the user. This face opening periphery adjustment is usually the sole adjustment available on a typical hood. 
         [0004]    There are numerous problems with the above mentioned single drawstring adjustment hood system, primarily being that the hood has a substantially rigid attachment to the jacket about a long axis that goes through the user&#39;s head, neck, torso, and legs, such that when the user turns their head from side to side, the hood keeps the face opening periphery in a single orientation facing forward thus causing the user to lose their peripheral vision quickly as their head turns within the substantially rigid hood assembly, that is caused from the hood having a loose fit to an outer surface of the user&#39;s head with the face opening periphery being reduced in size or area resulting in limiting the user&#39;s access through the hood to the external environment to be facing forward only, thus being very inconvenient for the user in sporting activities wherein the user turns their head side to side quite frequently. The loose fit of the hood to the user&#39;s head outer surface is of necessity to accommodate the largest head size of any user and to accommodate other items that are adjacent to the user&#39;s outer head surface such as eye glasses, sunglasses, headphones or earphones, hats, earmuffs, headbands, and the like. 
         [0005]    A way to help alleviate this problem is to leave the drawstring in a loose state, thus resulting in a larger face opening periphery to expand the ability of the user to have increased peripheral vision when turning their head side to side, however, doing this causes another problem in that the hood has opening gaps around the user face periphery that can destroy the function of the hood to help keep the user&#39;s head warm, in allowing inside of the hood cold wind, snow, sleet, or rain to enter the hood through the opening gaps around the user&#39;s face periphery, this issue is especially acute when the user is moving forward through the external environment when running, bicycling, and the like. So basically the typical jacket hood is really only useable when the user is only facing forward and not turning their head side to side, being usually not the case. Wherein, the typical hood assembly that comes with a jacket is only of minor benefit to the user. 
         [0006]    Of course an alternative could be for the user to use a stocking cap for head warmth that does not have the problem of the loss of user peripheral vision when the user turns their head side to side as the stocking cap is not attached to the jacket and rotates with the head, however, this brings on another problem in that the stocking cap fails to provide warmth or shelter for the user&#39;s neck, being a problem in cold wet weather, further if the user in engaged in high head movement activities, the stocking cap will not stay attached to the head well, unless of course a chin strap is used with the stocking cap, however, still having the aforementioned problem of the user&#39;s neck being exposed to wet and cold weather. 
         [0007]    These hood problem issues have been somewhat identified in the prior art with a summary given below. 
         [0008]    Starting with U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,746 to Shelton, et al., disclosed is an article of clothing including a vest portion and a detachable hood having a polyacrylamide copolymer filler that cools the body by activating the cooling stage, which is done by placing the vest and hood in water for the required time or placing the vest and hood in ice water for required time. In Shelton, the top and bottom pieces of material will dry and the filler will remain cool and moist for use in hot weather, the top and bottom pieces are worn by placing on the body and attaching fasteners and will keep the individual user cool for hours and the top and bottom pieces are made of materials that can be washed by the individual user, wherein they can be stored for days in plastic bags in the refrigerator. Also, in Shelton, if long-term storage is needed, the top and bottom pieces can be line-dried and then put away until ready for use again. 
         [0009]    Further, in the prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 1,485,392 to Halek, disclosed is a long loose overcoat to which a hood or helmet is detachably affixed by three buttons—intermediate the shoulders immediately beneath the rear side of a soft single-ply collar bordering the neck opening of the coat, see column  2 , lines  65 - 71 . In addition, Halek teaches elements  9  and  10 , wherein the hood is sewed for side vision being a fixed relationship as between elements  9  and  10 , see  FIG. 1  in particular, note that Halek does not teach the use of elastic string for forming the hood to the user&#39;s outer surface of their head, thus as soon as the user in Halek terns their head side to side they will lose their peripheral vision as the hood will stay rigidly attached to the coat having only a forward facing opening as previously identified as one of the problems for current hoods. 
         [0010]    Continuing, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,370,692 to Duyn, et al. disclosed is a waterproof garment that includes a jacket and a hood which is convertible into a ventilated carrying bag for storing the jacket. In Duyn, a ventilated waterproof hood includes an inner ventilated material and an outer waterproof layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface. Wherein the outer waterproof layer in Duyn includes at least two side portions; a top of the head portion abutting the side portions, the top of the head portion comprising a front of the head portion and a back of the head portion; a base of the neck portion; and a back portion, the back portion extending from the back of the head portion to the base of the neck portion and extending from one side portion to the other side portion, as best shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 . The inner ventilated material in Duyn is attached to the back of the head and to the two side portions of the interior surface of the outer waterproof layer, and the inner ventilated material defines a ventilated pocket in the ventilated waterproof hood. Duyn does teach an elastic string at element  45 , see  FIGS. 5 through 11 , however, that forms the pocket for storing the jacket, thus elastic string  45  has no function related to retaining the hood to the user&#39;s head in any unique way, further Duyn teaches a conventional user face periphery elastic drawstring, see element  70  in  FIGS. 3 through 5 . 
         [0011]    Next, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,809 to Hall, disclosed is an adjustable hood system including a pair of drawstrings, see element  16  in  FIG. 1 , extending from the two temple areas, see element  18  of  FIG. 1 , of the wearer to the area corresponding to the nape of the neck, see eyelets element  22  in  FIG. 1 , wherein the drawstrings  16  are cinched at lock element  28 , see  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In Hall, the drawstrings  16  provide both vertical and lateral adjustability being angled therethrough passageways element  14 , see  FIGS. 1 and 2 , around the head of the wearer to allow the wearer to customize the fit of the hood, regardless of the size of the wearer&#39;s head or the amount of layers of headgear under the hood, however, passageways  14  have more of a vertical orientation tending to pull the hood backwards from and off of the forehead upwardly at the temple fixed attachment area (for drawstrings  16 ) to and toward the nape of the user&#39;s neck, thus resulting in crown area element  19  being pulled over the top portion of the user&#39;s head towards the back or nape of the user&#39;s neck, see  FIG. 1 , also see column  4 , lines  10 - 18 , this leaves shell area element  24 ,  26  as shown in  FIG. 1 , to remain loose in relation to the user&#39;s head as in a conventional hood, or the area that remains loose is in-between passageways  14  and collar panel  23 , also as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0012]    Further, in Hall, the drawstrings  16  are completely independent from the conventional drawstrings  36 , thus resulting in in the drawstrings only are cinched tight the crown area element  19  is not secured at all to the user&#39;s head, especially the user&#39;s forehead area, in fact Hall teaches the use only of the drawstrings  16  by stating that a simple single singular motion by the user is used for hood adjustment, wherein the conventional drawstrings  36  are optional to use, see column  2 , line  40  to column  3 , line  10 , this teaching in Hall would leave the shell area element  24 ,  26  as shown in  FIG. 1 , to remain loose in relation to the user&#39;s head as in a conventional hood, or the area that remains loose is in-between passageways  14  and collar panel  23 , also as shown in  FIG. 2 , wherein the loose shell area element  24 ,  26  could block peripheral vision of the user and allow for cold air and moisture to enter the hood. Also, in Hall, drawstring element  36  functions as a conventional user facial periphery drawstring as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , having the previously mentions problems of reducing the user&#39;s peripheral side vision when the user turns their head side to side about the long axis. 
         [0013]    Next, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,014 to Little, et al. disclosed is a combination jacket and hood in which the hood is attached to the neckline of the jacket by a strip of flexible fabric, such as a knitted piece or termed a strip element  8 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , which permits the hood to move relative to the jacket. Thus in Little, it is recognized that the loss of user peripheral side vision is made worse by the typical fairly rigid attachment of the hood to the jacket, however, as  FIG. 1  shows, the hood has a very loose fit to the user&#39;s head outer surface, wherein the user&#39;s head in turning side to side about the long axis would still allow the user&#39;s head to rotate within the hood interior, thus resulting in the user losing the side peripheral vision, as being the previously identified problem with conventional hood design and structure. Although Little claims that the hood will rotate about the long axis with the user&#39;s head rotating the same way, there is no teaching of how the hood affixes to the user&#39;s head outer surface to accomplish this. 
         [0014]    What is needed is a portable, mobile, and easily removably engagable hood apparatus that doesn&#39;t any loose or separate require straps, clasps, fasteners, hooks or any other type of hardware for removably engaging the hood to a jacket of the user&#39;s choice, thus greatly simplifying putting on and taking off of the hood apparatus from the jacket, also resulting in a much smaller, lighter, and easy to carry hood apparatus. Further as previously identified in the cited prior art, overcoming the reduced user peripheral vision due to the hood from the user turning their head side to side about the long axis while having the hood provide maximum protection from external environment weather elements would be highly desirable. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0015]    Broadly, the present invention of the hood apparatus accomplishes the goals of being easily removably engagable, helping to eliminate the reduced user peripheral vision due to the hood from the user turning their head side to side about the long axis, while having the hood provide maximum protection from external environment weather elements is achieved by several unique structures. The first structure is to create a loose removable engagement as between the hood apparatus and the user&#39;s desired jacket that allows easy attaching and removing of the hood to and from the jacket respectively with a relatively loose attachment as between the hood apparatus and the jacket, thus allowing the hood apparatus to have some degree of free movement relative to the jacket about the long axis. Also, to provide multiple axes of adjustability for the hood to form around the user&#39;s head outer surface in effect causing the hood apparatus to mimic the movement of a stocking cap, such that the hood apparatus moves with the user&#39;s side to side head movement about the long axis. These multiple axes of adjustability include a traditional circumferential elastic drawstring positioned within a fabric fold about the user&#39;s face periphery within a margin passageway of the hood face opening and an added independent lateral elastic drawstring that is partially parallel to the circumferential elastic drawstring for about an upper one-third of the user&#39;s face periphery wherein the lateral elastic drawstring is routed laterally toward the rear of the hood apparatus through a pair of independent lateral passageways around the user&#39;s head with the ability of the lateral elastic drawstring being able to be cinched tight thus resulting in the hood pulling downward and tight as against the user&#39;s forehead and temples, wherein the sides of the hood are pulled back toward the user&#39;s ears resulting in several things, first; the user&#39;s peripheral side vision is maintained and second; with the hood cinched tight around the entire user&#39;s head, when the user turns their head side to side and with the hood apparatus having a loose attachment to the jacket, the hood apparatus turns with the user&#39;s head to preserve the user&#39;s side peripheral vision when the user turns their head side to side. 
         [0016]    These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which; 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a side and front perspective view of the hood apparatus in the external environment wherein the hood apparatus includes a flexible planar member in a formed hood shape with a head crown portion, a lower forehead portion, an adjoining border as between the head crown portion and the surrounding sidewall, a lower forehead margin, a vertical margin, and a semi-circular terminating margin; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a side elevation view of the hood apparatus in the external environment wherein the hood apparatus includes the flexible planar member in the formed hood shape with the head crown portion, the lower forehead portion, the adjoining border as between the head crown portion and the surrounding sidewall, the lower forehead margin, the vertical margin, and the semi-circular terminating margin; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a partial cutaway side elevation view of the hood apparatus in the external environment wherein the hood apparatus includes the flexible planar member in the formed hood shape with the head crown portion, the lower forehead portion, the adjoining border as between the head crown portion and the surrounding sidewall, the lower forehead margin, the vertical margin, and the semi-circular terminating margin, wherein further shown is a first void, a first passageway, a second void, a second passageway, a single first elastic member, and a single second elastic member; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a front perspective view of the hood apparatus in the external environment wherein the hood apparatus includes the flexible planar member in the formed hood shape with the head crown portion, the lower forehead portion, the surrounding sidewall, the lower forehead margin, the vertical margin, and the semi-circular terminating margin, the single second elastic member, and the third means for removably attaching the surrounding sidewall to the jacket; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  shows a rear elevation view of the hood apparatus in the external environment wherein the hood apparatus includes the flexible planar member in the formed hood shape with the head crown portion, the surrounding sidewall, the single first elastic member, the single second elastic member, and the third means for removably attaching the surrounding sidewall to the jacket; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  shows the  FIG. 1  view of the hood apparatus in use with the side and front perspective view of the hood apparatus in the external environment wherein the hood apparatus includes the flexible planar member in the formed hood shape with the head crown portion, the lower forehead portion, the surrounding sidewall, the lower forehead margin, the vertical margin, and the semi-circular terminating margin, plus features of the user that include a human head, a movement of the head, a crown of the head, a forehead, a facial area, a vertical side of the facial area, a nose, a mouth, eyes, a neck, a front upper portion of the neck, a front lower portion of the neck, and a nape of the neck; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  shows the user of  FIG. 6  with most of the hood apparatus stripped away to more clearly show the single first elastic member and the single second elastic member, wherein the relationship of the first and second single elastic members is shown in position on the head; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  shows the  FIG. 6  view of the hood apparatus in use with the single first elastic member and the single second elastic member both selectably tensioned to secure the lower forehead margin to the forehead, also securing the surrounding sidewall downward on the head, and securing the surrounding sidewall around the neck. 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS 
       [0000]    
       
           50  Hood apparatus 
           55  External environment 
           60  Human head 
           65  Movement of the human head  60   
           70  Crown of the human head  60   
           75  Forehead of the human head  60   
           80  Facial area of the human head  60   
           85  Vertical side of the facial area  80   
           90  Ear of the human head  60   
           95  Upper ear lobe of the ear  90   
           100  Lower ear lobe of the ear  90   
           105  Nose of the human head  60   
           110  Mouth of the human head  60   
           115  Eyes of the human head  60   
           120  Neck 
           125  Front upper portion of the neck  120   
           130  Front lower portion of the neck  120   
           135  Nape lower portion of the neck  120   
           140  Flexible planar member 
           145  Formed hood shape of the flexible planar member  140   
           150  Head crown portion of the formed hood shape  145   
           155  Lower forehead margin of the formed hood shape  145   
           160  Lengthwise axis of the lower forehead margin  155   
           165  Transitions for the lower forehead margin  155   
           170  Parallel terminating vertical margins of the formed hood shape  145   
           175  Continuation position of the terminating vertical margin  170   
           180  Long axis of the vertical margin  170   
           185  Laterally positioned semi-circular terminating margin 
           190  Opposing end portion of the semi-circular terminating margin  185   
           200  Circumferential axis of the semi-circular terminating margin  185   
           205  Adjacent position of the semi-circular terminating margin  185  to the nape  135  of the neck  120   
           210  Joining or transition of the semi-circular terminating margin  185  and the pair of terminating vertical margins  170   
           215  Surrounding sidewall defined as adjacent to the nape portion  135  of the formed hood shape  145   
           220  Adjoining point or border of the sidewall portion  215  to the head crown portion  150   
           225  First void 
           230  First passageway of the first void  225   
           231  Axis of the first passageway  230   
           235  Coincident position of the first passageway  230  to the lengthwise axis  160   
           240  Termination of the first passageway  230  at opposing ends at the lower forehead margin  155  transitions  165   
           245  Second voids 
           250  Second passageways of the second voids  245   
           255  Axis of the second passageway  250   
           260  Opposite positioning of the second passageways  250  to one another 
           265  Continuous therethrough passageway communication loop 
           270  Junction as between the first  230 , second  250 , and third  365  passageways 
           275  Juxtapose position of second passageway axes  255  with the circumferential axis  200   
           280  Termination of the second passageways  250   
           285  Position of the second passageways  250  termination  280  in the surrounding sidewall 
           215  positioned opposite of the lower forehead margin  155   
           290  Single second passageway  250  termination 
           295  Opposing second passageway  250  termination 
           300  Single first elastic member 
           305  Slidable engagement of the single first elastic member  300   
           310  Loop formed in the single first elastic member  300   
           315  Termination ends of the single first elastic member  300   
           320  Termination ends of the single first elastic member  300  extending beyond the surrounding sidewall  215   
           325  First means for retaining the first single elastic member  300  two ends  320  to one another that is preferably a spring loaded elastic string cinching clamp 
           330  Selectably tensioning the first single elastic member  300   
           335  Laterally securing of hood  50  or in particular the surrounding sidewall portion  215  about the human head  60   
           340  Perpendicular orientation of the lengthwise axis  160  and the second passageway axis  255   
           345  Drawing downward of the head crown portion  150  on the forehead  75   
           350  Positioning of the second passageways  250  to be proximate to the lower ear lobes  100   
           355  Drawing downward of the surrounding sidewall  215  on the human head  60   
           360  Third void 
           365  Third passageway of the third void  360   
           370  Axis of the third passageway  365   
           375  Parallel positioning of the third passageway axes  370   
           380  Coincident position of the third passageways axes  370  to the long axes  180   
           385  Continuous tertiary therethrough passageway communication loop 
           390  Termination of the third passageways  365  therethrough at the surrounding sidewall  215   
           395  Single second elastic member 
           400  Slidable engagement of the single second elastic member  395   
           405  Loop formed in the single second elastic member  395   
           410  Termination ends of the single second elastic member  395   
           415  Termination ends of the single second elastic member  395  extending beyond the third passageways  365  and the surrounding sidewall  215   
           420  Second means for retaining the single second elastic member  395  to the termination 
           390  of the third passageways  365  at the surrounding sidewall  215  that is preferably a spring loaded elastic string cinching clamp 
           425  Selectably tensioning the single second elastic member  395   
           430  Securing of the lower forehead margin  155  and the pair of parallel terminating vertical margins  170  about the facial area  80  and to pull the surrounding sidewall  215  tighter around the neck  120   
           435  Third means for removably attaching the surrounding sidewall  215  to a jacket 
           440  Slackened condition of the third means  435  allowing for relative movement as between the surrounding sidewall  215  and the jacket while attached 
           445  Flexible strap 
           450  Affixment of the flexible strap  445  to the surrounding sidewall  215   
           455  Loop formed from the flexible strap  445   
           460  Structure to selectably open and close the flexible strap loop  455  about the coat hook loop 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0110]    With initial reference to  FIG. 1  shown is the side and front perspective view of the hood apparatus  50  in the external environment  55  wherein the hood apparatus  50  includes a flexible planar member  140  in a formed hood shape  145  with a head crown portion  150 . Also  FIG. 1  shows a lower forehead portion  155 , an adjoining border  220  as between the head crown portion  150  and the surrounding sidewall  215 , a lower forehead margin  155 , a vertical margin  170 , and a semi-circular terminating margin  185 . 
         [0111]    Continuing,  FIG. 2  shows a side elevation view of the hood apparatus  50  in the external environment  55  wherein the hood apparatus  50  includes the flexible planar member  140  in the formed hood shape  145  with the head crown portion  150 . Further,  FIG. 2  shows the lower forehead portion  155 , the adjoining border  220  as between the head crown portion  150  and the surrounding sidewall  215 , the lower forehead margin  155 , the vertical margin  170 , and the semi-circular terminating margin  185 . 
         [0112]    Moving onward,  FIG. 3  shows a partial cutaway side elevation view of the hood apparatus  50  in the external environment  55  wherein the hood apparatus  50  includes the flexible planar member  140  in the formed hood shape  145  and with the head crown portion  150 . In addition,  FIG. 3  shows the lower forehead portion  155 , the adjoining border  220  as between the head crown portion  150  and the surrounding sidewall  215 , the lower forehead margin  155 , the vertical margin  170 , and the semi-circular terminating margin  185 . Wherein further shown in  FIG. 3  is a first void  225 , a first passageway  230 , a second void  245 , a second passageway  250 , a single first elastic member  300 , and a single second elastic member  395 . 
         [0113]    Next,  FIG. 4  shows a front perspective view of the hood apparatus  50  in the external environment  55  wherein the hood apparatus  50  includes the flexible planar member  140  in the formed hood shape  145  with the head crown portion  150 . Also,  FIG. 4  shows the lower forehead portion  155 , the surrounding sidewall  215 , the lower forehead margin  155 , the vertical margin  170 , and the semi-circular terminating margin  185 , the single second elastic member  395 , and the third means  435  for removably attaching the surrounding sidewall  215  to the jacket. 
         [0114]    Further,  FIG. 5  shows a rear elevation view of the hood apparatus  50  in the external environment  55  wherein the hood apparatus  50  includes the flexible planar member  140  in the formed hood shape  145  with the head crown portion  150 . In addition,  FIG. 5  shows the surrounding sidewall  215 , the single first elastic member  300 , the single second elastic member  395 , and the third means  435  for removably attaching the surrounding sidewall  215  to the jacket. 
         [0115]    Continuing,  FIG. 6  shows the  FIG. 1  view of the hood apparatus  50  in use with the side and front perspective view of the hood apparatus  50  in the external environment  55  wherein the hood apparatus  50  includes the flexible planar member  140  in the formed hood shape  145  with the head crown portion  150 . Further,  FIG. 6  shows the lower forehead portion  155 , the surrounding sidewall  215 , the lower forehead margin  155 , the vertical margin  170 , and the semi-circular terminating margin  185 .  FIG. 6  also shows the user features of including a human head  60 , a movement of the head  65 , a crown of the head  70 , a forehead  75 , a facial area  80 , a vertical side  85  of the facial area  80 , a nose  105 , a mouth  110 , eyes  115 , a neck  120 , a front upper portion  125  of the neck  120 , a front lower portion  130  of the neck  120 , and a nape  135  of the neck  120 . 
         [0116]    Next,  FIG. 7  shows the user of  FIG. 6  with most of the hood apparatus  50  stripped away to more clearly show the single first elastic member  300  and the single second elastic member  395 . Such that  FIG. 7  shows the relationship of the first  300  and second  395  single elastic members as shown in position on the head  60 , further shown is an ear  90 , an upper ear lobe  95 , and a lower ear lobe  100 . 
         [0117]    Further,  FIG. 8  shows the  FIG. 6  view of the hood apparatus  50  in use with the single first elastic member  300  and the single second elastic member  395  both selectably tensioned  330  to secure  345 ,  430  the lower forehead margin  155  to the forehead  75 . Also,  FIG. 8  shows securing the surrounding sidewall  215  downward  355 ,  430  on the head  60 , and securing  430  the surrounding sidewall  215  around the neck  120 . 
         [0118]    Broadly in looking at  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the hood apparatus  50  for outerwear is disclosed for use with the human head  60  that includes the crown  70 , the forehead  75 , the facial area  80 , the ear  90  with upper  95  and lower  100  ear lobes, the nose  105 , the mouth  110 , the eyes  115 , the front upper  125  and lower  130  portions of a neck  120 , and a nape  135  lower portion of the neck  120 , as best shown in  FIGS. 6 to 8  for the user particulars. 
         [0119]    Again, looking at  FIGS. 1 to 5  for the hood apparatus  50  and to  FIGS. 6 to 8  for the user having the hood apparatus  50  on and in place, the hood apparatus  50  includes the flexible planar member  140  forming a hood  50  that is defined functionally in a shape  145  for covering the human head  60  that includes the hood planar member  140  covering the head crown  70 , the head forehead  75 , the nape  135  of the neck  120 , the ears  90  and extending from the head crown  70  to the front portion  130  of the neck  120 . Further, the flexible planar member  140  formed hood shape  145  is defined structurally by the head crown portion  150  terminating laterally in a lower forehead margin  155  having a lengthwise axis  160 . The lower forehead margin  155  transitions  165  into a pair of parallel terminating vertical margins  170  on each vertical side  85  of the facial area  80  wherein each terminating vertical margin  170  continues to extend beyond the facial area  80  at a continuation position  175  to the front lower portion  130  of the neck  120 , see in particular  FIGS. 1 to 3 , and  6 . 
         [0120]    Looking at  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  6 , each vertical margin  170  has a long axis  180 , wherein each of the vertical margin  170  transitions  210  into each of an opposing end portion  190  of the laterally positioned semi-circular terminating margin  185  that has a circumferential axis  200 . The semi-circular terminating margin  185  is adjacent  205  to the nape lower portion  135  of the neck  120 , wherein the semi-circular terminating margin  185  joins the pair of terminating vertical margins  170 , wherein the semi-circular margin  185  is positioned adjacent  205  to the nape  135  of the user, see  FIGS. 6 to 8 . Wherein the flexible planar member  140  includes the head crown portion  150  and the partially surrounding sidewall  215  portion are defined by the pair of parallel terminating vertical margins  170 , the semi-circular terminating margin  185 , and the adjoining border  220  to the head crown portion  150 , see  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0121]    Also included in the hood apparatus  50 , as best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , is the first void  225  disposed within the lower forehead margin  155 , with the first void  225  forming the first passageway  230  having a first passageway axis  231 . The first passageway axis  231  is coincident  235  to the lengthwise axis  160 , with the first passageway  230  terminating  240  at two opposing ends at the lower forehead margin  155  transitions  165 . 
         [0122]    In addition, included in the hood apparatus  50 , also as best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , is the pair of second voids  245  disposed within the surrounding sidewall  215  portion, the pair of second voids  245  forming the pair of second passageways  250  having a second passageway axis  255 . As the second passageways  250  are positioned opposite  260  to one another in surrounding sidewall  215  portion, see  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the second passageways  250  are each in therethrough passageway communication  265  with the first passageway  230  at a pair of junctions  270 , see  FIGS. 3 and 7 . Wherein, each of the first passageway  230  opposing ends  240  is in the therethrough passageway communication  265  with a single second passageway  250  at each of the junctions  270 . Location wise the second passageways axes  255  are in juxtapose  275  position with the circumferential axis  200 , see  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The second passageways  250  terminate  280  therethrough the surrounding sidewall portion  215  to the external environment  55 , further the second passageways  250  terminate at the surrounding sidewall portion  215  at a location  285  positioned opposite of the lower forehead margin  155 , see  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5 . Wherein the continuous therethrough passageway communication loop  265  is formed at the second passageways  250  termination  290  at the surrounding sidewall portion  215  in going from the single second passageway  250  termination  290  through the second passageway  250  to the first passageway  230  and continuing therethrough the opposing  295  second passageway  250  to a termination  280  of the opposing second passageway  250 , see  FIGS. 3 and 7 . 
         [0123]    Further included in the hood apparatus  50 , as best seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  5 ,  7 , and  8 , is the first single elastic member  300  that is slidably disposed  305  therethrough in the continuous therethrough passageway communication loop  265 , such that the first single elastic member  300  forms a first single loop  310 . Wherein the single elastic member  300  terminates  315  in two ends  320  that extend beyond the second passageways  250  surrounding sidewall  215  termination to the external environment  55 , see  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  5 , and  8 . 
         [0124]    Additionally included in the hood apparatus  50 , as best seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  5 , and  8 , is a first means  325  for retaining the first single elastic member  300  two ends  320  to one another that is adjacent to the second passageways  250  surrounding sidewall  215  termination. This is to operationally allow the first single elastic member loop  310  to be selectably tensioned  330  resulting in the hood  50  to be laterally secured  335  about the human head  60  such that the hood  50  and the human head  60  are in lockstep movement  65  with one another to preserve the eyes  115 , nose  105 , and mouth  110  exposure to the external environment  55  therethrough the lower forehead margin  155  and the pair of parallel terminating vertical margins  170  to the external environment  55  during head  60  movement  65 , see in particular  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         [0125]    As a further option, on the hood apparatus  50 , wherein the first passageway  230  lengthwise axis  231  and the second passageway  250  axis  255  are in a perpendicular orientation  340  to one another at each of the pair of junctions  270 , see  FIGS. 3 and 7 . This is to operationally cause the head crown portion  150  to be drawn downward  345  on the forehead  75  and simultaneously the surrounding sidewall portion  215  to be laterally secured  355  about the human head  60  when the first single elastic member  300  is selectably tensioned  330 , see  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         [0126]    Another option on the hood apparatus  50 , involves the pair of junctions  270  that are positioned at the continuation position  175 , see  FIGS. 3 and 7 . This is to operationally facilitate the pair of oppositely positioned  260  second passageways  250  to be located proximate  350  to the lower ear lobes  100  to help secure the crown portion  150  and surrounding sidewall  215  portion to be drawn downward  355  upon the head  60  to secure the hood  50  to the head  60  and to protect the ears  90  from the external environment  55 , see in particular  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         [0127]    Another option of the hood apparatus  50 , in looking at  FIGS. 1 to 8 , is on the pair of parallel terminating vertical margins  170  that can each further comprise a third void  360  forming a third passageway  365  having a third passageway axis  370 . Wherein each third passageway  365  is disposed within each parallel terminating vertical margin  170  forming a pair of third passageways axes  370  that are positioned parallel  375  to one another and coincident  380  to the long axis  180 , see  FIG. 1  in particular. The third passageways  365  are each in a tertiary therethrough passageway communication  385  with the first passageway  230  at the pair of junctions  270 , see  FIGS. 3 and 7 . Wherein each of the first passageway  230  opposing ends  240  is in the tertiary therethrough passageway communication  385  with a single third passageway  365  at each of the junctions  270 , the third passageways  365  terminate  390  therethrough the surrounding sidewall portion  215  to the external environment  55  at the opposing end portions  10  of the laterally positioned semi-circular terminating margin  185 , see  FIG. 1 , and  FIGS. 6 to 8 . Wherein, a continuous tertiary therethrough passageway communication loop  385  is formed from a third passageway termination  390  through a third passageway  365  to the first passageway  230  and continuing therethrough the parallel  375  third passageway  365  to a termination  390  of the parallel  375  third passageway  365 . 
         [0128]    A further option on the hood apparatus  50 , in looking at  FIGS. 1 to 8 , can further comprise a second elastic member  395  slidably disposed  400  therethrough the tertiary therethrough passageway communication loop  385  , such that the second elastic member  395  forms a single loop  405 , see  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  7 . Wherein the second elastic member  395  terminates in two ends  410  that extend beyond  415  the third passageways terminations  390  such that each third passageway termination  390  has a single second elastic member  395  extension  415  into the external environment  55 . 
         [0129]    Another option on the hood apparatus  50 , in looking at  FIGS. 1 to 3  and  FIGS. 6 to 8 , can further comprise a pair of second means  420  for retaining each second single elastic member  395  extension  415  to each third passageway termination  390 . This is to operationally allow the second single elastic member  395  loop  405  to be selectably tensioned  425  resulting in the lower forehead margin  155  and the pair of parallel terminating vertical margins  170  securing  430  about the facial area  80  and pulling the surrounding sidewall portion  215  circumferentially tighter around the neck  120  to further prevent the neck  120  to be exposed to the external environment  55 . 
         [0130]    Alternatively on the hood apparatus  50 , it can further comprise a third means  435  for removably attaching the surrounding sidewall portion  215  to a jacket such that the surrounding sidewall portion and the jacket have a slackened connection  440  while attached allowing for relative movement as between the surrounding sidewall portion  215  and the jacket while attached, see  FIGS. 1 to 5 . 
         [0131]    Further, optionally on the hood apparatus  50 , in looking at  FIGS. 1 to 5 , wherein the third means  435  can be constructed of a flexible strap  445  that is affixed  450  to the surrounding sidewall portion  215  at the semi-circular terminating margin  185 . The flexible strap  445  is formed into a loop  455  that engages a coat hook loop affixed to the jacket, wherein the flexible strap loop has structure  460 , being preferably a button and series of mating button slots or equivalent to selectably open and close the flexible strap  445  loop  455  about the coat hook loop. 
       CONCLUSION 
       [0132]    Accordingly, the present invention of the hood apparatus has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though; that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained therein.