Patent Publication Number: US-2018042327-A1

Title: Hard hat having integral misting system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to fluid dispersing apparel and, more particularly, to a hard hat that has an integrated, self contained misting system. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     The use and design of conventional hard hats used for protection of the head in workplace environments such as industrial or construction sites is well known. Hard hats generally aim to provide protection to a wearer from falling objects, impact with other objects, debris, rain, and electric shock and are often required by law or regulation for workers on such sites. A problem which still exists, however, arises from the use of hard hat in hot and/or humid weather because the wearing hat may make it more difficult for the user to maintain a comfortable and/or safe body temperature. Existing structural solutions to this problem, typically involving the use of integrated fans, generally only move around hot ambient air and thus may not make a substantial difference to a user. Thus, there remains a need for a hard hat having an integral misting system which would operate to cool a wearer by spraying mist on the wearer. It would be helpful if such a hard hat having an integral misting system included a reservoir allow for the storage of liquid to be misted. It would be additionally desirable for such a hard hat having a distribution system which included a pump and conduit network operative to deliver liquid in the reservoir to misting ducts. 
     The Applicant&#39;s invention described herein provides for a hard hat having an integral misting system adapted to allow a user to direct a liquid spray onto their neck and upper back area from the user&#39;s hard hat. The primary components in Applicant&#39;s hard hat having an integral misting system are a hat base, a reservoir, a distribution system and a misting component. When in operation, the hard hat having an integral misting system enables more effective maintenance of a safe body temperature. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A hard hat having an integral misting system for directing a liquid from a stored reservoir onto a user&#39;s neck and upper back area as a cooling mist. The misting hard hat comprises a hat base having a rigid shell and suspension system, a fluid reservoir attached to the interior of the rigid shell, a misting component for dispersing liquid as a mist, and a distribution system for delivering liquid from the from the reservoir to the misting component under pressure. In one embodiment, the misting component defines a clip on housing that includes a swivel misting nozzle operative to direct mist over a range of directions, thereby provided a large coverage area for mist. 
     In one embodiment, the hat base may include a plurality of vents for providing ventilation to the reservoir. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a hard hat having an integral misting system which operates to cool a wearer by spraying mist on the wearer. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a hard hat having an integral misting system which includes a reservoir allow for the storage of liquid to be misted. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a hard hat having a distribution system which includes a pump and conduit network operative to deliver liquid in the reservoir to a misting duct. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a hard hat having an integral misting system built in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of a hard hat having an integral misting system built in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of a hard hat having an integral misting system built in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a hard hat having an integral misting system built in accordance with the present invention with its hidden internal components shown. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and in particular  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 , a misting hard hat  100  is shown having a hat base  101  having a rigid shell  102 , a reservoir  110 , a distribution system and a misting component  120 . In one embodiment, the hat base  101  includes a plurality of vents  103  and a one touch adjustable suspension system inside the shell  102  which includes a plurality of suspension bands  104 . It is contemplated, however, that in alternate embodiments, alternate known hard hat designs and a suspension systems may be employed for the hat base  101 . For example, in one embodiment, the suspension system includes a headband constructed of a hyper evaporative cooling material or other sweat wicking material. 
     Disposed in the hat base  101  is a reservoir  110  which can be filled with water (or other liquid) for use by the distribution system and misting component  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, the reservoir  110  is positioned inside the hat base  101  against the top of the interior surface of the shell  102 . It is contemplated that by positioning the reservoir  110  in this position, it may be held against the shell  102  above where the vents  103  are positioned at the top of the shell  102  and above the suspension bands  104  so that the reservoir is held in a gap space and does not contact a user&#39;s head when the misting hard hat  100  is being worn. The vents  103  are positioned lower than the reservoir  110  so that most of the heat from the user&#39;s head may be ventilated out of the hat base  101 . 
     The reservoir  110  includes a selectively sealable access sport  115  to allow fluid to be introduced and the sealed therein. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the reservoir  110  is attached to the hat base  101  though an adhesive or other permanent fastener. In other embodiments, the reservoir  110  may be removably attached through surface fastener, such as a fabric hook and loop fastener. 
     Also disposed in the hat base  101  is a distribution system which operates to transport water from the reservoir  110  and deliver it to the misting component  120 . In one embodiment, the distribution system includes an electric pump  111  which is connected to the reservoir  110 , a flexible conduit  112  which is connected to the pump  111  and the misting component  120  and which operates to deliver water pumped from the pump  111  to the misting component  120 , an onboard, rechargeable power source  113  which supplies electricity to the pump  111 , and a hose clamp  114  which removably connects the conduit  112  to the pump  111 . 
     In one embodiment, the power source  113  defines a battery, such as a lithium ion battery. In one embodiment, the hat base  101  includes a solar panel that is connected to the power source  113  and which generates and supplies electricity to the power source  113 . 
     In one embodiment, the misting component  120  defines a clip on housing  121  that includes a swivel misting nozzle  122 , such as the Nozzle Swivel by MISTCOOLING, Inc., which operates to project fluid supplied thereto as a mist. In one embodiment, the housing  121  includes an attached clip  123  to allow it to removably attach to the hat base  101 . In other embodiments, the clip may define a discrete body which selectively attaches to both the housing  121  and the hat base  101 . 
     The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.