| 1. | A hat comprised of a crown, a peak or brim extending from a lower peripheral edge of a side wall of the crown, the crown having a top wall secured to or integral with the side wall and extending across a top of the side wall, a pocket within the crown defined by the top wall, a partition secured to and extending across from inner surface of the side wall and being below the top wall, and an upper portion of the side wall, a pack comprised of a substantial mass of high specific heat material shaped and of a size to fit within the pocket, and an opening through a one of the walls defining the pocket, the opening being of a size and shape to allow for transfer there through of the pack into and out from the pocket. |
| 2. | The hat as in claim 1 further characterised in that there is at least a portion of the side wall below that portion which defines the pocket, this portion being of either an open weave or a mesh. |
| 3. | The hat as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that there are at least two spaced apart portions of the side wall below that portion defining the pocket that have the open weave or a mesh. |
| 4. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the opening has an adjustable closure. |
| 5. | The hat as in the preceding claim further characterised in that the adjustable closure includes a zip fastener. |
| 6. | The hat as in preceding claim 4 further characterised in that the adjustable closure includes a hook and loop fastener. |
| 7. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims in which there is a removable member of heat insulating material which is insertable within the pocket, and which is adapted to be placed either above of below the pack when this is within the pocket. |
| 8. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims in which there is attached to the pack on a one side, a heat insulating material, such that the pack can be inserted and kept within the pocket in either of two orientations, namely a first in which the insulating material is on an underneath side of the pack and the other where the insulating material is on upper side of the pack. |
| 9. | A hat having a body with a crown with a peripherally extending side wall to extend around a head of a user and a top wall secured to or integral with the side wall and extending from an upper edge of the side wall, and a peak or brim extending from a lower edge of the crown, a pocket within the crown where the pocket extends across an area defined by a periphery of the side wall below its upper edge, the pocket being defined by the top wall, an upper portion of the side wall and a partition attached to an inner surface of the side wall and extending across the area surrounded by the side wall, a closable opening through a portion of the side wall defining the pocket and extending partially around a circumference of the side wall, a pack of a substantial quantity of material having a high specific heat value, the pack being of a size and shape that is compatible with the size of the pocket and the opening whereby the pack can pass into and out from the pocket through the opening and when within the pocket is adapted to extend across at least a substantial portion of an area within the pocket and a substantial portion of an area within the inner peripheral shape of the side wall. |
| 10. | The hat as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that there is at least one portion of the side wall below the portion defining the pocket which has an open weave or mesh. |
| 11. | The hat as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that there are two such portions of open weave of mesh, which are spaced apart, one from the other, around the periphery of the side wall. |
| 12. | The hat as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that there is a further partition secured to the inner surface of the side wall at locations which are substantially spaced around the periphery of the side wall and below the said first partition so as to provide a chamber defined in part by the said first partition, the second partition, the side wall and the portion or portions of open weave or mesh in the side wall. |
| 13. | The hat as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that the second partition is a material having either an open weave or being a mesh. |
| 14. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pack includes a one side that has a portion that provides insulating separation. |
| 15. | A hat comprised of a crown of pliable material, a peak or brim extending from a lower peripheral edge of a side wall of the crown which extends fully around the crown, the crown having a top wall secured to or integral with the side wall and extending across a top of an area defined by the side wall, a pocket within the crown defined by the top wall, a partition of pliable material secured to and extending across from an inner surface of the side wall and being below the top wall, and an upper portion of the side wall, a pack comprised of a substantial mass of high specific heat material shaped and of a size to fit within the pocket, and an opening through a one of the walls defining the pocket of a size and shape to allow for transfer there through of the pack into and out from the pocket, a portion of the side wall below that portion which defines the pocket being a window of either an open weave or a mesh, the opening of the pocket having an adjustable closure which is either a zip fastener or a hook and loop fastener, a further partition of pliable material secured to an inner surface of the side wall at a location which is below the said first partition so as to provide a chamber defined in part by the said first partition, the second partition, the side wall including the portion or portions of the side wall of a window having an open weave or mesh in the side wall, said further partition being a material having either an open weave or being a mesh. |
| 16. | The hat as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that the hat has the pack within the pocket. |
| 17. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the material having a high specific heat capacity within the pack is a freezable gel. |
| 18. | A hat with a crown in which there is a two cavity arrangement in which there is an upper cavity and a lower cavity, with the upper cavity having a closable opening through a side wall of the crown to allow for the insertion and removal of a gel pack therein, and the lower cavity has a lower most partition of an open weave or mesh and there is at least one side window vent within a side wall of the lower cavity providing for passage of air there through and onto the head of a wearer of the hat. |
| 19. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims in which there is a removable member of heat insulating material which is insertable within the pocket and which is adapted to be placed either above of below the pack when within the pocket. |
| 20. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims in which there is attached to the pack on a one side a heat insulating material, such that the pack can be inserted and kept within the pocket in either of two orientations namely a first in which the insulating material is on an underneath side of the pack and the other where the insulating material is on upper side of the pack. |
| 21. | A hat with a removable member which can be positioned so as to be belowany pack of material to be frozen and to then variably act as a spacer and to some extent as an insulator. |
| 22. | A hat having an externally accessible pocket whereby both a freezable pack or packs can be inserted or withdrawn to be within the crown. |
| 23. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the pocket has its opening such that this can be adjustably closed. |
| 24. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the adjustable closure is a zipper. |
| 25. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the adjustable closure is effected by a hook and loop fastening system conventionally known as a"Velcro closure system". |
| 26. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the pocket is accessible by an opening that extends through 180 degrees around a top of the hat and is positioned at the top of a crown of the hat where there are walls between the top portion and a brim. |
| 27. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that within the pocket, there is a fabric extending across the top providing a floor, this being selected of a porous cloth to allow for air to pass through this. |
| 28. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that there is provided a pack defined by an upper and lower impermeable sheet of plastic and having captured there between one or a plurality of freezable cells each containing a gel which is arranged to be freezable but also then not to in fact be rigid when frozen. |
| 29. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that this allows for some moderation of a shape which in this case will be circular in plan and which will be slightly smaller in diameter than an upper circular top of the crown on a hat. |
| 30. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that there is a spacer material comprised of expanded polyurethane foam with a plurality of apertures passing there through which is of a similar outer perimeter dimensions as the freezing pack and which is adapted to be variably positioned by a user either below a pack within the pocket, or above the pack, for instance subsequent to partial thawing of the pack. |
| 31. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that there is provided a spacer structure within the crown of the cap which is adapted to provide support for a removable pack or packs of freezable liquid or gel, such that when a wearer wears the item of headwear the pack is thereby held above the head surface of the wearer and there is provided an area to facilitate passage of air there through or there below. |
| 32. | A hat including a brim and a crown portion within the crown there is a pocket, that is separated from the head of a wearer by an inner wall, the pocket can be accessed via an aperture that is closable using a zipper, the pocket being sized to accept an upper spacer, a freeze pack, and a pair of lower spacers. |
| 33. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that there are support pads which are positioned below the pouch and which extend from the material defining the bottom of the pouch to an area that would approximately define the location of the top of a head by wearer. |
| 34. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the spacer blocks are made of soft expanded urethane foam. |
| 35. | The hat as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that there is a portion of a very open weave in the side wall, that fully surrounds the crown and provides for both entry and release of air into a head space area above the head of a wearer and below any gel pack material. |
| 36. | A method of using the hat as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the method includes the steps of periodically extracting the gel pack or freezing liquid whereby to have this frozen and then as necessary have this inserted into the top pocket of the hat and as this then thaws, and replace it with a further frozen pack. |
| 37. | A hat substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying illustrations. |
| 38. | A method substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying illustrations. |
Background Art Hats and caps are used to provide sun protection for the head of the wearer, and most include a peak or brim, which extends outwardly from a lower edge of a crown to provide shade from the sun for the wearer.
In a large number of such hats and caps, the crown is a pliable fabric eg cotton or a plastics material which generally has the purpose of providing support for a portion of the hat providing shade, and there are cases where the crown is constituted in the main by a pliable generally opaque fabric.
Such hats or caps may have a relatively stiff brim or peak and may have their crown comprised of or including predominantly resilient or elastic materials, semi-elastic materials, uni-directional elastic materials or simply pliable materials without elasticity.
A problem in almost all cases however is that in hot weather, the crown encloses an area above the head of the wearer so that while providing shade, it nonetheless then also encloses an area which will then capture and at least substantially retain the heat and perspiration of the user, and this implicitly then increases the humidity and therefore the degree to which such hats become uncomfortable after a period of time.
With soft or collapsible crown walls, whether these are resilient or not, the hat will have a floppy look, and as a style of headwear this is preferred by many.
The difficulty however is that such hats will implicitly capture a head space which leads to increased humidity and possibly temperatures.
I have discovered that there is significant value in providing a pack or packs of liquid or gel that can be frozen, and which can then be removably located on an inner upper side of such an article of headwear.
It is not immediately apparent that this would be an appropriate thing to do because the implicit weight of a material such as a gel in a pack of a sufficient size to give a cooling effect over a reasonable period of time would itself cause the crown or side wall of such a headwear unit to be lowered.
The difficulty with such lowering is that the material itself would then generally rest when in position within such a hat or cap directly against the upper surface of the head of a wearer.
Such cold contact can become either quite uncomfortable or even dangerous where the skin of the wearer can be subject to cold burn.
Disclosure of the Invention In one form of this invention then this can be said to reside in a hat comprised of a crown, a peak or brim extending from a lower peripheral edge of a side wall of the crown, the crown having a top wall secured to or integral with the side wall and extending across a top of the side wall, a pocket within the crown defined by the top wall, a partition secured to and extending across from inner surface of the side wall and being below the top wall, and an upper
portion of the side wall, a pack comprised of a substantial mass of high specific heat material shaped and of a size to fit within the pocket, and an opening through a one of the walls defining the pocket of a size and shape to allow for transfer there through of the pack into and out from the pocket.
Further aspects of this invention follows but may also be established by reference to the claims appended hereto.
In preference there is also a removable member, which can be position so as to be below any pack of material to be frozen and to then variably act as a spacer and to some extent as an insulator.
In such a case, there is then the additional advantage that the material can be withdrawn after a period of time where the degree of cold is less because of partial thawing of any frozen materials and it can be further used above the freezing pack.
In other words, by providing a user with potential to vary the materials for separation and insulation, it does then provide for a very improved result and provides the user with the ability to moderate the temperature, and to a good extent the humidity within any captured head space of a hat or cap of the type described.
As also described there is advantage in modifying the outer structure of a hat or cap by providing an externally accessible pocket whereby both a freezable pack or packs can be inserted or withdrawn to be within the crown.
In preference, the pocket has its opening such that this can be adjustably closed.
In one instance, the adjustable closure is a zipper and in another case, it is held in place by a hook and loop fastening system conventionally known as a "Velcro closure system".
In one instance then, the pocket is accessible by an opening that extends through 180 degrees around a top of the hat and is positioned at the top of a crown of the hat where there are walls between the top portion and a brim.
In preference then defining the pocket, there is a partition being a fabric extending across a area which is surrounded by a side wall of the crown, this then providing a floor for the pocket this being selected of a porous cloth to allow for air to breathe feely through this.
In preference then, there is provided a pack defined by upper and lower liquid impermeable sheets of plastic holding there between one or a plurality of freezable cells each containing a gel which is arranged to be freezable but also then not to in fact be rigid.
Generally then we are intending that there be a substantial quantity of material which itself has a high specific heat. This allows for significant thermal capacity or in other words it means that if the material is first cooled or frozen, then it will require a significant period in a hotter environment to warm and the cooling effect will last longer than with a material with a smaller specific heat.
This then allows for some moderation of a shape which in this case will be circular in plan and which will be slightly smaller in diameter than an upper circular top of the crown on a hat.
There is a spacer material comprised of expanded polyurethane foam with a plurality of apertures passing there through which is has similar outer perimeter dimensions as the freezing pack and which is adapted to be variably positioned by a user either below a pack within the pocket, or above a pack, for instance subsequent to partial thawing of the pack.
While we have described the option of having movable separators positioned within the pocket of the top of a crown of a hat or cap, there is significant advantage if the pack can be kept above the head surface so as to leave significant area for circulation and especially if this can be achieved in a way that any contact that might have to be made with the surface of the wearer, is such that this is either incidental or it will not of itself cause very cold and therefore a potentially damaging contact surface to be applied to the head of the wearer.
Accordingly, in preference there is provided a spacer structure within the crown of the cap which is adapted to provide support for a removable pack or packs of freezable liquid or gel, such that when a wearer wears the item of headwear the pack is thereby held above the head surface of the wearer and there is provided an area to facilitate passage of air there through or there below.
In another form the invention can be said to reside in a hat comprised of a crown of pliable material, a peak or brim extending from a lower peripheral edge of a side wall of the crown which extends fully around the crown, the crown having a top wall secured to or integral with the side wall and extending across a top of an area defined by the side wall, a pocket within the crown defined by the top wall, a partition of pliable material secured to and extending across from an inner surface of the side wall and being below the top wall, and an upper portion of the side wall, a pack comprised of a
substantial mass of high specific heat material shaped and of a size to fit within the pocket, and an opening through a one of the walls defining the pocket of a size and shape to allow for transfer there through of the pack into and out from the pocket, a portion of the side wall below that portion which defines the pocket being a window of either an open weave or a mesh, the opening of the pocket having an adjustable closure which is either a zip fastener or a hook and loop fastener, a further partition of pliable material secured to an inner surface of the side wall at a location which is below the said first partition so as to provide a chamber defined in part by the said first partition, the second partition, the side wall including the portion or portions of the side wall of a window having an open weave or mesh in the side wall, said further partition being a material having either an open weave or being a mesh.
Brief Description of the Drawings For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with respect to the preferred embodiment which shall be described herein with the assistance of drawings where: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hat according to a first embodiment; Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of the hat in Figure 1 with the pocket open and the cold pack and spacers removed; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the hat according to the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 without any gel pack or separation liner therein;
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the same hat as in Figures 1,2 and 3 with in this case a gel pack in position and the spacer being positioned lower most within the pocket; and Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the hat with in this case, a gel pack in position and the spacer being positioned upper most within the pocket.
Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention There is a hat 1, with a brim 2 and a crown 4, the brim 2 extending from a lower edge of a side wall 17 of the crown 4, and the crown 4 having an encircling side wall 17 of a pliable fabric and a top wall which is secured to an upper edge of the side wall. Within the crown 4 there is a pocket 6 that is defined by the top wall, an upper portion of the sidewall and a partition 8. This then effects a separation from the head of a wearer by an inner wall or partition 8. The pocket 6 can be accessed via an aperture 7 which extends through an approximate 180 degrees which therefore allows for a full width gel pack to be inserted therein or removed without being folded. The aperture or opening 7 is closable using a zipper 10; the pocket 6 being sized to accept an upper spacer 12, a freeze pack 14, and a pair of lower spacers 16 but especially so that the freeze pack or gel pack can be of a substantial size and therefore contain a substantial quantity of a material having a high specific heat eg in this case a water based gel.
The hat 1 in this particular embodiment is shown in a style that is often referred to as a floppy hat and this is made of a pliable fabric in this case cotton, which is manufactured in a traditional way where the brim is constituted by at least two thicknesses of fabric so as to provide additional stiffness, which thicknesses are sewn together, and the style of the hat is arranged to have this crown portion 4 with a side wall 17 which fully
surrounds the crown and at a top of the crown there is a relatively flat circular portion this being the top wall.
In order for the cap 1 to provide a sufficient cooling over a sufficient time, the amount of gel can be chosen so that more gel will of course mean a longer period in a given temperature condition that cold effect will be retained.
However, the addition of a mass in the top of the hat can itself both cause the crown of the hat to collapse under the weight of a gel pack which of course depends on the amount of a gel being chosen and the specific stiffness of fabric chosen for the hat. As far as the spacer 12 is concerned, this is made in this embodiment from expanded foam plastic which in this case is polyurethane foam with approximately 0.5 cm thickness and apertures which extend to approximately 30% of the area which is otherwise a sheet of constant thickness.
This sheet being the spacer 12 can be inserted firstly below and then subsequently above any thawing gel pack 14 so that a person can physically control the degree of separation and coolness that can be achieved from this.
However, in a further instance, there can be provided support pads which are positioned below the pouch and which extend from the material defining the bottom of the pouch to an area that would approximately define the location of the top of a head by wearer.
Such spacer blocks in one instance are made of soft expanded urethane foam.
Another advantage of the structure described is that by having an accessible openable pocket other items, for instance money or keys, can also be inserted in this pocket for safekeeping.
As such then, in a further form, the invention relates to a unit of headwear in which there is an upper most pocket within the fabric of the headwear which is adapted to receive a cooling pack of gel so as to have this positioned above the potential wearer, but such that such pockets can be used also for storage purposes.
While reference has been made to a hat, it is also to be clear that the invention could also apply to a cap in which the brim is then replaced by a peak and the structure however is also comprised where there is a pliable fabric material having a pocket with an external accessible opening into which the freezing gel can be located and removably positioned.
The spacers help give shape to the hat when the freeze pack 14 is inserted, and the lower spacer 16 prevents the user from experiencing any discomfort due to the close proximity of the freeze pack 14 with the users head. When the contents of the freeze pack melt and its cooling effect diminishes, the lower spacer 16 may be removed so as to again maximise the cooling effect provide by the freeze pack 14.
In a further improvement as described in Figure 5, the embodiment is substantially the same as in the first embodiment as shown in Figures 1 to 4 except that there is in this case a portion of a very open weave in the side wall, this being shown at 20 which fully surrounds the crown and provides for both entry and release of air into a head space area above the head of a wearer and of course below any gel pack material. There is thus a further partition which is made from a material having an open mesh and it is
positioned to extend and is supported by attachment to the side wall 17 below two windows within the side wall 17 where the windows or openings are of a mesh or open weave material.
While reference has been made to a gel pack, and it is known to have a gel material that when frozen is still formable into different shapes, it is also possible to have simply a freezable liquid such as for instance water which will freeze solidly and this also can be used in this case where it is arranged that as the liquid thaws, there are means to restrain release of this for instance either such that the water or liquid is held within and between waterproof membranes such as plastic sheets, or the pocket itself is made so that it will indeed retain the material.
The method of use of the invention is to periodically extract the gel pack or freezing liquid whereby to have this frozen and then as necessary have this inserted into the top pocket of the hat and as this then thaws, replace this with a further pack.
Although the intention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognised that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein, but is to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.
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