[0001] The present invention generally relates to safety helmets and in particular to protective headdresses that can be attached to and worn in conjunction with a safety helmet.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Safety helmets, also commonly referred to as hardhats, are widely used in construction sites, mines, manufacturing facilities and other locations to protect workers or other people from head injuries, particularly due to falling objects. These safety helmets include a hard outer shell that is usually made from a hard plastic. Inside the hard shell is a suspension device, or cradle, which provides a space between the suspension device and the hard outer shell of the safety helmet. When an impact is directed to the hard outer shell, the space allows the safety helmet to absorb some or all of the energy without the inside of the hard shell impacting and injuring the occupant's head.

[0003] Safety helmets also typically include a harness that surrounds a circumference of the occupant's head and prevents the helmet from falling off during use. This harness generally includes a lengthening device for adjusting the size of the harness to ensure a good fit is achieved around the circumference of the occupant's head.

[0004] Various aspects of safety helmets are important to ensure they operate effectively. Some of these factors are also included in various safety codes or legislation, depending on jurisdictions in which they are being used. For example, in cold climates people may choose to wear a beanie or knitted cap underneath the safety helmet for warmth. This poses a safety risk, however, and may violate particular safety codes as the beanie causes a gap to exist between the suspension device and the occupant's head. This in turn causes the centre of gravity of the safety helmet to be raised relative to the head, thereby creating a risk of the safety helmet falling off. [0005] The installation of material between the harness and the occupant's head reduces the retention capabilities of the harness. The joining seams of the beanie cause a localised point force to be applied to the occupants head in the event of an impact, reducing the impact force dispersion characteristics of the suspension device.

[0006] Other devices may exist that avoid this problem by occupying the space between the suspension device and the hard outer shell. This is also a safety problem, however, because the presence of objects in this space can prevent the suspension device from working correctly in the event of an impact to the helmet. Again, objects in this space may violate particular safety codes related to the safety helmet.

[0007] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0008] The present invention seeks to provide a headdress for removable attachment to a safety helmet that provides warmth without compromising the effectiveness of the helmet in protecting an occupant from head injuries.

[0009] According to one example aspect, there is provided a headdress for use with a safety helmet, the safety helmet including an outer shell, a suspension device and a harness, the headdress including a fabric connecting flap for releasably attaching the headdress to the safety helmet, wherein the headdress is configured so that it is located substantially outside the harness when connected to the helmet.

[0010] Preferably, the fabric connecting flap is configured to attach the headdress to the safety helmet without entering a space between the outer shell and the suspension device. [0011] In another form, the fabric connecting flap is at least partially located in a space between the outer shell and the harness when attached to the safety helmet. In another form, the space includes two locations at substantially opposite portions of the harness.

[0012] In another particular, but non-limiting, example form the connecting flap is less than 4mm thick and preferably less than 2mm thick.

[0013] In other particular, but non-limiting, example forms: the connecting flap includes a first component of a hook and loop fastener; a second component of the hook and loop fastener is attached to the headdress; the first portion of the hook and loop fastener is a loop portion and the second portion of the hook and loop fastener is a hook portion.

[0014] According to another example aspect, the headdress includes a resilient band configured to form a tube.

[0015] Preferably, the resilient band circumscribes a head and/or ears of a person when the headdress is in use and protects at least a portion of the head and/or ears from cold, wind, or other environmental conditions.

[0016] In another form, the connecting flap attaches to the headdress at substantially opposite portions of the resilient band.

[0017] In still further particular, but non-limiting, example forms: the resilient band includes one or more holes; the resilient band further protects a neck of the person from environmental conditions when the headdress is in use; the holes allow a mouth, nose and/or eyes of the person to remain uncovered by the resilient band when the headdress is in use.

[0018] In other particular, but non-limiting, example forms: the resilient band is made from a knitted or woven fabric; at least a portion of the headdress is a bright safety colour such as yellow or orange; the headdress includes a reflective portion; the headdress is made from non-combustible materials. [0019] In another form, the headdress is configured to allow ventilation to the space between the outer shell and the harness.

[0020] In another form, the headdress is configured to allow ventilation to the space between the outer shell and the suspension device.

[0021] In another form, at least a portion of the headdress is made from a moisture wicking fabric and/or a fabric capable of absorbing moisture and subsequently providing cooling as the moisture evaporates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0022] Example embodiments should become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only, of at least one preferred but non- limiting embodiment, described in connection with the accompanying figures.

[0023] Figure 1 illustrates a safety helmet sitting beside a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0024] Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0025] Figure 3 illustrates a first stage of the invention being attached to a safety helmet, wherein the connecting flap has been partially threaded under the harness;

[0026] Figure 4 illustrates the connecting flap of the invention having been threaded through a safety helmet but not yet completely attached;

[0027] Figure 5 illustrates the connecting flap of the invention fed through the safety helmet with the hook and loop fastener secured, but not yet in a position for the safety helmet to be placed on an occupant's head;

[0028] Figure 6 illustrates the invention attached to the safety helmet and folded back over the outside of the outer shell, ready for the helmet to be placed on an occupant's head; [0029] Figure 7 illustrates the invention attached to a safety helmet and fitted to the head of an occupant;

[0030] Figure 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention designed to cover a larger portion of the head and neck of the occupant;

[0031] Figure 9 illustrates the alternative embodiment as it is being attached to a safety helmet, wherein the connecting flap has been partially threaded under the harness;

[0032] Figure 10 illustrates the alternative embodiment during the process of being attached to the safety helmet, the connecting flap of the invention having been threaded through a safety helmet but not yet completely attached; and

[0033] Figure 11 illustrates the alternative embodiment fitted to an occupant's head, covering all of the head and neck, apart from the face, that is not already covered by the safety helmet.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] The following modes, given by way of example only, are described in order to provide a more precise understanding of the subject matter of a preferred embodiment or embodiments.

[0035] In the figures, incorporated to illustrate features of an example embodiment, like reference numerals are used to identify like parts throughout the figures.

[0036] Referring to Figure 1, a prior art safety helmet 10 is shown alongside a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The safety helmet 10 includes a hard outer shell 11, constructed of material that conforms to the relevant standards, such as but not limited to high density polyethylene (HDPE). Many different relevant standards may exist depending on the jurisdiction and they may change over time. One example of a relevant standard is Australian Standard AS/NZS 1801: 1997.

[0037] Inside the hard outer shell 11 is a suspension device 12, or cradle, arranged so that there is a space between the suspension device 12 and the hard outer shell 11. The safety helmet 10 also includes a harness 13 which is generally configured so that there is a substantially horizontal space to the inside surface of the outer shell 11. This space is often required by safety standards for ventilation or other purposes.

[0038] In use the harness 13 surrounds an occupant's head 90 and prevents the safety helmet 10 from falling off. This harness 13 includes a lengthening device 15 for adjusting the size of the harness 13 to ensure a good fit is achieved around the circumference of each occupant's head. The suspension device 12 and the harness 13 are generally formed integrally.

[0039] Throughout the description the term front refers to the part of the safety helmet 10 closest to the face of an occupant when in use. The front typically includes a brim 17, while the lengthening device 15 is typically located at or near the back of the safety helmet 10.

[0040] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment shown is a headdress 20 that includes a main body 21 and a connecting flap 22. The main body 21 is in the form of a tube and is designed to circumscribe the head 90 of an occupant (see Figure 7) and cover the ears and/or other parts of the head 90 when in use to protect from wind, cold and other adverse weather conditions or environmental factors. The connecting flap 22 releasably attaches the headdress 20 to the safety helmet 10, while allowing the safety helmet 10 to function as designed and protect the occupant from head injuries.

[0041] The connecting flap 22 in the preferred embodiment includes a first strip 25 of a hook and loop connecting device. This first strip 25 can be on either side of the connecting flap 22. As shown in Figure 1, a second strip 26 of the hook and loop connecting device is attached to the main body 21 of the headdress 20. This may be connected directly or may form a small flap, which may face in either direction depending on the orientation of the first strip 25.

[0042] The first strip 25 and second strip 26 are configured so that they can connect to one another, forming the hook and loop fastener 27 as shown in Figure 5. In the preferred embodiment the first strip 25 located on the connecting flap 22 is the loop portion of the hook and loop fastener 27 while the second strip 26 located on the main body 21 of the headdress 20 is the hook portion of the hook and loop fastener 27. In alternative embodiments, this connection may be achieved by any other suitable means, such as but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners in reversed positions, one or more buttons, zippers, press studs or laces. In yet another alternative embodiment, the connecting flap 22 may be connected to the main body 21 at both ends by removable means such as hook and loop fasteners.

[0043] In the embodiment shown, the connecting flap 22 is a relatively long piece of material, allowing the point where it is permanently connected to the main body 21 to be on the opposite side of the main body 21 to the second strip 26. Therefore, in use the connecting flap 22 extends over and covers the top of the head 90 of the occupant.

[0044] Optionally, additional fasteners may also be provided along the sides of the connecting flap 22. By providing a large connecting flap 22 as described, the connecting flap 22 is able to simultaneously provide means for connecting the headdress 20 to the safety helmet 10 while also providing protection for the top of the head 90.

[0045] Figures 3 to 6 illustrate the process of attaching the headdress 20 to the safety helmet 10, which will now be described. As shown in Figure 3, the connecting flap 22 is first fed through the gap between the front section 16 of the harness 13 and the front section of the outer shell 11. Otherwise stated, the connecting flap 22 is passed through the gap outside the harness 13 but inside the outer shell 11.

[0046] The connecting flap 22 is then passed beside the suspension device 12 on the side opposite to the outer shell 11, that is, inside the suspension device 12. Looking now to Figure 4, the connecting flap 22 is shown being fed through the gap between the rear section 14 of the harness 13 and the rear section of the outer shell 11. As with the front section of the safety helmet 10, this may be considered to be outside the harness 13 but inside the outer shell 11. [0047] As shown in Figure 5, the first 25 and second 26 strips of the hook and loop fastener 27 are now connected together so that the main body 21 and the connecting flap 22 form a loop that passes around the harness 13, but not the suspension device 12.

[0048] To aid an occupant with putting the safety helmet 10 on, the main body 21 can now be folded back over the outside of the outer shell 11, as shown in Figure 6. This figure also illustrates the positioning of the hook and loop fastener 27 at the back of the safety helmet 10 close to the lengthening device 15 of the harness 13.

[0049] Figure 6 shows that the harness 13 is inside the headdress 20 when attached, so that when the occupant wears the safety helmet 10 with the headdress 20 attached the harness 13 will still remain in contact with the head 90. The connecting flap 22, however, will lie between the head 90 and the suspension device 12. Retaining the contact between the head 90 and the harness 13 when the headdress 20 is fitted is a particularly advantageous feature of the present invention. The harness 13 is necessary for retaining the safety helmet 10 on the head, so any intermediate material would be likely to reduce its effectiveness.

[0050] Therefore, the connecting flap 22 is preferably very thin, thereby minimising the distance between the top of the head 90 and the suspension device 12. Preferably, the connecting flap 22 should be less than 4mm thick, and more preferably less than 2mm thick. This allows the safety helmet 10 to sit as low as possible on the occupant's head 90, thereby minimising the risk of the safety helmet 10 falling off. At the same time, however, the connecting flap 22 is still covering at least a portion of the top of the head 90, thereby providing some level of protection and/or warmth.

[0051] After the safety helmet 10 has been placed on an occupant's head 90, the main body 21 of the headdress 20 can then be folded back down from the outside of the outer shell 11 so that it sits against the occupant's head 90, preferably covering the forehead and ears as shown in Figure 7.

[0052] It is shown in the above figures and description that when the headdress 20 is attached to the safety helmet 10 it does not encroach on the space between the suspension device 12 and the hard outer shell 11. This is an important feature of the headdress 20 as this substantially vertical space is an important aspect of the safety helmet 10 design. This space is necessary to allow the safety helmet 10 to absorb the energy from an impact and to dissipate this energy over the widest possible time and area of an occupant's head 90, thereby minimising the risk of injury.

[0053] In the preferred embodiment the headdress 20 arrangement allows ventilation to the space between the harness 13 and the outer shell 11 along the sides and rear of the safety helmet 10. The headdress 20 also allows ventilation to the space between the suspension device 12 and the outer shell 11. This is possible at least partly in the preferred embodiment because the headdress 20 does not extend over the outside of the outer shell 11. Providing ventilation to these areas is a feature that may be required by some safety standards.

[0054] The headdress 20 also only adds a very thin layer between the head 90 and the suspension device 12, thereby allowing the safety helmet 10 to sit low enough on the head 90 to prevent it from falling off. If a thick fabric were used between the head 90 and the suspension device 12, as would typically be used on a standard winter hat for example, this may cause the safety helmet 10 to sit too high. This would raise the centre of gravity of the safety helmet 10 relative to the head 90 and increase the chance that the safety helmet 10 will fall off during use, such as when the occupant bends over, for example.

[0055] The headdress 20 may in fact also aid retention of the safety helmet 10 on the head 90 due to the main body 21 fitting against and being secured to the head 90, yet also being connected to the safety helmet 10. The headdress 20 preferably passes around substantially opposite portions of the harness 13, providing a strong and stable connection to the safety helmet 10 thanks to the large contact area. As described previously, this also allows the harness 13 to remain in contact with the head 90, thereby not reducing the original retention properties of the safety helmet 10 in any way.

[0056] Meanwhile, the headdress has little or no impact on the safety aspects of the helmet 10 because it passes between the head 90 and the suspension device 12 so that there is no encroachment on the space between the outer shell 11 and the suspension device 12. Further, the safety helmet 10 being securely fitted to the head 90 as described above, such as due to the harness 13 being in contact with the head 90, also aids in the helmet 10 retaining the intended safety performance. For example, if the helmet 10 was not securely fitted to the head 90, some impacts may cause the helmet 10 to shift, thereby reducing the impact absorption capability.

[0057] An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 8 to 11. Here the main body 31 covers a greater portion of the head 90 when in use, however the connecting flap 22 still works in the same manner as the previous embodiment. This alternative embodiment is designed to cover much of the face and neck. It includes one or more holes 32 in the main body 31 to allow eyes, nose and/or mouth to remain uncovered. These holes 32 could also include some alternative, porous fabric to allow the entire head to be covered while ensuring that the occupant can still see and breathe.

[0058] The main body 21 (31) of the headdress 20 (30) is preferably made from a resilient material so that it fits against and conforms to the shape of the occupant's head 90. The headdress 20 (30) does not need to extend to the outside of the outer shell 11, thereby allowing the main body 21 (31) to conform more closely to the head 90. The material used is preferably a knitted wool or synthetic fabric, however may be any other suitable material such as, but not limited to, nylon, cotton, silk, leather, cashmere, rayon, spandex, acrylic, polyester, any other synthetic fibre or any blend including one or more of the above.

[0059] The connecting flap 22 is preferably made from a thin, strong fabric, so that it can provide the minimum separation between the head 90 and the suspension device 12 while still providing adequate strength to retain the headdress 20 (30) to the safety helmet 10. The connecting flap 22 also needs to withstand the rigours associated with attaching and detaching the hook and loop fastener 27, as well as the generally hard wearing environment associated with safety helmets 10, such as mines or construction sites. Further it should be easily washable and have a long life.

[0060] The entire headdress 20 (30) is preferably also made from, but not limited to, non-combustible materials. The headdress 20 (30) also preferably includes, but not limited to, at least some portion made from a bright coloured material, such as fluoro yellow or orange, to aid with visibility of the occupant in typical areas of use around vehicles and machinery.

[0061] In another example embodiment, the headdress 20 (30) is constructed of materials suitable for use in a hot environment. These materials may be used for the entire headdress 20 (30), or only some sections, such as just the main body 21 (31).

[0062] Some examples of suitable materials for hot environments include fabrics that are moisture wicking, promoting the movement of sweat away from the skin to the outside of the headdress 20 (30). Such materials often incorporate a blend of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibres arranged in a way that causes moisture to be moved in only one direction, from an inner surface close to the skin to an outer surface where it is able to evaporate more quickly. These materials may also be designed to simultaneously allow air to flow through the fabric in either direction. The material used may also provide sun protection.

[0063] In some example embodiments, portions of the headdress 20 (30) may be made from a multi-layered material, such as a quilted textile. Preferably, this material is capable of providing evaporative cooling. One layer, preferably an internal layer, may be a non- woven fabric or felt, such as a blend of cellulose and/or polyacrylate fibres that are bonded together to create a fibrous core. Other layers, preferably inner and/or outer external layers, may be absorbent nylon material, allowing controlled transfer of water through the layer.

[0064] In some embodiments, the inner and/or outer fabrics can be made of material that is also fire resistant. These include, but are not limited to, fire resistant cotton (FR

Cotton), other fire resistant fabrics and textiles such as NOMEX , and fabrics and textiles treated with a flame retardant chemical such as PROBAN .

[0065] One example embodiment for use in a hot environment, similar to those described above, is designed to be immersed in water for a relatively short period of time before then gradually allowing the water to evaporate over a number of hours. The evaporation of the water during use provides cooling to the occupant. For example, the headdress 20 (30) may be immersed in water for one to two minutes, before then drying out over a period of use of about five to eight hours.

[0066] In yet another embodiment, the headdress 20 (30) may incorporate substances and/or materials with high heat capacity that allow the headdress 20 (30) to be cooled, such as by placing in a freezer, and then gradually absorbing heat during use and thereby providing cooling to the occupant. The headdress 20 (30) may have these substances and/or materials integrated so that the entire headdress 20 (30) is cooled, or may have pockets or some other suitable means of attaching items that have been cooled, such as or similar to regular ice bricks or cold packs.

[0067] Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.