US3755819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Swimming headgear
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-11-11
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-11-11
Abstract
Abstract The swimming headgear comprises a protective head covering member. This member may consist essentially of a substantially semi-rigid plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual, or a plastic bonnet, or both. Head-contacting peripheral means substantially excludes environmental water from entrance under the covering member. Preferred head-contacting peripheral means comprises a substantially water-tight seal structure including a flexible conformable plastic film shaped into a tubular chamber and a porous deformable and resilient organic plastic body strip extending throughout the tubular chamber and completely enclosed therewithin. Details of the illustrated sheath include eye accommodating portions on each side of a nose accommodating portion, with lateral perimeter portions of the sheath contoured toward temple areas of a user individual. Each eye portion comprises outer and inner plate members. The outer plate member extends from the nose accommodating portion to the respective lateral sheath perimeter portion or ''''temple'''' portion adjacent the eye portion. The outer plate member has transparent eyevision area. The inner plate member is equipped with an opening therein aligned to coincide over the eye-vision area and form a visual border thereabout. Between the plate members, and formed by the plate members, is an internal annular channel recess. It extends peripherally outward from the eye-vision area, and particularly extends as a contoured recess laterally rearward within the sheath toward the temple area. The channel recess is adapted to serve as a water reservoir permitting the wearer of the headgear to preliminarily place a small amount of water in the recess for use while swimming to slosh over the eye-vision area to clear it of fog. The contour of the channel recess is such that the sloshing water does not migrate over the eye vision area during normal head movements, except a head movement in a downward looking stance. The nature of the water reservoir recess, especially at the temple area, permits upside down swimming substantially without the annoyance of water spilling out of the recess onto the eyes.
Inventors
- 👤 D Douglas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:12
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/02; B63C11/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S2/00; Y10S2/908; Y10S2/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
388 words
Swimming headgear comprising a protective covering member including a substantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual, and head-contacting peripheral means about said covering member for substantially excluding environmental water from entrance into the space between said sheath structure and the eyes and nose of said individual, said semi-rigid sheath structure being characterized by the fact that it comprises, in combination, an outwardly projecting contoured nose accommodating portion, lateral eye accommodating portions on each side of said nose accommodating portion, with the lateral perimeter portions of said sheath structure being contoured toward temple areas of said individual, each said eye portion comprising (i) an outer plate member extending from said nose accommodating portion to the respective lateral sheath perimeter portion contoured toward the temple area adjacent said eye portion, said outer plate member including a transparent eyevision area, (ii) an inner plate member having an opening therein aligned to coincide over said eye-vision area and form a border thereabout, said inner plate member having a contour at perimeter portions thereof for mating with said outer plate member substantantially along perimeter portions of said outer plate member and being united in a substantially water-tight manner to said outer plate member at said perimeter portions, and (iii) an internal annular channel recess extending peripherally outward from said eye-vision area to said mated perimeter portions, said channel recess being essentially defined by an outer wall consisting of said outer plate member and an inner wall consisting of said inner plate member, the portions of said inner plate member bordering said eye-vision area being contoured toward said outer plate member but terminating in spaced relationship therefrom, and the portions of said inner plate member contiguous to said bordering portions being contoured to be more greatly spaced from said outer plate member than said bordering portions, whereby said channel recess is wider in said contiguous portions than said bordering portions, said channel recess being characterized by the fact that it extends as a contoured recess laterally rearward to said lateral sheath perimeter portion contoured toward the temple area adjacent said eye portion, said recess being adapted to oold reservoir water for sloshing from one portion of said reces to another portion thereof across the internal surface of said eye-vision area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
388 words
Swimming headgear comprising a protective covering member including a substantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual, and head-contacting peripheral means about said covering member for substantially excluding environmental water from entrance into the space between said sheath structure and the eyes and nose of said individual, said semi-rigid sheath structure being characterized by the fact that it comprises, in combination, an outwardly projecting contoured nose accommodating portion, lateral eye accommodating portions on each side of said nose accommodating portion, with the lateral perimeter portions of said sheath structure being contoured toward temple areas of said individual, each said eye portion comprising (i) an outer plate member extending from said nose accommodating portion to the respective lateral sheath perimeter portion contoured toward the temple area adjacent said eye portion, said outer plate member including a transparent eyevision area, (ii) an inner plate member having an opening therein aligned to coincide over said eye-vision area and form a border thereabout, said inner plate member having a contour at perimeter portions thereof for mating with said outer plate member substantantially along perimeter portions of said outer plate member and being united in a substantially water-tight manner to said outer plate member at said perimeter portions, and (iii) an internal annular channel recess extending peripherally outward from said eye-vision area to said mated perimeter portions, said channel recess being essentially defined by an outer wall consisting of said outer plate member and an inner wall consisting of said inner plate member, the portions of said inner plate member bordering said eye-vision area being contoured toward said outer plate member but terminating in spaced relationship therefrom, and the portions of said inner plate member contiguous to said bordering portions being contoured to be more greatly spaced from said outer plate member than said bordering portions, whereby said channel recess is wider in said contiguous portions than said bordering portions, said channel recess being characterized by the fact that it extends as a contoured recess laterally rearward to said lateral sheath perimeter portion contoured toward the temple area adjacent said eye portion, said recess being adapted to oold reservoir water for sloshing from one portion of said reces to another portion thereof across the internal surface of said eye-vision area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The headgear of claim 1 wherein said head-contacting peripheral means comprises a flexible conformable organic film shaped to form a tubular chamber extending about peripheral edge portions of said covering member, and a porous deformable and resilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout said tubular chamber and completely enclosed therewithin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The headgear of claim 2 additionally comprising openable and closeable valve means for pneumatic inflation of said tubular chamber to a higher degree of air pressure than at atmospheric condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The headgear of claim 2 hherein said tubular chamber is flexibly fixed to lower perimeter areas of said sheath structure in a manner permitting adjustment of the exact location of said sheath structure with respect to the exact location of said tubular chamber across the upper lip of an individual.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The headgear of claim 1 wherein said covering member consists essentially of said plastic sheath structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The headgear of claim 1 wherein a single unitary outer plate forms the outer plate member of both of said eye accommodating portions of said sheath structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The headgear of claim 1 wherein the perimeter portions of said sheath structure are contoured for apProximate fitting toward those facial area characterized as lying in a line approximately extending across tee upper lip, below cheekbones, across temple areas, and over eyebrows across the forehead.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The headgear of claim 1 wherein said protective overing member additionally comprises a hair-covering bonnet fixed to upper and lateral perimeter areas of said sheath structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The headgear of claim 8 wherein said bonnet is formed of transparent semi-rigid plastic and is equipped with a pie-shaped flexible expansion insert extending from a location exterior to peripheral edge portions thereof toward a medial area thereof, and zipper closure means for drawing the edges of said bonnet along said expansion insert together after said bonnet is placed on an individual''s head.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
The headgear of claim 8 wherein said head-contacting peripheral means about said covering member comprises a substantially water-tight seal means, said seal means being adapted to be confromed to the contour of the head of an individual at peripheral edge portions of said covering member, said seal means comprising a flexible conformable film shaped to form a tubular chamber extending about said peripheral edge portions of said protective covering member, and a porous deformable and resilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout said tubular chamber and completely enclosed threrwithin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The headgear of claim 8 including cushioning internal projections inside bonnet portions of the protective covering member at approximate locations adapted to extend over the mandible base depressions of a human head.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
199 words
Swimming headgear comprising a protective covering member including a substantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual, said sheath structure comprising an outwardly projecting contoured nose accommodating portion and lateral eye accommodating portions on each side of said nose accommodating portion, the lower edge portion of said sheath structure being contoured to lie in a line approximately extending across the upper lip of the individual, and head-contacting substantially water-tight seal means at peripheral edge portions of said covering member, said seal means being adapted to be conformed to the contour of the head of said individual at said peripheral edge portions, and comprising a flexible conformable organic film shaped to form a substantially water-impervious tubular chamber extending about said peripheral edge portions, and a porous deformable and resilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout said tubular chamber and completely enclosed therewith, means flexibly securing said tubular chamber to the lower edge portion of said sheath structure in a manner permitting adjustment of the exact location of said sheath structure with respect to the exact location of said tubular chamber across the upper lip of the individual.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
199 words
Swimming headgear comprising a protective covering member including a substantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual, said sheath structure comprising an outwardly projecting contoured nose accommodating portion and lateral eye accommodating portions on each side of said nose accommodating portion, the lower edge portion of said sheath structure being contoured to lie in a line approximately extending across the upper lip of the individual, and head-contacting substantially water-tight seal means at peripheral edge portions of said covering member, said seal means being adapted to be conformed to the contour of the head of said individual at said peripheral edge portions, and comprising a flexible conformable organic film shaped to form a substantially water-impervious tubular chamber extending about said peripheral edge portions, and a porous deformable and resilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout said tubular chamber and completely enclosed therewith, means flexibly securing said tubular chamber to the lower edge portion of said sheath structure in a manner permitting adjustment of the exact location of said sheath structure with respect to the exact location of said tubular chamber across the upper lip of the individual.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The headgear of claim 12 wherein said seal means additionally comprises a strap member extending in longitudinal alignment to press upon the exterior part of said body strip for increasing the pressure upon said body strip against portions of a user individual''s head contacted by said seal means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The headgear of claim 13 wherein said strap member comprises an elastic band.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The headgear of claim 12 additionally comprising valve means for pneumatic inflation of said tubular chamber to a higher degree of air pressure than at atmospheric condition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The headgear of claim 15 wherein said valve means comprises a flexible tube affixed at one end for communication with the interior of said tubular chamber and adapted to be closed by folding the tube upon itself after oral inflation of said tubular chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The headgear of claim 12 wherein said protective covering member compriss a hair-covering bonnet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The headgear of claim 17 wherein said bonnet is formed of semi-rigid plastic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
The headgear of Claim 17 wherein said bonnet is formed of transparent semi-rigid plastic and is equipped with a pie-shaped flexible expansion insert extending from a location exterior to peripheral edge portions of said covering member toward a medial area of said bonnet, and zipper closure means for drawing the edges of said bonnet along said expansion insert together after said bonnet is placed on an individual''s head.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The headgear of claim 12 wherein said protective covering member consists essentially of said semi-rigid plastic sheath structure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
The headgear of claim 12 wherein said protective covering member comprises a hair-covering bonnet fixed to said plastic sheath, with the peripheral edge portion of said protective covering member adapted to extend along a line about the head of a user individual approximately defined as across the upper lip, below the ears, and across the nape of the neck.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The headgear of claim 21 additionally comprising cushioning internal projections inside bonnet portions of the protective covering member at approximate locations adapted to extend over the mandible base depressions of a human head, said projections being immediately contiguous to said tubular chamber and coacting therewith to augment said substantially water-tight seal means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The headgear of claim 21 wherein each said internal projection consists essentially of pocket means and an adjustable resilient cushioning member in said pocket means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The headgear of claim 1 wherein the internal annular channel recess of one said eye portion is a discrete entity separate from the internal annular channel recess of the other said eye portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The headgear of claim 24 wherein said inner plate member for each said eye portion is sealed to said outer plate member at said nose accommodating portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |