Hard hat sun shade

Abstract

A sun shade for a hard hat includes a piece of flexible material removably and adjustably attached to a hard hat that is stretched to a substantially consistent shape by a piece of springing material. The flexible material may be attached to the hard hat using an elastic band, drawstring, or similar means for attaching. When not in use, the springing material may be removed from the flexible material and stored as a straight piece of material or rolled and stored as a coil. Additionally, the flexible material, such as fabric or soft plastic, may be folded and stored. The flexible material may also include a flap that drapes over the sides and back of the user's neck to provide enhanced protection from direct radiant energy.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention is related in general to the field of personal protective equipment. In particular, the invention consists of a sun shade that can be removably adjustably attached to a construction helmet (“hard hat”). [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] Construction helmets, known as hard hats, are used extensively in construction, mining, and engineering projects to protect the head of a user. The primary purpose of these hard hats is to prevent falling objects from physically striking the user's head. It is expected that an object striking the hard hat will bounce off or become redirected in a glancing blow that reduces the force of the impact to the user. Additionally, by positioning the outer surface of the hard hat so that is has physically separation from the head of the user, the hard hat may act as a shock absorber, converting some of the kinetic energy of a falling object to potential energy that ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The flexible material may be a piece of soft plastic or fabric, so long as it is shaped so as to conform to the desired shape and size of the sun shade's brim, once pulled by the springing material indicated above. The primary purpose of the flexible material is to block direct radiant energy from striking the front, back, and sides of the user's face neck and face. To this end, the flexible material is stretched between the means for attaching the sun shade to the hard hat and the springing material along the outer edge. A primary advantage of using a flexible material in conjunction with the springing material (such as a def

Problems solved by technology

Because wearing a hard hat inherently blocks some or all air flow around a user's head, heat attempting to exit a user's body through the head is trapped in the hard hat.

However, no component is utilized to give the brim a consistent shape.

In this configuration, the brim itself would provide little and inconsistent protection against radiant energy, especially around the front and sides of the user's face.

This problem would only increase if the brim becomes more limp resulting from the application of moisture or through the process of aging.

However, being constructed of a thick and rigid material, the Hild sun shade can only assume the shape in which it is constructed.

Alternatively, if used with a hard hat larger than intended, the sun shade will not fit fully over the top and sides of the hard hat and will not rest firmly on the crown of the hard hat.

This will result i

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