Sweat removal apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11033062-B2
Application number	US-201816182096-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2018
Priority date	Nov 7, 2017
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus is described to divert sweat away from a wearer's eyes or eyewear. The apparatus includes an elongate base member and a plurality of pliable ridges abutting the base member that, when pressed against the wearer's forehead, form channels. The channels collect and divert sweat away from the eyes so that the sweat drips down the side or back of the head, or down the nose, instead of flowing into the eyes or onto eyewear worn by the wearer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for use on a wearers head, comprising:
a helmet;
a sweat removal apparatus attached to an inner contacting surface of the helmet, comprising:
an elongate base member comprising a first material and having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface; and
a plurality of pliable ridges comprising a second material and abutting the back surface of the elongate base member and protruding outwardly therefrom, the plurality of pliable ridges extending along a length of the back surface of the elongate base member and configured to form channels when pressed against the wearer's head, each channel having openings located at a distance past the wearers eyes when worn,
wherein the front surface of the elongate base member is shaped for attachment to the inner contacting surface of the helmet,
wherein each ridge in the plurality of pliable ridges protrudes outwardly at an acute angle between the back surface of the elongate base member and a top surface of the ridge, and
wherein a durometer rating of the first material is more than a durometer rating of the second material such that the plurality of pliable ridges are more pliable than the elongate base member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate base member and the plurality of pliable ridges together form a monolithic apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pliable ridges are configured to conform to a shape of the wearer's head when pressed against the wearer's head.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate base member and the plurality of pliable ridges comprise a non-absorbent material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the front surface of the elongate base member is attached to the inner contacting surface of the helmet such that the back surface of the elongate base member forms a contacting surface between the wearer's head and the helmet.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a removable fastening mechanism on the front surface of the elongate base member, configured to removably attach the sweat removal apparatus to the helmet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pliable ridges includes a hydrophobic coating or a hydrophilic coating.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one cross channel having a top opening at a first distance away from a central region of the elongate base member and a bottom opening at a second distance away from the central region of the elongate base member, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and wherein each cross channel extends across at least one of the plurality of pliable ridges.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fit system configured to adjust a size of the helmet based on a head size of the wearer of the helmet.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the back surface of the elongate base member forms a contacting surface of the fit system with the wearer's head.

11. An apparatus for use on a wearer's head comprising:
a helmet;
a fit system coupled to an inside of the helmet, the fit system configured to adjust a size of the helmet based on head size of the wearer; and
a sweat removal apparatus removably attached to the fit system and configured to form a head contacting surface of the fit system for diversion of sweat from the wearer when worn, the sweat removal apparatus comprising:
an elongate base member having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface;
a plurality of pliable ridges abutting the back surface of the elongate base member and protruding outwardly therefrom such that a surface of a first pliable ridge, a surface of a second pliable ridge, and the back surface of the elongate base member form a u shape, the plurality of pliable ridges extending along a length of the back surface of the elongate base member and configured to form channels when pressed against the wearer's head, each channel extending from one end region to another end region through a central region and having openings located in the two end regions at a distance past the wearer's eyes when worn; and
a fastening mechanism attached to the front surface of the elongate base member and configured to removably attach the sweat removal apparatus to the fit system,
wherein each of the channels is formed from the back surface of the elongate base member, a surface of one of the plurality of pliable ridges, and a surface of a forehead of the wearer when worn.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a hook-and-loop fastener.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate base member further comprises a top edge extending between the front surface and the back surface and a bottom edge extending between the front surface and the back surface, and
wherein a height of the elongate base member measured between the top edge and the bottom edge is approximately 9 millimeters.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a height direction is defined as the direction between a top edge extending between the front surface and the back surface and a bottom edge extending between the front surface and the back surface,
wherein each pliable ridge of the plurality of pliable ridges is thicker in the height direction at a first portion of the pliable ridge closer to the elongate base member than at a second portion of the pliable ridge farther away from the elongate base member.

15. An apparatus for use on a wearer's head, comprising:
a helmet;
a fit system coupled to an inside of the helmet, the fit system configured to adjust a size of the helmet based on head size of the wearer; and
a sweat removal apparatus removably attached to the fit system and configured to form a head contacting surface of the fit system for diversion of sweat from the wearer when worn, the sweat removal apparatus comprising:
an elongate base member having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface;
a plurality of pliable ridges abutting the back surface of the elongate base member and protruding outwardly therefrom, the plurality of pliable ridges extending along a length of the back surface of the elongate base member and configured to form channels when pressed against the wearer's head, each channel extending from one end region to another end region through a central region and having openings located in the two end regions at a distance past the wearer's eyes when worn; and
a fastening mechanism attached to the front surface of the elongate base member and configured to removably attach the sweat removal apparatus to the fit system,
wherein each of the channels is formed from the back surface of the elongate base member, a surface of one of the plurality of pliable ridges, and a surface of a forehead of the wearer when worn, and
wherein a portion of the back surface is disposed between a first pliable ridge and a second pliable ridge of the plurality of pliable ridges, the portion of the back surface extending between the first and second pliable ridges such that an acute angle is formed between the portion of the back surface and an adjacent surface of one of the first and second pliable ridges, and an obtuse angle is formed between the portion of the back surface and an adjacent surface of the other of the first and second pliable ridges.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the elongate base member further comprises a top edge extending between the front surface and the back surface and a bottom edge extending between the front surface and the back surface, and
wherein a h

Assignees

• Oakley Inc

Inventors

• Mckonly Chad Michael
• Grant Kevin K
• Greenwalt Christopher Lee

Classifications

• A41D31/12

  Hygroscopic; Water retaining · CPC title

• A42C5/00

  Fittings or trimmings for hats, e.g. hat-bands · CPC title

• G02C11/00

  Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof (G02C7/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A42B3/066

  specially adapted for cycling helmets, e.g. for soft shelled helmets · CPC title

• A41D20/00 Primary

  Wristbands or headbands, e.g. for absorbing sweat · CPC title