Climate control head cover

Abstract

A head scarf adapted to be worn typically beneath a motorcycle helmet or other headgear includes an apron depending from its rear beneath its headband. A pocket within the apron holds cooling or warming elements against the wearer's neck to modulate wearer comfort. Thin, baffle-stitched, comfort control packs fit within the pockets, the packs containing water absorption crystals that absorb and thermally treated water without substantial dripping or rapid evaporation. A commercially available warming envelope may be substituted for convenience when appropriate. A triangular tail beneath the pocket helps hold the pocket in place against the neck, and a pony-tail aperture above the pocket prevents a wearer's long hair from interfering with the pocket's juxtaposition on the wearer's neck.

1 . A personal comfort control system comprising 
 a scarf adapted to be worn on a wearer's head, the scarf having 
 a top panel having a front and a rear corresponding to the forehead and rear of the wearer's head;  
 two side panels extending on opposite sides of the top panel and having a lower margin;  
 a headband surrounding the lower margin; and  
 securing means for securing the scarf to the wearer's head;  
   an apron depending from the rear of the top panel and having 
 a top end proximate the top panel and a distal tip;  
 a waist disposed between the top end and the tip and defining a maximum width of the apron; and  
 a pocket disposed between the top end and the tip and having an interior accessible through a mouth; and  
   a comfort control pack adapted to be received within the pocket interior.    
   
   
       2 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 1  wherein the apron further comprises 
 a baffle coextensive with the waist and forming a bottom of the pocket; and    a tailpiece disposed below the waist.    
   
   
       3 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 1  wherein the securing means comprises 
 tails extending from the headband adjacent the rear of the top panel and adapted to be tied into a knot over the apron.    
   
   
       4 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 1  wherein 
 the scarf includes stitching surrounding and defining an aperture disposed above the pocket and adapted to receive at least a portion of the wearer's hair.    
   
   
       5 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 1  wherein the apron further comprises 
 a triangular tailpiece disposed below the pocket and adapted to anchor the apron against the wearer's shoulders.    
   
   
       6 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 1  wherein the comfort control pack further comprises 
 a pouch having two layers of water-permeable web material sealed together at their perimeters to form an interior;    compartment stitching separating the interior into open regions; and    water absorption means for absorbing and retaining temperature controlled water.    
   
   
       7 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 6  wherein 
 the pouch is substantially trapezoidal in shape and adapted to rest within the pocket above a baffle extending across the apron.    
   
   
       8 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 6  wherein 
 the apron includes a triangular tailpiece disposed below the waist; and    the pouch extends below the waist into the tailpiece.    
   
   
       9 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 6  wherein the water absorption means comprises 
 a plurality of water absorbing polymer crystals distributed among the open regions.    
   
   
       10 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 1  and further comprising 
 a brim coupled to the headband and extending forward from the front of the scarf.    
   
   
       11 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 1  and further comprising 
 closure means for affirmatively closing the mouth of the pocket.    
   
   
       12 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 11  wherein the closure means comprises 
 hook and loop fastener strips disposed within an interior lip of the mouth.    
   
   
       13 . A personal comfort control system comprising 
 a scarf adapted to be worn on a wearer's head, the scarf having 
 a front and a rear;  
 a top panel extending between the front and rear;  
 two side panels extending on opposite sides of the top panel and having a lower margin;  
 a headband surrounding at least a portion of the lower margin;  
 tails extending from the headband adjacent the rear and adapted to be tied into a knot behind the wearer's head;  
   an apron depending from the top panel and having 
 a top end proximate the top panel and a distal tip;  
 a transverse waist between the top end and the tip;  
 a tailpiece below the waist; and  
 a pocket disposed above the tip and having a pocket interior accessible through a mouth; and  
   a comfort control pack adapted to be received within the pocket interior and having 
 at least two layers of water-permeable web material sealed together at their perimeters to form a pouch having a pouch interior;  
 compartment stitching separating the pouch interior into open chambers; and  
 a plurality of water absorbing polymer crystals distributed among the chambers.  
   
   
   
       14 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 13  and further comprising 
 button-hole stitching surrounding and defining a hair slit above the apron.    
   
   
       15 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 13  and further comprising 
 a brim coupled to the headband and extending forward from the front of the scarf, and    hook and loop fastener closure strips disposed within an interior lip of the mouth.    
   
   
       16 . A method of improving comfort for a motorcycle rider, the method comprising 
 providing a head scarf adapted to be worn on the head of the rider, the scarf having 
 a top panel flanked by side panels forming a cover for the top of the rider's head;  
 a headband surrounding the panels at their lower margin;  
 tails extending rearward from the headband and adapted to be tied behind the rider's head;  
 an apron depending from the rear of the top panel between the tails;  
 a pocket disposed on the apron below the top panel and having a horizontal opening disposed toward an interior of the scarf and forming an access mouth for the pocket;  
   providing a plurality of comfort control packs adapted to be received within the pocket; then    selecting at least one comfort control pack and storing the remaining comfort control packs for later use; then    inserting the selected comfort control pack it into the pocket; then    placing the scarf on the rider's head and securing it thereto by tying the tails behind the rider's head over the apron; then    compressing the apron against the rider's neck to cause the comfort control pack to conform thereto; then    monitoring the temperature of the comfort control pack and replacing it with one of the stored comfort control packs as necessary to regulate the rider's comfort to the rider's satisfaction.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein 
 the scarf further includes button-hole stitching surrounding and defining a hair exit port disposed at the rear of the top panel above the apron; and    the method further includes the step of extending the rider's hair through the hair exit port and disposing it atop the apron prior to tying the tails behind the apron.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein 
 each comfort control pack has 
 a pouch having two layers of water-permeable web material sealed together at their perimeters to form an interior;  
 compartment stitching separating the interior into open regions; and  
 a plurality of water absorbing polymer crystals distributed among the open regions and adapted to absorb and hold temperature-treated water; and  
   the method includes the additional step of 
 soaking the comfort control packs in temperature controlled water until the polymer crystals saturate with water before the step of selecting one of said plurality of comfort control packs for insertion into the pocket.  
   
   
   
       19 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 16  wherein the head scarf further comprises 
 a brim coupled to the headband and extending forward from the front of the scarf; and    hook and loop fastener closure strips disposed within an interior lip of the mouth.    
   
   
       20 . The personal comfort control system according to  claim 19  wherein the head scarf further comprises 
 hook and loop fastener closure strips disposed within an interior lip of the mouth.