Protective head covering

Abstract

The invention modifies conventional head coverings by adding flexible material. This material is stored and sealed within a pouch within the top of the head covering except during use. The pouch is sealed by a zipper or other closure apparatus when the flexible material is stored within the pouch. The center of the material is attached to the center of the interior of the pouch to permit full deployment of the material from the pouch. The material can be sized and shaped to enclose the either the head, the head and neck, or the head, neck and body. The material can also be selected to provide a variety of barriers useful for hunting and fishing such as providing camouflage for a hunter, transparency or other useful characteristics for outdoor use. The barrier provided by the flexible material, while permanently attached to the head covering, is stored out of the way within the pouch when not in use.

1 . Wearable protective apparatus for outdoor use comprising: 
 a) headgear means for covering the head;    b) a pouch arranged to store a predetermined quantity of flexible material located at the upper surface of the headgear means, the pouch having an essentially linear opening located and arranged such that, when the headgear means is placed on a user, the opening will open upward extending through the upper surface of the headgear means along a line essentially extending along the centerline of the user's head from a point near the front of the headgear means to a point near the back, the opening having sealing means for sealing the opening;    c) a predetermined quantity of flexible material means sized and shaped to fit within the pouch being sized and shaped to cover a predetermined portion of the user which is essentially centered on the user's head, the material being selected to provide a barrier between the user and the environment having a predetermined characteristic; and    d) attachment means for attaching a preselected point of the flexible material means near its center to a preselected point within the pouch interior near its center.    
   
   
       2 . Apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said sealing means comprises a zipper.  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said sealing means comprises opposing mating velcro material.  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein said attachment means comprises a flexible member extending between the preselected point on the flexible material and the preselected point in the interior of the pouch.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus as in  claim 3  wherein said attachment means comprises a flexible member extending between a preselected point on the flexible material and a preselected point in the interior of the pouch.  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein said headgear means comprises a hat.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus as in  claim 3  wherein said headgear means comprises a hat.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein said headgear means comprises a cap.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus as in  claim 3  wherein said headgear means comprises a cap.