Hood and method of use

Abstract

A clothing accessory is provided to be worn on the head of a user and is provided with an upper end portion, an open lower end portion, a forward portion and a rearward portion. The forward portion is provided with at least one eye opening. The rearward portion is provided with a rear opening that is shaped and sized to permit the user to pass the user's head from within an interior portion of the clothing accessory through the rear opening. A removable visor may be coupled with the clothing accessory above the eye opening. One or more flaps may be positioned near the rear opening for covering the rear opening.

1 . A clothing accessory to be worn on the head of a user, the clothing accessory comprising:
 a body having: (i) an upper end portion; (ii) an open lower end portion defined by a neck hole; (iii) a forward portion; (iv) a rearward portion; and an interior,   the forward portion of the body having at least one eye hole between the upper end portion and the open lower end portion;   the rearward portion of the body having a rear opening between the upper end portion and the lower end portion; the rear opening being in open communication with the interior of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1  wherein the forward portion of the body includes a portion of perforated material between the open lower end portion and the at least one eye hole. 
     
     
         3 . The clothing accessory of  claim 2  wherein the portion of perforated material defines a mouth area of the forward portion of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1  wherein the rear opening is provided as an elongated slit that extends transverse with a long axis of the hood that extends between the upper end portion and the open lower end portion. 
     
     
         5 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1  further comprising one or more flaps coupled with the rearward portion of the body, adjacent the rear opening, and movable between an open position that exposes the rear opening and a closed position that conceals the rear opening. 
     
     
         6 . The clothing accessory of  claim 5  wherein the at least one of the one or more flaps is biased toward the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The clothing accessory of  claim 6  further comprising an elastic material that is coupled with the rearward portion of the body, adjacent the rear opening, whereby the at least one of the one or more flaps is biased toward the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The clothing accessory of  claim 6  further comprising one or more fasteners coupled with the rearward portion of the body, adjacent the rear opening and the one or more flaps, whereby the one or more fasteners may secure the at least one of the one or more flaps in the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1  wherein the body is comprised of a waterproof material. 
     
     
         10 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1  further comprising a visor that is operatively coupled with the forward portion of the body, between the upper end portion and the at least one eye hole. 
     
     
         11 . The clothing accessory of  claim 10  wherein the visor is comprised of a semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         12 . The clothing accessory of  claim 11  wherein the visor is removably coupled with the body. 
     
     
         13 . A method of using a clothing accessory, the method comprising:
 providing clothing accessory comprising a body having: (i) an upper end portion; (ii) an open lower end portion defined by a neck hole; (iii) a forward portion; (iv) a rearward portion;   and an interior, the forward portion of the body having at least one eye hole between the upper end portion and the open lower end portion; the rearward portion of the body having a rear opening between the upper end portion and the lower end portion; the rear opening being in open communication with the interior of the body;   positioning the clothing accessory on a user's head by passing the user's head through the neck hole of the body and into the interior of the body; and   positioning the clothing accessory about a neck of the user by passing the user's head through the rear opening of the body and pulling the body into a position about the user's neck.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 prior to positioning the clothing accessory about a neck of the user, moving the clothing accessory into a first use position whereby the user's head is substantially disposed within the interior of the body and at least one eye of the user is exposed by the at least one eye opening.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 after positioning the clothing accessory about a neck of the user, moving the clothing accessory into a first use position whereby the user's head is substantially disposed within the interior of the body and at least one eye of the user is exposed by the at least one eye opening.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 providing the clothing accessory with one or more flaps that are coupled with the rearward portion of the body, adjacent the rear opening, and movable between an open position that exposes the rear opening and a closed position that conceals the rear opening; and   moving the one or more flaps into an open position before passing the user's head through the rear opening.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 providing the clothing accessory with one or more flaps that are coupled with the rearward portion of the body, adjacent the rear opening, and movable between an open position that exposes the rear opening and a closed position that conceals the rear opening; and   moving the one or more flaps into a closed position after moving the clothing accessory into the first use position.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 providing the clothing accessory with one or more fasteners adjacent the one or more flaps and the rear opening; and   securing the one or more flaps in a closed position using the one or more fasteners.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 providing the clothing accessory with a visor; and   removably coupling the visor with the forward portion of the body, between the upper end portion and the at least one eye hole, after moving the clothing accessory into the first use position.