Protective Head Guard Insert

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments of apparatuses and methods related to a protective head guard insert for players of a game, such as, for example, baseball, softball, etc., to reducing an impact to the head from a moving object. The protective head guard insert comprises a rigid curved form having a padding material for inserting into a side of a hat to be worn by a player. The head guard insert is made of a material including a combination of carbon fiber and poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide (i.e., Kevlar®) composite.

Therefore, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A protective head guard insert, comprising:
 an elongated rigid curved member having a size and a shape to enable placement along an interior side region of a crown portion of a hat, the elongated rigid curved member comprising a concave side and a convex side, and including a combination of carbon fiber and poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide composites; and   a padding affixed to the concave side of the elongated rigid curved member.   
     
     
         2 . The protective head guard insert of  claim 1 , wherein a dimpled pattern protrudes outwardly from the convex side of the elongated rigid curved member. 
     
     
         3 . The protective head guard insert of  claim 2 , wherein the padding is disposed within a recessed portion of the concave side of the elongated rigid curved member that corresponds to the dimpled pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The protective head guard insert of  claim 1 , wherein a convex side of the elongated rigid curved member is substantially smooth. 
     
     
         5 . The protective head guard insert of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated rigid curved member comprises a top portion and a bottom portion extending from a first end of the elongated rigid curved member to a second end of the elongated rigid curved member, and wherein the padding is not affixed to the bottom portion of the concave side of the elongated rigid curved member. 
     
     
         6 . The protective head guard insert of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom portion of the elongated rigid curved member is designed to be placed between a lining connected along a lower edge of the interior side region of the hat. 
     
     
         7 . The protective head guard insert of  claim 1 , wherein the interior side region is a left side of the hat or a right side of the hat. 
     
     
         8 . The protective head guard insert of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the carbon fiber and the poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide composites is about 1:3. 
     
     
         9 . The protective head guard insert of  claim 1 , wherein a weight of the protective head guard insert is less than approximately 3.5 ounces. 
     
     
         10 . The protective head guard insert of  claim 1 , wherein the concave side of the elongated rigid curved member substantially surrounds a side portion of the head of a user when the hat is worn by the user. 
     
     
         11 . A protective head guard insert, comprising:
 an elongated rigid member having a size and a shape to enable placement within an interior side portion of a hat such that the interior side portion of the hat substantially surrounds a convex side of the elongated rigid member, the elongated rigid member comprising a dimpled pattern protruding outwardly from the convex side of the elongated rigid member; and   a padding secured to a concave side of the elongated rigid member.   
     
     
         12 . The protective head guard of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated rigid member is arc-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The protective head guard of  claim 11 , wherein the hat comprises a crown portion and a band, the band being connected to a lower portion of an interior region of the crown portion of the hat, and the elongated rigid member designed to be inserted between the band and the interior region. 
     
     
         14 . The protective head guard of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated rigid member comprises a material including combination of carbon fiber and poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide composites. 
     
     
         15 . The protective head guard of  claim 11 , wherein energy is dispersed along the dimpled pattern upon an impact of a projectile object to the convex side of the elongated rigid member. 
     
     
         16 . The protective head guard of  claim 11 , wherein the padding substantially surrounds an outer side portion of the head of a user when the elongated rigid member is positioned within the hat worn by the user. 
     
     
         17 . The protective head guard of  claim 11 , wherein the padding comprises high density polyurethane. 
     
     
         18 . The protective head guard of  claim 11 , wherein the convex side of the elongated rigid member comprises a top portion and a bottom portion extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the bottom portion of the rigid member lacks the padding. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for protecting a pitcher from a batted ball, the apparatus comprising:
 a hat;   a protective head guard positioned within an interior side region of the hat such that a convex side of the protective head guard is disposed along a curvature of the interior side region of the hat; and   a foam material affixed to a concave side of the protective head guard,   wherein at least a portion of the protective head guard comprises a combination of carbon fibers and poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide composites, and   wherein the convex side of the protective head guard comprises a dimpled pattern such that energy is dispersed about the dimpled pattern upon an impact of a moving object.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the protective head guard is positioned along a right side of the hat or a left side of the hat.