Hooded garment with impact protection

Abstract

The invention relates to a hood ( 10 ) for a garment ( 1 ) comprising a plurality of resiliently deformable members ( 30 ) arranged to lie substantially around the cranium of a wearer's head ( 20 ) when the hood ( 10 ) is raised in use. The resiliently deformable members ( 30 ) are concealed from view in use.

1 . A hood for a garment, the hood comprising a plurality of resiliently deformable members arranged to lie substantially around the cranium of a wearer's head when the hood is raised in use, the resiliently deformable members being concealed from view in use, wherein the resiliently deformable members are in a spaced apart relationship such that the hood can be moved between a lowered position and raised position, whereby the resiliently deformable members nest together when the hood is lowered, and move apart to substantially cover a wearer's cranium when the hood is raised; and wherein the resiliently deformable members are formed from a foam material. 
     
     
         2 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resiliently deformable members are affixed to the inside of the hood. 
     
     
         3 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hood comprises an outer layer and an inner lining, the resiliently deformable members being provided in to the hood between the outer layer and inner lining of the hood. 
     
     
         4 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resiliently deformable members are maintained within an insert adapted for attachment to the interior of the hood 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the insert comprises first and second layers of material, and wherein said first and second layers of the material are fastened together to define a plurality of pockets within which the resiliently deformable members are maintained. 
     
     
         9 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the first and second layers of the insert comprise a woven mesh fabric 
     
     
         10 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the woven mesh fabric of the insert is arranged to extend substantially over the area of a wearer's cranium and ears in use. 
     
     
         11 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the resiliently deformable members are maintained within the insert such that they take up a generally curved profile which corresponds generally to the shape of a wearer's cranium. 
     
     
         12 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one or more resiliently deformable members are in the form of discrete elongate members. 
     
     
         13 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one or more resiliently deformable members are in the form of discrete pads or patches. 
     
     
         14 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one or more resiliently deformable members are arranged or placed in an array extending substantially transverse a wearer's head in use. 
     
     
         19 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one or more resiliently deformable members are arranged to extend substantially in a forehead-to-neck direction. 
     
     
         20 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one first resiliently deformable member is arranged to lie approximate or adjacent the frontal bone of a wearer's cranium when the hood is raised in use. 
     
     
         21 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one second resiliently deformable member is arranged to lie substantially along a plane extending between locations approximate or adjacent the temporal bones on each side of the wearer's cranium. 
     
     
         25 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one third resiliently deformable member is arranged to lie approximate or adjacent the occipital bone of a wearer's cranium when the hood is raised in use. 
     
     
         31 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each resiliently deformable member comprises one or more strips or layers of foam material. 
     
     
         37 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the resiliently deformable member comprises a first foam layer having a different density than a second foam layer. 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resiliently deformable members comprise further layers or strips of suitable material adapted to provide impact protection and/or penetration protection, optionally located on an outward facing surface of the resiliently deformable members forming an outermost layer. 
     
     
         43 . A hood for a garment as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the further layers or strips are sized such that they are of a smaller area than the outward facing surface of the resiliently deformable members. 
     
     
         44 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A garment comprising a hood in accordance with  claim 1 . 
     
     
         52 - 54 . (canceled)