Protective Headgear Holder

Abstract

A holder for the secure transport and storage of various types of protective headgear that maintains secure support and retention of the headgear while protecting the brim. The device is versatile; it is adjustable, mountable, and portable; of sturdy construction, yet economical to produce. The device includes a self-contained mounting plate for permanent mounting on surfaces such as a wall or trailer rib. It has no moving parts with the exception of an included removable, swivel-able hook, which allows for multiple hanging options such as from a peg, a clothing rod, the pole of a vehicle headrest, the back edge of a chair, and door and cabinet knobs. The device includes an area configured to securely hold other items simultaneously while also holding headgear. The device supports headgear conveniently in positions of easy access, and allows for one-handed operation of both insertion and removal of the headgear when secured to a fixed element.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective headgear holder apparatus, for transport, display, and storage of protective headgear comprising a piece of 4 mm in diameter steel rod where from both sides of the middle there are horizontally mirrored parallel right angle bends forming the front bends of the neck, and the segment between these front bends of the neck forms the front of the neck; and the bends of the neck, which also form the beginning of the opposing sides of the protective headgear holder, in which all subsequent bends and angles mirror each other to create the left side and the right side; and the body section of the neck consisting of the front of the neck, the front bends of the neck, and the equal parallel segments forming the back of the neck, which begin at the back of the front bends of the neck and end at the start of a downwardly vertical 90° angle bend that forms the shoulders; and the U-shaped front consisting of the front of the neck, the front bends of the neck, and the neck capture a six sided nut hook retainer on three sides at the most forward location of the front of the neck; and the hook retainer, which is attached securely by way of welding, to the rod at the three points of contact; and the hook, consisting of a curved upper section configured to hang from a horizontally oriented rod or peg, and a lower portion having a straight vertical axis, and the end of the lower portion having a flat bottom section or portion which is larger than the opening in the hook retainer; and the body section of the back consisting of the upper back, the waist, and the lower back; whereas the upper back begins just below the shoulders on each side, and continues as a segments in a straight manner downward to the compound angle that forms the waist; and a mounting plate, located a short distance below the shoulders, and between the rods forming the upper back, and is securely welded to the inside of the rods of the upper back; and the waist, consisting of compound angles containing one bend forward approximately 15° as well as an outward spread of 15°, where this outward spread continues on each side through the ends of each foot, for a total spread of approximately 30°; and the lower back which is formed by a straight segment below the compound angle of the waist with the 15° outward spread continuing through the lower back, which ends at a compound angle containing an upward bend of approximately 100°, and a continuing outward angle of 15°; thus forming the lap, with the outward angle of 15° continuing, a straight segment on each side forms the thigh, and the thigh ends with a compound angle consisting of a bend in the downward direction 150°, and a continuation of the 15° outward spread, thus forming the knee, and below the knee a straight segment with the continuing 15° outward spread, forms the shin, and at the end of the shin, the remaining rod material is horizontally looped inward back to itself 150°, thus creating the foot at the end of the rod in approximate parallel locality of the same side's corresponding forearm; and the body section of the arms consisting of the upper arm, the elbow, and the forearm; where each arm mirrors the opposing arm symmetrically in all bends and spreads; and the upper arms which are attached perpendicularly to each side toward the back of the neck; at the junction, with each arm maintaining a 15° outward flare throughout, resulting in a 30° outward spread of the arms; and at the bottom of each upper arm segment each arm has a forward bend of approximately 25°, which forms the elbow, and below the elbow, is the forearm; and the brim retainer bar, which is attached to the lowest section of the forearms and consists of a convex, and curved plate that is uniform in height, with an approximate 30° flare from top to bottom, and generally matches the spread of the arms, and with the outside bottom edges of the brim retainer bar being flush with the ends of the forearms. 
     
     
         2 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said hook member is configured to be swivel-able. 
     
     
         3 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said hook member is configured to be removable. 
     
     
         4 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said hook member is configured to retreat into the empty brim protection area between the arms and the back for packaging and shipping purposes. 
     
     
         5 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus has a vinyl coating for added frictional properties. 
     
     
         6 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said hook retainer placement is configured for optimal counter balancing of the weight of items being held. 
     
     
         7 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said brim retainer bar has a uniform height for optimal company logo placement and branding purposes. 
     
     
         8 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said brim retainer bar has a concave shaped bottom edge closely matching the convex shape of the junction of the crown and brim of a helmet. 
     
     
         9 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said brim retainer bar has a convex curvature between the arms to closely parallel the convex curvature of the brim of a helmet. 
     
     
         10 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said arms are configured to angle forward in order to remain closely parallel to the angle of the brim, allowing for the brim retainer bar to remain in close proximity to, and closely fit the junction of the curve of the brim and the helmet. 
     
     
         11 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said forearms are configured with an outward spread allowing for the two points of contact with the interior surface of the headgear to be spread across a wide area for more stability. 
     
     
         12 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said body is configured to create an area between the back of the arms and the front of the back for the purpose of creating an area of protection for the brim of protective headgear. 
     
     
         13 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said lap area is composed of an upward bend in the area at the bottom of the back configured to securely hold items simultaneously while protective headgear is being held uncompromised. 
     
     
         14 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said legs are configured in an angled position, which closely matches the interior front curvature of headgear, in order to create secure and stable contact with the interior surface of the headgear. 
     
     
         15 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said the angle and spread of the legs, along with the angle and spread of the arms, and the curvatures of the brim retainer bar are configured to work in conjunction with each other to create optimal secure and stable holding of protective headgear. 
     
     
         16 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said feet are configured to be larger and wider areas of contact against the interior of the headgear. 
     
     
         17 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said mounting plate is configured to be self-contained and anchored flush between the segments forming the back of the headgear holding apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said mounting plate is configured to contain a pre-drilled hole for ease of mounting the protective headgear holding apparatus to a fixed surface. 
     
     
         19 . A protective headgear holding apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said feet are configured to be located at the end of the legs in approximate parallel locality of the same side's corresponding forearm in order to provide optimal secure and safe headgear holding properties. 
     
     
         20 . A process for utilizing the protective headgear holding device, which comprises the steps of:
 a) inserting the brim of the headgear into the area of the protective headgear holder located between the bottom of the brim retainer bar and the legs, and toward the brim protection area and the back of the protective headgear holder,   b) simultaneously angling downward and forward the back of the protective headgear,   c) positioning the brim retainer bar as close as possible to the junction of the brim and crown,   d) pivoting the back portion of the protective headgear more downward, as the front of the crown pivots upward moving the legs over the edge of the interior surface as the legs become engaged against the curved interior surface of the front of the crown, e) resting the weight of the headgear on the legs.   
     
     
         21 . A process for utilizing the protective headgear holding device, as recited in  claim 20 , wherein removal of headgear from the protective holding device comprises the steps of:
 a) pivoting the bottom of the protective headgear back and up,   b) relieving the pressure of the legs and feet against the interior surface,   c) releasing the leveraged brim retainer bar from the junction area of the brim and crown,   d) removing the protective headgear brim from the brim protection are of the protective headgear holder.