Face Bandana

DESCRIPTION:

Most of the people who ride motorcycles will testify that motorcycle riding is one of the most enjoyable experiences that they can participate in. The travel on a motorcycle is unlike any other form of transportation. The open experience of not being enclosed in a metal shell of an automobile is a form of freedom and expression that must be experienced to be appreciated. Since the earliest examples of motorcycles were introduced in the 1800’s people, have been discovering the joy of open-air transportation ever since. The first internal combustion production motorcycle is credited to the Excelsior Motor Company, formerly a bicycle manufacturing company located in Coventry, England. The first production motorcycle introduced in the United States is credited to the Orient-Aster produced in Massachusetts. Currently, the majority of motorcycle manufacturers are in China and Japan with a few still located in the United States and Europe nevertheless competing.

Regardless of the source of the machine the enjoyment and sense of freedom experienced by riding a motorcycle is unique and has to be experienced to be appreciated.

Along with the open-air experience enjoyed on a motorbike comes the typical hazards
encountered by persons riding in the open. The exposure of the face to the rush of air produced by the forward motion of the bike can be hazardous. The atmosphere along the road can be full of insects and dust particles that can be annoying and dangerous when impacting the face at speed. Windshields are available for most motorcycles that can eliminate most of the airborne dangers. However, many people do not like the look of a windscreen or prefer a more open experience when riding. Helmets also have shields that cover the face and are very popular but, many people feel that limits the riders vision or they prefer to go without for a less encumbered experience. Some riders prefer to ride without helmets for various reasons.

One of the more popular protective devices worn by bikers is the bandana wrapped around the rider’s head and tied in the back. The bandana offers some protection and is used with or without helmets. The bandana has problems coming untied when riding because of the pressure of the swirling wind accompanying an open-air ride. At issue, also is the lower end of the bandana whipping around causing a dangerous distraction when riding. The bandana tends to ride up on occasion and obscure the riders vision due to wind pressure.

The Face Bandana is a unique and novel solution to the problems associated with wearing a bandana when riding motorcycles. The Face Bandana secures to the rider’s head utilizing Velcro technology. The Velcro is located in the back of the triangle shaped product to create an adjustable size and secure fitting connection. At the base of the product is a magnetic connector that will allow the user to fasten the tip of the bandana to the rider’s shirt. This configuration will prevent the lower end of the bandana from flying up in the wind and creating a dangerous distraction. The magnetic connector will not damage the person’s clothing and will release if over-stressed leaving the material unharmed. The triangle shape of the Face Bandana has unique shapes at the top of the product that allows the eyes to be unobstructed when wearing. The Face Bandana is comfortable and secure and is worn conjunction with or without helmets. The Face Bandana is ideal for dusty conditions, flying insects or other hazards and protects the face from wind chill encountered when at speed in cold weather. The Face Bandana is an ideal product for riding motorcycles or other outdoor activities when protecting the face is essential. Lightweight and portable it can be carried in a purse or pocket ready for service when the conditions require more protection for the face.

SPECIFIC, UNIQUE FUNCTIONS OF INVENTION:

• Protects the face when riding or in windy conditions
• Ideal for motorcycle riders or anyone seeking protection for the face
• Fits with or without helmet
• Velcro connections adjust for different sizes
• Magnetic connector at base prevents the tip from flying up
• Magnetic connector will not damage clothing
• Cut out shapes for the eyes prevents bandana from riding up and obscuring vision
• Easy and quick to attach and remove
• Carried easily in pocket or purse
• Quality and durable materials
• Variety of designs and colors available

PRODUCT COMPONENT CLARIFICATION:

The “Face Bandanna” is an innovative open vehicle clothing accessory that has been designed to protect the lower face and neck from the wind or cold weather when riding an open vehicle, like a motorcycle, an ATV, a side by side, even a pedal bicycle. The fabric bandanna fits around the head with the point downward toward the chest and can be worn with or without a helmet. The scalloped upper edge fits over the nose and is curved down below the eyes. The lower corner has a removable magnetic clasp that fits over the rider’s clothing seam and holds the lower edge down during windy or harsh conditions. The fabric product is machine washable and dryable if it becomes soiled.

Currently, the rider wears a bandanna to protect the face and neck from harsh conditions, wind, or cold weather. The bandanna works well for this application; however, it has several irritating features. The common bandanna is triangular shaped, and the ends of the bandanna must be tied at the rear of the head to hold it in place. This knot is not easy to tie tightly so the bandanna fits snugly on the head/face and the knot is uncomfortably compressed when wearing the helmet. The straight upper edge tends to ride lower on the nose than desired and when pulled up for a proper fit, the edges under the eyes can slide up and compromise the vision of the rider. Finally, as the wearing is riding along, the lower edge can blow up exposing the neck to the wind and cold and, in severe cases, can flop over one or both eyes, obscuring the vision.

The “Face Bandanna” resolves most of these problems by having a scalloped upper edge that rises over the nose and dips under the eyes. The snug fit to the head is dramatically improved through the use of the mating H&L fasteners and they are thin enough to wear the product comfortably under the helmet. The scalloped edge protects the nose while preventing any vision degradation. The lower corner of the bandanna has a steel target and strong magnet clasp sewn onto it and this clamp, when secured to the wearer’s clothing, holds the point of the bandanna down regardless of the harsh or windy conditions.

The bandanna: The bandanna is sewn from soft cotton fabric, which has been cut to shape from bolts of cloth using computer controlled rolling cutters. The fabric can be supplied in almost any vibrant color, pattern or texture of cotton fabric. The triangular shape and scalloped upper edge are shaped in this cutting operation. The bandanna’s edges are rolled under twice and single stitched around the periphery to make a finished edge. The 0.5” wide by 3” mating hook and loop fasteners are positioned on the appropriate positions on the front and rear surfaces of the fabric. After the bandanna sewing is completed, the magnetic clasp is sewn onto the lower point edge.

• As an option: The standard product is fabricated using a single layer of fabric. As an option, the product can be fabricated using 2 layers of fabric, or even with 2 layers of fabric sandwiching a layer of felt for very cold or windy conditions.
• As an additional option: The fabric supplied can be almost any hypoallergenic fabric, for example, polyester, polyester/cotton, microfiber, or any other breathable fabric.

The magnetic clasp: This magnetic clasp is sewn as 2 separate tubes of fabric. The rolling cutter provide 2 rectangles of fabric. The fabric can match the fabric in the bandanna or can be a different color or pattern. The rectangles are folded over and sewn down the cut edge to make a tube. The tubers are then turned inside out to provide a finished sewn edge. Then one end is pushed inside and stitched across to finish that edge.

• Option 1: About 1” from the finished end, the tube is stitched across to mark where it is to be positioned relative to the bandana edge. Then the steel target is slipped into one tube and the neodymium magnet is slipped in the other tube, the end is pushed in and the end is sewn across as well as the tubes to secure the target and magnet. Then a target tube and a magnet tube are mated. Then a neodymium magnet disc is sewn into the upper end of the clasp. Then a larger steel disc is sewn into the lower corner of the bandanna to provide a target. This construction allows the clasp to be used on shirts and jackets or be removed where the end is just to be tucked into the shirt.
• Option 2: About 1” from the finished end, the tube is stitched across to mark where it is to be positioned relative to the bandana edge. Then the steel target is slipped into one tube and the neodymium magnet is slipped in the other tube, the end is pushed in and the end is sewn across as well as the tubes to secure the target and magnet. Then a target tube and a magnet tube are mated, and the pair are sewn to the bandanna.
• Option 3: The tube is sewn, and the magnetic clasp is formed the same way, then mating snaps are swaged onto the bandanna and the clasp. This allows the clasp to be removable and when needed, snapped onto the end of the bandanna.

The Face Bandanna is designed to be aesthetic and effective in the application. The relative ease of manufacture and the moderately inexpensive components provide good marketability for the manufacturer. The user benefits from improved protection from the wind and cold while making a fashion statement, which should provide considerable market interest in the product.

The invention is illustrated in the following drawings of the essential points as explained to us in the documentation.

Drawing 1, Block 1: Face Bandanna – Various Details

(1) The edge of the bandanna is finished by rolling it under and sliding the end under the rolled edge, which is then secured by a single stitch around the periphery of the product, making a finished edge.

(2) The bandanna can be fabricated using a single sheet of fabric for the standard product, or it can be sewn with 2 layers of fabric, or it can be sewn with a layer of felt between with 2 layers of fabric for more wind resistance or better protection from the cold weather.

(3) The fabric is cut to shape using computer controlled rolling cutter through many layers of fabric bolts. In a normal cutting process, up to 10 layers of fabric can be cut, dramatically minimizing the cost to cut.

(4) The fabric is cut with a bump up over the nose and dips below the eyes to prevent the bandanna from riding up and obscuring the vision of the rider.

(5) The mating hook and loop (H&L) fasteners allow the bandanna to be wrapped around almost everyone’s head for the optimum fit and comfort during riding.

(6) The bandanna can be supplied in almost any color, pattern, or texture to match, complement, or contrast with the rider’s clothing or the vehicle’s paint scheme.

(7) The standard snap on tab has an upper magnet that grips the metal target sewn into the edge of the bandanna and can be removed if the lower end is to be tucked into the T shirt.
a. As an option, after the end has been tucked into the T shirt, the clasp can be placed over the T shirt, holding the bandanna end in place through the T shirt.

(8) The optional sewn on magnetic clasp is fabricated away from the bandanna and then is sewn to the bandanna where it is used to keep the lower edge of the bandanna from flying up during wear by clamping it on the user’s clothing.
a. The magnet and the steel target sewn into the clamp are separated and then allowed to close over a shirt or jacket flap to secure the bandanna.
b. The cloth over the target and magnet exert considerable shear strength when closed over the fabric of the jacket or shirt and are very difficult to pull off during wear, yet do not abrade or puncture the underlying fabric.

(9) The steel target is sewn onto the bandanna’s lower edge of the corner.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the above detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment developed herein, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

This document has been prepared for the manufacturer’s elucidation. The manufacturer’s decision makers should consider this product for licensing (providing intellectual property protection for their sales of the product in return for a royalty payment for a period of years) or an outright purchase of the patent for a negotiated fee. The inventor and her team are standing by to consider offers for licensing or outright purchase of the patent.