AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention title: "Ventilation Device" Applicant: Headair Pty Ltd Associated provisional applications: The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 "Ventilation Device" Field of the Invention [001] The present invention relates to device for ventilating headwear. Background to the Invention [002] Many fields require workers to wear suitable headwear. In industrial and mining sites for example, it is often a requirement to wear hard hats for safety reasons. In areas of high temperature however, this headwear can result in increased temperature around the head of the wearer. [003] The present invention relates to a device to be used in conjunction with such headwear aimed at improving airflow around the head, between the head and the headwear. Such airflow can have a significant impact on the temperature within the hat, and therefore on the comfort of the wearer. The ventilation device includes a number of features aimed at making the device more effective to use and maintain. Summary of the Invention [004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a ventilation device comprising: a housing; a strap extending from a first side of the housing to secure the housing to a hat; a fan unit within the housing provided to draw air in through an inlet in the housing and direct air outwardly through an outlet in the housing, the outlet being located on the first side of the housing adjacent a first end thereof; a flexible ventilation tube in connection with the outlet; wherein the ventilation tube includes a first portion extending generally perpendicularly away from the first side of the housing and a second portion 3 extending generally perpendicularly away from the first portion in a direction towards a second opposite end of the housing. [005] Preferably the first portion of the ventilation tube includes a plurality of transverse corrugations therein in order to allow additional flexibility of the second portion relative to the first portion. [006] Preferably the second portion of the tube is relatively flat in cross section. [007] In a preferred embodiment, the fan unit is operable in an intermittent mode wherein the fan unit alternates between an on state for a first predetermined time and an off state for a second predetermined time. Tthe first and second times are preferably variable. [008] In one embodiment, the strap comprises a loop of elastic material that can be stretched around the periphery of the hat above the rim of the hat. [009] Preferably the strap includes a plurality of hooks secured around the length thereof such that when the strap is located around the hat, the hooks can engage under the rim of the hat to prevent the strap moving upwardly on the hat. [010] In one embodiment, the inlet includes a cover plate which is pivotable from a closed position in which it extends across the inlet to an open position in which the inlet is accessible and wherein a filter pad is provided in a recess at the inlet to filter air passing through the ventilation unit. [011] The housing preferably includes support pads secured to the first side thereof adjacent the first and second ends of the housing to engage an outer surface of the hat and restrict slipping of the housing relative to the hat. [012] In one embodiment, the support pads are formed of a resilient material. Preferably the support pads include concave outer surfaces to match a curved contour of the hat. Preferably the support pads are removably securable to the housing such that one or more support pads may be secured on top of each other.
4 Brief Description of the Drawings [013] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which: [014] Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a ventilation device in accordance with the present invention; [015] Figure 2 is a lower perspective view of the ventilation device of Figure 1 shown attached to a charger; [016] Figure 3a is a rear view of the ventilation device of Figure 1 secured to a hard hat; [017] Figure 3b is a side view of the ventilation device of Figure 1 secured to the hard hat; [018] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the ventilation device of Figure 1; [019] Figure 5a is a view showing the connection of the ventilation tube to the housing of the ventilation device; [020] Figure 5b is a view showing two different length ventilation tubes for use with the ventilation device; [021] Figure 5c is a view of the ventilation device showing removal of a filter pad; and [022] Figure 6 is a view of the ventilation device showing attachment of various sized support pads to the housing. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments [023] Referring to Figures, there is provided a ventilation device 10 for use with an item of headwear such as a hard hat 12. The ventilation device 10 comprises generally a housing 14 to be supported adjacent the hard hat 12 by a strap 16. The housing 14 is preferably to be supported adjacent the rear of the hard hat 12, as can be seen in Figure 3. [024] The housing 14 includes a first side which rests adjacent the hard hat 12 and a second side remote from the hard hat 12. The strap 16 extends from 5 the first side of the housing 14 and comprises a loop of elastic material that can be stretched around the periphery of the hat 12 above the rim of the hat 12 (as shown in Figure 3). The strap 16 includes a plurality of hooks 18 secured around the length thereof. The hooks 18 are provided such that when the strap 16 is located around the hat 12, the hooks 18 can engage under the rim of the hat 12 to prevent the strap 16 moving upwardly on the hat 12. The strap 16 thereby remains in place during use. [025] In the embodiment shown, the housing 14 comprises a first housing portion 20 adjacent the first side and a second housing portion 21 adjacent the second side. The first and second housing portions 20 and 21 join together to form an internal chamber in which is provided a fan unit 22. The fan unit 22 is provided to draw air in through an inlet 24 provided on the second side of the housing 12 and direct the air via an internal duct 26 to an outlet provided in the second side of the housing 12 adjacent a first end thereof being lowermost in use. [026] The second side of the housing 12 is provided with a ventilation tube 30 through into which air passes from the outlet 28. The ventilation tube 30 comprises a first portion 32 extending generally perpendicularly away from the first side of the housing 14 and a second portion 34 extending generally perpendicularly away from the first portion 32 in a direction towards a second end of the housing 14 being uppermost in use. [027] The ventilation tube 30 is formed of a flexible material. The ventilation tube 30 may, for example, be formed from a rubberised material. The first portion 32 of the ventilation tube 30 includes a plurality of transverse corrugations 35 therein in order to allow additional flexibility of the second portion 34 relative to the first portion 32. [028] The arrangement of the ventilation tube 30 is such that the first portion 32 extends under the rim of the hat 12 towards the head of the wearer and the second portion 34 extends upwardly inside the hat 12 between the hat 12 and the head (as best seen in Figure 3b). The ventilation tube 30 therefore directs airflow through the hat 12 upwardly over the head of the wearer. The second 6 portion of the ventilation tube 30 is relatively flat in cross section such that the second portion can fit between the hat 12 and the head and blows air over a relatively wide area of the inside of the hat 12. [029] The housing 14 includes a battery compartment adjacent the first side beneath a battery cover 36. The battery compartment houses a rechargeable battery 38 in order to provide power to the fan unit 22. An external connection is provided to allow the battery 38 to be charged by connection to a charger unit 40 (as shown in Figure 2). [030] The ventilation device 10 is operable by a power button 42 which activates the fan unit 22. The ventilation device 10 also includes internal circuitry provided on a circuit board 44 which controls operation of the ventilation device in either continuous or intermittent mode. The mode of operation is selectable by controls 46 provided on the housing 14. In continuous mode, the fan unit 22 operates at all times. In intermittent mode, the fan unit 22 alternates between an on state for a first predetermined time and an off state for a second predetermined time. The first and second times may be variable. The intermittent mode allows operation of the fan unit 22 for cooling inside the hat 12 while extending the time between which the battery will require to be recharged. [031] The inlet 24 includes a cover plate 48 which is pivotable from a closed position in which it extends across the inlet 24 to an open position in which the inlet 24 is accessible (as shown in Figure 5c). The inlet 24 includes a filter pad 50 provided in a recess at the inlet 24 to filter air passing through the ventilation device 10. The cover plate 48 may be opened to allow replacement of the filter pad 50. [032] The housing 14 also includes support pads 52 secured to the first side thereof. The support pads 52 are provided adjacent the upper and lower ends of the housing 14 and are formed of a resilient material. The support pads 52 are provided to engage the outer surface of the hat 12 and restrict slipping of the housing 14 relative to the hat 12. The support pads 52 include concave outer surfaces to match the curved contour of the hat 12. As shown in Figure 7 6, the support pads 52 are removably securable to the housing 14 and one or more support pads 52 may be secured on top of each other. The support pads 52 may be of different thickness such that the correct total thickness of the support pads 52 can be selected to best fit the hat 12 on which the ventilation device is used. [033] The ventilation tube 30 is also removably secured to the housing 14 by engagement over a flange 54 provided around the outlet 28 (as best seen in Figure 5a). As shown in Figure 5b, more than one ventilation tube 30 may be provided of differing lengths with the ventilation device 10. The ventilation tube 30 that best fits the hat 12 may then be selected. [034] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.