Hood with enlargeable face opening

Abstract

A protective hood is provided for covering at least a portion of a wearer's head. The hood includes an upper head covering section, a posterior head covering section, a neck covering section and an anterior head covering section. The anterior head covering section includes a window through which a portion of the wearer's face is exposed. The hood also includes an expansion gap which permits the wearer's head to pass through the window.

1 . A protective hood for covering at least a portion of a wearer's head, the hood comprising:
 an upper head covering section;   a posterior head covering section;   a neck covering section; and,   an anterior head covering section, the anterior head covering section having a window through which a portion of the wearer's face is exposed,   the window being defined by a peripheral edge, the window being configurable between a first state having a first peripheral edge length and a second state having a second peripheral edge length which is greater than the first peripheral edge length, the window being maintained in the first state by a releasable fastener.   
   
   
       2 . The protective hood of  claim 1  wherein the first state exposes a portion of the wearer's face through the window and the second state permits the wearer's head to pass through the window. 
   
   
       3 . The protective hood of  claim 2  wherein the second state is a relaxed state such that the peripheral edge of the window is not stretched. 
   
   
       4 . The protective hood of  claim 1  wherein the peripheral edge of the window is made of an elastic material. 
   
   
       5 . The protective hood of  claim 1  wherein the releasable fastener includes at least one of a hook and loop fastener, a button, a snap and a zipper closure. 
   
   
       6 . The protective hood of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the upper head covering section is made of a perforated material. 
   
   
       7 . A protective hood for covering at least a portion of a wearer's head, the hood comprising:
 an upper head covering section;   a posterior head covering section;   a neck covering section; and,   an anterior head covering section, the anterior head covering section having a window through which a portion of the wearer's face is exposed and an expansion gap,   the window being defined by a peripheral edge,   the expansion gap defined by at least two flaps and being configurable between an open state and a closed state, the expansion gap extending from the peripheral edge of the window to a location remote from the peripheral edge and including a releasable fastener to maintain the gap in the closed state.   
   
   
       8 . The protective hood of  claim 7  wherein the closed state exposes a portion of the wearer's face through the window and the open state permits the wearer's head to pass through the window. 
   
   
       9 . The protective hood of  claim 8  wherein the open state is a relaxed state such that the peripheral edge of the window is not stretched. 
   
   
       10 . The protective hood of  claim 7  wherein the peripheral edge of the window is made of an elastic material. 
   
   
       11 . The protective hood of  claim 7  wherein the releasable fastener includes at least one of a hook and loop fastener, a button, a snap and a zipper closure. 
   
   
       12 . The protective hood of  claim 7  wherein at least a portion of the upper head covering section is made of a perforated material. 
   
   
       13 . The protective hood of  claim 7  wherein the expansion gap is defined by two flaps. 
   
   
       14 . The protective hood of  claim 7  wherein the neck covering section includes a bottom edge. 
   
   
       15 . The protective hood of  claim 14  wherein the at least two flaps extend from the window in the closed state to the bottom edge of the neck covering section. 
   
   
       16 . The protective hood of  claim 7  further comprising a shoulder covering section having a bottom edge. 
   
   
       17 . The protective hood of  claim 16  wherein the at least two flaps extend from the peripheral edge of the window in the closed state to the bottom edge of the shoulder covering section.