Patent 10080394

Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 10080394, I will analyze the patent citations listed within the document.

Here are the prior art references cited in US Patent 10,080,394, along with their details and potential anticipatory aspects:

Patent Citations:

  • US4646367A

    • Full Citation: US4646367A - Tumbling cap
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 1987-03-03; Filing Date: 1985-01-10
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a tumbling cap designed to protect a user's head during acrobatic activities. It includes padding for impact absorption.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference potentially anticipates elements of Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19 related to protective headgear with inserts for impact protection. Specifically, the concept of a "cap" functioning as headgear with protective padding could be seen as a form of "headband configured to fit around a head of a person" with "protective inserts," even if the specific attachment mechanism or open-top feature differs.

  • US4698852A

    • Full Citation: US4698852A - Head guard for soccer player
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 1987-10-13; Filing Date: 1986-08-04
    • Brief Description: This patent discloses a head guard specifically designed for soccer players to protect the head from impacts. It features a flexible band with padded sections.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant to Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19, as it describes a "head guard" which is essentially a headband with protective elements ("padded sections") intended for sports. The padded sections could be seen as "protective inserts" and the flexible band as the "headband configured to fit around a head of a person." The focus on specific head regions for soccer impacts further aligns with the strategic positioning mentioned in the claims.

  • US4910804A

    • Full Citation: US4910804A - Head guard and method for making same
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 1990-03-27; Filing Date: 1986-12-11
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a head guard with impact-absorbing material, and a method for its manufacture.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US4698852A, this patent discloses a "head guard" with "impact-absorbing material," which directly relates to the concept of a headband with protective inserts. It potentially anticipates Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19 by demonstrating the prior art of protective headbands with integrated padding.

  • US4947488A

    • Full Citation: US4947488A - Forehead guard
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 1990-08-14; Filing Date: 1990-02-06
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a forehead guard, likely a band with a protective element for the frontal region of the head.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference directly anticipates the concept of a protective element specifically for the frontal region, as detailed in Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19, which list the "frontal" region as one of the areas to be covered by inserts. It demonstrates prior art for targeted head protection via a band-like structure.

  • US5946734A

    • Full Citation: US5946734A - Head protector apparatus
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 1999-09-07; Filing Date: 1997-04-15
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a head protector apparatus, likely a more general form of headgear with protective features.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This broad description of a "head protector apparatus" likely encompasses various forms of head protection, including those that might resemble a headband with inserts. Depending on its specific construction, it could potentially anticipate the general concept of protective headgear in Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19.

  • US5963989A

    • Full Citation: US5963989A - Soccer headband
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 1999-10-12; Filing Date: 1998-07-27
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a headband specifically for soccer, suggesting it incorporates protective elements against impacts from heading the ball.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a highly relevant reference. A "soccer headband" with protective features directly anticipates Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19, especially with regards to a "headband configured to fit around a head of a person" and "protective inserts" for specific head regions (e.g., frontal).

  • US6000062A

    • Full Citation: US6000062A - Protective headband for soccer players
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 1999-12-14; Filing Date: 1997-10-14
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a protective headband designed specifically for soccer players, implying features for impact protection.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US5963989A, this patent is highly relevant and likely anticipates Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19 by disclosing a "protective headband" for athletes, directly addressing the core elements of the current patent.

  • US6266826B1

    • Full Citation: US6266826B1 - Protective head device
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2001-07-31; Filing Date: 2000-09-15
    • Brief Description: This patent details a protective head device.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Without more specific details about the "protective head device," it's difficult to ascertain direct anticipation. However, if it incorporates a headband-like structure with inserts, it could broadly anticipate the general concept of protective headgear with inserts in Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19.

  • US6349416B1

    • Full Citation: US6349416B1 - Headguard-protective sports headband
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2002-02-26; Filing Date: 1999-07-23
    • Brief Description: This patent explicitly describes a "headguard-protective sports headband."
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is extremely relevant and directly anticipates the "headband with protective inserts" in Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19, as it combines both the headband and protective elements for sports use.

  • US6397399B1

    • Full Citation: US6397399B1 - Protective headguard
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2002-06-04; Filing Date: 1999-08-23
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a "protective headguard."
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US6266826B1, the general term "protective headguard" would require more specific details to fully assess its anticipatory effect. However, if it functions as a headband with inserts, it could generally anticipate the claims.

  • US6427253B1

    • Full Citation: US6427253B1 - Protective headgear comprising a headband and a semi-rigid support to protect a back region of a user's head
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2002-08-06; Filing Date: 2001-03-21
    • Brief Description: This patent describes protective headgear featuring a headband and a semi-rigid support specifically for the back of the head.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a highly relevant reference, especially for Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19, as it explicitly mentions a "headband" and a "semi-rigid support" (which can be considered a protective insert) for a "back region of a user's head" (occipital region). This directly addresses the concept of a headband with strategically placed protective inserts.

  • US6438761B1

    • Full Citation: US6438761B1 - Protective headband for heading a ball
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2002-08-27; Filing Date: 2001-09-13
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a protective headband specifically designed for heading a ball, likely in sports like soccer.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is very strong prior art for Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19 because it explicitly describes a "protective headband" for a specific athletic activity that involves head impact, thus directly relating to the invention's core.

  • US6493881B1

    • Full Citation: US6493881B1 - Head protector for infants and small children
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2002-12-17; Filing Date: 2001-08-07
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a head protector for infants and small children.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While for a different user group, a "head protector" for infants and small children could involve a headband-like structure with protective padding. Depending on its design, it could potentially anticipate the general concept of a headband with protective inserts in Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19.

  • US6554787B1

    • Full Citation: US6554787B1 - Headband for treatment of headaches
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2003-04-29; Filing Date: 1999-08-30
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a headband for treating headaches, which may involve cushioned or pressure-applying elements.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While the purpose is different (headache treatment vs. impact protection), if this headband includes "inserts" for pressure or cushioning, it could potentially anticipate the structural elements of a headband with inserts as described in Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19, depending on the specific nature and placement of those inserts.

  • US8613114B1

    • Full Citation: US8613114B1 - Head guard
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2013-12-24; Filing Date: 2012-07-25
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a "head guard."
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to other general "head guard" patents, without more detailed information, it's hard to assess direct anticipation. If it incorporates a headband structure with protective elements, it could generally anticipate the claims.

  • US8739316B1

    • Full Citation: US8739316B1 - Protective headgear and inserts
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2014-06-03; Filing Date: 2010-06-09
    • Brief Description: This patent explicitly describes "protective headgear and inserts."
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a very strong prior art reference for Claim 1, Claim 16, and Claim 19 as it explicitly covers both "protective headgear" and "inserts." The specific form of the headgear would need to be analyzed to determine how closely it aligns with a "headband," but the presence of both elements makes it highly relevant.

  • US8789212B2

    • Full Citation: US8789212B2 - Protective athletic headwear with open top
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: 2014-07-29; Filing Date: 2011-09-13
    • Brief Description: This patent describes protective athletic headwear with an open top.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant to Claim 1, which specifies a "headband having an open top." The "protective athletic headwear" could very well be a headband, and the "open top" feature is explicitly mentioned. This reference strongly anticipates the open-top headband aspect, particularly in combination with protective elements.

Generated 6/1/2026, 12:46:15 AM