WO2013169976A1

WO2013169976A1 - Hair protecting cap

Info

Publication number: WO2013169976A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/040262
Authority: WO
Inventors: Suzanne Klein COLE
Original assignee: Cole Suzanne Klein
Priority date: 2012-05-11
Filing date: 2013-05-09
Publication date: 2013-11-14
Also published as: US20130298929A1

Abstract

A hair protection cap according to the present disclosure includes a bag forming an interior channel having an inside surface and outside surface, the interior channel having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening. A first opening reducing device enables the expansion and contraction of a size of a perimeter of the first opening and a second opening reducing device enables closing of the second opening. The inside surface of the bag is a pliable material and the outside surface of the bag is a pliable water-resistant material, the pliable water-resistant material extending over the perimeter of the first opening on the inside surface of the bag.

Description

HAIR PROTECTING CAP

BACKGROUND

1 . Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates generally to protective caps and more particularly to water- resistant caps for protecting hair.

2. Related Art:

It often occurs that a person does not want to get their hair wet when taking a shower, This may be the case, for example when a person is trying to protect the coiffure of their hair. Shower caps are used to protect hair from getting wet during a shower or going into wet environments. Such caps are waterproof or water-resistant.

Many traditional shower caps are similar to a bag that is a flexible hood that fits loosely around the hair and some means of sealing around the hairline, such as an elastic strap or adhesive tape.

However, traditional shower caps may not protect all of a person ^*s hair. In particular, some hair may not be captured under the shower cap at the scalp line. Also, people with long hair may have difficulty getting their hair easily under a traditional shower cap.

In other circumstances, a person may desire to protect their hair from other outside factors, such as dust. Alternatively, it may be appropriate in certain situations to keep a person^'s hair from entering into the environment. In these applications a person's hair should be contained but it may not be necessary for a hair protecting cap to be water-resistant. SUMMARY OF THE DISLOSURE

A hair protecting cap according to the present disclosure includes a bag forming an interior channel having an inside surface and outside surface, the interior channel having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening. A first opening reducing device enables the expansion and contraction of a size of a perimeter of the first opening and a second opening reducing device enables closing of the second opening. The inside surface of the bag is a pliable material and the outside surface of the bag is a pliable water-resistant material, the pliable water-resistant material extending over the perimeter of the first opening on the inside surface of the bag and also extending over the perimeter of the second opening on the inside surface of the bag.

To use the hair protecting cap of the present disclosure a user puts her head through the first opening and then the second opening. The first opening is positioned to surround the user's head at the hair line. The first opening is secured at the position surrounding the user's hair line with the water-resistant material that extends over the perimeter of the first opening on the inside surface of the cap resting against the user's hair line. The user's hair is captured within the interior channel. The second opening is closed substantially reducing water leakage to the interior channel of the cap,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of a hair protecting cap according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the hair protecting cap f FIG. 1 ; FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate a method of using a hair protecting cap of the present disclosure; FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate an alternative method of closing an opening of the hair protection cap;

FIGS. 5 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the hair protecting cap according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the hair protecting cap of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a hair protecting cap 100 of the present invention. Cap 100 is bag that has a first opening 106 at one position and a second opening 108 at another position. In one embodiment, cap 100 is substantially tubular in shape forming an interior channel and having first and second openings 106 and 108, respectively, are on opposing ends of the tube. The substantially tubular shape defines an inner portion to accept a user's head. When in use, first opening 106 can be placed around a user's hair line and second opening 108 closed to capture the user's hair within the cap. While the cap 100 is described as "tubular" a conical shape is also contemplated, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As such, each opening 106, 108 has a device for reducing the size of the perim eter of the respective opening. First opening 106 has a first closing device 1 12 such as a drawstring, elastic band or other known closing device that can secure the first opening tightly about the user's hairline. FIG. 1 illustrates an elastic band as first closing device 112 Second opening 108 has a second closing device 1 10 that should completely or almost completely close the opening 108 to decrease the likelihood of water, dust or other environmental features entering into the inside of the cap or hair from escaping from the cap. Such closing devices for the second opening are well-known and include a drawstring, hook-and- loop (e.g., Velcro®), zipper or any other closing device. FIG. 1 illustrates second closing device as a drawstring.

Outside surface 104 can be folded over and attached on the inner side on the hair protection cap to create a volume through which drawstring 1 10 passes. Drawstring 1 10 passes freely through fold 118, with ends protruding past fold openings 1 16. First opening 102 may be similarly closed using a drawstring (not shown).

Cap 100 includes an inner lining 102 and an outer surface 104. The inner lining 102 may be made of a material that is water-resistant, waterproof or not water-resistant. The inner lining and outer surface can be flexible or thin and can be transparent, opaque or translucent. The flexibility of the outer surface and inner material enables a tubular design to be expandable in length, that is, altering the distance between the first opening and the second opening. In an embodiment, the length of the bag between the first and second openings is at least 10 inches but other lengths are contemplated. For example, the length of the bag between the first and second openings could be at least 12 inches or between 10 and 20 inches. The inner surface may be made of a non-water-resistant material, such as cotton, fleece, terrycioth or other fabric, so that such material is more comfortable or softer than a water-resistant material. In a particular implementation, the inner l ining is made of a water absorbent material such as terrycioth that will absorb water that may leak onto the inner lining. The outer surface 104 can be made of a water- resistant material such as plastic or plasticized material or rubber. In one implementation, the outer surface and the inner l ining are part of the same material. That is, the inner lining is an absorbent material having the outer surface thereof treated with a water-resistant material or process, such materials and processes being well-known in the art.

In another implementation, both the inner and outer linings do not need to be water- resistant. In this case, only a single layer of material may be used. That is, a single non-water- resistant material may replace both the inner and outer linings. A hair protection cap according to this embodiment may have application in food preparation areas, hospitals, electronic assembly or other clean rooms, etc. where it is appropriate to keep a user's hair from entering into the environment.

An advantage of the hair protection cap of the present disclosure is that the tubular design can be made in a variety of lengths to accommodate user's having hair f various lengths. That is, prior art shower or hair protection caps having a single opening are limited in that they may be too big for some users while not big enough for other users.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cap illustrated in FIG. 1 having a water-resistant outer surface. Water-resistant outer surface 104 extends to cover at least a portion 1 14 of first closing device 1 12 on the inner side of the water-resistant cap. Similarly, water-resistant outer surface 104 can also extend to cover at least a portion 120 of second closing device 110 on the inner side of the hair protective cap. When in use. portions 1 14 and 120 can aid in keeping wicking or leakage of water under the water-resistant cap from being absorbed by the inner lining 102 material. Such absorbing by the inner lining material could be discomfiting to a user by causing the wet inner surface to remain in contact with the user's skin. As discussed above, in other implementations the outer surface is not water-resistant. In an implementation of the water-resistant cap 500 shown in FIG. 5, an exposed elastic with a silicone liner 514 - correspondin to portion 1 14 in FIG. 2 - of first closing device 512 is disposed on the inside of the hair protection cap. Exposed elastic with a silicone liner 514 can be any width but is expected to be in the range of about 1/4 to about 1 1/2 inches. The silicone liner is smooth around the entire perimeter of first opening 506 and stretches to accommodate a user's head when in use and may provide a suitable, more secure seal than the first closing device 1 12 having portion 1 14 and thereby better prevent water from entering through the closing device, The exposed elastic with silicone liner can provide non-slip contact with a user's head when in use and provide a secure water barrier. Moreover, the exposed elastic with silicone liner is comfortable providing an even pressure around the user's head and less likely to leave pressure marks on the user's skin.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 water-resistant cap 500 has a generally conical shape although the particular shape is not limiting. That is, the perimeter of the first opening 506 is a smaller than the perimeter of the second opening 508. The shape of the embodiment is similar to a conical frustrum. As discussed above, first opening 506, having exposed elastic with silicone liner 5 14. is intended to be stretched and disposed around a user's head to create a water-resistant contact with the user's head. Second opening 508 is flared outwardly from first opening 506 to create a wider opening to capture the user's hair when in use.

The implementation of FIG. 5 includes the optional feature of a zipper 504 for closing second opening 508. Also shown is an optional hook-and-loop (e.g.. Velcro®) strip 524A attached on the outside surface 504 of the water-resistant cap. A mating hook-and-loop strip 524B is disposed on the opposite side of the outside surface so that once the user's hair is captured within the interior of the water-resistant cap and the second opening zipped closed - as discussed below - the water-resistant cap can be rolled up and secured by attaching hook-and- loop strip 524B to 524A. Strip 524B can include an elongated strip of material, such as the water-resistant material of the outside surface 504, with the hook-and-loop mate to strip 524A positioned only at the end of the elongated strip. That is, the entirety of the strip 524B does not have to be of the hook-and-loop material. In one embodiment, the hook-and-loop strip 524 A may be a contrasting color from the outside layer material in order to identify the top of the water-resistant cap. Similarly, the mating hook-and-loop strip 524B can be the same or a different color from strip 524 A. Alternative securing devices such as mating snaps are also contemplated.

A further optional feature is a hanging loop 510. Hanging loop 510 can be used to hang the water-resistant cap when not in use. Hanging loop 510 may be located near first opening 506 or second opening 508 - as shown - or one at each opening. When hanging loop 510 is located within 2 inches from either the first or second opening 06. 508, the loop can advantageously be used to aid in dryin the interior material of the water-resistant cap should the interior get wet. That is, the water-resistant cap can be pulled inside-out and the hanging loop, being near the opening, used to hang the water-resistant cap to dry the interior material. In a particular embodiment, hanging loop 510 may be made o a hook-and-loop strip and also serve the function of either hook-and-loop strip 524 A or 524B or both.

As shown in FIG. 6, water-resistant outer surface 504 folds over and is attached on the inner side of the hair protection cap at first opening 506. In the embodiment shown, the water- resistant outer surface 504 is attached to the zipper closing device 504 at second opening 508. Also, in this embodiment, inner lining 502 does not abut or touch exposed elastic with silicone liner portion 514. Rather the inner lining 514 is spaced apart or separated from the portion 514 by a gap 526. The separation gap 526 of liner and portion 514 is expected to be about 1/16 to about 1/4 inch, but a particular separation gap distance is not required. When in use, the gap between the inner lining 502 and exposed elastic with silicone liner 514 can help to avoid absorption or wicking of water that may leak through the exposed elastic with silicone liner portion 514 and the user's head, and be absorbed by the inner lining 502. Absorption of water by the inner lining 502 may be uncomfortable for the user.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a method of using a hair protection cap. The usage of a hair protection cap having a water-resistant outer surface is described but the method is also applicable o a cap having an outer surface that is not water-resistant. As shown in FIG. 3 A, a user 300 can put the hair protection cap about his or her neck (for convenience the pronoun "her" and user will be used interchangeably) by putting her head first through first opening 1 06 and then through second opening 108. Openings 106, 108 are sized to be able to accommodate a user^'s head. Water-resistant outer surface 104 is on the outside and inner material (not shown) against her neck area. The outer surface 104 and inner material 1 02 can be flexible so that water-resistant cap 100 can be compressed to be disposed about the user's neck.

Next, as illustrated in FG. 3B, cap 100 is pulled back over the user's head until first opening 106 captures the user's hair at her hair line 302. As illustrated, first closing device 1 12 is an elastic band being sufficiently elastic to provide a water-resistant seal against the user's head at the hair line. Water-resistant material portion 1 14 (not seen) on the inside of the cap opposite band 1 12 contacts the user's head. The water-resistant material portion 1 14 may be, alternatively, an exposed elastic covered with a silicone liner portion 514 as discussed above in regards to FIG. 5. The user's hair 304 can protrude through second opening 108.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the user captures her hair within the interior of the water- resistant cap. The expandability of the cap due to the flexibility of the outer surface and the inner material enables users having, for example, long hair to easily capture the hair within the cap. The hair may be captured by raising the second opening 108 and using gravity to aid in capturing the user's hair within the interior of the water-resistant cap.

Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 3D, the ends of drawstring 110 may be pulled tightly to close second opening 108. Closure of the second opening provides a substantial barrier to entry of water into the interior of the cap. Water-resistant portion 114 discussed above, can help to prevent water from wicking or water under the first closing device 1 12 and reaching the interior of the cap. Similarly, water-resistant material portion 120 (not seen) on the inside of the cap opposite band 108 can aid in preventing water from reaching the inside of the bag. As discussed above, although a drawstring has been described for closing second opening 108, other closing mechanisms may be used.

FIG. 4A-4B illustrate an alternative method of closure of the second opening. This method is substantially the same as the method illustrated in 3A-3C and is not repeated here. The user's hair is captured in the interior of the bag. The second opening may be left open or closed using any technique such as a zipper, drawstring, etc. Once the user's hair is captured within the interior of the hair protection cap. as shown in FIG. 4 A the excess portion of the cap at the second opening is rolled to inhibit the environment from entering into, or the user's hair from escaping out of. the interior of the cap. The rolled fabric may secured by any known means. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, a securing tab 402 attached to the outside surface is attached at another portion 404 of the cap. In one implementation, securing tab 402 and port ion 404 are comprised of a hook -and- loop securing device such as Velcro®.

The hair protection cap may used in other than wet environments and to achieve purposes other than keeping a user^'s hair dry. The cap of the present invention may be used in any circumstance where the hair of a person should be enclosed. Such circumstances could be in food preparation areas, hospitals or clean rooms of electrical assembly areas.

Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1 . A hair protection cap, comprising:

a bag forming an interior channel, the bag having an inside surface and outside surface, the interior channel having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening; a first opening reducing device to enable the expansion and contraction of a size of a perimeter of the first opening; and

a second opening securing device to close the second opening,

wherein the inside surface of the bag is a pliable material, and

wherein the outside surface of the bag is a water-resistant and pliable material that extends over a perimeter of the first opening on the inside surface of the bag and also extends over a perimeter of the second opening on the inside surface of the bag.

2. The hair protection cap of claim 1, comprising:

an clastic band with a silicone liner disposed around the perimeter o the first opening on the inside surface covering the first opening reducing device,

wherein the inside surface of the bag is spaced apart from the elastic band with silicone liner.

3. The hair protection cap of claim 1 , wherein the perimeter of the first opening is smaller than the perimeter of the second opening.

4. The hair protection cap o claim 3, comprising:

a first securing device disposed on the outside surface; and a second securing device disposed on the outside surface located opposite to the first securing device and matable with the first securing device.

5. The hair protection cap of claim 4, wherein the first securing device and the second securing device are matable hook-and-loop strips.

6. The hair protection cap of claim 5, comprising:

a hook suitable for hanging the hair protection cap attached to the outside surface within 2 inches from the first or second opening.

7. The hair protection cap of claim 6, wherein the first securing device is also the hook suitable for hanging the hair protection cap.

8. The hair protection cap of claim 6, wherein the second opening securing device is a zipper.

9. The hair protection cap of claim 8, wherein the pliable material on the inside surface is spaced apart from the elastic band with silicone liner by about between 1/16 to 1/4 inch.

10. The hair protection cap of claim 3, wherein the bag is formed from two plies of material.

1 1. The hair protection cap of claim 1 , wherein the channel is substantially cylindrical.

12. The hair protection cap of claim 1, wherein the first opening reducing device is an elastic band.

13. The hair protection cap of claim 1. wherein the first opening reducing device is a drawstring in the perimeter of the first opening.

14. The hair protection cap of claim 1 , wherein the second opening securing device is a hook-and-loop device arranged around a perimeter of the second opening.

15. A method of using a hair protection cap, comprising:

providing a hair protection cap made of a material having an inside surface and outside surface, forming an interior space having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, wherein a first closing device is associated with the first opening and a second closing device is associated with the second opening;

putting a user's head through the first opening and then the second opening;

positioning the first opening to surround the user's head at the user's hair line;

reducing the perimeter of the first opening using the first closing device so that the first opening is secured at the position surrounding the user's hair line forming a substantially water- resistant fit at the user's hairline;

confining the user's hair to the inside of the cap; and

closing the second opening of the cap using the second closing device to reduce the possibility o the entry of water through the second opening.

wherein the outside surface of the bag is a pliable material that extends over the perimeter of the first opening on the inside surface of the bag and also extends over a perimeter of the second opening on the inside surface of the bag.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein an elastic band with a silicone liner is disposed around the perimeter of the first opening on the inside surface covering the first closing device, and

wherein the elastic band with a silicone liner is in contact with the user's head at the user's hairline.

17. The hair protection cap of claim 16, wherein the perimeter of the first opening is smaller than the perimeter of the second opening.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

rolling any excess material of the cap into a roll from the second opening toward the first opening; and

securing the rolled material in position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second closing device is a zipper.

20. The method o claim 16, wherein the outside surface is a water-resistant material.

21 . The method of claim 16, wherein closing the second opening further comprises: rolling the pliable material at the second opening to close the second opening, wherein the second closing device secures the rolled pliable material in the rolled position.

22. The method of claim 21. wherein the closing device is a hook-and-loop material attached to a portion of the rolled pliable material that is secured to another position on the outside surface of the hair protection cap.

23. A method for keeping hair on a user^'s head substantially dry, comprising: providing a flexible hair protection device, the flexible hair protection device having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of the inner surface and outer surface being substantially waterproof and having a first adjustable opening, a second adjustable opening and a length between the first and second adjustable openings, said first and second adjustable openings each being selectively adjustable between an open position in which the user's head fits through said first and second openings and a closed position in which water is substantially prevented from wetting the hair on the user's head during use;

inserting the user^'s head through the first and second adjustable openings when the first and second adjustable openings are in the open position and positioning the first and second adjustable openings below the hair such that the first and second openings surround the neck of the user;

positioning substantially all of the user's hair through the first and second adjustable openings outside of the inner and outer surfaces of the flexible protection device;

positioning the first adjustable opening around the forehead and neck of the user below the hairline of the user and adjusting the first adjustable opening to the closed position in which the first adjustable opening fits snuggly about the user^'s head;

extending the length of the flexible hair protection device to encapsulate the user's hair within the inner surface of the flexible hair protection device; and

adjusting the second adjustable opening to the closed position enclosing the user's hair within the flexible hair protection device.

24. The hair protection cap of claim 23, wherein the perimeter of the first opening is smaller than the perimeter of the second opening.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the length between the first and second adjustable openings is about 10 inches or more.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the length between the first and second adjustable openings is about 12 inches or more.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the length between the first and second adjustable openings is about 10 to about 20 inches.