US20130298929A1

US20130298929A1 - Hair protecting cap

Info

Publication number: US20130298929A1
Application number: US13/469,192
Authority: US
Inventors: Suzanne K. Cole
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-11
Filing date: 2012-05-11
Publication date: 2013-11-14
Also published as: WO2013169976A1

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

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 hag 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 is 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 DISCLOSURE

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 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate a method of using a hair protecting cap of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate an alternative method of closing an opening of the hair protection cap.

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. As such, each opening 106, 108 has a device for reducing the size of the perimeter of the respective opening. First opening 106 has a first closing device 112 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 110 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 110 passes. Drawstring 110 passes freely through fold 118, with ends protruding past fold openings 116. 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 either 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, terrycloth or other fabric, so that such material is more comfortable or softer than a water resistant material. In a particular implementation, the inner lining is made of a water absorbent material such as terrycloth 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 lining 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 of 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 114 of first closing device 112 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 114 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.
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 of a cap having an outer surface that is not water resistant. As shown in FIG. 3A, 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 106 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 102 can be flexible so that water resistant cap 100 can be compressed to be disposed about the user's neck.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 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 112 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 114 (not seen) on the inside of the cap opposite band 112 contacts the user's head. 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.
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 112 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. 4A 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 portion 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 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 wherein the outside surface is a water-resistant material.

3. The hair protection cap of claim 2, wherein the bag is formed from two plies of material.

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

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

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

7. 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.

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

providing a hair protection cap 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 of 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.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the outside surface is a water-resistant material.

10. The method of claim 8, 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.

11. The method of claim 10, 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.

12. 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.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the length between the first and second adjustable openings is about 10 inches or more.

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

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the length between the first and second adjustable openings is about 10 to about 20 inches.