Hair Covering That Protects Both Hair and Hairstyle

Abstract

A hair covering for protecting the hair from external insults while substantially maintaining the shape of the wearer's hair is described. In some exemplary embodiments, the hair covering includes a band dimensioned to fit substantially the circumference of a wearer's head, the band having a width between about 6.3 cm and about 9.0 cm and a negative ease of between about 5.7 cm and about 9.0 cm. The band is circumferentially attached to a hair covering body having a positive ease of between about 6.3 cm and about 27.0 cm. In some more particular embodiments, the hair covering body has at least one single pleat, at least one double pleat, or at least one single pleat and at least one double pleat.

Description

1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1.1 Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention provides manufactured head coverings for the protection of a wearer's hair and the shape, or “style”, of their hair. More specifically, the present invention provides swim- and shower-caps that keep the wearer's hair substantially dry and their hairstyle substantially unaltered. The invention has applications in the fields of personal hygiene, cosmetology, sports, and exercise.[0003]1.2 The Related Art[0004]The poet and philosopher Goethe wrote, “Beware of her fair hair, for she excels all women in the magic of her locks; And when she winds them round a young man's neck, she will not ever set him free again.” The sentiment was echoed by the actress Joan Crawford, who confided, “I think that the most important thing a woman can have—next to talent, of course—is her hairdresser.”[0005]Indeed, hair—for both sexes—is an important aspect of beauty, and therefore of one's self-image and confidence. No...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a hair covering that can protect hair styles while showering, swimming, or even sleeping. The hair covering has a band that fits snugly around the wearer's head and is attached to a covering body with elastic. It can be designed with pleats or no pleats and is effective at maintaining the natural shape of the hair. Overall, the invention offers a more versatile and effective way to protect hair styles.

Problems solved by technology

Not surprisingly, then, men and women spend much time—and money—on the care and styling of their hair.

Hair styling can take hours and cost hundreds of dollars for stylists and the myriad of preparations used to produce a desired color, texture, and shape of the thousands of strands of keratin that extend from the scalp of the human head.

Although the covering described in the '972 patent may provide some protection for the wearer's hair while sleeping, any covering made from paper will not stand the stress of exposure to water, such as from a shower stream or during swimming.

However, although the inner cap will protect the wearer's hair from water or other similar external insults, the inner cap tightly conforms to the shape of the user's head (see FIG. 1), and therefore cannot be expected to preserve the shape of styled hair.

Furthermore, the mechanical action of the inner cap moving closely against the wearer's hair combined with perspiration from the wearer's scalp, can degrade the affects of any hair coloring or other treatments (e.g., hair texturing agents), and become uncomfortable.

Although such a device may offer a wearer's hair some protection from external insults, the amorphous shape of the hair covering will likely cause the hair to shift too freely and lose its shape.

Also, the shape of the covering is not suitable for swimming.

The cap is not likely to offer good protection in a shower or while swimming.

The cap is not likely to offer good protection in a shower or while swimming.

The snood-shape of the covering is not suitable for protecting many hair styles that are shaped upward from the head, rather than extending down the back of the head.

The cap is not likely to offer good protection in a shower or while swimming.

The stiff, box-like shape of the covering is not suitable for protecting many hair styles that do not fit well into the box-like shape.

The tied string will likely come loose during active head motions, such as shower use or while swimming; therefore the cap is not likely to offer good protection in a shower or while swimming.

The snood-shape of the covering is not suitable for protecting many hair styles that are shaped upward from the head, rather than extending down the back of the head.

The cap is not likely to offer good protection in a shower or while swimming.

The shape of the bag is very amorphous, which as described above, is not effective for protecting hair shapes during activities such as showering and swimming.

Images