US20160206072A1

US20160206072A1 - Hair cap with integral absorbent material

Info

Publication number: US20160206072A1
Application number: US14/599,821
Authority: US
Inventors: Laurie Rich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-01-19
Filing date: 2015-01-19
Publication date: 2016-07-21

Abstract

A hair cap with integral absorbent material for placement on a wearer's head, over their hair comprises a cap portion that defines a head covering, pliable receptacle area of the hair cap with integral absorbent material and a rim portion that defines the circumferential edge of the hair cap with integral absorbent material. The cap portion is constructed entirely of terry cloth and the rim portion is constructed of an elastic material defined as rubber. The elastic nature of the rim portion enables it to be stretch outward with manually force to allow the head and hair of a user to be placed into the cap portion and then automatically contract back to its normal size wherein it would frictionally contact the head of the wearer to hold the hair cap with integral absorbent material in place on the wearer, much in the same way of conventional shower caps.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to bathing garments and, more particularly, to a hair cap having an absorbent material defining its body portion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use and design of conventional towels for dry one's body parts after bathing or otherwise after they have become wet, is well known. A problem which still exists, however, is that for individuals with long hair, drying that hair with a conventional towel generally takes a significant amount of time. Furthermore, as it is common for a user to wrap their wet or damp hair in such a conventional towel to soak up moisture, it is not uncommon for such towels to get in the way, making it inconvenient to complete other tasks, or become dislodged and/or fall off, requiring the user to reset the towel around their hair. Thus, there remains a need for a hair cap with integral absorbent material that would allow a user to set an absorbent member on their head, over their hair, that would be operative to absorb excess moisture from their hair. It would be helpful if such a hair cap with integral absorbent material was constructed in a similar manner as a conventional hair cap to enable it to remain in place on a user's head once positioned thereon. It would be additionally desirable for such a hair cap with integral absorbent material to include an elastic rim to improve its ability to remain in place on a wearer's head.
The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a hair cap with integral absorbent material adapted to allow a user to secure an absorbent article it to their head, over their hair, without having to manually tie the absorbent article. The primary components in Applicant's hair cap with integral absorbent material are a cap portion and a rim portion. When in operation, the hair cap with integral absorbent material enables more convenient removal or moisture from a wearer's hair. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hair cap with integral absorbent material for placement on a wearer's head, over their hair, to provide a more convenient drying structure for long hair. The hair cap with integral absorbent material comprises a cap portion that defines a head covering, pliable receptacle area of the hair cap with integral absorbent material and a rim portion that defines the circumferential edge of the hair cap with integral absorbent material.
In the preferred embodiment, the cap portion is constructed entirely of terry cloth and the rim portion is constructed of an elastic material defined as rubber. The elastic nature of the rim portion enables it to be stretch outward with manually force to allow the head and hair of a user to be placed into the cap portion and then automatically contract back to its normal size wherein it would frictionally contact the head of the wearer to hold the hair cap with integral absorbent material in place on the wearer, much in the same way of conventional shower caps.
It is an object of this invention to provide a hair cap with integral absorbent material that would allow a user to set an absorbent member on their head, over their hair, that would be operative to absorb excess moisture from their hair.
It is another object of this invention to provide a hair cap with integral absorbent material constructed in a similar manner as a conventional hair cap to enable it to remain in place on a user's head once positioned thereon.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a hair cap with integral absorbent material that includes an elastic rim to improve its ability to remain in place on a wearer's head.
These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a hair cap with integral absorbent material built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a hair cap with integral absorbent material built in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, a hair cap with integral absorbent material 10 is shown having a cap portion 11 and a rim portion 12. The cap portion 11 defines a head covering, pliable receptacle area of the hair cap with integral absorbent material 10 and includes an absorbent material, defined in the preferred embodiment as terry cloth, integrated therein. The rim portion 12 defines the circumferential edge of the hair cap with integral absorbent material 10.
In the preferred embodiment, the cap portion 11 is constructed entirely of terry cloth. Advantageously, as the cap portion 11 defines a terry cloth body in the preferred embodiment, it provides for greater absorbency and quicker drying than conventional shower caps that include an absorbent layer as an interior lining of a head covering, cap portion. It is contemplated, however, that in an alternate embodiment, the cap portion 11 includes strips of an absorbent material disposed in alternating fashion with other materials to increase the durability and resiliency of the cap.
The rim portion 12 is constructed of an elastic material defined as rubber in the preferred embodiment. The elastic nature of the rim portion 12 enables it to be stretch outward with manually force to allow the head and hair of a user to be placed into the cap portion 11 and then automatically contract back to its normal size wherein it would frictionally contact the head of the wearer to hold the hair cap with integral absorbent material 10 in place on the wearer, much in the same way of conventional shower caps.
In the preferred embodiment, the cap portion 11 and the rim portion 12 are formed from a unitary piece of material, with the rim portion 12 structured such that the edge of the material is folded over an elastic band, securing it therein. The unitary piece of material for one size of the hair cap with integral absorbent material 10 is a 21 inch circumference, and the elastic ban is received in a 1¼ inch fold.
It is contemplated the cap portion 11 and rim portion 12 will employ accordion style folds around their circumference so as to increase the absorbent surface area of the cap portion 11 and enable the expansion of the fabric (non elastic) part of the rim portion 12.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hair cap with integral absorbent material for placement on a wearer's head, comprising:

a cap portion defining a head covering, pliable receptacle area; and

a rim portion defining a circumferential edge, wherein said cap portion is constructed of an absorbent material.

2. The hair cap with integral absorbent material of claim 1, wherein said cap portion and said rim portion are constructed of a unitary body.

3. The hair cap with integral absorbent material of claim 2, wherein the absorbent material defines terry cloth.

4. The hair cap with integral absorbent material of claim 2, wherein said cap portion and rim portion employ accordion style folds around their circumference.

5. The hair cap with integral absorbent material of claim 2, wherein said rim portion is structured such that the circumferential edge of the unitary body is folded over an elastic band, securing the elastic band therein.

6. The hair cap with integral absorbent material of claim 5, wherein said elastic band is constructed of rubber.

7. The hair cap with integral absorbent material of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material defines terry cloth.

8. The hair cap with integral absorbent material of claim 1, wherein said cap portion and rim portion employ accordion style folds around their circumference.

9. The hair cap with integral absorbent material of claim 1, wherein said cap portion and rim portion employ accordion style folds around their circumference.