Abstract:
A head-hair cover comprises a body defining a chamber and an opening in the body. The opening has a peripheral edge and permits communication between the chamber and outside of the cover. An adjustment mechanism is provided at or near the peripheral edge for selectively varying the dimensions of the opening. Additionally, a constricting band is provided and associated with the peripheral edge for gently crimping at least a portion of the peripheral edge.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation application U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/133,542 filed Apr. 26, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a head and hair cover, a hair scarf and related items. The invention has particular advantage when used by people having long hair, and is designed to cover the head, and contain the person&#39;s hair, during sleep, as protection or for sanitary purposes during working, or in such other applications as may be beneficial.  
         [0003]     The use of hair covers, hair scarves and hair ties are well known in the prior art. Hair scarves and ties can range widely in variety from the most simple forms, such as clips, elastic bands, barrettes, or the like, for keeping the hair in the desired place, to more elaborate forms of head covers intended to cover part of the head and/or keep the head covered. Such hair covers may be used by workers operating dangerous machinery in which the hair could be become ensnared and thus pose a danger to the individual, or by others, such as those in the service industry, such as at restaurants where personnel handling food may be required, for health and sanitary reasons, to keep their hair covered.  
         [0004]     An example of a hair scarf or tie shown in the prior art is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,756 (Bilodeau). In this patent, there is disclosed an athletic hair tie having a distinct cap portion, which is attached to a hair sleeve  20 . The cap portion fits over the head, while the sleeve portion, including a plurality of tabs, keeps the hair in place. Means for securing the cap portion snugly on the head of the user are provided.  
         [0005]     Other types of head gear for containing the hair are also known, such as simple donned caps with elasticized edges, which can be fitted over the head and will remain there due to the elasticity properties about the periphery.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In one aspect, the present invention is for a head and hair cover which may be easy to put on and remove, is adjustable in various manners for maximum comfort, and is intended to cover the hair without deforming it or squashing it in an undesirable manner.  
         [0007]     Preferably, the head and hair cover of the invention is a continuously configured tube-like structure, having a head portion which is easily adjustable and variable to provide a comfortable fit, and a hair portion continuous therewith which accommodates the hair, preferably in a manner which would interfere as little as possible with the hair style or shape.  
         [0008]     The head and hair cover of the invention is preferably comprised of a soft, light-weight fabric, and may preferably be slightly expandable so that it will not compress the hair or head of the user.  
         [0009]     According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a head-hair cover comprising: a body defining a chamber; an opening in the body, the opening having a peripheral edge and permitting communication between the chamber and outside of the cover; adjustment means at or near the peripheral edge for selectively varying the dimensions of the opening; and constricting means associated with the peripheral edge for gently crimping at least a portion of the peripheral edge.  
         [0010]     Preferably, the body is formed of two lateral panels stitched together along their respective peripheral edges, the opening being defined by corresponding portions of the peripheral edges of the two lateral panels which remain unattached. The body may comprise a head portion, in which the opening is located, and a hair containing portion therebelow.  
         [0011]     In a preferred embodiment, the cover has a body which is comprised of a soft, elasticized fabric.  
         [0012]     Preferably, the adjustment means comprises a channel formed by a hem along at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the opening, and a cord extending from inside the channel to the outside thereof, the arrangement of the cord relative to the channel being adjustable to vary the dimensions of the opening.  
         [0013]     The constricting means may comprise a length of elastic band along at least a portion of the peripheral edge for crimping the peripheral edge over the portion thereof at which it is located.  
         [0014]     In another embodiment, the body is formed as a single piece to define the chamber and has a cut therein in the upper portion of the body to define the opening. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the head and hair cover of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the head and hair cover of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , in an open position and illustrating the various components thereof;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the head and hair cover of the invention shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side view of one of the panels of the head and hair cover of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     With reference to the drawings, there is shown various perspectives of a head and hair cover in accordance with the present invention. The head and hair cover contains a number of features which facilitate putting on the cover, and adjusting it in a manner which is comfortable, and assumes the shape of the user&#39;s head and hair. The head and hair cover of the invention is intended to keep the hair contained therewithin, but without disturbing the style of the hair.  
         [0020]     The head and hair cover of the invention may be used in a number of contexts. It may be used when sleeping to keep the hair from spreading or losing its shape, or it may be used as a sanitary cover (such as when the user is preparing food), or a protector when the user is operating machinery in which the hair may become entangled, thus posing a danger to the user.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  of the drawings shows a side view of the head and hair cover  10  in accordance with the invention. The cover  10  is essentially comprised of two identical panels, which are mirror images of each other. Thus, there is provided a first lateral panel  14  and a second lateral panel  16  (clearly illustrated in  FIG. 3  of the drawings), the two panels  14  and  16  being of substantially identical shape, and overlying each other.  
         [0022]     Each panel  14  and  16  comprises a back edge  18 , a base edge  20 , and a front edge  22 . Each of the first and second lateral panels  14  and  16  is comprised of preferably a soft and light-weight fabric, such as nylon, polyester, cotton and the like, although any suitable material may be used. Further, a preferred embodiment of the invention would be one where each of the first and second lateral panels  14  and  16  is comprised, at least in part, of a material which has some elastic properties, so that it is capable of, at least to a small extent, expanding and contracting back to its normal size depending upon use requirements.  
         [0023]     Each of the first and second lateral panels  14  and  16  is connected to each other preferably by stitching along the back edge  18  thereof, from approximately point  24  to the point  26 . Further, the base edges  20  of each of the first and second lateral panels  14  and  16  are also connected to each other, preferably by stitching, between the points  26  and  28 . With respect to the front edge  22 , the first and second lateral panels  14  and  16  are partially attached to each other, once more preferably by stitching. The front edges  22  of the first and second lateral panels  14  and  16  are attached to each other between the point  28 , near the base edge  20 , and the point  30 , about midway up the length of the front edge  22 . Therefore, it will be appreciated that the first and second lateral panels  14  and  16  are sewn together along substantially their entire periphery, from point  24  to  26 , point  26  to  28 , and point  28  to  30 . However, the front edge  22  of the first and second lateral panels  14  and  16  respectively remains unattached between points  24  and  30 , creating an opening  34 . The opening  34  provide access to a chamber  36 , which is of a generally tube-like shape.  
         [0024]     The opening  34  is defined by first peripheral edge  38 , which forms part of the front edge  22  of the first lateral panel, and the second peripheral edge  40 , which forms part of the front edge  22  of the second lateral panel  16 .  
         [0025]     Each of the first and second peripheral edges  38  and  40  comprises a hem  44 , each hem  44  having a sealed or closed end  46  and an open end  48 . The hem  44  defines a channel  50  between the sealed end  46  and open end  48  respectively. A cord  52 , which generally comprises a fabric strip, is located within the channel  50 , and has one inside end  54  fastened near the sealed end  46 . The inside end  54  is preferably fastened near the sealed end by appropriate stitching. The cord  52  extends through the channel  50 , through the open end  48 , so that outside portion  56  of the cord  52  hangs loosely. The outside portion  56  of each cord  52  along the first and second peripheral edges  38  and  40  respectively can be used, as will be described in further detail below, to tighten or loosen the cover  10 , thereby varying the size of the opening  34  so as to be customized and comfortable for the user.  
         [0026]     The first peripheral edge  38  and second peripheral edge  40  each have an elastic band  60  extending therealong from points  62  and  64  respectively down to the point  30 . The elastic bands  60  are sewn along the peripheral edges  38  and  40 , or may be contained within a hem formed along this portion of the edge. It is not important to the invention exactly how the elastic band  60  is fastened along the edge, only that it is present. The purpose of the elastic band  60  is to provide a light pressure, tending to gather or fold slightly the peripheral edges  38  and  40  along the length at which they, the elastic bands  60 , are located, providing a small, but comfortable and effective, pressure tending to close the opening  34 . As will be described below, the elastic band  60 , together with the cords  52 , provide an advantageous mechanism for adjusting the size of the opening  34  to the precise requirements of the wearer.  
         [0027]     In use, the cover  10  of the invention is designed and configured to carefully hold the hair, and to fit about the head in a comfortable and proper location. This is achieved by the overall configuration of the cover  10 , as well as the features defining the opening  34 , and the mechanisms for adjusting the size of the opening  34  to desired dimensions.  
         [0028]     In use, the wearer&#39;s hair is carefully lifted and inserted through the opening  34  so that it will be contained within the chamber  36 . The size of the chamber  36  can, of course, be determined according to the size and shape of the first and second lateral panels  14  and  16 . These panels  14  and  16  can therefore be cut and dimensioned in different ways, to suit the needs of different users. The hair passed through the opening  34  and into the chamber  36  will remain there, and, depending upon the length of the hair, may extend all the way to the base edge  20 , or it may simply hang without the ends touching the base edge  20 .  
         [0029]     The cover  10  is therefore essentially divided into a head portion  68  and a hair container portion  70 . The hair, when passing through the opening  34 , enters the head portion  68  of the chamber  36 , and then, according to the length of the hair, will fall, to some extent or another, within the hair container portion  70 .  
         [0030]     The cover  10  is then pulled over the head such that the point  24  is approximately on the forehead of the wearer, while the point  30  rests more or less on the back of the neck of the wearer. The first and second peripheral edges  38  and  40  extend from the forehead, across the cheeks, either in front or behind the ears, and towards the back of the neck.  FIG. 3  of the drawings shows in phantom outline the face  74  of the user relative to the cover  10 .  
         [0031]     The cover  10  remains comfortable on the head, and the tightness thereof, and particularly the opening  34 , can be adjusted. First, the elastic band  60  tends to crimp or fold the peripheral edges  38  and  40  so as to draw the opening  34  tightly around the head and face. However, the cover  10  is still loose enough, and can be elastically extended, so as to make the opening  34  bigger or smaller for putting on or removing. In addition, the user is able to pull the cord  52  along the first and second peripheral edges  38  and  40 , thus gathering the hem  34  and thereby constricting the opening  34  until a comfortable sized opening  34  has been achieved. At that point, the outside portions  56  of the cord  52  are knotted or bowed to keep the cords held and tensioned in the desired position.  
         [0032]     Thus, between the operation of the elastic bands  60 , and the cords  52 , appropriately joined and connected to each other, the size of the opening  34  can be carefully and comfortably adjusted by the user.  
         [0033]     While the cover  34  worn, the hair is contained within the soft and somewhat elasticized lateral panels  14  and  16 , and the hair is able, to a large extent, to hang substantially naturally within the hair container portion  70 . One potential advantage of the cover  10  is therefore that the hair will not be flattened or pressed into undesired positions by the action of the cover  10 , which, in one embodiment, essentially surrounds and contains the hair without significantly altering its position.  
         [0034]     Variations of the invention are possible. For example, instead of having first and second lateral panels  14  and  16 , a single piece may be used, and stitched together, or molded as a tube, to the desired shape. Further, the elastic bands  60  may not necessarily be only, or even, at the lower portion of the opening  34 , but can be effectively located at one or more points along the periphery of the opening. Further still, the cords  52  may be near the bottom of the opening, or at the side thereof, rather than at the top. The cords may also be kept together and fastened by means of a clip or other device instead of the requirement that they be knotted or tied by their loose ends only.  
         [0035]     Further, the position of the cords  52  and elastic band  60  may be reversed, so that the elastic is at the top, and the cords at the bottom.