Abstract:
The present invention relates to a cape for protecting a user from containments. The cape includes a neck portion adapted to be secured to a neck of the user and a main body portion having opposing front and rear portions extending from the neck portion adapted to cover the user. A translucent window assembly is provided on a front portion of the cape for providing visual access to a user&#39;s personal item disposed behind a rear portion of the cape.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to protective coverings, and more particularly to protective capes adapted for hair salon patrons and employees. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are many types of protective coverings and garments available to protect one&#39;s clothes from the damaging effects of dirt, chemicals, and moisture. For instance, in hair care establishments, these garments are most commonly in the form of a cape or apron. 
         [0003]    Such protective apparel is worn by both hairdressers and clients as protection against chemicals and shampoos while shampooing, treating, cutting, or dying a client&#39;s hair. For barber shop or salon clients, which include young children to older adults, the cape also tends to keep irritating hair clippings away from clothes and skin. Traditionally, the capes are fabricated from a sheet of cloth fabric or synthetic material such as nylon or plastic, which is draped over the client&#39;s shoulders and tied or clasped together in the front or back of the client&#39;s neck. 
         [0004]    Although prior art capes utilized in salons provide adequate protection, in today&#39;s environment of reliance upon personal electronic devices (e.g., a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cell phone, a smart phone such as iPhone® or Blackberry®, an electronic reading device such as the Amazon Kindle® or Apple iPad®, a music playing device such as an iPod® or other MP3 player, or game device such as the Nintendo DS®), there is currently a drawback to using such prior art capes. 
         [0005]    For example, a user of a cape is prevented from gaining access to their personal electronic device, which at times is a necessity. For instance, a user typically retains their cell phone around their waist portion (e.g., secured to a belt) or in a pocket. Thus, when a user is wearing a protective cape and is required to gain access to their cell phone for an important call or message (e.g., to determine whom is trying to reach them, which may be an emergency situation), the user is forced to manipulate or remove the protective cape which interrupts the ongoing procedure. Further, a protective cape user who is having a procedure performed upon them may make sudden movements to gain visual access to their personal electronic device thus creating a potentially dangerous situation wherein the user may be exposing themselves to dangerous chemicals by manipulating the cape or to harmful exposure to a pair of hair shears or razor product currently being used in the procedure through sudden body movements. 
         [0006]    It is also noted if a protective cape user was permitted access through the protective cape to their personal electronic device (e.g., for communication with others, reading, playing games, listening to music, etc.), the user would be provided a more pleasant experience during the duration of a procedure being performed upon them as in a hair salon. For hair care establishments serving younger, more active clients, additional productivity benefits would be derived by focusing attention on an electronic device thereby creating a sedentary client. 
         [0007]    The present invention seeks to solve these deficiencies. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to a cape for protecting a user from containments. The cape includes a neck portion adapted to be secured to a neck of the user and a main body portion having opposing front and rear portions extending from the neck portion adapted to cover the user with each said front and rear portion having opposing front and rear panels. A translucent window assembly is provided on the front portion of the cape for providing visual access to a user&#39;s personal item (e.g., portable electronic devices such as a cell phone, PDA, mp3 player, gaming device or the like) disposed behind the rear panel of the front portion of the cape. 
         [0009]    The translucent window assembly may further include a pouch assembly for retaining the user&#39;s personal item while providing visual access thereto. The pouch assembly preferably includes a rear panel member secured to the rear panel of the cape having an open end thereof configured to receive the user&#39;s personal item in the pouch assembly. Additionally, a headphone cutout portion may be provided in close proximity to the translucent window assembly on the front portion of the cape configured to receive a headphone cord extending from the user&#39;s personal item disposed behind the rear panel of the cape. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention taken together in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a planar front view of the cape according to the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cutaway view of the cape of  FIG. 1  depicting the rear panel of the front portion of the cape. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  depicts an illustrated embodiment of the cape of the present invention, designated generally by reference numeral  10 . 
         [0014]    When used in a hair salon, the present invention is a cape  10  designed to protect the user&#39;s clothing and skin from coming in contact with undesirable materials such as shampoo, conditioner, hair dye, or cut hair. The cape may be constructed of a liquid impermeable material such as nylon, plastic coated fabric, liquid resistant paper material or any other suitable material and may be designed for either one-time (disposable) or long-term use. While reference is made for use in a hair salon, it is to be understood that use of the present invention cape is not to be understood to be limited to such a hair salon as it may be used for any purpose in which a user desires to be shielded from airborne containments (e.g., painting, chemical solvent dispersion, moisture (rain) and the like). For instance, the present invention cape  10  as described below may be configured as a rain cape including a hood member for shielding a user&#39;s head from rain, which rain cape may also include arm slits or slots for permitting a user&#39;s arms to extend through the cape  10  when the rain cape is fitted to the user. 
         [0015]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention cape  10  preferably comprises a sheet or material fabricated such as described above, with an opening  14  located at the top center portion for filling over the user&#39;s head. The cape  10  is typically of a triangular or rectangular shape although other shapes are possible. A slit or slot  16  preferably extends between neck opening  14  and a side edge  18  of cape  10 , with the slit  16  being formed or defined by facing or opposing edges  20 . Typically, complementary fasteners  22  (e.g., buttons, hooks or the like) or fastener strips (e.g., VELCRO®) are secured to the opposing edges  20  so as to permit the cape  10  to be closed about the neck of a user so that the cape  10  stays in place. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the material used to form the cape is precut to a convenient size and shape so that it covers the whole of the user&#39;s body when worn. As mentioned above, the material for the cape  10  may be triangular as shown in  FIG. 1  or any other shape that will provide complete coverage of the user&#39;s body with the option of being large enough to also cover part or all of the user&#39;s legs. Head opening  14  is adjustable in some manner so that it may be fitted to each specific user, resulting in a snug and comfortable fit around the user&#39;s neck. The design of the cape  10  allows room for wording, logos, drawings, etc. that can be used as advertising space, identification markings or any other purpose. 
         [0017]    As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the front portion  12  of cape  10  is fitted with a window assembly  100  for providing visual access and/or temporarily storing a personal electronic device  110  or other personal items belonging to a user fitted with the cape  10  as described below. It is to be appreciated the personal electronic device  110  or other personal items may include a cellular phone, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), electronic reading device, document, magazine, book or the like. 
         [0018]    The window assembly  100  preferably includes a translucent panel  120  secured to a cutout portion formed in the front portion  12  of the cape. The translucent panel  120  may be constructed of a translucent plastic material designed for one-time (disposable) or long-term use. The translucent panel  120  is secured to the cutout portion through any known means of securing two materials to each other including sewing, adhesives, fastener assemblies (e.g., buttons, clasps, VELCRO®, etc.) or the like. It is to be appreciated the translucent panel  120  may be either permanently or detachably affixed about the cutout portion on the protective cape  10 . The translucent panel  120  provides visual access to a personal electronic device or other items  110  while the user is fitted with the protective cape  10 . 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the window assembly  100  may additionally include a rear supporting panel  130  secured to the back  40  of the front portion  12  of cape  10 . The rear supporting panel  130  may be formed of the same material comprising the cape  10  or translucent panel  120  and is dimensioned slightly larger than the aforesaid cutout portion formed on the front panel of cape  10  to which translucent panel  120  is secured thereto thereby forming a pouch pocket. Preferably, the opposing side edges  132 ,  134  and bottom edge  136  of rear supporting panel  130  are secured to the back  40  of the front portion  12  of cape  10  thorough any known adherence means (e.g., sewing, adhesive boding or the like) with the top edge  138  forming an opening to which dispose of and retrieve the aforesaid personal electronic device or other personal items  110  to and from the formed pouch pocket. The rear supporting panel  130  may additionally include a securing member, such as an elastic strap, for securing a personal electronic item or other personal item thereto so as to remain in a stationary position when retained in the pouch pocket formed by the rear supporting panel  130 . 
         [0020]    It is also to be appreciated that rear supporting panel  130  may be removably secured to the back  40  of the front portion  12  of cape  10  so as to be removable thereform. This is advantageous when a user does not require a pouch pocket assembly for gaining visual access to personal electronic device or other personal items  110  (e.g., when a cellular phone secured to a belt of a user). This can be achieved through any known means for providing such detachable engagement such as buttons, hooks fastener strips (e.g., VELCRO®) or the like. 
         [0021]    Additionally, a small headphone cutout portion  150  may be provided adjacent the window assembly  100  for enabling headphones  200  to extend from a user&#39;s personal electronic device residing within the rear supporting panel  130  (when secured to the back of cape  10 , as mentioned above) through the front portion  12  of cape  10  and to the user for operation thereof. A small protective panel  152  may be affixed atop the headphone cutout portion  150  forming an open bottom end  156  through which extends a headphone cord  200  so as to prevent containments from entering through the headphone cutout portion  150 . 
         [0022]    The foregoing description and the illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in varying modifications and alternate embodiments. While a preferred embodiment of the present invention protective cape has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those who are skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the accompanying drawings.