Abstract:
A kerchief member for wearing about the head, the kerchief member having a preformed securing means which is engagable at the rear portion of the wearer&#39;s head.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/695,180, filed Jun. 30, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention is directed to a kerchief, and in particular, the kerchief of the type worn to protect the wearers head, maintain the wearer&#39;s hairstyle, and to absorb sweat.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     In recent years, kerchiefs worn on the head have regained their popularity. This return to popularity may be attributed to sports wherein on any football Sunday, the viewer might see a professional football player having a kerchief disposed about his head before donning a football helmet. Construction workers typically wear a kerchief about their head when performing their work while wearing a hard hat. Still further, ordinary people during leisure activities may be seen wearing a kerchief about their heads in order to protect their scalp from the damaging rays of the sun, rather than wearing a hat.  
         [0006]     In these instances, the kerchief, being a piece of square fabric, is folded to form a triangle and is fitted about the forehead, and two corners of the fabric serving as the ends are tied at the back of the head with the remaining fabric being tucked beneath the knot. Since the individual must tie the knot behind his head and not within view, the positioning and securing of a kerchief about the head requires some practice.  
         [0007]     Applicant has developed a kerchief with a preformed securing means which eliminates the need for the wearer to secure the kerchief by tying a knot out of view behind the user&#39;s or wearer&#39;s head.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel kerchief having formed thereon a preformed securing means for securing the kerchief about the head of the user.  
         [0009]     A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel kerchief in which the securing means is elastic.  
         [0010]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel kerchief for securing about the head of a wearer wherein the securing means is a preformed hook and loop fastener.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     A kerchief member for wearing about the head, the kerchief member having a preformed securing means which is engagable at the rear portion of the wearer&#39;s head. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a planar view of the pattern of the kerchief of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the kerchief of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an individual&#39;s head and the present invention secured in one manner thereto; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the user&#39;s head with the second embodiment of the kerchief and the present invention secured thereto in an alternative manner. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a planar view of the pattern of the kerchief of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembled kerchief. The kerchief  10  consists of a head piece  12  which is cut generally rectangular and defines an outer peripheral edge  14  formed by opposing lateral edges  14 A and  14 B and opposing longitudinal edges  14 C and  14 D. The outer peripheral edge  14  is turned on itself and double hemmed  16  about the peripheral edge  14 . A neck or nape engaging member  18  is generally rectangular in shape having opposing longitudinal edges  18 A and  18 B and opposing lateral edges  18 C and  18 D. Neck or nape engaging member  18  is cut and designed to encapsulate a resilient elastic member  20  which is positioned centrally longitudinally on neck or nape member  18 , neck or nape member  18  is then folded about the resilient elastic member  20  and seamed, joining edges  18 A and  18 B. The neck or nape engaging member  18  is then pleated  22  so that lateral edges  18 C and  18 D coincide with ends  20 A and  20 B of elastic member  20  and is then engaged with head piece  12  by having ends  18 C and  18 D of neck or nape engaging member  18  sewn at opposing points  24  of the peripheral edge of the head piece  12 . In doing so, the head piece  12  proximate points  24  are folded or pleated  26  to give a shape to the head member. Additionally, neck or nape engaging member  18  is pleated  22  along its entire length, so as to allow for expansion when the elastic resilient member  20  is stretched about the nape or neck of the back of the head of the individual.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective side view of one embodiment of the kerchief  10  of the present invention and a manner in which it is worn. In this embodiment, the head piece  12  is placed over the head of the individual, with the front peripheral edge portion  14  abutting the forehead  32  and being taut with the head. The neck or nape engaging member  18  with resilient elastic member  20  is positioned proximate the rear of the ear  34  of the wearer and extends downwardly and about the nape of the neck or head  36 . In this embodiment, the head piece so worn, presents a tail portion  38  which hangs over the neck or nape engaging member  18 .  
         [0019]     Considering  FIG. 4  which is a perspective view of an alternate manner of wear of the kerchief  10  of the present invention, the kerchief is positioned on the head in the same manner as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In the second embodiment, the tail portion  38  can be tucked inside the resilient elastic neck engaging member  20  to provide for a taughtness of the head engaging member about the entire head.  
         [0020]     The dimensions of the various elements of the kerchief may vary without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. However, it has been found that a head piece after the peripheral hemming, of a dimension of 15½ inches by 16 inches suffices for a great number of head sizes. The nape or neck engaging member with a length of 13½ inches and a width of 4 inches encapsulating a resilient flexible member of 6½ inches in length and 1½ inches in width suffices to provide sufficient tension about the neck or nape so as to maintain the kerchief in position.  
         [0021]     The material used to construct the kerchief can be any suitable fabric. With respect to the head piece  12 , consideration can be given to the type of use and the climatic conditions under which it will be worn to determine the required degree of absorbency desired by the material utilized.  
         [0022]     While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.