Abstract:
A securing device for a body having an appendage, the securing device having an article of clothing adapted to be received on a portion of the body; and a control member borne by the article of clothing operable to capture the appendage to retain the appendage substantially in a predetermined position relative to the body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    (1) Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to a securing device and, more particularly, to a securing device which can be used in conjunction with an article of clothing, such as headwear or the like, for a variety of purposes. 
         [0005]    (2) Description of the Prior Art 
         [0006]    It is known to use a multiplicity of types of clothing and other articles for a variety of different purposes in addition simply to clothing the body. Thus, for example, shirts, pants, shoes, other outer garments and headwear are frequently designed to meet the needs of a number of different specific activities. These activities may include, for example, sports competition, running, bicycle riding, skiing, and hiking, just to name a few. In most of these activities, the specific design of the clothing is intended to achieve a number of objectives, such as safety, freedom of movement, control of body temperature, minimization of wind resistance, fashion and the like. 
         [0007]    With respect to headwear and the like, the plurality of objectives may include warmth, ventilation, minimization of wind resistance, protection from the sun&#39;s rays, management of the hair, comfort and style. It is known to use headwear, such as caps, to meet many or all of these objectives. For example, caps and other types of headwear are manufactured with a rear band which can be lengthened or shortened to accommodate variations in head size so that the cap can be worn by a greater number of people. The cap is often manufactured with a relatively large opening above the band to permit gathering or releasing of the material of the cap in the lengthening or shortening of the band. This opening in the rear of the cap has been used for other purposes, such as hair management. Baseball caps are frequently used for this purpose. The hair is pulled back and extended through the opening to form, for example, a ponytail which hangs from the opening in the back of the head and cap. This is intended to keep the hair out of the person&#39;s eyes or from interference with normal daily activities as well as during more strenuous activities such as those heretofore noted. In other instances, the motivation is simply general personal appearance, style and fashion. There are other types of headwear which employ the same large opening at the rear thereof for the same or similar purposes. 
         [0008]    Where caps and other headwear are used in this manner, management of the hair is less than satisfactory. This is principally because these openings were never manufactured for this usage. The opening is typically too large to act in the manner desired. Consequently, the hair tends to slide forwardly back through the opening since this opening in the headwear does not constrain the hair. As a result, the hair gradually falls from the cap, particularly during strenuous activity and over an extended period of time. Further, the hair can become entangled in the band beneath the opening and the portions thereof which are fastened together to permit the cap to be so adjusted. Similarly, the fasteners employed for this purpose can readily ensnare the hair causing discomfort and interference with removal of the cap. Thus, headwear used in this manner are entirely unsatisfactory. 
         [0009]    Therefore, it has been known that it would be desirable to have a device which can be employed to manage work materials such as hair and the like; which can dependably be used to capture loose materials, such as hair, so as to keep it from interfering with various activities; which has particular utility when used in the constraint of the hair during strenuous activities; which can be used to advantage particularly where movement would otherwise cause the hair to flail about in an unmanageable manner during a variety of activities, including normal daily activities as well as activities requiring more substantial exertion such as sports activities; which enhances personal appearance, style and fashion; which can be used by people having otherwise unmanageable hair, whether female or male; and which is entirely successful in achieving its operational objectives. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved securing device having particular utility in management of work materials. 
         [0011]    Another object is to provide such a securing device which possesses a unique character particularly when used in conjunction with clothing. 
         [0012]    Another object is to provide such a securing device which can be worn by a person for the management of the person&#39;s hair. 
         [0013]    Another object is to provide such a securing device which can be worn on the head readily to control the hair during normal daily activities. 
         [0014]    Another object is to provide such a securing device which has application for use by females as well as males, particularly although not necessarily, during such strenuous activities such as sports competition, running, bicycle riding, skiing, hiking and the like. 
         [0015]    Another object is to provide such a securing device which is employed as an integral part of clothing including caps, hats, beanies, sock caps, berets and other forms of headwear. 
         [0016]    Another object is to provide such a securing device which performs a constraining function without detracting from personal appearance. 
         [0017]    Another object is to provide such a securing device which can be used to improve and maintain a style, fashion and general personal appearance. 
         [0018]    Another object is to provide such a securing device which is readily adaptable to a wide variety of headwear and styles thereof. 
         [0019]    Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a device for the purpose described which is dependable, economical, durable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0020]    These and other objects and advantages are achieved, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a securing device for a body having an appendage, the securing device including an article of clothing adapted to be received on a portion of the body and a control member borne by the article of clothing operable dependably to capture the appendage so as to retain the appendage substantially in a predetermined position relative to the body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary, rear perspective view of a person wearing the securing device of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary, side elevation of the head of a person wearing the securing device of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the securing device of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a somewhat enlarged, fragmentary section taken on line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    Referring more particularly to the drawings, the securing device of the present invention in generally indicated by the numeral  10  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0026]    The securing device  10  can generally be referred to as having an article of clothing or headwear  20  and at least one (1) control means or control member  21 . It will be understood that, for illustrative convenience, only one (1) such control member is shown and described herein. If desired, however, the headwear  20  can be manufactured or otherwise constructed with two (2) or more control members  20  in other locations on the headwear. Thus, for example, the headwear can be manufactured with two (2) such control members on opposite sides of the headwear for the extension individually of hair therethrough to form pigtails. 
         [0027]    The headwear  20  is shown in the drawings, for illustrative convenience, as a sock cap or beanie. It will be apparent that virtually any type of headwear can be employed in the subject invention, although the headwear shown and described herein is particularly well suited to the purpose. The headwear has a wall  29  which, in the illustrative embodiment, is of a size adapted to conform to and fit the head of the person wearing the headwear. The wall is, in the illustrative embodiment, of knitted or woven construction and is expandable to some extent from the size shown in  FIG. 3  so as to assist in putting it on and taking it off. As shown in the drawings, when worn, the wall has a generally hemispherical configuration. 
         [0028]    The wall  29  of the headwear  20  has a generally circular lower perimeter  30  which houses a circular band  31 . In the preferred embodiment, the band is elastic so as to conform to and retain it on the head of the person wearing the headwear and to be expandable therefrom to aid in putting it on and taking it off. The wall extends from the lower perimeter to an apex  32 . The wall has a forward portion  33  and an opposite rearward portion  34 . The wall has opposite side portions  35 . The wall has an interior surface  40  and an exterior surface  41 . 
         [0029]    The control member  21  has a generally circular ring member  50  defining and bounding an aperture  51 . The ring member, in the preferred embodiment, is mounted on the wall  29  of the headwear by being woven into the knitted construction of the wall. The ring member is mounted on the rearward portion  34  of the wall approximately half way between the lower perimeter  30  and the apex  32 . 
         [0030]    The ring member  50  is substantially circular and has a contracted configuration, shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , which it elastically assumes when not otherwise expanded therefrom. The ring member has an expanded configuration toward which the ring member can elastically be moved. The aperture  51  is smallest in diameter when the ring member is in the contracted configuration and is largest in diameter in the expanded configuration. The actual sizes of the ring member in the contracted and expanded configurations and thereby the size range of the aperture defined thereby can be that which is most suitable to the particular operative environment within which the securing device  10  is to be used. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the ring member  50  has an outer sleeve  52 . The sleeve has a tubular wall  53  which defines a tubular internal passage  54 . A plurality of elastic strands or band members  55  extend through the tubular internal passage of the sleeve entirely thereabout thereby elastically retaining the sleeve and thereby the ring member in the contracted configuration while permitting elastic expansion thereof to the expanded configuration. As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the ring member is in the contracted configuration, the sleeve thereof is bunched, or partially collapsed, forming a plurality of annular rings  56  therein permitting expansion of the sleeve between the contracted configuration and the expanded configuration. 
         [0032]    For illustrative convenience, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a person wearing the headwear  20  is generally indicated by the numeral  70  and having a head generally indicated by the numeral  71 . For reference purposes, the person&#39;s face is indicated at  72  and the back of the person&#39;s head at  73 . The person has hair  74  growing from the head. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the person has the hair extending through the aperture  51  of the ring member  50  and gathered thereby, as will hereinafter be described, to form a ponytail  75 . 
       OPERATION 
       [0033]    The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. 
         [0034]    The person  70  places the securing device  10  and the headwear  20  thereof generally over or on the person&#39;s head  71 , as hereinafter described. The person elastically expands the ring member to expand the aperture thereof. The person gathers the hair  74  and extends it at least part way through the aperture  51  of the ring member  50 . The headwear is then placed on the head and pulled downwardly over the head to the general position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In this position the ring member, with the hair extending through the aperture thereof, is positioned in overlaying relation to the remainder of the hair on the back  73  of the person&#39;s head. Subsequently, the hair is pulled the remainder of the way through the aperture so that the hair under the headwear is pulled as tight as the person chooses. The ring member is then released and elastically returns to the contracted configuration. The hair externally of the headwear is then arranged to form the desired style, such as the ponytail  75 . 
         [0035]    During the foregoing process, the ring member  50  of the control member  21  is elastically retained by the elastic band members  55  in contracted relation about the hair  74  extending through the aperture  51 . This relationship of the ring member to the hair extending through the aperture is maintained by the elastic band members to capture the hair extending therethrough. The hair can consequently be held by the ring member in any position extending therethrough even if the hair is not pulled tight. This capability permits the hair to be placed under any degree of tension where that the person wishes, or a different hair style other than the ponytail. 
         [0036]    The hair  74  of the person  70  is thus dependably held in the selected position during wearing of the headwear  20  until it is desired to remove the headwear. The securing device  10  thus retains the hair in the selected position for as long as the person desires. This is the case during all activities no matter how strenuous those activities may be. The hair is thus managed during the activities so that, for example, the hair dos not fall over the person&#39;s face  72 , or become entangled in equipment, or otherwise interfere with those activities. Simultaneously, the hair is retained in the selected style enhancing personal appearance, style and fashion. 
         [0037]    The device of the present invention is therefor particularly well suited to manage work materials such as hair and the like; can dependably be used to capture loose materials, such as hair, so as to keep the materials from interfering with various activities; has particular utility when used in the constraint of the hair during strenuous activities; can be used to advantage particularly where movement would otherwise cause the hair to flail about in an unmanageable manner during a variety of activities including normal daily activities as well as activities requiring more substantial exertion such as sports activities; enhances personal appearance, and achieves a style and fashion such as may be desired; can be used by people having otherwise unmanageable hair, whether female or male; and is entirely successful in achieving its operational objectives. 
         [0038]    Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is not to be limited to the illustrative details disclosed.