Patent Publication Number: US-2018027952-A1

Title: Expandable Styling Garment Apparatus, Systems, and Methods

Description:
The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/307,721, titled “Expandable Styling Garment Apparatus, Systems, and Methods”, filed Jun. 18, 2014, which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to expandable styling garment apparatuses, systems, and methods. Specifically, the present invention relates to a first section made of absorbent material and a second ring-shaped section made of elastic material, the second section disposed roughly centrally in the first section. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to placing the first and second sections over a user in a first configuration for use in a first application and subsequently and/or alternatively placing the first and second sections in a second configuration for use in a second application. The first and second sections may be expandable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is, of course, generally known to style hair, including washing, rinsing, cutting, blow-drying, and using products such as gel, wax, paste, glue, spray, and/or mousse. It is also well known to style hair frequently. Human hair grows around half a millimeter or so per day, which is a little over half an inch every month. People repeatedly go to hair salons and barbers in order to keep hair styled and/or cut. 
     Often, when hair is cut, hair clippings fall downwardly onto the person getting his or her hair cut. Not only can a person become covered in hair clippings, but also these clippings can get stuck on, in, or between clothing. This frequently leads to annoying and irritating poking, itching, and rubbing. Hair clippings can even fall back onto one&#39;s head and fall out later, again getting on, in, or between clothing. People often need to use lint rollers, change clothing, and/or shower after getting a haircut to get rid of the clippings. Additionally, washing clothing covered in hair clippings can help remove the hair. However, sometimes even after showering and washing clothing, hair clippings can remain. 
     If removing hair clippings cannot completely be done after a haircut, it is best to prevent hair clippings from falling onto skin and clothing during a haircut. Regularly, barbers and hair stylists surround a person in a cape to keep hair clippings off that person and his or her clothing. These capes are commonly made of nylon, vinyl, polyurethane, cotton, or polyester. The capes are wrapped around a person&#39;s neck and connected to itself through Velcro®, ties, clips, buttons, or the like. Commonly, these capes cannot form a secure fit around a person&#39;s neck because of the locations of the Velcro®, ties, clips, and buttons or because of the various shapes and sizes of peoples&#39; necks. An additional disadvantage to these capes is that the material is typically inflexible. Once secured, the capes are either too tight and choke the person or too loose and let hair clippings fall beneath the cape. 
     Hair clippings often still get stuck around a person&#39;s neck when using a cape, which can lead to irritation around a person&#39;s shirt collar. Often, a fabric strip is placed around a person&#39;s neck before surrounding the person with the cape. This extra layer helps in preventing hair clippings from getting stuck around a person&#39;s neck, but does not prevent it completely. The extra layer often creates a tighter fit around a person&#39;s neck. Additionally, the fabric strip is often held tighter where the cape contacts the fabric strip, which may cause the sides of the fabric strip to fray outwardly away from a person&#39;s neck, effectively creating a funnel between the person&#39;s neck and the fabric strip for collecting hair clippings. A need, therefore, exists for apparatuses, systems, and methods for creating a secure and comfortable fit around a person&#39;s neck. Further, a need exists for apparatuses, systems, and methods that prevent hair clippings from falling onto a person&#39;s clothing and skin, with preference to the neck region. 
     Before and after hair is cut, it is often washed, shampooed, and rinsed, leaving it wet. A towel is sometimes used to dry hair directly by blotting or rubbing, but may also be wrapped around hair, especially long hair, for a less abrasive drying technique. When wrapping one&#39;s head with a towel, the tightness of the wrap is often determined by how it is wrapped. As with the capes, the towel may be wrapped too tightly and be uncomfortable, or may be wrapped too loosely and allow water and/or wet hair from leaving the towel wrap. A need, therefore, exists for apparatuses, systems, and methods that create a secure and comfortable fit around a person&#39;s head. 
     Towel wraps are often an additional tool utilized by barbers or hair stylists. Often, people will be given both a cape and a towel wrap while at the barber or salon. A need exists for apparatuses, systems, and methods that combine capes and towel wraps together. 
     Commonly, both capes and towel wraps come in pre-defined sizes. These sizes are frequently not one-size-fits-all. In fact, salons, barbers, and consumers may need multiple sizes of capes and/or towel wraps to fit different people, lengths of hair, etc. Therefore, a need exists for apparatuses, systems, and methods that adjust to different sizes and shapes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to expandable styling garment apparatuses, systems, and methods. Specifically, the present invention relates to a first section made of absorbent material and a second ring-shaped section made of elastic material, the second section disposed roughly centrally in the first section. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to placing the first and second sections over a user in a first configuration for use in a first application and subsequently and/or alternatively placing the first and second sections in a second configuration for use in a second application. The first and second sections may be expandable. 
     To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a first section, wherein the first section is made of an absorbent material, a first hole disposed within the first section, a second section disposed around a border of the first hole comprising an elastic material, and a second hole formed by the second section. 
     In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing apparatus with a first section, wherein the first section is made of an absorbent material, a first hole disposed within the first section, a second section disposed around a border of the first hole comprising an elastic material, and a second hole formed by the second section so dimensioned to fit around a neck of the user; moving the apparatus over the head of the user, wherein the head of the user passes through the first hole and second hole; and leaving the apparatus over the user, wherein the second section is comfortably secured around a neck of the user. 
     In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing apparatus with a first section, wherein the first section is made of an absorbent material, a first hole disposed within the first section, a second section disposed around a border of the first hole comprising an elastic material, and a second hole formed from the second section; moving the apparatus over a portion of the head of the user, wherein the portion of the head of the user passes through the first hole and second hole; leaving the apparatus around the head of the user, wherein the second section is comfortably secured around the head of the user; and wrapping the first section around a top of the head of the user. 
     It is, therefore, an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide apparatuses, systems, and methods for creating a secure and comfortable fit around a person&#39;s neck. 
     It is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide apparatuses, systems, and methods that prevent hair clippings from falling onto a person&#39;s clothing and skin, with preference to the neck region. 
     It is, therefore, an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide apparatuses, systems, and methods for creating a secure and comfortable fit around a person&#39;s head. 
     It is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide apparatuses, systems, and methods that combine capes and towel wraps together. 
     It is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide apparatuses, systems, and methods that adjust to different sizes and shapes. 
     Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a styling apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a styling apparatus with a fastening device in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a perspective view of a styling apparatus with an extension section in a first configuration in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a perspective view of a styling apparatus with an extension section in a second configuration in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a styling apparatus around a person in a first configuration in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the styling apparatus around a person&#39;s head in an alternate configuration in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the styling apparatus around a person&#39;s head in an alternate configuration in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the styling apparatus around a person&#39;s head in an alternate configuration in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of the styling apparatus around a person&#39;s head in an alternate configuration in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention relates to expandable styling garment apparatuses, systems, and methods. Specifically, the present invention relates to a first section made of absorbent material and a second ring-shaped section made of elastic material, the second section disposed roughly centrally in the first section. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to placing the first and second sections over a user in a first configuration for use in a first application and subsequently and/or alternatively placing the first and second sections in a second configuration for use in a second application. The first and second sections may be expandable. 
     Now referring to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts,  FIG. 1  illustrates a styling apparatus  10 . The styling apparatus  10  may comprise a first section  12  and a second section  14 . The first section  12  may be of any shape such as triangular, circular, polygonal, or any combination thereof but may preferably have a hole  16  disposed therein. The second section  14  may be disposed around the hole  16  in the first section  12 . The first section  12  may be stitched, glued, sewn, buttoned, Velcro&#39;d, or otherwise attached to the second section  14  about the hole  16 . The second section  14  may form a hole  18 . A person may be able to look and/or place objects through the hole  18  and through the hole  16 . Specifically, a person&#39;s head may fit through the hole  18  and the hole  16 , therefore allowing the person&#39;s head to be above the styling apparatus  10  while the person&#39;s body is below the styling apparatus  10 . 
     The first section  12  may be made of an absorbent material such as foam, cloth, paper, sponge, chamois leather, or any other absorbent material known to one skilled in the art. Preferably, the first section  12  may be made from towel material because it is both absorbent and washable for multiple uses. The first section  12  may be large enough to cover a person&#39;s body, but may be sized to cover a portion of a person&#39;s body, such as the upper body. 
     Preferably, the second section  14  may be made of an elastic material such as rubber, latex, nylon, thermoplastic elastomers, resin, elastin, elastomeric olefin, any other elastic material known to one skilled in the art, and any combination thereof. Additionally, the second section  14  may be surrounded with soft material comfortable to the skin such as cloth, cotton, or other non-abrasive non-allergenic material known to one skilled in the art. The second section  14  may be sized to securely fit around the head and the neck of a person using the styling apparatus  10 . Preferably, the second section  14  may be closely head against the neck of a person to prevent hair clippings or other debris from passing therethrough or becoming stuck therein. Additionally, the second section  14  may not choke, cut off blood circulation, or otherwise harm the person the second section  14  is around. Alternatively, the second section  14  may be made of any material but may have a closure attached thereto. The closure may be snaps, buttons, pull chords, Velcro®, rope, cords with cord locks, other closures known to one skilled in the art, or any combination thereof. 
     Preferably, the bottom of the second section  14  may be attached to the first section  12  around the hole  16 . The hole  16  may be wider than the hole  18 . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the bottom of the second section  14  may be stretched wider than the top of the second section  14 . Of course, alternatively, the bottom and top of the second section  14  may be stretched and/or proportioned similarly. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the styling apparatus  10  may have at least one fastening device  20  disposed thereon. Preferably, the at least one fastening device  20  may be disposed on an underside of the first section  12 . The at least one fastening device  20  may be able to attach to any location on the first section  12 , or alternatively may be able to attach to a corresponding at least one fastening device  20 . The at least one fastening device  20  may be hooks, snaps, buttons, Velcro®, rope, ties, other fasteners known to one skilled in the art, or any combination thereof. 
     The at least one fastening device  20  may be used to adjust the size of the styling apparatus  10 . A portion of the first section  12  may be folded or otherwise moved and attached to another portion of the first section by the at least one fastening device  20 . In this way, the styling apparatus  10  may cover different areas of a person, different heights, and/or different widths. 
     Additionally, the styling apparatus  10  may have at least one extension  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B . The at least one extension  22  may be disposed on the styling apparatus  10  or may be disposable on the styling apparatus  10  using the at least one fastening device  20 . The at least one extension  22  may be made of a similar material to that of the styling apparatus  10 . Moreover, the at least one extension  22  may fold or otherwise extend, as shown in  FIG. 3B , effectively lengthening the styling apparatus  10 . The at least one extension  22  may also have at least one fastening device  20  disposed thereon, for undoing the extension. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the styling apparatus  10  may be disposed around a person in a first configuration. Specifically, the first section  12  and the second section  14  of the styling apparatus  10  may be pulled over the head  32  of a person  30 . The second section  14  may stretch to securely fit around a neck  34  of the person  30 . The first section  12  may hang downwardly from the neck  34  and around the shoulders and body of the person  30 . A stylist or another may therefore wash, dye, cut, style the hair of the person  30  without worrying about getting hair, water, or styling product on the skin or clothes of the person  30 . The second section  14  may maintain a secure fit around the neck  34  of the person  30  and prevent hair from entering the styling apparatus  10 . 
     Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the styling apparatus  10  may be pulled up around the head  32  of the person  30 , specifically with the second section  14  stretched around the head of the person  30  and the first section  12  hanging over the face, shoulders, and body of the person  30 . In this embodiment, a stylist or another may wash, dye, cut, or style the hair of the person  30  by isolating the hair of the person  30 . This may prevent water, dye, hair clippings, or product from getting anywhere on the person  30  or his or her clothing. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the styling apparatus  10  may be disposed around the person  30  in a second configuration. Specifically, first section  12  and the second section  14  of the styling apparatus  10  may be pulled up around the head  32  of the person  30 . This may occur after a haircut and after the styling apparatus  10  has been in the first configuration. If so, the first section  12  may be pulled upward over the person  30 . The second section  14  may be flipped inside out and may be comfortably secured around the head  32  of the person  30 . This may be done before or after shaking free any loose hair clippings. Any remaining hair clippings may be thereby collected and held within the styling apparatus  10 , without leaving any on the person  30 . 
     The second section  14  may stretch to securely fit around the head  32  of the person  30 . The first section  12  may be pulled upwardly around the hair of the person  30 . A stylist or another may therefore dry and/or shake free loose hair after a wash, dye, cut, style, or other styling application known to one skilled in the art. The second section  14  may maintain a secure fit around the head  32  of the person  30  and prevent water and hair from leaving the styling apparatus  10 . 
     Further shown in  FIG. 7 , the styling apparatus  10  and specifically the first section  12 , may be hung from the head  32  of the person  30  down and around the shoulders of the person  30 . A stylist may be able to dry the hair of the person  30  by rubbing, twisting, dabbing, or other technique known to one skilled in the art. A stylist or another may also apply other styling techniques in this or any other configuration such as highlights, perms, feathering, blow dry, dyes and other known techniques. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the styling apparatus  10  may be disposed around the person  30  in a third configuration. Specifically, as in  FIG. 5 , the first section  12  and the second section  14  of the styling apparatus  10  may be pulled up around the head  32  of the person  30 . The second section  14  may stretch to securely fit around the head  32  of the person  30 . The first section  12  may be pulled upwardly around the hair of the person  30 . The first section  12  may then be wrapped around the hair of the person  30  and tied to dry the hair of the person  30  less abrasively. The styling apparatus  10  may be tied as shown in  FIG. 6 , but may be otherwise held together by a mesh, rope, clips or may be otherwise secured by the at least one fastening device  20 . The styling apparatus  10  may be tied without needing to worry about the styling apparatus  10  staying on the head  32  of the person  30 . The second section  14  may hold the styling apparatus  10  on the head  32  of the person  30  and the styling apparatus  10  may be tied to comfort. Alternatively, the styling apparatus  10  may be tied tightly to squeeze dry the hair of the person  30 . 
     It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. Further, references throughout the specification to “the invention” are nonlimiting, and it should be noted that claim limitations presented herein are not meant to describe the invention as a whole. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.