Abstract:
A hooded garment which is worn by a user and comprising a hood adapted to be worn on a user&#39;s head, the hood including a back head portion, a top portion, two opposed lateral portions, a front head portion and a neck portion circumferentially extending around the user&#39;s neck, the back head portion and a back of the neck portion forming a back portion of the hood, a face opening defined in the front head portion through which a user&#39;s face protrudes, the face opening being located between the top portion, the lateral portions and the neck portion of the hood, an elastic member located on the back portion, and a pocket portion in the back portion above the elastic member, the pocket portion being able to accommodate at least some of a user&#39;s loose hair.

Description:
FIELD OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application relates to a hooded garment to be worn by women and men to stabilize hair for instance during athletic activities, or during other activities in which one&#39;s hair must be covered, for example in the health or food sectors, among others. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
       [0002]    A common issue, for both women and men, is that long hair may impede physical maneuvers during certain activities, such as sports. Similarly, for religious reasons, some women must cover their heads while practicing sports, for example by wearing a hijab. In order to accommodate these women and/or to help people minimize possible impediments caused by their hair, a layer of material is generally provided on the wearer&#39;s head. However, this later of material may be unsecured, unstable, slippery and may use inappropriate materials, such that it does not dissipate sweat and heat efficiently. 
         [0003]    Alternatively, hooded garments may be provided to facilitate the maneuvers of the wearer, while being as comfortable as possible. However, if the hooded garment is not anatomically shaped, there may be some loose garment material impeding the maneuvers of the wearer and the stability of the garment, for instance under helmets. In addition, the neck portion of existing hooded garments may become loose due to sweat and/or sudden movements for example or might not be appropriate for certain activities. Therefore, improvements in the art of hooded garments yet exist. 
       SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0004]    It is therefore an aim of the present disclosure to provide a hooded garment that addresses issues associated with the prior art. 
         [0005]    Therefore, in accordance with the present application, there is provided a hooded garment which is worn by a user, the hooded garment comprising a hood adapted to be worn on a user&#39;s head, the hood including a back head portion, a top portion, two opposed lateral portions, a front head portion and a neck portion circumferentially extending around the user&#39;s neck, the back head portion and a back of the neck portion forming a back portion of the hood, a face opening defined in the front head portion through which a user&#39;s face protrudes, the face opening being located between the top portion, the lateral portions and the neck portion of the hood, an elastic member located on the back portion, and a pocket portion in the back portion above the elastic member, the pocket portion being able to accommodate at least some of a user&#39;s loose hair. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the present application, there is further provided a method for putting on a hooded garment, the method comprising inserting one&#39;s head through a first opening in the hooded garment, with a hood being in front of the head when the head is in the first opening, pulling a hood of the hooded garment over one&#39;s head with the head entering the hood through the first opening, such that a face opening in the hooded garment is aligned with a user&#39;s face; and closing the first opening. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of a hooded garment in accordance with an embodiment of the present application; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic view of the hooded garment of  FIG. 1 , with a tail portion outside of the hooded garment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  is a schematic elevation view of the hooded garment of  FIG. 2A  with the tail portion inserted into the hooded garment and with the protective strip folded open; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2C  is a schematic elevation view of the hooded garment of  FIG. 2A  as ready for use; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3A-3D  are a schematic sequence of a user person in the process of putting on the hooded garment; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of different embodiments of a torso support portion, which may include sleeves and/or a crotch strap, of the hooded garment of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    Referring to the drawings, and more specifically to  FIG. 1 , a hooded garment in accordance with the present disclosure is generally shown at  10 . The hooded garment  10  is used to cover the head, neck and a portion of the torso of a wearer. The hooded garment  10  is particularly suited for athletic activities. 
         [0014]    The hooded garment  10  has a hood  12 , a torso support portion  13  ( FIGS. 3A-3D ) and a neck portion  14 . 
         [0015]    The hood  12  covers the head of the wearer and holds the loose hair of the wearer in a generally stable position. 
         [0016]    The torso support portion  13  attaches the hooded garment  10  on the torso of the wearer. In the embodiment shown, the torso support portion  13  attaches the hooded garment  10  below the armpits of the wearer, in order to be secured thereto. In another embodiment, the hooded garment  10  may be used without a torso support portion  13  and solely including a hood  12  and a neck portion  14 . 
         [0017]    The neck portion  14  interconnects the hood  12  to the torso support portion  13  and accommodates the neck of the wearer. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the hooded garment  10  has a hood  12  with a back head portion, a top portion, a front head portion, and lateral portions, in addition to the neck portion  14 . The hood  12  is sized to anatomically conform the head of the wearer, with the exception of a pocket, as mentioned below. Accordingly, the hood  12  may come in different sizes and/or different geometries and/or different textile materials comprising elastomeric fibers. A face opening  20  is defined in the front head portion. The face opening  20  is sized so as to allow a portion of the face of the wearer to be exposed when the hooded garment  10  is worn. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3D , an upper peripheral edge of the face opening  20  is above the brows of the wearer, while a lower peripheral edge of the face opening  20  is below the chin. Other sizes are considered as well, for instance, to cover most of the face of the wearer with the exception of the eyes, for protection in cold-weather use, or for covering one&#39;s face (e.g., facial protection, mask, religious requirements). 
         [0019]    Although not shown, an elastic may be provided at the periphery of the face opening  20  to ensure that the periphery of the face opening  20  is held against the skin of the wearer. 
         [0020]    A pocket  21  is positioned in the back head portion of the hood  12 . The pocket  21  is a cavity defined by additional material in this area of the hood  12  with regard to the usual anatomy of the back of the head of the wearer. Accordingly, the cavity is defined as a pocket as it accommodates the loose hair of the wearer, such as a ponytail, long back hair, mullet or the like. 
         [0021]    An elastic  22  is positioned below the pocket  21  and is in a generally horizontal position. The elastic  22  will stabilize the rear of the hood  12  when loose hair is accommodated in the pocket  21  and will help maintain and hold the wearer&#39;s hair in place against the back of the wearer&#39;s head, for instance when sudden movements are performed by the wearer. The elastic  22  may also hold the wearer&#39;s hair even if the hair is not in the pocket, but simply against the back of the wearer&#39;s head. In other embodiments, the elastic  22  may be positioned vertically or may be curved, for example, in the shape of a half-circle or in the shape of a crescent moon. 
         [0022]    An opening  23  is adjacent to the elastic  22 , and in the embodiment shown, is below the elastic  22 . The opening  23  is typically a slit in the back head portion of the hood  12 , and is generally parallel to the elastic  22 . The opening  23  will allow a user to manipulate loose hair from the back head portion of the hood  12 , for instance to position the loose hair in the pocket  21 . The opening  23  is closeable by a fastener  24 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the fastener may be a button system (including one or more buttons and appropriate slits), or any other appropriate fastener such as Velcro™, a zipper closure or the like. 
         [0023]    A protective strip  25  extending from a portion of the neck portion  14 , in proximity of the opening  23 , may be provided to cover the fastener  24 . In one embodiment, the protective strip  25  may be elastic. In another embodiment, the protective strip  25  is directly over the fastener, and may be folded away for the wearer to readily access the fastener  24 . 
         [0024]    As seen in  FIG. 2A , a tail portion  26  of additional material may be provided as connected to the hood  12  above the opening  23 . The tail portion  26  will extend toward the neck portion  14 , and will be caught between a remainder of the hood  12  and the back of the head and neck of the wearer, thereby adding stability to the back head portion of the hood  12 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2C , the above-referred components of the hood  12  are illustrated, and the method of closing the opening  23  is described. Referring to  FIG. 2A , the tail portion  26  is insertable through the opening  23  and will extend toward the neck portion  14 . In doing so, the hood  12  will have the tail portion  26  and elastic  22  to stabilize the back of the hood  12  when hair is accommodated in the pocket  21 . 
         [0026]    Once the loose hair is in the pocket  21  and the tail portion  26  is entered via the opening  23  and extended towards the neck portion  14 , the fasteners  24  close the opening  23 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2B . Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 2C , the protective strip  25  is folded over the fasteners  24 , thereby preventing the fasteners  24  from becoming entangled with the surrounding environment. In another embodiment, depending on the type of fastener  24  used, the opening  23  may not be fully closed. In one embodiment, the fastener  24  may simply be used to attach one side of the opening  23  to an opposite side of the opening, while not necessarily fully closing the opening  23 , so as to allow air flow therethrough or to keep part of the hair outside. 
         [0027]    If the hooded garment  10  has a torso support portion  13 , referring to  FIG. 4 , the hooded garment  10  is shown having different configurations for the torso support portion  13 . The torso support portion  13  may have arm openings  30 , a breast section  31 , a stomach section  32 , and a lower body portion  33  of different shapes. The torso support portion  13  may have sleeves of different lengths, such as full length, midlength, short, or may alternatively be sleeveless. In one embodiment, the hooded garment  10  may extend to a person&#39;s lower abdomen and may include a crotch strap or undergarment connecting a front portion of the hooded garment to a back portion of the hooded garment  10 . It is pointed out that the hooded garment  10  may have supplementary materials in the breast section  31  ( FIG. 4 ) to be used as a bra. 
         [0028]    The hooded garment may be made using various materials, including one of or a combination of textile materials generally used for athletic garb or for various other uses, such as stretchable fabrics, for example spandex, or a mixture of spandex and other materials such as polyester, woven, knitted, non-woven fibers and finishes. In one embodiment, the material may be elastic and air-breathable. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, the hooded garment  10  may include a front opening or side opening, such that the hooded garment may be put on in a manner similar to a vest. In one embodiment, the front opening may be located on a front portion of the torso support portion  13  and may extend from the bottom of the torso support portion  13  up to the neck portion  14 . In another embodiments, the front opening may extend into the neck portion  14  and to the face opening. In one embodiment, the side opening may be located on a lateral portion of the hooded garment  10  and may extend from a bottom of the torso support portion  13  and to a sleeve or arm opening of the torso support portion  13 . Alternatively, the side opening may extend to the neck portion  14 . The front openings or side openings may be opened and closed using fasteners thereof, for example zippers. 
         [0030]    Now that the hooded garment  10  and its various possible components have been described, there is illustrated a sequence of installation of the hooded garment by a user person. 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 3A , the user person is illustrated without the hooded garment  10 . The user person may have various undergarments, such as a bra, as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 3B , the hooded garment  10  is put on by the wearer such that the torso support portion  13  covers the torso of the wearer. According to an embodiment, the head of the wearer passes through the opening  23  such that the hood  12  is in front of the wearer, who can easily manipulate the various components of the hood  12 . 
         [0033]    From  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3D , the hood  12  is flipped over the head of the wearer, such that the head is tucked into the hood  12  and the wearer&#39;s loose hair is tucked into the pocket  21 , with the face aligned with the face opening  20 . During this sequence, the hood  12  presses the wearer&#39;s hair against the back of the wearer&#39;s head and holds the hair in place thereagainst. 
         [0034]    At that moment, the sequence of closing as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C  is applied, if the hooded garment  10  has a tail portion  26 , and as shown in  FIG. 3C , the fasteners  24  are closed, thereby closing the opening  23 .