Abstract: The invention relates to a disposable protective cap, particularly a disposable nurse's cap. The cap is formed from a rectangular sheet of nonwoven fabric having a pair of opposed side edges and a pair of opposed end edges. The sheet is pleated along longitudinal fold-lines parallel to the opposed pair of side edges and the pair of opposed side edges are secured together. The pleats are secured together at one end of the pleated sheet and the other end of the pleated sheet is at least partly elasticated to provide an expandable and contractable opening for the head. The invention also provides an apparatus and method for producing the cap and in particular an apparatus and method for the continuous production of the cap.

Abstract: This invention relates to an item of disposable protective headwear, particularly surgical headwear. The headwear has a crown-piece formed from a rectangular sheet of nonwoven fabric, e.g . a viscose rayon nonwoven fabric, having a pair of opposed side edges and a pair of opposed end edges. The sheet is pleated along longitudinal foldlines parallel to the opposed pair of side edges, and at least some of the pleats are secured together at each end of the pleated sheet. The opposed side edges being secured to a head-band of nonwoven fabric provided with tie-strings. In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a surgeons cap and a in another a surgeons hood. The invention also provides a method and apparatus for producing disposable protective headwear and in particular a method and apparatus for continuous production of disposable protective headwear.