Swimming cap with waterproof pouch

Abstract

The swimming cap with waterproof pouch is a cap that holds a digital music player within a resealable pouch disposed within the cap. A pair of audio cables is sheathed within the cap and extends from the pouch down through the cap. One end of each of the audio cables extends into the pouch and terminates in an audio plug adapted to connect to the music player. The other end of each of the audio cables terminates in an ear bud integrated into the cap. The user is able to listen to music coming from the digital music player without exposing any electronic elements to the water.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to swimming caps, and particularly to a swimming cap with a waterproof pouch for a digital music player.

2. Description of the Related Art

Swimming is a favorite pastime of many people who want to maintain physical fitness. Most avid swimmers tend to use a swimming cap when doing laps or other such water-related activities. While runners, weight-lifters and the like may use an electronic device, such as a walkman or CD player, in order to relieve boredom while exercising, swimmers do not have the luxury of listening to music as they engage in their activity, in part because electronics are fairly dangerous in water and can be short-circuited in water.

There are some devices that exist on the market which allow swimmers to use waterproof music devices in the water, without causing harm to the user. A web page published at www.waterproofmusic.com/waterproof.html, at least as of Jan. 12, 2005, shows multiple devices that may allow a user to listen to music without exposing the electronic player to water. However, the waterproof devices are not integrated directly into a swimming cap, requiring users to fumble with both the waterproof player cases and the swim cap. Also, earplugs or ear buds and the audio cables that transmit the music to the earplugs or ear buds are not integrated directly into the swimming cap, requiring multiple devices that generally make for an inconvenient combination.

Accordingly, there is a need for a swimming cap that integrates essential electronic components into the cap itself and allows a digital music player to be used with the cap. Thus, a swimming cap with a waterproof pouch solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The swimming cap with waterproof pouch is a swim cap that holds a digital music player within the cap and allows the user to swim without exposing the player to water damage. The swimming cap with waterproof pouch is designed to easily fit on the head of a user and to permit the user to listen to music provided from a digital music player.

The swimming cap, made from a flexible material adapted for being worn on a swimmer's head, includes a reclosable, waterproof pouch disposed within the cap for holding the player. A pair of audio cables is sheathed within the cap and extends from the pouch down through the cap. One end of each of the audio cables extends into the pouch and terminates in an audio plug adapted to connect to the music player. The audio plugs are designed to be inserted into a corresponding audio jack in the player. The other end of each of the audio cables terminates in an ear bud integrated into the cap. The user is able to listen to music coming from the digital music player without exposing any electronic elements to the water.

The pouch includes a resealable opening into which the digital music player is placed. The swimming cap may also include a strap adapted to fit under the user's chin in order to secure the cap tightly to the user's head.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a swimming cap with waterproof pouch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an environmental front view of the swimming cap with waterproof pouch according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an environmental side view of the swimming cap with waterproof pouch according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a swimming cap that is able to hold a digital music player without exposing the player to damage by water. The swimming cap with waterproof pouch, designated generally as 10 in the drawings, allows a digital music player to be stored within a swimming cap and permits the user to listen to music while swimming.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, an environmental, perspective view of the swimming cap with a waterproof pouch 10 is shown. The swimming cap with waterproof pouch 10 is a cap 12 of flexible, waterproof material, such as latex or rubber, which is adapted for being worn on a swimmer's head. A reclosable, waterproof pouch 14 is disposed within the cap 12. The pouch 14 is adapted to receive a digital music player 16. A pair of audio cables 18 is sheathed within the cap 12 and extends from the pouch 14 down through the cap 12 to a position next to the ears of the user when the swimming cap 10 is worn on the user's head. One end of each of the audio cables 18 extends into the pouch 14 and has an audio plug 20 electrically connected thereto. Either each cable 18 may terminate in a separate audio plug, or the cables 18 may be joined to a single audio plug in the pouch 14. The audio plug(s) 20 is adapted to connect to an audio jack(s) in the digital music player 16. The other end of each of the audio cables 18 is electrically connected to an ear bud 22. The ear buds 22 are housed within the cap 12 and are located in the earflaps on each side of the cap 12 next to the user's ears.

The user may fit a digital music player 16 into the reclosable, waterproof pouch 14 that is built into the cap 12. The audio plugs 20 are then inserted into a jack or jacks in the music player 16. Upon activation of the player 16, the audio cables 18 carry the audio signals to the ear buds 22. The user is then able to hear music coming from the digital music player 16 without exposing any electronic elements to the water.

FIG. 3 shows an environmental side view of the swimming cap with waterproof pouch 10. The cap 10 is placed on the user's head. The pouch 14 includes a resealable opening 40 into which the music player 16 is placed. The opening 40 is sealed with a continuous waterproof fastener, such as a zip lock fastener having two flexible strips of interlocking ribs, but may be sealed with any fastener that keeps water from reaching the player 16. While the resealable opening 40 is shown at the back of the pouch 14, any side of the pouch 14 may include a resealable opening 40 through which a digital music player 16 may be inserted into the pouch 14.

The audio cables 18 extend through the cap 12 and end as ear buds 22. Once the swimming cap 10 is fitted on the user's head, the ear buds 22 are inserted within the ears of the user, allowing the user to hear the music emanating from the music player 16 without having any electronic elements exposed to the water in which the user swims.

The swimming cap with waterproof pouch 10 also may include a strap 30 adapted to fit under the user's chin in order to secure the cap with pouch 10 tightly to the user's head. The cap 12 may be made with any suitable material for use in water, including rubber, latex, etc.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A swimming cap, comprising:

a cap of flexible material adapted for being worn on a swimmer's head;

a reclosable, waterproof pouch disposed within the cap, the pouch being adapted for receiving a digital music player;

a pair of ear buds housed within the cap;

at least one audio plug extending into the pouch, the plug being adapted for connection to the music player; and

a pair of audio cables sheathed within the cap and electrically connecting the ear buds to the audio plug.

2. The swimming cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap is made from rubber.

3. The swimming cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap is made from latex.

4. The swimming cap according to claim 1, further comprising a chin strap attached to the cap and adapted for being worn under the chin of a user.

5. A swimming cap, comprising:

a digital music player;

a cap of flexible material adapted for being worn on a swimmer's head;

a reclosable, waterproof pouch disposed within the cap, the pouch being adapted for receiving the music player;

a pair of ear buds housed within the cap;

at least one audio plug extending into the pouch, the plug being adapted for connection to the digital music player; and

a pair of audio cables sheathed within the cap and electrically connecting the ear buds to the audio plug.

6. The swimming cap according to claim 5, wherein the cap is made from rubber.

7. The swimming cap according to claim 5, wherein the cap is made from latex.

8. The swimming cap according to claim 5, further comprising a chin strap attached to the cap adapted for being worn under the chin of a user.

9. A swimming cap, comprising:

a cap of flexible material adapted for being worn on a swimmer's head;

a reclosable, waterproof pouch disposed within the cap, the pouch being adapted for receiving a digital music player;

at least one ear bud housed within the cap;

at least one audio plug extending into the pouch, the plug being adapted for connection to the music player; and

at least one audio cable sheathed within the cap and electrically connecting the ear bud to the audio plug.

10. The swimming cap according to claim 9, wherein the cap is made from rubber.

11. The swimming cap according to claim 9, wherein the cap is made from latex.

12. The swimming cap according to claim 9, further comprising a chin strap attached to the cap adapted for being worn under the chin of a user.