Kerchief

Abstract

A kerchief member for wearing about the head, the kerchief member having a preformed securing means which is engagable at the rear portion of the wearer's head.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/695,180, filed Jun. 30, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a kerchief, and in particular, the kerchief of the type worn to protect the wearers head, maintain the wearer's hairstyle, and to absorb sweat.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In recent years, kerchiefs worn on the head have regained their popularity. This return to popularity may be attributed to sports wherein on any football Sunday, the viewer might see a professional football player having a kerchief disposed about his head before donning a football helmet. Construction workers typically wear a kerchief about their head when performing their work while wearing a hard hat. Still further, ordinary people during leisure activities may be seen wearing a kerchief about their heads in order to protect their scalp from the damaging rays of the sun, rather than wearing a hat.

In these instances, the kerchief, being a piece of square fabric, is folded to form a triangle and is fitted about the forehead, and two corners of the fabric serving as the ends are tied at the back of the head with the remaining fabric being tucked beneath the knot. Since the individual must tie the knot behind his head and not within view, the positioning and securing of a kerchief about the head requires some practice.

Applicant has developed a kerchief with a preformed securing means which eliminates the need for the wearer to secure the kerchief by tying a knot out of view behind the user's or wearer's head.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel kerchief having formed thereon a preformed securing means for securing the kerchief about the head of the user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel kerchief in which the securing means is elastic.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel kerchief for securing about the head of a wearer wherein the securing means is a preformed hook and loop fastener.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A kerchief member for wearing about the head, the kerchief member having a preformed securing means which is engagable at the rear portion of the wearer's head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein:

FIG. 1 is a planar view of the pattern of the kerchief of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the kerchief of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an individual's head and the present invention secured in one manner thereto; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the user's head with the second embodiment of the kerchief and the present invention secured thereto in an alternative manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a planar view of the pattern of the kerchief of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled kerchief. The kerchief 10 consists of a head piece 12 which is cut generally rectangular and defines an outer peripheral edge 14 formed by opposing lateral edges 14A and 14B and opposing longitudinal edges 14C and 14D. The outer peripheral edge 14 is turned on itself and double hemmed 16 about the peripheral edge 14. A neck or nape engaging member 18 is generally rectangular in shape having opposing longitudinal edges 18A and 18B and opposing lateral edges 18C and 18D. Neck or nape engaging member 18 is cut and designed to encapsulate a resilient elastic member 20 which is positioned centrally longitudinally on neck or nape member 18, neck or nape member 18 is then folded about the resilient elastic member 20 and seamed, joining edges 18A and 18B. The neck or nape engaging member 18 is then pleated 22 so that lateral edges 18C and 18D coincide with ends 20A and 20B of elastic member 20 and is then engaged with head piece 12 by having ends 18C and 18D of neck or nape engaging member 18 sewn at opposing points 24 of the peripheral edge of the head piece 12. In doing so, the head piece 12 proximate points 24 are folded or pleated 26 to give a shape to the head member. Additionally, neck or nape engaging member 18 is pleated 22 along its entire length, so as to allow for expansion when the elastic resilient member 20 is stretched about the nape or neck of the back of the head of the individual.

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of one embodiment of the kerchief 10 of the present invention and a manner in which it is worn. In this embodiment, the head piece 12 is placed over the head of the individual, with the front peripheral edge portion 14 abutting the forehead 32 and being taut with the head. The neck or nape engaging member 18 with resilient elastic member 20 is positioned proximate the rear of the ear 34 of the wearer and extends downwardly and about the nape of the neck or head 36. In this embodiment, the head piece so worn, presents a tail portion 38 which hangs over the neck or nape engaging member 18.

Considering FIG. 4 which is a perspective view of an alternate manner of wear of the kerchief 10 of the present invention, the kerchief is positioned on the head in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 3. In the second embodiment, the tail portion 38 can be tucked inside the resilient elastic neck engaging member 20 to provide for a taughtness of the head engaging member about the entire head.

The dimensions of the various elements of the kerchief may vary without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. However, it has been found that a head piece after the peripheral hemming, of a dimension of 15½ inches by 16 inches suffices for a great number of head sizes. The nape or neck engaging member with a length of 13½ inches and a width of 4 inches encapsulating a resilient flexible member of 6½ inches in length and 1½ inches in width suffices to provide sufficient tension about the neck or nape so as to maintain the kerchief in position.

The material used to construct the kerchief can be any suitable fabric. With respect to the head piece 12, consideration can be given to the type of use and the climatic conditions under which it will be worn to determine the required degree of absorbency desired by the material utilized.

While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.

Claims

1. A kerchief to be worn about the head, the kerchief comprising:

a head piece formed of cloth, cut generally rectangular, defining an outer peripheral edge, which outer peripheral edge is turned on itself and hemmed, said head piece defining a front portion and a rear portion;

a nape engaging member generally rectangular in shape having opposing longitudinal edges and opposing lateral edges, said nape engaging member is turned on itself and hemmed to encapsulate a resilient elastic member positioned centrally and longitudinally within said nape member, said nape engaging member being pleated so as its longitudinal ends coincide with said resilient elastic member, said nape engaging member being secured to opposing points on said peripheral edge of said head piece; said front portion of said peripheral edge of said head piece engaging a forehead portion of the head, said nape engaging member engaging the nape region of said head and said rear portion of said peripheral edge of said head piece extending about the rear portion of said head.

2. The kerchief in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rear portion of said peripheral edge of said head piece is positioned beneath said nape engaging member.

3. The kerchief in accordance with claim 1 wherein said head piece, said nape engaging member, and said resilient elastic member comprised of materials which are washable.

4. The kerchief in accordance with claim 1 wherein said head piece is formed of a perspiration absorbing cloth.