PROTECTIVE CAPE FOR SALON CLIENTS

Abstract

A protective cape for salon clients of the type which is draped over the torso and fastened around the neck of a client, comprising a flexible sheet having a centrally located hole for encircling the neck, a perimeter, and a slit communicating between the centrally located hole and the perimeter. The slit extends laterally from the centrally located hole, so that the cape fastener is not located at the nape of the neck. The front and rear of the cape have greater length than the right and left sides. Optionally, the cape may have a collar, a collar fastener, and rounded corners where the front and rear edges meet the right and left edges. The overall configuration of the cape may in plan display symmetry from the front edge to the rear edge and symmetry from the right edge to the left edge, or may be generally trapezoidal.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a salon cape of the type used to shield the clothing and body of a person receiving hair care services from hair clippings and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People having their hair cut or chemically treated or both at hair salons are customarily provided with protective capes. These capes are usually fastened about the neck and draped over the upper torso at the back and at the front, and over the arms of the salon client, so that hair clippings, chemicals, and like contaminants will neither foul the clothing nor irritate the skin of the client.

While protective capes are effective in shielding the upper torso from these hazards, they nonetheless present irritation to the client or even a frustration to the salon personnel in that the cape may require manipulation or adjustment in the course of servicing the hair to provide fully effective coverage, or obstruct the work area should for example fasteners project from the cape excessively. This may arise from the traditional location of the usual slit which enables a cape to be placed on the body of the salon client in a position encircling the neck. The usual location is at the nape of the neck.

Because hair is usually directed to the back of the neck, it becomes easy in the course of handling the hair to have strands of hair engage snaps and other fasteners at the nape of the neck. This may be avoided by adjusting the position of the cape on the wearer. However, because most of the effective protective length of the cape is located at the front and the back, the front and back of the wearer may become inadequately protected after adjustment of the position of the cape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a protective salon cape having characteristics which overcome the above noted problems. According to one aspect of the invention, the novel cape has the usual slit located at or projecting to the side of the person, with most of the effective length of the cape located at the front and the back of the wearer. Therefore, adjustment as described above is no longer necessary.

It is an object of the invention to locate the usual slit in a salon cape which slit permits the cape to be placed around the neck to project in a substantially lateral direction relative to the effective length of the cape.

Another object of the invention is to reduce propensity of hair to become entangled with fasteners and other structure of a salon protective cape.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

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

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a protective cape according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail view of the left center of FIG. 1, showing the protective cape drawn into a slightly different configuration.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a protective cape according to a further aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a protective cape 10 for salon clients (not shown) of the type which is draped over the torso and fastened around the neck of the client. The protective cape 10 may comprise a flexible sheet 12 having a perimeter 14 along which are a front edge 16, a rear edge 18, a right edge 20, and a left edge 22. It should be stressed at the outset that orientational terms such as front, rear, right, left, overlying, and underlying refer to the drawing as viewed by an observer. Obviously, a salon cape such as the protective cape 10 may be maneuvered and oriented at the discretion of a person handling the salon cape. Therefore, it will be understood that orientation of a salon cape according to any aspect of the present invention is for purposes of providing semantic basis for the description, and not for purposes of limiting the invention. Similarly, structural distinctions of a salon cape according to at least one aspect of the invention are best described with the salon cape spread out flat on a flat surface. Therefore, where reference is made to viewing a salon cape in plan, such reference will imply for semantic purposes that the salon cape is spread out and flat. Obviously, a flexible sheet may be folded, bunched up, or otherwise made to depart from a flat spread condition.

For purposes of describing critical structure, there is no “upper” or “lower” side of a salon cape. It is recognized however that as a salon cape according to at least one aspect of the invention may actually be fabricated, it may be preferable to conceal from view features such as seams, reinforcement panels, and fasteners from view. Therefore, with primarily only aesthetics in mind, that surface which is free from features such as seams, reinforcement panels, and fasteners may be regarded as the upper or exterior surface.

The flexible sheet 12 may be made for example unitarily from a single piece of polymeric or woven or unwoven fabric, or may be made from plural joined panels of these materials in any combination as regards constituency, dimensions, and configuration. The constituent material may be a breathable yet moisture resistant material.

The overall length of the protective cape 10 extends from the front edge 16 to the rear edge 18. A centrally located opening 24 accommodates the neck of a salon client in that the neck passes through the centrally located opening 24 when the protective cape is fastened about the neck of the salon client. The protective cape 10 may be placed over the salon client by spreading apart the front left section from the rear left section, as depicted in FIG. 1, so that the neck of the salon client passes along a channel formed by a slit 26 which communicates between the centrally located opening 24 and the perimeter 12. In the depiction of FIG. 1, the slit 26 extends from the centrally located opening 24 to the left edge 22, and divides the left edge 22 in two.

The flexible sheet 12 may be said to comprise a front section 28 extending between the centrally located opening 24 and the front edge 16, a rear section 30 extending between the centrally located opening 24 and the rear edge 18, a right section 32 extending between the centrally located opening 24 and the right edge 20, and a left section 34 extending between the centrally located opening 24 and the left edge 22. The slit 26 extends from the centrally located opening 24 along the left section 34 as depicted in FIG. 1, but if desired could extend from the centrally located opening 24 along the right section 32 instead.

The front section 28 and the rear section 30 each has a respective length 36 or 38 which exceeds the respective lengths 40 or 42 of the right section 32 and of the left section 34. Magnitude of the length 36 and of the length 38, each taken from the border of the centrally located opening 24 to the perimeter 14, may be greater than thirty inches, in particular may be forty-two and one half inches. The open interior or interior diameter 44 of the centrally located opening 24 may be about nine inches, so that the total length of the protective cape 10 may be about ninety-four inches.

The length 36 of the front section 28 exceeds in magnitude the lengths 40 and 42 of the right section 32 and of the left section 34. It will also be observed that the lengths 36 and 38 are about equal to one another, so that the protective cape 10 may apart from the slit 26 display symmetry on the front and rear sides of the centrally located opening 24. Similarly, also apart from the slit 26, the right section 32 is essentially a mirror image of the left section 34.

As depicted herein, the slit 26 may be straight along its length, but could be otherwise if desired. The slit may be aligned with the center point (not shown) of the centrally located opening 24, but may be otherwise if desired. The center point is of course located at the intersection of hypothetical lines which divide the centrally located opening 24 along two orthogonal directions. The slit 26 could be arranged to engage the centrally located opening 24 tangentially (this embodiment is not shown), and extend to the right or left edge 20 or 22. The slit 26 may also be other than linear if desired.

The protective cape 10 may comprise a collar 46 which forms a border to the centrally located opening 24. This collar 46 may lie in coplanar relationship to the flexible panel 12 when the protective cape 10 is worn by a salon client if desired, or alternatively may project out of the plane of the flexible panel 12. Referring now to FIG. 2, the collar 46 may bear a fastener such as complementing patches 48 and 50 of hook and loop fastening material, so that the collar 46 may be disposed to releasably close about the neck of the client. The arrangement comprising complementing patches 48 and 50 of hook and loop material, or comprising another form of closure such as buttons or snaps (neither shown) for example, may be regarded as a neck closure. A neck closure is located near or at the slit 26 at the neck area of the protective cape 10, and is not dependent upon a discrete collar such as the collar 46.

FIG. 2 more particularly shows that a neck closure is provided at the area of the neck of the salon client and along the slit 26 by the complementing patches 48 and 50 of hook and loop fastening material located on tabbed members 51 and 53 respectively. The female tabbed member 51 bearing patches 48 of hook and loop material, so as to engage the patch 50 of hook and loop fastening material of the male tabbed member 53.

In addition to the closure provided by hook and loop complementing patches 48 and 50, or in place thereof, the protective cape 10 may be closed by complementing patches 52, 54 of hook and loop material disposed along the slit 26. More particularly, the patches 52, 54 may be located at the shoulder of the salon client. Exploiting the flexible nature of the constituent material, the flexible sheet 12 may be manipulated so that the slit 26 is eliminated by drawing one part of the left section 34, seen as an overlying section 56, to overly another part of the left section 34, the latter being seen as an underlying section 58. The terms “overlying” and “underlying” refer of course to the protective cape 10 as seen in plan view, such as the plan view of FIG. 1, but with the fastener closed as would occur when the protective cape 10 is fastened about the neck of a salon client. The closed condition is seen in FIG. 2, which is intentionally rendered in perspective.

The arrangement comprising the complementing patches 48, 50 of hook and loop material may be regarded as a shoulder closure. A shoulder closure comprises a closure member such as the complementing patches 48, 50 of hook and loop material or other fasteners, such as buttons or snaps (neither shown), which closure member is located near the shoulder area of the protective cape 10. The shoulder area is of course that part of the protective cape 10 which overlies the shoulder of the salon client when the salon client is in a seated position and has donned the protective cape 10. It should be noted that the shoulder closure is not limited to having fastener structure only at the shoulder area. The fastener structure may be continuously or discontinuously arrayed along the length of the slit 26 as desired. It is merely desired that at least one portion of the fastener structure assure that fastening be located near the shoulder area of the protective cape 10.

Either or both of the neck closure and the shoulder closure may be present in a protective cape according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a further aspect of the invention, namely, that the transitions between the front edge 16 and the left edge 22, between the front edge 16 and the right edge 20, between the rear edge 18 and the right edge 20, and between the rear edge 18 and the left edge 22 are all radiused or otherwise curved.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a protective cape 60 is shown. The protective cape 60 may comprise a flexible sheet 62 having a perimeter 64 along which are a front edge 66, a rear edge 68, a right edge 70, and a left edge 72. As seen in the plan view of FIG. 3, apart from the slit, the flexible sheet 62 displays a generally trapezoidal configuration. Other than characteristics relating to symmetry and equality of dimensions, this is the only significant difference with the protective cape 10 of FIG. 1.

The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concepts. For example, elements referred to in the singular may be provided in the plural, and where feasible, vice versa. Constituent material, such as the flexible sheets 12 and 62, and fastening material such as the hook and loop material 52 and 54, may be continuous in nature or discontinuous.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.

Claims

1. A protective cape for salon clients of the type which is draped over the torso and fastened around the neck of a salon client, comprising a flexible sheet, the flexible sheet including:

a perimeter including a front edge, a rear edge, a right edge, and a left edge,

a centrally located opening for accommodating the neck of the salon client,

a front section extending between the centrally located opening and the front edge and including a front length,

a rear section extending between the centrally located opening and the rear edge and including a rear length,

a right section extending between the centrally located opening and the right edge, and including a right length, the right length sufficient to protect an arm of a person wearing the cape from debris and fluid spills and less than the front length and the rear length,

a left section extending between the centrally located opening and the left edge and including a left length, the left length sufficient to protect an arm of a person wearing the cape from debris and fluid spills and less than the front length and the rear length,

a slit communicating between the centrally located opening and the perimeter, the slit extending from the centrally located opening along one of the right section and the left section, and

a manually releasable cape closure located at the slit adapted to fasten the cape snugly around a neck of the person wearing the cape in a manner that protects the neck and upper torso of the person from debris and fluid spills.

2. (canceled)

3. The protective cape of claim 1, further comprising a neck closure, the neck closure including a male tab and a female tab fastening element, whereby the male tab is securely engaged by the female fastening element.

4. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the cape closure comprises a shoulder closure for closing the protective cape over the torso of the salon client, wherein the shoulder closure comprises a closure member located near the shoulder area of the protective cape.

5. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the slit is straight along its length.

6. The protective cape of claim 5, wherein the centrally located opening has a center point, and the slit is aligned with the center point.

7. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the length of the front section is about equal to the length of the rear section.

8. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the right section is, apart from the slit, essentially a mirror image of the left section.

9. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the length of the front section is greater than thirty inches and the length of the rear section is greater than thirty inches.

10. The protective cape of claim 3, further comprising a collar disposed about the interior of the centrally located opening, wherein the collar may be closed about the neck of the client by the manually releasable cape closure.

11. The protective cape of claim 10, wherein the fastening element comprises hook and loop material.

12. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet comprises an underlying section defined at the slit when viewed in plan and an overlying section defined at the slit when viewed in plan, which said overlying section overlies the underlying section when viewed in plan and when the fastener is closed.

13. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein when viewed in plane, the transitions between the front edge and the left edge, between the front edge and the right edge, between the rear edge and the right edge, and between the rear edge and the left edge are all curved.

14. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet displays, apart from the slit, symmetry from the front edge to the rear edge and symmetry from the right edge to the left edge.

15. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet displays, apart from the slit, a generally trapezoidal configuration.

16. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet includes a moisture resistant material.

17. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet includes material resistant to chemicals commonly used to treat human hair.

18. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the left length and the right length are one third to one half of the front length.

19. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the left length and the right length are between 18 inches and 23 inches.

20. The protective cape of claim 1, wherein the front length is between 40 inches and 47 inches.