Hair Salon Cape with Smartphone Pocket

Abstract

A hair salon cape with a smartphone pocket provides a transparent large pocket on the front surface, with two apertures for the user's hands. Within the large pocket, one or more transparent small pockets are provided near the aperture on the right. The small pockets are sized appropriately for a smartphone, a baby bottle, or other small personal items which the user may need or wish to use while the user's hair is being cut or styled. The large pocket is capable of accommodating a small tablet or electronic reader. The material of the pockets is sufficiently flexible to allow the user to effectively use the keypad and touchscreen of an electronic device while wearing the cape, with the electronic device safely secured in one of the pockets.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/193,131, filed Jul. 16, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to hair salon equipment and supplies, and in particular to a hair salon cape with a smartphone pocket. Smartphones, tablets, and other mobile electronic devices have become essential items of daily equipment for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, certain types of salon hair treatments are very time consuming, and salon clients may not appreciate being cut off from use of their electronic devices for such an extended period. Some clients may attempt to use their electronic devices during hair cutting and styling, but this exposes a fragile and expensive electronic device to the risk of harsh chemicals or being dropped on the floor. A hair salon cape with a smartphone pocket, which is transparent and enables the client to use a smartphone which is secured in the pocket while wearing the cape, would resolve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a hair salon cape with a smartphone pocket. The cape provides a transparent large pocket on the front surface, with two apertures for the user's hands. Within the large pocket, one or more transparent small pockets are provided near the aperture on the right. The small pockets are sized appropriately for a smartphone, a baby bottle, or other small personal items which the user may need or wish to use while the user's hair is being cut or styled. The large pocket is capable of accommodating a small tablet or electronic reader. The material of the pockets is sufficiently flexible to allow the user to effectively use the keypad and touchscreen of an electronic device while wearing the cape, with the electronic device safely secured in one of the pockets.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing is included to provide a further understanding of the invention and is incorporated into and constitutes a part of the specification. It illustrates one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

The FIGURE is a front view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the cape 10, the neck fastener 11, the large pocket 12, the apertures 13, and the small pockets 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a hair salon cape 10 with a smartphone pocket.

It is to be understood that while the invention is intended for use in a hair salon, this is not intended as a limitation. With suitable modifications or with no modifications at all, the invention may be used in any situation where the user may wish to use a mobile electronic device while wearing a cape, apron, or some other protective covering, such as a cosmetic salon, a commercial kitchen, or a dentist's office.

The first exemplary embodiment is comprised of a cape 10 which is secured around the neck of the user with a neck fastener 11. The neck fastener 11 provides means for fastening the cape 10 around the neck of a user, and may utilize a drawstring, snaps, a zipper, hook and loop fasteners, or any other suitable fasteners for securing the cape around a user's neck. The cape 10 further provides a transparent large pocket 12 on the front surface 20, with two apertures 13 for the user's hands. The apertures preferably being located at the upper corners of the large pocket 12. Within the large pocket 12, one or more transparent small pockets 14 are provided near the aperture 13 on the right. Preferably, three small pockets 14 are provided. More or fewer small pockets 14 are contemplated. A left-handed version may also be available where the small pockets 14 are provided near the aperture 13 on the left.

The small pockets 14 are sized appropriately for a smartphone, a baby bottle, or other small personal items which the user may need or wish to use while the user's hair is being cut or styled in a hair salon. The large pocket 12 is capable of accommodating a small tablet or electronic reader.

The material of the pockets is sufficiently flexible to allow the user fit their hands inside the large pocket 12 along with the mobile electronic device, to effectively use the keypad and touchscreen of an electronic device while wearing the cape 10. The electronic device being safely secured within one of the pockets it is protected from hair clippings, water, hair products, or any other harmful substance that may otherwise come into contact with the mobile electronic device. The user may prepare, send, and read text messages, search or surf the Internet, clearly view stored images, and perform many other functions of the electronic device without removing the device from the pocket or removing the cape 10. It is not anticipated that the user will be able to make telephone calls or use the camera function while the electronic device is secured in one of the pockets.

While the pockets are transparent, the cape 10 itself may be transparent, translucent, or opaque, and is preferably capable of being cleaned and reused. The pockets may be removable to more easily enable laundering of the cape 10. An alternate embodiment, which is easily disposable, is contemplated. Other alternate embodiments, of greater overall length and providing a very large pocket, are also contemplated. The very large pocket is contemplated as being capable of containing and allowing the use of an opened laptop computer, large tablet, or other large electronic device, while the large electronic device is resting on the user's lap.

To use the first exemplary embodiment, the user may secure the cape 10 around the users neck, using the neck fastener 11 which is provided. The user may then insert a smartphone or other small electronic device into one of the small pockets 14, or a small tablet, an electronic reader such as a Nook™, or some other medium sized electronic device into the large pocket 12, such that the electronic device is face up, but the upper edge of the electronic device is oriented downward. Other small personal items may also be inserted into the other pockets.

The user may then proceed with a haircut or styling appointment. If the user desires to use the electronic device, the user may flip up the lower edge of the cape 10 such that the visual display and keypad of the electronic device may be easily viewed through the transparent material of the pocket. The user may then press keys on the keypad, or operate a touchscreen function on the electronic device, by pressing such control surfaces through the transparent material of the pocket. Alternatively, the user may insert their hands through the apertures 13 and hold/operate the electronic device from within the large pocket 12.

The cape 10 and the neck fastener 11 are preferably manufactured from a flexible, durable material which is easily cleaned, such as cotton fabric. The large pocket 12 and the small pockets 14 are preferably manufactured from a flexible, durable material which is transparent, such as plastic.

Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A salon cape with electronics pocket, comprising:

a. a cape having a front surface;

b. a neck fastener;

c. said neck fastener providing means for fastening the cape around the neck of a user;

d. a large transparent pocket being attached to the front surface of the cape;

e. said large transparent pocket including at least one aperture into the large transparent pocket; and

f. at least one smaller transparent pocket contained within the large transparent pocket.

2. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 1, wherein said at least one aperture is two apertures located at the upper corners of the large transparent pocket.

3. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 1, wherein said large transparent pocket is sized and shaped to accommodate a small tablet or electronic reading device.

4. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 2, wherein said large transparent pocket is sized and shaped to accommodate a small tablet or electronic reading device.

5. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 1, wherein said large transparent pocket is made of a flexible material such that a user may fit an electronic device and both hands within the large transparent pocket.

6. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 1, where said large transparent pocket is made of a material which allows a user to operate an electronic touchscreen device through the large transparent pocket.

7. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 3, where said large transparent pocket is made of a material which allows a user to operate an electronic touchscreen device through the large transparent pocket.

8. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 4, where said large transparent pocket is made of a material which allows a user to operate an electronic touchscreen device from the exterior of the large transparent pocket.

9. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 1, wherein said large transparent pocket is removable such that the large transparent pocket can be detached from the cape.

10. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 1, wherein said large transparent pocket is sized and shaped to accommodate a large tablet or laptop computer.

11. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 2, wherein said large transparent pocket is sized and shaped to accommodate a large tablet or laptop computer.

12. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 1, wherein said at least one smaller transparent pocket is three smaller transparent pockets.

13. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 12, wherein said three smaller transparent pockets are sized and shaped to accommodate small personal items.

14. The salon cape with electronics pocket of claim 13, wherein said small personal items include a smartphone or baby bottle.