MULTIPURPOSE WEARABLE HAIR CARE TOWEL AND METHODS FOR WEARING AND USING THE SAME
Disclosed is a wearable towel configured for assisting with the styling of one's hair and methods of wearing and using the towel.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/872,034, entitled “Multipurpose Wearable Hair Care Towel,” filed on Jul. 9, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of InventionThe disclosed concept relates generally to towels used for hair care. More particularly, the disclosed concept relates to a wearable towel particularly suitable for curly hair and methods for wearing and using the same.
2. Description of Related ArtIn caring for hair that is curly, wavy, coiled or kinky (hereinafter, “curly”), the hair must be styled when it is wet and in its natural curly state, to achieve optimal results. Styling includes, for example, raking products such as gels, conditioners and creams through one's wet hair. Gathering sections of one's curly hair at the ends and squeezing with the towel in the palm of one's hand towards the scalp, while the hair is wet, is known as “scrunching.” Scrunching removes water from the hair while encouraging, rather than disturbing, the curl. In contrast to persons with curly hair, individuals with straight hair are able to simply rub a towel around because they do not have a curl pattern to disturb. Typically, a person with curly hair who comes out of the shower or after a wash at the salon would style her hair with products and have her hair scrunched with a rectangular towel. While styling and scrunching, water and products will tend to drip and potentially soak and damage the person's neck, shoulders, back and chest, unless there is some sort of covering atop those areas. Such covering may typically include, for example, one or more towels lying over the top of the person's torso, or alternatively a single rectangular towel clipped together (e.g., using a hair clip) at two ends.
There thus is a strong need for a towel that addresses one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks of conventional towels and methods typically used when styling curly hair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, in one optional embodiment, a wearable towel is provided. The wearable towel is configured for assisting with the styling of one's hair. The towel includes a piece of fabric having a generally circular or oval perimeter when the piece of fabric lays flat. The piece of fabric has a first end at one point on the perimeter and a second end at another point on the perimeter, opposite the first end. The first end includes a slit running from the perimeter towards the second end, the slit leading to and opening into a neckband that is optionally round. The neckband is positioned generally in a central portion of the towel, the neckband being configured to seat around one's neck. The slit defines a first edge and a second edge, the first edge and second edge being configured to adjoin and/or overlap and fasten to one another. The first edge has at least one integral or permanently affixed first fastener component. The second edge has at least one integral or permanently affixed second fastener component. The first fastener component is configured to removably retain the second fastener component in a fastening relationship so as to form a fastener assembly.
Optionally, in any embodiment, the piece of fabric is made from a microfiber material. The inventors have found a microfiber material to be best for curly hair when drying, as the typical cotton/terrycloth towel is abrasive due to the raised fibers which causes fizziness, disruption of the curl spiral, and breakage/damage to the hair. Microfiber is a smooth and gentle material, yet powerful, removing excess wetness without drying out hair, damaging hair or otherwise ruining the look or styling process.
The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein:
The disclosed concept will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth here. Rather, these embodiments are examples of the invention, which has the full scope indicated by the language of the claims. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Unless indicated otherwise, the features characterizing the embodiments and aspects described in the following may be combined with each other, and the resulting combinations are also embodiments of the present invention.
Referring now in detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, there is shown in
Referring now to
The first end 16 includes a slit 20 extending from the perimeter 14 and running in a direction towards the second end 18. The slit 20 leads to and opens into a neckband 22 positioned generally in a central portion 24 of the towel 10. The term “central portion” 24 is used herein to indicate a position generally inward of the perimeter 14, which can include the geometric center of the piece of fabric 12, but is not necessarily limited thereto. Optionally, the neckband 22 is positioned within the central portion 24, at a location closer to the first end 16 of the towel 10 than the second end 18. The neckband 22 is optionally round and is preferably configured to fit snugly and comfortably around a person's neck when the towel 10 is worn.
The slit 20 defines a first edge 26 and an opposing second edge 28. As shown, the first edge 26 and second edge 28 are substantially linear in configuration and parallel to one another when separated, but other configurations are also contemplated. The first edge 26 and second edge 28 are configured to adjoin and/or slightly overlap with each other. The first edge 26 and second edges 28 are also configured to fasten, one to the other. The first edge 26 comprises at least one integral or permanently affixed first fastener component 30. The second edge 28 comprises at least one integral or permanently affixed second fastener component 32. The first fastener component 30 is configured to removably retain the second fastener component 32 in a fastening relationship so as to form a fastener assembly 34 or closure. In other words, the fastener assembly 34 is formed when respective fastener components 30,32 are connected to each other. Optionally, one or more such fastener assemblies 34 are provided. Formation of a respective fastener assembly 34 effectively connects the first edge 26 and second edge 28, making the towel 10 a wearable article. The fastener assembly 34 is configured to help retain the towel 10 when worn on a person, while being relatively simple for the wearer or a stylist to manually unfasten and remove.
The fastener assemblies 34 are visible in
As shown, when the first edge 26 is connected to the second edge 28, the towel 10 becomes a wearable article that comfortably seats around the person's neck and shoulders, covering the person's upper torso.
Optionally, the towel 10 is usable in a professional setting (e.g., salon) or may be used by a person who styles her or his own hair at home.
Optionally, a method for wearing the towel 10, e.g., as shown in
Optionally, in any embodiment, the piece of fabric 12 is a single layer of water permeable material. In other words, the towel 10 does not include a water impermeable layer, such as a plastic or rubber layer configured to be impervious to water or hydrophobic. Further, the towel 10 may comprise an outer side (facing outward when worn as shown in
While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
Claims
1. A wearable towel configured for assisting with the styling of one's hair, the wearable towel comprising:
- a. a piece of fabric having a circular or oval perimeter when the piece of fabric lays flat, the piece of fabric having a first end at one point on the perimeter and a second end at another point on the perimeter, opposite the first end;
- b. the first end comprising a slit running from the perimeter towards the second end, the slit leading to and opening into a neckband, the neckband positioned generally in a central portion of the wearable towel, the neckband being configured to seat around one's neck;
- c. the slit defining a first edge and a second edge, the first edge and second edge being configured to adjoin or overlap and fasten to one another, the first edge comprising at least one integral or permanently affixed first fastener component, the second edge comprising at least one integral or permanently affixed second fastener component, wherein the first fastener component is configured to removably retain the second fastener component in a fastening relationship so as to form a fastener assembly.
2. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the piece of fabric is made from a microfiber material.
3. The wearable towel of claim 2, wherein the microfiber material comprises synthetic fibers that are finer than one denier or decitex per thread, each fiber having a diameter of 10 μm or less.
4. The wearable towel of claim 2, wherein the microfiber is made from at least one member selected from the group consisting of: polyester, polyamide and polypropylene.
5. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the fastener assembly is a member selected from the group consisting of:
- a. snap button;
- b. button and button hole;
- c. hook and loop;
- d. hook and eye;
- e. zipper;
- f. buckle; and
- g. magnet.
6. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the piece of fabric is a single layer of water permeable material.
7. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the wearable towel does not include a water impermeable layer.
8. The wearable towel of claim 1 comprising an outer side and an inner side, wherein both the outer side and inner side are water absorbent.
9. The wearable towel of claim 8, wherein both the outer side and inner side comprise a microfiber material.
10. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the neckband is positioned at a location closer to the first end of the wearable towel than the second end.
11. A wearable towel configured for assisting with the styling of one's hair, the wearable towel consisting essentially of:
- a. a single piece of fabric having a circular or oval perimeter when the piece of fabric lays flat, the piece of fabric having a first end at one point on the perimeter and a second end at another point on the perimeter, opposite the first end, the single piece of fabric made from a microfiber material having an outer side and an inner side, wherein both the outer side and the inner side are water absorbent;
- b. the first end comprising a slit running from the perimeter towards the second end, the slit leading to and opening into a neckband, the neckband positioned generally in a central portion of the wearable towel at a location closer to the first end of the wearable towel than the second end, the neckband being configured to seat around one's neck;
- c. the slit defining a first edge and a second edge, the first edge and second edge being configured to adjoin or overlap and fasten to one another, the first edge comprising at least one integral or permanently affixed first fastener component, the second edge comprising at least one integral or permanently affixed second fastener component, wherein the first fastener component is configured to removably retain the second fastener component in a fastening relationship so as to form a fastener assembly.
12. A wearable towel configured for assisting with the styling of one's hair, the wearable towel comprising:
- a. a piece of fabric having a circular or oval perimeter when the piece of fabric lays flat, the piece of fabric having a first end at one point on the perimeter and a second end at another point on the perimeter, opposite the first end, the single piece of fabric made from a microfiber material having an outer side and an inner side, wherein both the outer side and the inner side are water absorbent;
- b. the first end comprising a slit running from the perimeter towards the second end, the slit leading to and opening into a neckband, the neckband positioned generally in a central portion of the wearable towel at a location closer to the first end of the wearable towel than the second end, the neckband being configured to seat around one's neck;
- c. the slit defining a first edge and a second edge, the first edge and second edge being configured to adjoin or overlap and fasten to one another, the first edge comprising at least one integral or permanently affixed first fastener component, the second edge comprising at least one integral or permanently affixed second fastener component, wherein the first fastener component is configured to removably retain the second fastener component in a fastening relationship so as to form a fastener assembly;
- wherein the wearable towel does not include a water impermeable layer.
13. A method of for wearing the wearable towel of claim 11, the method comprising:
- a. draping the wearable towel over a person's upper torso such that the neck band wraps around the person's neck and the slit is approximately centered down the person's chest; and
- b. removably retaining the at least one first fastener component to the corresponding at least one second fastener component to form the fastener assembly, thus securing the first edge to the second edge about a front of the person's torso and securing the wearable towel onto the person's upper torso to cover the person's chest, shoulders and a substantial portion or entirety of the person's back.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of scrunching the person's hair using the wearable towel while the person wears the wearable towel.
15. A method of for wearing the wearable towel of claim 12, the method comprising:
- a. draping the wearable towel over a person's upper torso such that the neck band wraps around the person's neck and the slit is approximately centered down the person's chest; and
- b. removably retaining the at least one first fastener component to the corresponding at least one second fastener component to form the fastener assembly, thus securing the first edge to the second edge about a front of the person's torso and securing the wearable towel onto the person's upper torso to cover the person's chest, shoulders and a substantial portion or entirety of the person's back.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of scrunching the person's hair using the wearable towel while the person wears the wearable towel.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 2, 2020
Publication Date: Jan 14, 2021
Inventors: Tiffany DiVirgilio (Voorhees, NJ), Cassandra Holloway (Horsham, PA)
Application Number: 16/919,554