LOOSE-FITTING HAIR COVERING

Abstract

A loose-fitting hair covering protects the wearer's hair, especially when in dreadlocks. The hair covering includes a strap assembly.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to apparel, and more particularly to a hair covering.

A headwrap is an article of apparel worn on the head that at least partially covers a person's hair. Headwraps can have many purposes, such as an ornamental or fashion hair accessory, a covering for convenience, a protective fabric for the hair and/or the scalp, and other purposes.

A head tie or headscarf is a type of headwrap that typically is a scarf-like textile, often 60 or 72 inches in length and four to eight inches in width, that is tied around a person's head, often in an intricate style. The term headscarf include apparel referred to as a turban, bonnet, khimar, dhuku, or hajib.

Often, a headscarf is oriented on a person's head to have a front and sides, such as headscarves having a bow. Headscarves of some types may be used for convenience (rather than styling hair or for protecting hair at night, as well as a fashion accessory. Typically, headwraps are formed of an elastic material to form a tight-fitting garment, or are otherwise tight-fitting. Other tight fitting headwraps include do-rags skull caps, and beanies. Often, headwraps are formed of an elastic material that stretches to enhance the fit on the head.

Referring to FIG. 8, portions of a person's head 110 is illustrated for identifying the terms used herein. The forehead 112 is the portion of the head above the eyebrows and below the hairline 114, which is identified by a dashed line. For persons who have lost hair or have a receding hairline, hairline 114 can be defined by a typical person's hairline before hair loss. The highest point on the head 110 is the vertex of crown 116. The crest or rearmost point on the rear protuberance is the occiput 118. Below the hairline at the rear of the hairline is the nape 120 of the neck.

SUMMARY

A hair covering fits loosely over at least a portion of the wearer's hair. The hair covering is "loose" to the extent that it is not greatly stretched to fit tight against the wearer's head to the extent that the tight-fitting damages hair. The hair covering can benefit the wearer's hear, but reducing hair breakage or damage from moisture loss, abrasion (such as against sheets and/or a pillow during sleeping), and exposure to the elements (such as sun, rain, and the like).

The hair covering may be especially useful for dreadlocks or like styled hair. The hair covering may be used for hair that is not in dreadlocks (and/or hair augmentation, such as weaves), without limitation. The hair covering may be applied onto wet or dry hair.

Thus, a loose-fitting hair covering for a person, the hair covering may include: a body forming a pocket-shaped enclosure and an opening, the opening defining an opening dimension; and a strap assembly attached to the body at the opening thereof, the strap assembly being adapted for alternately tightening to decrease the opening dimension and loosening to increase the opening dimension. The hair covering is adapted for being placed over a wearer's hair and tightened onto the wearer's hair while, thereby enclosing at least most of the wearer's hair. the hair covering may be loose-fitting when installed onto the wearer's hair.

The strap assembly may include an adjustment mechanism that is adapted for retaining strap in a desired position to retain a desired opening dimension. The adjustment mechanism may be a clip, a buckle, a drawstring and a release, and/or the like

The hair covering is adapted for being positioned approximately at the hairline of the user. The hair covering is adapted for being positioned approximately about the crown or occiput of the wearer's head.

The body of the hair covering may be formed of a flexible and/or breathable and/or elastic or inelastic material, and may be formed in a single piece.

The hair covering may be adapted for positioning under the wearer's ear or over the user's ear. The hair covering may be brimless and have no front and no back, and may be uniform about its perimeter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 is a photo of a hair covering illustrating an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the hair covering of FIG. 1 as worn on a person's head in a first position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the hair covering of FIG. 2 as worn on the person's head in a second position;

FIG. 4 is a photographic image of the hair covering placed on a wearer's head, illustrating tucking hair into the hair covering.

FIG. 5 is a photographic image of the hair covering taken after the photograph of FIG. 4, in the final stages of tucking the wearer's hair into the hair covering.

FIG. 6 is a photographic image of the covering, with the wearer's hair tucked into the hair covering, illustrating tightening the strap about the wearer's head.

FIG. 7 is a photographic image of the side-rear view of the hair covering after tightening the strap.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a person's head illustration terminology used herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, a hair covering 10 is adapted for being put over a person's hair. Hair covering 10 includes a body 20 and a strap assembly 40. Reference number 110 is used to indicate the wearer's hair. It is understood that hair covering 10 may be used with any hair, regardless of the wearer's gender, hair style, or type of hair in any regard.

Body 20 is formed of a fabric such that hair covering forms a recess or pocket 22 and includes an exterior surface 24. An opening 30 is formed in body 20 to receive a wearer's hair and head. Opposite opening 30, body 30 is closed to form a closed end 32. Body 20 in the embodiment illustrated in the figures is sew from a flat fabric or textile to form the pocket shape. The body may alternatively be formed, such as by knitting or weaving into a tubular shape that is closed, such as by sewing, fusing, riveting, or like process, at closed end 32. Other manufacturing methods may also be employed to form the shape of body 30.

The fabric of body 20may be a polyester, microfiber fabric or other man-made or natural material. The fabric preferably is a breathable fabric that may be fast drying. In some embodiments, the fabric may also wick moisture away. Examples include Supplex. Tacet, Meryl, or Dri-Fit. Other fabrics may be employed. The fabrics may be somewhat elastic, and/or inelastic with some Lycra (Spandex) added to enhance elasticity, or may be wholly inelastic. Body 32 may be any shape. Opening 30 preferably is circular, and other geometries are possible.

Strap assembly 40 is located at or near opening 30. Strap assembly 40 includes a drawstring or cord 44 and may include an adjustment mechanism 50. Cord 44 in the embodiment of the figures is a simple inelastic line that may be formed of a natural or man-made material. Cord 44 may also be a web of material, an elastic line (such as a bungee cord), or any other structure without limitation.

Cord 44 is located at or near opening 30 of the body of the hair covering 10. For example, cord 44 may be enclosed in a seam 46 formed at or near opening 30, may be affixed to body 20 by loops formed in or added to body 20, and/or the like.

The adjustment mechanism 50 illustrated in the figures is a spring-loaded clip having an opening through which cord 44 protrudes. The clip may be depressed or squeezed together to release the clip 50 from holding cord 44 to enable tightening of cord 44 about the wearer's head. Then the clip may be released such spring closes the clip to retain cord 44 in the desired position. Other configurations of cord 44 and/or adjustment mechanism 50 are contemplated. Where cord 44 is a flat web or belt, adjustment mechanism 50 may be a backpack buckle, including detachable, two piece buckles and/or a single piece buckle. The term "clip" is used herein to refer to as a spring-loaded clip, a backpack buckle, and/or other static or actuated mechanical mechanism. The adjustment mechanism 50 alternatively may merely be loose ends of cord 44 such that cord 44 may be tied in a bow or knot.

The position of adjustment mechanism 50 may be anywhere about the perimeter of body 20 or the wearer's head 110. In this regard, hair covering 10 may have a rim 54 at opening 30 that is uniform about its perimeter, without a front or back, may be without a brim (that is, "brimless").

Hair covering 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2 in a first position 11a on the wearer's head. In this regard, the opening 30 and/or rim 54 are located over the crown 116 and occiput 118 of the wearer's head, and above forehead 112 (that is, over or behind the hairline 114 at the front of the wearer's head) and above the nape 120 of the neck (that is, over or above the hairline 114 at the rear of the wearer's head). Hair covering 10 is above the wearer's ears such that the ears are wholly uncovered.

Hair covering 10 is illustrated in FIG. 3 in a secon position 11b on the wearer's head. In this regard, the opening 30 and/or rim 54 are located over the crown 116 and occiput 118 of the wearer's head, and on forehead 112 (that is, below or covering the hairline 114 at the front of the wearer's head) and at the nape 120 of the neck (that is, lower than or covering the hairline 114 at the rear of the wearer's head). Hair covering 10 is covers a portion of the wearer's ear.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4 - 7, a wearer may put on or wear hair covering 10 by first grasping hair covering 10 when loose (FIG. 1). As illustrated in FIG. 4, the wearer may place hair covering 10 on head 110 and begin tucking hair underneath hair covering 10, within the pocket 22 formed in the body 20. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, a portion of the strands of hair are tucked into pocket 22, with at least one large strand of dreadlock not yet tucked into hair covering 10.

FIG. 5 illustrates the final stages of tucking in hair into hair covering 10. When the tucking-in process is complete, the wearer may then actuate strap assembly 20 to close the opening 30 on the wearer's head by diminishing the opening dimension. The clip 50 is illustrated in FIG. 6 in close contact or near the wearer's head. The wearer then may tuck cord 44 into rim 54 such that cord 44 is within the interior of the body 20. FIG. 7 illustrates are rear view of hair covering 10 affixed to the wearer's head.

Hair covering 10 may be loose-fitting as that term is understood in the hair covering field. In this regard, body 20 may be inserted over the user's hair without undue stretching of the fabric and/or undue compression of the wearer's hear, as will be understood by person's familiar with hair coverings.

Looseness may be defined (if needed for definiteness) by an upper limit on the stretch of the body 20 when placed on the wearer's head. If the fabric is minimally stretched in any direction, such as no more than 30 percent of its original dimension (measured in the state of FIG. 1), the hair covering is loose-fitting.

The present invention has been illustrated with reference to structure and function of embodiments that are not intended to be limiting.

Claims

1. A loose-fitting hair covering for a person, the hair covering comprising:

a body forming a pocket-shaped enclosure and an opening, the opening defining an opening dimension; and

a strap assembly attached to the body at the opening thereof, the strap assembly being adapted for alternately tightening to decrease the opening dimension and loosening to increase the opening dimension;

wherein the hair covering is adapted for being placed over a wearer's hair and tightened onto the wearer's head at or above a wearer's hairline, thereby enclosing a majority of the wearer's hair.

2. The hair covering of claim 1 wherein the strap assembly includes an adjustment mechanism that is adapted for retaining strap in a desired position to retain a desired opening dimension.

3. The hair covering of claim 1 wherein the hair covering is loose-fitting when installed onto the wearer's hair.

4. The hair covering of claim 2 wherein the adjustment mechanism is a clip.

5. The hair covering of claim 2 wherein the hair covering is adapted for being positioned approximately at the hairline of the wearer.

6. The hair covering of claim 2 wherein the hair covering is adapted for being positioned approximately about a crown or an occiput of the wearer's head.

7. The hair covering of claim 2 wherein the adjustment mechanism is a buckle.

8. The hair covering of claim 2 wherein the adjustment mechanism is a drawstring and a release.

9. The hair covering of claim 1 wherein the body is formed of a flexible material.

10. The hair covering of claim 8 wherein the body is formed of a breathable material.

11. The hair covering of claim 1 wherein the strap is formed of an elastic material.

12. The hair covering of claim 1 wherein the strap is formed in an inelastic material.

13. The hair covering of claim 1 wherein the is a single piece.

14. The hair covering of claim 1 wherein the hair covering is adapted for positioning under a wearer's ears.

15. The hair covering of claim 1 wherein the hair covering is brimless.

16. The hair covering of claim 1 wherein the hair covering has no front and no back.

17. The hair covering of claim 1 wherein the hair covering is uniform about its perimeter.