WO2009143612A1

WO2009143612A1 - Disposable system for stain protection during hair dying

Info

Publication number: WO2009143612A1
Application number: PCT/CA2009/000722
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nick Antonacci
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-26
Filing date: 2009-05-26
Publication date: 2009-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-26
Also published as: CA2632333A1

Abstract

A disposable kit for home hair dying including a cape, two ear covers, two gloves and a cap. The cape has a generally centrally located elasticized neck band, generally rectangular front and rear protective panels forming two sleeves, free corners of the front and rear panels being tacked together under each of the sleeves to constrain the outer surfaces of a dye stained cape from untoward deformation and movement to protect a user's clothes and furnishings from dye stains. The free corners are preferably tacked by seams extending from bottom edges of the panels upwardly and arcuately outwardly to side edges of the panels. The cape, ear covers, gloves and cap may have textured surfaces with micro pockets to trap excess dye, and may be made of a bio- degratible material, preferably a blend of a light weight polymer and between 73% to 80% calcium carbonate.

Description

DISPOSABLE SYSTEM FOR STAIN PROTECTION DURING HAIR DYING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to protective coverings for use during hair dying. In particular, the invention relates to a protection system including a cape and ear covers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is commonly know that women, and sometimes men, periodically colour their hair. This may be to cover greying or white hair, or merely to experience a different look. This is often a messy procedure, especially if the person colouring their hair has very long and/or very full hair. For this reason, women have typically preferred to go to salons so that a trained hair dresser will colour the patron's hair under controlled circumstances and usually without staining the patron's clothes which are typically protected by a liquid impermeable cape. However, hair colouring or dying at a salon is often an expensive proposition, especially if performed frequently.

Accordingly, numerous hair colouring products have been introduced into the market place for colouring a person's hair at home. Unfortunately, due to the lack of proper hair dye protectors, the dye often gets into the ears of a user and/or often drips down a person's neck and onto the clothing of a user. This is a problem especially where the user colours their own hair without help from a second person.

However, the use of a simple cape of waterproof material is not always effective during home hair colouring. A person colouring their own hair necessarily needs to use their hands in order to work the colour into the hair. As the arms are lifted while working the colour preparation into the hair, this lifts side edges of the cape which may have hair colouring preparation on them, and which sides may then flap around and curl inwardly and stain the clothing below. This is also a problem where the user rushes to answer a telephone or attempts to perform various house work while retaining the dye in the user's hair for setting the colour and is still wearing the cape. This problem would ordinarily be aggravated if inexpensive thin materials are used to protect against home hair dying procedures which could result in the edges of such covers being susceptible to fairly minor wind variations such as running to answer a telephone, which may result in a stained side of a cover flapping over and staining the garment below, and possibly other objects as the user passes by.

Additionally, any smooth materials that may be used for protection against stains during hair dying, may result in excess run-off which may run off the bottom edge of a cape of such material resulting in ruining the clothing below the bottom edge of the cape.

Accordingly, an improved system for home hair dying is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A disposable kit for home hair dying including a cape, two ear covers, two gloves and a cap. The cape has a generally centrally located elasticized neck band, generally rectangular front and rear protective panels forming two sleeves, free corners of the front and rear panels being tacked together under each of the sleeves to constrain the outer surfaces of a dye stained cape from untoward deformation and movement to protect a user's clothes and furnishings from dye stains. The free corners are preferably tacked by seams extending from bottom edges of the panels upwardly and arcuately outwardly to side edges of the panels. The cape, ear covers, gloves and cap may have textured surfaces with micro pockets to trap excess dye, and may be made of a bio-degradable material, preferably a blend of a light weight polymer and between 73% to 80% calcium carbonate.

A disposable kit for stain protection during hair dying comprising a disposable cape consisting of a substantially rectangular sheet of waterproof material comprising a generally centrally located neck aperture defined by an absorbent elasticized neck band, the neck aperture bounded by opposing shoulder portions defining a front panel with generally lower right front and lower left front corners, and a rear panel with generally lower right rear and lower left rear corners, the generally lower right front corner tacked to the generally lower right rear corner, and the generally lower left front corner tacked to the generally lower left rear corner, the front panel and the rear panel and tacked generally lower corners defining two sleeves extending from the shoulder portions and defining a torso opening, whereby the cape in constrained from untoward deformation and movement to protect a wearer's clothes from wet dye on the outer surface of the front and rear panels. The Kit wherein the front panel and the rear panel are tacked together by seams extending from bottom edges of the front panel and rear panel and arcuately transitioning into side edges of the front and rear panels.

The Kit further comprising two ear covers of waterproof material having elasticized absorbent ear bands.

The Kit further comprising two gloves of a waterproof material.

The Kit further comprising a head cap of waterproof material having an elasticized absorbent head band.

The Kit wherein the waterproof material is textured to form micro-pockets to retard the flow of dye.

The Kit wherein the waterproof material is a biodegradable material.

The Kit wherein the biodegradable material is a blend of calcium carbonate and a lightweight polymer.

The Kit wherein the blend comprises between about 73% to 80% calcium carbonate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1 is a front perspective view of the cape, ear covers, gloves and cap of the

Disposable System for Stain Protection During Hair Dying, showing environment in stippled lines.

FIG 2 is a front elevational view of the cape, ear covers, gloves and cap of the

Disposable System for Stain Protection During Hair Dying of Fig. 1 showing environment in stippled lines: FIG 3 is a front elevational view of the cape of the Disposable System for Stain

Protection During Hair Dying of Fig. 1 shown laid flat;

FIG 4 is a top plan view of the cape of the Disposable System for Stain Protection

During Hair Dying of Fig 1 shown laid flat;

FIG 5 is a left side elevational view of the cape of the Disposable System for Stain

Protection During Hair Dying of Fig. 1 shown laid flat;

FIG 6 is a right side elevational view of the cape of the Disposable System for Stain Protection During Hair Dying of Fig. 1 shown laid flat;

FIG 7 is a bottom plan view of the cape of the Disposable System for Stain

Protection During Hair Dying of Fig. 1 shown laid flat; FIG 8 is a rear elevational view of the cape of the Disposable System for Stain

Protection During Hair Dying of Fig. 1 shown laid flat;

FIG 9 is a top plan view of a glove of the Disposable System for Stain Protection

During Hair Dying shown laid flat;

FIG 10 is a right side elevational view of the glove of the Disposable System for Stain

Protection During Hair Dying of Fig. 9 laid flat;

FIG 11 is a rear elevational view of the glove of the Disposable System for Stain Protection During Hair Dying of Fig. 9 laid flat;

FIG 12 is a front elevational view of the glove of the Disposable System for Stain

Protection During Hair Dying of Fig. 9 laid flat; FIG 13 is a left side elevational view of the glove of the Disposable System for Stain

Protection During Hair Dying of Fig. 9 laid flat; is a top plan view of a cap of the Disposable System for Stain Protection

During Hair Dying; is a front elevational view of the cap of the Disposable System for Stain

Protection During Hair Dying of Fig. 14; is a bottom plan view of the cap of the Disposable System for Stain Protection

During Hair Dying of Fig. 14; is an outer side elevational view of an ear cover of the Disposable System for

Stain Protection During Hair Dying; is a front elevational view of the ear cover of the Disposable System for Stain Protection During Hair Dying shown in unworn position of Fig. 17; is an inner side elevational view of the ear cover of the Disposable System for

Stain Protection During Hair Dying of Fig. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment is described below with reference to the figures. Figure 1 shows a cap 10 with an elasticized cotton head band 12 bonded to gatherings 14 of cap 10 for keeping hair 16 saturated with a coloured dye in place for a desired length of time in order for the dye to take to the hair 16.

Figure 2 also shows left and right ear covers 20 of thin flexible waterproof material having a periphery 24 attached to an elasticized cotton ear band 26 while in a stretched state defining ear cover gatherings 28 when elasticized cotton ear band 26 is in a relaxed or less stretched state in turn defining an ear cavity 30 sized to receive a human ear .

Figure 1 also shows cape 40 consisting of a sheet 42 of waterproof material, sheet 42 comprising a generally centrally located neck aperture 46 attached an elasticized cotton neck band 44 while the elasticized cotton neck band 44 is in its stretched state. Neck aperture gathers 48 are formed when elasticized cotton neck band 44 retracts to form a substantially water resistant seal between the elasticised cotton neck band 44 and the wearer's neck 38.

Once a wear's head 36 is pushed through neck aperture 46 and elasticized cotton neck band 44, the elasticized cotton neck band 44 retracts around a wearer's neck 18 and sheet 42 is draped over a wearer's shoulders defining front panel 50 and rear panel 52. Sheet 42 is preferably rectangular when elasticised cotton neck band 44 is in a stretched state, sheet 42 need not be rectangular provided that the required coverage is maintained. Front panel bottom edge 56 and rear panel bottom edge 58 preferably fall to approximately the same generally horizontal plane 60 between the user's waist and hips. The lower right corner 62 of front panel 50 is then tacked to the lower right corner 64 of rear panel 52 and the lower left corner 66 of front panel 50 is tacked to the lower left corner 68 of rear panel 52, both preferably by heat welding or similar process, generally defining right arm opening 70 and left arm opening 72, and torso opening 74. The tacking has the benefit of preventing the otherwise free corners 62, 64, 66 and 68 from twisting around and allowing dye on the outside front and rear surfaces 32,34 of the cape to stain the garment of the wearer underneath the cape or to allow such corners 62, 64, 66 and 68 to be blown against furniture or other objects.

Preferably tacking 76, 78 is in the form of a seam 80 generally parallel to the left and right sides of the users torso from the bottom edges 56, 58 of front panel 50 and rear panel 52. Preferably seams 80 extend from the bottom edges 56, 58, upwardly to under the users arms about half the distance from bottom edges 56, 58 to top edge 82, defining arm apertures 70, 72 resulting in better protection from any leakage onto garments. Alternatively, and preferably, seams 80 would be extended outwardly defining sleeves 82. Preferably seam 80 has arcuate transitions 81 into sides 83 of front and rear panels 50, 52 which is believed to give cape 40 a greater resistance against tearing.

Cape 40 is preferably made from a waterproof material with a non glossy finish, such as a matte finish, which is believed to help to retard the travel of drips of hair dye along the surface of the cape 40. Further, the outer surface of the cape 40 is provided with a textured surface which results in a number of micro pockets for trapping running hair dye as it travels along the outer surface of cape 40 further reducing the travel of hair dye downwardly along the outside front or rear surfaces 32, 34, of front panel 50 or rear panel 52. Such texturing may be in the form of diamond knurling or any other suitable texture to trap a portion of a hair dye travelling downwardly along outer surfaces 32, 34 of the cape 40. One such material which may be used to construct sheet 42 is a blend of calcium carbonate and light weight polymer which makes the material substantially biodegradable. Preferably sheets 42 are made from a material comprising at least 73% calcium carbonate and the remainder made from light weight polymer. Sheets 42 of a blend of calcium carbonate and light weight polymer may still be substantially biodegradable with a calcium carbonate of between 73% and 80%. A Preferably, cape 40, ear covers 20, cap 10 and gloves 11 are all made from a water proof material with a non glossy finish, such as a matte finish, and a surface texturing which provides for micro pockets for trapping dye run off, which cape 40, ear covers 20, cap 10 and gloves 11 co-operate with each other in various ways. During hair colouring operations, the ear covers 20 are usually very close to the hair 16 which is required to be covered, by the dye resulting in a significant amount of dye landing on the ear covers 20. Hair dye falling onto the ear covers 20 must travel downwardly over the outer surface 84 of ear cover 20 or the inner surface 86 of ear cover 20. By travelling downwardly over textured surfaces 84, 86 of the ear cover 20 it is possible to reduce the seepage of excess dye off an otherwise glossy finish of an ear covering resulting in less drippage onto cape 40 where the drippings may combine with other drippings on the cape, and which when combined may tend to run further downwardly on cape 40. Alternatively, by falling onto the top of the ear cover, the dye may flow downwardly along the inner surface of the ear cover 20 and either downwardly on either side of the elasticized cotton ear band 26 or along the upper portion of the inner side of ear cover 20 and onto elasticized cotton ear band 26 where excess dye is absorbed and trapped by the cotton fibres in the elasticized cotton ear band 26. This may result in less drippage which would otherwise drip down the side of a wearer's neck and onto the elasticized cotton neck band 44 of cape 40 thus potentially reducing the saturation level of hair dye in the elasticized cotton neck band 44 of cape 40 making it less likely that hair dye will leak through neck band 44 or between the neck 38 of the user and the elasticized cotton neck band 44 and onto the garment worn below.

The cap 10 requires texturing on at least on the inside surface 13 of the cap 10 which is intended to reduce dripping of dye setting in hair 16 by retarding the travel of excess hair dye along the inside textured surface 13 of cap 10 and resulting in less saturation of elasticized cotton head band 12 of cap 10 minimizing the amount of hair dye potentially running down a wearer's face and down the wearer's head onto or past elasticized cotton ear bands 26 and/or down the neck 38 of a user to and onto elasticized cotton neck band 44, again thus reducing the potential saturation of the elasticized cotton neck band 44 with excess hair dye, thus further reducing the possibility of the leakage of hair dye past the elasticized cotton neck band 44 to the garment below. The waterproof gloves 11 of the same material and same texturing further assists to keep the dye on the gloves as the dye is worked into the hair 16 where the cap 10 is not yet in place, reducing the amount of hair dye otherwise rolling off the user's gloves and onto the ear covers 20 and cape 40.

I will be understood to persons skilled in the art that the scope of the invention herein disclosed is not to be limited to the specific embodiments recited above hich are only recited by way of example.

PARTS LIST

10. Cap

11. Gloves 12. Elasticized cotton head band (of cap)

13. Inside textured surface of cap

14. Gatherings of cap 16. Hair (of user) 20. Ear covers 24. Periphery of material of ear cover

26. Elasticized cotton ear bands

28. Ear cover gatherings

32. Outside surface of front panel

34. Outside surface of rear panel 36. Head (of user)

38. Neck (of user)

40. Cape

42. Sheet of waterproof material

44. Elasticized cotton neck band 46. Generally centrally located neck aperture (of cape)

48. Neck aperture gathers

50. Front panel

52. Rear panel

56. Front panel bottom edge 58. Rear panel bottom edge

60. Generally horizontal plane (of bottom edges of front and rear panels)

62. Lower right corner (of front panel)

64. Lower right corner (of rear panel) 66. Lower left comer (of front panel)

68. Lower left corner (of rear panel)

70. Right arm opening

72. Left arm opening

74. Torso opening

76. Tacking (right)

78. Tacking (left)

80. Seam (heat welded)

81. Arcuate transition (of seams)

82. Top edge

83. Sides of front and rear panels

84. Outer surface of ear covers

86. Inner surface of ear covers

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A disposable kit for stain protection during hair dying comprising a disposable cape consisting of a substantially rectangular sheet of waterproof material comprising a generally centrally located neck aperture defined by an absorbent elasticized neck band, the neck aperture bounded by opposing shoulder portions defining a front panel with generally lower right front and lower left front corners, and a rear panel with generally lower right rear and lower left rear corners, the generally lower right front corner tacked to the generally lower right rear corner, and the generally lower left front corner tacked to the generally lower left rear corner, the front panel and the rear panel and tacked generally lower corners defining two sleeves extending from the shoulder portions and defining a torso opening, whereby the cape in constrained from untoward deformation and movement to protect a wearer's clothes from wet dye on the outer surface of the front and rear panels.

2. The Kit of claim 1 wherein the front panel and the rear panel are tacked together by seams extending from bottom edges of the front panel and rear panel and arcuately trans itioning into side edges of the front and rear panels.

3. The Kit of any one of claims 1 and 2 further comprising two ear covers of waterproof material having elasticized absorbent ear bands.

4. The Kit of claim 3 further comprising two gloves of a waterproof material.

5. The Kit of claim 4 further comprising a head cap of waterproof material having an elasticized absorbent head band.

6. The Kit of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the waterproof material is textured to form micropockets to retard the flow of dye.

7. The Kit of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the waterproof material is a biodegradable material.

8. The Kit of of claim 7 wherein the biodegradable material is a blend of calcium carbonate and a lightweight polymer.

9. The Kit of claim 8 wherein the blend comprises between about 73% to 80% calcuim carbonate.