WO2018138393A1 - Swimming cap that is gentle on the hair - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a swimming article consisting of a cap that protects the hair, for use during recreational swimming and other water sports. The cap comprises a three-part cavity for receiving the hair, including a lower concave portion that is joined to the middle and upper convex portions at the ears, creating a stable, non-constricting internal space. The cap also comprises an internal positioning-blocking unit consisting of: 1) an annular band, one end of which is joined to the edge of the cap, gently securing the cap on the user's head; and 2) a leak-preventing strip which overhangs the annular band at the nape of the neck, such as to fill in the irregular spaces in the shape of the head in this region, in order to stop and absorb any possible leaks. The invention includes graphical illustrations of three embodiments of the cap.

Description

 RESPECTFUL BATH HAT WITH HAIR

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL SECTOR

At present, many manufacturers of swimming articles seem interested in predicting barium caps that, thanks to their materials and design, manage to reduce the frieefSn in the water of the frontal surface of the head and, consequently, improve the speed of swimmers of competition, its supposedly main users.

 By concentrating mostly on such objectives and recipients, the manufacturers of the sector seem to ignore the existence of that other large group of potential users who are recreational bathers of all ages, who would like to be able to wear bathing caps that were: baggy ( with sufficient interior space and well distributed to properly accommodate hair of different lengths or maintain hairstyles of different shapes and volumes); tobacconists (of materials and structures that made them impermeable and resistant to the entry of liquids); comfortable (of materials and structure that made its easy set-up and removal, and comfortable grip on the head); and sober (invoice, size and materials that will highlight them as little as possible from conventional barium caps).

 Unfortunately, the bathing caps offered by the market do not necessarily have such qualities. Therefore, and given that in many public aquatic facilities the use of the hat is mandatory, a large number of potential users, and users, not having the bathing cap that meets their needs, renounces the practice of water exercise, and with it to the beneficial effects of the same in his physical and mental health.

PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE

In spite of the scarce presence in the market of barium hats with the qualities indicated above (slack, tightness, comfort and sobriety), there is no shortage of inventors who have long tried to achieve them.

Representative examples of ii jointly interested in the Swim cap slack includes those of the following patents: "Bathing cap" US

Pat. No. 2465998 A, by Frederick W. Bowditch (1949); "Bathing cap" US Pat. Do not.

3206761 A, by Beatrice Melnikolf (1965); "Water Aeradle Cover for trie Hair" US Pat.

No. 20150000002 A1, by Linda Gale Brown (2015); "Bathing cap 'US Pat. No. 3996621" A, by Liselotte Martienssen (1974); and "Swimming cap" US Pat No.

20140109281 by Waller, Johnson and Neal (2014).

 To achieve capacity, the cap in the Bowditch patent (1949) uses a cavity for the accommodation of the hair, composed of several wide segments of rigid material that fold to both sides of a zipper that, when closed, constrains them adjusting the back of the hat. The cap also has a strap that fastens under the chin to ensure the support and tightness of the front of the chin.

 The cap in Melnikolf's (1965) patent consists of a semi-spherical flexible piece with laces crimped with eyelets, which adjust its volume to the user's hair. The semi-hemispherical piece has a lateral expansion bellows that facilitates the accommodation of the hair, and a strip that holds the cap to the head with a pressure denim or similar is bordered.

 Brown's patent (2015) reveals a swimming cap that resembles a large shower cap bordered by a silicone adjustment band. Given its breadth, the cap easily adapts to different head sizes and accommodates hairstyles of varying lengths and volumes.

 The Martienssen patent (1974) presents a cap composed of a flexible receptacle that loosely envelops the hair, an annular band composed of three segments that follow the contour of the hairline in the areas of the forehead, temples and neck, and an elastic oval ring placed between the cap and the band and attached to both.

 The cap patented by Waller, Johnson and Neal (2014) consists of a cavity, bordered internally by a silicone band, which extends into the neck. Said enlargement allows to accommodate the long hair collected in the form of a low bun, in the area below the superior nuchal line and the external occipital protuberance of the occipital bone. This minimizes neck depression in that area and potentially improves swimming hydrodynamics.

Illustrative examples of inventions primarily concerned with the tightness of the bathing cap include those disclosed in patents such as: ^• Waterttgftt cap "US Pat. No. 20,100,192,273, by Karetha Dodd (2010);" Leak-proof cap with improved seal construction "US Pat. No. 5,349,702, by John L, Runckel (1994);" Bathing cap "US Pat. No. 2,285,659, by Howland Thomas (1942); and" Waterproof cap "ES Pat. No. 1,074,697 U, of Fe Cerezo Miró (2012).

 The barium cap patented by Dodd (2010) consists of a cavity that ends at an annular edge, and an elastic margin attached to the cavity by said edge. To optimize its tightness, the cap can additionally include two straps that, dragging from the aforementioned elastic margin at the height of the ears, are fastened at the back of the neck by means of a girdle mechanism like the sailboat.

 The hat in the Runckel patent (1994) comprises a hemispherical cavity that covers the upper part of the head of the wearer, and to which a band that covers the forehead, temples and the back of the user's neck is delineated. The cap further comprises an internal sealing structure consisting of an inflatable air chamber and a ribbon of foam material superimposed thereon. When inflated, the chamber, protected by foam tape, seals the large and small bumps on the head, thus preventing possible leaks.

 Thomas's patent (1942) shows a cap with a main cavity and a per rib mounted on a flexible piece attached to the Interior of the cap. Said assembly supports the ribs in the bay, so that when the user's head presses against them, they move away from each other and oscillate towards the inner face of the cavity. In doing so, the ribs force the air out of the space between them, thereby preventing possible leaks.

 The cap of the Cerezo Miró patent (2012) lies in a plastic bag bordered by a tubular duct with an elastic silicone tape attached to it that allows the cap to be adjusted to the scalp without pressing it; Both plastic bag and tubular duct are inflatable and have decompression valves. The cap also has a standard, textile or other material cap, with which the plastic bag is coated once the decompression is carried out by means of a portable vacuum pump.

 Without a doubt, the previous models are not exempt from limitations such as the following:

1) the receptacles that house the hair in some of the caps that address the amplitude (for example, those patented by Brown or Martienssen) lack the necessary structure to properly maintain the hairstyle. In addition, the bulkiness of these receptacles makes the caps too flashy, which limits their popularization among many water sports practitioners; 2) the structuring of the cavity for the accommodation of the hair in any of the other models concerned with the amplitude, poses other problems. For example, in the cap of Waller, Johnson and Neal, the protrusion of the receptacle for the distancing of the long hair in the nuchal zone can compromise the tightness of the cap, since due to its weight, said hair can cause leaks when pressing down the cap adjustment band; Y

 3) certain devices used by some of the models considered are somewhat problematic. For example, zippers, presses, laces or eyelets used by caps that opt for breadth (for example, Bowditch's or Melnikolf's) may deteriorate rapidly upon contact with the chemicals used for water sanitation in aquatic facilities Similarly, belts, inflatable chambers, or vacuum valves used by caps that look for tightness (for example, those patented by Dodd, Runckel, or Cerezo Miró) can be uncomfortable, difficult to handle, and easily breakable.

 Therefore, in the light of the prior art that illustrates, among others, the above-mentioned models, it would seem that there is still room to create a bathing cap that, like the one described below, maintains the hairstyle, prevents Let the hair get wet, it is comfortable to wear, and it attracts the target user by its discretion. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention disclosed herein is to create a bathing cap that, due to its slack, tightness, comfort and sobriety, interests that wide female and male clientele, who practices, or would like to practice, recreational swimming or other water sports. competitive.

 The invention is embodied in the Respectful Bath Cap with the Hair that, among others, offers three possible embodiments, "A." "B," and "C." In its "A," mode, the cap consists of a main body in which the hair is inserted, and a fixing-blocking unit responsible for holding and sealing the cap.

The main body includes: a) an upper portion in the form of a spherical cap that prevents the flattening of the upper part of bulky hairstyles, or allows the placement of long hair collected in a compact manner (v. Gr., Bun or tail) of horse ^ b) a middle portion in the form of a spherical zone composed of twelve assembled pieces that ensure the stability of the portion's shape and provide adequate space to accommodate the thickness of the hair; and c) one lower portion consisting of a concave revolution surface. Such a surface determines that, when sheathed, the lower portion of the cap contacts the wearer's head below the hairline and separates from it above that line.

 This tripartite structure of the main body, which as a whole replicates to a certain extent the structure of a standard hairstyle, gives the hat enough slack to prevent deforming the hairstyle and ensure that its use is comfortable.

 As for the cap fixing-locking unit, it consists of an annular clamping band that ensures the positioning of the cap on the user's head. Made of elastic material, the band is attached to the edge of the lower forgiveness of the main body by only one of its walls; this means that, on the one hand, the pressure of the band on the user's head is reduced, which increases the comfort of the hat, and on the other, that the band gains in ductility thanks to its loose edge.

 This unit also includes the leakage blocking strip. Attached to the inner face of the annular band of support and protruding by the loose edge of it, the strip is characterized by the absorption power provided by its manufacture in folds and its manufacturing material, and by the area of protection it reaches given its outgoing placement on the annular band. By filling in the spaces that can be formed between the inner face of the hat and the irregular areas of the head such as the neck and temples, the blocking strip stops and absorbs the water that could enter through the edge of the hat and wet the hair.

 In its three rounds, the rubber can additionally include two other leakage blocking strips. In such a case, the strips are placed on the annular fastening band and run along the temples to prevent them, given their often concave contour, from becoming additional points of water entry.

 The cap can be manufactured in several different sizes by the size of one or more of its components, including the height and width of the three main body portions, the diameter of the annular fastening band and the width of the locking strip of leaks These standard sizes can be based on quantitative data resulting from a large population sampling on dimensions of skulls and necks and hair volumes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The Respectful Cap with the Hair offers, among other possible, three embodiments illustrated by the seven Figures included in this Report: the "A," mode exemplified by Figures 1 to 4; mode "B," displayed by Figures 5; and the "C," mode represented by Figures 6 and 7.

 "A" mode

 Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view of the hat.

 Figure Shows a front perspective view of the inside of the hat.

 Figure 3 - Shows a front perspective view of an enlarged fragment of Figure 2, which highlights the components (16) and (17) inside the hat.

 Figure 4.- Shows a side perspective view of the inside of the cap placed on the user's head.

 "B" mode

 Figure 5.- It shows a latter in front perspective of the rubber.

 "C" mode

 Figure 6.- Shows a front perspective view of the inside of the hat.

 Figure 7.- Shows a front perspective view of an enlarged fragment of Figure 6, which highlights the components (17), (21), and (22) of the inside of the cap.

DRAWINGS: REFERENCE NUMBERS

11: upper portion of the spherical cap-shaped bathing cap

 12: middle portion of hat in the form of a spherical zone

 13: one of the twelve pieces of material that make up the middle portion of the hat

14: lower portion of the cap consisting of a concave revolution surface

¨5: purse covering a strip of the lower portion 14

 16: annular band for fastening the cap to the user's head

 17: Filtration blocking strip attached to the annular band 16

 18: in "B" mode, the lower portion of the main body of the hat

 19: in mode "B," one of the twelve pieces that make up the lower portion 18

20: in "C" mode, main body of the molded cap in one piece

 21: in "C," annular clamping band consisting of an extension of 20 folded inwards from the edge of the hat opening

22: in mode "C," loop that holds the filtration blocking strip 17 attached to the annular band 21 WAYS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

Next, and with the support of Figures 1-7 mentioned, the three embodiments of the aforementioned cap are described in detail.

"A" mode

Figure 1 offers a frontal perspective of the porctenes (11), (12) and (14), of the main body of the Cap Respectful with the Hair in its "A" mode.

superior (11) es un casquete esférico cuya forma puede obtenerse, entre otras maneras, aplicando pinzas de costura a una pieza circular del material elegido para la manufactura del gorro, o juntando por dos de sus lados de modo que coincidan en un vértice común, varias piezas triangulares del material de fabricación seleccionado.

upper (11) is a spherical cap whose shape can be obtained, among other ways, by applying sewing tweezers to a circular piece of the material chosen for the manufacture of the cap, or joining on two sides so that they coincide in a common vertex, several triangular pieces of the selected manufacturing material.

 The middle portion (12) consists of a spherical zone composed of twelve pieces (13). Six of the pieces alternate with the other six placed in reverse, which optimizes the control of possible variations of curvature of the portion.

 The lower portion (14) is a concave revolution surface that enables the gathering (15) that covers part of the portion and configures the opening of the cap.

 Figure 2 provides a front perspective of the inside of the cap showing the back of the portions (11), (12) and (14) and the components of the locking-locking unit. The latter include the annular band (16), which ensures the attachment of the cap to the wearer's head, and the locking strip (17), which prevents water seepage through the edge of the cap.

 Figure 3 offers a front perspective view of an enlarged fragment of the lower portion (14) which allows the components (16) and (17) of the fixing-locking unit to be seen in detail. The figure shows the annular fastening band (16) with its lower edge joined by a stitching at the edge of the cap, and the filtration blocking strip (17) fastened by stitching to the inner face of (16) and freely protruding from the upper edge of it.

 The annular band (16), being sewn to the lower portion (14) only by its lower edge, exerts less pressure on the head of the wearer of the hat and, therefore, makes the use more comfortable.

In addition, the fact that the annular band (16) is loose at its upper edge facilitates the function of blocking the strip (17) attached thereto. Thanks to its "flexible union ^* eon the annular band, the blocking strip, and in particular its protruding portion, can be rearranged in the recesses of the area of the neck that borders the scalp until detareas of the ears, whose forrea and temera vary from one person to another , and become an effective water absorbing barrier that could infiltrate it.

 Figure 4 offers a side perspective of the inside of the cap placed on the head of the user viewing: the upper portion (11) of the cap covering the highest part of the skull; the middle portion (12) covering the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital bones; and the inner portion (14) contoured stretched the left side of the face and neck.

 Figure 4 also shows the annular band (16) circling the head by the frontal, sphenodal and temporal bones, below the earlobe, and by the neck area. The Figure also reveals the position of the filtration blocking strip (17) on the area of the band (16) corresponding to the back of the head between both ears, in the area of the neck.

 This interior view of the left side of the hat offered in Figure 4, reveals the space between the hat and the user's head. Structured so that it is born by the hairline in (14), it grows gradually in (12), and reaches its maximum in (11), this space minimizes the crushing of the hairstyle and prevents its deformation.

"B" mode

Figure 5 provides a frontal perspective of the Cap Respectful with the Hair in its "B." This cap differs from the "A" mode in the structure of its lower portion (18).

 The concave revolution surface of the lower portion (18) of the cap according to "B" is the result, not of the puckering (15) to which the infqrjer portion (14) of the cap according to "A," but of the twelve pieces ( 19) alternately arranged in a straight and reverse direction that constitute the portion.

 The structure of this portion (18) allows diversifying the range of manufacturing materials of the hat. Thus, while the "A" mode uses waterproof and rigid materials (v. Gr., Polyethylene-vinyl acetate), the "B" mode allows the use of materials that besides being waterproof are elastic (v. Gr, waterproof lycra and elastic, waterproof spandex).

These differences in structure and materials of the modalities "A" and "B" affect the type of stretching experienced by the lower portions (14) and (18), and in the type of interior space that said stretching generates when the cap is placed on the head. While in the "A" mode the gathering of the puckering (15) affects the entire lower portion (14), in the "B" mode, the stretching of the lower portion (18) mostly impacts the six pieces (19) whose assembled bases form the edge of the hat opening.

The «after six pieces (19) are stretched little given that * by their inverted position with respect to their homonyms, they affect the opening of the hat only by its vertices. However, these pieces, being connected to the six pieces (13) of the middle portion (12), ensure that the space between the skull and the inner face of said pieces is distributed and increases evenly from the bottom portion to the middle portion hat: the result is a cap with a structurally more defined and stable than the mode "a interior space, ^* which can attract users primarily prioritize conservation of the shape of your hair during the aquatic exercised.

 Although not shown in Figure 5, the "B" mode cap also includes the annular retaining band (16) and the filtration blocking strip (17) of the "A" mode cap, illustrated in the Figures. 2 and 3

Modality "C" Figure 6 provides an internal front perspective of the Bath Gum

Respectful with Hair in its "C." mode Made of rubber compounds or custom molded polymers such as silicones (v. Gr, methyl vinyl sibeone), the main body of the cap according to this modality integrates in a single piece (20) the portions (11) and (12) of the modality "A" and portion (18) of modality "B." The piece maintains the ribs of the joints of the three portions, as well as the ribs of the joints of the various pieces (13) and (19) that constitute djphas portions.

 Inside, the hat has the annular fixing band (21). Instead of being a separate element sewn or glued to the portion (14), or to the portion (18), as is the band (16) of the modalities "A" and "B." said band is an extension of the piece (20) that constitutes the main body, folded inwards from the edge of the hat opening. However, like the band (16), the band (21) has its innermost side loose.

Also inside, the cap in its "C" mode has the filtration blocking strip (17). This strip, however, is not sewn or glued to (16), as it is in the "A" and "B," but is fastened to (21) by several loops (22) made of the same materials as ( 20) and (21) (v. Gr, rubber or custom molded palm trees).

 Figure 7 provides an internal front perspective of an enlarged part of Figure 6, in which three of the loops (22) joined by their two ends to the annular fastening band (21), one to the upper edge free of this and the other to the inner face of it.

 The use of the loops (22) in the "C" mode of the cap allows the filtering block strip (17) to be removed and washed and dried. This prevents premature deterioration that the strip could suffer if it were fixed and, therefore, in permanent contact with the other low-breathable materials, such as rubber or polymers, of which the cap is made.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The three modalities "A," "B," and "C." of the swimming cap object of this Utility Model contemplate the use for its manufacture of materials that, outlined above, synthesizes this section.

 For the manufacture of the main body of the cap in its "A" mode, rigid, very light, and waterproof materials such as, among others, polyethylene vinyl acetate, and woven nylon fabrics coated with silicone (v. Gr. , silnylon).

 For the manufacture of the main body of the güiro in its "B" mode, it is possible to use waterproof, light, and highly extensive fabrics (v. Gr, lycra

Waterproof and elastic, waterproof spandex).

 The annular fastening band in the "A" and "B" modalities of the hat can be made with elastic materials such as rubber, latex, silicone or the like. On the other hand, the cap filtration strip of the cap in its three modalities can be made of microfiber fabric, or similar, very fine and highly absorbent.

pueden fabricarse con compuestos de caucho o pollmeros moideados a medida como las silteonas (v. gr., metil vinil silicona). The main body, the annular fastening band, and the fastening loops of the cap locking strip in its modality

They can be manufactured with rubber compounds or custom-made polymers such as silteones (e.g., methyl vinyl silicone).

 For the elaboration of the gathering of the lower portion of the goiiro in its mooMdad

"A," and of the folds of the filtration blocking strip in its three modalities, elastic wire, or other suitable equivalents may be used.

Claims

1. Barium cap that for its manufacture allows to use diverse waterproof techniques and materials and that is characterized by:  to. a main body that depends:  - an upper portion consisting of a spherical cap in which the long collected hair or the high part of bulky hairstyles is housed,  - a middle portion consisting of a spherical zone composed of twelve pieces in which the thickness of the hair is accommodated, and  - a lower portion consisting of a surface of concave revolution, which can be achieved in several ways, in which the adjacent hair facing front, temples, and back of the neck is housed,  b. an internal locking-locking unit comprising:  - an annular band of fastening ^ of elastic material such as, among others, latex, joined by only one of its edges to the edge of the lower portion of the main body, and  - a strip of blockage of leaks, with folds and absorbent material such as, among others, the mtcrofiber, which joins on one of its sides to the inner face of the fastening band while on the other it protrudes above the loose edge of said band, filling the gaps that may be formed between the inner wall of the hat and the irregularities of the head in the area of the neck that borders the scalp behind the ears. 2. Bathing cap according to claim 1, which in its Modality "A" (Figures 1 to 4) is characterized by:  - the puckering that covers a strip of the inferring portion of the main body and enables the concave shape of said portion, and  - waterproof and rigid materials that use the three portions, upper, middle, and lower, of the main body, such as polyethylene-vinyl acetate, silnylon, or the like. 3. Bathing cap according to claim 1, which in its Modality "B" (Figure 5) is characterized by:  - the twelve pieces that give the lower portion of the main body its concave shape, and - waterproof and elastic materials used by all three upper, middle, and lower forgiveness of the main body, such as lycra, spandex, or the like. 4. Bathing cap according to claim 1, which in its "C" mode (Figures 6 and 7) is characterized in that:  - the main body is a single single piece molded on the upper and middle portions of the cap in its "A" and "B," and the lower portion thereof in its "B,"  - the annular fastening band is an extension of the urea part of the main body, folded into the cap from its opening and detached from the wall thereof,  - the filtration blocking strip is removable and is held on the inner face of the annular fastening band by means of loops whose ends are attached respectively to the inner face and the free edge of said band,  - In the manufacture of the single piece of the main body, the annular band and the loops, rubber compounds or custom molded polymers are used, such as silicones (e.g., methyl vinyl silicone). and molding techniques, or the like, are used instead of sewing, gluing, or the like, which are used in the "A" and "B" modalities of the hat. 5. Bathing cap according to claim 1, which in its modalities "A", "B" and "C" is characterized by:  - the possible inclusion of two blocking straps of additional filtrations to prevent the potential penetration of water in the cap through the often concave areas of the temples.