EP0486220A1

EP0486220A1 - Swim cap

Info

Publication number: EP0486220A1
Application number: EP91310312A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paula Sommers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-11-08
Filing date: 1991-11-07
Publication date: 1992-05-20
Also published as: GB2249710A; GB9024254D0

Abstract

A swim cap comprises a thin sheet 2 of elastic waterproof material of generally semicircular shape, and securing means 10 by which, in use, the thin sheet can be secured in a stretched manner tightly around a user's head.

Description

The invention relates to a swim cap, such as is used by bathers to keep their hair dry.
A traditional swim cap comprises a thin flexible sheet of slightly elastic material moulded into a shape substantially in conformity with a bather's scalp. The cap is pulled onto the bather's head, with the periphery of the cap fitting tightly around the bather's head to keep his or her hair dry.
A cap of this kind suffers from the disadvantage that a single cap will not comfortably and effectively fit bathers of all sizes. Furthermore, such a cap is not effective where the bather has a large amount of hair to be kept dry. Such caps are also of a dull overall appearance.
It is now proposed to provide a swim cap which overcomes the above problems, forming a cap of an overall attractive appearance.
According to the present invention there is provided a swim cap comprising a thin sheet of elastic waterproof material of generally semicircular shape, and securing means by which, in use, the thin sheet can be secured in a stretched manner tightly around a user's head.
By employing a semicircular shaped sheet of material, and securing means, it is possible to tightly draw the cap around any user's head, irrespective of head size or the amount of hair the user has, and to secure it in place, thereby preventing a user's hair from becoming wet on bathing.
The generally semicircular sheet has a substantially straight edge region constituting the diameter of the semicircle which, in use, forms a tight seal with the user's head.
The generally semicircular sheet has an edge region constituting the curved edge of the semicircle which, in use, is gathered together and secured by the securing means to thereby secure the sheet in a stretched condition over the user's head.
The securing means may comprise a tie, or an elasticated band through which the gathered material is pulled.
Such a tie, elasticated band or ring-shaped member affords a simple and effective way of tightly securing the sheet on the user's head.
Alternatively, the securing means may comprise ears formed integrally with and extending from the semicircular sheet, which ears are of sufficient length to enable them to be wrapped at least once each around the user's head in opposite direction to each other, and tied together in a knot, to thereby secure the sheet in a tightly stretched condition over the user's head.
The edge region constituting the curved edge of the semicircle may be provided with a saw-tooth shape, or other decorative pattern.
The swim cap may be used in combination with a hair net for use beneath the swim cap, which hair net comprises a net region and a peripheral sealing member joined thereto, which, in use, when covered by the swim cap forms a seal between the swim cap and the user's head. The sealing member may comprise an elastically deformable inner member covered in a thin, elastic waterproof material.
Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a sheet of a swim cap;
Fig. 2 shows the swim cap of Figure 1 as worn by a bather;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a swim cap;
Fig. 4 shows the swim cap of Figure 3 as worn by a bather; and
Fig. 5 shows a hair net for use in combination with the swim cap.

Turning firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, a sheet 2 of a first embodiment of a swim cap is shown. The sheet 2 comprises a thin member which is of a generally semicircular shape, and which is composed of a waterproof, flexible, and, somewhat elastic material, such as latex.
The generally semicircular shaped sheet 2 has a substantially straight edge region 4 constituting the diameter of the semicircle, which region, in use, is stretched around the user's head to form a tight seal therewith, thereby preventing water from reaching the user's hair on bathing. It is advantageous if, as compared to a precise semicircular shape, the exact shape is of a slightly flattened semicircle.
The cap is shown secured on a user's head in Figure 2. The cap is fitted by initially placing a central part 6 of the edge region 4 of the sheet 2 at the back of a user's head just below the hairline, and then stretching the cap around the sides and over the user's head with the edge region 4 lying just below the user's hairline, and gathering the excess material at the front of the head. This material, which constitutes at least a curved edge region 8 of the semicircular sheet 2, is pulled through a ring-shaped member or elasticated band 10 which grips the sheet tightly therein, thereby securing the cap in place in a stretched condition over the user's head. Alternatively, a simple tie could be used. Care should be taken to ensure that the user's hair, particularly if long, is arranged generally on top of the user's head, so that it does not protrude beyond the cap.
The excess material which has been gathered and secured at the front of the user's head gives the cap an interesting and attractive overall appearance. The curved edge region 8 is formed with a saw-tooth- shaped edge. Various other decorative shapes which further enhance the appearance of the swim cap can alternatively be used. The overall appearance of the cap, in use, lends itself well to carrying a surface decoration, for example, the design of a fruit where the edge region 8 which forms the excess material is printed with the design of the stalk of the fruit, and the part of the cap which is stretched over the user's hair is printed with a design representing the fruit itself.
A further embodiment is illustrated in Figure 3, with like parts denoted by like reference numerals. The swim cap comprises a generally semi-circular sheet 2 of thin elastic waterproof material 2 which is provided with ears 12 which extend substantially in the direction of the edge 4 which constitutes the diameter of the semicircle. The ears 12 constitute ties by which the cap is secured onto the user's head.
The cap is fitted onto the user's head by initially placing the central portion 6 of the edge region 4 at the back of the user's head, and stretching the cap around and over the user's head with the edge region 4 lying just below the user's hairline. The ears 12 are wound around the user's head in opposite directions to each other and tied with each other into a knot 14 at the front of the user's head in a mannerwhich secures the gathered excess material of the cap at the front of the user's head, maintaining the cap tightly on the user's head. The ears 12 may be sufficiently long so that they encircle the user's head twice before being knotted together. A tie or band may additionally be used to secure the gathered material, with the ears 12 being knotted together over the tie or band.
Either of these embodiments of the swim cap can, of course, be secured on the user's head in an alternative orientation, for example, with the gathered material secured by the band or ring-shaped member 10 or knot 14 at the side or at the back of the user's head.
I order to further improve the effectiveness of the cap in keeping a user's hair dry, a sealing net as shown in Figure 5, for use in combination with the swim cap, may be utilised. The sealing net 16 comprises a region of substantially elastic fibres which form a net 18 which is shaped so that on being pulled over a user's head, the net 18 covers the user's scalp. At the periphery of the net 18 a sealing member 20 is joined thereto. This sealing member comprises an inner member of an elastically deformable material such as a sponge-like material which is covered by an elastic waterproof material, such as latex. The sealing member 20 may additionally be shaped with recessed regions 22 which fit around a user's ears. The net 18 serves to keep the user's hair in place on the head, if the user's hair is long. The swim cap can then be put on the user's head over the sealing net 16, in the manner as described previously. The material of the swim cap which is tightly drawn around the user's head forms a tight seal with the sealing member 20, which in turn forms a tight seal with the user's head. This is the case even in the region around the user's ears, where traditional swim caps are particularly susceptible to leakage. Where a sponge-like material is provided within the sealing member 20, this is deformed slightly as the swim cap is wrapped around the user's head, thereby assisting in the formation of the tight seal. As an alternative, the sealing net may be permanently attached to the swim cap either in the region of the sealing member 20 thereof, or at a portion of the net 18.

Claims

1. A swim cap comprising a thin sheet (2) of elastic, waterproof material of generally semicircular shape, and securing means (10) by which, in use, the thin sheet (2) can be secured in a stretched manner tightly around a user's head.

2. A swim cap according to claim 1 wherein the generally semicircular sheet (2) has a substantially straight edge region (4) constituting the diameter of the semicircle which, in use, forms a tight seal with the user's head.

3. A swim cap according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the generally semicircular sheet has an edge region (8) constituting the curved edge of the semicircle which, in use, is gathered together and secured by the securing means (10) to thereby secure the sheet (2) in a stretched condition over the user's head.

4. A swim cap according to claim 3 wherein the securing means (10) comprises a tie by means of which the gathered material is secured.

5. A swim cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the securing means (10) comprises an elasticated band.

6. A swim cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the securing means comprise ears (12) formed integrally with and extending from the semicircular sheet (2), which ears (12) are of sufficient length to enable them to be wrapped at least once each around the user's head in opposite directions to each other, and tied together in a knot, to thereby secure the sheet (2) in a tightly stretched condition over the user's head.

7. A swim cap according to claim 3 wherein the edge region (8) constituting the curved edge of the semicircle is provided with a saw-tooth shape, or other decorative pattern.

8. A swim cap according to any preceding claim, in combination with a hair net (16) for use beneath the swim cap, which hair net (16) comprises a net region (18) and a peripheral sealing member (20) joined thereto, which, in use, when covered by the swim cap forms a seal between the swim cap and the user's head.

9. A swim cap in combination with a hair net, according to claim 8, wherein the sealing member (20) comprises an elastically deformable inner member covered in a thin elastic, waterproof material.

10. A swim cap in combination with a hair net, according to claim 9, wherein the elastic waterproof material of the swim cap and of the sealing member (20) is latex.