US20060048280A1

US20060048280A1 - Ear cover

Info

Publication number: US20060048280A1
Application number: US11/184,018
Authority: US
Inventors: Genice Goodwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-30
Filing date: 2004-08-30
Publication date: 2006-03-09

Abstract

An ear cover 10 is provided for protecting an individual's ear 12 from chemicals and moisture. The cover 10 is made of a lightweight flexible plastic material which is impervious to chemicals and water. The cover 10 is provided with side wall members 20 and 22, respectively, and lower and upper wall members 24 and 26, respectively. The side wall members 20 and 22 are integrally formed with the lower and upper wall members 24 and 26, so that an open area 28 is formed therebetween. The lower wall member 26 is provided with an elongated circular channel 30 formed therein. An elongated circularly shaped elastic member 32 is aligned in the channel 30 so that the cover 10 can engage areas around and adjacent to the ear and to be held in place over the ear 12.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an ear cover and more particularly to a device to be used to protect the ear from chemicals and/or moisture during hair treatment operations.
Hair treatment and cleansing operations are very common. The process may be as simple as washing an individual's hair or may become more elaborate requiring the use of chemicals and/or other liquid products. While having ones hair treated one may experience the discomfort of water in the ears during shampoos and rinse, chemical burns during perm treatment, and color or tint buildups on the ears during color treatments. The use of the liquids and/or chemicals can very often result in ear infections as well. The aforementioned are all things one may experience while visiting a salon or while at home. These things of course raise safety, health and comfort concerns for the individual. The elimination of these concerns during the hair treatment experience is a necessity. An ear cover is needed that aids in the prevention of chemical burns, and ear infections as well as also eliminating the irritation associated with having to remove foreign substances from the ear. An ear cover is desirable that assures a safe and a healthy environment while also assuring comfort for the user.

BACKGROUND

There are a number of ear cover and protecting devices today. However these devices do not necessarily address all of the concerns necessary to protect an individual's ears during the hair cleansing and treating process. A number of attempts have been made however to provide cover and protecting devices. These arrangements are designed to be substantially heat resistant. That is, they are provided to prevent burns and heat irritation due to hot curling irons and blow dryer operations. As a result they require a multilayer construction. These arrangements do not attempt to specifically deal with the problem of protecting the ear from chemical burns and keeping unwanted liquids out of the ear.
A device of simple construction for providing a waterproof and chemically sealed environment for the ear is desirable and needed.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A device for protecting an ear from chemicals and moisture is provided. The device includes an upper flexible waterproof wall member aligned with and spaced from lower flexible waterproof wall members. The lower wall member is provided with a channel formed along the outermost periphery thereof. Side flexible waterproof wall members are also provided. The wall members are all integrally formed with each other so that a substantially circularly shaped cover member is formed having an open area formed therebetween. An elongated elastic circularly shaped member is aligned in the elongated channel formed in the lower wall member so that the outer periphery of the lower member can be moved over the ear to securely engage areas around and adjacent to the ear. As a result a protective cover is formed to cover the ear and predetermined areas adjacent thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The details of the invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ear cover for covering and protecting a persons ear in accordance with the principles of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of an ear cover in accordance with the principles of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an ear cover in accordance with the principles of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 an ear cover generally designated by the numeral 10 is provided for covering and protecting an ear, generally designated, by the numeral, 12 (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1) on the head 14 of an individual generally designated by the numeral 16 so that the ear is protected from chemicals and liquids. The ear cover 10 is provided with a flexible waterproof cover member, generally designated by the numeral 18. The cover member 18 is formed in a circular like configuration having laterally extending side wall members 20 and 22 respectively and upper and lower wall members 24 and 26 respectively (FIG. 2). The side Wall members 20 and 22 and upper and lower wall members 24 and 26 are integrally coupled together so that an open area 28 is formed therebetween.
The lower wall member 26 is formed with an elongated circularly shaped channel 30 formed along the outer periphery 32 of the lower wall member. The cover 10 is made of a waterproof lightweight thin sheet of flexible plastic material. The thin sheet of material may be a thermoplastic such as for example polyethylene.
A circularly shaped elongated elastic member 34 is provided to be aligned in the circularly shaped channel 30 of the lower wall member. The elastic member 34 forms a gathering effect which allows the cover member 18 to engage areas around and adjacent to the ear 12 so that the cover is lockingly secured around and over the ear of the person 16. The elastic member 28 maybe for example a rubber band aligned in the circularly shaped channel 30 of the lower wall member.
The dimensions and flexibility of the cover 10 are such that the device is made to conform to the shape of the ear 12 of the individual 16. This permits a more efficient shield and thus better protection from chemicals and moisture.
When it is desired to secure the ear cover 10 to the ear 12 the cover is positioned as is illustrated in FIG. 1. As is shown the cover 10 is aligned with the ear 12 so that the ear rest in the open area 28 of the cover 18. The cover member 18 is held in this position by the elastic member 34 which engages adjacent areas of the head 14 around the ear 12.
When the cover 10 is positioned in this manner the entire ear 12 is covered as well as adjacent areas of the individual's 16 head 14 around the ear. The cover 10 provides full ear protection by way of the extension of the waterproof lightweight plastic material with the elastic seal along the top and back of the ear 12 and over the front of the ear.
As a result the ear 12 is protected from chemicals and moisture thereby formulating a more comfortable hair treatment experience.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. An ear cover for protecting the ear from chemicals and moisture including:

a lower wall member having a channel formed therein along the outermost periphery thereof;

an upper wall member spaced from and aligned with the upper wall member;

side wall members integrally formed with the lower and upper wall members, so that a substantially circularly shaped configuration is formed having an open area formed therebetween; and

an elongated circularly shaped elastic member aligned in the channel formed in the lower wall member for engaging areas around and adjacent to the ear so that the ear cover can be held in place over the ear.

2. An ear cover as defined in claim 1 wherein the lower upper and side wall members are formed of a single layer of thin flexible material.

3. An ear cover as defined in claim 2 wherein the lower, upper and side wall members are further formed of a lightweight elastic material.

4. An ear cover as defined in claim 3 wherein the lower, upper and side wall members are impervious to chemicals and moisture.

5. An ear cover as defined in claim 4 wherein the lower, upper and side wall members are formed of a thermoplastic material.

6. An ear cover as defined in claim 5 wherein the lower, upper and side wall members are formed of polyethylene.

7. An ear cover as defined in claim 6 wherein the elongated circular member is made of rubber.

8. An ear cover as defined in claim 7 wherein the elongated circular member is a rubber band.