US2285659A

US2285659A - Bathing cap

Info

Publication number: US2285659A
Application number: US315199A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas J Howland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-01-23
Filing date: 1940-01-23
Publication date: 1942-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 1959-06-09

Description

June 9, 1942. I T. J. HO'WLAND v- 2 ,285,659

BATHING GAP Filed Jan. 25, 1940 ATTORNEYS I l 2 Z INVENTOR J [36 3/ I I Patented June 9, 1942 mass UNITED STATS A'EENT QEEICE BATHING CAP Thomas J. Howland, Long Branch, N. J.

Application January 23, 1940, Serial No. 315,199

10. Claims.

This invention relates to water-proof articles of wearing apparel, such as bathing caps, rubber boots, and the like, and is concerned more particularly with a novel article of this character which may be worn with comfort and at the same time is extremely resistant to seepage of fluid into the article. The article of my invention is of a simple construction adapted for manufacture at low cost and includes a novel ribbed structure which prevents the seepage of water into the article under the edges, even though the article is subjected to severe use.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 222,127, filed July 30, 1938, which issued on July 2, 1940, as Patent No. 2,206,462. For illustrative purposes, the principles of the invention will be described and illustrated in connection with a bathing cap, although it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this use but is applicable to other articles of apparel as well.

In bathing caps as commonly made heretofore, there is a tendency for water to seep into the interior of the cap between its bottom edge and the head of the wearer, the amount of seepage depending on how tightly the cap fits the head. It has been proposed to reduce the amount of seepage by providing on the inside of the cap one or more encirclingribs which extend around the cap near its lower edge so as to engage the head of the wearer. These ribs have taken various forms, but in nearly all instances they extend straight inwardly from the cap body and their free, inner ends are flat, concave, or convex.

While ribs of this type serve to reduce the amount of seepage, they are not entirely satisfactory for the reason that they have a, relatively great resistance to stretching and do not readily bend or incline so as to accommodate the size and the irregularities of the head, whereby they tend to impair the comfort of the wea'ren This is especially so when a pair of parallel encircling ribs are employed which are braced by cross ribs, since the latter add materially to the stiffness of the encircling ribs.

Another form of encircling rib employed heretofore is relatively thin and flexible and projects inwardly a substantial distance from the inner surface of the cap, so that when the cap is applied to the head of the wearer, the rib is forced toward a flat position against the inner surface of the cap, whereby only one side of the rib contacts the head. While caps employing an encircling rib of this form are generally more comfortable than those having a stiffer rib, they do not prevent seepage of water into the cap during the normal use thereof.

One feature of the present invention, therefore, resides in the provision of a novel bathing cap which overcomes these objections to prior capsand which is both comfortable and Water-proof to a high degree. A cap made in accordance with my invention comprises a cap body of any desired form made of rubber, or the like, and having a pair of ribs inside of the cap which extend substantially parallel to the edge thereof and preferably encircle the cap. The ribs are flexible and may extend straight inwardly from the cap body or at an oblique angle thereto, but in either case the ribs are supported on a single flexible mounting connected to the inside of the cap body. This mounting supports the ribs in cantilever fashion, that is, in such a manner that when the head of the wearer presses against them they are caused to swing away from each other and toward the cap body. To this end, the ribs are preferably disposed at opposite sides of the mounting with a clearance between the bodies of the ribs and the cap body into which the ribs swing when the cap is applied to the head. If desired, each rib may be provided at its end with an initial skin contacting edge located on one side of the center line of the rib so as to aid in controlling the deflection of the rib.

With this construction, when the ribs are forced against the head of the wearer they swing or fulcrum away from each other on the flexible mounting toward the cap body, and, as a result, air is forced out of the space between the ribs so that a suction is created in this space which acts to hold the ribs and their mounting more firmly against the head and prevent any seepage of water into the cap. Also, by reason of this fulcruming action of the ribs and their inherent flexibility, they provide a cushioning action and readily adapt themselves to the contour of the head by deflecting more or less under the pressure exerted by the head, whereby the cap is rendered more comfortable. However, the main body of each rib is sufliciently stifi to prevent the rib from upsetting completely and holds the deflected end of the rib firmly against the head. Since the mounting for the ribs is flexible, it permits the cap to shift slightly on the head relative to the ribs without upsetting the ribs from their deflected positions.

For better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a bathing cap embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through part of the cap showing the ribs and their mounting;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the ribs shown in Fig.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 2 showing modified forms of the construction, and

Fig. 7 is a front view of the rib shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates the body of a, bathing cap made of rubber, or the like, which may have any desired form. As shown, the cap body is provided with ear portions II at opposite sides and a relatively low back l2. Inside the cap are two flexible ribs l3 disposed near the lower edge of the cap and extending generally parallel to the edge. Preferably, the ribs extend completely around the cap, although they may be omitted, if desired, from the regions of the cap where seepage does not generally occur. While the lower rib I3 is shown substantially flush with the edge of the cap body it will be understood that it may be disposed a substantial distance upwardly from the edge.

The ribs I3, as illustrated, taper to relatively thin edges which initially contact the skin and embed themselves slightly therein when the cap is applied to the head. A flexible mounting [4 supports the ribs and is secured to the inner surface of the cap body. At its base the mounting I4 is relatively broad, but it tapers to a relatively thin portion I adjacent the bases of the ribs. l5 so that they are supported in cantilever fashion with a clearance between the main body of each rib and the cap body. The sides of the ribs remote from the cap body curve gradually toward the mounting and merge so as to form a concave surface [6 defining a substantial re cess. Preferably, the ribs and the mounting l4 are in one piece and are made of sponge rubber or other soft material cemented to the inside of the cap. If desired, the cap may be provided with cross ribs l1 between the ribs I3 for bracing them and limiting their deflection.

When the cap is applied to the head of the wearer, the thin ends of the ribs l3 are forced against the skin and are caused by the pressure to swing or fulcrum away from each other on the flexible mounting [4, This fuloruming action deflects the ribs into the spaces at the sides of the mounting [4 adjacent the reduced portion 15 thereof, and, as a result, air is forced out of the cavit l5. Accordingly, a suction is created in this cavity which acts to draw the ribs more tightly against the skin and thereby prevent seepage of water into the interior of the cap. The thin edges of the ribs are bent slightly away from each other by the pressure against the skin, but they are prevented from completely upsetting by the main body of the rib which is thioker and therefore stiffer. Each rib, therefore, is supported with its thin edge firmly held against the skin to prevent air or water from leaking into the cavity 5 and reducing the suction effect. It will be apparent that when the ribs fulcrum and bend as described, the inherent spring action in the base [4 and the ribs tends to restore the parts to their normal positions shown in Fig. 2, that is, to make the recess l6 between the ribs more concave, and thus tends to preserve the suction effect in this recess. When the cap has been fitted to the head, the body I0 is adapted The ribs diverge from this narrow portion to shift slightly on the head without disturbing the ribs and reducing the suction in the recess l6, because the flexible mounting [4 permits movement of the cap body relative to the ribs without substantial change in their position. This is a desirable feature since the cap when subjected to severe use frequently shifts slightly from one position to another on the head.

A modified form of the construction is shown in Fig, 4, wherein each of the two ribs I8 is formed with an initial, skin contacting edge l9 located on one side of the centerline of the rib.

The off-center edge [9 on the upper rib is disposed above the centerline of the rib, while the off-center edge IQ of the lower rib is disposed below the centerline of the latter rib. Accordingly, these edges when pressed against the skin act to deflect the end portions of the ribs away from each other. Preferably, each rib formed on the side opposite its off-center edge IS with a fin 20 terminating short of the edge 19 and forming a recess in the end portion of the rib.

The ribs l8, as shown, are supported on a flexible mounting in the form of a band 2! secured along its lower 'edge to the cap body by a tab 22, the ribs being disposed along the opposite I side edges of the band. The face of the band adjacent the cap body is convex so that the band initially engages the cap body onl along the median portion 23 of the band. The band 2| may be provided with a third rib 24 shorter than the other ribs and disposed between them, and the three ribs ma be braced by cross ribs 25 to form suction cups,

With this construction, the pressure of the cap on the head forces the convex face of the band 2| against the adjacent inner surface of the cap body so that at first only the median portion 23 of the band engages the cap body, and the edge portions of the band near the ribs are spaced from the inner surface of the cap. How ever, the pressure on the ribs causes the parts of the band 2| above and below the median portion 23 to fulcrum around this median portion and engage the body of the cap. This fulcruming action causes the ribs l8 to swing away from each other and create a suction in the space between the ribs, as described in connection with the form shown in Fig. 2. It will be apparent that the fulcruming of the ribs about the median portion 23 is supplemented by the tendency for the off-center edges I9 to deflect the end portions of the ribs away from each other and further enlarge the space between the ribs. However, the amount which the end portions of the ribs may be deflected in this manner is limited by the stiffness of the main bodies of the ribs and by the cross ribs 24. When the offcenter edges l9 are bent over by the pressure against the head, the fins 20 contact the skin, and air is forced out of the recess at the end of each rib between the edge l9 and the fin 20 so that a further suction effect is obtained at the ends of the ribs which supplements the suction in the larger space between the ribs. By reason of the thin, off-center edges l9 and the fulcruming action of the band 2| on its median portion 23, a cushioning action is provided and the ribs more readily adapt themselves to the contour of the wearers head so that the cap is more comfortable. Since the tab 22 permits the cap body In to move relative to the band 2|, both transversely and longitudinally, the cap body may adjust itself slightly on the. head without shifting the position of the ribs.

The construction shown in Fig. is similar to that shown in Fig. 4 except that the tab 22' is eliminated and the band 2| is suspended along its upper edge by a tab 26v secured to the cap body. With. this construction, it is necessary to hold the lower edge of the band 2|. against the adjacent surface of the cap body when applying the cap to the head, to prevent the band from buckling or swinging upwardly around the tab 25.

In the construction shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the two ribs 28' are similar in form to the ribs is but are supported on a mounting 29 of different form. As shown, the mounting 29 is relatively narrow at the base but its sides diverge sharply from the base so that the edge portions 29' of the mounting are spaced from the cap body. The ribs 28 are disposed along the opposite side edges of the mounting and are preferably integral therewith. If desired, a third rib 30 shorter than the others may be arranged on the median portion of the mounting intermediate the ribs 28, and the

ribs

28 and 30 may be braced by cross ribs 3!. When the cap is applied to the head, the pressure of the head against the ends of the ribs 28 causes the overhanging edge portions 29' of the mounting to fulcrum about the median portion thereof so that the ribs 28 swing away from each other and produce the desired suction effect. Also, the off-center edges 32 of the ribs act to bend the end portions of the ribs away from each other and thereby increase the suction effect. When the off-center edges 32 bend, they permit the fins 33 to contact the skin, and a suction is created in the small recesses between the fins and the adjacent off-center edges which holds the end portions of the ribs more firmly against the skin.

It will be observed that in each of the forms illustrated, a cashioning action is provided inside the cap body along the edge thereof by reason of the fulcruming of the ribs on the fiexible mounting and the deflection of the relatively thin, initial skin-contacting edges of the ribs. Since the mounting for the ribs is flexible as well. as compressible, it not only provides a support for the ribs which permits their fulcruming but also enhances the cushioning action referred to. Also, in each of the forms the suction created in the space between the ribs is maintained by the spring action of the ribs and their mounting which tends to return the parts to their initial form.

It will be understood that the cross ribs may be disposed in different arrangements than those illustrated. For example, they may extend only partly across the space between the encircling ribs or, instead of projecting into this space, they may extend from the side of the encircling rib remote from the adjacent encircling rib.

In the foregoing description and in the following claims, the expression centerline of the rib is intended to denote an imaginary line bisecting the outer end of the rib proper, that is, the end of the rib adjacent the cap body, the line being perpendicular to the adjacent surface of the cap body or to the adjacent surface of the rib sup-porting band 2! secured to the cap body. The expression off center, as used in reference to the initial skin-contacting edge of the rib, means that the edge is oflfset from the centerline on one side thereof.

I claim:

1. In an article of apparel comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, a pair of elastic ribs inside the body extending generally parallel to the. margin of the opening and projecting inwardly from the body for sealing the edge portion thereof when the body is worn, and a single flexible mounting for the ribs connected to the inside of the body and having a relatively broad base, the mounting tapering from said base to the bases of the ribs, and the ribs diverging from the mounting and projecting outwardly over the sides thereof, the ribs at least partly defining a cavity between them and being operable under the pressure of an object against them to fulcrum away from each other on said mounting whereby air is expelled from the cavity and a suction created therein.

2. In. an article of apparel comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, a flexible band inside the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and secured to the body along only one side edge of the band, the opposite side edge being free to move toward and away from the adjacent surface of the body, and a pair of elastic ribs on the band extending along the side edges thereof and projecting inwardly from the band for sealing the edge portion of the body when the body is worn, said ribs and the band defining a cavity and the ribs being operable under the pressure of an object against them to fulcrum away from each other on the band whereby air is expelled from the cavity and a suction created therein.

3. In an article of apparel comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, a flexible band inside the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the open-ing and secured to the body along only one side edge of the band, the face of the band adjacent the body being convex whereby the band initially engages the body along the median portion of the band, and a pair of elastic ribs on the band extending along the side edges thereof and projecting inwardly from the band for seal-ing the edge portion of the body when the body is worn, said ribs and the band defining a cavity and the ribs being operable under the pressure of an object against them to fulcrum away from each other on said median portion of the band, whereby air is expelled from the band and a suction created therein.

4. In a bathing cap comprising a hollow cap body having an opening therein, a pair of elastic ribs inside the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and projecting inwardly from the body for sealing the edge portion thereof when the cap is worn on the head, and a single flexible mounting for the ribs on the inside of the body and supporting the ribs with a clearance between the bodies of the ribs and the cap body, whereby the ribs are disposed in cantilever fashion, the ribs at least partly defining a cavity between them and each rib having an initial skin'contacting edge which is offcenter on the side of the rib remote from the other rib, said off-center edges being operable under the normal pressure of the head against them to deflect the ribs away from each other on said mounting whereby air is expelled from the cavity and a suction created therein.

5. In a bathing cap comprising a hollow cap body having an opening therein, a flexible band inside the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and secured to the body with the opposite side portions of the band spaced from the body with a clearance and free to move toward and away from the adjacent surface of the body, and a pair of elastic ribs on the band extending along the side portions thereof and projecting inwardly from the band for sealing the edge portion of the body when the cap is worn on the head, each rib terminating in a thin, initial skin-contacting edge disposed on the side of the centerline of the rib remote from the other rib and operable under the normal pressure of the head to deflect the end portion of the rib away from the other rib, the ribs and band defining a cavity and the ribs being movable away from each other on the band by the normal deflection of said edges under pressure from the head, whereby air is expelled from the cavity and a suction created therein.

6. In a bathing cap comprising a hollow cap body having an opening therein, a pair of elastic ribs inside the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and projecting inwardly from the body for sealing the edge portion thereof when the cap is worn on the head, a flexible and compressible mounting for the ribs on the body and supporting the ribs with a space between them and with a clearance between the bodies of the ribs and the cap body, whereby the ribs are disposed in cantilever fashion, each rib having an initial skin-contacting edge offset laterally from the mounting at the side of the mounting remote from the other rib, said offset edges being operable under the normal pressure of the head against them to fulcrum the ribs away from each other on the mounting whereby air is expelled from said space and a suction created therein, and cross ribs between said first ribs for bracing them and limiting the outward deflection thereof by the. oifset edges.

7. In a bathing cap comprising a hollow cap body having an opening therein, a flexible and compressible band inside the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and having a reduced portion connecting the band to the body, each side portion of the band overlying the body in spaced relation with a clearance for a substantial distance from said reduced portion, and a pair of elastic ribs on the band extending along the side portions thereof in generally parallel relation, the lower rib terminating at its free end in a thin, initial skin-contacting edge located on the lower side of the centerline of the lower rib, and the upper rib terminating at its free end in a thin, initial skin-contacting edge located on the upper side of the center-line of the upper rib, said oil-center edges being operable under the normal pressure of the head to deflect the ribs away from each other on the band and thereby create a suction in the space between the ribs.

8. In a bathing cap comprising a hollow cap body having an opening therein, a flexible and compressible band inside the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and having a reduced portion connecting the band to the body, each side portion of the band overlying the body in spaced relation with a clearance for a substantial distance from said reduced portion, and a pair of elastic ribs on the band extending along the side portions thereof in generally parallel relation, the lower rib terminating at its free end in an initial skin-contacting edge offset from the reduced portion below the lower side thereof, and the upper rib terminating at its free end in an initial skin-contacting edge offset from the reduced portion above the upper side thereof, said offset edges being operable under the normal pressure of the head to deflect the ribs away from each other on the band and thereby create a suction in the space between the ribs.

9. In a bathing cap comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, a flexible band extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and secured to the body, the side portions of the band being movable relative to the body, a pair of elastic ribs on the band extending along the side portions thereof and projecting inwardly from the band for sealing the edge portion of the body when worn, the outer face of the band and the inner face of the cap body being relatively movable and interengageable, and a protuberance on one of said faces and opposite the median portion of the band between the ribs, the protuberance, when the band is pressed towards the cap, forming a fulcrum about which the ribs swing away from each other on the band, whereby air is expelled from the spaces between the ribs and a suction created therein.

10. In a bathing cap comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, a flexible band extending generally parallel to'the margin of the opening and secured along one edge portion to the body, the opposite edge portion of the band being movable relative to the body, and an elastic rib on the band extending along said opposite edge portion and projecting inwardly from the band for sealing the body when worn, the outer face of the band and the inner face of the cap body being relatively movable and interengageable, and a protuberance on one of said faces and opposite the median portion of the band between the rib and the edge portion of the band which is attached to the body, the protuberance, when the band is pressed towards the cap, form ing a fulcrum about which the rib swings away from the median portion of the band.

THOMAS J. HOWLAND.