US3403406A

US3403406A - Bathing cap

Info

Publication number: US3403406A
Application number: US562547A
Authority: US
Inventors: Weissberg Ernest
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-07-05
Filing date: 1966-07-05
Publication date: 1968-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 1985-10-01

Description

oct. 1', 196s E. WEISSBERG 3,403,406

BATHING CAP Filed July 5, 1966 @gg-Ma United States Patent O 3,403,406 BATHING CAP Ernest Weissberg, 11728 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90025 Filed July 5, 1966, Ser. No. 562,547 4 Claims. (Cl. 2-68) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is an improved watertight bathing cap of the type which has an inflatable marginal edge whereby to provide a seal to the wearers head. In a preferred form of Ithe invention the skull part of the cap is double-walled providing an air space between the double walls, both walls conforming to the contour of the wearers head. This chamber is connectable to the inflatable seal of the cap which may then be inflated merely by the wearer putting the cap `on to apply pressure to the double-walled charnber or simply by the wearer pressing on the skull to force air out of this chamber. A disconnectable check valve is provided between the double-walled chamber and the inflatable seal whereby it may be inflated and the air may be released from it, that is from the inflatable seal.

This invention relates to a bathing cap and, more partic-ularly, to a watertight bathing cap which is inflatable by the wearer for effecting a watertight seal around the lower marginal edge thereof. The improvements of this invention reside particularly in the means for inflating the watertight seal around the marginal edge of the cap. This means, as described in detail hereinafter, is of a nature such that by merely putting on the cap, the wearer automatically causes the watertight seal to become inflated.

Bathing caps are known to the prior art in which a watertight seal is provided wholly or partly around the marginal edge of the cap to prevent water gaining access to the hair of the user. With respect to these known prior art caps, it has been customary for the user to inflate the watertight seal by blowing air into it through a tube. Such seals have not been effective because it is not possible to develop sufflcient pressure by blowing from the mouth to produce an effective seal. This is true because when the cap is on the head the material is stretched making it harder to inflate the seal. The herein invention provides an arrangement whereby sufilcient pressure can be developed inthe inflatable seal to make it effective.

In a preferred form of the invention, an enclosed air pocket is provided within the skull part of the cap which is connected to the inflatable watertight seal through a tube and a valve. When the cap is put on, the air pocket is collapsed; the -air is forced out of it through the tube to inflate the watertight seal, and it is held therein by way of a check valve. The air cannot be released from the inflatable seal until the tube connection thereto is opened allowing release of the air. With this larrangement as stated, sufilcient pressure is developed to make the seal effective. In the past, bathing caps have incorporated marginal edge seals comprising a strip of soft rubber or spongy material having alternate ridges and grooves. Such arrangements or construction are not necessary and are eliminated by the present invention.

With the herein invention, pressure can be exerted on the skull part of the cap to further compress the air pocket so that a desired degree of pressure can be attained in the inflatable seal. This pressure can be exerted by the lhands while putting on the cap so that the inflation of the seal is autom-atie.

In the light of the foregoing, the primary object of the invention is to provide a bathing cap having an inflatable watertight seal, as described, and means for automatical- 3,403,406 Patented Oct. 1, 1968 ly inflating the seal when the cap is put on, at a pressure suflicient to provide an effective seal.

Another object is to provide an improved bathing cap, as referred to in the foregoing object, wherein the means for inilating the seal comprises an air pocket in the cap which is collapsed when the cap is put `on to force the air out of it and into the inflatable seval.

Another object is to provide a cap, as in the foregoing, wherein the air pocket is formed by a flexible membrane in the skull part Iof the cap forming a collapsible air pocket.

Another object is to provide a means, as in the foregoing objects, wherein the membrane is formed so as to normally space itself from the skull of the cap, so that air can freely enter into the air pocket.

Another object is to provide a means, as in the foregoing objects, including resilient members normally holding the air pocket in an uncollapsed state and being flexible to collapse with the pocket when the cap is put on.

Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the foil-owing det-ailed description and annexed drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the form of the invention of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view, in section, showing the cap in position on a wearers head;

FIGURE 4 is 1a sectional view of a preferred form of valve used in connection with the air pocket and inflatable seal;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 4 with the valve shown open;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of cap; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of the cap of FIGURE 6 showing the air pocket collapsed.

Referring now more in detail to FIGURES 1 to 5 of the drawings, there is shown by way of illustration, but not of limitation, a cap designated generally by the numeral 10 constructed in accordance with this invention. The bathing cap comprises a substantially hemispherical hollow cap body 11 of a relatively thin, pliant, resilient material such as rubber, neoprene, plastics, or the like. The cap body 11 is herein illustrated as having a rather conventional style and configuration having a marginal edge 12 including a forehead portion 13l adjacent coeXtensive temple portions 14 and downwardly extending neck portion 16 which depends sufficiently to `cover the ears and the nape yof the neck of the wearer thereby completely enclosing the hair which, in the case of long hair, is normally tucked under and within the body 11.

In order to provide a 4sealing engagement between the marginal edge 12 and the outer surface of the head, as illustrated in the outline in FIGURE 3, the marginal edge 12 is provided with an inflatable tube means 18, which is preferably integral with the marginal edge 12 of the body 11, or may be formed, if desired, using a separate strip of pliant, resilient material such as rubber, neoprene, plastics, or the like cemented or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the body 11. Preferably, the inflatable tube member 18 extends completely around the marginal edges of the cap, as shown. The cap is smooth on the inside of tube member 18, no other sealing means being required.

Formed within the interior of the cap and, preferably, within the rear part of the skull portion of the cap is an air pocket 22. This air pocket is formed by a membrane or partition 23 having edge portions sealed, as shown at 24, to the interior of the skull portion of the cap so that the membrane 23 can become spaced from the cap itself, as shown in FIGURE 2. Preferably, the material of the membrane 23 isformed to have a slight set so that it will normally take a position, as shown in FIGURE 2, freely allowing air to enter the air pocket 22.

The cap has a chin strap 47 which may be made of rubber or other comparable material having an adjustable slider 48 which carries a snap member that may be snapped into a snap button 50 on one side of the cap, as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 shows the cap in position on a wearers head. FIGURE 2 shows the tube 31 disconnected from the valve member 30. Before putting the cap on, the wearer connects the tube 31 to the valve 30. The wearer then puts the cap on, as shown in FIGURE 3, and this collapses the air pocket at 22, the membrane 23 being forced against or substantially against the material 11 of the cap itself. This forces the air out of the air pocket 22 through the

tubes

26 and 31 into the inflatable seal 18 to inflate it, as shown in FIGURE 3, suiciently to prevent access of any water into the cap between the wearers head and the marginal edge of the cap. The wearer may press the skull part of the cap against the head using .the hands to further compress the air pocket 22 so that development of suiiicient pressure in the sealing tube 18 for effective sealing is assured. With the cap on, as shown in FIGURE 3, the

tubes

26 and 31 are in a position, as shown in FIG- URE 3, at the back of the wearers head and neck. The check valve 30 prevents air from escaping; from the inflatable seal 18. When the cap is removed, the tube 31 may be disconnected from the valve 30 allowing the air to escape from the seal 18. Air at atmospheric pressure can then enter through the valve 30 into the space 22 so that the membrane 23 assumes a position, as shown in FIGURE 2, and the cap is ready for reuse.

The check valve is shown in detail in FIGURES 4 and 5. It comprises a tubular body and is shown having a small end bore 33 and a larger intermediate bore 34 with a tapered seat between those bores providing a seat for ball valve 37. At the end of the valve 30 there is a closure 43 having a small central bore 44, the end of which forms a stop for the ball valve 37 with angular bores 40 spaced outwardly from the bore 44. As may be seen when the ball 37 is in a position as shown in FIGURE 4 ow through the valve is prevented. Flow in the opposite direction moves the ball 37 away from its seat to the position as shown in FIGURE in which flow through the valve is permitted.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show a slightly modified form of the invention in which similar parts are identified by similar numerals. This form of the invention is different in that resilient or collapsible means are provided to cause the membrane or partition 23 normally to be spaced from the cap 11' itself so as to insure that this space will iill up with air when the valve 30 is open to the atmosphere. Various means may be provided to insure this result. In the form of the invention shown, flexible or resilient pro*

jections

35 and 36 are provided which are formed integral with the cap 11 and extend inwardly to normally space the membrane or partition 23 away from the skull part of the cap 11 as shown in FIGURE 6. When the cap is put on, the membrane 23 comes into a position as shown in FIGURE 7 in which the air is forced out of the space 22 with the

projections

35 and 36 collapsed as shown. Thus, the result desired is achieved in the manner described, the cap otherwise being used in a manner similar to that of the previous embodiment.

From the foregoing those skilled in the art will observe that the invention achieves and realizes all of the objects and advantages as set forth in the foregoing, as well as having many additional advantages that are apparent from the detailed description. Particularly, it will be observed that the cap need only be put on and that the air seal member is automatically intiated simply by the pressure of the wearers head against the air space formed within the cap.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of preferred forms of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A bathing cap comprising a generally semispherical hollow cap of pliant resilient material having a crown portion shaped to conform to a wearers head and a marginal edge, said marginal edge including forehead portions, a pair of coextensive temple portions and a depending neck portion interconnecting said temple portions, hollow tube means of pliant resilient material on said cap adjacent said marginal edge, said cap having an inner wall portion sealed about its periphery Within said crown portion and forming therewith a iiexibly collapsible resilient chamber adapted to be collapsed to conform to the contour of the wearers head when a person puts the cap on so as to force air out of said chamber, and passage means providing communication between said chamber and said hollow tube means, whereby the hollow tube means is inflated, by merely putting said cap on a wearers head, sufliciently to provide a seal preventing entry of water past said hollow tube means into the interior of the cap, said inner wall portion being shaped to normally move away from said crown portion to enlarge said chamber when said cap is removed from the wearers head.

2. A cap as deiined in claim 1 wherein said passage means includes a check valve permitting air to ow only from said chamber to said hollow tube means.

3. A cap as deiined in claim 2 wherein said passage means includes a manually separable connector arranged to relieve air from said hollow tube means.

4. A cap as deiined in claim 1 including yieldable means normally biasing said inner wall inwardly away from said crown portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,072,483 3/1937 Naundorf 2-68 3,108,283 l0/l963 Gasaway 2-68 3,329,970 7/1967 Damsz 2-68 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Assistant Examiner.