WO2018138393A4 - 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.

Claims

 MODIFIED CLAIMS

 received by the International Office on July 30, 2018 (07.30.2018)

Swimming cap that for its manufacture allows to use different waterproofing techniques and materials and that is characterized by:

to. a main body comprising:

 - a top portion consisting of a spherical cap to accommodate the long hair collected or the top part of voluminous hairstyles,

 - a middle portion in the form of a spherical zone composed of twelve pieces to accommodate the thickness of the hair, and

 - a lower portion consisting of a concave surface of revolution, which adheres to the wearer's head below the hairline and separates therefrom above that line.

b. an internal fixing-blocking unit comprising:

 - an annular fastening band, made of elastic material, joined by only one of its edges to the edge of the lower portion of the main body, and

 - a filtration blocking strip, with folds and absorbent material, which is attached on one side to the inner face of the fastening band while on the other protruding above the loose edge of said band, and which, filled in the spaces that can form between the inner face of the cap and the head due to irregularities in the neck area, stops and absorbs water that could enter the edge of the hat in that area.

2. Bathing cap according to claim 1, which in its Modality "A" is characterized because:

 - its lower portion is partially covered by a shirring that forms the opening of the cap, and

 - for its manufacture uses waterproof and rigid materials such as polyethylene-vinyl acetate, or silnylon.

3. Bathing cap according to claim 1, which in its Modality "B" is characterized because:

 - its lower portion is constituted by twelve pieces alternately arranged in a straight and inverse direction, so that the bases of six of them form the edge of the opening of the cap, and

 - for its manufacture uses waterproof and elastic materials such

MODIFIED LEAF (ARTICLE 19) like waterproof and elastic lycra, or waterproof spandex.

Swimming cap according to claim 1, which in its "C" modality is characterized by:

 - the main body is molded in a single piece that maintains the ribs of the joints of the three portions thereof,

- the annular fastening band is an extension of the single piece of the main body, bent inward from the edge of the hat opening and released at its innermost side.

 the filtration blocking strip is removable and is maintained on the inner side of the annular fastening strip by means of loops whose ends respectively join the internal face and the free edge of said band, and

 - for its manufacture it uses rubber compounds or custom molded polymers such as silicones.

MODIFIED LEAF (ARTICLE 19)

 The Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority on PCT / ES2018 / 000006 (Form PCT / ISA / 237 (Box V continued 2) (January 2015) states that claims 1 and 3 do not meet the requirement of inventive activity, and the dependence of claim 4 of claim 1 is questioned.

 In relation to the requirement of inventive step of claim 1, the modifications made (see Replacement Sheets page 11, lines 6, 8-9, 10-12 and 19-22), relating to the function of the three portions of the body The principal of the cap, as well as the function of the positioning of the leakage blocking strip, indicate that said claim fulfills such requirement.

 With respect to the requirement of inventive step of claim 3, the modification made (see Replacement Sheets page 11, lines 33-35), relative to the way in which the twelve pieces of the lower portion of the main body of the cap in its embodiment " B "configure the concave revolution surface that characterizes the portion, indicates that said claim meets such a requirement.

 Regarding the dependence of claim 4 of claim 1, the reformulation made indicates that, although molded in one piece, the main body of the cap in its "C" mode retains the characteristics of the main body of the cap according to claim 1 as far as the tripartite shape and appearance thereof is concerned, and therefore, claim 4 is dependent on claim 1 (see Replacement Sheets: page 12, lines 5-6).

 The modifications indicated above (together with those included in the Replacement Sheets and explained in the Letter of Accompaniment) reaffirm the characteristics and relationships of claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the PCT patent requested.

 Due to such modifications, it would be possible to replace the paragraph of the original Description, as it was presented (lines 26-29, page 4) with the following:

 The invention is materialized in the Respectful Hair Cap with a main body in which the hair is inserted, and a fixing-blocking unit responsible for the fastening and sealing of the cap.

 This would avoid possible confusion regarding the independent claim 1 that could be caused by the original paragraph.

DECLARATION ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 19 (1)