Patent Application
20220095770
A device for catching waste hair during a haircut is described.
The figures depict various perspectives and embodiments of the described device and are for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the methods and kits illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the methods and kits described herein.
The hair catcher 1 is designed to catch hair during a haircut. It limits the amount of waste that falls to the floor, preventing a mess of the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the design limits the amount of hair that goes down a person's back or down their shirt. The hair catcher 1 comprises an inner collar 2. In one embodiment, the inner collar 2 is a fabric positioned closely around the user's neck to create a barrier. The inner collar 2 is made of plastic, nylon, fabric or other pliable material. In another embodiment, the inner collar 2 continuously goes around the back and sides of the neck; however, there is a break in the front of the inner collar 2 such that there is a first collar end 3 and a second collar end 4. These two ends could be connected by a plurality of snaps or by a hook and loop arrangement such that the inner collar 2 is adjustable and closable to fit necks of different sizes. In other embodiments, buttons or magnetic attachments are used to secure the collar. In one embodiment a tab 7 is positioned at the end of the second collar end 4. In one embodiment, the fabric or plastic is that which is the same as a common barber's cape. In another embodiment, the fabric or plastic has anti-static properties. In another embodiment, the fabric or plastic is waterproof.
Attached to the inner collar 2 is an outer collar 9 which extends along and down from the inner collar about 6″ to about 11″, or sufficiently to cover the head opening 18. The outer collar can also be less than 6″ or more than 11″. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the outer collar 9 is made of the same material as the inner collar 2. In another embodiment, they are made of different materials. The outer collar 9 are stitched, sewn, bonded, or attached by any other means to the inner collar 2. The outer collar 9 further protects the area around the neck and shoulders (shirt and tie or dress) from hair during a haircut. The outer collar 9 is sized and shaped to cover the head opening after the inner collar 2 is adjusted and closed to fit various neck sizes. In another embodiment there is only one complete collar cover that spans across the entire head opening 18.
In one embodiment, the outer collar 9 is not permanently attached to the front chest section so they can be easily folded back or removed to allow the head to pass through the head opening 18. The further use of the collar cover will become evident infra.
The outer collar 9 has two outer collar ends 10, 11. In embodiment, the two outer collar ends, 10, 11, overlap (
A hair catching cape 13 has a front chest section 14, which rests upon the user's chest, and a back section 15 which rests upon the user's back both, of which are connected by two over the shoulder connectors 16, 17. In one embodiment, the front chest section 14, the back section 15, and the shoulder connectors 16,17 are one integral piece comprised of a fabric, nylon, plastic, or other material. In another embodiment, the front chest section 14 and the back section 15 are detachable. In between the front section 14 and back section 15 is an opening 18 through which a person's head and neck fits through. In one embodiment, the head opening 18 is off-center between the front chest section 14 and the back section 15 to better fit the shoulder and neck position of an average person. In another embodiment, the opening is centered between the front chest section 14 and the back section 15.
The hair catching cape 13 is also comprised of a front hair bin wall 19 positioned on the front chest section 14 and a rear hair bin wall 20 positioned on the back section 15. The front hair bin wall 19 forms a wall attached by any known means (sewing, bonding, etc.) to the outer perimeter of the front chest section 14 forming a structure to catch and hold hair. Similarly, the back hair bin wall 20 forms a wall attached to the outer perimeter of the back section 15 forming a structure to catch and hold hair. In one embodiment, the bin walls 19, 20 are made of a semi-rigid sheet material, such as foam or plastic, and covered by the same fabric or plastic that comprises the outer collar 9, front chest section 14, and back section 15. This semi-rigid sheet material would allow for the front bin wall 19 and the rear bin wall 20 to be collapsed and folded for storage. In another embodiment, the bin walls are held in shape using semi-rigid plastic, metal wire, cord, or other structural components, particularly along the outer edges of the bin walls. The depth of the front hair bin wall 19 is typically at its greatest point at the center. The front hair bin wall 19 extends forward sufficiently to catch hair falling from front of the head or from the face in the case of beard trimming. Similarly, the depth of the rear hair bin wall 20 is typically at its greatest point at the center and extends backward sufficiently to catch hair falling from the back of the head. The front hair bin wall 19 tapers to its shallowest point near the outer point of the shoulder connectors 16, 17. Similarly, the rear hair bin wall 20 tapers to its shallowest point near the outer edge of the shoulder connectors 16, 17.
In one embodiment, the back section 15 of the hair catching cape 13 is attached to the hair bin wall up to the ends 23,25 of the rear hair bin wall 20. The ends 23, 25 may extend about 0 inches to about 3 inches beyond the edge of the back section 15. Similarly, the front hair bin wall 19 is attached to the outside edge of the front chest section 14 up to the ends 24, 26, The ends 24, 26 may extend about 0 inches to about 3 inches or more beyond the edge of the front section 14. In one embodiment, the ends 23,24 may attach. Similarly in this embodiment the ends 25, 26 may attach. In another embodiment, the ends 23, 24 may overlap to ensure there is no gap between the front bin wall and rear bin wall for hair to fall through. Similarly, in this embodiment, the ends 25, 26 may also overlap. The overlapping ends allow for pivot points 50, 51 such that the front bin wall 19 or rear bin wall 20 can pivot to fit different body sizes while maintaining a bin wall along the shoulders to catch hair.
In another embodiment of the disclosure, collar covers 27, 28 are attached to the outer edge of the head openings along a portion of the front chest section 14 yet still can be separated to allow a head to fit through.
In yet another embodiment, there are straps 30, 31 each having an end 32, 33 attached to the underside of the front chest section 14, and an end 34, 35 attached to the underside of the back section 15. These straps 30, 31 are shoulder straps worn about the shoulder and in one embodiment each positioned about halfway between the neck and end of the shoulder. They are used to hold the hair catcher 1 on the center of the shoulders to keep it in place when the wearer raises their arms. In one embodiment, these shoulder straps 30, 31 are fixed size and position. In another embodiment, these shoulder straps are adjustable to fit bodies of different sizes. In another embodiment, the shoulder straps are held in place by a hook and loop arrangement at each end of the strap and the underside of or on the front section 14 and the underside of the back section 15.
While this device is directed towards catching hair, it can also be used for washing hair to prevent soap and water from spilling onto a floor or other surface. In one embodiment, the device can be waterproof.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosure described above without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
