BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to the field of hair protectors of existing art and more specifically relates to devices for protecting head hair and/or facial hair of a wearer.
RELATED ART
Long hair including dreadlocks, beads, weaves and wigs, can be difficult to manage, particularly when outdoors; as wind, rain, snow, bugs, sports and the like can all contribute to tangling, soiling or damaging of the hair. This is a particular nuisance when the hair has been styled, as venturing outdoors only for a short amount of time in inclement weather and/or playing sports can damage the hair style. Oftentimes, individuals wear hats outdoors to protect their head from the elements. However, hats typically only cover the head of the wearer, leaving the length of the hair uncovered and thereby leaving the hair open to becoming tangled, wet, soiled, etc.
Further, individuals may utilize umbrellas to shield their head and hair from rain, snow, sun, etc. However, umbrellas typically require the individual to hold onto them when in use, and constantly fold the umbrella and store it when going indoors. This is inconvenient and can be awkward if the individual requires full use of their hands. Thus, a suitable solution is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known device art, the present disclosure provides novel hair protection devices. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide devices used for protecting a head and hair of a wearer (and in some embodiments a mouth, nose and facial hair of the wearer), from bugs, dust, wind, snow, rain, sun, etc., thereby eliminating the need for an umbrella.
A hair protection system is disclosed herein. The hair protection system may be configured to protect head hair of a wearer and may include a headwear portion and a hair sleeve portion. The headwear portion may be configured to at least partially cover a head of the wearer. The headwear portion may include a front side opposite a rear side relative to the wearer (when worn) and a head opening for receiving the head of the wearer therethrough. The hair sleeve portion may be attached about the rear side of the headwear portion. The hair sleeve portion may be constructed from a fabric material and may include a top sleeve end opposite a bottom sleeve end; an elongated length therebetween; a sleeve exterior defining a sleeve interior configured to contain the head hair of the wearer; a sleeve opening providing access to the sleeve interior and configured to receive the head hair of the wearer therethrough; and at least one sleeve fastener attached about at least one section of the hair sleeve portion and configured to selectively tighten the hair sleeve portion about the head hair of the wearer.
According to another embodiment, a hair protection system which may be provided as a kit is also disclosed herein. The hair protection system may include the headwear device as discussed above and a mask device. The mask device may include a face mask portion and a facial hair pouch. The face mask portion may include a face covering section defining a top side and a bottom side relative to the wearer; and a mask fastener may be provided for fastening the face covering section over a nose and mouth of the wearer. The facial hair pouch may be attached about the bottom side of the face covering section and may include a pouch exterior defining a pouch interior configured for containing the facial hair; and a pouch opening configured for providing access to the pouch interior and for receiving the facial hair therethrough. As such, the hair protection system may be used for simultaneously protecting head hair and facial hair of the wearer.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments for the present disclosure, hair protection devices, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a hair protection system illustrating a headwear device being worn by a wearer, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the hair protection system illustrating the headwear device including a headwear portion and a hair sleeve portion, the headwear portion including a baseball cap, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the hair protection system illustrating a first sleeve fastener being untied, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the hair protection system illustrating the hair sleeve portion being cinched and the first sleeve fastener being tied to secure, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the hair protection system illustrating an underside of the headwear device to demonstrate a head opening on the headwear portion and a sleeve opening on the hair sleeve portion, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the hair protection system illustrating the headwear device including the headwear portion and the hair sleeve portion, the headwear portion including a wide-brimmed hat, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the hair protection system illustrating the headwear device, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 8 is a rear view of the hair protection system illustrating the headwear device, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 9 is a rear view of the hair protection system illustrating a fitted one piece covering, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 10 is a front view of the hair protection system illustrating the fitted one piece covering having elastic around the sleeve opening of the hair sleeve portion, a pull string fastener and a pair of tie string fasteners, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 11 is a side view of the hair protection system illustrating the fitted one piece covering, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 12 is a side view of the hair protection system illustrating the fitted one piece covering having a pair of tie strings around the sleeve opening of the hair sleeve portion, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the hair protection system illustrating the headwear portion worn underneath a baseball batting helmet, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the hair protection system illustrating the headwear portion worn underneath the baseball batting helmet and with the hair sleeve portion being tucked into a jersey, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 15 is a side view of the hair protection system illustrating the one piece fitted covering including the hair sleeve portion having a plurality of strand-like sections, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 16 is a rear view of the hair protection system illustrating the hair sleeve portion including the plurality of strand-like sections, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 17 is a rear view of the hair protection system illustrating the hair sleeve portion including the plurality of strand-like sections, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 18 is a front view of the hair protection system illustrating a mask device including a face mask portion and a facial hair covering portion, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 19 is a rear view of the hair protection system illustrating the facial hair covering portion including a facial hair pouch having an elasticated pouch opening, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to hair protection and more particularly to hair protection devices. Generally, the hair protection devices may be used to cover a head and head hair of a wearer and protect from bugs, dust, wind, snow rain, sun, etc. As such, the hair protection system may eliminate the need for an umbrella. Further, in some embodiments, the hair protection system may be used to cover and protect a nose, mouth and facial hair of the wearer.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-19, various views of a hair protection system 100. As above, the hair protection system 100 may be used for protecting hair of a wearer 5—particularly, for protecting head hair and/or facial hair of the wearer 5. As such, as shown in these figures, the hair protection system 100 may include a headwear device 110, a mask device 210, or both. Particularly, in some embodiments, the hair protection system 100 may be provided as a matching kit. For example, the headwear device 110 and the mask device 210 may include similar designs, styles, etc.
Referring specifically to FIGS. 1-17, there is shown the headwear device 110. As above, the headwear device 110 may be used particularly for protecting head hair of the wearer 5. The headwear device 110 may include a headwear portion 111 and a hair sleeve portion 115. As shown in FIG. 1, the headwear portion 111 may be configured to (at least partially) cover a head of the wearer 5. As shown in FIGS. 2-17, the headwear portion 111 may include a front side 112 opposite a rear side 113 relative to the wearer 5 and a head opening 114 (FIG. 5) for receiving the head of the wearer 5 therethrough.
In some embodiments, the headwear portion 111 may include a particular type or style of headwear. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, the headwear portion 111 may include a baseball cap. In another example, as demonstrated in FIGS. 6-8, the headwear portion 111 may include a wide-brimmed hat, such as (but not limited to) a fedora, a sun hat, a bowler hat, or the like. In another example, as shown in FIGS. 9-11, the headwear portion 111 may include a fitted covering with a brim extending from the front side 112 thereof. In another example, as demonstrated in FIGS. 12-17, the headwear portion 111 may include a fitted brimless covering. It should however be appreciated that the headwear portion 111 is not limited to being any type/style of headwear discussed here. Further, in some embodiments, the headwear portion 111 may be used solely to attach the headwear device 100 to the head of the wearer 5 and subsequently worn with other headwear 6 (such as hats, caps, helmets, etc.), as shown in FIGS. 13-14.
As shown in FIGS. 1-17, the hair sleeve portion 115 may be attached about the rear side 113 of the headwear portion 111 (behind the wearer 5 when worn). As shown particularly in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the hair sleeve portion 115 may be permanently attached to an interior of the headwear portion 111, about the head opening 114. For example, a top sleeve end 116 of the hair sleeve portion 115 may be sewn into the interior of the headwear portion 111. As above, the headwear device 100 may be used in lieu of an umbrella—as such, it is contemplated that the headwear portion 111 and the hair sleeve portion 115 may be made from a water resistant and dust proof material. Particularly, the hair sleeve portion 115 may be made from a fabric material that is lightweight and easily manipulated, folded, tied up, etc. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the hair sleeve portion 115 may be tucked into apparel, such as a jacket or shirt, hats, caps, helmets, etc.
The hair sleeve portion 115 may include the top sleeve end 116 (which is attached to the headwear portion 111) opposite a bottom sleeve end 117 and an elongated length 133 (FIG. 2) therebetween. The elongated length 133 of the hair sleeve portion 115 may be similar in size to length of the head hair of the wearer 5. For example, the hair sleeve portion 115 may be provided in a variety of sizes—from small (for short hair), medium (for mid-length hair) and large (for long hair).
The hair sleeve portion 115 may further include a sleeve exterior 118 (FIG. 3) defining a sleeve interior 119 (FIG. 3) configured to contain the head hair of the wearer 5. It is contemplated that the hair sleeve portion 115 may include various designs and styles. For example, in some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1-14, the hair sleeve portion 115 may include a closed ‘bag-like’ configuration such that the hair sleeve portion 115 envelopes the entirety of the length of the head hair. In other embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 15-17, the hair sleeve portion 115 may include a plurality of strand-like sections 134. In this embodiment, the hair sleeve portion 115 may not be closed—instead, the plurality of strand-like sections 134 may surround a rear of the head hair. The plurality of strand-like sections 134 may be provided in different styles. For example, as shown in FIGS. 15-16, the plurality of strand-like sections 134 may be thin and closed off at the ends. In another example, as shown in FIG. 17, the plurality of strand-like sections 134 may be wider and open at the ends. Further, in some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 12-17, the headwear portion 111 and the hair sleeve portion 115 may be of unitary construction, forming a fitted one piece covering. It should be appreciated that these styles are given as examples and the hair sleeve portion 115 is not limited to these designs/styles.
As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 10 particularly, the hair sleeve portion 115 may include a sleeve opening 121 providing access to the sleeve interior 119 and configured to receive the head hair of the wearer 5 therethrough (for placing the head hair into the sleeve interior 119). As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments the sleeve opening 121 may include an elongated narrow slot located toward the top sleeve end 116 at a front side of the hair sleeve portion 115. In some embodiments, the sleeve opening 121 may be large enough to provide the wearer 5 with adequate space to insert their hair into the sleeve opening 121 whilst being narrow enough to prevent the head hair coming loose therefrom. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the sleeve opening 121 may include a circular opening. In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the sleeve opening 121 may be defined by a front side of the hair sleeve portion 115 being open.
To further ensure that the head hair is secured within the hair sleeve portion 115, the hair sleeve portion 115 may include at least one sleeve fastener 122 (FIG. 2). The at least one sleeve fastener 122 may be attached about at least one section of the hair sleeve portion 115 and configured to selectively tighten the hair sleeve portion 115 about the head hair of the wearer 5. For example, as referenced in FIG. 3, the at least one sleeve fastener 122 may include a first sleeve fastener 123 attached at a location along an elongated length 133 of the hair sleeve portion 115 (for example, a bottom area—as shown in these figures).
In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2-7, and FIGS. 10-12, the first sleeve fastener 123 may include a pull string 124, or drawstring. The pull string 124 may include a pair of opposing ends 125. In this embodiment, the hair sleeve portion 115 may include a string casing 126 including a pair of opposing open sides 127. In some embodiments, the string casing 126 may be attached at the location along the elongated length 133 of the hair sleeve portion 115 (for example the bottom area, as discussed above). In other embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 9-10, the string casing 126 and the pull string 124 may be located at the top sleeve end 116 of the hair sleeve portion 115.
The pull string 124 may be threaded through the string casing 126 such that each end 127 of the pull string 124 is suspended from one of the pair of opposing open sides 127. As such, the ends 125 of the pull string 124 may be (selectively) pulled by the wearer 5—cinching the hair sleeve portion 115 around the head hair—and then tied together to secure. In some embodiments, the pull string 124 may be used to tie the hair sleeve portion 115 (and thus the head hair) up and attach it to the rear side 113 of the headwear portion 111.
In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 10, FIG. 12 and FIGS. 15-17, the at least one sleeve fastener 122 may further include a second sleeve fastener 128. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the second sleeve fastener 128 may include a string 131 (such as a second pull string) disposed atop the sleeve opening 121 and configured to selectively tighten the sleeve opening 121 around a top of the head hair. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, a portion of sleeve opening 121 may include elastic 135. In other embodiments still, as shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 12 and FIGS. 15-17, the second sleeve fastener 128 may include a pair of tie strings 131 located at either side of the hair sleeve portion 115. The pair of tie strings 131 may be selectively tied around a back of the head of the wearer 5 to fasten the hair sleeve portion 115 to the top of the head hair.
Referring now to FIGS. 18-19, there is shown the mask device 210. Again, as discussed above, the hair protection system 100 may be used for protecting the hair of the wearer 5 and may include the headwear device 110 (for protecting the head hair), the mask device 210 (for protecting the facial hair), or both—preferably provided as matching parts of a kit. As shown in FIGS. 18-19, the mask device 210 may include a face mask portion 211 and a facial hair covering portion 216. The face mask portion 211 may be a face mask used for protecting the nose and mouth of the wearer 5 against airborne particles. As such, the face mask portion 211 may include a face covering section 212 and a mask fastener 215 for fastening the face covering section 212 over a nose and mouth of the wearer 5. For example, as shown, the mask fastener 215 may include a pair of ear loops for fastening over ears of the wearer 5.
As shown in FIG. 18, the face mask portion 211 may include a top side 213 and a bottom side 214 relative to the wearer 5 (when worn—the top side 213 being above or atop a nose of the wearer 5 and the bottom side 214 being under or against a chin of the wearer 5). As shown, the facial hair covering portion 216 may be attached about the bottom side 214 of the face covering section 212. The facial hair covering portion 216 may be configured to at least partially cover the facial hair of the wearer 5.
In some examples, the facial hair covering portion 216 may include a facial hair pouch 217, as shown in FIG. 19, attached about the bottom side 214 of the face covering section 212. In some embodiments, the facial hair pouch 217 may include a pouch exterior 218 defining a pouch interior 219 configured for containing the facial hair, and a pouch opening 221 configured for providing access to the pouch interior 219 and for receiving the facial hair therethrough.
The facial hair pouch 217 may be provided in various sizes for accommodating beards of various sizes. Further, in some embodiments, the facial hair pouch 217 may include a fastener for securing the facial hair therewithin. For example, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 19, the pouch opening 221 may be elasticated, allowing the wearer 5 to stretch the pouch opening 221 over their facial hair and enabling the facial hair pouch 217 to contract around the facial hair. The facial hair pouch 217 may be particularly useful for protecting chin beards such as goatees. However, it should be appreciated that the facial hair covering portion 216 is not limited to the ‘pouch’ configuration. For example, the facial hair covering portion 216 may include means for covering side/neck beards.
In use, the wearer 5 may attach headwear portion 111 to their head. The wearer 5 may then insert their head hair into the sleeve opening 121 of the hair sleeve portion 115 and into the sleeve interior 119. The wearer 5 may then selectively tighten one or both of the first sleeve fastener 123 and the second sleeve fastener 128 to secure the hair sleeve portion 115 around the head hair. For example, in some embodiments, the wearer 5 may pull both ends 125 of the pull string 124, cinching the hair sleeve portion 115 around the head hair, and then tie the ends 125 of the pull string 124 together to secure.
Further, in some embodiments, the wearer 5 may attach the face mask portion 211 to their face by placing the face covering section 212 over their nose and mouth and attaching it to their head via the mask fastener 215. The wearer 5 may then cover their facial hair with the facial hair covering portion 216. For example, in some embodiments, the wearer 5 may insert their beard (such as a goatee) into the pouch interior 219 of the facial hair pouch 217.
It should be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use, materials, configurations, etc. are taught herein.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
Patent Application
20240197054
