Patent Application
20230225439
The present invention relates to accessories for adhering a head-covering (e.g., a skullcap, wig, toupee etc.) to a head and more specifically to a type of clip for adhering the head-covering to the head.
The Jewish skullcap, also referred to by the Hebrew name “kipa” or Yiddish name “yarlmuka”, was invented about 400 years ago in Europe, and since then there have developed may different variations and different sizes.
The adhering/coupling/sticking of the skullcap and/or head-covering and/or wig to the head and/or hair, is an issue that is of particular concern to anyone who wears such a skullcap or head-covering.
Some versions of the skullcap have a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the head on which is rests, making it particularly difficult to affix to, or secure on, the head. A particularly difficult situation is to adhere/affix such a skullcap to a bald head. Similarly, wigs, toupees and other head-coverings need to be secured in place on the head, in a non-permanent fashion.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for securing a head-covering to a head, the apparatus including: (a) a first portion having a fastening section formed between connecting edges, the fastening section including a plurality of teeth and made from a flexible material; (b) a second portion include one or more bridging pieces, the second portion coupled to the first portion at the connecting edges such that at least the fastening section is deformed to form a concave arc relative to the one or more bridging pieces when coupled together; and (c) a silicone material disposed on at least one surface of the second portion that is adapted to come into contact with skin of the head; wherein the apparatus is adapted to be flexibly deformed between an open state wherein the plurality of teeth are biased away from the one or more bridging pieces and a closed state wherein the plurality of teeth are biased against the one or more bridging pieces.
According to examples the first portion and the second portion are integrally formed. According to further examples the first portion and the second portion are coupled together. According to examples the first and second portions are coupled together via a coupling means selected from the group including: coupling pins, rivets, welding, adhesive and ultrasonic bonding.
According to further examples the fastening section presents the concave arc relative to a virtual plane in the open state and a convex arc relative to the virtual plane in the closed state, wherein the connecting edges lie on the virtual plane.
According to further examples the silicone material is a silicone adhesive. According to further examples the silicone material is a silicone sleeve or tube that is slid over at least one of the one or more bridging pieces. According to further examples the silicone material is adhered to the at least one surface of the second portion.
According to another embodiment there is provided an apparatus for securing a head-covering to a head, the apparatus including: a base plate of flexible material having a first surface on one side of the base plate and a second surface on an opposite side of the base plate, the base plate having an upper section relative to an imaginary midline running a length of the based plate and a lower section relative to the midline; an upper set of tines disposed on the upper section of the base plate, on the first surface; and a lower set of tines disposed on the lower section of the base plate, on the second surface.
According to further examples the upper set of tines and the lower set of tines each extend in a direction away from the imaginary midline. According to further examples the set upper set of tines extends in a direction away from the imaginary midline and the lower set of tines extends in a direction towards the imaginary midline or vice versa.
According to another embodiment there is provided a system for securing a head-covering to a head, the system including: (a) the apparatus as described herein; (b) the head-covering; and (c) silicone material disposed on a head-facing surface of the head-covering in positions corresponding to hairless areas of a bald, semi-bald or clean-shaven head.
Various embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The principles and operation of an apparatus and method for coupling a skullcap or hair-covering to a head according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.
Attaching the skullcap, head-covering, or wig (also referred to herein, in the collective, as “head-covering”) to the head needs to be addressed in two main situations:
A. securing the head-covering to a head with hair; and
B. securing the head-covering to a head with spikey hair, shaved or a bald (complete or partial) head.
Securing the head-covering to the head in these situations is a mechanical and engineering challenge. Prior art clips snag hair between the teeth or tongue of the clip and an opposing member or members. However, such clips are not able to provide an adequate solution for a bald or cleanshaven head.
One option manner of manufacturing the first portion is by laser cutting a small, thin, rectangular sheet of metal. The design of the fastening section is merely an example, and many different designs and configurations can be employed.
The apparatus further includes a silicone material disposed on at least one surface of second portion adapted to come into contact with skin of the head. In examples, the silicone material may be a thin silicone tube or sleeve that is slid over (i.e., disposed on) one or more of the bridging pieces. In other examples, the silicone material is a silicone adhesive. In some examples, silicone material is adhered to the at least one surface of the second portion. The silicone may be droplets of silicone 162 that have been deposited on the surface or surfaces of the bridging pieces or a layer of silicone deposited on the surface(s).
In some embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are integrally formed. In some embodiments the first portion and the second portion are coupled together. In examples, the first and second portions are coupled together via a coupling means selected from the group including: coupling pins, rivets, welding, adhesive and ultrasonic bonding.
Another possible configuration of the first portion 100a is shown in
Yet another configuration is shown in
Conversely, the apparatus 400 includes a second set of tines on a lower half of the base plate 402. The lower tines 414 protrude (e.g., are bent away) from the base plate 402 on the opposite side of the clip. Both the upper tines and the lower tines face outwardly, away from the imaginary midline
According to one example, the tines 410 (i.e., both sets of tines 412 and 414 [see below]) are laser cut from the base sheet. According to another example, the tines are mechanically attached. to the base sheet 402 (e.g., by welding, rivets, pins, adhesive and/or any other methods well known in the art).
The clip 400 may be attached to the inside surface of a head-covering by any means known in the art. For example, clip 400 may be sewn into the inside lining of the head covering by holes 404.
An alternative configuration similar clip 400 is depicted in
Clip 400a can be adhered to the inside surface of the head covering in a similar fashion to that which was described in relation to clip 400. Alternatively, the tines on one side of the clip can be adhered to a peripheral edge of a head covering such as a skullcap/yarmulka or headscarf while the tines on the other side of the clip snag hair.
In some embodiments, clip 400 and/or clip 400a additionally include a silicone (or similar) material disposed on the clip. In examples, droplets of silicone 420 can be arrayed in a line across the imaginary midline of the clip 400/400a. Alternatively, a full line of silicone or a peripheral border of silicone material (not shown) can be disposed on the clip 400/400a.
According to embodiments, there is provided a system for securing a head-covering to a head. The system includes any one of the configurations of the apparatus disclosed above that is applicable. For each type of head covering, a different type of clip may be applicable The system further includes a head-covering, where the head covering has disposed on an internal surface thereof: a plurality of a dots of silicone material.
A silicone adhesive material may be used in place of, or in addition to, the aforementioned silicone material. The desired characteristics being a soft rubbery material that sticks, clings or gives at least some degree of purchase when placed on a bald or clean-shaven head.
The silicone material can be made of or include glow-in-the-dark and/or reflective material. Accordingly, one wearing the head covering (e.g., a skullcap) can invert the head covering at night in order to be visible to passing traffic etc.
It is made clear that any use of the instant apparatus/clip, according to any of the aforementioned configurations/embodiments, is included within the scope of the invention. The clip is adapted to connect a head covering or any other relevant object to hair and/or a hairless head as well as being adapted for any other use, such as, but not limited to, connecting inanimate objects together.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. Therefore, the claimed invention as recited in the claims that follow is not limited to the embodiments described herein.
