GARMENT WITH DRAPING MATERIAL EXTENDING FROM A COLLAR PORTION THAT DRAPES TO PROTECT HAIR OF THE WEARER

Abstract

A garment having a draping material extending from a collar portion thereof. The draping material may extend in a flat condition for up to four feet from the collar portion but also be adapted to move to a retracted condition bunched up along the collar portion. In certain embodiment, a cinching cord and locking element may be operatively associated with the draping material to enable the wearer of the garment to move the draping material between the extending and retracted conditions with a tug of the cinching cord.

Claims

1. A garment for protecting a wearer's hair from contacting a surrounding surface when the wearer is lounging or recumbent thereon, comprising: a collar portion of the garment, wherein the collar portion is adapted to be located adjacent to a rear neck of a wearer of the garment; a draping material planarly extending from the collar portion for at least two feet in an extended condition; and the draping material being a hydrophobic and lint-phobic material.

2. The garment for protecting a wearer's hair from contacting a surrounding surface when the wearer is lounging or recumbent thereon of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic and lint-phobic material is satin.

3. The garment for protecting a wearer's hair from contacting a surrounding surface when the wearer is lounging or recumbent thereon of claim 1, wherein the garment is made from a clothing material, wherein the clothing material is different from the draping material.

4. The garment for protecting a wearer's hair from contacting a surrounding surface when the wearer is lounging or recumbent thereon of claim 1, further comprising a filament actuator operatively associated the draping material in such a way that the draping material is movable between the extended condition and a retracted condition bunched up along the collar portion.

5. The garment for protecting a wearer's hair from contacting a surrounding surface when the wearer is lounging or recumbent thereon of claim 4, wherein the filament actuator is a cinching cord.

6. The garment for protecting a wearer's hair from contacting a surrounding surface when the wearer is lounging or recumbent thereon of claim 4, wherein the filament actuator is disposed in a tunnel inward of a periphery of the draping material.

7. The garment for protecting a wearer's hair from contacting a surrounding surface when the wearer is lounging or recumbent thereon of claim 4, further comprising a locking device for locking the draping material at or between the extended and retracted conditions.

8. The garment for protecting a wearer's hair from contacting a surrounding surface when the wearer is lounging or recumbent thereon of claim 7, further comprising at least one pocket along the garment for removably storing the locking device and a distal portion of the filament actuator.

9. A method of keeping hair of a wearer of a garment from contacting a supporting surface the wearer is lounging or recumbent on or near, comprising: donning the garment of claim 4; and ensuring the draping material is in the extended condition and draped over the supporting surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use in an extended condition;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the collapsed condition;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the draping material in the extended, flat condition;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the draping material in a retracted, collapsed condition;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the draping material in the extended, flat condition;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing a cinching cord, locking element and a pocket; and

[0016] FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mounting plate of the present invention, indicated by line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0018] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a garment having a draping material extending from a collar portion thereof. The draping material may extend in a flat condition for up to four feet from the collar portion but also be adapted to move to a retracted condition bunched up along the collar portion. In certain embodiment, a cinching cord and locking element may be operatively associated with the draping material to enable the wearer of the garment to move the draping material between the extending and retracted conditions with a tug of the cinching cord.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention may include a garment 11 dimensioned and adapted to be worn along at least the upper torso of a human wearer. The garment 11 may include a collar portion 22 located adjacent to a collar bone of the wearer. A draping material 10 may extend from the collar portion 22 in a flat condition. The draping material 10 may be a single sheet or ply of draping material. In other embodiments, the draping material 10 may be two or more plies of draping fabric 10. The draping material 10 may be satin or other materials that may hydrophobic, water resistant, otherwise do not absorb water, as well as “lint-phobic”. The draping material 10 may extend generally radially from the collar portion for four feet or more.

[0020] Along a periphery of the draping material 10 may be a cinching cord of a filament actuator 14 whose ends are outside of the draping material 10 adjacent to the collar portion 22. In certain embodiments, the cinching cord 14 may be disposed in a tunnel along a periphery of the draping material 10. A user can manipulate or pull the (end or ends of the) cinching cord(s) 14 to urge the draping material 10 between the extended condition to a retracted condition bunched up along the collar portion 22, as illustrated in the FIGS, much like a draw string.

[0021] The cinching cord 14 may have a locking device 16 with a bushing or equivalent 18 for moving the cinching cord 14 between an unlocked and a locked engagement in and at any point between the retracted and extended conditions. In certain embodiments, unlocking can be attained by sliding the locking device 16/clasps along the cinching cord 14.

[0022] The end(s) of the cinching cord 14 and the locking device(s) 16 may be removably stored in pockets 20 disposed along an inner surface of the garment 11 so as to be handy when the wearer needs to release the draping fabric 12 for draping or otherwise move the draping material 10 between the retracted and extended conditions.

[0023] In certain embodiments, the draping material 10 may be sewn along the collar portion 22 of the garment 11 or inward of the collar portion 22 along the inner surface thereof so as to span the shoulder width of the garment 11. The draping material 10 may drape downward along the back of the user under the force of gravity.

[0024] A method of using the present invention may include the following. The garment 11 disclosed above may be provided. A user may don the garment 11 so that the collar portion 22 is located at least adjacent to or near the back of their neck so as to be wrapped further around their neck, as illustrated in FIG. 2, so that a body portion of the garment 11 can be worn along at least the upper torso of the wearer.

[0025] The wearer may move the draping material 10 to extended condition so that the draping material 10 lays flat on a supporting surface their head is disposed against, for example a pillow as illustrated in FIG. 1. As this supporting surface may include moisture-absorbing fabric, the draping material 10 (which may or may not be satin fabric) protects the wearer's hair from either drying out because of and/or gathering lint from the moisture-absorbing fabric.

[0026] Additionally, the present invention can be used as a contraption that can cover the head as the wearer rests in cars, on planes, etc.

[0027] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.