Easy-Fitting Coif for Scalp-Cooling Cap

Abstract

Easy-fitting chemotherapeutic coif worn under, and configured to function in association with, the cooling-fluid circulating (heat-exchanging) cap of a scalp-cooling device or system. Finlike protrusions from left and right temporal pieces of the coif are furnished with hook-and-loop fasteners that oppose counterpart hook-and-loop fasteners furnished on left and right sides of the outer surface of a nape-covering section of the coif. Fitting the heat-exchanging cap over the coif on a wearer's head connects the opposing the hook-and-loop fasteners to fit the coif to the wearer's head dimensions, and firmly cover the nape. A handle is provided on an edge portion of a frontal section of the coif, and with the heat-exchanging cap in place may be tugged on by the wearer to pull out any wrinkles in the coif to eliminate any gap between the coif and the heat-exchanging cap.

Claims

1. A chemotherapeutic coif form-fitting to a wearer's scalp and nape by being worn beneath a heat-exchanging cap of a scalp-cooling device, the chemotherapeutic coif comprising: a fabric body defining inner and outer surfaces, the fabric body made up of a main body including a frontal region for covering the forehead including the brow, an occipital region for covering the occiput, and a nape region for covering the nape, a left temporal piece and a right temporal piece connected to the frontal region and the occipital region of the main body and extending in respective rear end-ward left and right finlike protrusions, leaving a gap between each finlike protrusion and the nape region; a handle on an edge portion of the frontal region; a hook-and-loop fastener provided on the inner surface of the finlike protrusion on the left temporal piece, and a hook-and-loop fastener provided on the inner surface of the finlike protrusion the right temporal piece; and a hook-and-loop fastener provided on each of left and right sides of the outer surface of the nape region to be connectable to the hook-and-loop fastener provided on the inner surface of the finlike protrusion on the left temporal piece and connectable to the hook-and-loop fastener provided on the inner surface of the finlike protrusion the right temporal piece; wherein the hook-and-loop fasteners on the inner surface of the finlike protrusions oppose the hook-and-loop fasteners on the outer surface of the nape region across the respective gaps, such that fitting the heat-exchanging cap over the coif on a wearer's head connects the opposing hook-and-loop fasteners to fit the coif to the wearer's head dimensions.

2. A scalp cooling system for cooling the human scalp, comprising: a heat-exchanging cap; and the chemotherapeutic coif according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 is a open-out view of a medical cap involving the invention;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a right-side view of the medical cap involving the invention;

[0030] FIG. 3A is a front view of the medical cap involving the invention and FIG. 3B is a rear view thereof; and

[0031] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which a user has fitted on the medical cap involving the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each of the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and repeated description will not be provided. It should also be noted that the drawings may be exaggerated for the purpose of understanding the invention and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Further, the invention is not limited to the examples illustrated below.

[0033] An exemplary embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an opened-out view of a chemotherapeutic coif, which is constituted by a fabric body defining inner and outer surfaces, according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a right-side view of the chemotherapeutic coif according to the invention. FIG. 3A is a front view of the chemotherapeutic coif according to the invention, and FIG. 3B is a rear view thereof. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which user has fitted on a chemotherapeutic coif according to the invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, a chemotherapeutic coif 100 according to Example 1 generally includes a main body 1, a left temporal piece 2, and a right temporal piece 3.

[0034] Here, referring to FIG. 1: The main body 1 includes a frontal region 11, an occipital region 12, and a nape region 13. The main body 1 is integrally sewn with the left temporal piece 2 at a sewn part A (indicated by alternating long and short dashed lines), and is integrally sewn with the right temporal piece 3 at a sewn part B (indicated by alternating long and short dashed lines appearing in all the figures, with the reference mark “B” appearing in FIGS. 2 and 4 as well in FIG. 1). In addition, connection parts between the main body 1 and the left temporal piece 2 and between the main body 1 and the right temporal piece 3 are not restricted to sewing. The left temporal piece 2 and the right temporal piece 3 respectively form finlike protrusions 20 and 30 at the rear end, and a gap is formed between the finlike protrusions 20 and 30 and the nape region 13.

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the main body 1 may have a handle 4 attached to the front end, that is, an edge portion of the frontal region 11. When a user wears the chemotherapeutic coif 100 and fits on the heat-exchanging cap for a scalp-cooling device, the user can correct displacement of the chemotherapeutic coif 100 by pulling the handle 4.

[0036] In addition, the fabric body used for the chemotherapeutic coif 100 may have a suitable degree of heat-insulating effectiveness. That is, any material that can be processed into the shape of the chemotherapeutic coif 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 may be used. For example, it is possible to select chemical fibers such as polyester, cotton, nonwoven fabric, and paper as the fabric body, silk, plastics such as thin cloth, and the like as the other material.

[0037] Here, FIG. 2 is referred to. FIG. 2 is a right-side view of the chemotherapeutic coif 100 according to the invention. The right temporal piece 3 is sewn to the main body 1 at the upper end. The right temporal piece 3 has the finlike protrusion 30 formed at the rear end, wherein a gap is formed between the finlike protrusion 30 and the nape region 13. A lower line of the right temporal member 3 may be concavely curved so as not to cover the ear. Although not illustrated, a hook-and-loop fastener may be provided on the inner surface of the fabric constituting the finlike protrusion 30 of the right temporal piece 3, and formed to be connectable to a hook-and-loop fastener provided on an opposing portion of the outer surface of the fabric constituting the nape region 13, across the gap from the finlike protrusion 30, to fit the head dimensions of a user. Since the left lateral side is the same as the right lateral side, the description thereof will not be provided.

[0038] Here, reference is made to FIG. 3A and 3B. FIG. 3A is a front view of the chemotherapeutic coif 100 according to the invention, and FIG. 3B is a rear view thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the handle 4 may be attached to the front end of the main body 1, that is, the edge portion of the frontal region 11. The handle 4 may be any member capable of being gripped and pulled by the user, and may be a loop-like member. Alternatively, a tongue piece member may be sewn to the front end of the frontal region 11.

[0039] Here, reference is made to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which a user has fitted on a chemotherapeutic coif 100 according to the invention. As illustrated in FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that the chemotherapeutic coif 100 according to the invention is a chemotherapeutic coif made up of a fabric body sewn to cover the head of the user, and is constituted from the main body 1 furnished with the frontal region 11 for covering the forehead including the brow, the occipital region 12 for covering covers the occiput, and the nape region 13 for covering the nape, and is constituted from the right temporal piece 3 connected to the main body 1; wherein the right temporal piece 3 connected to the main body 1 forms the finlike protrusion 30 at the rear end, and a gap is formed between the finlike protrusion 30 and the nape region 13. A gap of this sort allows the chemotherapeutic coif to be adapted to people with different head sizes, yielding a stable wearing situation.

[0040] The chemotherapeutic coif 100 of the invention is suitable as a liner element worn under the heat-exchanging cap of a scalp cooling device or system, since the coif has a suitable degree of heat-insulating effectiveness, and when the heat-exchanging cap is fitted on with the liner element being worn, since the liner element serves as a cushioning material between the heat-exchanging cap and the scalp, a comfortable fit is provided for the user.

[0041] While the preferred embodiment of the chemotherapeutic coif according to the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0042] A chemotherapeutic coif involving the invention finds broad utility not only as a liner element of a heat-exchanging cap for a scalp cooling device, but also as a hat that covers the head in cases where a patient has lost hair due to the side effects of anticancer drugs.

LEGEND

[0043] 100: coif [0044] 1: main body [0045] 11: frontal region [0046] 12: occipital region [0047] 13: nape region [0048] 2: left temporal piece [0049] 3: right temporal piece [0050] 20, 30: fin-like protrusion [0051] 4: handle

[0052] Only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention. To those skilled in the art, however, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the embodiments according to the present invention is provided for illustration only, and not for limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.