Knitted hairnet

Abstract

A hairnet is formed of a knitted fabric with parallel lines of stitches connected by transverse threads. The density of threads in the parallel lines of stitches is greater than the density of the transverse threads.

Claims

1. A hairnet formed of a knitted fabric, the knitted fabric comprising an expandable mesh fabric structure formed of parallel lines of stitches connected by pairs of transverse threads, each of the pairs of transverse threads having a first transverse thread and a second transverse thread each running transversely from a first parallel line of stitches of two adjacent parallel lines of stitches to a second parallel line of stitches of the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches, and each running transversely between only the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches with the first transverse thread crossing the second transverse thread between the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches at regular intervals along a length of the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches, the length extending between first and second ends of the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches, the first and second ends of the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches being positioned at opposing edges of the hairnet, and, on stretching the hairnet along a transverse direction, a separation between the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches is increased and the first transverse thread and the second transverse thread of each of the pairs cross in an x-configuration between the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches and, when the stretching force is removed, the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches are drawn back towards each other by the pairs of transverse threads ensuring a close fit to a user's head, and wherein a density of threads in said parallel lines of stitches is greater than a density of threads in said transverse threads.

2. The hairnet according to claim 1, wherein the parallel lines of stitches are formed from one or more one needle warp threads.

3. The hairnet according to claim 1, wherein the transverse threads are formed from one or more two needle warp threads.

4. The hairnet according to claim 1, wherein the transverse threads are formed from one or more three needle warp threads.

5. The hairnet according to claim 1, which has two cinch points.

6. The hairnet according to claim 1, which has one cinch point.

7. The hairnet according to claim 1, which is made from synthetic fibers.

8. The hairnet according to claim 7, wherein the synthetic fibers are polyester, nylon, viscose or polypropylene.

9. The hairnet according to claim 1, which is made from natural fibers.

10. The hairnet according to claim 9, wherein the natural fibers are cotton.

11. The hairnet according to claim 1 wherein, in use, the parallel lines of stitches run from a front of a user's head to a back.

12. The hairnet according to claim 1, wherein an edge of the hairnet is elasticated.

13. The hairnet according to claim 1, which comprises a first part that fits over a wearer's head and a second part that lies, in use, over a back of a wearer's neck to accommodate long hair.

14. The hairnet according to claim 1, wherein the parallel lines of stitches are bound together at at least one end, and the hairnet further comprises at least one elastic cord or yarn at or close to its edges.

15. The hairnet according to claim 1, wherein the expandable mesh fabric structure comprises more than eight parallel lines of stitches connected by transverse threads, and the parallel lines of stitches are bound together at at least one end.

16. A method of producing hairnets as claimed in claim 1, which method comprises the steps of: a) knitting a continuous length of knitted fabric comprising parallel lines of stitches connected by pairs of transverse threads that are diagonally crossed, wherein a density of threads in said parallel lines of stitches is greater than a density of the threads in said transverse threads; b) binding the knitted fabric together at intervals; and c) cutting the knitted fabric at bound regions to form individual hairnets.

17. A hairnet comprising: a first part that fits over a wearer's head; and a second part that is formed integrally with the first part and lies, in use, over a back of a wearer's neck to accommodate long hair, the first and second parts being constituted by a length of fabric that is bound together at its ends to form cinch points and which is elasticated at or adjacent a first longitudinal edge thereof and at a position intermediate longitudinal edges of the fabric, a part of the fabric between the first longitudinal edge and an intermediate elastication constituting the first part of the hairnet, and a rest of the fabric constituting the second part of the hairnet, wherein the fabric being knitted comprises an expandable mesh fabric formed of parallel lines of stitches connected by pairs of transverse threads, each of the pairs of transverse threads having a first transverse thread and a second transverse thread each running transversely from a first parallel line of stitches of two adjacent parallel lines of stitches to a second parallel line of stitches of the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches, and each running transversely between only the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches with the first transverse thread crossing the second transverse thread between the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches at regular intervals along a length of the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches, the length extending between first and second ends of the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches, the first and second ends of the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches being positioned at opposing edges of the hairnet, and, on stretching the hairnet along a transverse direction, a separation between the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches is increased and the first transverse thread and the second transverse thread of each of the pairs cross in an x-configuration between the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches and, when the stretching force is removed, the two adjacent parallel lines of stitches are drawn back towards each other by the pairs of transverse threads ensuring a close fit to the wearer's head, and wherein a density of threads in said parallel lines of stitches is greater than a density of threads in said transverse threads.

18. A method of producing hairnets as claimed in claim 17, which method comprises: a) knitting a continuous length of knitted fabric which is elasticated at or adjacent a first longitudinal edge thereof and at a position intermediate longitudinal edges of the knitted fabric, the knitted fabric comprising parallel lines of stitches connected by pairs of transverse threads that are diagonally crossed, wherein a density of threads in said parallel lines of stitches is greater than a density of the threads in said transverse threads; b) binding the knitted fabric together at intervals; and c) cutting the knitted fabric at bound regions to form individual hairnets.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein a second longitudinal edge of the fabric is also elasticated.

20. The hairnet as claimed in claim 17, wherein a second longitudinal edge of the fabric is also elasticated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the following drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view that shows the structure of a knitted fabric used in the manufacture of a conventional hairnet, in a stretched configuration as when the hairnet is worn;

(3) FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 that shows the structure of a knitted fabric used in the manufacture of a hairnet according to the invention, in a relaxed configuration;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the structure of the fabric of FIG. 2 in a stretched configuration, as when the hairnet is worn;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a continuous length of fabric used in the manufacture of a hairnet according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the manner in which a hairnet produced from the fabric of FIG. 4 is worn;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a view similar to FIG. 4 of a continuous length of fabric used in the manufacture of a hairnet including a depending portion to accommodate long hair over the wearer's neck; and

(8) FIG. 7 shows the manner in which a hairnet produced from the fabric of FIG. 6 is worn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(9) Referring first to FIG. 1, a conventional hairnet is produced from fabric 1 having the structure shown. The fabric 1 has an open mesh structure that is essentially the same, whether viewed along the stitching line labelled 2 or along the transverse stitching line labelled 3.

(10) Hairnets of the present invention are produced from knitted fabric 4 having the structure shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The knitted fabric 4 comprises parallel lines of stitches 5, which are connected by a series of transverse threads 6. The transverse threads 6 between each set of parallel lines 5 are in pairs such that, when the fabric 4 is stretched (FIG. 3), the transverse threads 6 of each pair cross in an x-configuration between the parallel lines of stitches 5.

(11) The fabric 4 can be changed from the configuration shown in FIG. 2 to that of FIG. 3 by placing the fabric 4 under tension, such as happens when the hairnet is stretched by a user along the transverse direction prior to application to the user's head. Once the hairnet has been applied to the head, the tension is released, and the fabric 4 returns partially to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, ensuring a close fit to the user's head. When the hairnet is removed from the head, the fabric 4 returns completely to the relaxed configuration of FIG. 2. This relaxation may be aided by stretching the fabric 4 along the parallel lines of stitches 5, causing the transverse threads 6 to return towards their original, unstretched position.

(12) Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that when the fabric 4 is placed under tension by being stretched in the transverse direction, yarn is pulled from the parallel lines of stitches 5 and into the transverse threads 6. When the fabric 4 is stretched along the parallel lines of stitches 5, yarn is pulled from the transverse threads 6 and back into the parallel lines of stitches 5. This transfer of yarn between the parallel lines of stitches and the transverse threads enables the fabric 4 to stretch significantly, without the need for elastic yarns.

(13) Referring now to FIG. 4, a first embodiment of a hairnet according to the invention is manufactured by knitting a continuous band of fabric 41. The fabric 41 incorporates elastic cords or yarns 42, 43 at (or close to) its edges. In FIG. 4, the lines xxxxxxx represent the parallel lines of stitches denoted 5 in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 4 is of course schematic and the number of such lines of stitches is in reality much greater than that depicted.

(14) The band of fabric 41 is bound together at intervals represented by the broken lines. This may be achieved by squeezing the fabric together at those points and applying pairs of metal staples 51 (shown in FIG. 5), and then cutting the fabric 41 in the space between the staples 51 of each pair to form individual hairnets. The manner in which such a hairnet is worn is shown schematically in FIG. 5. As can be seen, the hairnet is worn with the regions bound by the staples 51 at the front and back, so that the parallel lines of stitching (represented schematically by the broken lines in FIG. 5) extend from the front to the back of the wearer's head.

(15) Turning now to FIG. 6, another form of hairnet is produced from a continuous band of fabric 61 that, in this instance, has elastic yarns or cords not only at its edges 62, 63, but also extending longitudinally at an intermediate position 64. The parallel lines of stitches (represented schematically by the lines xxxxxx) again extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fabric 61. When formed into individual hairnets (in the same manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, by applying pairs of metal staples at the positions indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 6, and cutting between the staples of each pair), one side of the fabric 61 forms a hairnet that is worn over the wearer's head, while the other side of the fabric 61 forms a pouch that accommodates long hair over the back of the wearer's neck. This is illustrated in FIG. 7, from which it can be seen that the staples 71 in this embodiment occur at the sides rather than at the front and back of the wearer's head, and that the parallel lines of stitches extend, in use, across the wearer's head from one side to the other, rather than from front to back.

(16) In other embodiments, the elastication at the edge 63 of the fabric 61 may be omitted, in which case the edge of the pouch that lies at the back of the wearer's neck is not elasticated. This has the result that the pouch may hang rather lower over the wearer's neck.