Water-tight expandable swim cap with cinching feature

Abstract

One or more embodiments of an elongated swim cap concavity (11a) having expandable walls (11) with flexible pleats (11b) above a draw cord sleeve (13) or (17) containing a draw cord (14) with knotted draw cord ends (15) and attached draw cord accessories (18) extending from draw cord sleeve openings (16) at the back and above an elastic ribbed perimeter band (12) with a plurality of grooved channels with ear notches (12a). These aspects provide a swim cap that accommodates various hair types, particularly thick, curly, long, kinky, coarse, voluminous and/or high-maintenance hair and/or chemically treated hair and/or braids, rolled locks or dreadlocks to establish and maintain a water-tight seal, a secure and stable fit, and a streamlined profile. Aesthetic possibilities are provided with visibility of and unobstructed access to the ears. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Claims

1. A water-tight cap comprising: an elongated concave dome comprising expandable walls and a bottom edge, the expandable walls comprising flexible pleats incorporated therein, a bottom edge of each flexible pleat being spaced above the bottom edge of the dome; an elastic ribbed perimeter band for fitting below the hairline, the elastic ribbed perimeter band comprising ear notches configured to keep a wearer's ears uncovered by the cap when donned and a plurality of grooved channels configured to create a moisture barrier with a head of the wearer; and an internal draw cord sleeve containing a draw cord comprising knotted draw cord ends, the internal draw cord sleeve circumnavigating a circumference of the dome and located between and spaced apart from the bottom edge of each flexible pleat and a top edge of the elastic ribbed perimeter band; whereby the cap is configured to contain a hair mass of the wearer to protect the hair mass and scalp from exposure to moisture.

2. The cap of claim 1, further comprising a draw cord accessory located on each knotted end of the draw cord.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1A-1B show aspects of the water-tight expandable swim cap with cinching feature on a wearer's head from a side view.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the cinching feature with draw cord untied and the elastic ribbed perimeter band with grooved channels for gripping skin beneath the hair line.

(3) FIGS. 3A-3B show aspects of the draw cord sleeve for the draw cord as internal and external to the swim cap perimeter

(4) FIG. 4 shows the draw cord sleeve openings, untied draw cord, knotted draw cord ends, and draw cord accessory.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a side view of the water-tight expandable swim cap with cinching feature.

(6) FIG. 6 shows an angled side view of the water-tight expandable swim cap with cinching feature.

(7) FIG. 7 shows the inner concavity of the swim cap from a bottom view.

(8) FIG. 8 shows an interior cross section view of the elongated swim cap concavity expandable wall and flexible pleats.

(9) FIG. 9 shows the cinching feature tied.

(10) Images in the drawings are for illustrative purposes and not rendered in actual size; and may not reflect mathematical scale and proportions.

DRAWINGSREFERENCE NUMERALS

(11) 11 elongated swim cap concavity expandable walls 11a elongated swim cap concavity 11b flexible pleats in elongated swim cap concavity expandable walls 12 elastic ribbed perimeter band with ear notches 12a ear notches in the elastic ribbed perimeter band 13 internal draw cord sleeve 14 draw cord 15 knotted draw cord end 16 draw cord sleeve openings 17 external open weave draw cord sleeve 18 draw cord accessory

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A, 2, 3A, and 4First Embodiment

(12) One embodiment of the swim cap is illustrated in FIG. 1A (side view). The swim cap has elongated expandable side walls 11 of elastic moisture impervious material that expands and contracts without rupturing or tearing under intended usage. An elastic ribbed perimeter band 12 of the elongated swim cap concavity 11a has curved ear notches 12a and a plurality of rows of grooved channels. Above the elastic ribbed perimeter band 12 an internal draw cord sleeve 13 follows the circumference of the swim cap concavity 11a as an enclosed track for a draw cord 14 with a knotted draw cord end 15. A draw cord accessory 18 is attached beyond the knotted draw cord end 15.

(13) The back of the swim cap is illustrated in FIG. 2 (back view). The draw cord 14, knotted draw cord ends 15, and draw cord accessory 18 extend from two draw cord sleeve openings 16.

(14) The elastic ribbed perimeter band 12, internal draw cord sleeve 13, and draw cord 14 are illustrated in a cross section in FIG. 3A.

(15) The draw cord sleeve openings 16, knotted draw cord ends 15, draw cord 14, and draw cord accessory 18 are illustrated in FIG. 4.

OperationFIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9

(16) The manner of applying the swim cap (FIG. 1) to a wearer's head is identical to that of standard swim caps in present use. Namely, one first spreads the elastic ribbed perimeter band 12 to access the swim cap concavity 11a (FIG. 7) in order to place the swim cap on head and over hair and scalp, positioning the ear notches 12a behind the shells of the ears at the hair line. Next, tuck all hair strands upward inside the elongated swim cap concavity 11a above the elastic ribbed perimeter band 12, ear notches 12a, and internal draw cord sleeve 13. Remove excess air in the elongated swim cap concavity 11a by creating a gap between the elastic ribbed perimeter band 12 and the skin, then press down on the top of the elongated swim cap concavity walls 11b. Adjust the elastic ribbed perimeter band 12 to rest against the skin below the hair line around the circumference of the head. Pull the draw cord 14 (FIGS. 2 and 4) to the desired tension, then tie into a bow or a double bow (FIG. 9).

(17) To remove the swim cap (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 9), one first unties the draw cord 14, then pulls at the internal draw cord sleeve 13 and the elastic ribbed perimeter band 12 to interrupt the water-tight seal at the hair line, then lift the elongated swim cap concavity walls 11 up and off a wearer's hair and head.

FIGS. 2, 4, 9Additional Embodiments

(18) The possible additional embodiments include making the draw cord 14 length sufficient to encircle the circumference of the head outside of the internal draw cord sleeve 13 or external draw cord sleeve 17 once or more loops around the outside of the elongated swim cap concavity walls 11 to increase the variety of ways to secure the swim cap into a stable position on a wearer's head and hair.

FIGS. 1B and 3BAlternative Embodiments

(19) There are various possibilities relative to the configuration of the draw cord sleeve. FIG. 1B (side view) illustrates an external draw cord sleeve 17 with an open weave casing that permits water and moisture to escape, allowing the enclosure to dry completely to prevent accumulation of mold and mildew. It also makes it convenient to remove the draw cord 14 and/or reinsert it if necessary. Being able to see the draw cord 14 through the open weave of the external draw cord sleeve 17 adds a decorative element.

(20) Extending the back portion of the elastic ribbed perimeter band 12 to dip lower on the nape of a wearer's neck is shown in FIG. 1B.

(21) Material for the draw cord 14 may be elastic or inelastic.

(22) The elastic ribbed perimeter band 12, external draw cord sleeve 17, and draw cord 14 are illustrated in an axial cross section in FIG. 3B.

(23) The flexible pleats 11b in the elongated swim cap concavity walls 11 may be straight or angular and/or placed at various distance intervals.

(24) Advantages

(25) From the preceding description, numerous advantages of some embodiments of my water-tight expandable swim cap with cinching feature become evident: (a) A single-compartment device with a synchronicity of elements that work cooperatively to offer its wearer easy, convenient protection from moisture exposure with a water-tight seal, a secure fit that is stable, a streamlined profile, and aesthetic possibilities offered by unobstructed visibility of and access to the ears. (b) The elastic ribbed perimeter band with ear notches establishes and maintains continuous contact with a wearer's skin below the hair line around the circumference of a wearer's head, which forms a water-tight barrier that's uninterrupted by laying behind the ears instead of laying across or partially enclosing or completely engulfing the ears. (c) The draw cord inside the internal or external draw cord sleeve allows its wearer to adjust the tension of the fit according to their personal requirements for securing a stable fit, also adding another barrier to water seepage into the elongated swim cap concavity. (d) The elongated swim cap concavity expandable walls made of moisture impervious material that expands and contracts without rupturing during designated usage gently compresses the confined hair, which streamlines a wearer's profile as they move through the water when submerged. (e) The draw cord accessory acts as a cord stop and allows wearers to personalize the appearance of their swim cap with decorative or fashionable or licensed logo charms or baubles.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

(26) Accordingly, the reader will see that the water-tight expandable swim cap with cinching feature of various embodiments provides easy, convenient protection of a wearer's hair and scalp from water exposure, provides a secure and stable fit that's adjustable, while the elongated swim cap concavity walls and flexible pleats gently compress the hair to a wearer's head to streamline their profile as they move through the water when submerged.

(27) Furthermore, the water-tight expandable swim cap with a cinching feature has the additional advantages in that: it provides protection from water exposure to hair and scalp by combining form with function to provide layers of barriers to water seepage because keeping dry hair dry is its priority; it provides accommodation of fit and security for wearers with a range of head sizes and hair types, especially wearers with very thick, curly, kinky, coarse, long, voluminous and/or high-maintenance hair including chemically treated hair, braids, rolled locks, and dreadlocks; it provides adjustability for a stable fit that's also comfortable; and it provides possibilities for distinctive decorative elements.

(28) Although the preceding description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as simply providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. For example, the flexible pleats in the elongated swim cap concavity walls can be straight instead of curved, etc.

(29) Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.