COVER, AND METHOD FOR USING SAME

Abstract

Through-hole provided in the substantially central portion of the cover has a thinness that can be stretched when pulled. It is formed to have such a size that the head of a wearer can tautly pass through it, and when the head passes through it, the cover comes to drape over the abdomen and the back of the wearer, and when the abdomen side is lifted up to expose the face of the wearer protruding from the through-hole, the periphery of the through-hole stretches further and adheres to the skin around the face of the wearer from along the nape, under the ears, to along the forehead. Thus, for applying a general hair medicant, such as hair dye or treatment, the cover is a multi-purpose cape which encases the hair with adhering hair medicant, and easily enwraps the hair in its entirety.

Claims

1. A method of use of a cover having a through-hole in a substantially central portion of the cover, comprising the steps of: providing a cover formed of a thin synthetic resin sheet having a center line along a longitudinal direction thereof, the cover being large enough to cover at least both shoulders and the abdomen of the wearer; defining a through-hole in the cover at the center line, the through-hole having a peripheral edge, and of a size that a head of a wearer tautly passes through; and defining a front cover portion and a back cover portion of the cover with a border between the front cover portion and the back cover portion.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the front cover portion draping over the abdomen is lifted up and the face of the wearer exposed protruding from the through-hole, the peripheral edge of the through-hole stretches and thins, such that the peripheral edge of the thin synthetic resin sheet defining the a through-hole tautly adheres to the facial periphery of the wearer reaching along the nape, under the ears, to along the forehead, and wherein, the front portion of the cover lifted up from the abdomen to cover the head is made large enough to enwrap the hair in its entirety.

3. The method according to claim 1, whereby the cover covers at least both shoulders and the abdomen of the wearer, and after applying a general hair medicant to the hair of the wearer, then in that state leaving the back cover portion as is, lifting up the front cover portion so as to expose the face of the wearer protruding from the through-hole, whereby the peripheral edge of the through-hole stretches and thins, such that the peripheral edge of the thin synthetic resin sheet defining the through-hole tautly adheres to the facial periphery of the wearer reaching along the nape, under the ears, to along the forehead, and wherein, the front portion of the cover lifted up from the abdomen to cover the head is made large enough to enwrap the hair in its entirety.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the respective draping over the abdomen and back of the wearer, forms a bag portion having an open upper section, and the other portion of the cover being a flatly draping portion, with the periphery of the bag portion in contact with the forehead of the wearer, and covering the head of the wearer with the bag portion.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein before a general hair medicant is applied to the hair of the wearer, in the state that the bag portion has its open upper section facing upward, the upper half of the body of the wearer is covered.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the general hair medicant has been applied to the hair of the wearer, then the bag portion lifted upward toward the head with the draping portion lifted upward and forward provides a state containing air with enwrapped hair.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein with the cover draping over at least both shoulders and the abdomen of the wearer, after the general hair medicant has been applied to the hair of the wearer, then tying any protruding bag portion to the head of the wearer.

8. The method according to claim 6, providing the open side of the bag portions facing up, after the general hair medicant has been applied to the hair of the wearer, with the bag portion draping over the abdomen lifted upward having the bag portion protruding in the left-to-right direction from the wearer to be tied either in the back or in the front under the chin.

9. A method of use of a cover having a through-hole in a substantially central portion of the cover, comprising the steps of: tautly passing a wearer's head into the through-hole of the cover by positioning the through-hole over the head of the wearer with the cover being pulled thin so as to stretch the through-hole large enough to allow the wearer's head to tautly pass through; providing a front cover portion to drape over both shoulders and the abdomen of the wearer; providing a back cover portion to drape over the wearer's backside; forming the front and back cover portions into bag portions with upper open sections, and additionally, when the bag portion of the abdominal side is lifted upward to expose the face of the wearer protruding from the through-hole, whereby the peripheral edge of the through-hole stretches and thins, such that the peripheral edge of the thin synthetic resin sheet defining the through-hole tautly adheres to the facial periphery of the wearer reaching along the nape, under the ears, to along the forehead, and wherein, the front portion of the cover lifted up from the abdomen to cover the head is made large enough to enwrap the hair in its entirety.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein when the head of the wearer has been passed through the through-hole, the respective bag portions cover the abdomen and the back of the wearer, in the vicinity of both shoulders of the wearer.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein along the periphery of the bag portions in contact with the forehead of the wearer, when the bag portion covers the head of the wearer, in order to affix the bag portion to the head.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of applying a general hair medicant to the hair of the wearer, when the upper open section of the bag portion faces upward, the head is passed through the through-hole, and one or other of the bag portion or the draping portion, drapes over the abdomen of the wearer, and the other drapes over the back of the wearer, and the cover thus drape over the upper half of the body of the wearer.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein when the general hair medicant has been applied to the hair of the wearer, then while the bag portion that drapes over the abdomen is lifted upward and forward and the face of the wearer is exposed protruding from the through-hole.

14. A cover consisting of: a thin synthetic resin formed as a sheet that can be stretched by hand; a through-hole consisting of a peripheral edge defined in the thin synthetic resin sheet; a front cover portion and a back cover portion defined by the thin synthetic resin sheet, the peripheral edge of the through-hole of a size that the head of the wearer tautly passes through formed on the center line along the longitudinal direction of the cover, such that when the head of the wearer is passed through the through-hole, the cover becomes large enough to cover at least both shoulders and the abdomen of the wearer, and in that state leaving a back cover portion as is, when the front cover portion draping over the abdomen is lifted up, and the face of the wearer is exposed and protrudes through the hole, wherein the peripheral edge of the through-hole stretches and thins, such that the peripheral edge of the thin synthetic resin sheet tautly adheres to the facial periphery of the wearer reaching along the nape, under the ears, to along the forehead, and wherein, the front cover portion is made large enough to enwrap the hair in its entirety.

15. The cover according to claim 14, wherein the head of a wearer is passed through the through-hole of the cover, and the cover drapes over at least both shoulders and the abdomen of the wearer, allowing for application of a general hair medicant applied only to the hair of the wearer.

16. The cover according to claim 14, wherein one of either of the sides of the cover which separately drapes over the abdomen or the back of the wearer, forms a bag portion having an open upper section, and the other side of the cover is a flatly draping portion.

17. The cover according to claim 14, wherein one or other of the sides of the cover that separately drapes over the abdomen of the wearer or the back of the wearer is provided with an open upper bag portion, and the bag portion, while the peripheral edge of the through-hole tautly adheres to the skin of the facial periphery of the wearer.

18. The cover according to claim 17, wherein the cover separately drapes over the abdomen and the back of the wearer, and wherein the bag portion consists of an inverted conical bag.

19. The cover according to claim 17, wherein prior to the application of a general hair medicant to the hair of the wearer, when the upper open section of the bag portion faces upward, the head is passed through the through-hole, and one or other of the bag portion or the draping portion, drapes over the abdomen of the wearer, and the other drapes over the back of the wearer, and the cover thus drape over the upper half of the body of the wearer.

20. The cover according to claim 19, wherein when a general hair medicant has been applied to the hair of the wearer, then while the bag portion that drapes over the abdomen is lifted upward and forward and the face of the wearer.

Description

[0100] FIG. 1 A plane view of the cover according to the present invention.

[0101] FIG. 2 A plane view of another form of the cover according to the present invention.

[0102] FIG. 3 A plane view of the cover according to still another form of the present invention.

[0103] FIG. 4 An explanatory diagram when the hem of the cover of FIG. 3 is extended and spread over a table.

[0104] FIG. 5 Illustration of the state of the head passed through the through-hole of the cover in FIG. 1.

[0105] FIG. 6 Illustration of the appearance of the face exposed protruding from the through-hole.

[0106] FIG. 7 Illustration showing the face exposed protruding from the through-hole.

[0107] FIG. 8 Illustration with the face exposed protruding from the through-hole.

[0108] FIG. 9 Illustration of the state showing the periphery of the through-hole tautly adhering to the face.

[0109] FIG. 10 A plane view of a cover having through-holes of another form.

[0110] FIG. 11 A plane view of the cover with the through-hole opened and closed.

[0111] FIG. 12 Illustration with clips holding fast the ends of the bag that covers the draping part.

[0112] FIG. 13 Illustration of a state in which the abdominal cover covers the hair.

[0113] FIG. 14 Illustration of the left and right sides of the cover in the state of FIG. 13 are folded at the center.

[0114] FIG. 15 Illustration of the lower end of the cover of FIG. 14 lifted to the top of the head.

[0115] FIG. 16 Illustration of the lower end of the cover of FIG. 14 lifted, and the cheeks crowned.

[0116] FIG. 17 Illustration of the left and right ends tied under the chin of the crowned cheeks of FIG. 16.

[0117] FIG. 18 Illustration of the cover of FIG. 14 lifted to the shoulders and covering them like a shawl

[0118] FIG. 19 An illustration of the draping portion of the cover in FIG. 25 draping over the abdomen.

[0119] FIG. 20 Illustration of the bag portion of the cover in FIG. 25 draping over the back.

[0120] FIG. 21 Illustration of lifting the draping part in FIG. 19, exposing the face protruding from the through-hole.

[0121] FIG. 22 Illustration of the draping portion of FIG. 19 placed on the head.

[0122] FIG. 23 Illustration of the through-holes in FIG. 21 tautly adhering to the face.

[0123] FIG. 24 Illustration of the bag portion of FIG. 23 put over the draping portion of the head.

[0124] FIG. 25 A plane view of the cover of FIG. 19 and FIG. 20.

[0125] FIG. 26 Illustration of a bag portion lifted from the abdomen over the draping portion of the head.

[0126] FIG. 27 Illustration of the draping portion on the head being covered by a bag portion lifted up from the abdomen.

[0127] FIG. 28 Explanatory view of another way of wrapping the hair with the cover of FIG. 25.

[0128] FIG. 29 Illustration of the left and right upper edges of the cover of FIG. 28 being twisted and closed.

[0129] FIG. 30 Illustration of the twisted tip of FIG. 29 held fast by a clip.

[0130] FIG. 31 A plane view of a cover in which a loop is provided instead of the clip of FIG. 30.

[0131] FIG. 32 Illustration of a bag portion draping over the abdomen is lifted and covering the hair.

[0132] FIG. 33 Illustration of both ends of the bag portion in FIG. 32 are tied under the chin.

[0133] FIG. 34 A plane view of the cover of FIG. 25 in which a notch is provided.

[0134] FIG. 35 Illustration with the cover in FIG. 34 attached.

[0135] FIG. 36 A plane view of a form in which a part of the bag portion of FIG. 34 is thickened.

[0136] FIG. 37 An external perspectival view showing the form of the cover with the cover of FIG. 36 attached.

[0137] FIG. 38 Explanatory view of folding the cover according to the present invention, stacking the covers, and packaging them in a box.

[0138] FIG. 39 Explanatory view when the cover according to the present invention wound in a roll shape is taken out from the box.

[0139] FIG. 40 Illustration of ties 9 separated from the bag portion 3.

[0140] FIG. 41 An external explanatory view of the cover placed horizontally.

[0141] FIG. 42 An external view of the cover shown in FIG. 41 in a vertical position.

[0142] FIG. 43 Illustration viewed from the front with the head passed through the through-hole in the cover.

[0143] FIG. 44 Illustration of the side cover of the attached cover in FIG. 43.

[0144] FIG. 45 Illustration showing how the face is exposed protruding from the through-hole.

[0145] FIG. 46 Illustration showing the state with peripheral edge of through-hole tautly adhering to the face.

[0146] FIG. 47 An external perspectival view of a cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0147] FIG. 48 Illustration from the back when the cover of FIG. 47 is used as a cape.

[0148] FIG. 49 Blow-up view of the cover according to form 5 of the present invention.

[0149] FIG. 50 Illustration of the hair enwrapped with a cover according to the present invention.

[0150] FIG. 51 Illustration of the back bag portion of FIG. 50 is further covered on the head.

[0151] FIG. 52 Illustration of the left and right parts of FIG. 50 connected at the rear side.

[0152] FIG. 53 Illustration of the state where the left and right parts of FIG. 50 are tied under the chin.

[0153] FIG. 54 An external perspectival view of another form of the cover according to the present invention.

[0154] FIG. 55 An external perspectival view of a modified form of the cover shown in FIG. 54

MODE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

[0155] Hereinafter, a form of the cover of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings. It should be noted that the following description focuses on points that have not been described thus far.

[0156] As for cover 1, it can have various forms, but as for through-hole 2, it is of a size that allows the head of a wearer to tautly pass through, and while the front side of cover 1 is lifted up and exposes the face protruding from through-hole 2, it must be of such shape that the peripheral edge of through-hole 2 stretches and tautly adheres to the facial periphery of the wearer from the nape, under the ears, to along the forehead. In this way, as a thin sheet having extensibility, there are plastic bags formed from polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like. So, using plastic bags, to determine which extents of elasticity have appropriate strengths for tautly adhering to the facial periphery, experiments were conducted using plastic bags of various thicknesses.

[0157] During these experiments, transparent and translucent plastic bags with thicknesses of 0.008 mm, 0.015 mm, 0.025 mm, and 0.03 mm were purchased, and in each through-holes with circumferences of 38 cm were formed. As for the sizes of the through-holes through which the head of the wearer passes (including hair), they were 53 cm, and as for their circumferences for the face exposed protruding from the through-holes from the nape, under the ear, to along the forehead, they were 56 cm. Under these conditions, experiments were conducted in which the head was passed through a through-hole having a circumference of 38 cm and the face was exposed protruding from the through-hole. The results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Sheet thickness (unit mm) Transparent sheet Translucent sheet 0.008 The tightening force is weak Tightening force is stronger than transparent sheet 0.015 The tightening force is weak, The tightening force is stronger but there is no feeling of than the transparent sheet, but tightening. there is no feeling of tightening 0.025 The tightening force is The tightening force is a little moderate, and you can wear it strong, but if the wearer without complications becomes accustomed, to it, it can be worn without complications 0.030 Tightening force is strong, so it The tightening force is strong, can be worn without and if the circumference of the complications through-hole is expanded to 40 cm, the strength will be moderate.

[0158] From this experiment, as for cover 1 made from a plastic bag, transparent sheets stretch better than translucent sheets and have excellent adhesion, but since translucent sheets have high rigidity, and when crumpled form an internal air layer, they can be said to have excellent heat retention. Therefore, when the room temperature is low and greater heat retention is desired, the translucent sheet is preferable, and when the room temperature is high and heat retention is not important, the transparent sheet is preferable. Also, if the thickness of the sheet is at least 0.04 mm, a considerable resistance is felt when a face is exposed protruding from through-hole 2, so when using a thick sheet, it is necessary to adjust through-hole 2 to accommodate head size.

[0159] It should be noted, the plastic bags used here, are only one example, but, for example, they could be of EVA resin (ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer) which is excellent in flexibility and rubber elasticity, or a polyethylene sheet or the like to which EVA resin has been added; however, these are different in thickness and elasticity also, so appropriate ones may be selected from them.

[0160] Further, respecting distinguishing characteristics, there is also a method for using two covers 1 with different thicknesses. For example, a transparent cover 1 with thickness of 0.008 mm and a translucent cover 1 with thickness of 0.025 mm can be prepared, and the former thin cover 1 with the form of cover 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the latter thick cover 1 with the form of cover 1 shown in FIG. 25, FIG. 31 or FIG. 34, or FIG. 36. After the head of a wearer is passed through through-hole 2 of thick cover 1, on top of it the head of the wearer is passed through the second-layer through-hole 2 of thin cover 1. In this state, after a general hair medicant has been applied, when the face is exposed protruding from thorough-hole 2 of thin cover 1, and then the face is exposed protruding from through-hole 2 of thick cover 1, it enters a state in which the facial periphery is double-layered with through-hole 2 of cover 1. In this state, when thin cover 1 is crumpled and put on the head, and then thick cover 1 is put on top of it, it can better maintain the warmth and moisture inside cover 1, and because thick cover 1 is covering it, becomes a cover 1 that easily enwraps the hair and has a high heat insulation property.

[0161] Further, depending on where through-hole 2 of cover 1 is placed, when used as a cape, it can be used in various ways. For example, if bag portion 3 is longer than draping portion 4, then, as shown in FIG. 20, long hair can be kept in bag portion 3 in order to apply a general hair medicant, so, it can be used as a cape for long hair. Further, when individuals dye hair at home, they often bend forward and apply it while looking at the mirror, so the form in which short bag portion 3 drapes over the abdomen and long draping portion 4 drapes over the back can be adopted.

[0162] Further, as shown in FIG. 25, when bag portion 3 covers the head of the wearer and along the edge “a” that touches the forehead of the wearer, if ties 9 that are partially separable in the left-right direction are provided, then while bag portion 3 covers the head ties 9 can keep it stationary.

[0163] Here, as for what partially separable means, base 9a of ties 9 is actually part of bag portion 3, and the other portions can be appropriately separated from bag portion 3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 25, a cut is made in advance at the perforation 9b along the edge “a” of bag portion 3, after the perforation 9b is cut off to form ties 9, if the longitudinal perforations 9c in the central portion of ties 9, is separated into left and right parts, as shown in FIG. 40, ties 9 can be taken out in the left and right directions from both sides of the front edge “a” of bag portion 3.

[0164] As for ties 9 keeping bag portion 3 stationary on the head, ties 9 (see FIG. 40) are separated from bag portion 3 and tied, for example, in the vicinity of the nape, or under the chin; when this is done, bag portion 3 that covers the hair is stationary. Further, when bag portion 3 draping over the back is lifted up toward 3, the left and right ties 9 are held and pulled up, and even an elderly person can cover the head alone with bag portion 3.

[0165] Further, in the case of being used in beauty salons or barber shops, because cover 1 would be worn by the customer over a cloth or cape to prevent spillage, it is not necessary to use cover 1 as a cape, and this depends on the provisions of the service, a perm lot for the hair, a water-repellent paper for a straight perm that is worn, and the like, or a weaving foil, and the like, are attached to the hair. Sometimes, the hair is left to drape down naturally, additionally, after a general hair medicant has been applied, because of a time-difference method, a correction of a treatment, the use of a moist heat accelerator or a dry heat accelerator, for bag portion 3 and draping portion 4 a size that can enwrap various devices (perm lot, and the like) attached to the head is preferable. Therefore, when cover 1 is commercialized, in accordance with hair lengths and purposes, positions of through-hole 2 and forms, bag portions, and draping portions in respective forms, it is preferable to prepare several covers 1 of different sizes and thicknesses and the like.

[0166] In beauty salons and barber shops, even when a general hair medicant is being applied, the hair medicant spills or splashes when the hair is combed, and the medicant can be collected in the inverted triangular pyramid draping over the back, and the medicant accidentally sticking to the surroundings can be prevented. In addition, as for bag portion 3, since it is flexible and malleable, depending on the standing area of the service provider, the respective service itself, bag portion 3 be changed into a variety of shapes and overall serviceability can be improved.

[0167] As for conventional capes for preventing spills and smudges, they prevent general hair medicants from adhering to customers, but when sticking to the capes or service providers themselves, they cannot prevent secondary contamination. For example, since service providers work within the immediate vicinity around customers while applying general hair medicants, while actually providing the service, the hair medicants stick to capes and hair and are touched, and without noticing any general hair medicants sticking to themselves, they continue providing the service. In these cases, as for the hair medicants sticking to service providers themselves, they have caused unexpected accidents in which they stick to customers or the surroundings.

[0168] Further, in the case that liquids of general hair medicants are poured over the hair kept in bag portion 3 draping over the back, since general hair medicants dripping from the hair can be collected in the tip portion of the inverted triangular pyramid, the tip portion can be cut, and from the tip can be collected into a bowel. Further, after general hair medicants have been applied, and the cut tip portion folded and twisted, then according as either tape, a clip, or the like securely closes it, bag portion 3 with closed aperture is usable.

[0169] In the case of conventional perms, a U-shaped bowl is used to collect perming agents that are poured onto the hair. As for this bowl, hanging from left to right under the ear along the nape, it is a tautly adhering U-shaped container that hangs on the shoulders of the customer to collect the dripping perming agents, and after that, by a hair cap or film wrap the hair is enwrapped; however, if this cover 1 is used, the U-shaped bowl becomes unnecessary, and the labor for attaching and detaching the bowl becomes unnecessary. In addition, as proper use of these tools while providing service becomes unnecessary, service time is reduced and, not only for customers, but for service providers as well, burdens also are reduced.

[0170] Further, in beauty salons and barbers, to prevent spills and smudges, a cloak-like cloth with an opening at the back is used to cover the customer. However, when the customer moves or bends forward, the overlapping cloth draped over the back opens, and as a result, the general hair medicant sticking to the cloth sticks to clothes, and so forth, but if cover 1 is used, such accidents can be prevented.

[0171] What's more, since the peripheral edge of through-hole 2 tautly adheres to the facial periphery, given the hair enwrapped by cover 1, even if a worn T-shirt that does not open at the front, or the like, is removed, cover 1 does not slip off with it. In addition, in the bathroom, when shampooing, if the top portion of cover 1 is gripped and pulled upward, through-hole 2 slips off of the head, and because the general hair medicant is inside cover 1, nothing adheres to the hands or the surroundings, so even after removal, according as cover 1 is rolled up, because the general hair medicant can be prevented from leaking, after the service of a general hair medicant application, accidents of the adherence of a general hair medicant can be prevented.

[0172] Further, in beauty salons, barbers, and the like, customers are guided to shampoo stations, and situated for shampooing, and dips, pins, and the like holding cover 1 fast are removed, and if cover 1 is pulled horizontally, cover 1 can be removed from inside the shampoo sink, so there is no risk of contaminating the surroundings. In addition, in the case that a perm lot, water-repellent paper, and the like has been applied to the hair, before cover 1 is removed, and bag portion 3 and draping portion 4 are opened in the shampoo sink, and the perm lot and the like are removed, cover 1 may be removed. Accordingly, at the time when the customer is moved to the shampoo station, and the like, or when cover 1 is removed, accidents related to adherence of a general hair medicant can be prevented. What's more, because no hair medicant adheres to the conventional neck-rest of the shampoo sink supporting the customer's nape, reverse bending of the hair due to the re-adhesion of the general hair medicant near the nape can be eliminated, and shampoo times can be reduced.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

[0173] 1 cover [0174] 2 through-holes [0175] 3 bags [0176] 3a abdominal bag portion [0177] 3b back side bag portion [0178] 4 draping portion [0179] 5 cut [0180] 6 perforations [0181] 8 stopper [0182] 9 tie