Dual Purpose Shower Cap

Abstract

A dual purpose shower cap that includes a tubular shaped outer layer. The top of the outer layer can be a closed structure or an open structure. The outer layer is waterproofed/repels water, and an inner layer that correspondingly fits inside/laminated to the inside of the outer layer. The inner and outer layers form a hair cover. The inner layer absorbs water. The dual purpose shower cap is compact and ingeniously combines a waterproofed shower cap and a drying cap in one design for both showering and drying. The dual purpose shower cap allows hair to dry rapidly without the need to blow dry the hair separately.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is a shower cap that can be used during the shower or after the shower.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The prior art design of shower cap only has a single function, to repel water or be waterproofed. This does not match up to today's fast-paced lifestyle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention seeks to solve the technical challenge by providing a multi-purpose shower cap that eliminates the need to blow dry the hair, which achieves the purpose set forth above as follows:

[0004] A dual purpose shower cap that includes a tubular shaped outer layer. The top of the outer layer can be a closed structure or an open structure. The outer layer is waterproofed/repels water, and an inner layer that correspondingly fits inside/laminated to the inside of the outer layer. The inner and outer layers form a shower cap/hair cover. The inner layer absorbs water. The present invention serves dual purposes and satisfies the multipurpose goal.

[0005] Preferably, when the top of the shower cap is in an open configuration, the openings at the top and bottom of the shower cap each has means for adjusting the size. The shower cap with an open configuration can be pulled up from around the neck of the user.

[0006] Preferably, when the top of the shower cap is in a closed configuration, the opening at the bottom of the shower cap has means for adjusting the size. The shower cap can be adjusted according to the size and contour of the user's head.

[0007] Preferably, the top and bottom adjusting means are elastic means.

[0008] Preferably, the top and bottom adjusting means are elastic band, snap fastener, hook and loop fastener, or other fastening means known to one skilled in the art, or a combination of two of these.

[0009] Preferably, the adjusting means at the top of the hair cover has a drawstring and a drawstring aperture. The drawstring goes around the opening at the top of the hair cover, in that the two free ends of the drawstring come out of the drawstring aperture. The drawstring and drawstring aperture form the adjusting means for the top of the hair cover.

[0010] Preferably, there is an adjustable fastener on the two free ends of the drawstring that come out of the drawstring aperture. The adjustable fastener provides clamping adjustment of the drawstring to fix the length and position of the drawstring.

[0011] Preferably, the bottom of the hair cover has an opening. The opening has two sides, and a fastener with a buttonhole and a corresponding button on the two sides of the opening. Alternatively, a hook and loop fastener with a hook and a corresponding loop on the two sides of the opening.

[0012] Preferably, the outer layer is made of a waterproof/water repellant material and the inner layer has a hair drying/wicking/absorbing material.

[0013] The present invention has a simple form, and can be used for showering and drying hair, making life simpler and more convenient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] A preferred embodiment of the present invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompany drawings forming a part of the specification herein.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view of the shower cap of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the shower cap of the present invention.

[0017] FIGS. 3 to 6 illustrate the steps to put on the shower cap of the present invention.

[0018] The reference numbers in the figures: shower cap/hair cover 10, outer layer 1, inner layer 2, drawstring 3, drawstring aperture 3A, clamp fastener 4, button 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] With reference to the drawings, the below explain the embodiments in detail.

[0020] The dual purpose shower cap/hair cover 10 includes a tubular shaped outer layer 1. The outer layer 1 repels water or is waterproofed. One end of the outer layer 1 can be in a closed configuration, or both ends can be in open configurations. Inner layer 2 correspondingly fits inside/laminated to the inside of the outer layer 1. The outer layer 1 and the inner layer 2 combine to form a hair cover. The inner layer 2 absorbs water from the hair.

[0021] In the present invention, the outer layer 1 is made of a water repellant/waterproofed material. The inner layer 2 is a hair drying cap and is made of a hair drying/wicking/absorbing material, such as microfiber.

[0022] At the top and bottom portions of the hair cover 10 are means for adjusting the size of the openings. In the present invention, the top portion of the hair cover 10 is the end that is farther from a user's forehead, and the bottom portion goes around the forehead. The adjusting means at the bottom portion of the hair cover 10 controls how tight the hair cover 10 goes around the head. For the best fit, it can be tailored for various head shapes and sizes. The adjusting means at the top portion of the hair cover 10 can open or close the opening at the top portion of the hair cover 10 so that the hair cover 10 can form an enclosed space or an open space. If the top portion of the outer layer 1 is in a closed configuration, then there is no need for the adjusting means. The remaining structures are the same as a hair cover 10 that has openings at both top and bottom portions. Therefore, it will not be described here in detail. The following description will mainly describe the structure of a hair cover 10 that has openings at both top and bottom portions.

[0023] Specifically, the adjusting means can have the following structures:

[0024] Example 1: The adjusting means at the top and bottom portions of the hair cover 10 can be an elastic means, such as elastic bands. Elastic bands make it easy to adjust the fit between the head and the hair cover 10. Of course, if the top portion uses an elastic band, it will not completely seal off its opening.

[0025] Example 2: To solve the sealing problem at the top portion of the hair cover 10, the bottom portion of the hair cover 10 can still use an elastic band, but the adjusting means at the top portion utilizes a drawstring 3 and a drawstring aperture 3A. The drawstring 3 goes around the hair cover 10 at the opening at the top portion, and the two free ends of the drawstring 3 come out of the drawstring aperture 3A. By pulling and shortening the drawstring 3, it can seal off the opening at the top portion of the hair cover 10. Thereby, the drawstring 3 and drawstring aperture 3A become the adjusting means on the top portion of the hair cover 10.

[0026] Using a clamp fastener 4 or other adjustable clasp known to one skilled in the art on the two free ends of the drawstring 3 that come out of the aperture 3A, the clamp fastener 4 or adjustable clasp can be locked in position on the drawstring 3 so that the length of the drawstring 3 can be fixed. To release the drawstring 3, release the clamp fastener 4, then pull on the drawstring 3 or clamp fastener 4. The clamp fastener 4 can be a spring-loaded clamp fastener 4 that releases the drawstring 3 by pressing on a lever/button. A knot can be formed at the two free ends of the drawstring 3 to prevent them from slipping off the clamp fastener 4.

[0027] Example 3: Comparable to Examples 1 or 2, there is still an elastic means at the bottom portion of the hair cover 10. The only difference is that at the opening at the bottom portion of the hair cover 10, the elastic means is split into two parts. The two parts have corresponding hook and loop of a fastener, or a buttonhole on one part and a button 4 on the other part. The hook and loop fastener or the button and buttonhole can be the adjusting means. Using the adjusting means will further enhance the fit between different head shapes and sizes.

[0028] In the present invention, the top portion of the hair cover 10 can be sloped. That is, the length of the top portion from the bottom portion gradually decreases, so that when viewed from the side (see FIG. 1), it forms a slope. When the hair cover 10 is worn, the shorter length is towards the back of a user, with the longer length towards the forehead of a user (see FIG. 5). Using this sloped shape prevents the slack of the hair cover 10 from pooling around the user's neck area.

[0029] In the present invention, the hair cover 10 is a tubular shape and is easy to pull the hair cover 10 over and onto a user's neck area.

[0030] The method of using the present invention is as follow (see FIGS. 3 to 6):

[0031] For before or after a bath or shower, pull the entire hair cover 10 over and onto a user's neck area (see FIGS. 3 and 4), then slowly pull up, following the direction of the hair and enclosing all the hair into the hair cover 10 (see FIG. 4). When the bottom portion of the hair cover 10 reaches the forehead or where a user wants it, adjust the hair cover 10 to the desired tightness and fit. Then making sure all the hair is inside the hair cover 10, and tighten up the drawstring 3 (see FIG. 6). The free ends of the drawstring 3 can be looped around the user's head over any part of the hair cover 10 to keep them out of the way. Alternatively, the free ends of the drawstring 3 can be hooked onto or looped over the adjusting means at the bottom portion (e.g. button) of the hair cover 10. The drying/wicking cap of the hair cover 10 will keep the hair dry or absorb the water from the hair. Therefore, the present invention accomplished both showering and drying goals.

[0032] Even if a user does not use the hair cover 10 during a shower, the hair cover 10 can be used after a hair wash. Once the hair cover 10 is donned, there is no need to blow dry the hair, freeing up time to do other activities. This saves time and prevents damaging the condition of the hair from traditional method of rubbing or twisting the hair dry with a towel. As the wet hair is inside the hair cover 10, the user avoids catching a cold/flu due to the wet hair.

[0033] The length of the hair cover 10 of the present invention is approximately 35-50 centimeters. The diameter of the opening at the top portion is approximately 30-45 centimeters. This size should be suitable for different hair lengths and different head shapes and sizes. This ingenious design is compact and well suited for travelling, for both pleasure and business travel.

[0034] The features of the invention illustrated and described herein are the preferred embodiments. Therefore, it is understood that the specification is intended to cover unforeseeable embodiments with insubstantial differences that are within the spirit of the specification.

Claims

1. A dual purpose shower cap, comprising: a tubular shaped outer layer that repels water having a top portion, wherein said top portion can be a closed configuration or an open configuration with a first opening; and an inner layer that absorbs water and corresponding fits inside said outer layer; wherein said inner and outer layers form the shower cap.

2. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 1 wherein said tubular shaped outer layer further having a bottom portion with a second opening, and when said top portion is an open configuration, the top and/or bottom portions each has means for adjusting the size of said first and second openings, respectively.

3. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 1 wherein said tubular shaped outer layer further having a bottom portion with a second opening, and when said top portion is a closed configuration, said bottom portion has means for adjusting the size of said second opening.

4. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 2 wherein one of said adjusting means comprises an elastic means.

5. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 3 wherein said adjusting means comprises an elastic means.

6. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 2 wherein said adjusting means is an elastic band, button and corresponding buttonhole, or hook and corresponding loop.

7. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 3 wherein said adjusting means is an elastic band, button and corresponding buttonhole, or hook and corresponding loop.

8. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 2, wherein said adjusting means at said top portion comprises a drawstring having two free ends and a drawstring aperture on said outer layer, said drawstring goes around said first opening between said outer and inner layers, with said two free ends coming out of said drawstring aperture.

9. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 8, wherein said adjusting means at said top portion further comprises an adjustable fastener on said drawstring to clamp said drawstring to limit and fix the length of said drawstring.

10. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 9, wherein said second opening at said bottom portion has two parts, and said adjusting means at said bottom portion comprises a button and corresponding buttonhole on each of said two parts.

11. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 9, wherein said second opening at said bottom portion has two parts, and said adjusting means at said bottom portion comprises hook and corresponding loop on each of said two parts.

12. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 4, wherein said second opening at said bottom portion has two parts, and said adjusting means at said bottom portion comprises a button and corresponding buttonhole on each of said two parts.

13. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 5, wherein said second opening at said bottom portion has two parts, and said adjusting means at said bottom portion comprises a button and corresponding buttonhole on each of said two parts.

14. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 4, wherein said second opening at said bottom portion has two parts, and said adjusting means at said bottom portion comprises hook and corresponding loop on each of said two parts.

15. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 5, wherein said second opening at said bottom portion has two parts, and said adjusting means at said bottom portion comprises hook and corresponding loop on each of said two parts.

16. The dual purpose shower cap of claim 1 wherein said outer layer is made of a water repellant or waterproofed material and said inner layer is made of a drying or wicking material.