GB2515822A

GB2515822A - Kit and method for applying head covering

Info

Publication number: GB2515822A
Application number: GB1312098.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Louie Slavik; Max Slavik
Original assignee: DAWN SLAVIK; MARK SLAVIK
Current assignee: DAWN SLAVIK; MARK SLAVIK
Priority date: 2013-07-05
Filing date: 2013-07-05
Publication date: 2015-01-07
Also published as: GB201312098D0; WO2015001354A1

Abstract

A kit comprising a covering (101, fig.1) for a human head comprising an opening (104, fig.1) defined by a resiliently biased edge (103, fig.1), said edge being stretchable to expand said opening; and a retainer 301 for holding said edge in a stretched state, said retainer configured to cooperate with said edge to define an aperture configured to receive a human head. The head covering is preferably a swimming cap, and the retainer may be a continuous rigid or semi rigid structure 302. The retainer may alternatively comprise a plurality of separable sections, and may be hinged. Also claimed is a method of fitting a covering to a human head.

Description

Kit and method for applying head covering

Field of the invention

The field of the invention is swimwear and more particularly swimming caps and their application to a swimmer's head.

Background of the invention

Swimming caps are an important swimming accessory, which both protect hair and reduce the drag caused by hair as the swimmer moves through the water. This is particularly important for swimmers with long hair. The nature of the swimming cap mcans howcvcr that it by ncccssity has to providc a tight and clastic fit around thc head. This can cause difficulties for swimmers in putting on the swimming cap. This is particularly true for the disabled, the infirm or for young children. Assistance from a carcr, parcnt or coach is oftcn nccdcd to pcrform this task.

Whereas for a parent or carer for a single or small group of swimmers, this task may not be too much of a problem, for coaches looking after large groups of children or disabled people, the task of assisting all of them becomes quite onerous and may have a dctrimcntal cffcct on a swimming lcssons if a significant amount of timc is nccdcd for assisting children or disabled people to don their swimming caps.

It would be advantageous to have a device which would enable children or disabled pcoplc to apply thcir swimming caps without assistance from a coach, parcnt or carcr.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, in its broadcst aspcct, thc prcscnt invcntion provides a kit comprising: a covering for a human head comprising an opening defined by a resiliently biased edge, the edge being stretchable to expand the opening, and a retainer for holding the edge in a stretched state, the retainer configured to cooperate with the edge to define an aperture configured to receive a human head.

Preferably the head covering is a swimming cap.

Optionally, the retainer is substantially rigid.

Optionally, the retainer is semi-rigid.

Optionally the retainer comprises a plurality of sections.

There is provided a method of fitting a head covering to a head comprising the steps of placing a head covering within a retainer, pulling an edge of the head covering around an edge of the retainer to form an assembled unit of head covering and retainer, placing the assembled unit on a person's head, pulling the edge of the head covering away from the retainer and into a desired position around the person's head, and removing the retainer from the person's head.

Brief description of the figures

The above and other aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a swimming cap according to the prior art.

Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of a prior art swimming cap.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a retainer according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a retainer according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a retainer according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a side view of a retainer with a segment of sphere support structure.

Figure 7 is a side view of a retainer according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising a hinge mechanism.

Figure 8 is a side of is a side view of a retainer according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising a "click-in" mechanism.

Figure 9 is a side of is a side view of a retainer according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising a "ratchet" mechanism.

Figure 10 is an underside view illustrating the generic requirements of a retainer according to the invention.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a first step in a method of fitting a head covering according to an embodiment invention.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a second step in a method of fitting a head covering according to an embodiment invention.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a third step in a method of fitting a head covering according to an embodiment invention.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a fourth step in a method of fitting a head covering according to an embodiment invention.

Detailed description

In its broadest aspect, the invention provides a kit for fitting a head covering, such as a swimming cap, to a human head.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a swimming cap 101 according to the prior art. The cap comprises a main section 102 and an edge section 103. The edge section surrounds and defines an opening 104 for receiving the head. This edge section 103 comprises elastic material to provide a secure grip around the head when the cap is worn. In order to put on the cap this opening must be stretched to the size of the person's head. The prior art solution is to use fingers to performing this act of stretching. This can however prove to be a difficult act for disabled people or small children to perform. Figure 2 isa perspective view of the swimming cap of Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows opening 104 in its un-stretched position 201 and a stretched position 202. The enlargement of the opening in a stretched position enables the cap to be fitted to a swimmer's head.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a kit comprising a head covering and a retainer for holding the opening of the head covering in a stretched position to facilitate the fitting of the head covering onto a head. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the head covering is a swimming cap. However, the person skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may comprise any head covering with a resiliently biased edge to hold the covering in a tight position against the head.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a retainer according to an embodiment of the invention. Retainer 301 comprises a right circular cylindrical section 302 with an aperture 303 for fitting over a human head. Different sizes of cylinder diameter may optionally bc provided to corrcspond to differcnt hcad sizes. In an embodiment, the height of the cylindrical section is between 3 and 5 cm. However the person skilled will appreciate that other sizes are possible and the invention is not limited to any one cylinder height.

In an embodiment, the retainer is substantially rigid and constructed from metal, plastics material or a combination of materials. The invention is not limited to any one material for the retainer. In an alternative embodiment, the retainer is semi-rigid, being flexible but having sufficient rigidity to withstand the resilient bias of the head covenng.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a retainer according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, comprising a right oval cylindrical section 401. Other embodiments include a torus shaped section, a toroid section, polygonal, a frustum of a cone or a penannular section. Figure 5 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention, in which retainer 301 is not a single continuous structure, but instead comprises a plurality of sections 501, held in place by support structure 502. Support structure may comprise a plurality of support members 503. Alternative'y, such a support structure may comprise a single support member, a hemisphere or a segment of a sphere. A retainer with a support structure comprising segment of sphere 601 is illustrated in Figure 6.

Other embodiments include a retainer which is hinged, to allow easy fitting around the head. Figure 7 is a plan view of a retainer according to this embodiment, comprising hinge 701 and opening 702. Opening 702 may be secured by a fastening.

Figure 8 is a plan view of an embodiment with a "click" mechanism. Retainer 301 comprises first section 801 and second section 802. These are separable and comprise a fastening mechanism such as a "click-shut" mechanism 803 to assemble them in usc. Figure 9 is a side view of an embodiment in which the retainer has a ratchet mechanism. Ratchet mechanism 901 allows two sections 902 and 903 of retainer 301 to be pulled from a first, extended position to a second, compact position. This may be used to facilitate fitting to a head or alternatively to provide variable sizes of the retainer for different sizes of head. In a further embodiment, multiple positions allowing for a plurality of different head sizes may be provided.

The person skilled in the art will appreciate that a large number of suitable shapes, including irregular shapes may be used and fall into the scope of the invention. The invention is not limited any given shape, except in that it is required to hold the head covering in a stretched position.

The generic requirements of the retainer are illustrated in Figure 10. The one or more sections of the retainer 301 or 501 form a retaining holder 1001, which cooperatively engages with edge 103 of head covering 101, to form an aperture 1002 to receive a head.

In use, the retainer is used to urge the head covering over the head of the swimmer, so as to facilitate the process of fitting the cap. The method of fitting a head covering according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 11 to 14. Figure 11 illustrates the first step, comprising placing head covering 101 substantially into a volume 1101 defined by retainer 301. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the head covering 101 located in retainer 301 after the completion of a second step of the method. This second step comprises folding edge 103 of head covering 101 over side 401 of retainer 301. Figure 13 is cross sectional view of a retainer and head covering fitted on a person's head after the completion of a third step of the method. The third step involves placing the assembled retainer 301 and cap 101 on the person's head 1301 and pulling the retainer down onto the head until the head covering is substantially in the desired position. At this point retainer 301 is located around the top of the person's head. Figure 14 illustrates the fourth stage, in which edge 103 of head covering 101 is pulled down and away from the retainer 301 to fit snugly, due at least to the resiliently biased edge, onto the person's head. The final stage involves the removal of the retainer from around the person's head.

The invention is not limited to the details of the embodiments described above. For example the retainer may be collapsible for easy storage; and other variations are contemplated.

Claims

Claims 1. A kit comprising a covering for a human head comprising an opening defined by a resiliently biased edge, said edge being stretchable to expand said opening; and a retainer for holding said edge in a stretched state, said retainer configured to cooperate with said edge to define an aperture configured to receive a human head.
2. A kit as claimed in claim 1, where said head covering is a swimming cap.
3. A kit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said retainer comprises a continuous section, said section defining said aperture.
4. A kit as claimed in claim I or claim 2, wherein said retainer comprises a plurality of members, cooperatively engaging with said edge to define said aperture
5. A kit as claimed in any previous claim, wherein said retainer is substantially rigid.
6. A kit as claimed in any of claims Ito 5 wherein said retainer comprises semi-rigid material, said semi-rigid material providing sufficient rigidity to withstand a resilient bias of said edge.
7. A kit as claimed in any previous claim wherein said retainer further comprises a hinge mechanism.
8. A kit as claimed in any previous claim wherein said retainer comprises a plurality of separable sections.
9. A method of fitting a covering to a human head comprising the steps of: placing a head covering within a retainer; pulling an edge of said head covering around an edge of said retainer to form an assembled unit of head covering and retainer; placing said assembled unit on a person's head; pulling said cdgc of said bead covering away from said retainer and into a desired position around said person's head; and removing said retainer from said person's head.