US20210361048A1

US20210361048A1 - Hair Wrap Towel Article

Info

Publication number: US20210361048A1
Application number: US16/880,302
Authority: US
Inventors: William Douglas McKay
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-05-21
Filing date: 2020-05-21
Publication date: 2021-11-25

Abstract

A hair wrap article, as disclosed, is a regular or irregular geometric-shaped swath of cloth comprising a cloth area and a cloth edge perimeter; and a securing tab affixed, generally stitched, upon the swath of cloth to receive and secure a portion of the swath of cloth. The securing tab affixes upon the cloth at least a discrete distance, described further herein, from the cloth edge perimeter. The securing tab generally comprises a planar configuration, and may embody any regular or irregular geometric shape. A secondary tab may be further employed and stitched proximate to the securing tab. Representative embodiments may employ slits in the cloth, rather than affixed tabs, to receive and secure a portion of the swath of cloth; and such slits are similarly positioned at least a discrete distance from the cloth edge. Various embodiments may employ a combination of securing tabs, secondary tabs, and slits.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to bathroom articles, and more particularly to a hair wrap towel article to secure and encase the hair of a user, and most often a user's wet hair condition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

BACKGROUND

Bathing habits of individuals vary greatly, and a preference among many users is to procure a towel to wrap about their head after bathing to facilitate; securing their wet hair, securing a large volume of hair, promote drying of the hair by the towel; for comfort, etc. Often, users rely upon a standard sized and dimensioned bath, body towel to use as a hair wrap; but such towels generally comprise dimensions that are larger than what would be preferred, are inappropriately dimensioned, and are cumbersome to use as a hair wrap. In the alternative, hand towels and other generally industry standard towels are of a limited size that they are insufficient for such use. Moreover, the hospitality industry, particularly high-end hotels, resorts, spas, salons, cruise ships, which seek to offer premium services and goods to their clientele, as of yet, do not provide any such specifically directed hair wrap towels.
What is needed, and disclosed herein, is a hair wrap towel article that is configured specifically for such hair wrap use. It comprises sufficient dimensions and securing mechanisms for more convenient use as a hair wrap towel; comprises elements that provides to more securely wrap the hair of the user; provides for a more aesthetically pleasing look when used by the user as a hair wrap towel; and as well as in the folded position awaiting use.

SUMMARY

In general, a preferred embodiment of a hair wrap towel article comprises a swath of cloth comprising a cloth area and a cloth edge perimeter, wherein stitched upon a portion of the cloth area is a generally planar, securing tab element to receive and secure a portion of the swath of cloth. The securing tab is affixed at a position upon the cloth area at least a discrete distance from the cloth edge perimeter. The discrete distance comprises an amount no less than a tab edge distance, wherein the tab edge distance comprises the greatest length as measured along any of the securing tab's edges.
Among the embodiments, the cloth area corresponds to a geometric shape selected from at least one of; a triangle, a quadrilateral, a trapezoid, an n-sided regular polygon, an n-sided irregular polygon, a circle, and an oval. And, the securing tab comprises a geometric shape selected from at least one of; a triangle, a quadrilateral, a trapezoid, an n-sided regular polygon, and an n-sided irregular polygon. Among some embodiments, the securing tab comprises a generally planar, secondary securing tab element that is affixed, preferably by stitching, proximate to the securing tab to similarly receive and secure the portion of the swath of cloth; and also like the securing tab, the secondary securing tab element comprises a geometric shape selected from at least one of; a triangle, a quadrilateral, a trapezoid, an n-sided regular polygon, and an n-sided irregular polygon.
Among representative embodiments, the hair wrap towel article may comprise some, all, or none of the following elements, such as; a semi-rigid ribbing stitched into the cloth edge perimeter; a slit within the securing tab element to receive and secure the portion of the swath of cloth; and/or a slit within any secondary securing tab element to also receive and secure the portion of the swath of cloth.
In another embodiment, a hair wrap towel article comprises a cloth area and a cloth edge perimeter; but instead of a securing tab stitched upon the cloth area, the cloth area comprises at least one slit piercing the swath of cloth to receive and secure a portion of the swath of cloth. The slit pierces the swath of cloth at least a discrete slit distance from the cloth edge perimeter. The discrete slit distance comprises an amount no less than a slit length, which comprises the greatest length of any cut slit. This embodiment may comprise similar geometric configurations as noted above for the cloth area and/or tab elements; and such embodiment may also comprise some, all, or none of the following elements, such as; a semi-rigid ribbing stitched into the cloth edge perimeter; the slit within a securing tab element to receive and secure the portion of the swath of cloth; and/or the slit within any secondary securing tab element to also receive and secure the portion of the swath of cloth.
Among the various embodiments, methods for manufacturing a hair wrap towel article may comprise cutting a swath of cloth comprising a cloth area and a cloth edge perimeter; and stitching a securing tab upon the swath of cloth to receive and secure a portion of the swath of cloth. In a preferred embodiment, the securing tab is stitched to the swath of cloth at a tab position at least a discrete distance from the cloth edge perimeter. The discrete distance comprises an amount no less than a tab edge distance, wherein the tab edge distance comprises the greatest length as measured along any of the securing tab's edges.
Among the various embodiments, methods of manufacturing may also comprise manufacturing the article to comprise some, all, or none of the various elemental embodiments described, such as, cutting the swath of cloth into any of a variety of regular and irregular geometric shapes; cutting slits into the cloth area rather than affixing securing tabs, incorporating slits into the securing tab; affixing any secondary securing tabs that may or may not incorporate any slits; stitching semi-rigid ribbing into the article's perimeter or elsewhere; and the like.
Exemplary embodiments may further comprise other elements and such elements may be disclosed further in the detailed description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a representative embodiment of a hair wrap towel article;

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the representative embodiment of the hair wrap towel article;

FIG. 3 depicts the representative embodiment of the hair wrap towel article secured upon a user's head, and the article showing a securing tab incorporating a secondary securing tab;

FIG. 4 depicts the representative embodiment of the hair wrap towel article showing another secondary securing tab;

FIG. 5 depicts a representative embodiment of a hair wrap towel article showing semi-rigid ribbing incorporated into the perimeter of the article;

FIG. 6 depicts a representative embodiment of a hair wrap towel article showing a securing slit;

FIG. 7 depicts a representative embodiment of a hair wrap towel article showing a slit incorporated into a securing tab stitched to the swath of cloth;

FIG. 8 depicts a representative embodiment of a hair wrap towel article showing slits at either end of the swath of cloth;

FIG. 9 depicts a representative embodiment of a hair wrap towel article shown in a folded, representatively displayed configuration; and

FIG. 10 depicts a representative embodiment of a hair wrap towel article shown in an intended use position by a user.

A more complete understanding of a hair wrap towel article may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the above illustrative FIGS. In the FIGS., the same reference numbers may refer to the same respective elements and/or steps throughout the FIGS.
Elements and/or steps in the FIGS. are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily rendered according to any particular sequence. For example, steps that may be performed concurrently or in a different order are illustrated in the FIGS. to help to improve an understanding of exemplary embodiments of the hair wrap towel article.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the FIGS. illustrate the general manner of construction, however, descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques can be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring a hair wrap towel article and/or any methods of manufacture. Additionally, elements in the FIGS. are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, any illustrative or perceived dimensions of elements in the FIGS. can and may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve an understanding of embodiments of the hair wrap towel article and/or its methods of manufacture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described may be described in terms of article elemental configuration and functional purpose, functional block components, and various processing steps. Any functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware components configured to perform the specified functions and to achieve various results. For example, a hair wrap towel article may employ various elemental components, e.g., cloth swaths, straps, mesh fabric, stretchable material, and the like. Embodiments of a hair wrap towel article may comprise various securing mechanisms, such as, secure stitching, tabs, zippers, hook and loop elements, hinges, pins, clips, fittings, loops, buttons, cords, straps, magnets, sonic welds, heat seals, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions. In addition, a hair wrap towel article may be practiced in conjunction with any number of settings, such as for general pre/post bathing use, while lounging, during spa or salon treatments, and other commensurate settings known by those skilled in the art.
Also, any articles and/or methods described are merely exemplary embodiments and/or applications for a hair wrap towel article; and the hair wrap towel article may employ any number of conventional techniques for manufacturing, distributing, marketing, packaging, shipping, selling, and the like.
Various exemplary embodiments may be applied to any article and/or method to produce and otherwise provide for a hair wrap towel article. Turning now to the FIGS., FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a preferred embodiment of a hair wrap towel article 100 comprising a swath of cloth 101 comprising a cloth area 110 and a cloth edge perimeter 102. Article 100 comprises a securing tab 120 affixed upon swath of cloth 101 to receive and secure a portion of swath of cloth 101. Securing tab 120 is affixed at a tab position 103 at least a tab distance 104 from cloth edge perimeter 102, wherein tab distance 104 comprises an amount no less than a securing tab edge distance 105, and wherein securing tab edge distance comprises a greatest tab length as measured along any of a tab edge 122 of securing tab 120. In other words, tab distance 104 is a length measurement that is no less than the measurement of the longest edge of securing tab 120, which in this case is shown by tab edge distance 105 of tab edge 122; clearly the longest tab edge and greater than shorter tab edge distance 207 (FIG. 2); FIG. 2 shows a closeup of the tab configuration of FIG. 1. As mentioned, article 100 comprises securing tab 120 to receive and secure a portion of swath of cloth 101. In this way, securing tab 120 operates to secure the hair wrap towel fora user. For example, FIG. 3 shows how hair wrap towel article 100 operates. As can be seen, article 100 is secured upon a user 380, wherein a portion, such as portion 307, fits through securing tab 120 to secure swath of cloth 101 to user 380, and thereby secures the entirety of article 100. This embodiment further shows a secondary securing tab 324 that may likewise operate in similar fashion to securing tab 120; and as can be seen, secondary securing tab 324 is affixed proximate securing tab 120 to similarly receive and secure portion 307 of swath of cloth 101 to user 380. In a preferred embodiment, and as shown so far throughout the FIGS., and in particular by stitching 228 of FIG. 2; the various tabs disclosed and discussed are preferably stitched, wherein such stitching operates to secure them; be it a securing tab to a swath of cloth, or a secondary securing tab to a securing tab. Those skilled in the art though, will appreciate that other securing mechanisms may be employed, for example, glues, zippers, hook and loop, snaps, buttons, and the like.
Throughout the various embodiments disclosed herein, swath of cloth 101 comprising cloth area 110, securing tab 120, secondary securing tab, such as secondary tab 324, all comprise of a geometric shape selected from at least one of; a triangle, a quadrilateral, a trapezoid, an n-sided regular polygon, an n-sided irregular polygon, a circle, and an oval, wherein “n” equals a whole number greater than 3. For example, and with reference to FIG. 4, article 100 shows a hair wrap towel article comprising securing tab 120 comprising the typical rectangular shape; but article 100 is further shown modified by a secondary securing tab 424 of a different geometric shape. For example, secondary securing tab 424 comprises, in an embodiment, an isosceles trapezoid geometric configuration. In this configuration, when a portion of article 100 is placed through secondary securing tab 424, a narrow portion 411 of secondary securing tab 424 effectively cinches and secures the portion of article 100, i.e., similarly as securing tab 120 in FIG. 3 secures the portion 307.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various tabs disclosed throughout comprise a generally planar element. It will further be appreciated by those skilled in the art that historically, articles of textile manufacturing comprise various planar tags and tabs, and they are affixed at a perimeter or near perimeter portion of the textile. However, the article disclosed herein departs from such standard configuration and, rather, a tag or tab as disclosed herein is affixed at an interior portion of the textile so as when the article is used as a hair wrap towel, the tag or tab is uniquely and properly positioned to receive and secure a portion of the article that it otherwise would not be able, if the tab or tab were positioned at or near a perimeter of an article.
Among some embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 5, an article 500, comprising swath of cloth 501 and perimeter 502, may further comprise a semi-rigid ribbing 530 stitched into perimeter edge 502 to provide for additional stability to article 500. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this embodiment shows an article wherein the securing tab 520 is a trapezoidal shape and operates as discussed supra, yet without operating as a secondary securing tab affixed proximate a securing tab, i.e., as shown in FIG. 4.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate and understand that swaths of cloths disclosed and discussed herein may comprise any single or combination of materials to provide for the various articles disclosed herein, such as articles 100, 500, 600, etc. For example, swath of cloth 101 of article 100 may comprise various linens, cotton-based materials, silk-based materials, polyester based materials, and any other natural or synthetic type material. It will further be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any of the various stitching discussed herein may comprise any type or pattern of stitching generally known in the art. Moreover, custom stitching may be employed to secure various elemental items to swaths of cloth, or even to stitch together multiple swaths of cloth. In alternate embodiments, those skilled in the art will also appreciate that rather than utilizing various stitching to secure various elemental items to swaths of cloth, or to stitch multiple swaths of cloth together; elemental items and swaths of cloth may be secured by any of a variety of securing mechanisms, such as, hook and loop mechanisms, tabs, pins, snaps, clips, buttons, loops, zippers, sonic welds, heat seals, etc.
Turning now to FIG. 6, an embodiment of a hair wrap towel article 600 comprises a swath of cloth 601 comprising a cloth area 610 and a cloth edge perimeter 602; and at least one slit 626 piercing swath of cloth 601 to receive and secure a portion of swath of cloth 601. In this embodiment, slit 626 operates similarly as securing tabs discussed supra to receive and secure a portion of a swath of cloth. In this embodiment, slit 626 pierces swath of cloth 601 at a slit position 603 at least a slit distance 604 from cloth edge perimeter 602, wherein slit distance 604 comprises an amount no less than a slit length 605, and wherein the slit length comprises the greatest length as measured along any of the at least one slits. In this embodiment, article 600 discloses an article wherein slit 626 is shown as a single horizontal slit, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that an article may comprises multiple slits, and moreover, any single slit or multiple slits may comprise a vertical configuration rather than a horizontal configuration. With reference to FIG. 7, an article 700 shows an embodiment wherein a slit 726 is shown incorporated within securing tab 720; and, furthermore, this embodiment shows slit 726 as being reinforced throughout its perimeter by reinforcing stitching 736.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, and is apparent by the detailed description and FIGS. shown that the various articles may comprise various geometric tabs, slits and or combinations of slits and tabs. Moreover, those skilled in the art will understand that more than a single tab or slit may be employed; and various combinations and geometric configurations of swaths of cloth, tabs, and/or slits may be used, so long as any tabs and/or slits are spaced apart from an edge perimeter of the swath of cloth as discussed herein. For example, and with quick reference to FIG. 8, an article 800 is shown comprising slits 826 at either end of swath of cloth 801; in this manner, regardless of the end a user sets article 800 upon their head, a securing slit will be available. Although not shown, a similar configuration may be employed for tabs and/or secondary tabs.
With reference to FIG. 9, FIG. 9 shows how an article 900 may be decoratively folded for an aesthetically pleasing display that will be appreciated by those skilled in the art for placement at high end facilities, such as spas, resort, hotels, salons, saunas, cruise ships, and the like, as well as merely for general folded storage. In the decoratively folded condition, article 900 may be laid flat on a surface for display or alternately positioned in a stand-alone, upright position.
With reference to FIG. 10, FIG. 10 shows how an article, such as article 100, 500, 600, 700, 800, or others may be positioned by a user 1080 to function as a hair wrap towel article. In a preferred use, a user 1080 positions a top portion of their head, comprising the user's hair to wrap, at an end opposite the securing tab and/or slit; the remainder of the article is subsequently twisted to tighten the article to the users head, and then the article's second end secures through any securing tabs and/or through any slits, thus completing the preferred use of the hair wrap towel article as disclosed, i.e. as shown by return reference to FIG. 3.
Among various representative embodiments, a method for manufacturing a hair wrap towel article comprises; cutting a swath of cloth comprising a cloth area and a cloth edge perimeter; and stitching a securing tab upon the swath of cloth to receive and secure a portion of the swath of cloth. The securing tab is stitched to the swath of cloth at a tab position at least a tab distance from the cloth edge perimeter, wherein the tab distance comprises an amount no less than a securing tab edge distance, and wherein the securing tab edge distance comprises a greatest tab length as measured along any of a tab edge of the securing tab. Other various representative method of manufacturing embodiments comprise, rather than stitching a securing tab to a swath of cloth, piercing a swath of cloth to provide for a slit; and the swath of cloth is pierced at a position as described earlier. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the method of manufacture operates to provide for any of the elemental items disclosed and discussed throughout this disclosure.
In the foregoing specification, hair wrap towel articles have been described with reference to various representative embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of the hair wrap towel article as set forth in the claims. The detailed description and FIGS. are illustrative, rather than restrictive, and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the various representative embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the representative embodiments should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by merely the embodiments described.
For example, the steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the specific order presented in the claims. Additionally, the components and/or elements recited in any article, system, apparatus and/or device claims may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims.
Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular embodiments; however, any benefit, advantage, solution to problem or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage or solution to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or components of any or all the claims.
As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “having”, “including”, “includes” “is” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, system, device, composition or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not necessarily include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, system, device, composition or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in the practice of hair wrap towel articles, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.
As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the detailed description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and may not necessarily be for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the representative embodiments of hair wrap towel articles and their methods of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.
The terms “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “bottom,” “side,” “under,” “over,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of hair wrap towel articles and their methods of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as directly or indirectly connected in a physical, mechanical, electrical, magnetic, or other manner.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hair wrap towel article comprises:

a swath of cloth comprising a cloth area and a cloth edge perimeter; and

a securing tab affixed upon the swath of cloth to receive and secure a portion of the swath of cloth;

wherein the securing tab is affixed at a tab position at least a tab distance from the cloth edge perimeter,

wherein the tab distance comprises an amount no less than a securing tab edge distance, and

wherein the securing tab edge distance comprises a greatest tab length as measured along any of a tab edge of the securing tab.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the cloth area corresponds to a geometric shape selected from at least one of; a triangle, a quadrilateral, a trapezoid, an n-sided regular polygon, an n-sided irregular polygon, a circle, and an oval.

3. The article of claim 2, wherein the securing tab comprises a geometric shape selected from at least one of; a triangle, a quadrilateral, a trapezoid, an n-sided regular polygon, and an n-sided irregular polygon.

4. The article of claim 3, wherein the securing tab comprises a secondary securing tab affixed proximate the securing tab to receive and secure the portion of the swath of cloth.

5. The article of claim 4, wherein at least one of the securing tab and the secondary securing tab is a planar element.

6. The article of claim 2, further comprising a semi-rigid ribbing stitched into the cloth edge perimeter.

7. The article of claim 4, wherein the secondary securing tab comprises a geometric shape selected from at least one of; a triangle, a quadrilateral, a trapezoid, an n-sided regular polygon, and an n-sided irregular polygon.

8. The article of claim 3, wherein the securing tab further comprises a slit to receive and secure the portion of the swath of cloth.

9. The article of claim 4, wherein the secondary securing tab further comprises a slit to receive and secure the portion of the swath of cloth.

10. A hair wrap towel article comprises:

a swath of cloth comprising a cloth area and a cloth edge perimeter; and

at least one slit piercing the swath of cloth to receive and secure a portion of the swath of cloth;

wherein the slit pierces the swath of cloth at a slit position at least a slit distance from the cloth edge perimeter,

wherein the slit distance comprises an amount no less than a slit length, and

wherein the slit length comprises the greatest length as measured along any of the at least one slits.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein the cloth area corresponds to a geometric shape selected from at least one of; a triangle, a quadrilateral, a trapezoid, an n-sided regular polygon, an n-sided irregular polygon, a circle, and an oval.

12. The article of claim 11, wherein the at least one slit is at least one of a vertical and a horizontal slit.

13. The article of claim 12, further comprising a semi-rigid ribbing stitched into the cloth edge perimeter.

14. A method for manufacturing a hair wrap towel article comprises:

cutting a swath of cloth comprising a cloth area and a cloth edge perimeter; and

stitching a securing tab upon the swath of cloth to receive and secure a portion of the swath of cloth;

wherein the securing tab is stitched to the swath of cloth at a tab position at least a tab distance from the cloth edge perimeter,

15. The article of claim 14, wherein the cloth area corresponds to a geometric shape selected from at least one of; a triangle, a quadrilateral, a trapezoid, an n-sided regular polygon, an n-sided irregular polygon, a circle, and an oval.

16. The article of claim 15, wherein the securing tab comprises a geometric shape selected from at least one of; a triangle, a quadrilateral, a trapezoid, an n-sided regular polygon, and an n-sided irregular polygon.

17. The article of claim 16, wherein the securing tab comprises a secondary securing tab stitched proximate to the securing tab to receive and secure the portion of the swath of cloth.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein at least one of the securing tab and the secondary securing tab is a planar element.

19. The article of claim 14, further comprising stitching a semi-rigid ribbing into the cloth edge perimeter.

20. The article of claim 17, wherein at least one of the securing tab and the secondary securing tab further comprises a slit to receive and secure the portion of the swath of cloth.