GB2622843A

GB2622843A - Headwear

Info

Publication number: GB2622843A
Application number: GB2214319.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Howes Beverley
Original assignee: Curla Hair Ltd
Current assignee: Curla Hair Ltd
Priority date: 2022-09-29
Filing date: 2022-09-29
Publication date: 2024-04-03
Also published as: GB202214319D0

Abstract

A hair covering 22 comprising a sheet 19b for covering a user’s hair, the sheet having an inner surface 23 for contacting a user’s hair and an outer surface. The sheet comprises a textile material that is laminated with a substantially waterproof and breathable layer on the inner surface. The textile material is preferably chosen from polyester, cotton, nylon or silk. The waterproof layer maybe polyurethane. The sheet may define a pocket for housing a user’s hair, the pocket having a main opening There may be a second opening so that a portion of hair can extend from the pocket. One or more fasteners may be provided to secure the hair covering on a user’s head such as a strap with areas of hook and loop material (14, fig.4), or a cord (10, fig. 5) with a slidable cord lock (18, fig. 5).

Description

Headwear The present invention relates to improvements in headwear. In particular the present invention relates to a flexible hair covering, or hair wrap.

Flexible hair coverings, also known as hair wraps, are often used as fashion accessories and whilst a user sleeps to protect delicate hair from damage by friction caused by rough pillowcases. Silk and satin are commonly used materials for such hair wraps.

The present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art.

According to the present invention there is provided a flexible hair covering comprising: sheet for covering a user's hair, the sheet having an inner surface for contacting a user's hair and an outer surface; wherein the sheet comprises a textile material that is laminated with a substantially waterproof and breathable layer on the inner surface.

In some embodiments the textile material is a fabric material.

In some embodiments the textile material is a synthetic woven material In some embodiments the textile material is polyester, or cotton, or nylon, or silk.

In some embodiments the waterproof and breathable layer is formed of polyurethane.

In some embodiments the sheet has a weight of at least 100gsm, or of at least 125gsm, or of at least 150gsm, or of at least 175gsm, or of at least 200gsm.

In some embodiments the sheet has a hydrostatic head rating of at least 1000mm, or of at least 1500mm, or of at least 2000mm, or of at least 3000mm.

In some embodiments the sheet has a breathability of at least 3000g/m2/24hrs, or of at least 4000g/m2/24hrs, or of at least 5000g/m2/24hrs.

In some embodiments sheet is composed of at least 2% laminated layer by weight, or of at least 4% laminated layer by weight, or of at least 6% laminated layer by weight, or of at least 8% laminated layer by weight, or of at least 10% laminated layer by weight.

In some embodiments the sheet defines a pocket for housing a user's hair, the pocket having a main opening.

In some embodiments the pocket has a main first opening for inserting a user's hair and a second opening for extending a portion of hair from the pocket.

In some embodiments the sheet defines an chamber that is open at one side for housing a user's hair.

In some embodiments the hair covering is provided with one or more fasteners to retain the covering on a user's head.

In some embodiments a fastener is provided to releasably constrict a main opening of a pocket.

In some embodiments a fastener is provided to releasably constrict a second opening of a pocket.

In some embodiments a fastener is provided in the form of a strap comprising areas of hook and loop material.

In some embodiments a fastener is provided in the form of a cord with a slidable cord lock.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a view of a first side of a hair covering made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the hair covering being laid flat; Figure 2 is a view of a second side of the hair covering of Figure 1, the hair covering being laid flat; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pocket of the hair covering of Figures land 2 without its strap shown; Figure 4 is a view of a first side of a hair covering made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the hair covering being laid flat; Figure 5 is a view of a second side of the hair covering of Figure 4, the hair covering being laid flat; Figure 6 is a view of a first side of a hair covering made in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, the hair covering being laid flat; Figure 7 is a view of a second side of the hair covering of Figure 6, the hair covering being laid flat; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the pocket of the hair covering of Figures 6 and 7 without its strap shown.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 a flexible hair covering 1 comprises a pocket 2 formed of sheet 3.

In the present embodiment pocket 2 is substantially defined by two portions of sheet 3a, 3h that are stitched together around part of their respective peripheries 3c, 3d.

In the present embodiment although a pocket is defined by two portions of sheet that are stitched together in other embodiments different number of portions of sheet may be employed.

Portions of sheet 3a, 3b define a pocket chamber 4 for housing a user's hair when hair covering 1 is in use. Pocket chamber 4 of pocket 2 is accessible via a main opening 5.

Portions of sheet 3a, 3b are formed of woven polyester laminated with a waterproof and breathable layer of polyurethane.

Sheet 3 has a weight of 165gsm and comprises 95% polyester by weight and 5% polyurethane laminate.

Sheet 3 has a hydrostatic head rating of 1500mm and a breathability of 4000g/m2/24hrs.

The side of sheet 3 that is laminated with polyurethane forms the internal wall 6 of pocket chamber 4 and side of sheet 3 that is unlaminated polyester forms the external wall 7 of pocket 2.

S

Hair covering 1 comprises a fastening strap 9 that is stitched to a side of portion of sheet 3b adjacent main opening 5 of pocket 2.

Strap 9 extends from either side of pocket 2 and adjacent its free ends comprises areas of complementary hook and loop material 8a, 8b, which in use may be employed to attach ends of strap 9 together, thereby releasably constricting main opening 5.

When hair covering 1 is in use a user may insert their hair into pocket chamber 4 and secure hair covering 1 to their head by means of strap 9.

As the internal wall 6 of pocket chamber 4 is laminated with substantially waterproof polyurethane, moisture and other liquids such as hair products in the form of oils, lotions, creams, dyes etc. are retained within pocket chamber 4.

This has the benefit of maintaining the hydration of the user's hair during day or night-time (preventing the hair from becoming dry and brittle) and also preventing any hair products from damaging bed linen when hair covering 1 is used at night. Similarly the polyester layer of sheet 3 is protected by the polyurethane layer.

At the same time the breathability of the polyurethane layer allows pocket 2 of hair covering 1 to breathe thereby preventing overheating and maintaining comfort for the user.

Furthermore, retention of hair products within hair covering 1 reduces the amount of hair product a user requires to maintain hydration of the user's hair, thereby saving hair product and associated cost.

In the present embodiment, when hair covering 1 is laid flat, the width of pocket 2 at its opening 5 is around 30cm (measurement A in Figure 1), and the depth of pocket 2 is around 70cm (measurement Bin Figure 1). Length of strap 9 is around 65cm in length (measurement C in Figure 2).

In another preferred embodiment, when hair covering 1 is laid flat, the width of the pocket at its opening is around 30cm (measurement A in Figure 1), and the depth of the pocket is around 30cm (measurement B in Figure 1). Length of strap 9 is around 65cm in length (measurement C in Figure 2).

It will of course be apparent that any suitable dimensions of a pocket and strap may be employed. However, in general it is considered that in most instances measurement A is likely to be in the range of 20cm to 40cm, or 25cm to 35cm, measurement B is likely to be in the range of 20cm to 80cm, or 30cm to 70cm, or 40cm to 60cm or around 50cm, and measurement C is likely to be in range of 50cm to 80cm, or 60cm to 70cm.

Turning to a second embodiment of the present invention and Figures 4 and 5, a flexible hair covering 11 is similar to hair covering 1, having a pocket 12 formed of two portions of sheet 13a, 13b formed of woven polyester laminated with a waterproof and breathable layer of polyurethane, a pocket chamber with an internal wall laminated with polyurethane and a strap 14.

However, whereas pocket chamber 4 of pocket 2 has only a main opening 5, the pocket chamber of pocket 12 comprises both a main opening 16 and at an opposing end of the pocket chamber a second opening 17.

Strap 14 is located adjacent main opening 16 and comprises complementary areas of hook and loop fastening 15a, 15b adjacent its free ends.

Adjacent to and encircling second opening 17 is located a drawstring 10 with a cord lock 18 such that a user may releasably constrict second opening 17.

Hair covering 11 is designed for daytime use with longer lengths of hair extending out of second opening 17.

In use, with second opening 17 constricted by a user, hair retained within pocket 12 remains hydrated.

Turning to a third embodiment of the present invention and referring to Figures 6 and 7, a flexible hair covering 18 in the form of a durag comprises a chamber defined by two portions of sheet 19a, 19b that are stitched together.

Together portions of sheet 19a, 19b form a chamber 22 that is open at a head-facing side of hair covering 18 when hair covering 18 is in use. Portions of sheet 19a, 19b may cover hair located at the back of user's neck when covering 18 is in use.

Adjacent the open side of the chamber is located strap 20 and comprises complementary areas of hook and loop fastening 21a, 21b adjacent its free ends.

Again, portions of sheet 19a, 19b are formed of woven polyester laminated with a waterproof and breathable layer of polyurethane that forms an internal wall 23 of chamber 22.

It will be apparent that hair coverings made in accordance with the present invention may accommodate a wide variety of hair styles, and the range of hairstyles that may be accommodated by the hair coverings described herein is augmented owing to straps being positionable in different locations (for example the front or back) of a user's head In all of the embodiments described herein the hair coverings comprise sheets of material predefining shapes such as pockets and chambers. However, in other embodiments a hair covering may be provided in the form of a portion of sheet, for example a rectangle, and instead require a user to configure the sheet of material such that their hair is retained.

In this specification an apparatus/method/product "comprising" certain features is intended to be interpreted as meaning that it includes those features, but that it does not exclude the presence of other features.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims: 1. A hair covering comprising: sheet for covering a user's hair, the sheet having an inner surface for contacting a user's hair and an outer surface; wherein the sheet comprises a textile material that is laminated with a substantially waterproof and breathable layer on the inner surface.
2. The hair covering of claim 1 wherein the textile material is a fabric material.
3. The hair covering of claim 1 or 2 wherein the textile material is a synthetic woven material
4. The hair covering of claim 1 or 2 wherein the textile material is polyester, or cotton, or nylon, or silk.
5. The hair covering of any preceding claim wherein the waterproof and breathable layer is formed of polyurethane
6. The hair covering of any preceding claim wherein the sheet has a weight of at least 100gsm, or of at least 125gsm, or of at least 150gsm, or of at least 175gsm, or of at least 200gsm.
7. The hair covering of any preceding claim wherein the sheet has a hydrostatic head rating of at least 1000mm, or of at least 1500mm, or of at least 2000mm, or of at least 3000mm.
8. The hair covering of any preceding claim wherein the sheet has a breathability of at least 3000g/m2/24hrs, or of at least 4000g/m2/24hrs, or of at least 5000g/m2/24hrs.
9. The hair covering of any preceding claim wherein the sheet is composed of at least 2% laminated layer by weight, or of at least 4% laminated layer by weight, or of at least 6% laminated layer by weight, or of at least 8% laminated layer by weight, or of at least 10% laminated layer by weight.
10. The hair covering of any preceding claim wherein the sheet defines a pocket for housing a user's hair, the pocket having a main opening.
11. The hair covering of claim 10 wherein the pocket has a main first opening for inserting a user's hair and a second opening for extending a portion of hair from the pocket.
12. The hair covering of any preceding claim wherein the sheet defines a chamber that is open at one side for housing a user's hair.
13. The hair covering of any preceding claim wherein the hair covering is provided with one or more fasteners to retain the covering on a user's head.
14. The hair covering of claim 10 or 11 wherein a fastener is provided to releasably constrict a main opening of a pocket.
15. The hair covering of claim 11 wherein a fastener is provided to releasably constrict a second opening of a pocket.
16. The hair covering of any of claims 13 to 15 wherein a fastener is provided in the form of a strap comprising areas of hook and loop material.
17. The hair covering of any of claims 13 to 15 wherein a fastener is provided in the form of a cord with a slidable cord lock.