US3026526A - Bathing cap - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1962 A. MONTROSE BATHING CAP Filed Jan. 19, 1959 ARTHUR MONTROSEB INVENTOR.

HEfiZ/G & JESSU ATTORNEYS"- United States Patent 3,026,526 BATI-IING CAP Arthur Montrose, 2058 W. 99th St., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Jan. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 787,657 4 Claims. (Cl. 2-68) This invention relates to a bathing cap, and more particularly to a water-tight bathing cap which is inflatable by the wearer, during use thereof, for effecting a water-tight seal around the lower marginal edge thereof.

Bathing caps are widely used by divers and swimmers to avoid wetting of the hair during such activity and in many cases to keep water out of a persons ears which are frequently sensitive to water and water pressures. Women particularly use bathing caps during swimming and diving activities to protect their hair and/or-hair-do which would otherwise become disheveled. However, bathing caps in general are not entirely water tight around the peripheral edge, with the result that an injurious amount of water seeps under the marginal edge of the bathing cap. Particularly during diving, the water is forced into the bathing cap, thereby rendering the bathing cap useless as to its purpose.

Entrance of water into the bathing cap during use is due partly to the design of the bathing cap, which, in order to be stylish, does not provide an efficient Sealing edge, and partly due to the fact that a human head is irregular in shape, the forehead being the only portion that can be sealed inasmuch as the forehead is, in most persons, arcuate and forms a tight contact with the forehead portion of the bathing cap. On the other hand, the temple portion, joining the cheeks, and the nape portion of the neck form irregular surfaces which are diflicult to seal. A bathing cap made of elastic material such as rubber, neoprene or the like, is stretched in the application over the head, whereby the hollows and ridges of the human head adjacent the marginal edge of the cap form gaps through which water may enter into the cap and defeat the purpose of the cap.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved bathing cap of elastic, resilient material which is provide-d with a marginal edge adapted to effect a water-tight seal relative to the users head.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a bathing cap having an inflatable marginal edge to form a tighter and more eflicient seal relative to a persons head and particularly to follow the irregularities of a human head.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved bathing cap of the character described which is easily and quickly inflatable by the user after the cap has been placed over the head whereby the inflatable marginal edge is conformable to the configuration of the users head.

Still another object of this invention is to incorporate the inflation means into a chin strap which provides an additional purpose of retaining the bathing cap on the users head and fastening means for fastening the chin strap to the bathing cap.

Still another object of this invention is to provide valve means incorporated in the inflation means whereby the user may quickly and easily close the inflation means for the inflatable marginal edge to retain pneumatic pressure within the marginal edge and which can be quickly and easily opened to release the pressure.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved water-tight bathing cap which is economical to manufacture and capable of mass production.

A general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved bathing cap of the character described which overcomes disadvantages of prior means and methods heretofore intended to accomplish generally similar purposes.

This invention provides a bathing cap of a pliant, resilient material having a substantially hemispherical hollow cap whose marginal edge defines an opening for insertion of the head of the user within the cap, the marginal edge being expandable and inflatable to more nearly follow the configuration of the users head, and a chin strap integral with or attached to one side of the cap and having a passage extending therethrough and communicating with the inflatable edge. A valve means is incorporated for manually, selectively closing the passage from the inflatable marginal edge, thereby selectively captivating the air within the inflatable marginal edge and releasing the air therefrom, whereby the user of the cap may, by any suitable means, introduce air into the passage of the chin strap for inflating the marginal edge to effect a watertight seal of the marginal seal relative to the users head.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from the drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, in elevation, of a bathing cap designed and constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, in elevation, illustrating the bathing cap as viewed from the opposite side;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the vertical axis of the bathing p;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view as taken substantially along a line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along a line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view as taken substantially along a line 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, in elevation, illustrating the fastening means for fastening one end of the chin strap to the bathing cap.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustration, but not of limitation, a bathing cap, generally referred to by the numeral 10, designed and constructed in accordance with this invention. The bathing cap 10 comprises a substantially hemispherical hollow cap body 11 of a relatively thin, pliant, resilient material, such as rubber, neoprene, plastics, or the like. The cap body 11 is herein illustrated as having a rather conventional style and configuration whose marginal edge 12 includes a forehead portion 13, adjacent co-extensive temple portions 14 and downwardly extending neck portion 16 which depends sufliciently to cover the ears and the nape for the neck of the wearer thereby completely enclosing the hair of the wearer which, in the case of long hair, is normally tucked under and within the body 11.

In order to provide a sealing engagement between the marginal edge 12 and the outer surface of the head, illustrated in broken lines 17, a substantial portion of the marginal edge 12 is provided with an inflatable tube means 18 which may be integral with the marginal edge 12 of the body 11 or may comprise, as herein illustrated, a discrete strip of pliant resilient material, such as rubber, neoprene, plastics, or the like, cemented or otherwise secured to the inner surface 19 of the body 11. In the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the tube means 18 comprises an extruded, or otherwise formed, strip having substantially parallel, flat, outer edges 21 cemented or otherwise secured to the body 11, a pair of spaced parallel outwardly extending (extending inwardly of the cap) doubled-back ridges 22 and an intermediate wall section 23 defining a cavity 24 between the tube means 18 ice 3 and the body 11 and following the contour of the marginal edge 12.

The tube means 18 may optionally extend completely around the inner periphery of the marginal edge 12 or may, as illustrated, terminate adjacent the forehead portion 13 as indicated at 26 and extend downwardly across the temple portions 14 and the neck portion 16.

In practice it has been found that the forehead portion 13 of a bathing cap forms an adequately tight fit against the forehead of the user inasmuch as the forehead is substantially convexly shaped. The temples of the head, however, are generally slightly concave, whereby a cap stretched over the temple portion forms a passageway through which water may enter into the interior of the cap. Likewise, the nape of the neck is formed with ridges and hollows, thereby forming passages or gaps through which water may enter the interior of the cap. By inflating the tube means 18, the ridges 22 are extended into contact with the contours of the head 17, thereby filling in the depressions and hollows, particularly at the temple portion, the neck portion and additionally around the jaw portion which is also irregular in contour.

A strip 27 of pliant resilient material, such as sponge rubber, neoprene, or the like, is preferably disposed within a channel 25 formed by the wall 23 and the ridges 22, the strip 27 being provided with a plurality of longitudinal ridges 28 and grooves 29, whereby expansion of the wall 23 forces the relatively soft and spongy strip 27 into intimate contact with the contour of the head to additionally seal the marginal edge 12 around the head. The strip 27 is preferably continuous and endless whereby the forehead portion 13 is additionally sealed by the strip, and may be cemented or otherwise secured in the channel 25 and on the inner surface 19 of the body 11 at the forehead portion 13.

The temple portions 14 of the marginal edge 12 actually extend outwardly of the line of tension when the cap body 11 is being worn whereby inflation at these areas may tend to bulge the body 11, causing an undesired exaggerated outer appearance. To avoid this, a reinforcing strip or backing 31 is preferably interposed between the body 11 and the tube means 18, whereby expansion is achieved primarily in the tube means 18 and resulting in a smoother, non-bulging outer appearance of the body 11. The strip 31 is preferably formed of a material less elastic than the body 11, such as fabric, plastic, or any other suitable material. As best seen in FIG. 3, the strip 31 extends from points intermediate of the forehead and temple portions indicated at 32 to points adjacent the neck portion 16 and indicated at 33.

Additionally, to prevent excessive bulging of the body 11, the thickness of the strip material of the tube means 18 is formed substantially thinner than the thickness of the body 11 whereby expansion is effected primarily in the walls of the tube means 18. The peaks 20 of the ridges 22 are further reduced in thickness thereby resulting in weakened or more pliant peaks to eifect greater elasticity and flexibility of the tube means at the peaks of the ridges to conform to the contour of the head.

This invention provides unique means for inflating the tube means 18 in the form of a hollow chin strap means, generally indicated by the numeral 34. The chin strap 34 may be integrally formed with the body 11, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 5, or optionally separately formed and secured to the body 11 as by cementing or the like. The chin 34 is tubular and includes a passage 36 extending therethrough and communicating with the cavity 24 of the tube means 18 in the area 37 of junction of the chin strap 34 with the body 11. The chin strap 34 is open at its opposite end 38 whereby the user may inflate the tube means 18 after the body 11 is installed on the head by blowing into the end 38 of the chin strap.

In order to captivate the air within the tube means 18 and prevent deflation thereof, a valve means 39 (see PIG. is provided at the junction 37 of the chin strap 34 with the body 11 and spaced inwardly from the marginal edge 12 whereby the communication between the passage 36 of the chin strap 34 and the cavity 24 may be selectively closed or open. The valve 39 includes a stem 41 having a plug 42 complementary to a passage 43 of the valve body 44. A transverse opening 46 communicates between the passage 43 and the passage 36 whereby an inward movement of the stem 42 causes the plug 42 to close the passage 46 and thereby close oif the passage 36 from the cavity 24 to captivate air within the cavity 24.

Outward manually effected movement of the stem 41 causes the plug 42 to open the passage 46 to communicate between the passage 43 and the passage 37 to admit air into the cavity 24 to inflate the tube means 18 or permit escape of air therefrom for deflation. The stem 41 and the body 44 are preferably formed of a plastics material which is relatively resilient whereby the plug 42 is frictionally held within the passage 43 to retain the plug 42 in a sealing position. It is to be understood however that other materials may be used and the stem 41 adapted to retain the plug 42 in its open or closed position as by complementary threads on the stem and in the body 44, if desired.

In order to retain the cap 10 on the users head 17, the chin strap is preferably securable at its free end 38 to an opposing portion of the body 11 as indicated at 47. For this purpose, an adjustable fastening means or slide, generally indicated by the numeral 48 and best seen in FIG. 7, is slidingly disposed on the end 38 which comprises a substantially rectangular body 49 having an opening 51 therethrough for receiving the chin strap 34. The body 49 includes a pair of transverse end members 52 having arched central portions 53 which bridge the central portion of the chin strap 34, and an intermediate transverse member 54 having an oppositely arched portion 56 and having secured thereto one member of a malefemale snap 57, such as the male portion 58.

The fastening means 48 is slidably disposed on the chin strap 34 with oppositely facing pressure points 59 and 61 of the transverse members 52 and 54 respectively bearing against opposite parallel edges 62 of the chin strap 34 to frictionally engage the chin strap 34, the chin strap ex tending into the opening 51 and bridging over the intermediate transverse member 54, as best seen in FIG. 7. The oppositely arched portions 53 and 57 of the transverse members 52 and 54 respectively permit passage of air through the chin strap 34 without removal of the fastening members 48. The body 49 may be secured to the body 11 by snapping the male member 58 of the fastening means 57 into a complementary female member 63 secured to the body portion 11. In this manner, the passage 36 extending through the chin strap 34 is constantly accessible and clear for inflation or deflation of the tube means 18, the communication between the passage 36 and the cavity 24 being controlled by the valve means 39 for selectively opening and closing thereof.

As will now be more clearly understood, after the user has placed the bathing cap 10 on the head, the stem 41 is pulled outwardly, or screwed outwardly if a threaded stem and body is used, to open the passage 46 and effect communication between the passage 36 of the chin strap 34 with the passage 43 of the valve 39 and thereby the cavity 24 of the tube means 18. The user may then inflate the tube means 18 by blowing into the open end 38 of the chin strap, or optionally by mechanical means such as an air pump or the like, to cause the ridges 22 of the tube means 18 and the ridges 28 of the strip 27 to come into intimate contact with the contour of the users head, filling in any hollows or irregular portions of the contour, thereby effecting a water-tight seal around the marginal edge 12 of the body 11. It is to be understood that hydraulic pressure may be used to expand the tube means if desired. The stem 41 may be then pushed inwardly to close communication between the opening 46 and the passage 43 to captivate the pneumatic pressure within the cavity 24 to retain a sealing Water-tight engagement between the marginal edge 12 and the contour of the head. The chin strap 34 may be then secured at its free end 38 to the body 11 as by the fastening means 57 after adjusting the body 49 of the slide 48 to provide a comfortable yet adequate retaining force on the body 11 to retain the cap on the head 17.

While I have herein shown and described what I conceived to be the most desired form of my invention, it is to be understood that alterations and modifications thereof may be made in a manner to satisfy the spirit of my invention which is intended to comprehend any and all equivalent devices as comprehended in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bathing cap comprising: a substantially hemispherical hollow cap of pliant resilient material and having a marginal edge, said marginal edge including a forehead portion, a pair of co-extensive temple portions and a depending neck portion interconnecting said temple portions; hollow tube means of pliant resilient material on the inner surface of said cap and adjacent said marginal edge; hollow chin strap means having a passage therethrough, one end of said chin strap means being integral with said cap and having said passage in communication with the interior of said tube means, the other end of said passage being open for pneumatically and selectively inflating said tube means; and fastening means operatively associated with said chin strap and said cap means for removably securing the other of said ends of said chin strap means to said cap, and valve means in said cap means for selectively closing said passage from communication with said interior of said tube means.

2. A bathing cap comprising: a substantially hemispherical hollow cap of pliant resilient material having a marginal edge, said marginal edge including a forehead portion, a pair of coextensive temple portions and a depending neck portion interconnecting said temple portions; hollow tube means of pliant resilient material on the inner surface of said cap and adjacent said marginal edge; hollow chin strap means having a passage therethrough, one end of said chin strap means being integral with said cap and having said passage in communication with the interior of said tube means, the other end of said passage being open for pneumatically and selectively inflating said tube means; fastening means operatively associated with said chin strap and said cap means for removably securing the other of said ends of said chin strap means to said cap, said hollow tube means including closed ends adjacent said fore-head portion of said marginal edge and said tube means extending parallel to said temple and neck portions of said marginal edge, and valve means in said cap means for selectively closing said passage from communicating with said interior of said tube means.

3. A bathing cap as in claim 2 including pliant resilient strip means on the inner surface of said cap means and adjacent said marginal edge, said pliant strip means comprising sponge rubber means having longitudinal ridges and grooves.

4. A bathing cap comprising: a substantially hemispherical hollow cap of pliant resilient material having a marginal edge, said marginal edge including a forehead portion, a pair of coextensive temple portions and a depending neck portion interconnecting said temple portions; hollow tube means of pliant resilient material on the inner surface of said cap and adjacent said marginal edge; said hollow tube means being relatively flat and conformed to provide a cavity having received therein pliant resilient strip means; hollow chin strap means having a passage therethrough, one end of said chin strap means being integral with said cap and having said passage in communication with the interior of said tube means, the other end of said passage being open for pneumatically and selectively inflating said tube means; fastening means operatively associated with said chin-strap and said cap means for removably securing the other of said ends of said chin strap means to said cap, said hollow tube means including closed ends adjacent said forehead portion of said marginal edge and said tube means extending parallel to said temple and neck portions of said marginal edge, and valve means in said cap means for selectively closing said passage from communicating with said interior of said tube means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,246,948 Sears Nov. 20, 1917 1,349,206 Jeffers Aug. 10, 1920 1,390,628 Litchfield Sept. 13, 1921 1,746,477 Howland Feb. 11, 1930 1,950,081 De Laney Mar. 6, 1934 2,033,802 Abram Mar. 10, 1936 2,192,080 Hock Feb. 27, 1940 2,192,837 Lusk Mar. 5, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 818,539 France June 21, 1937 56,620 Denmark Sept. 4, 1939

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