US3798674A

US3798674A - Neck and shoulder drape

Info

Publication number: US3798674A
Application number: US00356149A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Daniel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-05-01
Filing date: 1973-05-01
Publication date: 1974-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-26

Abstract

A drape for protecting the neck and shoulders during hair styling, cutting, shampooing, and the like includes a generally U-shaped flat bib portion and a U-shaped collar portion which extends upwardly from the bib portion. The bib portion includes curved outer and inner peripheries, the inner periphery providing a neck opening. A pair of slits extend inwardly from the outer periphery toward the center of the neck opening, and a collar portion is attached to the periphery of the neck opening. The slits form an included angle of less than 180* so that when the drape is placed over the shoulders and around the neck of the wearer and the ends of the bib and the collar are drawn into overlapping relationship, the slits extend toward each other and overlie the shoulders. The slits thereby prevent gathering or bunching of the drape, and the overlapped collar and bib provide complete protection to the neck and adjacent portions of the chest and back. A waterproof cape can be placed over the bib and secured around the neck if desired, and the collar portion completely protects the neck from the cape.

Description

United States Patent 91 Daniel 1 1 NECK AND SHOULDER DRAPE Leopold S. Daniel, 542 S. Cuylcr. Oak Park, 111. 60304 [22] Filed: May 1, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 356,149

[76] inventor:

Primary xaminerAlfred R. Guest Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dawson, Tilton, Fallon & Lungmus 1 Mar. 26, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT neck opening. A pair of slits extend inwardly from the outer periphery toward the center of the neck opening, and a collar portion is attached to the periphery of the neck opening. The slits form an included angle of less than 180 so that when the drape is placed over the shoulders and around the neck of the wearer and the ends of the bib and the collar are drawn into overlapping relationship, the slits extend toward each other and overlie the shoulders. The slits thereby prevent gathering or bunching of the drape, and the overlapped collar and bib provide complete protection to the neck and adjacent portions of the chest and back. A waterproof cape can be placed over the bib and se cured around the neck if desired, and the collar portion completely protects the neck from the cape.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures NECK AND SHOULDER DRAPE BACKGROUND This invention relates to a protective drape for use in beauty shops, barber shops, hair styling shops, and the like.

When a persons hair is styled, cut, or washed, it is desirable to protect the persons clothes by securing a cape around his or her neck. The cape may advantageously be formed of plastic or other water proof or water resistant material, particularly when the hair is being washed or bleached. When using such a cape, it is not uncommon for the beautician or barber to secure a protective collar or band formed of tissue paper or the like around the persons neck before securing the cape in order to provide a relatively tight fit between the cape and the neck and to prevent the cape from chafing the neck. However, when shampoo, bleach hair setting preparations, or other fluids are used, paper collars can lose their integrity or might not provide sufficient absorbence to prevent leaking of the fluid past the collar.

If the collar extends only around the neck of the person, sufficient protection might not be provided for the shoulders, back, and chest. However, if the material of the collar is extended downwardly to cover the shoulders, back, and chest, the material usually gathers or bunches around the neck or shoulders because of the contour of the shoulders. Such gathering or bunching can interfere with the styling or setting of the hair, particularly around the back of the neck.

SUMMARY The inventive drape provides complete protection for the neck, shoulders, and chest of the wearer, and the slits which extend inwardly from the outer periphery of the drape toward the neck opening overlie the shoulders when the end portions of the drape are overlapped at the back of the neck to permit the drape to conform to the wearers body so that gathering or bunching of the drape is eliminated. The collar portion extends upwardly from the flat bib portion and can be drawn tightly yet comfortably around the neck. The collar portion is also overlapped at the back of the neck, and a plastic cape can be secured around the collar portion so that the cape can be fitted relatively snugly about the neck without contacting the neck. The drape can be made of terry cloth to provide comfort and good absorbence to minimize the possibility that bleach, shampoo, and other fluids will leak past the collar portion to contact the wearers clothes. If it is desired to use the drape without a protective outer cape, the drape itself can be provided with a water resistant or waterproof outer liner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a front perspective view ofa person wearing a drape formed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a person wearing the drape;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a person wearing the drape;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drape; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the drape.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIGS. 4 and 5, the numeral 10 designates generally a drape which comprises a flat, U- shaped bib portion 11 and an upstanding collar portion 12 which extends upwardly substantially perpendicularly to the bib portion 11 and which surrounds a neck opening 13.

The bib portion includes an outer periphery 14, a pair of end peripheries 15 which extend laterally inwardly from the outer periphery, and an inner periphery 16 to which the collar portion 12 is attached and which defines the neck opening 13. The outer periphery 14 includes a forward arcuate or curved portion 17 which extends over an arc of about 180 and a pair of rearwardly extending portions 18 which extend substantially straight and substantially parallel. The periphery of the bib portion is illustrated as being somewhat irregular to indicate the nature of the material from which the drape is formed, which may advantageously be terry cloth or other absorbent material, but it will be understood that the material from which the drape is formed can be cut along linear and curvilinear lines to provide the periphery of the drape. The inner periphery 16 similarly includes a forward arcuate or curved portion 19 which extends generally concentrically with the curved outer periphery 17 along an arc of about 180 and a pair of straight rearwardly extending parallel portions 20 which extend generally parallel to the rearward outer peripheral portions 18. The end peripheries 15 extend generally perpendicularly between the inner and outer straight

peripheral portions

16 and 18.

The collar portion 12 can be formed from a flat strip of the same material from which the bib portion is formed and is then secured, as by stitching, to the inner periphery 16 of the bib portion so that the collar portion can extend straight upwardly when the bib portion lies flat as shown in FIG. 4. Since the collar portion is formed separately from the bib portion and is thereafter secured to the bib portion, the collar portion can extend perpendicularly to the flat bib portion without causing gathering or bunching of the bib portion.

A pair of

slits

21 and 22 extend inwardly from the curved portion of the outer periphery of the bib toward the neck opening. The slits advantageously extend generally toward the center about which the curved forward periphery 19 of the neck opening extends, and the slits extend for about A to of the distance between the curved outer periphery l7 and the curved inner periphery 19. The slits form an included angle of less than 180, and the included angle in the specific embodiment illustrated is about As will be explained hereinafter, the included angle can vary depending upon the size of the intended wearer of the drape, but the included angle is preferably between about 90 and about Although the

slits

21 and 22 are shown as being defined by a separation between adjacent portions of the bib, this is for purposes of illustration. The slits are formed by slitting the material of the bib so that the edges of each slit lie adjacent each other when the bib lies flat. After the slits are formed, the edges of the slits can be reinforced by stitching, as can the peripheries l4 and 15 of the bib.

The use of the drape is illustrated in FIG. l-3. Although the drape will be explained as being worn by a woman, it will be understood that the drape can also be used in mens barber shops and hair styling shops. The drape is placed around the neck of a woman W who is having her hair bleached, set, or the like so that the forward portion of the bib extends downwardly over the chest of the woman. The end portions of the bib and the collar are brought'together behind the woman into overlapping relationship as shown in FIG. 3 so that the collar completely surrounds the neck and adjacent portions of the bib completely cover the upper portion of the back. The drape may be secured in this position by a pin indicated at 23.

The included angle between the

slits

21 and 22 and the relative sizes of the womans neck and the neck opening 13 are such that when the end portions of the collar and bib are brought into overlapping relationship, the slits will form an included angle of about 180 and will overlie the shoulders of the wearer. The slits therefore permit the portion of the bib in front of the slits to conform to the shape of the wearers shoulders and chest and permit the portion of the bib behind the slits to conform to the shoulders and back of the wearer. Accordingly, the portion of the bib around the neck opening lies substantially flat around the neck of the wearer without gathering or bunching, and the collar extends substantially straight up along the neck.

This permits the hair around the neck to be styled without interference from the collar portion or the bib portion.

The drape may be used alone when the hair is being styled or cut, but when fluids are being applied to the hair, a protective cape 24 shown in FIG. 2 can be secured around the neck to overlie the bib and to protect the wearers clothes. The cape can be formed of plastic or other suitable water resistant or waterproof material. The neck portion 25 of the cape is secured around the collar portion of the drape and is maintained thereby out of contact with the wearers neck. The soft collar 12 extends upwardly beyond the neck opening of the cape and protects the neck from being chafed by the cape. The collar of the drape provides a good seal between the neck opening of the cape and the neck of the wearer to minimize the possibility that fluids can leak past the neck opening of the cape to contact the wearers clothes.

While I prefer forming the drape from terry cloth, which is quite absorbent and provides a soft, comfortable feeling, the drape can be formed from other absorbent material, such as soft paper. Paper drapes may be particularly suitable for use with men, and can be disposed of after each use if desired.

lf fluid protection is desired without the necessity of using the plastic cape 24, the drape can be provided with a liner which is secured to the outer surface thereof. The liner can be formed of plastic or other water resistant or waterproof material.

in one specific embodiment of the invention, the drape had an overall length from one straight portion 18 to the other straight portion 18 of 24 inches, and an overall width from the rear edge 15 to the front of the bib of 16% inches. The rear edges 15 were each 9 inches long, and the width of the neck opening between the rear edges was 6 inches. The length of the straight edge portions 18 was 8 /4 inches. The curved portion 19 of the neck opening extended generally along an are having a radius of about 2% inch, and the radius of the are along which the curved outer periphery 17 extended was about iii 4 inches, providing the bib portion with a radial dimension of 9 inches between the concentric peripheries l7 and 19. Each of the

slits

21 and 22 extended inwardly for about 4% inches, but the length of the slits could be increased up to about /3 of the distance between the curved inner and outer peripheries.

The size of the neck opening and the position of the slits around the curved outer periphery can be varied depending upon the neck size of the wearer, and a particular beauty shop might stock several sizes to accomodate persons of different sizes. Although i have described the drape as being provided with two slits, more slits may be provided if desired at other locations along the periphery of the bib.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention was set forth for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that many of the details herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A drape adapted to be worn over the shoulders and surrounding the neck comprising a flat bib portion having an outer periphery, a pair of end portions, and a neck opening extending inwardly from the end portions, the bib portion having at least a pair of slits extending inwardly from spaced locations along the outer periphery toward the neck opening, the slits forming an included angie of less than 180 and being positioned so that they overlie the shoulders of a wearer when the end portions are overlapped around the neck of the wearer to close the neck opening, and a collar portion secured to the bib portion around the neck opening, the collar portion extending generally perpendicularly to the plane of the bib portion, the collar portion having a pair of ends adjacent the end portions of the bib portion which overlap when the end portions of the bib are overlapped whereby the collar portion may completely surround the neck of a wearer and a protective covering can be positioned around the collar portion without touching the wearers neck.

2. The drape of claim 1 in which the outer periphery of the bib portion includes a curved portion.

3. The bib of claim 1 in which the slits form an included angle of about 90 to about 130.

4. The drape of claim 1 in which the slits extend inwardly from the outer periphery toward the neck portion for about A to about i i of the distance between the outer periphery and the neck portion.

5. The drape of claim 1 in which the drape is formed of terry cloth.

6. The drape of claim 1 in which the bib portion is generally U-shaped, the outer periphery including a curved forward position extending along an arc of about 180 and a pair of generally parallel generally straight portions extending rearwardly from the curved forward portion, the neck opening including a curved forward peripheral portion extending along an arc of about l and a pair of generally straight and generally parallel rearwardly extending portions, the end portions of the bib portion extending generally transversely between the rearwardly extending portion of the outer periphery and the neck opening.

7. The drape of claim 6 in which the slits extend inwardly from the curved portion of the outer periphery toward the center of the neck opening for about k to about 94 of the distance between the curved portion of the outer periphery and the curved periphery of the neck opening.

8. The drape of claim 7 in which the slits form an included angle of about to about i i t

Claims

1. A drape adapted to be worn over the shoulders and surrounding the neck comprising a flat bib portion having an outer periphery, a pair of end portions, and a neck opening extending inwardly from the end portions, the bib portion having at least a pair of slits extending inwardly from spaced locations along the outer periphery toward the neck opening, the slits forming an included angle of less than 180* and being positioned so that they overlie the shoulders of a wearer when the end portions are overlapped around the neck of the wearer to close the neck opening, and a collar portion secured to the bib portion around the neck opening, the collar portion extending generally perpendicularly to the plane of the bib portion, the collar portion having a pair of ends adjacent the end portions of the bib portion which overlap when the end portions of the bib are overlapped whereby the collar portion may completely surround the neck of a wearer and a protective covering can be positioned around the collar portion without touching the wearer''s neck.

3. The bib of claim 1 in which the slits form an included angle of about 90* to about 130*.

4. The drape of claim 1 in which the slits extend inwardly from the outer periphery toward the neck portion for about 1/2 to about 3/4 of the distance between the outer periphery and the neck portion.

5. The drape of claim 1 in which the drape is formed of terry cloth.

6. The drape of claim 1 in which the bib portion is generally U-shaped, the outer periphery including a curved forward position extending along an arc of about 180* and a pair of generally parallel generally straight portions extending rearwardly from the curved forward portion, the neck opening including a curved forward peripheral portion extending along an arc of about 180* and a pair of generally straight and generally parallel rearwardly extending portions, the end portions of the bib portion extending generally transversely between the rearwardly extending portion of the outer periphery and the neck opening.

7. The drape of claim 6 in which the slits extend inwardly from the curved portion of the outer periphery toward the center of the neck opening for about 1/2 to about 3/4 of the distance between the curved portion of the outer periphery and the curved periphery of the neck opening.

8. The drape of claim 7 in which the slits form an included angle of about 90* to about 130*.