US20140259264A1

US20140259264A1 - Swim cap and method of use thereof

Info

Publication number: US20140259264A1
Application number: US13/803,714
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeffrey W. Schermerhorn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-14
Filing date: 2013-03-14
Publication date: 2014-09-18

Abstract

A swim cap device that includes a player, a wire, an earphone, and a cover. The wire is disposed in a serpentine position when the swim cap is in a non-stretched position, and the wire connects the player to a user's ears. When the swim cap is stretched, the serpentine disposition of the wire progresses towards straightening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

None

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The disclosure generally relates to headgear and a method of using the same, and more specifically to headgear with an audio player and headphones.
2. Description of Related Art
The disclosure relates generally to headgear with a music player and headphones and a method of using the same.
One previous approach was to use a water proof headphone system that could be secured to swimming goggles, wherein the MPS player was placed around the back of the swimmer's head. A problem with this approach is that the system might be uncomfortable located on the back of a head, create additional drag, and the system moving could compromise the goggles' watertight seal.
Another approach was to use a swim cap with a speaker and a radio antenna. One problem with this approach is that the battery needed to maintain a radio connection could be prohibitively large. Another problem is that the radio connection might be compromised by interference from the water. Yet another problem is that the individual swimmer did not have any input on what sound was transmitted.
Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a recognizable unmet need for a swim cap with headphones that is easy to produce, tolerant of the movement inherent in swimming, capable of being stretched without compromising any aspect of functionality, and very easy to use.

SUMMARY

Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present apparatus and method overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing a swim cap with headphones that is easy to produce, tolerant of the movement inherent in swimming, capable of being stretched without compromising any aspect of functionality, and very easy to use.
The present apparatus and method includes a swim cap device with a player, wires, earphones, and a cover. The wires are disposed in a serpentine position when the swim cap is in a non-stretched position, and the wires connect the player to the user's ears.
According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present disclosure describes a headgear device, the headgear device having a cover, a player, earphones, and a wire, the wire being connected to the player, and the wire being in a serpentine disposition when the cover is not in a stretched position.
The cover may include at least two layers, a first layer and a second layer, the wire being disposed between the layers. There may be an opening in the outside layer, or in the inside layer, or in both, the opening may be used to place a player and secure it therein the swim cap.
Alternatively, the swim cap cover may be a single layer, with the wire being disposed within the single layer.
Still further the swim cap may include one or more passageways wherein the wire may be disposed or run within the single layer or at least two layers.
In use, a swim cap is obtained, and then placed on the user's head. The earphones are placed in the user's ears, and the player is started. However, it is contemplated herein that the steps executed may be executed in any order and need not be necessarily executed in the exact order or in the exact way as described herein.
In another embodiment, a headgear device has a cover and a wire, the wire being connected to the player, and the wire being in a serpentine disposition when the cover is not in a stretched position.
More specifically, the present disclosure of a preferred embodiment is a swim cap, the swim cap having a player, wires, earphones, and a cover. The wires have a first wire and a second wire. The earphones have a first earphone and a second earphone. In this embodiment, the cover includes a first layer and a second layer.
The cover is made of an elastic or like material that can comfortably stretch a certain amount without losing functionality, such as a rubber-like compound, a stretchable cloth material, etc.
The wires are preferably in a serpentine disposition when the swim cap is in a non-stretched position. This serpentine disposition of the wires allows a swim cap to be stretched without compromising the functionality of the wires, or negatively affecting either how the wires attach to the player, or how the earphones reach to the user's ears.
In this embodiment, the opening is disposed within the first layer, and when the player is placed within the opening, the swim cap will thus secure the player. Alternatively, the opening may expose a pouch that will secure the player while it is inside the opening. Also, the cover may include a single layer, with the wires being disposed and molded within the cover. Or, the opening may be disposed inside the swim cap. The wires may be embedded within an elastic conduit within the cover.
The cap may be a headband or head cover used for any activity, athletic or otherwise, including, for exemplary purposes only and without limitation, a cold-weather hat for skiing or a headband.
In use, a user obtains a swim cap, and then secures the player to the swim cap and attached to a headphone plug. The player is started, and optionally secured inside the swim cap. The swim cap is then placed on the user's head, and the earphones are placed in the user's ears.
The player may be any device that can supply audio to earphones, include, for exemplary purposes only and without limitation, an iPod®, an MP3 player, a radio, or any music player with or without internal memory.
Accordingly, a feature of the swim cap with headphones device is its ability to be easy to use.
Another feature of the swim cap with headphones device is its ability to be used by different people with different size heads without compromising functionality in any way.
Yet another feature of the swim cap with headphones device is its ability to function for extended periods of time.
Yet another feature of the swim cap with headphones device is its ability to be easy to manufacture.
Yet another feature of the swim cap with headphones device is its ability to be stretched without negatively affecting the wires, or the wires' connections or connectivity.
These and other features of the swim cap with headphones device will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the prior Summary, and following Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and Claims when read in light of the accompanying Detailed Drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present swim cap with headphones device will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment, with the earphones extended out of the swim cap;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein the swim cap and embodiment is being stretched;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown in use;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown on a user's head; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment, shown on a user's head; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart depicting an exemplary use of an embodiment.

It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In describing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The present disclosure, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples, and are merely examples among other possible examples.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-7 by way of example, and not limitation, therein is illustrated an example embodiment swim cap 100, wherein swim cap 100 comprises player 110, wires 120, earphones 130, and cover 140. Wires 120 comprises first wire 122 and second wire 124. Earphones 130 comprise first earphone 132 and second earphone 134. It is contemplated herein that first earphone 132 and second earphone 134 and player 110 may include water proof earphones and player. In this embodiment, cover 140 comprises a single layer, cover 140.
In this embodiment, cover 140 comprises an elastic material that can comfortably stretch a certain amount without losing functionality, such as, for exemplary purposes only and without limitation, a rubber-like compound, a stretchable cloth material, etc.
Turning now to FIG. 2, illustrated therein is another embodiment of swim cap 100. Once again, swim cap 100 comprises player 110, wires 120, earphones 130, and cover 140, wherein cover 140 comprises first layer 150, second layer 160, and opening 170. In this embodiment, wires 120 are disposed between first layer 150 and second layer 160, wherein wires 120 are in a serpentine disposition when swim cap 100 is a non-stretched position (best shown FIGS. 1 and 2; swim cap 100 in a stretched position is best shown in FIG. 3). This serpentine disposition of wires 120 allows swim cap 100 to be stretched without compromising the functionality of wires 120, or negatively affecting either how wires 120 attach to player 110, or how earphones 130 reach to user's U ears.
In this embodiment, opening 170 is disposed within first layer 150, and placing player 110 within opening 170 will thus secure player 110 by virtue of swim cap 100. Alternatively, opening 170 may expose a pouch that will secure player 110 while inside opening 170. However, it is contemplated herein that cover 140 may comprise a single layer, wherein wires 120 are disposed and molded within cover 140, as shown in FIG. 1. It is further contemplated that opening 170 is disposed inside swim cap 100 (not shown), wherein player 110 would need to be accessed before swim cap 100 is placed on user's U head, or alternatively wherein user U could attempt to manipulate player 110 through cover 140 while swim cap 100 is on user's U head. It is further contemplated herein that wires 120 are embedded within an elastic conduit within cover 140 or imbedded therein during molding.
It is also further contemplated that swim cap 100 may be a headband or head cover used for any activity (best shown in FIG. 6), athletic or otherwise, including, for exemplary purposes only and without limitation, a cold-weather hat for skiing or a headband.
Turning now to FIG. 3, illustrated therein is an exemplary embodiment of swim cap 100, wherein swim cap 100 is in a stretched position. In this embodiment, swim cap 100 again comprises player 110, wires 120, earphones 130, and cover 140. Because swim cap 100 is in a stretched position, wires 120 are no longer in a serpentine disposition. In the illustration shown, wires 120 are mostly, but not completely, straightened out when user inserts hands inside swim cap 100 and separates user's hands. However, it is contemplated herein that the maximum stretch of swim cap 120 may only partially straighten wires 120. It is further contemplated herein that the maximum stretch of swim cap 120 may completely straighten wires 120.
Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, illustrated therein is an exemplary embodiment of swim cap 100, wherein swim cap 100 is being utilized by user U. In the illustration shown, swim cap 100 is disposed on user's U head, wherein swim cap 100 only partially covers user's U ears. Earphones 130 extend from swim cap 100 and are placed in user's U ears. However, it is contemplated herein that swim cap 100 may be disposed such that swim cap 100 does not cover user's U ears. It is further, and alternatively, contemplated herein, that swim cap 100 may fully and/or mostly cover user's U ears, in which case earphones 130 would need to be retained or curved back under swim cap 100 to reach user's U ears.
Turning now to FIG. 7, method of using swim cap with headphones 1000 starts with user U obtaining swim cap 100 via step 1010. Via step 1020, if player 110 is with swim cap 100, then method 1000 proceeds to step 1040, otherwise method 1000 proceeds to step 1030. Via step 1030, player 110 is secured to swim cap 100. Via step 1040, player 110 is started, and optionally secured inside swim cap 100. Via step 1050, swim cap 100 is stretched and placed on user's U head, and via step 1060 earphones are placed in user's U ears. Finally, via step 1070, user U starts swimming.
It is contemplated herein that player 110 may comprise any device that can supply audio to earphones, include, for exemplary purposes only and without limitation, an iPod®, any MP3 player, a radio, or any music player with or without internal memory.
The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments. Having thus described exemplary embodiments, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A swim cap device, wherein said swim cap device comprises:

a cover;

a player; and

a wire, wherein said wire is connected to said player, and wherein said wire is in a serpentine disposition when cover is not in a stretched position.

2. The swim cap device of claim 1, said swim cap further comprising earphones.

3. The swim cap device of claim 2, wherein said cover comprises a first layer and a second layer, and wherein said wire is disposed between said first layer and said second layer.

4. The swim cap device of claim 3, wherein said cover further comprises an opening, and wherein said opening is disposed in said first layer.

5. The swim cap device of claim 4, wherein said first layer is disposed outside said second layer.

6. The swim cap device of claim 4, wherein said first layer is disposed inside said second layer.

7. The swim cap device of claim 2, wherein said cover comprises a single layer, and said wire is disposed within the single layer.

8. The swim cap of claim 7, wherein said cover comprises an opening.

9. A method of using a swim cap device, said method comprising the step of:

obtaining a swim cap, wherein said swim cap comprises a cover and a wire, and wherein said wire is in a serpentine disposition when cover is not in a stretched position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said swim cap further comprises earphones and a player, and wherein said wire is connected to both said earphones and said player, and wherein said method further comprises the step of:

placing said swim cap on user's head;

placing said earphones in user's ear; and

starting said player, wherein starting said player comprises audio being played by said earphones.

11. A headgear device, wherein said headgear device comprises:

a cover;

a wire, wherein said wire is connected to said player, and wherein said wire is in a serpentine disposition when said cover is not in a stretched position.

12. The headgear device of claim 11, wherein said cover is in a headband shape.

13. The headgear device of claim 11, wherein said cover is in the shape of a hat.