Waterproof Hair Sleeve

Abstract

A hair sleeve for maintaining a collection of the free end portions of a user's hair in a substantially dry state. The hair sleeve has a flexible and substantially waterproof body that extends from an open end to a closed end. The body defines an interior cavity that is sized for receiving the collection of free end portions through an opening in the body. A closure assembly selectively constricts the opening against the rooted portions of the user's hair to seal the collection of tip portions within the interior cavity, leaving the user's scalp exposed for washing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A hair sock for maintaining part of a user's hair in a substantially dry state, the hair comprising a plurality of hair strands, each hair strand having a rooted portion that is attached to the user's scalp and an associated free portion that extends from the rooted portion, the hair sock comprising:
 a flexible and substantially waterproof body extending from a proximal end having an opening to a closed distal end, the body defining an interior cavity open to said opening and sized for receiving a gathered collection of the free portions of a grouping of the hair strands; and   a closure assembly for selectively constricting the opening against the associated rooted portions of the grouping of hair strands to seal the gathered collection of free portions within the interior cavity, leaving the user's scalp substantially exposed for washing.   
     
     
         2 . The hair sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure assembly comprises a draw string. 
     
     
         3 . The hair sock according to  claim 2 , wherein the body comprises a closed channel arranged circumferentially about the opening, the channel defining a hollow interior and having at least one hole formed therein that is open to the hollow interior;
 wherein said draw string comprises:   a constricting portion at least partially disposed within the hollow interior of the channel; and   a gripping portion extending out of the hole.   
     
     
         4 . The hair sock according to  claim 3 , further comprising an anchor member that is connected to the body at the proximal end;
 wherein the gripping portion of the draw string comprises a connector selected for mechanical engagement with the anchor member; and   wherein the draw string is configured to be held in a tensioned state by engagement of the connector with the anchor member.   
     
     
         5 . The hair sock according to  claim 4 , wherein the anchor member comprises a button, and the connector comprises a loop. 
     
     
         6 . The hair sock according to  claim 4 , wherein the draw string comprises an elastic cord that is resiliently deformable between a relaxed state wherein the elastic cord has a relaxed length, and a stretched state wherein the elastic cord has a stretched length that is greater than the relaxed length. 
     
     
         7 . The hair sock according to  claim 6 , wherein the stretched length of the elastic cord is selected to permit the gripping portion to be wound circumferentially about the proximal end of the body at least once before the connector is engaged with the anchor member. 
     
     
         8 . The hair sock according to  claim 4 , further comprising a second connector attached to the distal end of the body, the second connector provided for mechanical engagement with the anchor member to selectively hold the body in a bundled state. 
     
     
         9 . The hair sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the body has an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         10 . The hair sock according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the body from the proximal end to the distal end ranges from about 30 cm to about 60 cm. 
     
     
         11 . The hair sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening has a constricted state and an unconstricted state, and has a maximum circumference when in the unconstricted state that ranges from about 20 cm to about 45 cm. 
     
     
         12 . The hair sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the rooted portion of each hair strand is a portion of the hair strand that is within 20 cm of a point of attachment to the user's scalp; and
 wherein the free portion of each hair strand is a portion of the hair strand that is more than 20 cm from the point of attachment to the user's scalp.   
     
     
         13 . A method for maintaining part of a person's hair in a substantially dry state while washing the person's scalp, the hair comprising a plurality of hair strands, each hair strand having a rooted portion that is attached to the person's scalp and an associated free portion that extends from the rooted portion, the method comprising:
 inserting a gathered collection of the free portions of a grouping of the hair strands through an opening in a substantially waterproof sleeve and into an internal cavity of the sleeve;   tightly securing the opening of the sleeve against the associated rooted portions of the grouping of hair strands to substantially prevent water from flowing into the interior cavity; and   washing the person's scalp.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the sleeve is flexible and extends from a first end to a second end, the opening being positioned at the first end and the second end being closed, the method further comprising:
 winding the sleeve into a bun; and   fastening an anchor member arranged at the first end of the sleeve to a connector arranged at the second end of the sleeve to hold the bun together.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the sleeve comprises a draw string arranged circumferentially about the opening, the draw string having a second connector;
 wherein securing the opening of the sleeve against the rooted portions of the grouping of hair strands comprises:   pulling on the second connector to tighten the draw string; and   fastening the second connector to the anchor member to hold the draw string in a tightened state.   
     
     
         16 . A hair sock for maintaining part of a user's hair in a substantially dry state while the user's scalp is washed, the hair comprising a plurality of hair strands, each hair strand having a rooted portion that is within 20 cm of a point of attachment to the user's scalp and an associated free portion that is more than 20 cm from the point of attachment, the hair sock comprising:
 a substantially waterproof body for selectively covering the free portions of a grouping of the hair strands, the body defining an interior cavity sized for receiving the free portions of the grouping of hair strands through an opening formed in the body, the opening having a maximum circumference selected to be smaller than a maximum circumference of the user's scalp; and   a holding assembly for releasably securing the opening against the associated rooted portions of the grouping of hair strands so that water is substantially prevented from flowing into the interior cavity.   
     
     
         17 . The hair sock according to  claim 16 , wherein the body comprises a flexible tube that extends from the opening to a closed end. 
     
     
         18 . The hair sock according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first fastening member attached to the body proximate to the opening; and   a second fastening member attached to the body at the closed end;   wherein the first fastening member and the second fastening member are selected to be releasably fastenable to one another.   
     
     
         19 . The hair sock according to  claim 18 , wherein the holding assembly comprises a third fastening member selected to be releasably fastenable to the first fastening member;
 wherein at least one of a size, a texture and a shape of the second fastening member is different from a size, a texture or a shape, respectively, of the third fastening member, such that the second fastening member is distinguishable from the third fastening member by touch.   
     
     
         20 . The hair sock according to  claim 17 , further comprising at least one storage pocket arranged on the body that defines a cavity sized for receiving part of the body therein in a compacted state.