Neck Protecting Scarf and Method of Use Thereof

Abstract

A neck protecting scarf having a central elastic section that contracts to provide a secure grip around a person's neck. The upper and lower portions of the neck protecting scarf flare to accommodate the person's face and shoulders. The neck protecting scarf is secured via fasteners, such as buttons and loops, with the top button/loop being placed such that it provides for a closer fit to the person's face than the lower button/loop, which allows wider flaring at the bottom for the person's shoulders. The neck protecting scarf may include a fixed or removable shawl, or may include a fixed or removable hood, thereby protecting a person's neck and torso from cold conditions.

1 . A neck protecting scarf comprising:
 a left edge;   a right edge;   a center point; and   elastic, wherein said elastic extends from said center point partially towards said left edge and said right edge.   
     
     
         2 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 1 , further comprising a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein said elastic extends from said center point partially towards said top edge and said bottom edge. 
     
     
         3 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 2 , further comprising a horizontal axis between said left edge and said right edge, wherein when said elastic is contracted, said top edge and said bottom edge are each longer than said horizontal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 3 , wherein when said elastic is expanded, said top edge and said bottom edge are substantially the same length as said horizontal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 2 , further comprising a left section, a center section, a right section, and first and second halves of a first cooperative fastener and first and second components of a second cooperative fastener, wherein said first half is disposed proximate said top edge approximately half-way across said left section from said left edge, and wherein said second half is disposed on said right edge proximate said top edge, and wherein said first component is disposed proximate said left edge and said bottom edge, and wherein said second component is disposed on said right edge proximate said bottom edge. 
     
     
         6 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 2 , further comprising a left section, a center section, and a right section, wherein said elastic is disposed entirely within said center section. 
     
     
         7 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 6 , further comprising an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion, wherein said elastic is disposed entirely within said middle portion substantially below said center point. 
     
     
         8 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one cooperative fastener having a first half and a second half, wherein said first half is disposed within said left section approximately half way across said left section from said left edge, and wherein said second half is disposed on said right section proximate said right edge. 
     
     
         9 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 3 , further comprising a shawl portion, wherein said shawl portion is fixedly secured to said bottom edge. 
     
     
         10 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 9 , wherein said shawl portion is removably secured to said bottom edge. 
     
     
         11 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 3 , further comprising a hood portion, wherein said hood portion is fixedly secured to said top edge. 
     
     
         12 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 11 , wherein said hood portion is removably secured to said top edge. 
     
     
         13 . A method of protecting a person from weather, said method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a neck protecting scarf comprising a left edge, a right edge, a center point, and elastic, wherein said elastic extends from said center point partially towards said left edge and said right edge;   disposing said neck protecting scarf around a person's neck; and   securing said neck protecting scarf via at least one fastener.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said neck protecting scarf further comprises a shawl portion, said method further comprising the step of:
 disposing said shawl around and over at least the shoulders of the person.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said neck protecting scarf further comprises a hood portion, said method further comprising the step of:
 disposing said hood portion over the head of the person.   
     
     
         16 . A neck protecting scarf comprising:
 a left section, a right section, a center section, an upper portion, a middle portion, a lower portion, and elastic, wherein said elastic is disposed entirely within said center section and said middle portion.   
     
     
         17 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 16 , further comprising a center point, wherein said elastic is disposed entirely below said center point. 
     
     
         18 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 16 , further comprising a shawl portion. 
     
     
         19 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 16 , further comprising a hood portion. 
     
     
         20 . The neck protecting scarf of  claim 16 , further comprising a left edge, a first fastener comprising a first half and a second half and a second fastener comprising a first component and a second component, wherein said left edge defines a limit of said left section, and wherein said first half of said first fastener is disposed within said upper portion and said left section, approximately half way across said left section from said left edge, and wherein said second half is disposed on said right section within said upper portion, and wherein said first component is disposed within said lower portion and said left section, and wherein said second component is disposed within said right section and said lower portion.