Salon garment configuration for better neck access

Abstract

Methods and systems are presented to protect clothing of a wearer using a first collar structure and draping structure that are separately adjustable and releasable. In some variants the draping structure may include magnetic or other positioning elements to accommodate wearers of various sizes. Likewise the collar structure may include magnetic or other positioning elements that are indirectly and effectively supported by the still-closed draping structure while undergoing a transition through a range of unstable positions thereof between stable open and closed positions thereof. This allows a stylist to uncover and re-cover the wearer's neck much more frequently and quickly, for example, during a hair dye or style treatment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable system configured to protect clothing of a wearer, comprising:
 a first collar structure that includes a first collar overlay having a first collar overlay element and a first collar underlay configured to allow said first collar overlay element of said first collar overlay to be moved adjacent a range of reference positions along said first collar underlay so as to allow said first collar structure to be adjusted manually between a most retracted collar structure configuration and a most extended collar structure configuration by engaging said first collar overlay element with at least two respective reference positions of said first collar underlay that are more than 3 centimeters (cm) apart; wherein said first collar structure includes a central portion coupled to both said first collar overlay and said first collar underlay; and   a first draping structure that includes a first draping overlay having a first draping overlay element and a first draping underlay configured to allow said first draping overlay element of said first draping overlay to be moved adjacent a range of reference positions along said first draping underlay so as to allow said first draping structure to be adjusted manually between a most retracted draping structure configuration and a most extended draping structure configuration by engaging said first draping overlay element with at least two respective reference positions of said first draping underlay that are more than 3 cm apart; wherein said central portion coupled to both said first collar overlay and said first collar underlay is also coupled to said first draping structure; wherein said first draping overlay element is configured to remain engaged with said first draping underlay during a damage-free transition that includes said first collar structure moving between a mechanically stable closed position in which said first collar overlay element is in contact with said first collar underlay and a mechanically stable open position in which said first collar overlay element comes into contact with itself and thereby reveals a portion of a neck of the wearer by creating a lateral gap wider than 3 cm between said first collar overlay element and said first collar underlay; wherein said first collar overlay includes an end-most portion shorter than 2 cm that includes one or more magnetic-flux-guiding positioning elements; wherein said first collar overlay also includes a penultimate portion longer than 5 cm that directly supports said end-most portion of said first collar overlay and that includes one or more bend-guiding features configured to allow said first collar structure to undergo said damage-free transition; wherein an entire length of said penultimate portion of said first collar overlay is configured to include at least a portion of a first flexible bistable spring band as one of said one or more bend-guiding features; and wherein said first flexible bistable spring band is configured to have a mechanically stable curled retracted shape and a mechanically stable elongate shape.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable system of  claim 1 , wherein said first collar underlay likewise includes an end-most portion shorter than 2 cm that includes one or more magnetic-flux-guiding positioning elements; wherein said first collar underlay likewise includes a penultimate portion longer than 5 cm that directly supports said end-most portion of said first collar underlay and that includes one or more bend-guiding features configured to allow said first collar structure to undergo said damage-free transition; wherein an entire length of said penultimate portion of said first collar underlay is configured to include at least a portion of a second flexible bistable spring band as one of said bend-guiding features; and wherein said second flexible bistable spring band is configured to have a mechanically stable curled shape in which the neck of the wearer is more exposed and a mechanically stable elongate shape in which the neck of the wearer is less exposed. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable system of  claim 1 , wherein a metal strap contiguously spanning said central portion of said first collar structure includes a first stainless steel portion as said first flexible bistable spring band and a second stainless steel portion as a second flexible bistable spring band as a penultimate portion of said first collar underlay; wherein said first collar underlay likewise includes an end-most portion shorter than 2 cm that includes one or more magnetic-flux-guiding positioning elements; wherein said one or more magnetic-flux-guiding positioning elements of said end-most portion of said first collar underlay include a permanent magnet configured to engage said penultimate portion of said first collar overlay magnetically and thereby to maintain said first collar structure in said mechanically stable closed position; and wherein said one or more magnetic-flux-guiding positioning elements of said end-most portion of said first collar overlay likewise include a permanent magnet configured to engage said penultimate portion of said first collar underlay magnetically and thereby to reinforce said first collar structure in said mechanically stable closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable system of  claim 1 , wherein said first collar structure includes a first stainless steel portion as a component of said first flexible bistable spring band and a second stainless steel portion as a component of a second flexible bistable spring band in a penultimate portion of said first collar underlay; wherein said first collar underlay also includes an end-most portion shorter than 2 cm that includes one or more magnetic-flux-guiding positioning elements; wherein said one or more magnetic-flux-guiding positioning elements of said end-most portion of said first collar underlay include a permanent magnet configured to engage said penultimate portion of said first collar overlay magnetically and thereby to maintain said first collar structure in said mechanically stable closed position; and wherein said one or more magnetic-flux-guiding positioning elements of said end-most portion of said first collar overlay likewise include a permanent magnet configured to engage said penultimate portion of said first collar underlay magnetically and thereby to reinforce said first collar structure in said mechanically stable closed position. 
     
     
         5 . A wearable system configured to protect clothing of a wearer, comprising:
 a first collar structure that includes a first collar overlay having a first collar overlay element and a first collar underlay configured to allow said first collar overlay element of said first collar overlay to be moved adjacent a range of reference positions along said first collar underlay so as to allow said first collar structure to be adjusted manually between a most retracted collar structure configuration and a most extended collar structure configuration by contacting said first collar overlay element with at least two respective reference positions of said first collar underlay that are more than 3 centimeters (cm) apart; wherein said first collar structure includes a central portion supporting both said first collar overlay and said first collar underlay; and   a first draping structure that includes a first draping overlay having a first draping overlay element and a first draping underlay configured to allow said first draping overlay element of said first draping overlay to be moved adjacent a range of reference positions along said first draping underlay so as to allow said first draping structure to be adjusted manually between a most retracted draping structure configuration and a most extended draping structure configuration by contacting said first draping overlay element with at least two respective reference positions of said first draping underlay that are more than 3 centimeters apart; wherein said central portion supporting both said first collar overlay and said first collar underlay is also coupled to said first draping structure; wherein said first draping overlay element is configured to remain engaged with said first draping underlay during a first transition that includes said first collar structure moving between a mechanically stable closed position in which said first collar overlay element is in contact with said first collar underlay and a mechanically stable open position in which said first collar overlay element reveals a portion of a neck of the wearer by creating a lateral gap between said first collar overlay element and said first collar underlay.   
     
     
         6 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein said first collar overlay includes an end-most portion shorter than 2 cm that includes one or more magnetic-flux-guiding positioning elements; wherein said first collar overlay also includes a penultimate portion longer than 3 cm that directly supports said end-most portion of said first collar overlay and that includes one or more bend-guiding features configured to allow said first collar structure to undergo said damage-free transition; wherein an entire length of said penultimate portion of said first collar overlay is configured to include at least a portion of a first flexible bistable spring band as one of said one or more bend-guiding features; and wherein said first flexible bistable spring band is configured to have a mechanically stable curled retracted shape, a mechanically stable elongate shape, and a range of mechanically unstable shapes therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein said first collar structure can be maintained in a mechanically stable closed position using one or more magnetic-flux-guiding elements configured to maintain said mechanically stable closed position and wherein at least a first element of said one or more magnetic-flux-guiding elements magnetically couples with at least a first element of said one or more flux-guiding elements to maintain said mechanically stable closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein said first collar structure can be maintained in a mechanically stable closed position using one or more magnetic-flux-guiding elements configured to maintain said mechanically stable closed position; wherein at least a first element of said one or more magnetic-flux-guiding elements is configured to couple magnetically with at least a first element of said one or more flux-guiding elements to maintain said mechanically stable closed position; wherein at least a third element of said one or more magnetic-flux-guiding elements is configured to couple magnetically with at least a fourth element of said one or more flux-guiding elements to maintain said mechanically stable closed position; wherein said first and third elements are on respective opposite end-most portions of said first collar structure; and wherein said first and third elements are both magnets. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein said first collar structure can be maintained in a mechanically stable closed position using one or more magnetic-flux-guiding elements permanently magnetized and polarized so as to maintain said mechanically stable closed position without any fasteners; wherein at least a first element of said one or more magnetic-flux-guiding elements is configured to couple magnetically with at least a first element of said one or more flux-guiding elements permanently magnetized and polarized so as to maintain said mechanically stable closed position without any fasteners; wherein at least a third element of said one or more magnetic-flux-guiding elements is configured to couple magnetically with at least a fourth element of said one or more flux-guiding elements to maintain said mechanically stable closed position; wherein said first and third elements are magnets on respective opposite end-most portions of said first collar structure; and wherein said second and fourth elements are both magnets polarized to maintain said mechanically stable closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein said first collar structure can be maintained in a mechanically stable closed position using one or more magnetic-flux-guiding elements configured to maintain said mechanically stable closed position; wherein at least a first element of said one or more magnetic-flux-guiding elements magnetically couples with at least a first element of said one or more flux-guiding elements to maintain said mechanically stable closed position, and wherein said first element disengages from at least said first element and instead engages a second element when undergoing a manual transitioning from said mechanically stable closed position to a mechanically stable open position. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein said first draping overlay element is configured to remain engaged with said first draping underlay during a first transition that includes said collar structure moving between a first engaged position in which said first collar overlay element is in contact with said first collar underlay and a first retracted position in which said first collar overlay element reveals a portion of a neck of the wearer by creating a lateral gap wider than 3 cm between said first collar overlay element and said first collar underlay; wherein an end-most portion of said first collar overlay includes one or more weighting elements exceeding 5 grams and wherein an end-most portion of said first collar underlay likewise includes one or more weighting elements exceeding 5 grams. 
     
     
         12 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein an end-most portion of said first collar overlay includes one or more positioning elements; wherein a penultimate 5 cm or longer portion of said first collar overlay directly supports said end-most portion of said first collar overlay and includes one or more diagonal bend-guiding features wherein an end-most portion of said first collar underlay likewise includes one or more positioning elements; wherein a penultimate 5 cm or longer portion of said first collar underlay directly supports said end-most portion of said first collar underlay and includes one or more diagonal or other bend-guiding features; and wherein said diagonal bend-guiding features of said penultimate portions are configured to allow a damage-free transition to a stable open collar configuration during which said first draping structure remains closed. 
     
     
         13 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein one or more weighted magnetic elements of said first collar structure are configured to maintain a mechanically stable open position by gravity and by magnetism and wherein said first collar structure is fastenerless. 
     
     
         14 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein said first collar structure is fastenerless such that a neck of the wearer is more covered by said first collar structure when said first collar structure is in a mechanically stable closed position thereof with no mechanical couplers other than one or more magnetic elements configured to maintain said mechanically stable closed position but when said first collar structure is in a mechanically stable open position thereof at least said first collar overlay is separated from said first collar underlay such that the neck of the wearer is less covered; wherein one or more weighted magnetic elements of said first collar structure maintain said mechanically stable open position by magnetism. 
     
     
         15 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein said first collar structure is fastenerless such that a neck of the wearer can be substantially more covered by said first collar structure when said first collar structure is in a mechanically stable closed position thereof with no mechanical couplers other than two or more magnetic elements configured to maintain said mechanically stable closed position but when said first collar structure is in a mechanically stable open position thereof at least said first collar overlay is separated from said first collar underlay by more than 3 cm such that the neck of the wearer is less covered. 
     
     
         16 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein first and second penultimate portions of said first collar structure are supported by said first draping structure only through a central portion of said first collar structure; wherein a first end-most portion of said first collar structure is supported by said first draping structure only through said first penultimate portion of said first collar structure; and wherein a second end-most portion of said first collar structure is supported by said first draping structure only through said second penultimate portion of said first collar structure. 
     
     
         17 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein one or more portions of said first collar structure are each configured as a flexible stainless steel bistable spring band and wherein an opposite portion of said first collar structure includes a permanent magnetic element configured to engage said flexible stainless steel bistable spring band when said first collar structure is in a closed position adjacent a neck of the wearer. 
     
     
         18 . The wearable system of  claim 5 , wherein an end-most portion shorter than 2 cm of said first collar overlay includes one or more weighting elements exceeding 10 grams; wherein a penultimate 5 cm or longer portion of said first collar overlay directly supports said end-most portion of said first collar overlay and includes one or more diagonal bend-guiding features; wherein an end-most portion shorter than 2 cm of said first collar underlay likewise includes one or more weighting elements exceeding 10 grams; wherein a penultimate 5 cm or longer portion of said first collar underlay directly supports said end-most portion of said first collar underlay and includes one or more diagonal bend-guiding features; wherein said penultimate portions are supported by said first draping structure only through said central portion of said first collar structure; and wherein said diagonal bend-guiding features of said penultimate portions are configured to allow a damage-free transition to a stable open collar configuration during which said first draping structure remains closed in system. 
     
     
         19 . A method of configuring a wearable system, comprising:
 configuring a first collar structure that includes a first collar overlay having a first collar overlay element and a first collar underlay so as to allow said first collar overlay element of said first collar overlay to be moved adjacent a range of reference positions along said first collar underlay so as to allow said first collar structure to be adjusted manually between a most retracted collar structure configuration and a most extended collar structure configuration by contacting said first collar overlay element with at least two respective reference positions of said first collar underlay that are more than 3 centimeters (cm) apart; wherein said first collar structure includes a central portion supporting both said first collar overlay and said first collar underlay; and   configuring a first draping structure that includes a first draping overlay having a first draping overlay element and a first draping underlay so as to allow said first draping overlay element of said first draping overlay to be moved adjacent a range of reference positions along said first draping underlay and so as to allow said first draping structure to be adjusted manually between a most retracted draping structure configuration and a most extended draping structure configuration by contacting said first draping overlay element with at least two respective reference positions of said first draping underlay that are more than 3 cm apart; wherein said central portion supporting both said first collar overlay and said first collar underlay is also coupled to said first draping structure; and wherein said first draping overlay element is configured to remain engaged with said first draping underlay during a first transition that includes said first collar structure moving between a mechanically stable closed position in which said first collar overlay element is in contact with said first collar underlay and a mechanically stable open position in which said first collar overlay element reveals a portion of a neck of the wearer by creating a lateral gap between said first collar overlay element and said first collar underlay.