Swimming Caps

Abstract

A swimming cap made of a synthetic rubber and sized to substantially cover the scalp of a wearer's head, the cap having an opening formed in a posterior region thereof such that the wearer's hair can pass through the opening to form a ponytail.

1 . A head garment for swimming and other aquatic activities comprising a cap formed by stretchable waterproof or water-resistant material shaped and dimensions to in use stretch and conformally fit over a human head, the cap including a lower periphery that forms a head opening into an interior space within the cap, a hole through and completely surrounded by the material above the lower periphery at the back of the cap providing a passage that connects the interior space within the cap to the outside, the hole being structured, dimensioned and positioned to exit out of the cap a ponytail. 
     
     
         2 . The head garment according to  claim 1 , wherein said hole comprises less than 20% by area of the material. 
     
     
         3 . The head garment as in  claim 1  further comprising of an adjustable fastener around the lower periphery beneath said hole at the posterior of the cap, the fastener being configured to adjust the tension of the cap. 
     
     
         4 . A swim cap consisting essentially of a stretchable waterproof or water-resistant material sheet comprising a front portion, a top portion, a lower peripheral edge, and a rear portion between the lower peripheral edge and the top portion, the lower peripheral edge having an opening into an interior head space disposed within and enclosed by the material sheet, the center of the rear portion having a single hole through and completely surrounded by the material sheet, the hole communicating the interior head space with the outside, the hole being positioned in the rear portion between the lower peripheral edge and the top portion and configured to, allow passing and exiting of filaments within the interior head space through the hole and permit the filaments to egress out and form a ponytail that hangs outside of the swim cap. 
     
     
         5 . The swim cap of  claim 4  wherein the material sheet is selected from the group consisting of nylon-spandex blends, silicone, polyester, Neoprene and Latex. 
     
     
         6 . The swim cap of  claim 4  wherein the swim cap is structured and dimensioned to enable a swimmer to put the swim cap on the head while passing the ponytail through the hole in the swim cap, so the swimmer's hair does not bunch up under the swim cap. 
     
     
         7 . The swim cap of  claim 4  further comprising an adjustment strap providing an adjustment to vary the tightness of the lower peripheral edge around the swimmer's head. 
     
     
         8 . The swim cap of  claim 7  wherein the strap comprises a fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The head garment of  claim 4  wherein the cap comprises a molded scalp-enveloping structure. 
     
     
         10 . The head garment of  claim 4  wherein the hole has a circular shape. 
     
     
         11 . A head garment comprising a cap having a front portion, a top portion, a lower edge and a rear portion between the lower edge and the top portion, the cap when worn at least partly forming an interior head space including a rear part, the lower edge having a head opening into the head space, the cap comprising stretchable waterproof or water-resistant material including a region at the rear portion, the region having a hole through and completely surrounded by the material, the hole communicating the rear part of the interior head space to outside the cap, the hole being disposed between the lower edge and the top portion, the hole being located and sized to allow exiting of a ponytail comprising hair out of the interior head space through the rear portion to the outside. 
     
     
         12 . The head garment of  claim 11  further comprising an adjustable chin strap configured to retain the cap on the scalp and adjust tension of the cap. 
     
     
         13 . The head garment of  claim 11  wherein the adjustable chin strap includes a fastener. 
     
     
         14 . The head garment of  claim 11  wherein the cap is molded. 
     
     
         15 . The head garment of  claim 11  wherein the hole has a circular shape.