Protective Garment Accessory

Abstract

A decorative scarf-like protective garment that is designed to absorb water, moisture or hair treatment chemicals from wet hair is disclosed herein. The protective garment has a multi-layer construction with an outer layer and an inner absorbent base layer. The outer layer is comprised of a material that provides comfort to the user while being worn, and the absorbent base layer ensures that the moisture and hair treatment chemicals are properly absorbed from the wet or chemically treated hair. The protective garment drapes over a back area, a shoulder area and a front area of the user, and wraps around the neck of the user, thereby preventing the user's clothes and/or exposed skin from coming into contact with water or the hair treatment chemicals emanating from the user's hair.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective garment accessory comprising;
 a first layer having a pattern, a color or a design;   a second layer disposed substantially under and coextensive with the first layer,   each of the first and second layers having a back panel and wherein the second layer is comprised of an absorbent material;   at least the first layer having first and second straps and extending from the back panel,   a space between the first and second straps and a closure device at an end of each of the first and second straps opposite an end of the first and second straps connected to the protective panel.   
     
     
         2 . A protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the space is sized and configured to fit around a neck area of an individual. 
     
     
         3 . A protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a third layer is provided on a side of the second layer opposite the first layer to form a pocket with the second layer between the first and third layers. 
     
     
         4 . A protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second layer are secured to one another by sewing, adhering, fastening, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 4 , wherein securing the first and second layers together creates at least one air pocket to facilitate drying of the protective garment accessory. 
     
     
         6 . A protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the closure device includes magnets. 
     
     
         7 . A protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the magnets are encapsulated in a material to prevent rust from staining the first or second layers. 
     
     
         8 . A protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the back panel is a rectangle, a square or a quadrate. 
     
     
         9 . A protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the back panel is provided with indicia. 
     
     
         10 . A protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the indicia includes at least one of a monogram, an advertisement, a logo, a character, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the back panel has a pocket and the pocket is provided with a closure. 
     
     
         12 . A protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second layer is made from one of a terrycloth, a flannel, a polyurethane laminates (PUL), a natural or synthetic fabric, and has an absorption rate of at least 15 to 30 percent of a body weight of the second layer. 
     
     
         13 . A protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the space is “U” shaped. 
     
     
         14 . A garment accessory for protecting a user comprising;
 an outer layer having at least one of a design, a color, or a style, the outer layer having a back panel with a top edge, a bottom edge, a left side and a right side;   an inner absorbent layer made from one of a terrycloth, a flannel, a polyurethane laminate (PUL), and a natural or synthetic fabric, and having an absorption rate of at least 15 to 30 percent of a body weight of material selected for the inner absorbent layer, the inner absorbent layer being substantially coterminous with the outer layer;   first and second straps extending from the top edge of the outer layer, the first and second straps spaced from one another to form a space between the first and second straps, the space being sized and configured to fit around a neck area of an individual;   each of the first and second straps having a magnetic closure element for securing the first and second straps to one another and securing the garment accessory to the user.   
     
     
         15 . A garment accessory as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the back panel has indicia that includes at least one of a monogram, an advertisement, a logo, a character, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A garment accessory as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the back panel has a shape comprised of a rectangular, a square, or a quadrate. 
     
     
         17 . A garment accessory as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the space is U shaped. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a protective garment accessory comprising the steps of;
 providing a protective garment accessory, the accessory having an outer layer with at least one of a design, a color, or a style, and a back panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a left side, and a right side; the accessory further including an inner absorbent layer that is substantially coterminous with the outer layer; the accessory further including first and second straps extending from the top edge of the outer layer, the first and second straps spaced from one another to form a space between the first and second straps, the spaced sized and configured to fit around a neck area of an individual;   placing the protective garment accessory on the individual;   connecting the first and second straps to one another to fasten the protective garment accessory to the individual;   introducing hair of the individual having one of moisture, water or hair treatment chemicals applied thereto; and   placing the hair on the protective garment accessory to prevent transfer of the one of moisture, water or hair treatment chemicals to a garment or an individual's skin.   
     
     
         19 . A method of using a protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the inner absorbent layer is made from one of a terrycloth, a flannel, a polyurethane laminate (PUL), a natural or synthetic fabric, and having an absorption rate of at least 15 to 30 percent of a body weight of the inner absorbent layer. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using a protective garment accessory as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the outer layer is provided with indicia comprised with at least one of a monogram, an advertisement, a logo, a character, or a combination thereof.