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Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns to the field of water sports accessories, in particular for swimming.

More particularly, the present invention concerns to the field of swimming caps, in particular the field of swimming caps for long haired users.

Technical Background

In the practice of water sports, wide use is made of particular caps, known as "swimming caps", worn by the user in order to contain hair that, when wet, would drip and stick to face, neck and for particularly long hair, to the shoulders of the user, making sporting practice and staying in the water uncomfortable. In addition, for hygienic purposes, the use of swimming caps is usually a mandatory requirement for accessing to public facilities such as swimming pools and water parks, thus avoiding that hair of user get in contact with water.

Many types of swimming caps are known.

The main differences between known swimming caps are mainly related to the material they are made of and to their shape. Materials used in the manufacture of swimming caps are, for example, latex, silicone and fabric (for example synthetic fabrics such as lycra or polyester).

The shape of the known swimming caps, and in particular of their caps provided to accommodate at least a portion of the user's head, leaving the face free, is substantially dome shaped and, in some cases, it can be suitably shaped to fit the profile and shape of the human head.

However, known swimming caps have some drawbacks.

In fact, they are difficult to wear, in particular by people with long or medium length hair.

In fact, a person with long hair should wear the swimming cap, leaving the hair loose and then folding the hair portion remaining outside on the inside of the cap.

Alternatively, in order to properly wear the swimming cap, people with long hair, must hold and collect their hair, for example with hairgrips and clips, before wearing the cap on the head. In this way, the time necessary for the preparation for sporting activities will lengthen and there is the possibility of damaging the cap with cutting and / or sharp portions of hairgrips and clips.

In addition, collected hair, especially when the hair is very long, modifies the shape of the swimming cap, and the swimming cap may be lost during swimming, in particular if the hair is not properly positioned inside the swimming cap.

WO2011/113480 describes a swimming cap for people with long hair. This cap comprises an outer cap and a band attached to the rear border of the cap in contact with the user's neck, in order to be secured to the user's neck, while the outer cap is worn by the user with a movement starting from the back of his head, toward his forehead. In particular, WO2011/113480 describes a swimming cap in which the band is worn by the user in a known way, i.e. the head passes completely through the band until it reaches the neck and then the band is moved upwards until it fits at the user's temple and forehead.

In this way, the band is positioned to hold the hair against the temples and against the upper-front portion of the user's head. The cap, which is connected to the band at the rear border of the cap, is then worn over that band.

However, also the swimming cap described in WO2011/113480 has some drawbacks and disadvantages. For example, once the long user's hair is held by the band against the temples and against the upper portion of the user's head, they must be collected and held in a suitable position with a hand or other means, such as, for example, hairgrips or pins, in order to wear the cap.

In addition, if the user loses the swimming cap when swimming, long hair would flow along his shoulders and back, annoying him during swimming, since the hair is just pushed by the band against the temples and against the forehead of the user.

GB2503012A describes a swimming cap having an opening in its rear portion. Such opening is sized and positioned, in order that the user's hair can pass through such opening, forming a "ponytail" on the outside of the swimming cap.

CN202311376 (U) describes a shower head, inside which a hair barrette is attached. The barrette can be used for holding the hair on the front portion of the head, while wearing the cap, in order to prevent the user's fringe from getting wet during the shower.

US2009/0038048 describes a swimming cap having a shaped body for defining two cavities: a first cavity is intended to accommodate the user's head while the second cavity is suitable for accommodating the swimmer's hair, for example a ponytail, braids or dreadlocks. Between the cap body portion defining the first cavity and the body portion defining the second cavity, the cap described in US2009 / 0038048 may have a curved portion that renders the cap hourglass or semi-hourglass shaped.

None of GB2503012A, CN202311376 (U) and US2009 / 0038048 describe a cap allowing the user's hair to be positioned inside the cap and hold them effectively by preventing them from spreading in the water, in case the users loses the cap during swimming.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a swimming cap, in particular for long-haired users, that allows to firmly gather and tie the user's hair and that prevents the hair from spreading in the water and / or along the face and / or along the body of the user in case the user loses the cap during swimming.

Another object of the present invention is therefore to provide a swimming cap which, in case the user loses the cap, does not move from the user's head.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming cap which can be easily and quickly worn.

Still object of the present invention is to provide a swimming cap which is not lost during its use in water.

Summary of the invention

These and other aims are reached with the swimming cap according to the present invention.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the swimming cap comprises:

- a cap which is substantially dome-shaped and having a front portion, a rear portion and an edge defining an opening adapted to accommodate at least part of the head of a user;

- at least one hair tie constrained, directly or indirectly, to the cap to gather and tie at least one hair wisp of the user so that said at least one hair wisp is positioned inside the cap.

Advantageously, the cap according to the present invention, provided with a hair tie, that is directly or indirectly constrained to the cap, allows to gather and tie at least one hair wisp, in particular at least one long hair wisp, of the user, so that in this way it can be can be effectively retained inside the cap.

In other words, in use, the hair tie is adapted for gathering and tying the user's hair so that, once the cap is fitted, the hair is positioned and effectively retained inside the cap. According to an aspect of the invention, the hair tie which gathers and ties at least one user's hair wisp, in use, is arranged within the volume of the cap which is fitted on the user's head. In other words, according to an aspect of the invention, the hair tie which gathers and holds at least one user's hair wisp, in use, is housed below the cap.

In the event that the user loses the cap, the hair tie allows the hair to be collected and retained in a stable way, preferably in rear area of the head, preventing the hair from spreading into the water and coming into contact with the user's body, for example with shoulders, with the neck and face, annoying the user while swimming.

Advantageously, the hair tie facilitates gathering the hair (for example in the form of a pony-tail tail or chignon) as well as positioning them inside the swimming cap. In fact, the hair gathered and tied by the hair tie are retained inside the cap.

It has to be noted that herein the term "hair tie" means any elastically deformable element, preferably having a substantially annular shape, defining an opening adapted to gather and tie the hair, particularly long or medium length hair, of the user.

The term "hair tie" used herein encompasses all known hair ties with no specific limitations concerning shapes, materials and elastic properties.

Hair ties which can be used according to the present invention can comprise, for example, a part made with elastic material (e.g. elastomeric polymer) and another part made with non-elastic material (e.g. fabric, such as cotton); examples of these hair ties are known as a "Scrunchie".

With "elastically deformable element", here is meant an element whose shape and/or size can be changed in a substantially reversible way by exerting a deformation force on it.

According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the hair tie can be deformed by applying a deformation force so that the user can manipulate it so that it can easily collect and tie the hair, even if very long, and upon contraction of the hair tie, when the deformation force is no longer applied, firmly retaining the hair, keeping them positioned preferably in the rear area of the head.

It has to be noted that the expression "directly or indirectly constrained" means that the hair tie is constrained to the cap directly with a part of the hair tie in contact with the cap (preferably in contact with the cap's inner surface), or constrained to the cap by interposing a connecting element.

According to a possible embodiment, the connecting element is configured to constrain the hair tie in a substantially slack way. For example, the connecting element may be configured to constrain the hair tie so that it is secured to the cap while allowing the hair tie to be spaced from the inner surface of the cap while remaining attached to it.

Embodiments of the swimming cap according to the invention where the hair tie is constrained to the cap by means of at least a connecting element allow the hair tie to be handled by the user and minimize the interference of the swimming cap when tying up the hair. The same can be said when the hair tie is constrained directly to the cap and therefore with a part of the hair tie in contact with the cap. As a matter of fact, according to an aspect of the present invention the position of the hair tie, or of one of its parts, with respect of the constraint point to the cap can be modified by means of movement and/or deformation of at least a part of the hair tie and/or of the connecting element (where provided). As a result, the hair tie can be easily handled (manipulated) by the user (allowing an effective gathering and tying up of the hair) by modifying its relative position with respect to the constraint point to the cap.

Specifically, in the case the hair tie is constrained by means of the connecting element, the whole hair tie, even though constrained to the cap by means of the connecting element, can be moved by the user to tie the hair. In the case the hair tie is directly constrained to the cap, with a part of the hair tie in contact with the cap, the part not directly constrained to the cap is still movable, or deformable, with respect to its part constrained to the cap.

In embodiments of the present invention the connecting element can be an elastically, or non-elastically, deformable element. In other words, the connecting element can be either elastic or non-elastic.

The connecting element can include a strip, an eyelet and generally one of more elements of substantially longitudinal or annular extension, for example an additional hair tie having substantially annular shape, in particular a second hair tie.

Advantageously, the swimming cap according to the present invention allows to gather, tie and firmly retain the user's hair inside the cap and, should the cap slip off the user's head while swimming, the swimming cap allows to keep hair gathered, firmly tied up and retained, preferably in the back area of the user's head.

Furthermore, should the cap slip off the user's head, the swimming cap remains "secured" to the user's hair by means of the hair tie constrained to the cap so that the swimming cap cannot be lost in the water and remains close to the user's head in order to be quickly and easily put on again.

Such advantages of the cap according to the present invention can be particularly appreciated when the users are children.

For example, it may happen that in a group of children who attend a swimming course a child can lose his/her swimming cap during the swimming class and that the swimming cap in the water goes far from the child, thus distracting him/her and forcing him/her to "run after" the lost swimming cap and therefore causing a potential dangerous situation. Also, when a child loses the cap, the swimming instructor is forced to deal with the child who has lost the cap and then, although temporarily, leaves the rest of the group of children unattended. On the contrary, if the child of the above described example uses the swim cap according to the present invention, even if the cap is removed from the head of the child, the cap remains close to the child's head, by means of the connection formed by the hair tie with the child' s hair and thus by means of the bond between the cap and the hair tie.

In this way, the child can quickly and safely wear the cap, without incurring any unsafe situation. Also, as a result, the instructor will not be forced to interrupt the didactic activity and leave the rest of the group unattended.

According to an aspect of the invention, the hair tie defines an opening having a size smaller than the opening of the cap. It has to be noted that the size of the opening defined by the hair tie (preferably substantially circular in the non-deformed condition) and by the cap edge is measured for example through the perimeter, i.e. the length of the edge surrounding the opening. According to a possible embodiment, the hair tie is provided with a perimeter smaller than the cap perimeter, i.e. smaller than the length of the edge.

Advantageously, the hair tie can have, for example, a perimeter capable to gather and firmly tie the user's hair, preferably in the rear area of the user's head, without the user inserting his/her head in the hair tie. By dong, so, contrary to what has been described in WO2011/113480, there is no need that the user lets his/her head pass through the opening of the band of the cited prior art.

According to possible embodiments of the swimming cap according to the invention, the perimeter of the hair tie is equal to or smaller than half of the perimeter of the edge, or preferably equal to or smaller than 1/3 of the perimeter of the edge and, more preferably equal to or smaller than 1/5 of the perimeter of the edge.

In other words, the hair tie constrained to the cap according to the invention is provided substantially with the sizes of the known hair ties adapted to embrace a hair wisp or all the user's hair, for example hair tied in a pony-tail or chignon.

The opening sizes of the hair tie are therefore smaller than those of the opening as defined by the cap edge inside and through which at least a part of the user's head has to pass.

Further aspects/characteri sties of the swimming cap according to the invention are introduced in the attached dependent claims and in the following description.

It has to be noted that the present invention also relates to a method to wear a swimming cap according to the invention, comprising the steps of:

- gathering and tying at least one hair wisp of a user with at least one hair tie, fitting the cap of said swimming cap on the head of the user so that said at least one hair wisp is positioned inside the cap.

In other words, when the cap is worn, the gathered and tied hair by the hair tie is covered by the cap and is therefore kept in position inside the cap.

It has to be noted that what here described and/or claimed with reference to the swimming cap can be applied to the method, and vice versa. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more evident by the following description, provided with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, purely by way of a non-limiting example, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the swimming cap according to the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a side view of an embodiment of the swimming cap according to Figure 1;

- Figure 3 shows a front view of an embodiment of the swimming cap according to Figure 1;

- Figure 4 schematically shows a plan view of an embodiment of the swimming cap according to Figure 1 ;

- Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the swimming cap according to invention where the cap is formed by three bands;

Figure 6 shows a swimming cap according to the invention wherein the hair tie has already been used by the user to gather and tie the hair in a pony-tail, but the cap still has to be worn;

Figure 7 shows a swimming cap according to the invention where the hair tie has already been used by the user to gather and tie hair by bending them so that they can pass twice through the hair tie, but the cap still has to be worn.

It has to be noted that such figures are schematic drawings concerning embodiments of the present invention and that forms, sizes, proportions and perspective representations are to be intended as merely illustrative and not limitative. It has to be also noted that in Figures 1 - 5 the elements arranged inside the cap (in the inner volume defined by the cap) are shown with dashed lines. In particular, it has to be noted that in Figures 1 - 5 the hair tie is shown with dashed lines because it is arranged inside the volume of the cap and therefore it is not directly visible from outside.

As for example shown in the attached figures, the swimming cap 1 according to the invention comprises a cap 2, having a substantially dome-shape, and an edge 5.

Edge 5 defines an opening 6 through which part of the user's head is passed, so that the cap can be worn, leaving free the face of the user, as known.

The cap 2 comprises a front portion 3 and a rear portion 4. In general, it has to be noted that the term "front portion" of the cap is used to indicate the portion of the cap configured to get in contact with the front area (or region) of the user's head, e. g. forehead, temples and the superior-anterior head area. The term "rear portion" of the cap is used to indicate the portion of the cap designed to get in contact with the rear area (or region) of the user's head, for example the nape, the occipital zone, and the upper-back region of the head.

It follows that when the swimming cap 1 is in use, the front portion 3 of the cap 2 contacts the front region of the user's head, e.g. the forehead, the temples and the upper- front region of the head, while the rear portion 4, contacts for example, the nape, the base of the neck, the occipital zone, and the upper-back region of the user's head.

As disclosed later in greater detail, the cap 2 can be either formed with a single portion of material or by joining two or more portions of material for example by sewing, or by an adhesive or by other constraining methods known in the art. For example, the cap 2 according to the present invention can be formed by two or more portions of material, e.g. textile, joined one to another by connections, for example by seams.

For example, the caps 2 which can be used in the present invention are formed by two or more textile bands longitudinally joined together in order to form a cap by seams. For example, as visible in the embodiment of figure 5, cap 2 can be formed with three textile portions 9', 9", 9" ' (specifically three bands), for example textile bands longitudinally joined together by two seams 10', 10".

Other known embodiments of the cap 2 can be obviously used in the swimming cap according to the present invention. Also materials used for the realization of the cap 2 are generally known and can include a textile (generally synthetic such as lycra or polyester and possibly waterproof) or a layer of plastic material, or latex, or silicon. It has to be also noted that a longitudinal plane PL of the cap 2 can be defined, i.e. the plane that divides the cap into two substantially specular parts corresponding to right and left sides when frontally observing the swimming cap, e.g. observing the swimming cap from a frontal observation point with respect to the front portion of the cap 2. The longitudinal plane is substantially orthogonal with respect to the plane where the edge 5 of the cap 2 lies.

As already mentioned above, the longitudinal plane PL divides the cap into two parts corresponding to the substantially specular right and left sides when frontally observing the swimming cap, i.e. by observing the swimming cap from a front observation point with respect to the cap front portion. As a result the longitudinal plane PL defines a median line M going through the cap 2 from the central point of the edge 5 of the front portion to the central point of the edge 5 of the rear portion of the cap, passing through the cap top, i.e. through the point of the cap that lies at the maximum distance from the plane inside which the edge 5 of the cap 2 lies.

In other words, the median line M longitudinally delimits two substantially symmetric and specular parts of the cap with respect to the longitudinal plane PL.

As already mentioned, the swimming cap according to the present invention comprises an hair tie 7 constrained to the cap 2 thus allowing the user to tie his/her hair with it and later wear the swimming cap more rapidly and easily since he/she can quickly cover his/her hair that had been previously tied up with the hair tie 7 constrained to the cap 2. In general, the hair tie 7 is adapted to (configured to) gather and tie at least one user's hair wisp, preferably in the rear area of the user' s head, for example as it is shown in the perspective view of Figure 6 where the user's hair is tied in a pony-tail and the cap 2 has not yet been worn by the user. In fact, the hair gathered and tied with the hair tie is retained and kept in position inside the cap. When in use the hair tie is arranged inside the volume defined by the cap that is fitted on the user's head.

As known, the hair tie is an elastically deformable element, preferably of a substantially annular shape (i.e. comprising an element having substantially annular shape) defining an opening adapted to gather and tie at least on hair wisp.

The hair tie defines an opening having sizes smaller than the cap opening defined by its edge. The sizes of the opening (substantially circular) defined by the hair tie and by the opening defined by the cap edge is measured for example through the perimeter, i.e. the length of the edge surrounding the opening. The options of measuring the opening of the hair tie and of the cap (and specifically of the edge) by means of the area surrounded by the hair tie and by the edge shall obviously not be excluded. The area of the opening of the hair tie is smaller than the area of the opening defined by the edge 5 of the cap. It has to be noted that the ratios among the perimeters of the openings may be also applied to ratios among the areas. According to an embodiment of the swimming cap according to the invention, the perimeter of the hair tie is equal or smaller than half of the edge perimeter, preferably equal to or smaller than 1/3 of the edge perimeter and, more preferably, equal to or smaller than 1/5 of the edge perimeter.

According to a possible embodiment, considering the substantially circular shape of the opening defined by the hair tie (i.e. by its annular body) it is provided with a diameter of about 3 cm (perimeter equal to about 9 cm considering the circular shape of the through opening of the hair tie, according to the well-known mathematical formula). Under deformed condition the hair tie 7 can be for example extended to reach a diameter of about 5 cm. The hair ties which can be used may have diameter of its through opening equal to 5 cm. Under deformed conditions they can be for example extended to about 7 cm.

Advantageously, the user can wear the swimming cap 1 according to the invention, by fitting the cap 2 on his/her head, i.e. inserting the head into the opening 6 defined by the edge 5 of the cap 2, after gathering and tying up the hair with the hair tie 7, as a result the hair are thus positioned inside the cap.

By using the hair tie 7 the user can gather and tie the hair (either long or of average length) in order to keep it in position firmly, preferably in the rear portion of the user's head.

As it is known, in use, the hair tie can be deformed and specifically folded to form two or more superimposed circular parts (forming an eight-shape and superimposing both parts) to embrace the hair wisp two or more times.

The user can gather and tie hair with the hair tie 7 of the swimming cap 1, forming for example a pony-tail or a chignon.

The user's hair, even if very long, once tied up for example as a pony-tail or chignon, can be positioned inside the swimming cap 1, to which the hair tie 7 is constrained.

In other words, when for example the user gathers and ties his/her hair with the hair tie

7 of the swimming cap 1 according to the present invention, the hair is substantially positioned at the user's rear head portion; consequently, the cap 2 is oriented in such a way that its rear portion 4 can be placed in position substantially in correspondence of user's rear head side thus allowing the retained hair to be kept inside the rear portion 4 of the cap 2, by means of the hair tie 7.

The hair tie 7 therefore performs the double function of gathering, tying up and keeping the user's hair preferably in the user's rear portion of the head, and at the same time of firmly securing the swimming cap 1 to the user's head by means of the hair tie 7 that is in contact with the user's hair. According to an aspect of the invention, in use, the hair tie is therefore arranged inside the cap and specifically inside the volume defined by the cap.

Furthermore, should the user lose the swimming cap 1 while swimming, it would be hold (secured) on the user's hair by means of the hair tie 7, thus avoiding its dispersion in the water and remaining close to the user's head and therefore quickly wearable. In other words, since the hair tie hold at least one user's hair wisp, should the cap slip off the user's head, the swimming cap is not dispersed in the water and remains close to the user's head and therefore quickly wearable.

As already mentioned, the hair tie 7 can be directly or indirectly constrained to the cap 2. In fact, even if reference will be made to the embodiment wherein the hair tie 7 is indirectly constrained to the cap 2 by means of a connecting element 8, as for example shown in the attached figures, possible embodiments are not excluded where at least part of the hair tie 7 is directly constrained to the cap for example by sewing at least a part of the hair tie edge (for example of part of its annular body) directly to the cap. Besides sewing, other direct constraining ways of at least part of the edge (of the annular body) of the hair tie to the cap cannot be excluded.

The connecting element 8 can comprise at least a tape or a textile strip (either elastic or not elastic). For example, according to a possible embodiment, a textile strip is inserted in the hair tie 7 and later constrained to the cap 2, for example by sewing in correspondence of both ends of the strip thus allowing the formation of a connection annular element 8, or an eyelet.

According to other possible embodiments, the connecting element 8 may comprise an elongated textile strip having a first end constrained to the cap 2 and the other end constrained to the hair tie 7.

According to a possible embodiment of the swimming cap 1, the connecting element 8 can be a hair tie with a substantially annular shape as well. Advantageously, the hair tie 7 is constrained inside the cap 2, by means of a connecting element 8, in order to "hang from" the cap inner surface, i.e. it is constrained to a point or area of the cap by means of the connecting element with the cap by means of the interposition of the connecting element.

Advantageously, due to the presence of the connecting element 8, the hair tie 7 is easy to manipulate, thus facilitating the use of the swimming cap 1 by the user; the hair tie 7 is thus arranged at a distance from the cap surface therefore allowing a better handling (manipulation) thereof.

According to a preferred embodiment, as for example shown in the attached figures, the hair tie 7 is constrained inside the cap, preferably at the rear portion of the cap.

It has to be noted that the terms "interior of the cap", "inside the cap", "internal side of the cap" is used to indicate the cap surface in contact with the user's head when the cap is worn by the user. It has to be noted that when the swimming cap is not used, or when the hair tie has been used to gather and tie the hair but the cap has not yet been worn by the user, the cap can be reversed so that the "interior" of the cap, as defined above, is turned, partially or completely, towards the outside, thus exposing the hair tie.

Preferably, the hair tie 7 is completely contained inside the cap; in other words the hair tie 7 is either indirectly or directly constrained to the cap 2 so that it is completely housed inside the volume of the cap without coming out of the opening 6. In other words, considering the volume of the cap in the shape filled with the user's head (as for example shown in the attached figures) the hair tie 7 is constrained either directly or indirectly to it so that it does not go out from the opening 6 and therefore does not protrude outside the edge 5 of the cap 2.

According to an aspect of the present invention, as for example shown in the attached figures, the hair tie 7 is arranged at a distance from the edge 5 of the cap 2. According to an aspect of the present invention, as shown in the attached figures, the hair tie 7 is constrained at a point, or area, of the cap that is at a distance from the edge 5 of the cap 2.

Advantageously, due to the hair tie 7 arranged in a position that is at distance with respect to the edge 5 of the cap 2, i.e. at a distance from the opening 6 of the cap, turns out to be even more easy for the user to gather and tie his/her hair, for example with a pony-tail or chignon, and keep it positioned, at the rear part of the head, thus allowing, once the cap 2 has been worn, to effectively cover the user's head, in particular allowing the rear part of the cap to be extended under the point or area where the hair is tied by the hair tie 7.

According to a possible embodiment, as for example shown in the figures, the hair tie 7 and the connecting element 8 are constrained inside the rear portion 4 of the cap 2 at a position that is at distance with respect to the edge 5. For example, the hair tie 7 can be constrained inside the cap 2, preferably in the rear portion 4, so that the distance between the point where the hair tie 7 is constrained to the cap 2 and the edge 5, along the median line M, is lower than the distance on the M median line of the top of cap 2 from the edge 5 of the cap.

According to an embodiment, the hair tie 7 is constrained to the cap 2, preferably at the rear portion 4 of the cap, at a distance from the edge 5 equal to about 1/3 of the distance (measured along the cap surface) from the edge 5 to the top of the cap.

In other words, from the edge 5 the point of constraint of the hair tie 7 to the cap is positioned roughly one third of the distance (along the surface of the cap) from the edge 5 to the top of the cap. The distance from the edge 5 can be measured on at least one point of the median line M defined by the longitudinal plane PL of the cap.

For example in the side view of Figure 2 (according to a parallel plane to the longitudinal plane PL, not shown) taking as a reference substantially the right angle between the top of the cap and the edge, the point at which the hair tie 7 is constrained to the cap will be substantially at one third of this angle starting from edge 5 of the cap. According to an embodiment, the hair tie is fixed to the cap, preferably within the internal rear portion 4 of the cap in at least one point of the median line M defined by the longitudinal plane PL of the cap.

In this case the hair held by the hair tie can, for example, be positioned within the cap easily and comfortably by the user.

In fact, when the hair tie is constrained to the cap in at least one point on the median line M, defined by the longitudinal plane PL, and therefore in a central position, the hair can be gathered and kept in the centre of the back of the head of the user so that the cap fits well and is comfortable during use. It should be noted that in the case cap 2 is made of two strips of fabric sewn together lengthwise, the seams passes along the cap on a median line M through a longitudinal plane PL of the cap 2, the two portions of the cap with respect to the longitudinal plane PL, are preferably symmetrical.

In other words, in this case the seam between the two strips of fabric substantially corresponds to the median line M of the cap and delineate two parts of the cap (i.e. the two pieces of fabric) substantially symmetrical and specular with respect to the longitudinal plane PL of the cap.

Although the two pieces of fabric are not shown in detail in the Figures 1-4 attached, the two portions of the cap 2 respectively to the right and to the left of the longitudinal plane PL can be made from two separate portions fixed together, for example by sewing along the median line M.

In this case the hair tie 7 can be fixed, directly or indirectly, for example within the cap at the seam (for example if sewn) which passes along the median line M and therefore positioned in the centre.

In greater detail, in the embodiment shown in figures 1-4, the hair tie 7 is fixed to the cap 2 by a connecting element 8, at a point of a median line M, which is defined by the longitudinal plane PL which divides the cap in two halves, essentially identical, corresponding to the right and left parts of the front view of swimming cap 1, i.e. by observing the swimming cap 1 from a frontal observation point with respect to the front portion 3 of the cap 2.

In other words, the hair tie 7 is fixed to the cap 2, in the rear portion 4 of the cap 2 at a point on the median line M which divides the cap 2 (and consequently also the rear portion 4 and the front portion 3 of the cap 2) in two halves, i.e. into two identical parts, relating to the right and left parts of the frontal view of the swimming cap 1.

Other embodiments, in which the hair tie 7 is fixed directly or indirectly in a position which off-centre with respect to the median line M, and thus with respect to the longitudinal plane PL, should not be excluded.

For example, in other possible embodiments, as for example shown in Figure 5, when the cap is made of three strips of fabric 9', 9", 9"', connected lengthwise by two seams 10', 10", the hair tie 7 is fixed, directly or indirectly, to one of such seams, and therefore is not in a central position with respect to the median line M.

The hair tie 7 can be fixed to the cap indirectly, for example by way of a connecting element 8, to a seam 10" of two seams 10', 10" which join three strips 9', 9", 9"' of the cap 2. According to this possible embodiment, the hair tie 7 is in a position which is not central with respect to the median line M, as defined above, although not shown in Figure 5.

In use, according to a possible embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the user first gathers and ties at least one hair wisp with a hair tie 7 constrained to the cap 2, and then the cap is fitted on the user's head. In this way the hair, which is gathered and tied with the hair tie 7, is positioned within the cap and are not protruding outside the cap.

More in detail, as for example shown in figures 6 and 7, by using the hair tie 7, user can gather and tie the hair in such way to hold them in place preferably at the back of the head.

Figure 6 schematically shows an embodiment of the swimming cap 1 according to the invention, in which the user has gathered and tied hair with the hair tie 7 in a pony-tail, but has not yet fitted (worn) the cap 2.

Hair tie 7 holds the hair of the user and the cap 2 is not yet worn and is shown inside out, i.e. with the internal side (the internal surface) shown externally.

In other words, in the condition illustrated in Figure 6, the hair tie 7 is used by the user to gather and hold the hair in a pony-tail, before the cap 2 is fitted. Once the cap is put on, the hair, gathered and held by hair tie 7, is positioned within the cap (inside the volume defined by the cap) and is not protruding outside the cap.

Figure 6 shows one of many advantages of this invention; even if the cap 2 slip off during use in the water, the swimming cap 1 remains "secured" to the head of the user by means of the hair tie 7 which is tied to the hair and prevents the cap from being lost in the water and can be fitted again quickly and safely.

From the position illustrated in Figure 6 the user can wear the swimming cap 1 according to the invention, by fitting cap 2 on the head through the opening 6 of the edge 5 of the cap 2, after the hair has been gathered and tied with the hair tie 7. In this way, the hair is advantageously positioned within the cap avoiding contact with the water.

It should be noted that the hair of the user can pass through the hair tie 7 one or more times , for example at the end of the hair, so as to reduce the length compared to the hair length shown in Figure 6, making it easier to fit the cap 2.

For example, figure 7 shows the condition where the hair is passed a second time through hair tie 7 forming a U-shape. Here, starting from the position shown in Figure 6, in which the hair is tied in a pony-tail, the user folds the hair and makes its ends passing through the opening of the hair tie 7, thus hair is tied forming a "U", and having substantially half-length compared to the length when tied in a pony-tail.

The possible hairstyles illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 are only an example of how the hair can be tied using the hair tie 7 of the swimming cap according to the present invention. Other methods of tying hair can be used provided that at least one hair wisp is tied by means of hair tie 7 to then allow for fitting on the cap 2 to which hair tie 7 is constrained, allowing the user to keep the hair firmly gathered, tied and positioned inside the cap.