IP Library Granted Patent US 12,599,813
Granted Patent B2
US 12,599,813 · App. 18/523,377 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Swim cap

Inventors: Austin J. Orand (Portland, OR); Kyle Schepke (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A63B33/00A42B1/019A42B1/04A42B1/041A42B1/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,599,813
App. No.
18/523,377
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure relates to a swim cap with a wall that can include a surface with a higher coefficient of friction (e.g., higher than conventional swim caps and/or higher than other surfaces of the swim cap). The surface finish can be positioned at various locations of an inner face of the swim cap, and in some examples, the surface finish is positioned near the edge of the swim cap (e.g., the terminal edge forming a perimeter around the head opening of the swim cap). In some examples, the band extending around the edge can be associated with a thicker wall of material, which can increase the modulus of elasticity and a tightness of the fit of the swim cap. The swim cap can include various materials, and in some examples, the swim cap comprises silicone.

Claims (30)

1 . A swim cap comprising:

a wall at least partially enclosing a volume;

the wall comprising an inner face facing towards the volume;

a terminal edge forming a boundary around an opening to the volume;

the inner face comprising a first region associated with a first surface finish; and

the inner face comprising a second region that is more proximate, as compared to the first region, to the terminal edge and that is associated with a second surface finish, wherein the second surface finish comprises a higher gloss than the first surface finish, wherein a first location along a circumference of the second region comprises a first height of the second surface finish and wherein a second location along the circumference of the second region comprises a second height of the second surface finish, and wherein the first height is taller than the second height;

wherein a thickness of the wall at the terminal edge is thicker than a thickness of the wall at the first region.

2 . The swim cap of claim 1 , wherein the second surface finish, as compared to the first surface finish, comprises a higher coefficient of friction.

3 . The swim cap of claim 1 , wherein the wall compositionally comprises silicone.

4 . The swim cap of claim 1 , wherein the second surface finish comprises a plurality of raised protuberances and recessed interstitial regions.

5 . The swim cap of claim 4 , wherein a surface of the raised protuberances is higher gloss and a surface of the recessed interstitial regions is lower gloss.

6 . The swim cap of claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the second region comprises a first wall thickness, which is thicker than a second wall thickness associated with one or more other regions of the wall.

7 . The swim cap of claim 6 , wherein the wall comprises a tapered portion that gradually transitions in thickness from the first wall thickness to the second wall thickness.

8 . The swim cap of claim 4 , wherein:

the swim cap further comprises a band circumferentially extending around the opening and comprising the plurality of raised protuberances and recessed interstitial spaces;

a portion of the wall is associated with the band and comprises a first wall thickness associated with a first interstitial space and a second wall thickness associated with a second interstitial space; and

the first wall thickness is different from the second wall thickness.

9 . The swim cap of claim 4 , wherein the raised protuberances comprise a polygonal shape.

10 . The swim cap of claim 1 , wherein the wall comprises an outer face comprising a third region associated with a third surface finish and a fourth region associated with a fourth surface finish, which is different from the third surface finish.

11 . The swim cap of claim 10 , wherein the third surface finish comprises a higher gloss than the fourth surface finish.

12 . A swim cap comprising:

a wall at least partially enclosing a volume;

the wall comprising an inner face facing towards the volume;

a terminal edge forming a boundary around an opening to the volume;

the inner face comprising a first region associated with a first surface finish;

the inner face comprising a second region that is more proximate, as compared to the first region, to the terminal edge and that is associated with a second surface finish, which is different from the first surface finish, the second surface finish comprising a plurality of raised protuberances and recessed interstitial spaces, wherein the first surface finish comprises, as compared to the plurality of raised protuberances, a lower gloss finish, and

the recessed interstitial spaces associated with a first wall thickness in a first area of the second region, a second wall thickness in a second area of the second region, and a third wall thickness in a third area of the second region, wherein the second area is positioned above the first area and below the third area, and wherein the second wall thickness is smaller than the first wall thickness and the third wall thickness;

wherein a thickness of the wall at the terminal edge is thicker than a thickness of the wall at the first region.

13 . The swim cap of claim 12 , wherein each of the first surface finish and the second surface finish comprise a surface texture, a material deposit applied to a surface, or a combination thereof.

14 . The swim cap of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of raised protuberances comprise, as compared to the recessed interstitial spaces, a higher gloss surface finish.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2024
From: ORAND, AUSTIN J.; SCHEPKE, KYLE
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 066114/0799 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63428809 · Nov 30, 2022
Related Publication 20240173594A1 · May 30, 2024
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