CLIPBAND

Abstract

A pair of hair clips are coupled together by an elastic band to form a clipband. One clip may be attached to hair in one location, and the band stretched, or otherwise tensioned or wrapped when a second clip is attached to the hair so that hair can be held in place in a variety of styles, and shapes.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This description relates generally to hair styling devices and more specifically to devices to hold hair in place.

BACKGROUND

Hair styling often calls for the use of retaining devices to hold hair in place. Aerosol hairspray, moose, hair crème and the like may be used to paste hair in place. Alternatively mechanical methods may be employed such as combs, bobby pins, rubber bands, scrunchies, head bands to hold hair in place. Devices formed in a closed loop, such as rubber bands and the like can be particularly prone to catching and pulling out, or breaking hair. With respect to rubber bands and the like 101 hair 102 can often get tangled into the device such as is shown in FIG. 1. These particular devices are popular because they can use elastic to firmly hold the hair in place. However, in the process of wrapping the closed loop band 101 around the hair, strands of hair 102 tend to get tangled into the band and are pulled out or broken off. It would be desirable to have an elastic device that does not need to be wrapped about the hair such as with rubber bands and the like.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The present example provides a pair of hair clips coupled together by an elastic band to form a clipband (or equivalently a “clip band”). One clip may be attached to hair in one location, and the band stretched, or otherwise tensioned when a second clip is attached to the hair so that hair can be held in place in a variety of styles, and shapes. In particular a clip can be anchored in the hair, with the elastic portion wrapped about a bunch of hair (for example to form a pony tail) with the second clip then anchored in the hair as well. The elastic band allows tension to be maintained, like a scrunchie or rubber band to keep the hair gathered together in a neat pony tail.

Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present description will be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a conventional elastic band that has been removed form a person's hair with tangled hair adhering to it.

FIG. 2 shows the clipband.

FIG. 3a-3c show an exemplary hair clip.

FIG. 4 shows the clipband having been wrapped around the bunched hair with the opposite end clipped to the adjacent hair to hold it in place, from the rear of the head.

FIG. 5 shows the alternative positioning of FIG. 8 from the side of the head.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary clip band.

Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description provided below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the present examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present example may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions of the example and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the example. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different examples.

The examples below describe a clipband. Although the present examples are described and illustrated herein as being implemented in exemplary hair styles, the hair style described is provided as an example and not a limitation. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the present examples are suitable for application in a variety of different types of hairstyles, hairdos, and the like that may be envisioned through hairstyling skill and/or imagination of the stylist.

FIG. 2 shows the clipband 200. The clipband 200 is a hair accessory with an open loop design that is an alternative to the use of closed loop devices such as rubber bands and the like. While it may encircle the hair to hold it in place it is not a closed loop, and can be thought of as an open loop device that encircles hair, and closes on itself, or on adjoining hair to hold the encircled hair in place, among other things.

Hair can be easily pulled back, up, or styled with the clipband 200. There is minimal, or no, hair loss with the use of clipband 200 due to not having to pull the hair through accessories like rubber bands and hair ties, which tends to catch hair and tangle it in the band. To remove the clipband 200 one or both ends are released and a straight piece is removed from the hair rather than having to pull the hair through a loop. The clipband 200 is an open loop device that can wrap around the hair and be anchored at the ends after wrapping.

The clipband 200 includes an elongate elastic strip 203 can vary in length terminating with hairclips 201, 202, that may vary in size, disposed at each end of the elastic strip 203. Application is by clamping one clip 201 or 202 to hair, wrapping or stretching the band 203 upon or around hair or an object, and clamping to the other end 202 or 201 to secure. Contemplated sizes of the clipband 200 may include exemplary XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, including custom sizes and the like. The figure show a plain white band 203 with exemplary clear hair clips 201, 202 each of which is ⅜ in in attached to the ends of the band. To form a smooth appearance the hair clips are typically nearly the same width as the elastic strip, and generally do not exceed the width of the strip by more than 50%. The clipband 200 may be produced in various colors, including custom colors. The clipband 200 may also be produced in prints (any/all) example: rainbows, fashion design logos, bling, country flag, team symbols, cartoons, animations, foods, zodiac signs, letters, numbers, custom designs, and the like. The colors and print designs may be applied to the band 203 and/or clips 201, 202 as desired.

The band 203 is typically made from stretch elastic or equivalent. The elastic is typically made from rubber and latex that have other flexible materials wrapped around it. And the flexible materials may be weaved together, as is known to those skilled in the art. The length and width of which may vary. Exemplary widths include: ⅛, ¼, ⅜, ½, ⅝, ¾, ⅞, inches or the like including custom sizes. The band may be flat, rounded, or of any convenient cross sectional shape. The band length may vary, typically from 4-12 inches, or the like and may include custom lengths. Band colors may vary as desired including custom colors, prints and patterns. In alternative examples the band length may be made adjustable using methods known to those skilled in the art.

Band material prints for example may include any or all of the following or their equivalents: rainbows, fashion design logos, bling, country flag, team symbols, cartoons, animations, foods, zodiac signs, letters, numbers, custom designs, etc. decorative designs may also be embroidered into the band, clipped on, or attached either permanently, or removably to the band 203 by methods known to those skilled in the art.

The primary use of the clipband 200 is to retain hair (other uses may apply, such as belt ties, plant and branch ties). Care of the clipband 200 is by hand washing and hanging to dry.

The band 203 may be attached or coupled to the clips 201, 202 in any desired way. In particular the band 203 may be attached to a release tab of the clip 201, 202. In an alternative example the band may be attached to a protrusion near the pivot point (not shown). Preferably the band 203 is fixedly attached to the clips 201, 202. However in alternative examples the clips 201, 202 may be removably attached to the band 203. Attachment of the band 203 to clips 201, 202 may be by rivets, eyelets, adhesive, sewing, molding the clip to the band, or any convenient way. Making the clips 201, 202 detachable from the band 203 helps facilitate customization since clips of varying style and or color may be mixed as style and personal taste dictate.

FIG. 3a-3c show an exemplary hair clip 201 or 202 that may be incorporated into the clipband 200. The hairclip 201 or 202 shown is exemplary, as other types of clips, as known to those skilled in the art, may be used. The hairclip 201 or 202 typically includes a pair of interdigitated jaws 302 having a plurality of protrusions on each side and in offset relationship to each other, pivotally 303 coupled to each other and under spring bias 304 in a direction to cause the fingers of the jaws 302 to close upon each other in the resting position, and open when the tabs 301 are depressed towards one another.

The hairclips (or alternatively hair claw clips 201, 202 may be an Acrylic clip-comb/hairclip or equivalent. The hairclips 201, 202 may be in colors matching the band 203, or different colors (including multi colors and designs) from the band 203. The hairclips 201, 202 may be of acrylic material or equivalent. In equivalent examples the hairclips 201, 202 may be formed into fanciful designs, decorative shapes and the like. The hairclips are not binder clips, or any other type of clip that is not intended for use in a person's hair.

The hairclips are typically of the claw type that consists of two interdigitated pieces (claws) that are typically held closed under spring bias. Typically two nearly identical pieces are fastened together about a pivot point at substantially the middle that is under spring bias to keep the jaws closed. One end of the interdigitated pieces is formed in a fingered claw, and the other end is a tab. When assembled tabs of the two pieces are in opposition. When the tabs are pinched together the claws open, and when released the jaws close-typically about strands of hair that are to be held in place.

FIG. 4 shows the clipband 200 having been wrapped around the bunched hair 402 with the opposite end clipped to the adjacent hair 404 to hold it in place, from the rear of the head forming a pony tail. In addition to forming a pony tail that typically bounces around, the pony tail formed with the clipband 402 may be fixed in position since the clipband attach to hair that is not part of the pony tail 404.

FIG. 5 shows the alternative positioning of the clip band 200 to hold hair 502 in place on the back of the head without wrapping the hair into a pony tail. Here the hair has been pulled back to keep it from falling forward without the need for forming a pony tail. The elastic material is flexible and allows for some stretch that increases comfort to the wearer. Also unlike clips or scrunchies that might be used to hold hair in a similar style, the clipband 200 allows anchoring to adjacent hair by the clips at the end of the clipband 200.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary clipband 200. Here an elastic band 203 nearly as wide as the spring biased hairclips 201, 201 is coupled to the clips 201, 203. The clipband presents a minimal appearance, but may be accentuated by adding any of the design features previously described herein.

Those skilled in the art will realize that the process sequences described above may be equivalently performed in any order to achieve a desired result. Also, sub-processes may typically be omitted as desired without taking away from the overall functionality of the processes described above.

Claims

1. A hair styling device comprising: a first hair claw clip;a second hair claw clip; andan elastic band having a first end coupled to a tab of the first hair claw clip, and having a second end coupled to a tab of the second hair claw clip.

2. The hair styling device of claim 1, in which the elastic band is flat.

3. The hair styling device of claim 1, in which the elastic band is round.

4. The hair styling device of claim 1, in which the elastic band length is adjustable.

5. The hair styling device of claim 1, in which the first hairclip and the second hairclip are claw type hairclips.

6. The hair styling device of claim 1, in which the first and second hair clip are spring biased in a normally closed position.

7. The hair styling device of claim 1, in which the first and second hair clip is formed from a first piece and a second piece coupled at an axial pivot point having a coaxial spring disposed about the axial pivot.

8. The hair styling device of claim 1, in which the first and second hair piece each include a fingered end and a distal tab end, with a hinge structure formed therebetween.

9. A hair styling devise comprising: an elastic band having a first band end and a second band end;a first hairclip attached to the first band end; anda second hair clip attached to the second band end;whereby the elastic band may be utilized to hold a first portion of a user's hair to form a style element in position, and the first hairclip and the second hairclip may be used to anchor the style element to a remaining portion of the user's hair.

10. The hair styling device of claim 9, in which the elastic band is flat.

11. The hair styling device of claim 9, in which the elastic band is round.

12. The hair styling device of claim 9, in which the elastic band length is adjustable

13. The hair styling device of claim 9, in which the first hairclip and the second hairclip are claw type hairclips.

14. The hair styling device of claim 9, in which the first and second hair clip are spring biased in a normally closed position.

15. The hair styling device of claim 9, in which the first and second hair clip is formed from a first piece and a second piece coupled at an axial pivot point having a coaxial spring disposed about the axial pivot.

16. The hair styling device of claim 9, in which the first and second hair piece each include a fingered end and a distal tab end, with a hinge structure formed therebetween.

17. A hair styling devise comprising: an elastic band having a first band end, a second band end, and a band width;a first hairclip of substantially the same width of the band width attached to the first band end by a tab end of the first hairclip; anda second hair clip of substantially the same width of the band width attached to the second band end by a tab of the second hairclip;

18. The hair styling device of claim 17, in which the first hairclip and the second hairclip include spring bias about a pivot point to keep the hairclips closed.

19. The hair styling device of claim 17, in which the first hairclip and the second hairclip include tabs to open the hairclips.