Patent Application
20080173323
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related in general to the field of hair shaping and decoration. In particular, this invention includes a hair clip including decorative features and semi-rigid connections to shape a person's hair while displaying the decorative features.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Persons with hair often wish to have their hair held or shaped in a particular way. They also may wish to decorate their hair, often with jewels or decorative features of a variety of colors and shapes. For convenience and comfort, those who desire to shape their hair while decorating their hair may wish to combine these features in a single, simple device. However, most persons who want to shape their hair often must use at least two hair products, one decorative and one functional, to get the desired results. One problem with using many hair products for hair shaping and decoration is an uncomfortable amount of hair accessories. Another problem is that decorative features often interfere with a person's ability to shape the person's hair.
One common approach to solving this dilemma is to use a decorative hair accessory to clip, clasp, hold, or retain the hair. However, this solution has traditionally required that the decorative feature be applied directly to the functional portion of the hair accessory. Therefore, it is desirable to separate the decorative feature from the functional hair accessory so that the functional portion may be hidden while the decorative feature is prominently displayed.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have an apparatus that allows a user to simultaneously shape the hair, decorate the hair, and allow the functional portion of the hair clip to remain unobserved. Additionally, it is desirable that the apparatus allow the user to shape the hair into a variety of styles. Another desirable feature is the placement of the decorative features on semi-rigid shaping members that are used to both shape the hair and decorate the hair while an associated hair clip remains unobtrusive.
The invention disclosed herein utilizes a base such as a clip, clasp, or bobbi pin that attaches to a person's hair, at least one shaping attachment member connected to the base, and at least one decorative feature connected to the shaping attachment member. The base is defined as an apparatus used for clipping, clasping, or retaining the hair. The shaping attachment member comprises a semi-rigid material for attaching the decorative feature to the base. The decorative feature may be a variety of shapes, sizes, or colors. The user may attach the base to the hair, shape the hair using the shaping attachment member, and then display the decorative feature on the hair.
In another embodiment of the invention, the invention disclosed herein utilizes a base such as a rubber band, elastic band, or fabric covered elastic band that attaches to a person's hair and at least one decorative shaping attachment member connected to the base. In this embodiment, the shaping attachment member is itself the decorative feature. The base is defined as an apparatus used for clipping, clasping, or retaining the hair. The shaping attachment member comprises a semi-rigid material. The decorative feature may be a variety of shapes, sizes, or colors. The user may contain the hair in a pony tail using the base and then style the pony tail using the decorative shaping attachment member.
Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows and from the novel features particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives described above, this invention comprises the features hereinafter illustrated in the drawings, fully described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such drawings and description disclose just a few of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced and are not limiting.
This invention is based on the idea of using a hair clip or similar base connected to at least one shaping member to shape a person's hair in a variety of styles while simultaneously decorating the hair with at least one decorative feature. Referring to figures, wherein like parts are designated with the same reference numerals and symbols,
The invention, as herein embodied, may not only be used to shape the user's hair, but may, itself, be shaped and reshaped into one or more of a variety of different shapes. In one embodiment of the invention, the base 102 may comprise an upper clamp and a lower clamp to secure the base 102 to the hair. The upper clamp and the lower clamp may comprise a releasable locking mechanism. As previously indicated, the shaping attachment member 104 is used to shape and fashion the hair in a variety of styles. The shaping attachment member 104 comprises a semi-rigid material that will bend with ease upon force from the user but will retain the shape the user desires. After a user shapes and fashions the hair, the decorative feature 106 is attached to the hair to provide decoration. In this embodiment of the invention, the base 102 is hidden from view while the decorative feature 106 is visible and displayed.
Here, the base 202 is used to hold the hair in a pony tail. The base 202 may be hidden by one or more of the decorative shaping attachment members 204 to make the base 202 unobtrusive while still allowing other decorative shaping members 204 to be displayed. If the decorative multiple decorative shaping attachment members 204 are used, some of the decorative shaping attachment members 204 may be of disparate lengths and may also descend from the base 202. The remaining decorative shaping attachment members 204 may be wrapped around the pony tail to contain or shape the hair.
Those skilled in the art of making hair accessories may develop other embodiments of the present invention. However, the terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.
