Hair accessory with loops and method of use

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6601590
  • Patent Number
    6,601,590
  • Date Filed
    Friday, December 29, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 5, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Robert; Eduardo C.
    • Comstock; David
    Agents
    • Lampe; Thomas R.
Abstract
A hair accessory and method of use for a woman's hair located at the apex of the head. The hair accessory includes a central angulated elastic hair band having an outer circumferential surface and a series of angulated elastic hair loops each integrally attached to the central hair band at the outer circumferential surface thereof. The respective axes of symmetry of the central hair band and the series of hair loops are coextensive and parallel. The shape of the central band and loops can vary from circular to ellipsoidal.
Description




SCOPE OF THE INVENTION




The invention relates to a hair accessory for a women's hair located at the apex of the head including a central annular elastic hair band of diameter D having an outer circumferential surface and a series of annular elastic hair loops each of diameter D


1


integrally attached to the central hair band at the outer circumferential surface thereof where D is greater than D


1


, say


3


D


1


is equal to D. The respective axes of symmetry of the cenral hair band and the series of hair loops are coextensive and parallel. Result: different diametered hair stands can be captured by the combination of the central hair band and the series of loops to create novel hairstyles. The shape of the central band and loops can vary from circular say to ellipsoidal,




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The prior art is replete with various hairband designs but none have the characteristics of the instant invention.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In accordance with the invention, a hair accessory is described for a women's hair located at the apex of the head. The hair accessory includes a central angulated elastic hair band having an outer circumferential surface and a series of angulated elastic hair loops each integrally attached to the central hair band at the outer circumferential surface thereof. The respective axes of symmetry of the central hair band and the series of hair loops are coextensive and parallel. Result: different diametered hair stands can be captured by the combination of the central hair band and the series of loops to create novel hairstyles. The shape of the central band and loops can vary from circular say to ellipsoidal. A method of use is also described.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a front elevation view of the hair accessory of the invention with 6 loops in accordance with the invention;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the hair accessory of

FIG. 1

attached to the hair of a woman in which there is an absence of hair through the loops,





FIG. 3

is another perspective view of the hair accessory of

FIG. 1

attached to the hair of a woman in which a few strands of hair have been captured within the loops;





FIG. 4

is yet another perspective view of the hair accessory of

FIG. 1

attached to the hair of a woman in which many strands of hair have been captured within the loops to form a bun;





FIG. 5

is a front elevation view of another hair accessory of the invention showing 4 loops in accordance with the invention;





FIG. 6

is a front elevation view of yet another hair accessory of the invention showing 3 loops with beads strings attached to the central band in accordance with the invention;





FIG. 7

is a front elevation view of yet another hair accessory of the invention showing 4 loops with beads strings attached to the central band in accordance with the invention;





FIG. 8

is a front elevation view of still yet another hair accessory of the invention showing 5 loops with ribbon strings attached to the central band in accordance with the invention;





FIG. 9

is a front elevation view of still yet another hair accessory of the invention showing 5 star shaped loops with artificial flowers and lace attached to the central band in accordance with the invention; and





FIG. 10

is a front elevation of still yet another hair accessory composed of an oblong football shaped central elastic band (ellipsoidal) having six similarly shaped extensions formed thereover.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS




As shown in

FIG. 1

, a hair accessory


10


is shown. It includes a central annular elastic hair band


11


of diameter D having an outer circumferential surface


12


. A series of annular elastic hair loops


13


each of diameter D


1


integrally attached to the central hair band


11


at the outer circumferential surface


12


thereof where D is greater than D


1


, say


3


D


1


is equal to D. The respective axes of symmetry L


1


. . . L


7


of the cenral hair band and the series of hair loops are coextensive and parallel to each other.





FIG. 2

shows usage of the hair accessory


10


of the invention.




As shown, the hair accessory


10


is attached to the apex of the head


20


of a woman


21


. Note that hair


22


is captured only within the central band


11


by conventional infusion of the hair


22


of greater diameter than the latter so that its expansion captures the hair


22


therein. To provide capture, the “workings” diameter of central band


11


can be reduced by a factor of two by twisting the central band


11


from diametrically opposed segments and then overlaying the reduced half-segments over each other. Next, a strand of the hair


22


is inserted through the overlapped half-segments.





FIG. 3

shows other usage of the hair accessory


10


of the invention.




As shown, the hair accessory


10


is again attached to the apex of the head


20


of a women


21


. Note that hair


22


is captured only within the loops


13


. To provide capture, the “working” diameter of each loop


13


can be reduced by a factor of two by twisting each such loop


13


from diametrically opposed segments and then overlaying the reduced half-segments over each other. Next, a strand of the hair


22


is inserted through the overlapped half-segments.





FIGS. 4 and 5

show other usage of the hair accessory


10


of the invention.




As shown, the hair accessory


10


is again attached to the apex of the head


20


of a women


21


. Note that hair


22


is captured both with central band


11


and within the loops


13


. In

FIG. 4

, the hair


22


forms a bun


23


. In

FIG. 5

, the hair


22


forms spikes


24


. Note that the effective diameters of the central band


11


and the loops


13


can be reduced in the manner set forth above.




In accordance with

FIGS. 2-5

, note that many different hair styles can be easily achieved. That is to say, different diametered hair stands can be captured by the combination of the central hair band


11


and the series of loops


13


to create many novel hairstyles.





FIG. 6

shows another embodiment of the hair accessory of the invention.




As shown, hair accessory


10


′ is composed a central elastic band


30


having three loops


31


formed over a segment


32


of the band


30


where the length G of the segment


32


is about ⅓ of the total circumference of the band


30


. The respective axes of symmetry L


1


. . . L


4


of the central hair band


30


and the series of hair loops


31


are coextensive and parallel to each other. Manipulation for hair control is as previously taught.





FIG. 7

shows still another embodiment of the hair accessory of the invention.




As shown, hair accessary


10


″ is composed a central elastic band


40


having four loops


41


formed equally spaced about the central bond


40


where a segment


42


is provided neighboring loops


41


to which a series of bead strings


43


is attached. The respective axes of symmetry L


1


. . . L


5


of the central hair band


40


and the series of hair loops


41


are coextensive and parallel to each other. Again, hair manipulation is as previously taught.





FIG. 8

shows still yet another embodiment of the hair accessory of the invention.




As shown, hair accessory


10


′″ is composed a central elastic band


50


having five loops


51


formed over about ⅔ of the total circumference of the band


50


wherein the segment


52


thereby provided is free to accommodate a series of ribbon strings


53


. The respective axes of symmetry L


1


. . . L


6


of the central hair band


50


and the series of hair loops


51


are coextensive and parallel to each other. Again, hair manipulation is as previously taught.





FIG. 9

shows still yet another embodiment of the hair accessory of the invention.




As shown, hair accessory


10


″″ is composed a central elastic band


60


having five star shaped extensions


61


formed over the total circumference of the band


60


wherein lace domes


63


extend about the extensions


61


along with artificial flowers


64


. The respective axes of symmetry L


1


. . . L


6


of the central hair band


60


and the series of hair loops


61


are coextensive and parallel to each other. Still again, hair manipulation is as previously taught.





FIG. 10

shows still yet another embodiment of the hair accessory of the invention.




As shown, hair accessory


10


′″″ is composed of an oblong football shaped central elastic band


70


(ellipsoidal) having six similarly shaped extensions


71


formed over the total circumference of the band


70


. The respective axes of symmetry L


1


. . . L


7


of the central hair band


70


and the series of hair loops


71


are coextensive and parallel to each other.




While the invention has been shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, that various changes, alternatives and variations in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.




For example, the shape of the central band and loops can be changed to various arcuate segments including circular, oblong etc.




Similarly, while attachment of the loops to the central band is preferably integral, other forms such as adhesives, glues and the like could also be used.




Also different materials such as pleated scrunchy types can also be used wherein the latter are formed about an elastic ring.



Claims
  • 1. A hair accessory for positioning on the head of a user to enhance the hair of said user, said hair accessory comprising, in combination:an elastic central hair band having an outer circumferential surface and defining an enclosed central hair band opening for receiving a strand of the user's hair such that said strand projects outwardly from said central hair band opening when the accessory is on the user's head; and at least four elastic hair loops attached to the elastic central hair band at spaced locations on the elastic central hair band and radiating outwardly from the elastic central hair band when the accessory is on the user's head with at least one of said elastic hair loops projecting forwardly from said elastic central hair band and not in overlapping relationship therewith, at least one of said elastic hair loops projecting rearwardly from said elastic central hair band and not in overlapping relationship therewith, at least one of said elastic hair loops projecting outwardly from a first side of said elastic central hair band and not in overlapping relationship therewith, and at least one of said elastic hair loops projecting outwardly from a second side of said elastic central hair band and not in overlapping relationship therewith, each of the elastic hair loops defining an enclosed loop opening spaced from said enclosed central hair band opening and from the other enclosed loop openings, each of said enclosed loop openings being smaller when said elastic hair loops are in unstretched condition than said central hair band opening when said elastic central hair band is in unstretched condition, at least some of said elastic hair loops, when the accessory is on the user's head, receiving portions of the strand of the user's hair projecting outwardly from said central hair band opening such that each said portion passes downwardly through the enclosed loop opening of an associated elastic hair loop, at least some of said elastic hair loops and said elastic central hair band cooperable to maintain said portions in a looped condition therebetween.
  • 2. The air accessory of claim 1 wherein said elastic central hair band and said elastic hair loops are circular when in unstretched condition.
  • 3. The hair accessory of claim 2 in which said elastic central hair band defines a diameter D when in unstretched condition and each of said elastic hair loops defines a diameter D1 when in unstretched condition, and wherein D is greater than D1.
  • 4. The hair accessory of claim 3 wherein D is at least about three times greater than D1.
  • 5. The hair accessory of claim 1 in which said elastic central hair band and said elastic hair loops are oblong in shape when in unstretched condition.
  • 6. The hair accessory of claim 1, including at least one bead string attached to said elastic central hair band.
  • 7. The hair accessory of claim 1 including at least one ribbon string attached to said elastic central hair band.
  • 8. A method of using a hair accessory to enhance the hair of a user, the hair accessory including an elastic central hair band having an outer circumferential surface and defining an enclosed central hair bland opening for receiving a strand of the user's hair, and at least four elastic loops attached to the elastic central hair band at spaced locations on the elastic central hair band and radiating outwardly from the elastic central hair band, each of the elastic hair loops defining an enclosed loop opening spaced from said enclosed central hair band opening and from the other enclosed loop openings, each of said enclosed loop openings being smaller when said elastic hair loops are in unstretched condition than said central hair band opening when said elastic central hair band is in unstretched condition, said method comprising the steps of:positioning said hair accessory on the head of said user with at least one elastic hair loop projecting forwardly from said elastic central hair band and not in overlapping relationship therewith, at least one elastic hair loop projecting rearwardly from said elastic central hair band and not in overlapping relationship therewith, at least one elastic hair loop projecting outwardly from a first side of said elastic central hair band and not in overlapping relationship therewith, and at least one elastic hair loop projecting outwardly from a second side of said elastic central hair band and not in overlapping relationship therewith; positioning said strand of the user's hair so that said strand projects outwardly from the elastic central hair band; introducing portions of said strand into enclosed loop openings formed by at least some of said elastic hair loops to form said portions into a looped condition; and utilizing the elasticity of said elastic central hair band and the elasticity of at least some of said elastic hair loops to maintain said portions in the looped condition.
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of Ser. No. 60/173,683 for “HAIR BAND WITH LOOPS” filed Dec. 29, 1999.

US Referenced Citations (8)
Number Name Date Kind
5301696 Revson Apr 1994 A
D348331 Marrese Jun 1994 S
5379782 Tabb Jan 1995 A
5456270 Wong Oct 1995 A
5497795 Hibbard Mar 1996 A
D388588 Gruters et al. Jan 1998 S
5947129 Bradshaw Sep 1999 A
6314969 Lacause Nov 2001 B1
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/173683 Dec 1999 US