Hair accessory

Abstract

A hair accessory is described which includes a ribbon-style member having a first section, a second section, a first plurality of hair strand bundles attached to the first section in a first pattern, and a second plurality of hair strand bundles attached to the second section in a second pattern. The second pattern is different than the first pattern. A method for fabricating a hair accessory is also described.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to hair accessories and, more particularly, to hair accessories that supplement the natural hair of a user.

A person may supplement their natural hair with hair pieces to allow a wider variety of hair styles to be utilized. Additionally, when the person is has relatively thin hair, the person can supplement their natural hair to create the impression of a fuller head of hair. At least one known form of such a hair piece supplements the natural hair by attaching strands of hair to a hair attachment device. The hair attachment device is then used to secure the hair strands to a user's head. However, the person may wish to supplement their natural hair without a visible attachment device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a hair accessory is provided that comprises a ribbon-style member comprising at least a first section and a second section. A first plurality of hair strand bundles is attached to the first section in a first pattern and a second plurality of hair strand bundles is attached to the second section in a second pattern. The second pattern is different than the first pattern.

In another aspect, a method of fabricating a hair accessory is provided. The hair accessory includes a circular member having a first section, a second section, and a plurality of hair strand bundles. The method comprises attaching a first plurality of the hair strand bundles to the first section of the member and attaching a second plurality of the hair strand bundles to the second section of the member.

In yet another aspect, a hair accessory is provided that comprises a base member comprising at least a first section and a second section, a first plurality of hair strands and a second plurality of hair strands, and first and second patterns of stitching. The first pattern of stitching attaches the first plurality of hair strands to the first section of the base member and the second pattern of stitching attaches the second plurality of hair strands to the second section of the base member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of one embodiment of a hair accessory.

FIG. 2 is a view of the hair accessory of FIG. 1 illustrating attachment methods for the hair strand bundles of the hair accessory.

FIG. 3 is a view of another embodiment of the hair accessory.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a view of one embodiment of a hair accessory 10 including a circular, transparent, elastic, member 20 including a plurality of sections 30 with a plurality of hair strand bundles 40 extending from sections 30 of member 20. The transparency of member 20 allows hair accessory 10 to be worn while member 20 remains hidden. The elasticity facilitates securing hair accessory 10 to the user's head. In an alternative embodiment, member 20 is circular, transparent, elastic and of a ribbon-style. Sections 30 each have an individual length and style to provide various configurations of hair accessory 20 to supplement a user's natural hair.

In one embodiment, hair strand bundles 40 include about 5 to about 500 hair strands grouped per hair strand bundle. In another embodiment, hair strand bundles 40 are attached to member 20 about 5 to about 500 hair strand bundles per inch along member 20.

In one embodiment, hair strand bundles 40 are sewn to member 20 and held in place with stitching. In one embodiment, hair strand bundles 40 are synthetic hair fabricated from one of a polymer fiber such as modacrylic, a combination of a modacrylic fiber and PVC (Poly vinyl chloride) fiber, or a polymer fiber other than modacrylic, such as, for example, acrylic. In another embodiment, hair strand bundles 40 are natural hair. In yet another embodiment, hair strand bundles 40 include both synthetic hair and natural hair.

In one embodiment, a portion of hair strand bundles 40 attached to one of sections 30 are of a different length than the length of the hair strand bundles 40 attached to another of sections 30. In one embodiment, a portion of hair strand bundles 40 attached to one of sections 30 are of a different style, such as a curl or a wave, than the style of the hair strand bundles 40 attached to another of sections 30. In an alternative embodiment, the lengths and styles of hair strand bundles 40 attached to sections 30 are the same.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of an attachment method of hair strand bundles 40 to member 20 of hair accessory 10. In one embodiment, member 20 has an inner-side 50, an outer-side 52, an upper-edge 54, and a lower-edge 56 with a length extending between upper-edge 54 and lower-edge 56. In the illustrated embodiment, hair strand bundles 40 attached to sections 30 of member 20 are attached to inner-side 50 of member 20, overhang upper-edge 54, and extend substantially downward in front of outer-side 52 of member 20. Hair strand bundles 40 attached to sections 30 of member 20 are attached to outer-side 52 of member 20 and extend substantially downward from outer-side 52 of member 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, hair strand bundles 40 are sewn to member 20, and held by stitching to member 20. In one embodiment, the stitching holding hair strand bundles 40 to member 20 is substantially linear 60 along member 20. In another embodiment, the stitching holding hair strand bundles 40 to member 20 is in a zig-zag formation 62. In another embodiment, different stitching patterns are utilized in the various sections 30 of member 20. In another embodiment, hair strand bundles 40 are attached to member 20 such as by adhesive, pins, and/or clips. Alternatively, any other method of attachment of hair strand bundles 40 to member 20 may be utilized to attach a portion of hair strand bundles 40 to member 20.

FIG. 3 is a view of another embodiment of a hair accessory 100 including a circular, transparent, elastic, member 120 sectioned into a plurality of sections 130 with a plurality of hair strands 140 extending from sections 130 of member 120. In the illustrated embodiment, individual hair strands 140 are stitched to member 120. In one embodiment, the stitching attaching hair strands 140 to member 120 is substantially linear along member 120. In another embodiment, the stitching holding hair strands 140 to member 120 is in a zig-zag formation . In still another embodiment (not shown), various stitching patterns are utilized to attach hair strands 140 to member 120. The different stitching patterns help to provide different styling for hair accessory 100.

Hair strands 140 are synthetic hair fabricated from one of a polymer fiber such as modacrylic, a combination of a modacrylic fiber and PVC (Poly vinyl chloride) fiber, or a polymer fiber other than modacrylic, such as, for example, acrylic. In addition, natural hair or a combination of synthetic hair and natural hair may be utilized

In one embodiment, a portion of hair strands 140 attached to one of sections 130 are of a different length than the length of the hair strands 140 attached to another of sections 130. In one embodiment, a portion of hair strands 140 attached to one of sections 130 are of a different style, such as a curl or a wave, than the style of the hair strands 140 attached to another of sections 130. In an alternative embodiment, the lengths and styles of hair strands 140 attached to sections 130 are all the same.

To use hair accessory, the hair accessory is placed over the user's head, and placement of hair accessory is adjusted according to individual comfort and style. Then hair accessory is blended with the user's hair by pulling the user's hair above and around the member, substantially concealing the member.

The user can utilize the hair accessory to supplement the user's natural hair to provide various hair styles, some of which may not be attainable, or desirable in appearance, without the hair accessory. While the hair accessory is described as being attachable to the user's natural hair, the hair accessory can also be attached to a wig or other such supplemental hair accessory worn by the user. Also, while the hair accessory is illustrated using a single color of hair for the entire hair accessory, the hair accessory can have different colors and lengths between hair strand bundles, and/or different colors and lengths for the hair strands within a hair strand bundle. Since the hair accessory is attachable and detachable, the hair accessory may be applied and removed at the leisure of the user.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A hair accessory comprising: a ribbon-style member comprising at least a first section and a second section; and a first plurality of hair strand bundles attached to said first section in a first pattern and a second plurality of hair strand bundles attached to said second section in a second pattern that is different than the first pattern.

2. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ribbon-style member is one or more of circular, transparent, and elastic.

3. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and said second plurality of hair strand bundles at least one or more of a differing hair color, hair length, and hair style.

4. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hair strand bundles comprise synthetic hair fabricated from one or more of a modacrylic fiber, a PVC (poly vinyl chloride) fiber, and an acrylic fiber.

5. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hair strand bundles comprise at least one of synthetic hair and natural hair.

6. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hair strand bundles comprise about 5 to about 500 hair strands.

7. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hair strand bundles comprise about 5 to about 500 hair strand bundles attached per inch along said member.

8. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hair strand bundles attached to said sections are attached to said sections of said member by at least one of stitching, adhesive, pins, and clips.

9. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first pattern comprises substantially linear stitching along said member and said second pattern comprises zig-zag stitching along said member.

10. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 1 wherein said member comprises: an inner-side; an outer-side; an upper-edge; and a lower edge, wherein at least a portion of said hair strand bundles attached to said sections of said member are attached to said inner-side of said member, overhang said upper-edge, and extend substantially downward in front of said outer-side of said member.

11. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 10 wherein a portion of said hair strand bundles attached to said sections of said member are attached to said outer-side of said member and extend substantially downward from said outer-side of said member.

12. A method of fabricating a hair accessory including a circular, member having a first section, a second section, and a plurality of hair strand bundles, said method comprising: attaching a first plurality of the hair strand bundles to the first section of the member; and attaching a second plurality of the hair strand bundles to the second section of the member.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said attaching comprises stitching the hair strand bundles to the member.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said attaching a first plurality comprises of stitching the first plurality substantially linearly along the member and said attaching a second plurality comprises stitching the second plurality in a zig-zag pattern along the member.

15. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said attaching the hair strand bundles to the member comprises attaching the hair strand bundles to the member by at least one of adhesive, pins, and/or clips.

16. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said attaching hair strand bundles to the member comprises attaching hair strand bundles of synthetic hair fabricated from one or more of a modacrylic fiber, a PVC (poly vinyl chloride) fiber and an acrylic fiber.

17. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said attaching hair strand bundles to the member comprises attaching hair strand bundles of one or more of natural hair and synthetic hair to the member.

18. A method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising forming hair strand bundles including between about 5 to about 500 hair strands per bundle.

19. A method in accordance with claim 12 said attaching further comprising attaching between about 5 to about 500 hair strand bundles per inch along the member.

20. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the member includes a inner-side, an outer-side, an upper-edge, and a lower edge, with a length extending between the upper-edge and the lower-edge, wherein said attaching comprises: attaching at least a portion of the hair strand bundles to the inner-side of the member; hanging the portion of hair strand bundles over the upper-edge; and extending the portion of hair strand bundles substantially downward in front of the outer-side of the member.

21. A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said attaching the hair strand bundles to the member further comprises: attaching at least a portion of the hair strand bundles to the outer-side of the member; and extending the portion of hair strand bundles substantially downward from the outer-side of the member.

22. A hair accessory comprising: a base member comprising at least a first section and a second section; a first plurality of hair strands and a second plurality of hair strands; and a first pattern of stitching attaching said first plurality of hair strands to said first section of said base member and a second pattern of stitching attaching said second plurality of hair strands to said second section of said base member.

23. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 22 wherein said hair strands attached to said first section comprise at least one of a different hair color, a different hair style, and a different hair length than said hair strands attached to said second section.

24. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 22 wherein said hair strands comprise synthetic hair fabricated from one or more of a modacrylic fiber, a PVC (poly vinyl chloride) fiber, and an acrylic fiber.

25. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 22 wherein said hair strands comprise one or more of synthetic hair and natural hair.

26. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 22 wherein said first pattern of stitching is substantially linear and said second pattern of stitching is a zig-zag formation.

27. A hair accessory in accordance with claim 22 wherein said first plurality of hair strands and said second plurality of hair strands are gathered into bundles including between about 5 to about 500 hair strands per bundle.