Hair Tie or Fashion Accessory

BACKGROUND

Many hair tie devices exist for collecting and securing hair into a ponytail. For certain activities, such as cheerleading, it is important for the hair tie used to hold very securely without allowing hair to slip out of the tie during performance of the activity. One approach is to use a tie in the form of a closed band made of a “gripping” type material, such as an elastic silicone material. Removal of these gripping ties without tangling or tearing out of hair can be difficult, however.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of various disclosed embodiments makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 2a is a side view of an embodiment of a cord portion of a hair tie or accessory system in a relaxed state;

FIG. 2b is a side view of an embodiment of a cord portion of a hair tie or accessory system in a stretched state;

FIG. 3a is a side view of an embodiment of a coupler portion of a hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 3b is an end view of an embodiment of a coupler portion of a hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 3c is a top view of an embodiment of a coupler portion of a hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 3d is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a coupler portion of a hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 4a is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 4b is a top view of the vicinity of a coupler in an embodiment of an assembled hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 4c is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a coupler in an embodiment of an assembled hair tie or accessory system;

FIGS. 5a through 5f are side views illustrating examples of alternative cord portion design embodiments;

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cord portion of a hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 6b is a side view of an embodiment of a cord portion of a hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 7a is a perspective view from the top side of an embodiment of a coupler portion of a hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 7b is a top view of an embodiment of a coupler portion of a hair tie or accessory system; and

FIG. 7c is an end view of an embodiment of a coupler portion of a hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 7d is a side view of an embodiment of a coupler portion of a hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 7e is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a coupler portion of a hair tie or accessory system;

FIG. 8a is a top view of the vicinity of a coupler in an embodiment of an assembled hair tie or accessory system; and

FIG. 8b is a perspective view from the bottom side of an embodiment of a coupler portion of a hair tie or accessory system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of a fashion accessory disclosed herein includes a flexible cord comprising multiple nodules and a filament portion adjacent each nodule. The embodiment also includes a substantially rigid coupler comprising two end portions connected by a keel portion, where each end portion comprises a slot configured to allow one of the filament portions of the cord to be moved through the slot, and each end portion also comprises a bore hole in communication with the slot in that end portion. In a further embodiment, the filament portion comprises a compressible material. In another embodiment, the filament portion comprises an elastic material.

In another embodiment of a fashion accessory described herein, at least two of the nodules of the flexible cord are configured to be captured within a respective end portion of the coupler when an adjacent filament portion is moved through the slot and into the bore hole. In another embodiment, the one of the filament portions is configured to be compressed by sidewalls of the slot while being moved through the slot. In still another embodiment, the one of the filament portions is configured to be stretched while being moved through the slot, and to have a reduced diameter while being stretched. A fashion accessory described herein is configured for use as a hair tie in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the fashion accessory is configured for use as a jewelry item. In still other embodiments, the fashion accessory is configured for use as a belt.

In one embodiment, a flexible cord for use in a fashion accessory includes at least two nodules spaced apart along the length of the cord and a filament portion adjacent each of the at least two nodules. A diameter of the filament portion is smaller than a diameter of the adjacent nodule. In a further embodiment of the cord, the filament portion comprises a compressible material. In another embodiment, the filament portion comprises an elastic material. In another embodiment, at least two of the at least two nodules are spheroidal in shape. In still another embodiment, at least one of the at least two nodules comprises a substantially flat surface. In a further embodiment, the cord comprises multiple nodules spaced along the length of the cord, wherein each of the multiple nodules comprises a substantially flat surface. In this further embodiment, the cord also comprises, along a cord portion between each pair of the multiple nodules, at least one nodule not comprising a substantially flat surface.

An embodiment of a substantially rigid coupler for use in a fashion accessory includes a first end portion comprising a first bore hole and a first slot, a second end portion comprising a second bore hole and a second slot, and a keel portion connecting the first end portion to the second end portion. The first slot connects the first bore hole to an opening of the coupler, the second slot connects the second bore hole to the opening of the coupler, and the opening is configured for insertion into the coupler of a nodule within a flexible cord. The keel portion includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and the coupler has a central width, measured between outer surfaces of the first and second sidewalls, at a position approximately halfway along a line between the first bore hole and the second bore hole. The coupler also has a first maximum width, measured between outer surfaces of the first and second sidewalls, at a position partway along a line between the first bore hole and the position of the central width, where the central width is smaller than the first maximum width.

A further embodiment of the coupler has a second maximum width, measured between outer surfaces of the first and second sidewalls, at a position partway along a line between the second bore hole and the position of the central width, where the central width is smaller than the second maximum width. In another embodiment, the coupler is configured to retain an inserted flexible cord nodule despite the presence of a force stretching the flexible cord along a direction parallel to an axis through the first and second bore holes. In another embodiment, the coupler is configured to be grasped between a thumb and a finger during insertion of a flexible cord nodule into the coupler.

A hair tie system as disclosed herein includes two components: a flexible cord having a varying cross-section, and a comparatively rigid coupler for removably connecting together separate parts of the cord to form a loop. An embodiment of the hair tie system is illustrated in FIG. 1. Hair tie 100 includes a flexible cord 102 having its ends connected by a coupler 104. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, cord 102 has an undulating cross-section in the form of a series of ball-shaped nodules 106. Captured nodules 108 are retained within coupler 104 when the hair tie is assembled. When assembled, as shown in FIG. 1, the hair tie can be used to hold hair in a similar manner to the way a closed-band hair tie is used. Depending on the length of the cord portion (and resulting diameter of the assembled hair tie) and the amount of hair to be secured, embodiments of the assembled hair tie can be turned and folded in the usual manner to form a tie having two or more strands and a reduced diameter. For example, a double-strand hair tie can be formed by folding a closed-band hair tie into a “figure-eight” shape, then folding together the ends of the “eight.”

In addition to use as a hair tie, embodiments of the system disclosed herein may be used for other types of fashion accessory, including jewelry items such as bracelets, necklaces, or rings, or accessory items such as belts or hat bands.

A more detailed view of a flexible cord embodiment is shown in FIG. 2a. Portion 200 of cord 102 includes alternating nodules 106 and filament portions 202. In the embodiment of cord 102, filament portions 202 are not necessarily clearly visible due to the close spacing of nodules 106. FIG. 2a illustrates cord portion 200 in a relaxed position; an illustration of the cord portion in a stretched position is shown in FIG. 2b. In FIG. 2b, cord portion 200 is stretched longitudinally, or along the length of the cord. When the cord is stretched, filament portions 202 become more visible. Portions 202 are also reduced in diameter by the stretching, which allows them to be pulled through a slot in coupler 104, as discussed further below. In an embodiment, filament portions are integral to a nodule or to a cord portion between nodules, and not visually distinguishable from those elements.

In an embodiment, a flexible cord for the system disclosed herein is formed from a flexible, elastic material. In an embodiment, this material is an elastomer such as a silicone rubber. A silicone rubber embodiment may be formed from, for example, a polysiloxane or polydimethylsiloxane. In a further embodiment, the cord is formed by injection molding of silicone rubber. Other techniques, such as compression molding and extrusion, known to one of ordinary skill in the art of elastomer fabrication may also be used. In some embodiments, a cord portion for the hair tie or accessory system is formed from a combination of materials. For example, beads formed from an elastomer, plastic, wood, metal, stone or other suitable material for forming nodules can be spaced along a compressible cord in some embodiments. Such a compressible cord may be formed in various ways including, for example, with an elastomer as described above, with a fiber-wrapped elastic cord, with thread, string or yarn which may be woven or braided, or with a fabric strip or tube that can be compressed to fit through a slot in a coupler such as coupler 104. An elastic cord surrounded by a fabric tube such that the fabric is gathered or bunched along at least a portion of the cord length may also be used in some embodiments. In some embodiments for which a fabric tube is used, beads or other nodules may be enclosed within and spaced along the length of the fabric tube. Depending upon the materials used, any suitable fabrication techniques for such materials may be employed.

Nodules 106 are of a size allowing them to be retained when captured by coupler 104 in the assembled hair tie or accessory. In one embodiment of a hair tie, nodules 106 have a diameter of approximately four to five millimeters, although smaller or larger sizes of nodule 106 may be suitable in other embodiments. Although a nodule may exhibit some degree of compressibility or elasticity, depending on the materials from which it is formed, a combination of the size, shape and rigidity of the nodule, in combination with the rigidity and dimensions of the coupler used, serves to allow the nodule to be retained when captured by the coupler, even when horizontal force is applied. Horizontal force, as used herein regarding the coupler, is force applied in a direction generally along an axis passing through each of the bore holes at the ends of the coupler. A horizontal force can be applied, for example, by longitudinal stretching of a cord including a captured nodule. Filament portions 202 adjacent to nodules 106 are of a diameter allowing the filament portion to be moved, when stretched in a longitudinal and/or transverse direction with respect to the length of the cord, through a slot in coupler 104. In an embodiment, moving the cord through the slot is done by pushing or pulling the cord through the slot. In an embodiment, the compressibility of the material used to form cord 102 allows filament portion 202 to be moved through a slot in coupler 104 even if the diameter of filament portion 202 when longitudinally stretched is somewhat larger than the opening of the slot. In one embodiment of a hair tie, an opening of a slot in coupler 104 is approximately one-half millimeter wide, and a diameter of portion 202 of cord 102, when longitudinally stretched, is approximately one millimeter wide. Smaller or larger diameters of filament portion 202 may be suitable in other embodiments, however.

Cord 102, and any other cord embodiments described herein, can have any length suitable for use in a hair tie or other accessory. In one embodiment of a hair tie, cord 102 has a length, in a relaxed (unstretched) state, of approximately 16 to 17 centimeters. Such an embodiment may be used, for example, for a hair tie turned and folded to form a double-strand hair tie. Shorter or longer lengths of cord 102 may also be used, depending on the amount of hair to be secured and the number of strands the hair tie is to be folded to have. In an embodiment, cord 102 is shortened by a user of hair tie or accessory to achieve a desired length. In another embodiment, the hair tie or accessory is assembled in such a way that one or both of captured nodules 108 are positioned partway along the length of cord 102 rather than at the end of the cord. An example of this type of assembly is shown in Image 1 of the Appendix filed with this application. This Appendix is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes as if completely set forth herein.

Dimensions of the flexible cords and couplers disclosed herein may vary depending on the nature of accessory to be implemented by the assembled system. For example, a necklace may have a longer cord length than a bracelet. Systems for necklaces, bracelets or belts may have larger nodule and coupler sizes than hair tie systems, while systems for rings may have smaller nodule and coupler sizes.

Although cord 102 is shown as having a periodic variation in diameter caused by evenly spaced nodules 106 along its length, other forms may be used for the flexible, elastic cord disclosed herein. In general, a cord having at least two nodules configured to be retained by coupler 104, with adjacent filament portions to allow insertion into the coupler, may be used. Further discussion of variants for cord 102 is provided below in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6.

A side view of coupler 104 is shown in FIG. 3a. By analogy to its boat-like shape, coupler 104 generally includes a bottom, or keel, portion 302, a first end, or stern, portion 304, and a second end, or bow, portion 306. In an embodiment, coupler 104 is symmetrical so that end portions 304 and 306 are of substantially identical shape, though in mirrored orientations. In the embodiment of coupler 104, keel portion 302 includes an arched profile 308. In an embodiment, an arch such as arch 308 helps coupler 104 to better conform to the curve of an assembled hair tie or accessory, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Arch 308 may be deeper, shallower, or omitted entirely in other embodiments of the coupler disclosed herein. Coupler 104 also includes a lowered sidewall 309 between end portions 304 and 306, creating a “U” shape. This U-shaped profile may be deeper, shallower, or omitted entirely in other embodiments of the coupler.

An end view of coupler 104, from a direction facing the outside of bow portion 306, is shown in FIG. 3b. In the embodiment of FIG. 3b, coupler 104 is symmetrical and the view is aligned such that stern portion 304 and most of keel portion 302 are hidden from view. Formed within bow portion 306 is a bore hole 310 and a slot 312 extending from the bore hole up through the uppermost surface of stern portion 306. Because of the symmetry of coupler 104, a view of the other end of the coupler (facing the outside of stern portion 304) would have the same configuration as that of FIG. 3b.

A top view of coupler 104 is shown in FIG. 3c. A cavity 316 formed within keel portion 302 runs through coupler 104 in a longitudinal direction, connecting the two end cavities 314 formed in end portions 304 and 306, respectively. End portions 304 and 306 include sidewalls 322 of slot 312. In the embodiment of FIG. 3c, each longitudinal sidewall of keel portion 302 includes a concavity 318, so that a width of coupler 104 is smaller in the area between end portions 304 and 306. In an embodiment, concavities 318 facilitate grasping of coupler 104 between a user's finger and thumb. Concavities 318 may be deeper, shallower, or omitted entirely in other embodiments of the coupler disclosed herein.

A cross-sectional view of a cut along the line A-A′ in FIG. 3c is shown in FIG. 3d. The cross-hatched region shown depicts a portion of coupler 104 in the plane of the cut, while the non-cross-hatched regions depict surfaces behind the plane of the cut. Longitudinal cavity 316 can be seen connecting the two end cavities 314. Above its lower portion depicted within the cross-hatched region, the cross-section of end portion 306 continues upward with sidewall 320 of bore hole 310 and sidewall 322 of slot 312. In the embodiment of FIG. 3d, slot sidewall 322 forms a corner with an interior edge surface 324 of U-shaped sidewall 309. The cross-section of end portion 304 is depicted in the same manner on the opposite side of coupler 104. Additional views of coupler embodiments similar to coupler 104 are shown in Images 1 through 4 of the Appendix filed herewith.

A coupler, such as coupler 104, for the system disclosed herein is formed of a substantially rigid material. In an embodiment, this material is a rigid plastic such as a polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In a further embodiment, the coupler is formed by injection molding of PVC. Other rigid materials may be used in other embodiments, including but not limited to other plastics, wood, metal or stone materials. Depending on the material used, other fabrication techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art of fabricating rigid articles may be suitable for fabrication of couplers as disclosed herein. For example, techniques such as compression molding, machining, etching or 3-D printing may be suitable in some embodiments.

A coupler as disclosed herein is configured so that a nodule within a flexible elastic cord as described herein is retained after insertion into either end of the coupler. Cavities within the coupler, such as cavities 316 and 314 of coupler 104, are sized to allow the nodule to be inserted into the coupler and to be retained within the coupler during use of the hair tie or accessory. Bore holes, such as bore holes 310 of coupler 104, are configured so that a filament portion of the flexible cord fits within the bore hole after insertion of the nodule, while the nodule itself does not fit through the bore hole. In one embodiment, the filament portion of the flexible cord is under some degree of compression while within the bore hole. Slots, such as slots 312 of coupler 104, are configured so that a filament portion of the flexible cord can be moved through the slot when sufficient force is applied. In an embodiment, the applied force is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cord. The applied force may also include a longitudinal component in some embodiments. In a further embodiment, such a longitudinal force component acts to stretch the filament portion, reducing its diameter so that it more easily passes through the slot. In an embodiment, the slot is configured to have a smaller width than the diameter of the filament portion when the cord is in an unstretched state.

The length of a coupler as disclosed herein is sufficient to allow insertion of and retention of one nodule from a flexible elastic cord as disclosed herein at each end of the coupler. In an embodiment, the coupler is also long enough to allow an excess “tail” portion of the cord to extend from the coupler if the nodule captured within the coupler is along the length of the cord rather than at the end of the cord. An example of this type of arrangement is shown in Image 1 of the Appendix filed herewith. Extension of an excess cord portion is facilitated by a U-shaped coupler sidewall such as that of coupler 104.

In one embodiment of a coupler for a hair tie, the length of the coupler is roughly comparable to a fingertip width of a user of the hair tie. In such an embodiment, the coupler may be between approximately one and two centimeters long. A coupler having a length roughly comparable to a user's fingertip width may be advantageous in allowing the user to easily grasp the coupler between a finger and thumb in order to insert or release the cord portion of the hair tie.

In one embodiment of a coupler having the form of coupler 104 and designed for use in a hair tie assembly, a length of the coupler along the horizontal direction in FIG. 3a is approximately two centimeters or less. In a further embodiment, this length is between about 1 centimeter and about two centimeters. In a still further embodiment, this length is approximately 1.4 centimeters. A width, at its widest point, of a coupler having the form of coupler 104 and designed for use in a hair tie assembly, along the vertical direction in the view of FIG. 3c and corresponding to the width in the area where each cord nodule is situated when assembled, is approximately one centimeter or less in one embodiment. In a further embodiment, this width is between about 5 millimeters and one centimeter. In a still further embodiment, this width is approximately 8 millimeters. In this embodiment, a width at the center of the coupler, between the two end portions, is approximately 6 millimeters. A further embodiment of this coupler has cavities configured to hold in each end of the coupler a cord nodule having a diameter of approximately 5 millimeters. In a still further embodiment, bore holes at each end of the coupler have a diameter of approximately 1.5 millimeters, and a slot connecting to each bore hole has a diameter (spacing between slot sidewalls) of approximately 0.5 millimeters. These dimensions reflect only certain exemplary embodiments, and different dimensions may be suitable in other embodiments.

As noted above, dimensions of the coupler portion of the hair tie and accessory disclosed herein are related to dimensions of the cord portion. In some embodiments, dimensions of cavities, bore holes and slots for a coupler may vary depending on the specific design of the cord portion nodules, even if the outer dimensions of the coupler remain unchanged. In other embodiments, the overall dimensions of the cord and coupler portions may be larger or smaller depending, for example, on the type of accessory formed by the system. The outer surface profile of the coupler portion may vary from that of coupler 104 in other embodiments, as long as the cavities, bore holes and slots are configured to retain nodules from the cord portion as described above. Certain modifications to features of the coupler embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art of fabricating rigid articles. For example, the corners shown in FIG. 3b between the bore hole and slot may be rounded somewhat in some embodiments to prevent cutting into or scratching of the filament portion of the flexible cord when the cord is released from the coupler. Similarly, any or all edges of a bore hole or slot, such as the edges of faces 320 and 322 of FIG. 3d, in either the inner or outer surface of the coupler may be smoothed or beveled in some embodiments.

An additional view of assembled hair tie (or other accessory) embodiment 100 is shown in FIG. 4a. The viewing angle of FIG. 4a makes more of the interior of coupler 104 visible, as compared to the view of FIG. 1. A close-up view from the top of coupler 104 is shown in FIG. 4b. A portion of captured nodule 108 is seated within each end of coupler 104, behind slot 312. A cross-sectional view of the region around coupler 104, cut along a plane passing through both of slots 312, is shown in FIG. 4c. In this view, features including captured nodules 108, additional nodules 106, filament portions 202 and slot faces 322 can be seen. As shown in FIG. 4c, filament portions 202 adjacent to captured nodules 108 may in some embodiments be longitudinally stretched to some degree to accommodate the thickness of the end portion of coupler 104. (Filament portions 202 throughout the length of cord 102 may also be longitudinally stretched during routine usage of assembly 100 as a hair tie.) In some embodiments, filament portions 202 adjacent to captured nodules 108 (and therefore passing through bore holes 310) are under compression to some degree, to the extent that a diameter of bore hole 310 is smaller than a diameter of filament portion 202. Because a diameter of filament portion 202 can vary during use of the hair tie or accessory depending on the amount of longitudinal stretching taking place, filament portions 202 adjacent to captured nodules 108 may be under compression at some times during use of the hair tie or accessory, and not under compression at other times.

The hair tie or accessory is assembled by moving one of the filament portions, such as portions 202, of the cord portion through each of the slots, such as slots 312, in the coupler portion, so that each of the filament portions becomes enclosed within one of bore holes, such as bore hole 310, of the coupler portion. In an embodiment, moving the filament portion through the slot involves pushing the filament portion through the slot. As shown in, for example, FIGS. 4a through 4c, this results in seating of a core portion nodule adjacent each of the filament portions within a respective end portion of the coupler. In an embodiment, moving the filament portion through the slot involves applying both longitudinal and transverse force to the filament portion. This may be accomplished, for example, by a user holding the coupler between a finger and thumb of one hand, while grasping between a thumb and finger of the other hand a portion of the cord near the nodule to be inserted into the coupler. In an embodiment, the insertion is accomplished via the elasticity and compressibility of the cord portion. In a further embodiment, the rigidity of the coupler portion allows no significant change in the width of the slot during assembly of the hair tie or accessory.

Use (e.g., wearing) of the assembled hair tie or accessory generally involves the application of only (or at least primarily) longitudinal force to the filament portions and cord nodules held within the coupler. In an embodiment, the rigidity of the coupler portion retains the captured nodule in the coupler regardless of the longitudinal force applied. In a further embodiment, the cord portion will break under application of excessive longitudinal force before the captured nodule is pulled from the coupler by such a force.

Disassembly of the hair tie or accessory is accomplished by application of a sufficient transverse force between the coupler and the captured filament portion, so that the filament portion is moved (for example, pulled) back through the slot in the coupler, thereby freeing the adjacent cord nodule from the end of the coupler. In an embodiment, the force applied during disassembly includes a longitudinal as well as a transverse component. In one disassembly embodiment, a user holds the coupler between a finger and thumb of one hand and grasps a portion of the cord near the captured cord nodule between a finger and thumb of the other hand to pull the grasped cord portion in a direction away from the keel portion of the coupler, thereby pulling the captured filament portion out through the slot in the coupler.

In another embodiment, a user can disassemble a hair tie using only one hand because the wrapping of the cord around a ponytail serves to hold the cord while one hand is used to pull the coupler away from the cord. In such an embodiment, the user may first rotate the coupler, if necessary, about a longitudinal axis so that the keel portion of the coupler is exposed on the outer surface of the hair tie, rather than lying against the hair held by the ponytail. The coupler can then be grasped between a thumb and finger of the user, and one end of the coupler pulled outward until it is pulled loose from the corresponding (previously) captured portion of the cord. In a further embodiment, the coupler is pulled via a rotation about a transverse axis, so that one end of the coupler is pushed toward the ponytail while the other end is pulled away from it. In some embodiments, a similar one-handed disassembly technique can be used with an accessory embodiment such as a bracelet, belt or ring.

The hair tie or accessory as disclosed herein may provide multiple advantages. For example, disassembly of a hair tie as described herein may allow it to be removed from the hair without painful pulling or loss of hair. When a cord having multiple nodules, such as cord 102, is used, the length of the assembled hair tie or accessory is easily adjusted via selection of which nodule is inserted into the coupler. A cord with multiple nodules may also allow the assembly to have an increased usable lifetime, in that the multiple nodules can provide a kind of redundancy. For example, if the filament portion connecting a nodule at the end of a cord becomes worn out so that the nodule breaks off from the cord, the hair tie or accessory can still be assembled using one of the remaining cord nodules.

Cord 102 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 is only one embodiment of a flexible, elastic cord that can be used in forming the hair tie or accessory disclosed herein. Some examples of other cord configurations are illustrated by the sketches of FIGS. 5a through 5f. As one example, a cord similar to cord 102 may be formed to have filament portions that are longer and more visible when the cord is in an unstretched state. An illustration of such a design is shown in FIG. 5a. Photographs showing an example of this type of design are shown in Image 1 and Image 4 of the Appendix filed with this application, while a photograph of an example of a cord more similar to cord 102 is shown in Image 5 of the Appendix.

In some embodiments, the nodules of a cord are not evenly spaced or do not appear along the entire length of a cord. The sketches of FIGS. 5b, 5d and 5e illustrate cord designs having a varying nodule spacing along the length of the cord. In the example of FIG. 5f, nodules are located near the ends of the cord but not in the central part of its length. The example of FIG. 5f also shows an increased cord thickness in a portion not including nodules compared to filament portions adjacent to nodules. Such an increased thickness may improve strength or durability in some embodiments. In one embodiment, only two nodules are included within a cord: one for fitting into each end of the coupler. An example of such an embodiment is illustrated in Image 6 of the Appendix. In other embodiments, any number of modules greater than or equal to two is included along the cord.

The spheroidal shape of the cord nodules of cord 102 is only one example of nodule shapes that may be used. Other example shapes are illustrated in the sketches of FIGS. 5c, 5d and 5e. Any desired shape may be used, as long as the nodule can be inserted into and retained within the end of a coupler designed for use with the cord. In some embodiments, a cord with a non-spheroidal nodule shape is used with a coupler having cavity profiles designed to be compatible with the nodule shape. In other embodiments, the elasticity and compressibility of the nodule allows it to be retained by a coupler having a cavity that is not matched to the shape of the nodule.

A perspective view showing a portion of an additional embodiment of a cord for use in a hair tie or fashion accessory as described herein is shown in FIG. 6a. Cord portion 600 in FIG. 6a includes nodules having two different shapes: spheroidal modules 602 and disk-shaped modules 604. In an embodiment, flat surface 606 of each module 604 improves the ability of a hair tie formed using cord portion 600 to stay in position in the hair, rather than rolling over along the length of a ponytail. Nodules 604 may in other embodiments take the form of a different shape incorporating at least one flat surface. Cord portion 600 is formed using methods and materials as described above for cord portion 200 or for any other cords described herein.

A side view of cord portion 600 is shown in FIG. 6b. The view of FIG. 6b includes shading lines to indicate curvature of the disk-shaped and spheroidal nodules. In addition to spheroidal nodules 602 and disk-shaped nodules 604, filament portions 608 can be seen in the view of FIG. 6b. Filament portions 608 function in a manner similar to that of filament portions 202 in FIGS. 2a and 2b, allowing an adjacent nodule to be captured within a coupler when assembling a hair tie or fashion accessory. In an embodiment, filament portions 608 have one or more flat surfaces coplanar with flat surfaces of disk-shaped nodules 604. In such an embodiment, filament portions 608 may have an approximately rectangular cross-section.

In an embodiment, cord portion 600 and a coupler for use with the cord portion are configured such that spheroidal nodules 602 function as the nodules to be captured by a coupler. In such an embodiment, nodules 602 would be captured in a manner similar to that shown in FIGS. 4a through 4c, except that in an embodiment using cord portion 600 the nodules immediately outside the coupler would be disk-shaped nodules 604.

In an alternative embodiment, cord portion 600 and a corresponding coupler are configured such that nodules having one or more flat surfaces, such as disk-shaped nodules 604, are the captured nodules. In such an embodiment, an alternative cord design could be used in which each of the nodules along the cord includes one or more flat surfaces. In a further embodiment, cord portion 600 and a corresponding coupler are configured such that either of nodules 602 or 604 can be captured by a coupler.

Cords including nodules having one or more flat surfaces, like other cords described herein, can exhibit innumerable variations and configurations, including those discussed above in connection with FIGS. 5a through 5f. In the embodiment of FIGS. 6a and 6b, cord portion 600 includes alternating spherical nodules 602 and disk-shaped nodules 604. This arrangement may result in the appearance, especially from a distance, of a series of spherical nodules, with improved resistance to slippage provided by the flat surfaces of the disk-shaped nodules. In alternative embodiments, cords employing multiple nodule shapes include other orderings of the different nodule shapes. For example, an embodiment designed to use one nodule shape for the nodule captured by the coupler may include a higher fraction of these nodules suitable for capturing by the coupler near the ends of the cord, and a higher fraction of nodules not designed for capture by the coupler near the center portion of the cord.

In an embodiment, dimensions of cord portion 600 are similar to corresponding dimensions of cord portion 200 in FIGS. 2a and 2b, or of any other cords described herein. In a further embodiment for use as a hair tie, a diameter of nodule 602 or 604 is in the five to six millimeter range, with a height (distance between flat surfaces) of disk-shaped module 604 between two and three millimeters. Smaller or larger sizes of nodule 106 may be suitable in other embodiments for use as hair ties, or for cords used in other fashion accessories. As described above in connection with filament portions 202, filament portions 608 are configured such that the filament portions can be pulled through a slot in a corresponding coupler while being stretched and/or compressed. In one embodiment of a hair tie, a slot in a coupler is approximately one millimeter wide and a cross-section of filament portion 608 in an unstretched state is approximately two millimeters by three millimeters. Additional views of cord embodiments similar to cord portion 600 are shown in Images 7 through 11 of the Appendix filed herewith.

A perspective view showing an additional embodiment of a coupler for use in a hair tie or fashion accessory as described herein is shown in FIG. 7a. Coupler 700 includes a keel portion 702 (labeled on its inner surface), first end portion 704 and second end portion 706. Each of end portions 704 and 706 includes a bore hole 710, having a sidewall 720, and a slot 712 having sidewalls 722. Elements and operation of coupler 700 are similar to those of coupler 104 described above. By comparison to the embodiment of coupler 104, coupler 700 includes a larger bore hole and slot opening width, as a fraction of the overall length or width of the coupler. Coupler 700 also includes more rounded corners moving into each slot along inner edges of end portions 704 and 706.

A top view of coupler 700 is shown in FIG. 7b. A cavity 716 above keel portion 702 runs through coupler 700 in a longitudinal direction, connecting two end cavities 714, with an end cavity 714 partially surrounded by each of end portions 704 and 706. Sidewalls 722 of slot 712 and sidewall 720 of bore hole 710 are also indicated in FIG. 7b. In the embodiment of FIG. 7b, each longitudinal sidewall of keel portion 702 includes a concavity 718, so that a width of coupler 700 is smaller in the area between end portions 704 and 706. In an embodiment, concavities 718 facilitate grasping of coupler 104 between a user's finger and thumb. Concavities 718 may be deeper, shallower, or omitted entirely in other embodiments of the coupler disclosed herein.

An end view of coupler 700, from a direction facing the outside of second end portion 706, is shown in FIG. 7c. In the embodiment of FIG. 7c, coupler 700 is symmetrical and the view is aligned such that first end portion 704 and most of keel portion 702 are hidden from view. Formed within second end portion 706 is bore hole 710 and slot 712 extending from the bore hole up through the uppermost surface of second end portion 706. Because of the symmetry of coupler 700, a view of the other end of the coupler (facing the outside of first end portion 704) would have the same configuration as that of FIG. 7c.

A side view of coupler 700, showing parts of keel portion 702 and end portions 704 and 706, is shown in FIG. 7d. In an embodiment, coupler 700 is symmetrical so that end portions 704 and 706 are of substantially identical shape, though in mirrored orientations. In the embodiment of coupler 700, keel portion 702 includes a concavity 708. In a further embodiment, concavity 708 is contiguous with concavities 718 shown in FIG. 7b, as part of a depression or groove extending around the outer surface of the coupler. A concavity such as concavity 708 may in some embodiments help coupler 700 to better conform to the curve of an assembled hair tie or accessory, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Concavity 708 may be deeper, shallower, or omitted entirely in other embodiments of the couplers disclosed herein. Coupler 708 also includes a lowered sidewall 709 between end portions 704 and 706, creating a “U” shape. This U-shaped profile may be deeper, shallower, or omitted entirely in other embodiments of the coupler.

A cross-sectional view of a cut along the line A-A′ in FIG. 7b is shown in FIG. 7e. The cross-hatched region shown depicts a portion of coupler 700 in the plane of the cut, while the non-cross-hatched regions depict surfaces behind the plane of the cut. Longitudinal cavity 716 can be seen connecting the two end cavities 714. Above its lower portion depicted within the cross-hatched region, the cross-section of end portion 706 continues upward with sidewall 720 of bore hole 710 and sidewall 722 of slot 712. In the embodiment of FIG. 7e, slot sidewall 722 has beveled edges 724 and 726. Edge 726 forms an interior edge surface of U-shaped sidewall 709 in this embodiment. The cross-section of end portion 704 is depicted in a similar manner on the opposite side of coupler 700. Additional views of coupler embodiments similar to coupler 700 are shown in Images 9 through 21 of the Appendix filed herewith.

Coupler 700, like other couplers disclosed herein, is formed of a rigid material. In an embodiment, this material is a rigid plastic such as a polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In a further embodiment, the coupler is formed by injection molding of PVC. Other rigid materials may be used in other embodiments, including but not limited to other plastics, wood, metal or stone materials. Depending on the material used, other fabrication techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art of fabricating rigid articles may be suitable for fabrication of couplers as disclosed herein. For example, techniques such as compression molding, machining, etching or 3-D printing may be suitable in some embodiments.

A coupler as disclosed herein is configured so that a nodule within a flexible elastic cord as described herein is retained after insertion into either end of the coupler. Cavities within the coupler, such as cavities 716 and 714 of coupler 700, are configured to allow the nodule to be inserted into the coupler and to be retained within the coupler during use of the hair tie or accessory. Bore holes, such as bore holes 710 of coupler 700, are configured so that a filament portion of the flexible cord fits within the bore hole after insertion of the nodule, while the nodule itself does not fit through the bore hole. In one embodiment, the filament portion of the flexible cord is under some degree of compression while within the bore hole. Slots, such as slots 712 of coupler 700, are configured so that a filament portion of the flexible cord can be moved through the slot with application of sufficient upward force with respect to the coupler. In an embodiment, the upward force includes a transverse force with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cord. In a further embodiment, the transverse force acts to pull the filament portion back through the slot and out of the coupler. The upward force may also include a longitudinal force in some embodiments. In a further embodiment, the longitudinal force acts to stretch the filament portion, reducing its diameter so that it more easily passes back through the slot. The slot is configured to have a smaller width than the diameter of the filament portion when the cord is in a relaxed or unstretched state.

In one embodiment of a coupler having the form of coupler 700 and designed for use in a hair tie assembly, a length of the coupler along the horizontal direction in FIG. 7b is approximately two centimeters or less. In a further embodiment, this length is between about 1 centimeter and about 2 centimeters. In a still further embodiment, this length is approximately 1.3 centimeters. A width of the widest portion of a coupler having the form of coupler 700 and designed for use in a hair tie assembly, along the vertical direction in the view of FIG. 7b and corresponding to the width in the area where each cord nodule is situated when assembled, is approximately one centimeter or less in one embodiment. In a further embodiment, this width is between about 5 millimeters and about one centimeter. In a still further embodiment, this width is between about 8 and 9 millimeters. In this embodiment, a width at the center of the coupler, between the two end portions, is approximately 7 millimeters. A height of a coupler having the form of coupler 700 and designed for use in a hair tie assembly, along the vertical direction in the view of FIG. 7d, is approximately one centimeter or less in one embodiment. In a further embodiment, this width is between about 5 millimeters and about one centimeter. In a still further embodiment, this height is approximately 8 millimeters. A further embodiment of this coupler has cavities configured to hold in each end of the coupler a cord nodule having a diameter of approximately 5 to 6 millimeters. In a still further embodiment, bore holes at each end of the coupler have a diameter of approximately 2 millimeters, and a slot connecting to each bore hole has a diameter (spacing between slot sidewalls) of approximately 1 millimeter. These dimensions reflect only certain exemplary embodiments, and different dimensions may be suitable in other embodiments.

An embodiment of an assembled hair tie or accessory system 800, including coupler 700 as shown in FIGS. 7a through 7e and cord 600 as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, is shown in FIG. 8a. The view of FIG. 8a shows a portion of the assembled hair tie or accessory in the vicinity of the coupler. Captured nodules 802, one at each end of cord 600, are seated within coupler 700, one behind each of slots 712. In the embodiment of FIG. 8a, captured nodules 802 are instances of spheroidal nodule 602 at each end of cord 600. Because cord 600 includes alternating spheroidal nodules 602 and disk-shaped nodules 604, disk-shaped nodules 604 are adjacent to each end of coupler 700 in the assembly of FIG. 8a. As noted in connection with the description above of FIGS. 6a and 6b, an alternative embodiment of a hair tie system may have a coupler configured such that disk-shaped nodules 604 are captured nodules, or such that either of nodules 602 or 604 can be captured nodules. Although not visible in the view of FIG. 8a, some degree of stretching and/or compression of the instances of filament portions 608 held within bore holes 710 of coupler 700 may occur. This is similar to that described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 4c above. Although disk-shaped nodules 604 are shown in FIG. 8a as oriented with their flat surfaces in a vertical plane of coupler 700 (i.e., the plane of the page for the view of FIG. 7e), cord 600 may rotate with respect to coupler 700 during use of assembly 800, so that flat surfaces of nodules 604 are oriented differently. In an embodiment, use of assembly 800 as a hair tie tends to align flat surfaces of nodules 604 with a horizontal plane of coupler 700, as the flat surfaces lay against the hair in the ponytail gathered by the hair tie. Additional views of assembly embodiments similar to assembly 800 are shown in Images 9 through 11 of the Appendix filed herewith.

A perspective view from the bottom, or back, side of an additional coupler embodiment is shown in FIG. 8b. The view of FIG. 8b is from roughly the opposite direction as the view of FIG. 7a, so that the exterior of the bottom side, rather than the top side, of a coupler is shown. In the embodiment of FIG. 8b, coupler 830 includes a keel portion 832, end portions 834 and 836, and bore holes 840 in each end. Coupler 830 generally includes features similar to those described above for coupler 700. In addition, coupler 830 includes arrays of raised bumps 850 on its back surface. In an embodiment, the texture provided by bumps 850 assists a user in locating the back of the coupler by touch when preparing to disassemble it. This location by touch can be helpful when the coupler is used in a hair tie assembly, since the hair tie is often not visible to the user when in use. Texture provided on the back surface of a coupler can take any desired form, including a logo or any other design. In some embodiments, the texture may be in the form of features recessed below the surface of the coupler, rather than, or in addition to, features extending above the surface. Alternatively or in addition, the texture may be provided by a contrast between relatively rougher and smoother surfaces. Any design or modification allowing a back side of the coupler to be distinguished by touch from other parts of the coupler or from cord nodules within the hair tie assembly may be included in further embodiments. Additional views of coupler embodiments from the back side of the coupler are shown in Images 15 and 18-21 of the Appendix.

The description provided herein is meant to be illustrative of the principles and embodiments of the present invention. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. For example, some embodiments of a hair tie or accessory disclosed herein may employ two or more couplers connecting together a corresponding two or more cords. In other words, the flexible, elastic cord disclosed herein can in some embodiments be formed by connecting together multiple cords or cord portions using additional couplers as disclosed herein. As another example, certain embodiments of couplers as disclosed herein may lack the symmetry exhibited by the couplers illustrated in the drawings and images provided with this disclosure. For example, an embodiment of a coupler may be designed to work with a cord having different nodule dimensions at its respective ends. It is intended that any claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.

Hair Tie or Fashion Accessory

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