Patent Application
20240016276
The present inventive technology relates to the field of forming hair, and may be particularly suited to form hair into a ponytail. Ponytails, and other ways to form hair into ponytail-like shapes, may be well known in the field of hair forming. However, conventional techniques to form hair into ponytails and ponytail-like shapes may have drawbacks that wearers of these kinds of hair styles may find undesirable. For example, conventional techniques to form ponytails or ponytail-like shapes may fail to provide lift for the ponytail structure, which may cause the ponytail structure to droop or even lie flat on the wearer's back. Some persons may find the appearance of such “drooping” or “flat” ponytails to be unattractive and, as a practical matter, these kinds of “drooping” or “flat” ponytails also may inhibit air circulation at a wearer's neck, thus perhaps creating discomfort as compared to a “lifted” ponytail. Additionally, some persons may find the visible appearance of devices worn in the hair that create ponytails or ponytail-like shapes to be unattractive, and may prefer that such worn structures not be visible.
The foregoing problems related to conventional formation of hair into ponytails or ponytail-like structures may represent a long-felt need for an effective solution to the same. While some of the implementing elements may have been available, actual attempts to meet this need may have been lacking to some degree. This may have been due to a failure of those having ordinary skill in the art to fully appreciate or understand the nature of the problems and challenges involved. As a result of this potential lack of understanding, attempts to meet these long-felt needs may have failed to effectively solve one or more of the problems or challenges here identified. These attempts may even have led away from the technical directions taken by the present inventive technology and may even result in the achievements of the present inventive technology being considered to some degree an unexpected result of the approach taken by some in the field.
In one embodiment, an object of the inventive technology may be to provide a wearable hair form apparatus comprising a proximal end of a wearable hair form configured for placement facing toward a wearer's head, a distal end of the wearable hair form configured for placement facing away from the wearer's head, at least one fastener of the proximal end of the wearable hair form configured to securely engage the proximal end of the wearable hair form to a first portion of the wearer's hair, and a self-aligning trough of the distal end of the wearable hair form configured to receive a second portion of the wearer's hair therein and configured to allow the second portion of the wearer's hair to extend freely beyond the distal end of the wearable hair form.
In another embodiment, an object of the inventive technology may be to provide a method for forming hair comprising the steps of separating a wearer's hair into a first portion of the wearer's hair and a second portion of the wearer's hair, securely engaging a wearable hair form to the first portion of the wearer's hair with at least one fastener of a proximal end of the wearable hair form configured for placement facing towards the wearer's head, placing the second portion of the wearer's hair into a self-aligning trough of a distal end of the wearable hair form configured for placement facing away from the wearer's head, and allowing the second portion of the wearer's hair placed into the self-aligning trough of the distal end of the wearable hair form to freely extend beyond the distal end of the wearable hair form.
Naturally, further objects of the inventive technology will become apparent from the description and drawings below.
It should be understood that embodiments include a variety of aspects, which may be combined in different ways. The following descriptions are provided to list elements and describe some of the embodiments of the inventive technology. These elements are listed with initial embodiments; however, it should be understood that they may be combined in any manner and in any number to create additional embodiments. The variously described examples and preferred embodiments should not be construed to limit the embodiments of the application to only the explicitly described systems, techniques, and applications. The specific embodiment or embodiments shown are examples only. The specification should be understood and is intended as supporting broad claims as well as each embodiment, and even claims where other embodiments may be excluded. Importantly, disclosure of merely exemplary embodiments is not meant to limit the breadth of other more encompassing claims that may be made where such may be only one of several methods or embodiments which could be employed in a broader claim or the like. Further, this description should be understood to support and encompass descriptions and claims of all the various embodiments, systems, techniques, methods, devices, and applications with any number of the disclosed elements, with each element alone, and also with any and all various permutations and combinations of all elements in this or any subsequent application.
With reference generally to
With reference to
With further reference generally to
The wearable hair form (3) apparatus may have a distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3) configured for placement facing away from the wearer's head. The distal end (4) may be understood as that part of the wearable hair form (3) most distant from a wearer's head when the form is worn by a wearer such as in the manners herein described, may have any size, shape, or other attribute otherwise consistent with use of the form such as in the manners herein described, and accordingly may be understood as configured to be facing away from the wearer's head when placed for use such as in the manners herein described.
The wearable hair form (3) apparatus may have at least one fastener (6) of the proximal end (2) of the wearable hair form (3) configured to securely engage the proximal end (2) of the wearable hair form (3) to a first portion (5) of a wearer's hair. The fastener (6) may be of any kind suitable to attach, connect, or otherwise make fast the proximal end (2) of the wearable hair form (3) to or within the first portion (5) of the wearer's hair. Examples of a fastener (6) in various embodiments may include hooks, clamps, elastic bands, and other fasteners as may be generally known in the field of forming hair. In some embodiments, a fastener (6) may be a comb having a plurality of teeth. A proximal end (2) that is securely engaged may be understood to involve such proximal end (2) being sufficiently stable and fixed in place in the first portion (5) of the wearer's hair to allow the wearable hair form (3) apparatus to form the wearer's hair, such as in the manners herein described. Accordingly, embodiments may involve securely engaging a wearable hair form (3) to a first portion (5) of a wearer's hair with at least one fastener (6) of a proximal end (2) of a wearable hair form (3) configured for placement facing towards a wearer's head, which may involve securely engaging with a comb having a plurality of teeth.
The wearable hair form (3) apparatus may have a self-aligning trough (8) of the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3) configured to receive a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair therein and configured to allow said second portion (7) of the wearer's hair to extend freely beyond the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3). Embodiments accordingly may involve placing a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair into a self-aligning trough (8) of a distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3) configured for placement facing away from a wearer's head, and allowing such second portion (7) of the wearer's hair placed into the self-aligning trough (8) of the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3) to freely extend beyond the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3).
The trough (8) may be understood in some embodiments to utilize an elongate channel, depression, or the like, for example such as may be formed by or as may lie between relatively higher left and right sides (9) of the distal end (4). This configuration of the trough (8) may be seen to facilitate the receiving of a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair therewithin. For example, a second portion (7) of the wearer's hair arranged into a ponytail or ponytail-like shape may be appreciated itself as being elongate in shape, and therefore may naturally complement the shape of the trough (8) when received into the trough (8).
A self-aligning trough (8) may be understood to align hair received therewithin as a function of the shape, form, or configuration of the trough (8) itself. For example, in some embodiments the simple fact of the trough as being relatively lower compared to relatively higher left and right sides (9) of distal end (4) may dictate that hair received within the trough (8) may be self-aligned between left and right sides (9). However, the trough (8) naturally may be further configured to accomplish additional, perhaps even more refined or precise self-alignment, such as by utilizing shapes, forms, or configurations of the bottom of the trough, for example as may be described elsewhere herein.
Additionally, the trough (8) may be open, substantially open, or otherwise unobstructed at its proximal and distal ends, for example in a configuration sufficient to allow a second portion (7) of the wearer's hair (shaped, for example, as a ponytail or ponytail-like shape) to be introduced into the trough (8) at its proximal end, to lie within the trough (8) along the trough's length, and to allow any length of the hair exceeding the length of the trough (8) to extend freely beyond the trough's distal end, and indeed beyond the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3).
In various embodiments, a self-aligning trough (8) may be oriented along a length of the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3). For example, where the distal end (4) may have a lengthwise dimension, such as perhaps a length tending to run in direction from the proximal end (2) of a wearable hair form (3) to the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3), the lengthwise dimension of the self-aligning trough (8) itself may be oriented along such length of the distal end (4). Accordingly, various embodiments may involve placing a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair oriented along a length of the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3) within a self-aligning trough (8).
Now with reference generally to
In some embodiments, a self-aligning trough (8) may be configured to support a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair within an arc length of up to 180 degrees. For example, the bottom of the trough (8) and left and right sides (9) of the trough (8) may surround, support, and/or align the wearer's hair by containing the hair in a structure of the trough (8) beginning from substantially below the hair and extending to form a containing structure having an arc length of up to 180 degrees. It may be appreciated that such 180 degree arc length simply is a measure of arc distance, and that the trough itself need not be arc shaped, but rather may be of any shape consistent with the inventive principles described herein (such as without limitation, oval shaped, square shaped, U-shaped, V-shaped, and the like). Accordingly, embodiments may involve supporting a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair with a self-aligning trough (8) from below within an arc length of up to 180 degrees.
In various embodiments, a self-aligning-trough (8) may be configured to support a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair substantially in place within the self-aligning trough (8) by gravity. This may follow from the nature of the trough (8), such as wherein hair placed into the trough (8) may rest therein by gravity, and the relatively long and narrow shape of the trough (8) may tend to contain and support the hair substantially as placed therein, particularly when the hair is shaped into a ponytail or ponytail-like shape. Accordingly, embodiments may involve supporting a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair substantially in place within a self-aligning trough (8) by gravity.
A self-aligning trough (8) may have any shape consistent with the inventive principles described herein. For example, in various embodiments, a self-aligning trough (8) may be or substantially be U-shaped, V-shaped, oval-shaped, square shaped, irregularly shaped, may lie flat along its length, may be curved along its length, and the like. Accordingly, embodiments may involve placing a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair into a self-aligning trough (8) that is or is substantially U-shaped, V-shaped, oval-shaped, square shaped, irregularly shaped, flat along its length, curved along its length, and the like.
For example, in various embodiments a self-aligning trough (8) may be a substantially tubular self-aligning trough (8) open at the top. This may be understood to involve troughs (8) that, in cross section, rather than being fully enclosed, are simply partially enclosed, for example to allow a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair to be placed within the trough (8). Moreover, the otherwise tubular shape of such a trough (8) need not be in the nature of a cylindrical tube, but may encompass oval-shaped tubes, square-shaped tubes, U-shaped tubes, V-shaped tubes, and the like. Accordingly, embodiments may involve placing a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair into a tubular or substantially tubular self-aligning trough (8) open at the top.
With reference to
A self-aligning trough (8) in various embodiments may be a continuous curved self-aligning trough piece. This may be understood to involve the trough (8), when seen in cross section, as being a piece having a continuously curved shape. Naturally, in other embodiments, a self-aligning trough (8) need not be a continuous curved self-aligning trough piece, but may have a cross sectional profile having sharp angles, irregular shapes, or the like. Accordingly, embodiments may involve placing a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair within a continuous curved self-aligning trough piece of said self-aligning trough (8).
In various embodiments, a self-aligning trough (8) may be a trough (8) configured to align a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair between left and right sides (9) of the trough (8). For example, the shape of the left and right sides (9) may tend to align hair within the trough (8) by the containment of the hair within or against such sides (9), which may result in said self-alignment of the hair by the trough (8). Such self-alignment by the trough (8) may be particularly effective when the second portion (7) of the wearer's hair is gathered into a ponytail or ponytail-like shape, as such a shape may complement the shape of the trough (8). Accordingly, embodiments may involve aligning a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair with left and right sides (9) of the trough (8).
In various embodiments, a self-aligning trough (8) may be a trough (8) configured to align a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair at the bottom of the trough (8). For example, the shape of the bottom of the trough (8) may tend to align hair within the trough (8) by the containment of the hair within or against such shape of the bottom of the trough (8), which may result in self-alignment of the hair by the trough (8). Such shape of the bottom of the trough (8) may be any as may be suitable for aligning or tending to align hair, such as including but not limited to a bottom of the trough (8) that is U-shaped, V-shaped, oval-shaped, square shaped, irregularly shaped, shaped to lie flat along the length of the trough (8), shaped to be curved along the length of the trough (8), and the like. Accordingly, embodiments may involve aligning a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair with the bottom of the trough (8).
Now with reference generally to
In some embodiments, the bridge portion (13) may be integrated into the overall structure of a wearable hair form (3), such as wherein the wearable hair form (3) is made (in whole, or even in part for the part of the form containing the bridge portion (13)) from one piece of material. In other embodiments, the bridge portion (13) may be formed by joining portions of the form together, such as for example where the bridge portion (13) comprises a section of the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3) received within a section of the proximal end (2) of the wearable hair form (3) to form the bridge portion (13), or for example where the bridge portion (13) comprises a section of the proximal end (2) of the wearable hair form (3) received within a section of the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3) to form the bridge portion (13). Accordingly, embodiments may involve forming a bridge portion (13) by inserting a section of the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3) into a section of the proximal end (2) of the wearable hair form (3) and forming a bridge portion (13) by inserting a section of the proximal end (2) of the wearable hair form (3) into a section of the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3).
In some embodiments, the bridge portion (13) may be flat, as in not creating an angle between the proximal end (2) and the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3). For example, a flat bridge portion (13) may create a flat transition between the proximal end (2) and distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3). It should be noted, however, that the proximal end (2) and/or the distal end (4) may or may not themselves be flat, notwithstanding the flatness of the bridge portion (13). In embodiments where the proximal end (2) and distal end (4) themselves are flat or substantially flat, however, it may be appreciated that a flat bridge portion (13) may create a flat profile (14) of the wearable hair form (3), at least along those surfaces of the form that are flat with respect to one another.
In some embodiments, a bridge portion (13) of a wearable hair form (3) may form a fixed angle (15) between the proximal end (2) of the wearable hair form (3) and the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3). The angle (15) may serve, for example, to address wearer preferences in the use of the form, such as perhaps permitting different lifts or elevations of a second portion (7) of the wearer's hair gathered into a ponytail or ponytail-like shape, or such as permitting different angles of fastener (6) securely engaged to a first portion (5) of the wearer's hair for a given lift or elevation of the second portion (7) of the wearer's hair. Naturally, a bridge portion (13) may be angled at any suitable fixed angle (15) consistent with the inventive principles herein described. In some embodiments, a fixed angle (15) may be an angle from 0 degrees to 90 degrees, an angle of 80 degrees, an angle of 60 degrees, or an angle of 40 degrees. Accordingly, embodiments may involve forming a fixed angle (15) between the proximal end (2) of a wearable hair form (3) and the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3) with a bridge portion (13) of the wearable hair form (3), which may include forming a fixed angle (15) by inserting a section of the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3) into a section of the proximal end (2) of the wearable hair form (3), forming a fixed angle (15) by inserting a section of the proximal end (2) of the wearable hair form (3) into a section of the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3), forming a fixed angle (15) from 0 degrees to 90 degrees, forming a fixed angle (15) of 80 degrees, forming a fixed angle (15) of 60 degrees, and forming a fixed angle (15) of 40 degrees.
In some embodiments, a bridge portion (13) of a wearable hair form (3) may form an adjustable angle (15) between the proximal end (2) of the wearable hair form (3) and the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3). The range through which the angle (15) may be adjusted may be any as may be suitable consistent with the inventive principles herein discussed. For example, in some embodiments, an adjustable angle (15) may be an angle configured to be adjusted from 0 degrees to 90 degrees. Moreover, a bridge portion (13) forming such an adjustable angle (15) may be of any kind suitable otherwise consistent with the inventive principles discussed herein, such as, in some embodiments, a hinge, a pivot, a ball-and-socket, or the like. Accordingly, embodiments may involve adjusting an angle (15) between the proximal end (2) of a wearable hair form (3) and the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3) with a bridge portion (13) of the wearable hair form (3), which may involve adjusting an angle (15) within a range from 0 degrees to 90 degrees, and which may involve adjusting a hinge, adjusting a pivot, adjusting a ball-and-socket, or the like.
Now with reference generally to
In some embodiments, a concealment wrap (10) simply may be a third portion (11) of a wearer's own hair. This may be shown in one exemplary embodiment in
In other embodiments, a concealment wrap (10) may be a concealment wrap accessory (12). Such an accessory may be any thing suitable to accomplish concealing, camouflaging, or otherwise reducing the visibility of some or all of the wearable hair form (3) by wrapping the accessory around some or all of the wearable hair form (3). For example, in various embodiments, a concealment wrap accessory (12) may be or include a cord, a band, a strip, a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber, an elastic material, an inelastic material, and the like. Accordingly, concealing in various embodiments may involve wrapping at least a portion of a wearable hair form (3) with a concealment wrap accessory (12).
A concealment wrap accessory (12) in various embodiments may be a hair match accessory, which may be understood to involve selecting one or more attributes of the accessory to match one or more attributes of a wearer's hair. Any suitable attributes of the accessory may be matched to selected attributes of a wearer's hair, such as in order to facilitate blending of the accessory with the wearer's hair. For example, embodiments may involve a hair color match accessory (as wherein a color of the accessory may be matched to a color of the hair), a hair texture match accessory (as wherein a texture of the accessory may be matched to a texture of the hair), and the like. Accordingly, in various embodiments wrapping may involve matching a concealment wrap accessory (12) to a wearer's hair, and matching may involve matching a color of a concealment wrap accessory (12) to the color of the wearer's hair and/or matching a texture of a concealment wrap accessory (12) to the texture of a wearer's hair.
A concealment wrap accessory (12) in various embodiments may be joined to the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3). Some embodiments may involve the accessory affixed to the distal end (4) such that it may not be removed, while other embodiments may involve the accessory removably joined to the distal end (4), such as at at least one attachment point (1), so that the accessory may be removed and re-joined to the distal end (4) at will. Joining the accessory to the distal end (4), whether by affixation or removable joining, may be done in any suitable manner, such as with adhesives, magnets, ties, staples, clips, screws, injection molding, hook and loop materials, and the like. In some embodiments, a concealment wrap accessory (12) may be removably joined to the distal end (4) with Velcro®.
Accordingly, wrapping in various embodiments may involve wrapping at least a portion of the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3) with a concealment wrap accessory (12) joined to the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3), wrapping at least a portion of the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3) with a concealment wrap accessory (12) removably joined to the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3) at at least one attachment point (1), and wrapping at least a portion of the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3) with a concealment wrap accessory (12) removably joined to the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3) at at least one attachment point (1) with Velcro®.
In some embodiments, a concealment wrap accessory (12) may be configured for clockwise or counter-clockwise wrap around a self-aligning trough (8). This may prove useful, for example, as addressing the various preferences of left-handed versus right-handed individuals. Such configuration may involve, for example, providing attachment points on left and right sides of the distal end (4) to which the concealment wrap accessory (12) may be removably attached at the wearer's preference, or configuring the concealment wrap accessory (12) as a band or other laminar form lending itself to clockwise or counter-clockwise wrap of the self-aligning trough (8). Accordingly, wrapping in various embodiments may involve wrapping a concealment wrap accessory (12) clockwise or counterclockwise around a self-aligning trough (8) of the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3).
In some embodiments, a concealment wrap accessory (12) may be configured to substantially completely wrap the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3) having a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair received within a self-aligning trough (8). This may, for example, serve to substantially conceal the distal end (4) while providing lift to the second portion (7) of the wearer's hair formed into a ponytail or ponytail-like shape and extending freely beyond the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3), such as may be shown in one exemplary embodiment in
In some embodiments, a concealment wrap accessory (12) may be configured to secure a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair received within a self-aligning trough (8) of a distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3). In this manner, the accessory may be seen as lending additional securement and stability to hair already otherwise supported by the trough (8). Accordingly, wrapping in various embodiments may involve securing a second portion (7) of a wearer's hair received within a self-aligning trough (8) of the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3).
In various embodiments, a concealment wrap accessory (12) may be used in conjunction with a wearer's own hair to substantially or completely hide a wearable hair form (3). For example, a wearable hair form (3) may be configured to be substantially concealed by a first portion (5) of the wearer's hair securely engaged to the proximal end (2) of the wearable hair form (3), by a second portion (7) of the wearer's hair received within a self-aligning trough (8) of the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3), and by the concealment wrap accessory (12) received by the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3). It may be appreciated that considered arrangement of the wearer's hair and the concealment wrap accessory (12) in this manner may result in substantially or completely hiding the wearable hair form (3). Accordingly, in various embodiments, securely engaging a wearable hair form (3) to a first portion (5) of a wearer's hair, placing a second portion (7) of the wearer's hair into a self-aligning trough (8) of the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3), and concealing at least a portion of the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3) with a wrap (10) may involve substantially concealing the wearable hair form (3) with the first portion (5) of the wearer's hair, the second portion (7) of the wearer's hair, and the wrap (10).
Embodiments may employ the concealment wrap accessory (12) in various combinations of concealment, orthogonal wrap, and pivot. As but one illustrative example, some embodiments may involve a concealment wrap accessory (12) removably joined to a distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3) at at least one attachment point (1) and configured for the concealment of the attachment point or points, for at least a first 360 degree orthogonal wrap of the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3), for at least a second 180 degree orthogonal wrap of the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3), and for pivot to substantially align with the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3), and may be secured in place with a suitable securement, such as a bobby pin or the like. Accordingly, wrapping in various embodiments may involve removably joining a concealment wrap accessory (12) to the distal end (4) of a wearable hair form (3) at at least one attachment point (1), orthogonally wrapping the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3) with at least a first 360 degree wrap of the concealment wrap accessory (12), orthogonally wrapping the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3) with at least a second 180 degree wrap of the concealment wrap accessory (12), pivoting the concealment wrap accessory (12) to substantially align with the distal end (4) of the wearable hair form (3), and concealing the attachment point or points with the concealment wrap accessory (12).
In some embodiments, a wearable hair form (3) may be a device that adds height and volume to a wearer's hair in a ponytail format. This may be shown in one exemplary embodiment in
A wearable hair form (3) and any parts of portions thereof as described herein may be made of any suitable material, such as metals, plastics, woods, ivory, tortoiseshell, and the like. In some embodiments, plastics may be utilized having characteristics that may be known and beneficial for combs or other devices used with or worn in the hair.
A wearable hair form (3) and any parts or portions thereof as described herein may have any suitable widths, lengths, proportions, dimensions, configurations, and the like sufficient to achieve the ends herein described. For example, proximal ends (2) configured as combs may be combs having various widths, depths, numbers of teeth, teeth spacing, curvature, and the like so as to facilitate engagement of the proximal end (2) to a variety of kinds and styles of wearer hair. Self-aligning troughs (8) may have various widths, lengths, depths, curvatures, and the like, for example so as to accommodate ponytails that may vary from thick to thin depending on the hair texture or other hair characteristics of individual wearers. In some embodiments, a wearable hair form (3) may be or be approximately 9.2 centimeters in length, 2.5 centimeters wide at a distal end (4) configured as a self-aligning trough (8), 3.3 centimeters wide at a proximal end (2) configured as a comb, and 3.5 centimeters in length of the proximal end (2) configured as a comb, as may be shown in
Some embodiments may involve providing a wearable hair form (3) having alternative wear options for a wearer. For example, the wearable hair form (3) may be provided with multiple options for the wear of a self-aligning trough (8), such as having one or more self-aligning troughs (8) having alternative sizes, shapes, configurations, or the like. Similarly, the wearable hair form (3) may be provided with multiple options for proximal ends (2), such as configured for the wear of combs having alternative sizes, shapes, configurations, and the like. In some embodiments, alternative wear options may be manifested perhaps simply as the provision of multiple, separate wearable hair forms (3) having the alternative wear options, such as where multiple, separate wearable hair forms (3) may be packaged together. In some embodiments, alternative wear options may be manifested perhaps as interchangeable parts of a wearable hair form (3), such as where the form may permit self-aligning troughs (8) of a distal end (4) to be changed out for one another, or such as where the form may permit combs of a proximal end (2) to be changed out for one another.
The wearable hair form (3) in various embodiments may be packaged, pre-packaged, or otherwise provided to a wearer having some or all of the various items and attributes herein described in any and all various combinations, such as combs, troughs, hinges, securements, wraps, and the like, each and all perhaps having different combinations of colors, textures, and other characteristics and the like. For example, in some embodiments, a wearable hair form (3) may be provided as packaged having three different size combs with a wrap and a bobby pin or pins, for example so that a wearer may be able to pick and choose the best match for hair color or other hair characteristics.
While the present invention has been described in connection with some preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the statements of inventions. Examples of alternative claims may include:
As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the various embodiments of the present invention(s) may be embodied in a variety of ways. It involves both hair form techniques as well as devices to accomplish the appropriate forming of hair. In this application, the hair form techniques are disclosed as part of the results shown to be achieved by the various devices described and as steps which are inherent to utilization. They are simply the natural result of utilizing the devices as intended and described. In addition, while some devices are disclosed, it should be understood that these not only accomplish certain methods but also can be varied in a number of ways. Importantly, as to all of the foregoing, all of these facets should be understood to be encompassed by this disclosure.
The discussion included in this patent application is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible; many alternatives are implicit. It also may not fully explain the generic nature of the various embodiments of the invention(s) and may not explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be representative of a broader function or of a great variety of alternative or equivalent elements. As one example, terms of degree, terms of approximation, and/or relative terms may be used. These may include terms such as the words: substantially, about, only, and the like. These words and types of words are to be understood in a dictionary sense as terms that encompass an ample or considerable amount, quantity, size, etc. as well as terms that encompass largely but not wholly that which is specified. Further, for this application if or when used, terms of degree, terms of approximation, and/or relative terms should be understood as also encompassing more precise and even quantitative values that include various levels of precision and the possibility of claims that address a number of quantitative options and alternatives. For example, to the extent ultimately used, the existence or non-existence of a substance or condition in a particular input, output, or at a particular stage can be specified as substantially only x or substantially free of x, as a value of about x, or such other similar language. Using percentage values as one example, these types of terms should be understood as encompassing the options of percentage values that include 99.5%, 99%, 97%, 95%, 92% or even 90% of the specified value or relative condition; correspondingly for values at the other end of the spectrum (e.g., substantially free of x, these should be understood as encompassing the options of percentage values that include not more than 0.5%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 8% or even 10% of the specified value or relative condition, all whether by volume or by weight as either may be specified). In context, these should be understood by a person of ordinary skill as being disclosed and included whether in an absolute value sense or in valuing one set of or substance as compared to the value of a second set of or substance. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure and should (and, it is believed, would) be understood to a person of ordinary skill in this field. Where the application is described in device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitly performs a function. Apparatus claims may not only be included for the device described, but also method or process claims may be included to address the functions of the embodiments and that each element performs. Neither the description nor the terminology is intended to limit the scope of the claims that will be included in any subsequent patent application.
It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the various embodiments of the invention(s). Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. They still fall within the scope of the various embodiments of the invention(s). A broad disclosure encompassing the explicit embodiment(s) shown, the great variety of implicit alternative embodiments, and the broad methods or processes and the like are encompassed by this disclosure and may be relied upon when drafting the claims for any subsequent patent application. It should be understood that such language changes and broader or more detailed claiming may be accomplished at a later date (such as by any required deadline) or in the event the applicant subsequently seeks a patent filing based on this filing. With this understanding, the reader should be aware that this disclosure is to be understood to support any subsequently filed patent application that may seek examination of as broad a base of claims as deemed within the applicant's right and may be designed to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of embodiments of the invention(s) both independently and as an overall system.
Further, each of the various elements of the embodiments of the invention(s) and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. Additionally, when used or implied, an element is to be understood as encompassing individual as well as plural structures that may or may not be physically connected. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an embodiment of any apparatus embodiment, a method or process embodiment, or even merely a variation of any element of these. Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the various embodiments of the invention(s), the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms—even if only the function or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which embodiments of the invention(s) is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. Regarding this last aspect, as but one example, the disclosure of a “form” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “forming”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “forming”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a “form” and even a “means for forming.” Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description. Further, each such means (whether explicitly so described or not) should be understood as encompassing all elements that can perform the given function, and all descriptions of elements that perform a described function should be understood as a non-limiting example of means for performing that function. As other non-limiting examples, it should be understood that claim elements can also be expressed as any of: components, programming, subroutines, logic, or elements that are configured to, or configured and arranged to, provide or even achieve a particular result, use, purpose, situation, function, or operation, or as components that are capable of achieving a particular activity, result, use, purpose, situation, function, or operation. All should be understood as within the scope of this disclosure and written description.
Any patents, publications, or other references mentioned in this application for patent are hereby incorporated by reference. Any priority case(s) claimed by this application is hereby appended and hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with a broadly supporting interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood as incorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms such as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition are hereby incorporated by reference. Finally, all references listed in the Information Disclosure Statement or other information statement filed with the application are hereby appended and hereby incorporated by reference, however, as to each of the above, to the extent that such information or statements incorporated by reference might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of the various embodiments of invention(s) such statements are expressly not to be considered as made by the applicant(s).
Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to have support to claim and make claims to embodiments including at least: i) each of the hair form devices as herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative designs which accomplish each of the functions shown as are disclosed and described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such processes, methods, systems or components, ix) each system, method, and element shown or described as now applied to any specific field or devices mentioned, x) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, xi) an apparatus for performing the methods described herein comprising means for performing the steps, xii) the various combinations and permutations of each of the elements disclosed, xiii) each potentially dependent claim or concept as a dependency on each and every one of the independent claims or concepts presented, and xiv) all inventions described herein.
With regard to claims whether now or later presented for examination, it should be understood that for practical reasons and so as to avoid great expansion of the examination burden, the applicant may at any time present only initial claims or perhaps only initial claims with only initial dependencies. The office and any third persons interested in potential scope of this or subsequent applications should understand that broader claims may be presented at a later date in this case, in a case claiming the benefit of this case, or in any continuation in spite of any preliminary amendments, other amendments, claim language, or arguments presented, thus throughout the pendency of any case there is no intention to disclaim or surrender any potential subject matter. It should be understood that if or when broader claims are presented, such may require that any relevant prior art that may have been considered at any prior time may need to be re-visited since it is possible that to the extent any amendments, claim language, or arguments presented in this or any subsequent application are considered as made to avoid such prior art, such reasons may be eliminated by later presented claims or the like. Both the examiner and any person otherwise interested in existing or later potential coverage, or considering if there has at any time been any possibility of an indication of disclaimer or surrender of potential coverage, should be aware that no such surrender or disclaimer is ever intended or ever exists in this or any subsequent application. Limitations such as arose in Hakim v. Cannon Avent Group, PLC, 479 F.3d 1313 (Fed. Cir 2007), or the like are expressly not intended in this or any subsequent related matter. In addition, support should be understood to exist to the degree required under new matter laws—including but not limited to European Patent Convention Article 123(2) and United States Patent Law 35 USC 132 or other such laws—to permit the addition of any of the various dependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim or concept as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim or concept. In drafting any claims at any time whether in this application or in any subsequent application, it should also be understood that the applicant has intended to capture as full and broad a scope of coverage as legally available. To the extent that insubstantial substitutes are made, to the extent that the applicant did not in fact draft any claim so as to literally encompass any particular embodiment, and to the extent otherwise applicable, the applicant should not be understood to have in any way intended to or actually relinquished such coverage as the applicant simply may not have been able to anticipate all eventualities; one skilled in the art, should not be reasonably expected to have drafted a claim that would have literally encompassed such alternative embodiments.
Further, if or when used, the use of the transitional phrases “comprising”, “including”, “containing”, “characterized by” and “having” are used to maintain the “open-end” claims herein, according to traditional claim interpretation including that discussed in MPEP § 2111.03. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that the terms “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, “include” or variations such as “includes” or “including”, “contain” or variations such as “contains” and “containing”, “characterized by” or variations such as “characterizing by”, “have” or variations such as “has” or “having”, are intended to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps. Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive form so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible. The use of the phrase “or any other claim” or the phrase “or any other clause” is used to provide support for any claim or clause to be dependent on any other claim or clause, such as another dependent claim or clause, another independent claim or clause, a previously listed claim or clause, a subsequently listed claim or clause, and the like. As one clarifying example, if a claim were dependent “on claim 9 or any other claim” or the like, it could be re-drafted as dependent on claim 1, claim 8, or even claim 11 (if such were to exist) if desired and still fall with the disclosure. It should be understood that these phrases also provide support for any combination of elements in the claims or clauses and even incorporates any desired proper antecedent basis for certain claim combinations or clause combinations such as with combinations of method, apparatus, process, and the like claims or clauses.
Finally, any claims set forth at any time are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the various embodiments of the application, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon.
