GB2292076A

GB2292076A - Hair accessory

Info

Publication number: GB2292076A
Application number: GB9416099A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Emil Tenconi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-08-09
Filing date: 1994-08-09
Publication date: 1996-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2014-08-09
Also published as: GB2292076B; GB9416099D0

Abstract

A hair accessory 10 comprises a ring 12 with a cover 14, has means (16) to grip the hair and is adapted to cover a bun of hair. The accessory is adapted to inhibit water from wetting hair placed within it. Ring 12 is provided circumferentially with gripping spikes so that rotation of the accessory will cause it to grip the hair more firmly. The ring is provided with sealing means 28 to help prevent the ingress of water. The cover 14 may be provided with fashion or ornamentation display means and/or be replaceable. A band (44, Fig 15) of elastically stretchable material, may be fitted around the accessory to help the grip and/or sealing. The hair may be treated with a "leave-in" conditioner before being formed into a bun. <IMAGE>

Description

"Hair Accessory" BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION This invention relates to hair accessories.

Hair accessories are known, mainly for decoration but with a few, such as combs, for pinning up long hair and keeping it out of harm's way. There is an ongoing desire to improve hair care and ornamentation.

THE INVENTION The invention consists in a hair accessory as claimed in claim 1 or 2, and preferably as claimed in claim 3. The invention was conceived as a hair care accessory, particularly for preventing the majority of long hair from getting wet when going swimming. (No satisfactory way of doing this has been known before.) It was then realised that the invention might have wider application, as a fashion accessory, in which case it is no longer essential that it inhibit water from wetting the hair. A particularly neat embodiment is obtained as claimed in claim 4. An alternative would be for the cover to enclose the ring and be provided with the gripping means. A particularly user-friendly embodiment is produced when using the features of claim 5.The features of claim 6, and preferably claim 7, and positioning of the spikes inside the ring, add substantially to the ease and efficiency of use. The features of claim 8 provide an extremely efficient embodiment to achieve the foregoing advantages. The features of claim 9 help an embodiment to be particularly easy to use and efficient at gripping the hair. The latter advantage is enhanced by the features of claim 10 and also by the features of claim 11, more particularly with the features of claim 12 and/or 13. The features of claim 14 contribute to the accessory being able to have a better grip and remain in place in the hair. The features of claims 15 to 19 contribute further to providing an accessory which is, overall, easy to use and efficient in remaining in place.The good grip of the accessory, particularly if it is tight, helps to inhibit water entry, as referred to above, but this property can be substantially improved by utilising the features of claim 20. For this purpose, an embodiment would have the features of claim 21 but, as a fashion or like accessory, an embodiment can be provided with the features of claim 22, which facilitates ready manufacture of a wide variety of designs. Indeed, the features of claim 23 are directed to making the accessory more useful to the wearer. It is to be noted that the features of claim 24 can be used to enhance the grip as well as appearance of an embodiment.

Another aspect of the invention consists in a cover and/or display means as claimed in claim 27, this being particularly relevant to embodiments as claimed in claim 23.

Another aspect of the invention consists in a method as claimed in claim 30, which makes for ready and efficient use of the accessory. The method as claimed in claim 31 helps to ensure efficient use of the accessory, while the features of claim 32 enable an easy and reliably repeatable method of obtaining good grip. The grip can be improved by using the features of claim 33. Because of the nature of the accessory and the manner of its use, it is possible to comb out the hair before use of the accessory and then use the features of claim 34 which, as a result of the inhibited ingress of water in combination with these features, will ensure that the hair after swimming, for example, is in much better condition than has heretofore been possible.

DESCRIPTION RELATING TO DRAWINGS Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an accessory embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the Figure 1 embodiment; Figure 3 is a schematic section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a section along the line 44 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 2; Figures 6 and 7 are views corresponding to Figure 5 of alternative embodiments of sealing means; Figure 8 is a view corresponding to figure 5 of an alternative embodiment of a spike; Figure 9 is a view along the line 9-9 of figure 8; Figures 10, 11 and 12 are perspective views of a suitable method of forming a bun; Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the accessory in place over the bun;; Figure 14 is a similar view, after swimming and removing the accessory, showing the approximate quantity of dry hair; and Figure 15 is a view of another embodiment of the accessory corresponding to

the view shown in Figure 13 except that it is not yet completely fixed in place.

F1S lb SIOWS A D5rqcW4bL(;REtEcE #USE Fc'A'C7'o THE Oft'y. Reference is now made to the drawings. In the various embodiments, references having the same first pair of digits denote members that have a similar function and some of these may not be mentioned herein explicitly, or their function detailed, where this notation makes their function obvious.

A hair accessory 10 comprises a ring 12 and cover 14 for the ring 12 and has means 16 for the accessory 10 to grip the hair 18, the accessory 10 being adapted, e.g.

by its size and shape, to cover a bun 20 of the hair 18. By means of the features mentioned below, the accessory 10 is adapted to inhibit water from wetting that part 22 of the hair 18 that is suitably placed wilhin the accessory 10. The ring 12 is itself provided with the gripping means 16 which are constructed and arranged so that rotation of the accessory 10 will cause it to grip the hair 18 and/or grip the hair 18 more firmly.To this end, the gripping means 16 comprise spikes 24, in the region of the base 26 of the ring 12 and inside the latter, the spikes 24 extending in a generally circumferential direction from the ring 12, at least some (and preferably all) of the spikes 24 being springy (i.e. elastically flexible), and being adapted to help grip the hair 18 more firmly, e.g. by helping (with the aid of ring base 261, or at least means 281 attached thereto to be described later and considered as part of the ring 12 for the purpose of defining a recess 30) to define recesses 30 with a restricted opening 32, thus defined between the spike 241 and the ring 121, also by the spike 241 being springy, due to its thinning in this region 34, also by the spikes being scribed at a region 36 to help grip the hair more firmly, and by the spikes 24, 241 being directed and/or curved somewhat inwardly and/or downwardly at region 38, 381, and by means of balls 40 designed both to help retain and grip the hair 18 and to prevent scratching of the scalp and damage to the hair 18. The spikes 24 are about 3cm (11/a") in length 19, the ring 12 is deep enough to cover a bun 20 of the hair 18, preferably about 4cm (11/2'') in depth 17 and is about 9cm to 12cm (31/2" to 41/2") in diameter. The word "about" used herein in relation to a length means + 20%, preferably + 10%.

The ring 12 is provided at its base with sealing means 28, preferably in the form of a thin-walled, very flexible rubber tube, as seen more clearly in Figure 5. For better grip, and better adaptation to the shape of the head, and hence better sealing, there may be provided a rubber tube 282 having the cross section shown in Figure 6 or a pair of rubber tubes, 283 and (to the inside of it in relation to ring 12) 284, arranged as shown in Figure 7. Preferably, the tube in each case is attached to the ring by a suitable glue. Thus, these tubes serve as sealing means to help prevent the ingress of water to the hair inside the ring 12. This is further aided by the hair 18 being twisted very tightly together, in the method described below, and by a suitable water-repellant ingredient (e.g. a silicone) included in a "leave-in" conditioner used as described below.

The cover 14 is adapted to extend across the top of the ring 12 in a watertight manner. It may be in the form of a rubber sheet 14 stretched across a substantially rigid ring 12 or may be formed integrally with the ring 12, e.g. both being made from a plastics material. The cover 14 may be provided with fashion or ornamentation display means 42, e.g. a multi-coloured weaving of wide strips of waterproof cloth, or again a pattern, or again an attached ornamentation, e.g. for children, e.g. in the shape of an octopus, a sea urchin or bows, the cover 14 and/or display means 42 preferably being replaceable so that, for example, children might swap their ornamentations whilst retaining their basic personal accessory 10 in order to minimise the chance of spreading infection,

The accessory 10 may be provided with a band 44 of elastically stretchable material adapted to fit around the ring 12 of accessory 10 to help the accessory grip the hair and/or to improve sealing between the accessory and the hair 18. This band 44 may have a pair of holes 46 so that, once it is stretched and wrapped round the accessory 10, a suitable pin, stick or the like can be inserted through the holes 46, piercing the hair 18 and further helping to retain the accessory 10 in place.

Alternative fixing means may simply be hooks at the free end of band 44 or, again, suitably positioned multiple hook-and-loop fastening pieces, such as those known under the trade name VELCRO. Alternatively, the band 44 need not be stretchable but may be wire-reinforced to aid tight holding and sealing of the accessory 10, e.g.

that known under the trade name JAZZ BANDS, available from "The Head Gardener", 37 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7NL, England.

As shown, there are six spikes 24 in an accessory 10, but this number is not thought to be critical, simply being chosen to give the best grip. The term "spike" is intended to indicate that it is adapted to penetrate into the hair 18. The cover 14 may be provided with a small pocket 48, perhaps to carry a key and a few coins.

The embodiments of the accessory 10 when correctly applied to suitably prepared hair 18 can be fully effective in regard to keeping portion 22 of the hair 18 substantially dry down to a depth of 2 metres (2 yards) and, with use of the band 44, can be used for diving. Preferably, accessory 10 is made buoyant so that, if it comes off or is taken off in the water it will be easy to retrieve.

In a method of treating and/or dressing hair, the hair 18 is formed into a bun 20 and an accessory 10 as described above is placed over the bun 20 so as to grip the hair. The hair is preferably formed into a ponytail 50 with the aid of a ring 52, see Figure 10, and the ponytail 50 is then twisted into said bun 20, see Figures 11 and 12.

The accessory 10 is then placed over the bun 20. Its size and materials may make the accessory 10 then grip the hair but, in any case, the accessory 10 is then rotated so that the spikes 24 dig into the, usually very firm, shell 18 of hair below the ring 52, causing the accessory 10 to grip the hair firmly or more firmly than if not so rotated. The angling or curvature mentioned above causes the hair to slide up the spike which therefore settles the accessory 10 more firmly towards the scalp and provides a better sealing and grip. The hair 18 also travels over the ball 40, which aids retention of accessory 10 in hair 18. The rotation also forces hair under pressure against the springiness of spike 24 into recess 30 which, together with the scribing at region 36, also helps the sealing and grip by accessory 10. A band 44 of elastically stretchable material or being an aforementioned JAZZ BAND, is then fitted around the accessory 10 to help the same grip the hair and/or improve sealing between the accessory and the hair, as mentioned above. To make the shell 54 more firm, multiple rings 52 or multiple twists of an elastic ring 52 may be used. Before the ponytail 50 and/or bun 20 is formed, the hair 18 can be treated with a "leave-in" conditioner as mentioned above.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that features of the different embodiments disclosed herein may be omitted, selected, combined or exchanged and the invention is considered to extend to any new and inventive combination thus formed.

Claims

1. A hair accessory, characterised in that it comprises a ring and a cover for the ring and has means for the accessory to grip the hair.

2. A hair accessory, characterised in that it comprises a ring and a cover for the ring and has means for the accessory to grip the hair and is adapted to cover a bun of the hair.

3. An accessory as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it is adapted to inhibit water from wetting hair suitably placed within the accessory.

4. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the ring is provided with the gripping means.

5. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the gripping means are constructed and arranged so that rotation of the accessory will cause it to grip the hair and/or grip the hair more firmly.

6. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the gripping means comprise spikes.

7. An accessory as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the spikes are in the region of the base of the ring.

8. An accessory as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the spikes extend generally in a circumferential direction from the ring.

9. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that at least some of the spikes are springy.

10. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that at least some of the spikes are adapted to help grip the hair more firmly.

11. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, characterised in that at least some of the spikes help to define recesses with a restricted opening.

12. An accessory as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that it said recesses are defined between a spike the ring.

13. An accessory as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterised in that a said defining spike is springy.

14. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, characterised in that at least some of the spikes are scribed to help grip the hair more firmly.

15. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 14, characterised in that said spikes have a ball end.

16. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 15, characterised in that said spikes are about 3cm (11at") long.

17. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the ring is deep enough to cover a bun of the hair.

18. An accessory as claimed in claim 17, characterised in that the ring is about 4cm (1") deep.

19. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, characterised in that the ring is about 12cm (4l/2") in diameter.

20. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, characterised in that the ring is provided in the region of its base with sealing means to help prevent the ingress of water.

21. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, characterised in that the cover is adapted to extend across the top of the ring in a watertight manner.

22. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, characterised in that the cover is provided with fashion or ornamentation display means.

23. An accessory as claimed in claim 22, characterised in that the cover and/or display means are replaceable.

24. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23, characterised in that it is provided with a band of elastically stretchable material adapted to fit around the accessory to help the same grip the hair and/or improve sealing between the accessory and the hair.

25. A hair accessory, substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.

26. A hair accessory, substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

27. A cover and/or a fashion or ornamentation display means, characterised in that the same is adapted for use as a replaceable part of an accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26.

28. A cover and/or a fashion or ornamentation display means, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

29. A cover and/or a fashion or ornamentation display means, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

30. A method of treating and/or dressing hair, characterised in that the hair is formed into a bun and an accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26 is placed over the bun so as to grip the hair.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30, characterised in that the hair is formed into a ponytail with the aid of a ring and the ponytail is then twisted into said bun.

32. A method as claimed in claim 30 or 31, characterised in that the accessory is rotated to cause it to grip the hair and/or grip the hair more firmly.

33. A method as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 32, characterised in that a band of elastically stretchable material is fitted around the accessory to help the same grip the hair and/or improve sealing between the accessory and the hair.

34. A method as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 33, characterised in that the hair is treated with a "leave in" conditioner before being formed into a bun.

35. A method of treating and/or dressing hair, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

36. A method of treating and/or dressing hair, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A hair accessory, characterised in that it comprises a closed cover for a bun of the hair and means for the accessory to grip the hair immediately around the bun to anchor the accessory to the surrounding hair.

2. A hair accessory, characterised in that it comprises a waterproof cover for a bun of the hair and means for the accessory to grip the hair immediately around the bun to anchor the accessory to the surrounding hair.

3. An accessory as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that il comprises a ring and said cover is a cover for the ring.

4. An accessory as claimed in claim 3 when appendant to claim 1, characterised in that it is adapted to inhibit water from wetting hair suitably placed within the accessory.

5. An accessory as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the ring is provided with the gripping means.

6. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 3 lo 5, characterised in that the gripping means are constructed and arranged so that rotation of the accessory will cause it to grip the hair and/or grip the hair more firmly.

7. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, charlclerised in that the gripping means comprise spikes.

8. An accessory as claimed in claim 7, characterised in thai the spikes are in the region of the base of the ring.

9. An accessory as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the spikcs extend generally in a circumferential direction from the ring.

10. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that at least some of the spikes are springy.

11. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that at least some of the spikes are adapted to help grip the hair more firmly.

12. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11, characterised in that al least some of the spikes help to define recesses with a restricted opening.

13. An accessory as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that it said recesses are defined between a spike the ring.

14. An accessory as claimed in claim 12 or 13, characterised in that a said defining spike is springy.

15. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, characterised in that at least some of the spikes are scribed to help grip the hair more firmly.

16. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 15, characterised in that said spikes have a ball end.

17. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 16, characterised in that said spikes are about 3cm (11/8") long.

18. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 3 lo 17, characterised in that the ring is deep enough to cover a bun of the hair.

19. An accessory as claimed in claim Is, characterised in that the ring is about 4cm (1") deep.

20. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 3 to i 9, characterised in that the ring is about 12cm (41/2") in diameter.

21. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 20, characterised in that the ring is provided in the region of its base with sealing means to help prevent the ingress of water.

22. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 21 when appendant to claim 1, characterised in that the cover is adapted to extend across the top of the ring in a watertight manner.

23. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, characterised in that the cover is provided with fashion or ornamentation display means.

24. An accessory as claimed in claim 23, characierised in that the cover and/or display means are replaceable.

25. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims l to 24, characterised in that it is provided with a band of elastically stretchable material adapted to fit around the accessory to help the same grip the hair and/or improve sealing between the accessory and the hair.

26. A hair accessory, substantially according lo any embodiment hereinbefore described.

27. A hair accessory, substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

28. A cover and/or a fashion or ornamentation display means, characterised in that the same is adapted for use as a replaceable part of an accessory as claimed in any one of claims l to 27.

29. A cover and/or a fashion or ornamentation display means, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

30. A cover and/or a fashion or ornamentation display means, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

31. A method of treating and/or dressing hair, characterised in that the hair is formed into a bun and an accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27 is placed over the bun so as to grip the hair.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, characterised in that the hair is formed into a ponytail with the aid of a ring and the ponytail is then twisted into said bun.

33. A method as claimed in claim 31 or 32, characterised in that the accessory is rotated to cause it to grip the hair and/or grip the hair more firmly.

34. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 33, characterised in that a band of elastically strelchable material is fitted around the accessory to help the same grip the hair and/or improve scaling between the accessory and the hair.

35. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 34, characterised in that the hair is treated with a "leave in" condilioncr before being formed inlo a bun.

36. A method of treating anchor dressing hair, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

37. A method of treating anchor dressing hair, substantially according to any example hereinbcforc described with reference lo and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

38. Hair thal has been lrcalcd alld/ol dresscd by a method as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 37.