US20130146082A1

US20130146082A1 - "CUFF EM" flexible cuff created for dreadlocks, braids and natural african american hair

Info

Publication number: US20130146082A1
Application number: US13/374,120
Authority: US
Inventors: Reeda Annette Grinnard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-12-10
Filing date: 2011-12-12
Publication date: 2013-06-13

Abstract

This invention is a flexible hair cuff made from jewelry wire. This cuff is geared to style dreadlocks, and natural African American hair. The flexible cuff is constructed as one unit. There are several pieces of evenly cut wire in each cuff. After the cuff is styled two jewelry end caps are used to complete the cuff. The flexible cuff comes in a variety of colors. The flexibility of the cuff allows control of how tight or loose depending on the thickness of the hair. The flexible cuff is easy to use, hair is held up by hand and the cuff is then placed around the style and squeezed together to desired tightness. The purpose of this invention was to create something that would hold and style dreadlocks etc. This invention provides an inexpensive attractive unisex hair accessory that does not require any specialized machinery.

Description

This invention referring to provisional application #U.S. 61/459,315 filing date Dec. 10, 2010 provides a new way to style dreadlocks, braids and natural African American hair, although not exclusively, as people of all cultures have dreadlocks. The objective of this invention was to get away from elastic hair accessories that pull the hair and over long use became very uncomfortable. Most hair accessories currently on the market are not geared to the thickness of natural African American hair. The flexible cuff is so comfortable to use you don't even now you are wearing it. The overall purpose of this invention was to create a hair accessory that would hold and style dreadlocks that's not elastic based. This invention provides an inexpensive attractive hair accessory that is unisex and does not require and specialized machinery.
This invention is comprised of aluminum jewelry wire and metal jewelry end caps that vary in size from eight to ten cm. The aluminum jewelry wire is cut into predetermined lengths. The ponytail length is usually ten inches. When the hair is put up into different styles, the length can vary from fourteen to twenty-four inches. There are two design styles, the braid (designed in a tight braid as you would hair) and the twist. (As per my provisional patent application #U.S. 61/459,315, I presented more complex styles that proved to be not as flexible). The two styles that I now present are the most flexible and have a better hold.
There are several pieces of evenly cut wire in each flexible aluminum wire cuff. The wire is then securely held for styling. With the wire being firmly held the wire cuff is styled into the desired design, the braid or the twist.
After the braiding or twisting of the flexible cuff is finished, It is then prepared to be affixed to the metal jewelry end caps, the wire is manipulated to fit the jewelry end caps that range in a diameter of eight to ten cm. Once the flexible wire cuff is prepared and ready for the jewelry end caps to be affixed, heavy strength glue is used to affix the jewelry end caps to the finished braided and or twisted product.
At this time the flexible cuff is ready for use. Hair is held with one hand and the flexible cuff with the other the flexible cuff is efficiently secured around the hair by just squeezing the cuff to desired tightness. It can also be used as a headband around a natural Afro style. It is an attractive versatile hair accessory that comes in a variety of colors and clearly promotes creative hair styling.

DISCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In FIG. #1 jewelry wire is being held for styling.
In FIG. #2 the styling of the flexible cuff
In FIG. #3 the finished product is tightly braided.
In FIG. #4 jewelry end caps are affixed to the finished braid.
(as this product is unique and one of a kind, the photos will give a more enlightened view of how the flexible cuff is used) in FIGS. #5, 5A, 5B, is shown how to use the flexible cuff. The hair is gathered into desired style. The flexible cuff is held under the hair. The flexible cuff is then pushed around the hair to its desired tightness to hold the individual style of your choice.
In FIGS. #6 and #7 is shown the versatility of the flexible cuff.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Flexible cuff comprising:

a. aluminum jewelry wire

b. metal jewelry end cap

c. means of securing metal jewelry end caps

2. The flexible cuff of claim 1, constructed several pieces of evenly cut aluminum jewelry wire. The cuff is cut to the desired length. Usually varies from ten thru twenty-four inches.

3. The flexible cuff of claim 1, further is styled into a braid or twist design.

4. The flexible cuff of claim 1, wherein the jewelry end caps are affixed to constructed design of the cuff.

5. The method of making a flexible cuff of aluminum jewelry wire comprising of the steps:

a. providing several pieces of a predetermined length of jewelry wire.

b. aluminum jewelry wire is held to secure for design. There are two designs created the braid and the twist.

c. the braid design consist of several pieces of jewelry wire evenly divided. The wire is then styled into a braid.

d. the twist design consist of several pieces of jewelry wire evenly divided. The wire is then tightly twisted.

e. upon completing said designs, the flexible cuff is prepared for the jewelry end caps to be affixed. The wire will be manipulated to ensure that jewelry end caps can be affixed.

f. heavy duty glue is applied to the jewelry end caps to ensure that the jewelry end caps stay affixed to said flexible jewelry wire cuff.

I further claim that there are many hair accessories currently on the market, but I believe that the flexible wire cuff is the first of its kind. It is a hand-made fashionable unique invention that is custom fit to your individual style that does not damage or pull the hair.