US20170071273A1

US20170071273A1 - Adjustable hair band

Info

Publication number: US20170071273A1
Application number: US14/851,930
Authority: US
Inventors: Leigh Ann Robinson-Barnes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-09-11
Filing date: 2015-09-11
Publication date: 2017-03-16

Abstract

Described is an adjustable hair band that includes an elongated main body portion including an exterior side, an interior side, and first and second holes extending between the exterior and interior sides. The adjustable hair band also includes a strap that passes through the first hole and the second hole, the strap including a first end portion that is larger than the first hole and a second end portion that is larger than the second hole. The strap may be configured to move between (i) a loose configuration where the first end portion is adjacent to the exterior side at the first hole and the second end portion is adjacent to the exterior side at the second hole and (ii) a tightened configuration where the first end portion is pulled away from the first hole such that a portion of the strap passes through the first hole.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to adjustable hair bands for securing a wearer's hair and the like.

BACKGROUND

People with long hair often tie or secure their hair for practical and/or aesthetic purposes. For example, it may be necessary to secure hair to prevent hair from interfering with vision or to reduce heat associated with excess hair draping over the person's neck or back. In addition, a user or wearer may desire to secure his or her hair in an aesthetically pleasing style, including the design or style of the device used to secure the hair, such that a hair band may be considered a fashion accessory. It may be necessary to adjust the a user's hair band based on the particular characteristics of the individual and/or the quantity of hair to be secured. Further, based on comfort and to avoid fatigue or headaches associated with hair bands, it may be necessary adjust the hair band after prolonged usage. Conventional hair bands are designed to be worn in a single position without adjustment.
In certain situations, it may be desirable to design a hair band that is adjustable both for a quantity of hair and also is continually adjustable for comfort.

SUMMARY

The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim.
According to certain embodiments of the present invention, an adjustable hair band includes an elongated main body portion including an exterior side, an interior side, a first hole extending between the exterior and interior sides at a first end, and a second hole extending between the exterior and interior sides at a second end. The adjustable hair band also includes a strap that passes through the first hole and the second hole, the strap including a first end portion that is larger than the first hole and a second end portion that is larger than the second hole. The strap may include an elastic material, the strap may be configured to move between (i) a loose configuration where the first end portion is adjacent to the exterior side at the first hole and the second end portion is adjacent to the exterior side at the second hole and (ii) a tightened configuration where the first end portion is pulled away from the first hole such that a portion of the strap passes through the first hole.
According to certain embodiments of the present invention, an adjustable hair band includes an elongated main body portion comprising a first metal grommet inserted into a first hole at a first end and a second metal grommet inserted into a second hole at a second end of the elongated main body portion wherein the second end is opposite of the first end and a strap slidably received in the first metal grommet and in the second metal grommet to form a continuous loop with the elongated main body portion. A first end portion of the strap includes an enlarged portion that is larger than a hole in the first metal grommet, and a second end portion of the strap includes an enlarged portion that is larger than a hole in the second metal grommet. The strap may include an elastic material, and the strap may be configured to move between (i) a loose configuration where the first end portion is adjacent to the first metal grommet and the second end portion is adjacent to the second metal grommet and (ii) a tightened configuration where the first end portion is pulled away from the first metal grommet such that a portion of the strap passes through the first metal grommet.
According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a method of retaining hair with an adjustable hair band includes providing an adjustable hair band comprising: an elongated main body portion comprising a first metal grommet inserted into a first hole at a first end and a second metal grommet inserted into a second hole at a second end of the elongated main body portion wherein the second end is opposite of the first end; and a strap that passes through the first metal grommet and the second metal grommet to form a continuous loop with the elongated main body portion, the strap comprising (i) a first end portion with an enlarged portion that is larger than a hole in the first metal grommet and (ii) a second end portion with an enlarged portion that is larger than a hole in the second metal grommet. The method also includes adjusting the adjustable hair band to a loose configuration where the first end portion is adjacent to the first metal grommet and the second end portion is adjacent to the second metal grommet, and adjusting the adjustable hair band to a tightened configuration where the first end portion is pulled away from the first metal grommet such that a portion of the strap passes through the first metal grommet such that the strap is retained in the tightened configuration due to friction between the strap and the first metal grommet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair band according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair band of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the hair band of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are detail perspective views of the hair band of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hair band according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the hair band of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hair band of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described.
FIGS. 1-7 illustrate embodiments of hair bands 100. In these embodiments, the hair band 100 may include a main body portion 101 and an strap 102 attached to each end of the main body portion 101. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hair band 100 may include an elongated main body portion 101. The main body portion 101 includes an interface at either end for attaching to strap 102. As shown in FIG. 1, the interface may be a hole. In some embodiments, the main body portion 101 includes a grommet 103 for each hole. The main body portion 101 has an exterior side 101 a (visible when the hair band 100 is worn) and an interior side 101 b that contacts the user 1's hair. The strap 102 is slidably received in (i.e., extends or passes through) the two grommets 103 and includes an end portion 104 at each end.
The exterior side 101 a of the main body portion 101 may have an aesthetically pleasing design to suit the individual user 1 and/or different occasions. In some embodiments, the interior side 101 b includes a layer of material configured to grip a user 1's hair. For example, interior side 101 b may include a layer of suede (or any other suitable material).
The end portions 104 of the strap 102 are larger than the internal size of the grommets 103 and may be knotted portions of the strap 102 or may be a decorative component, such as a bead, stone, gem, or any other object. In some embodiments, the end portions 104 may be designed modularly and to be easily removed such that the main body portion 101 may be replaced in order to suit individual tastes or preferences and to be appropriate for various settings or social occasions.
The main body portion 101 is flexible enough and sized to conform to the shape of the user 1's head as a headband (see FIGS. 1-3) or a selected amount of user 1's hair (see FIGS. 5-7) and may include one or materials such as cotton, wool, rayon, polyester, leather, animal skins, other synthetic materials, metal, or plastic (or any combination thereof). In some embodiments, the main body portion 101 is wider than the strap 102; however, in some embodiments, the main body portion 101 is approximately equal in width to the strap 102. The main body portion 101 is approximately flat and is typically inelastic. However, in some embodiments, the main body portion 101 is elastic but stretches less than strap 102. In other words, assuming the materials follow Hooke's Law, the spring constant (defined as force required to create a given change in length) for main body portion 101 is greater than the spring constant of the strap 102.
The strap 102 is configured to adjust between a fully loose configuration where each end portion 104 abuts the respective grommet 103 (see FIG. 4B) and a tightened configuration where one or both of the two end portions 104 is pulled away from main body portion 101 such that a portion 102 a of the strap 102 is pulled through grommet 103 (see FIG. 4A). The end portions 104 are larger than (or include enlarged portions that are larger than) the holes of the grommets 103. The strap 102 comprises fold over elastic, elastic, rubber, elastane (i.e., Spandex or Lycra), or any other elastic material. In some embodiments, the strap 102 is fold over elastic, which does not leave marks in a user 1's hair.
The main body portion 101 and the strap 102 together form a continuous loop such that the main body portion 101 may be positioned over a top of a user 1's head and the two end portions 104 are arranged adjacent to the user 1's ears (see FIG. 3). The continuous loop formed by the main body portion 101 and the strap 102 is sized such that the loop snugly or securely fits a user's head in the loose configuration. The hair band 100 may be adjusted to the tightened configuration to provide a tighter more secure fit or merely to vary the pressure imparted on the user 1's head. Varying the pressure applied by the hair band 100 may help reduce or alleviate headaches.
When adjusting the strap 102 with respect to the main body portion 101, there is friction based on the compressed size of the strap 102 as it passes through the grommet 103. When the hair band 100 is worn as shown in FIG. 3, the user 1 may want to tighten or further tighten the hair band 100. However, due to the friction between the strap 102 and the grommet 103, if the user 1 pulls the end portion 104 outward (perpendicular to the surface of the main body portion 101), the portion of the main body portion 101 adjacent to the grommet 103 will lift off the user 1's head. To avoid this effect, the user 1 can pull the end portion 104 down or down and slightly to the rear. For example, the user 1 can pull the end portion 104 that is approximately parallel to the main body portion 101 along direction P (as shown in FIG. 3). In some embodiments, the direction P is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the user 1's spine.
In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 5-7, the hair band 100 is sized to secure hair in an up position, such as a ponytail, pigtails, braided hairstyles, or any other appropriate hairstyle. For example, the continuous loop formed by the main body portion 101 and the strap 102 is sized such that the loop snugly or securely fits a user 1's ponytail (see FIG. 6). To increase pressure of the hair band 100 around the ponytail or to adjust to a hairstyle with fewer strands of hair, the hair band 100 may be tightened by pulling one or both of the two end portions 104 (similar to the function described above). Another option for tightening the fit of the hair band 100 is to double-loop the strap 102 (such that the hair within the hair band 100 is surround on all sides by either (a) two layers of strap 102 or (b) a layer of main body portion 101 and a layer of strap 102). Once the strap 102 is double-looped, the user 1 may also further tighten the fit of the hair band 100 by pulling one or both of the two end portions 104. As shown in FIG. 7, the hair band 100 (in particular, the embodiment configured for hair in up positions) is configured to be worn on the user 1's wrist as a bracelet (or on an ankle as an anklet). The hair band 100 may looped around the user 1's wrist for storage (i.e., when not needed for the user 1's hair) or may be worn on a user 1's wrist or ankle as an accessory (independent of usage as a hair accessory).
Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims below.

Claims

That which is claimed is:

1. An adjustable hair band comprising:

an elongated main body portion comprising an exterior side, an interior side, a first hole extending between the exterior and interior sides at a first end, and a second hole extending between the exterior and interior sides at a second end; and

a strap that passes through the first hole and the second hole, the strap comprising a first end portion that is larger than the first hole and a second end portion that is larger than the second hole, wherein:

the strap comprises an elastic material; and

the strap is configured to move between (i) a loose configuration where the first end portion is adjacent to the exterior side at the first hole and the second end portion is adjacent to the exterior side at the second hole and (ii) a tightened configuration where the first end portion is pulled away from the first hole such that a portion of the strap passes through the first hole.

2. The adjustable hair band of claim 1, wherein the strap is retained in the tightened configuration due to friction between the strap and the first hole.

3. The adjustable hair band of claim 1, wherein, in the tightened configuration, the second end portion is pulled away from the second hole such that a portion of the strap passes through the second hole.

4. The adjustable hair band of claim 1, wherein the interior side comprises a suede surface configured such that, when worn, the suede surface contacts a user's hair.

5. The adjustable hair band of claim 1, wherein, when worn, the elongated main body portion conforms to a shape of a user's head.

6. The adjustable hair band of claim 5, wherein the elongated main body portion is positioned over a top of a user's head such that the two end portions are arranged adjacent to the user's ears.

7. The adjustable hair band of claim 6, wherein the user pulls at least one end of the strap towards the user's neck to pull a portion of the strap through at least one hole to tighten the strap.

8. The adjustable hair band of claim 1, wherein the first and second holes each comprise a grommet such that the strap passes through two grommets.

9. The adjustable hair band of claim 8, wherein an interior surface of each grommet comprises a textured portion configured to enhance friction between each grommet and the strap.

10. The adjustable hair band of claim 1, wherein the first and second end portions of the strap each comprise at least one of a knot and a decorative bead.

11. The adjustable hair band of claim 1, wherein, when worn, the elongated main body portion is configured to wrap around a plurality of strands of hair extending from a user's head and the adjustable hair band can be removed from the user's hair and wrapped around the user's wrist for storage.

12. The adjustable hair band of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises fold over elastic.

13. An adjustable hair band comprising:

an elongated main body portion comprising a first metal grommet inserted into a first hole at a first end and a second metal grommet inserted into a second hole at a second end of the elongated main body portion wherein the second end is opposite of the first end; and

a strap slidably received in the first metal grommet and in the second metal grommet to form a continuous loop with the elongated main body portion, wherein:

a first end portion of the strap comprises an enlarged portion that is larger than a hole in the first metal grommet;

a second end portion of the strap comprises an enlarged portion that is larger than a hole in the second metal grommet;

the strap comprises an elastic material; and

the strap is configured to move between (i) a loose configuration where the first end portion is adjacent to the first metal grommet and the second end portion is adjacent to the second metal grommet and (ii) a tightened configuration where the first end portion is pulled away from the first metal grommet such that a portion of the strap passes through the first metal grommet.

14. The adjustable hair band of claim 13, wherein the strap is retained in the tightened configuration due to friction between the strap and the first metal grommet.

15. The adjustable hair band of claim 14, wherein the first metal grommet comprises a textured area to enhance friction between the strap and the first metal grommet.

16. The adjustable hair band of claim 13, wherein, in the tightened configuration, the second end portion is pulled away from the second metal grommet such that a portion of the strap passes through the second metal grommet.

17. The adjustable hair band of claim 13, wherein:

when worn in the loose configuration, the adjustable hair band fits securely on a user's head; and

when worn, the adjustable hair band can be adjusted between the loose configuration and the tightened configuration to vary pressure imparted to a user's head to prevent headaches.

18. A method of retaining hair with an adjustable hair band, the method comprising:

providing an adjustable hair band comprising:

a strap that passes through the first metal grommet and the second metal grommet to form a continuous loop with the elongated main body portion, the strap comprising (i) a first end portion with an enlarged portion that is larger than a hole in the first metal grommet and (ii) a second end portion with an enlarged portion that is larger than a hole in the second metal grommet;

adjusting the adjustable hair band to a loose configuration where the first end portion is adjacent to the first metal grommet and the second end portion is adjacent to the second metal grommet;

adjusting the adjustable hair band to a tightened configuration where the first end portion is pulled away from the first metal grommet such that a portion of the strap passes through the first metal grommet such that the strap is retained in the tightened configuration due to friction between the strap and the first metal grommet.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising positioning the elongated main body portion over a top of a user's head such that the two end portions are arranged adjacent to the user's ears.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein adjusting the adjustable hair band to the tightened configuration comprises pulling at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion down towards the user's neck to pull a portion of the strap through the respective metal grommet to tighten the strap.