WO2021058985A1

WO2021058985A1 - Hair accessory

Info

Publication number: WO2021058985A1
Application number: PCT/GB2020/052344
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marie DIFOLCO
Original assignee: Difolco Marie
Priority date: 2019-09-27
Filing date: 2020-09-28
Publication date: 2021-04-01

Abstract

A hair accessory for covering a hair bun comprises a fabric pouch and a substantially toroidally shaped bun former. The fabric pouch is shaped to cover a hair bun and has an opening, and fastening means for fastening the opening of the fabric pouch to the hair bun. The fabric pouch and the bun former are at least partially secured together. A method of treating hair using the hair accessory is also disclosed.

Description

Hair Accessory

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hair accessory that can be used to cover a bun, and in particular a hair bun that uses a hair bun former as the foundation of the bun, relates to a hair accessory that can be used to cover a bun whilst a treatment is being applied to the hair.

Background of the Invention

Medium to long length hair is often required to be restrained in various situations including schools, kitchens, factories and other places of work, or merely for fashion purposes. Medium to long length hair can be styled into a bun. This type of hair style is also popular with athletes such as ballet dancers and gymnasts as it is well suited for athletic activity.

A doughnut shaped bun shaper product is a well-known accessory that can be used to aid the formation of a bun. These products have a substantially toroidal shape and are typically made of a resilient mesh material. To use a doughnut bun shaper the user puts their hair into a standard pony tail using a standard hair elastic, then inserts the pony tail through the hole in the centre of the bun shaper. The hair is then wrapped around the bun shaper and the ends secured with hairpins and/or a second hair elastic. Bun shapers are also available as an elongate length of substantially cylindrical mesh material, which is then formed into a doughnut shape by joining the two ends before use, for example using press studs. Bun covers exist only in the form of hair nets, which only partially cover the hair. These types of covers do not offer the opportunity for corporate branding or coordination with clothing, and do not cover all of the hair in the bun.

It would be desirable to provide an improved hair accessory.

Sun damage to hair can also be a problem, particularly on holiday in sunny climates. People attempt to protect hair from sun damage by wearing a hat or bandana, or by applying UY protector spray. Deep conditioning treatments are useful to sun damaged hair, but typically these must be left to work on the hair for some time, which is not always convenient.

Medium to long length hair undergoing a deep conditioning treatment can be styled into a bun to restrain the hair, however there is no way to discreetly cover the treated hair whilst continuing with your day.

It would be desirable to provide a hair accessory that can be used alongside a hair treatment.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a hair accessory for covering a hair bun comprising a fabric pouch and a bun former, the bun former having a substantially toroidal shape, wherein the fabric pouch is shaped to cover a hair bun, the fabric pouch having an opening, and fastening means for fastening the opening of the fabric pouch to the hair bun, wherein the fabric pouch and the bun former are at least partially secured together. The bun former may be formed into a substantially toroidal shape before use.

The hair bun may be constructed using the bun former.

The hair accessory may further comprise a foil pouch, wherein the foil pouch is shaped to cover a hair bun, the foil pouch having an opening and fastening means for fastening the opening of the foil pouch to the hair bun. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a hair accessory for covering a hair bun comprising a foil pouch, a fabric pouch, and a bun former, wherein each pouch is shaped to cover a hair bun, each pouch having an opening, and fastening means for fastening the opening of each pouch to the hair bun. The fastening means of the fabric pouch may comprise an elasticated seam surrounding the opening of the pouch. Alternatively, the fastening means may comprise a draw string cord located in a seam surrounding the opening of the fabric pouch. In a further alternative, the fastening means may be selected from the group comprising: press studs, buttons, adhesive tape, cord or ribbon ties, and hook and loop fastenings. The fabric pouch may be fastened to the hair bun using a combination of fastening means.

The fastening means of the foil pouch may comprise an elasticated seam surrounding the opening of the pouch. Alternatively, the fastening means may comprise a draw string cord located in a seam surrounding the opening of the foil pouch. In a further alternative, the fastening means may be selected from the group comprising: press studs, buttons, adhesive tape, cord or ribbon ties, and hook and loop fastenings. The foil pouch may be fastened to the hair bun using a combination of fastening means.

The fabric pouch and the bun former may be fully secured together such that the bun former is not removeable from the fabric pouch. The fabric pouch and the bun former may be stretched together to cover the hair bun such that the hair bun locates within the substantially central hole of the bun former. The bun former and the fabric pouch may be secured together by stitching.

The fabric pouch may include both fabric or non-fabric adornments, for example ribbons, sequins, beads, buttons, badges, lace, and precious and non-precious stones.

The bun former includes an inner surface which in use lies adjacent to the hair and the inner surface of the bun former may provided with gripping elements for gripping hair. The gripping elements may be gripping teeth.

The hair accessory may be provided as a kit of parts. The kit of parts may further include at least one resilient hair elastic. The kit of parts may further include at least one hairpin. A further aspect of the invention provides a method for treating hair using the hair accessory as hereinbefore defined the method comprising the steps of:

(a) applying a hair treatment to the hair;

(b) forming the hair into a bun;

(c) covering the bun with the foil pouch; and

(d) covering the foil pouch with the fabric pouch.

The bun former and the fabric pouch may be at least partially secured together, wherein the bun former is located within the fabric pouch and the bun former and fabric pouch are together used to cover the foil pouch.

The hair accessory of the invention provides a solid cover, in the form of a fabric pouch, for a hair bun which may or may not be formed using a bun former. The fabric pouch may be easily customised or branded and can be manufactured using any type of material including, but not limited to, cotton, polyester, Lycra, and plush fabric.

The hair accessory of the invention also allows a user to cover and style a hair bun whilst a treatment is being applied to the hair. The inner foil pouch aids the absorption of the treatment into the hair and also protects the outer fabric pouch from the treatment.

Brief Description of the drawings

In the Drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of a hair accessory of the invention, and are by way of example:

Figure la illustrates a side view of a first stage of application of the hair accessory of the invention, showing hair secured in a pony tail;

Figure lb illustrates a side view of a second stage of application of the hair accessory of the invention, showing the bun former of Figure 2a applied to the pony tail; Figure lc illustrates a perspective view of a third stage of application of the hair accessory of the invention, showing hair from the pony tail being spread over the bun former;

Figure Id illustrates a rear view of a fourth stage of application of the hair accessory of the invention, showing a completed hair bun; Figure 2a illustrates a perspective view of a doughnut shaped bun former;

Figure 2b illustrates a perspective view of an alternative elongate bun former that can be made into a doughnut shape;

Figure 3a illustrates a perspective view of a fifth stage of application of the hair accessory of the invention, showing the hair bun of Figure Id covered with a bun cover of the invention; Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view of the completed hair bun of Figure 3a;

Figure 4a illustrates a rear plan view of a bun cover;

Figure 4b illustrates a side view of the bun cover of Figure 4a;

Figure 5a illustrates a front view of an alternative bun cover;

Figure 5b illustrates a front view of a further alternative bun cover; Figure 6a illustrates a rear plan view of a bun cover with drawstring fastening means;

Figure 6b illustrates a rear plan view of a bun cover with press stud fastening means;

Figure 6c illustrates a rear view of a bun cover with tie fastening means;

Figure 7a illustrates a bun cover accessory;

Figure 7b illustrates the bun cover accessory of Figure 7a in use; Figure 8 illustrates an alternative application of the hair accessory of the invention;

Figure 9a illustrates a rear view of an alternative embodiment of the invention comprising a bun cover and bun former partially secured together; Figure 9b illustrates a cross-section along the line A-A in Figure 9a;

Figure 10a illustrates a first stage of application of the hair accessory of Figure 9a;

Figure 10b illustrates a second stage of application of the hair accessory of Figure 9a;

Figure 11a illustrates a rearview of an alternative embodiment of the invention comprising a bun cover and bun former fully secured together;

Figure lib illustrates a cross-section along the line B-B in Figure 11a;

Figure 11c illustrates a cross-sectional view of the hair accessory of Figure 11a in use;

Figure 12a illustrates a rear plan view of a foil bun cover forming part of an alternative embodiment of the invention; Figure 12b illustrates a front plan view of the foil bun cover of Figure 12a;

Figure 13a illustrates a rear view of a fabric bun cover for use in conjunction with the foil bun cover of Figure 12a;

Figure 13b illustrates a front view of the fabric bun cover of Figure 13a;

Figure 14 illustrates the hair bun of Figure Id covered with a foil bun cover of Figure 12a; Figure 15a illustrates the hair bun of Figure 14 covered with a fabric bun cover of Figure

12a;

Figure 15b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the hair treatment accessory of Figure 15a; Figure 16a illustrates a bun cover accessory;

Figure 16b illustrates a perspective view of a hair bun covered with a bun cover and the bun cover accessory of Figure 16a; and

Figure 17 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the hair treatment accessory comprising foil and fabric pouches where the fabric pouch is secured to a bun former. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring now to the figures, Figure la illustrates the first step in the process of application of the hair accessory of the invention to the hair. The hair is first fastened into a pony tail 12 using a standard hair elastic 10. The pony tail 12 is then passed through a standard, toroidally shaped bun former 14 as shown in Figure lb. The bun former may have a toroidal shape, as shown in Figure 2a or may be formable into a toroidal shape, for example by the joining together of two ends of an elongate former 14’, using press studs 11 for example, as shown in Figure 2b. A typical bun former is fabricated from a mesh material and has elastic properties so that it can be stretched over the hair. Once in position, hair is then spread around the bun former 14 as shown in Figure lc and then the ends of the hair are secured around the bun former 14 using a second hair elastic or hair pins, in the normal way to form a bun 16 as shown in Figure Id.

A bun cover 18 is then placed over the bun, to cover it, as shown in Figure 3a and 3b. Different sized bun formers are available and the bun cover 18 is sized to match the bun former 14. As shown in Figures 4a and 4b, a typical bun cover 18 comprises a substantially circular piece of fabric in which the outer edge has been gathered, preferably using elastic, forming a pouch with an elasticated seam 20. The pouch is sized to contain the bun former 14.

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate examples of various different bun covers. The bun cover 18 may comprise plain fabric, patterned fabric, or may have a logo printed or attached thereon. The bun cover may include non-fabric adornments, such as the owl face illustrated in Figure 5b.

The bun cover 18 may be secured to the bun using just the elasticated seam 20. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 6a, 6b and 6c, the bun cover may be secured using alternative fastening means, such as a drawstring cord fastening means 28, ribbons or ties 30 or hook and loop fastenings or press studs 32.

The bun cover 18 may have additional adornments such as ribbons 26 or beads, or feathers for example, attached at the lower edge of the pouch so that these hang downwardly from the bun cover 18 when in place on the head. Alternatively, a bun cover accessory may be used, as shown in Figures 7a and 7b, which comprises a hair elastic 34 with ribbons 26, for example, attached. The hair elastic 24 is applied over the bun cover 18, such that it sits around the base of the bun, allowing the ribbons 26 to hang downwardly from the bun. The bun cover accessory 34 may be sized to fit the particular bun former and bun cover being used. The bun cover may be selected to coordinate with an outfit, or a particular celebration, such as Christmas or Easter, or Halloween for example. It may be used to display team colours, or flags or a particular logo, or to show support for a particular event or charity.

It is not essential for all the hair to be drawn into the ponytail and subsequently the bun. It is also not necessary to cover the bun former 14 with the hair, since the bun former 14 will be covered by the bun cover 18. The hair from the pony tail 12 may be left dangling down from the covered bun former as shown in Figure 8. Since the bun former 14 is completely covered by the bun cover 18, it is suitable for use with hair that would typically be seen as too short to use with a normal doughnut bun former 14.

Figures 9a and 9b illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the doughnut bun former and bun cover are partially joined together. As shown in Figure 9a, the bun former 14 and bun cover 18 are joined together, for example by sewing along the line indicated at 36. The bun former 14 and bun cover 18 are only partially secured together such that the lower half of the bun former 14 can be removed from the bun cover, leaving the top half of the bun former 14 secured to the bun cover 18.

To use this form of the hair accessory, the bun former 14 is partially removed from the bun cover 18 and secured over a pony tail as shown in Figure 10a by passing the pony tail through the central hole 15 in the bun former. The bun cover 18 is then pulled down over the lower half of the bun former 14 as shown in Figure 10b. The hair from the pony tail 12 is left dangling down from the bun as shown. In this example the pouch is shown using elasticated fastening means 20, however the alternative fastening means discussed in relation to the first embodiment could also be used here. As discussed previously, the bun cover 18 could be provided with non-fabric adornments, or a bun cover accessory could be used.

The doughnut bun former and bun cover may be fully joined together, for example by stitching around the full circumference as illustrated in Figure 11a. In this embodiment of the invention the bun former 14 is not removeable form the bun cover 18. Instead, the hair is formed into a bun 21 by first forming a pony tail and then twisting the hair in the pony tail around the base of the pony tail to form a bun 21 which is then secured with elastic hair ties and/or clips. The combination of bun former 14 and bun cover 18 is then stretched over the preformed bun 21, locating the hair bun 21 within the central hole 15 in the bun former as shown in Figure 11c. The hole in the middle of the bun former may be provided with a plurality of ‘teeth’ or gripping elements 22 which help the bun former 14 to grip the hair. Alternatively, the bun former 14 is fabricated from a material which helps to grip the hair.

The bun cover of the invention can also be used to cover a bun whilst a hair treatment is being applied to the hair. Hair conditioner, or other hair conditioning treatment is then applied to the hair prior to the formation of the hair bun. The hair conditioner or other hair conditioning treatment preferably include a UY sunscreen. Only the hair in the pony tail may be treated with the hair conditioning treatment, or the treatment may be applied to the whole head. The pony tail can then be formed into a bun using a standard toroidally shaped doughnut bun former 14 as previously shown in Figures la to Id. As previously described, the bun former may have a toroidal shape, as shown in Figure 2a or may be formable into a toroidal shape, for example by the joining together of two ends of an elongate former 14’, using press studs 11 for example, as shown in Figure 2c.

Figures 12a and 12b illustrate a foil bun cover or 17 which typically comprises a substantially circular piece of foil, in which the outer edge has been gathered, preferably using elastic, forming a pouch. The foil pouch 17 is placed over the bun 16, covering the bun, and therefore covering hair treated with the conditioning treatment, as shown in Figure 14.

A fabric bun cover or pouch 18 as previously described is then placed over the foil bun cover 17 as shown in Figure 15a. Figure 15b illustrates a cross-section through a bun covered with both foil 17 and fabric 19 covers. The fabric bun cover 18 allows a stylish look, which may be coordinated with the wearer’s outfit, whilst simultaneously allowing discreet conditioning treatment of the hair in the bun.

The foil bun cover 17 conducts heat from the sun into the bun, warming the hair 12 which has conditioning treatment applied to it. Heating up the hair allows the conditioning treatment to be absorbed into the hair more easily. The foil bun cover 17 is also waterproof and prevents the conditioning treatment from leaking through onto clothes or onto the fabric bun cover, which would be unsightly and may stain.

The hair treatment accessory might be used on holiday, allowing the wearer to condition their hair during the day, with the heat of the sun aiding the absorption of the conditioning treatment into the hair. The outermost fabric bun cover could be made from plain or patterned fabric, or from swimsuit fabrics, such as polyamide, polyester and spandex based fabric, and could be made to match the user’s swimwear, making a stylish addition to the wearer’s outfit. The conditioning treatment can then be washed out at the end of the day, leaving the user with beautifully silky hair.

Both the foil and fabric bun covers may be secured to the bun using just the elasticated seams 19, 20. Alternatively, each bun cover may be secured using alternative fastening means, as previously described and illustrated in Figures 5a to 5c.

A bun cover accessory 28 may be used, as shown in Figure 16, which in this example comprises a hair elastic 30 with artificial flowers 32, attached. The hair elastic 24 is applied over the fabric bun cover 18, such that it sits around the bun, as shown in Figure 16. The bun cover accessory 28 may be sized to fit the particular bun former and bun covers being used. The bun former and fabric pouch may be fully or partially stitched together as previously described in relation to Figures 8 and 10. In this example, the bun former is not removed from the bun cover to form the bun. Instead, the treated hair is formed into a bun by first forming a pony tail and then twisting the hair in the pony tail around the base of the pony tail to form a bun which is then secured with elastic hair ties and/ or clips. The foil pouch will then be applied over the bun, and finally the combination of bun former and bun cover is then stretched over the foil pouch covered bun, locating the foil pouch within the central hole 15 in the bun former. Figure 17 illustrates a cross section through a through a bun covered with both foil 17 and fabric 19 covers in which the bun former is at least partially attached to the fabric cover 19 and is not used to form the hair bun.

The bun cover of the invention provides a stylish cover for a hair bun that can be easily coordinated to outfits or provided with corporate branding. It is an easy to apply accessory that is useful for dancers, gymnasts, cheer leaders, and for anyone that needs to, or simply wants to restrain their hair, either for aesthetic purposes, convenience, or for health and safety reasons, such as in kitchens or factories. The bun covers could be branded as event merchandise, or used as part of corporate events. Use of the bun cover in conjunction with a doughnut bun former gives the hair accessory structure to support the application of logos or branding.

The hair treatment accessory of the invention allows a wearer to apply a conditioning treatment to their hair, whilst also providing a stylish cover for the hair being treated. The inner foil pouch allows a hair treatment to be discreetly applied to the hair, whilst also helping to heat the hair and improve absorption of the treatment into the hair. The outer fabric cover can easily be coordinated to outfits or swimwear or provided with corporate branding. Use of the foil and fabric bun covers in conjunction with a doughnut shaped bun former gives the hair accessory structure and gives it a smooth, sleek look.

Claims

1. A hair accessory for covering a hair bun comprising a fabric pouch and a bun former, the bun former having a substantially toroidal shape, wherein the fabric pouch is shaped to cover a hair bun, the fabric pouch having an opening, and fastening means for fastening the opening of the fabric pouch to the hair bun, wherein the fabric pouch and the bun former are at least partially secured together.

2. A hair accessory for covering a hair bun according to Claim 1, wherein the hair bun is constructed using the bun former.

3. A hair accessory for covering a hair bun according to any preceding claim, further comprising a foil pouch, wherein the foil pouch is shaped to cover a hair bun, the foil pouch having an opening and fastening means for fastening the opening of the foil pouch to the hair bun.

4. A hair accessory for covering a hair bun comprising a foil pouch, a fabric pouch, and a bun former, wherein each pouch is shaped to cover a hair bun, each pouch having an opening, and fastening means for fastening the opening of each pouch to the hair bun.

5. A hair accessory for covering a hair bun according to any preceding claim, wherein the fastening means of the fabric pouch is selected from the group comprising: an elasticated seam surrounding the opening of the fabric pouch, a drawstring cord, press studs, buttons, adhesive tape, cord or ribbon ties, and hook and loop fastenings.

6. A hair accessory for covering a hair bun according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the fastening means of the foil pouch is selected from the group comprising: an elasticated seam surrounding the opening of the foil pouch, a drawstring cord, press studs, buttons, adhesive tape, cord or ribbon ties, and hook and loop fastenings.

7. A hair accessory for covering a hair bun according to any preceding claim, wherein the fabric pouch and the bun former are fully secured together.

8. A hair accessory for covering a hair bun according to any preceding claim, wherein the fabric pouch includes non-fabric adornments.

9. A hair accessory for covering a hair bun according to any preceding claim, wherein the bun former includes an inner surface which in use lies adjacent to the hair and wherein the inner surface of the bun former is provided with gripping elements for gripping hair.

10. A method for treating hair using the hair accessory as defined in any of Claims 3 to 9, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) applying a hair treatment to the hair;

(b) forming the hair into a bun;

(c) covering the bun with the foil pouch; and

(d) covering the foil pouch with the fabric pouch.

11. A method according to Claim 10, wherein the bun former and the fabric pouch are at least partially secured together, the bun former is located within the fabric pouch and the bun former and fabric pouch are together used to cover the foil pouch.