Headband having a natural hair appearance

Abstract

A headband, for use by a person having a length of hair, using a device comprising synthetic hair fibers joined to an elastic band to form a closed loop. The synthetic hair fibers are joined to the elastic band with a pair of connectors. The hair is inserted into the closed loop, and the device is tensioned around the hair with the synthetic hair fibers exposed in front of the person's head, and the elastic band extending around the back of the person's head, hidden beneath the person's hair.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES AND RELATED SUBJECT MATTER

[0001] This application relates to subject matter contained in patent application Ser. No. 09/525,601, filed in the United States Patent Office on Mar. 14, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a headband having a natural hair appearance. More particularly, the invention relates to a device which securely attaches around the head of the user to act as a headband, but which provides the outward appearance of natural hair, where exposed.

[0003] Certain hairstyles dictate that a portion of the hair is gathered and held back using a headband. The most traditional way to gather and group hair is by tying it with a ribbon or some other fabric such as a scarf, a bandanna, or the like. However, holding back hair with a ribbon or the like requires coordination and dexterity. In addition, removing the ribbons can be difficult and tedious as one attempts to blindly undo a knot.

[0004] Hair clips and elastic bands are also used to gather and bind groups of hair. Hair clips grab the hair between a pair of jaws which are spring-tensioned against one another. The jaws are flexed apart, placed around the hair grouping, and are released to clamp and hold the hair grouping. Elastic bands are generally in the shape of a ring which is stretched over the hair grouping and released to hold the hair in place.

[0005] The main drawback of hair clips and elastic bands is their unnatural appearance. Although they are available in a variety of colors, decorated with synthetic and precious stones, and even covered in fabrics, they are always noticeable when in the hair.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,211 to Brown discloses an apparatus and method for securing a ponytail. Brown uses a device which employs an elastic loop which can secure around a ponytail, and a length of hair which is attached to the elastic loop at one end, but is free at its opposite end.

[0007] While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the invention to produce a device for holding back hair, which itself has a natural hair appearance. Accordingly, the device employs fine fibers which simulate natural human hair.

[0009] It is a further object of the invention to provide a headband which securely binds the hair. Accordingly, the device employs an elastic band which can be tensioned to firmly maintain the length of hair. The elastic band is then hidden underneath the user's natural hair.

[0010] The invention is a headband, for use by a person having a length of hair, using a device comprising synthetic hair fibers joined to an elastic band to form a closed loop. The synthetic hair fibers are joined to the elastic band with a pair of connectors. The hair is inserted into the closed loop, and the device is tensioned around the hair with the synthetic hair fibers exposed in front of the person's head, and the elastic band extending around the back of the person's head, hidden beneath the person's hair.

[0011] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a top plan view, illustrating the invention, per se.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view with parts broken away, illustrating one of the two connectors according to the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, illustrating the invention in use, being used to gather and hold a length of hair.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, illustrating the invention in use, wherein the hair has been gathered, such that the synthetic hair is displayed prominently on top of and in front of the person's head, and wherein the elastic band is concealed beneath the length of hair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a headband 10, comprising an elastic band 12, and a group of synthetic hair fibers 14. The elastic band 12 has a pair of elastic band ends 12E. The synthetic hair fibers 14 are all of substantially the same length, and collectively have a pair of synthetic hair fiber ends 14E. A pair of connectors 16 are used to permanently join each one of the elastic band ends 12E to one of the hair fiber ends 14E. Accordingly, the synthetic hair fibers 14 and elastic band 12S together form a closed loop.

[0018] The synthetic hair fibers 14 are made of a material which greatly resembles human hair. Suitable materials are commonly used in wigs, hair extensions, and hair pieces. However, typically these materials resist tensile deformation. In other words, they typically cannot be stretched without breaking.

[0019] The elastic band 12 is made of a stretchable material, such as rubber, or the like. The elastic band 12 thus provides the headband 10 with the necessary elasticity so that it can stretch around a group of hair on the user's head, and then exert a constricting tension against that group of hair to hold it in place.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, each connector 16 is a sleeve having a pair of connector open ends 18. One of the elastic band ends 12E is inserted into one of the connector open ends 18, and one of the synthetic hair fiber ends 14E is inserted into the other connector open end 18E. Once inside the connector, the synthetic hair fibers and elastic band are fused therein using heat, adhesives, chemicals, mechanical friction, or any other suitable means. The fibers and elastic band need not be directly fused to one another, since the connector 16 joins them indirectly. As seen in FIG. 1, using two connectors 16 completes the closed loop to form the headband 10.

[0021] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate the headband 10 in use binding the hair of a person 50, having a head 51, having a head front 51F and a head rear 51R. A length of hair 52 extends from the head 51 of the person 50. The headband 10 has been attached aroung the length of hair 52 by inserting the length of hair through the closed loop of the headband 10 so that the headband 10 fully encircles the length of hair 52. At this point, the closed loop fits loosely over the length of hair 52.

[0022] In order to make the headband 10 fit tightly over the length of hair 52, the headband 10 is pulled forward so that the synthetic fibers 14 extend across the front 51F of the head 51. Then, the elastic band 12 is pulled underneath the hair around the rear 51R of the head 51. When the elastic band 12 is pulled around the rear 51R of the head 51, it becomes stretched, and thus tensioned. Since the elastic band portion forms a continuous loop with the less stretchable synthetic hair fibers, the tensioned elastic band acts to pull the synthetic hair fibers 14 tightly around the head 51. The overall tension in the closed loop of the headband 10 acts to hold back the person's hair. Meanwhile, the synthetic fibers 14 are displayed prominently, extending across the front 51F of the head, while the elastic band 12 pulls tightly against the rear 51R of the head, where it is hidden from view by the length of hair 52. Accordingly, as long as the synthetic hair fibers are suitably matched in color to the hair of the person, the headband 10 then appears to be part of that person's natural hair.

[0023] It should be noted then, that since the majority of the continuous loop is exposed to view during ordinary usage of the headband 10 and only a portion is hidden beneath the hair, the synthetic hair fibers of the headband are made to be significantly longer than the untensioned elastic band.

[0024] In conclusion, herein is presented a headband suitable for holding back a length of hair, which provides the outward appearance of natural human hair, while tightly holding back the hair and maintaining the hairstyle.

Claims

1. A headband, for holding back a length of hair, comprising:

an elastic band, having a pair of elastic band ends, the elastic band capable of being tensioned and untensioned;

synthetic hair fibers, collectively having a pair of synthetic hair fiber ends, wherein synthetic hair fibers are substantially greater in length than the untensioned elastic band; and

wherein each of the elastic band ends is permanently joined with one of the synthetic hair fiber ends so that the elastic bands and synthetic hair fibers together form a closed loop.

2. The headband as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pair of connectors, wherein each of the elastic band ends is joined with one of the synthetic hair fiber ends with one of the connectors.

3. The headband as recited in claim 2, wherein each of the connectors comprises a sleeve and has two connector ends, wherein for each connector one of the elastic band ends is secured in one of its connector ends and one of the synthetic hair fiber ends is secured in the other of its connector ends.

4. A hair binding method, for use by a person having a head having a front, a rear, and length of hair, for securing said length of hair, using a headband comprising an elastic band having a pair of elastic band ends, synthetic hair fibers having an appearance similar to the length of hair and having a pair of synthetic hair fiber ends, the synthetic hair fiber ends joined to the elastic band ends to form a closed loop, comprising the steps of:

encircling the length of hair with the headband by inserting the length of hair through the closed loop of said device;

tensioning the headband around the person's head; and

positioning the headband so that the synthetic fibers extend across the front of the head and the elastic band extends behind the rear of the head, the elastic band hidden beneath the length of hair, so that the outward appearance of the device is formed solely by the synthetic hair fibers.