Hair arranging device organizer

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a storage device that permits, primarily hair arranging devices of the type having a circular elastic band or ring configuration to be conveniently stored in a manner that permits the user to readily select the appropriate style to complement the day's attire or the look that is sought to be achieved. This is achieved by providing a tubular member of any shaped cross section. The shape of the tubular member may be round, square or any other desired configuration including pentagonal, hexagonal, etc. The cross section may also be in the form of a crescent, star or other geometric shape.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for storing hair arrangers and in particular hair arrangers that have an elastic ring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Over the years as women's and young girls hair styles have changed, there have been a number of devices available for holding the hair in place. For example, there a bobby pins that are a generally U-shaped flexible pin that is has some corrugation in at least one leg of the U that generally clamp a portion of the hair in place. There are also barrettes that are generally arcuate clamping devices that are hinged at one end and lockable at the other end that are also used to retain a portion of the hair in position. Another well known device is the head band which also has a generally U-shaped relatively rigid configuration that permits it to go over a person's head and extend from generally the vicinity of one ear to the other ear. There are also frequently a plurality of short members or teeth that extend downwardly from the inside surface of the device into the hair on the head to increase the ability of the device to be retained in position or to give the user's hair a particular look. There are also a variety of small rings, usually made of an elastic material that is covered by a decorative material that can be used to hold the hair in the shape of “pig tails” and “pony tails.”

[0003] More recently, one popular device of this type is the “Scrungee” and similar products, which have an elastic band similar to the rings traditionally used for securing “pig tails” and “pony tails.” These devices typically use a flat or other shape elastic ring of material that has an attractive covering material. The covering material that is available is usually made of cloth and comes in a limitless variety of colors and designs.

[0004] Despite the extensive number of devices for arranging a person's hair that are currently available there has been one problem that users, particularly mothers of school age girls frequently have. As it gets later and later in the morning before leaving for school it is commonly difficult to conveniently locate these hair arrangers due to their small size and the propensity for being misplaced after the previous use. In addition, due to the different styles and colorings available it seems that the one sought is not the first one found. The rush to located these device is usually a cause a tension in the morning routine for both mother and daughter. As a result, there is a need for a storage device for organizing and storing these hair styling aids.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is a object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for organizing and storing hair arranging devices.

[0006] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device for organizing and storing hair arranging devices that have an elastic ring.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that will store and arrange a variety of different hair arranging devices in a single storage apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is directed to a storage device that permits, primarily hair arranging devices of the type having a circular elastic band or ring configuration to be conveniently stored in a manner that permits the user to readily select the appropriate style to complement the day's attire or the look that is sought to be achieved. This is achieved by providing a tubular member of any shaped cross section. The shape of the tubular member may be round, square or any other desired configuration including pentagonal, hexagonal, etc. The cross section may also be in the form of a crescent, star or other geometric shape. The distance around the device should be of such length that the elastic band or ring in these devices is extended at least slightly from its at rest state so that these device are readily retained in position on the tubular member. The tubular member is preferably hollow in at least a portion of its interior. This provides additional storage area for other types of hair arranging devices. The ends of the tubular member may be either open or closed or combinations thereof as desired. Preferably, the tubular member is provided with removable end pieces that facilitate the storage of other objects inside the tubular member. The organizer may also be provided with a base for maintaining the tubular member in a vertical position. Alternatively, the tubular member may be provided with a pair of end piece base members for maintaining the tubular member in a horizontal arrangement. These end pice base members may fit over the end pieces or may be the end pieces themselves. The base or end piece base members may be of any desired configuration provided that they retain the tubular member in a stable position to prevent tipping.

[0009] The interior of the tubular member may be provided with one or more slots in the interior side wall of the tubular member to retain in position a card or other holder for storing other types of hair arrangers such as bobby pins, clips and barrettes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the storage device of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 2A shows a representative endpiece for the storage device of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 2B is an a side view of the endpiece of FIG. 2A.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an end cap for the storage device of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment of an endpiece for the storage device of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 5 shows an end portion of the storage device of the present invention for receiving an end piece.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a side view of the storage device of the present invention with a representative base for maintaining the device in a vertical configuration.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a side view of the storage device of the present invention with a pair of base members for maintaining the device in a horizontal configuration.

[0018] FIG. 8 is an end view of the device showing tracks for storing a card that has other hair arranging devices thereon in the device of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 9 is an end view of the device of FIG. 1 showing slots for storing a card that has other hair arranging devices thereon in the device of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 10 shows a pair of removable endpieces without the storage device of FIG. 1 with a rod for supporting other materials.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1 the organizer 10 of the present invention has a generally tubular member 11 having a first end 12 and a second end 13. The tubular member is depicted having a circular cross section, however, it will be appreciated that the cross section may be of any configuration such as square or other quadrilateral, pentagonal, hexagonal or other polygon. The cross section need not be uniform and may be a combination of any number of straight lines and arcuate sections. Although the tubular member is depicted as having a solid outer surface, there may be any number of orifices, indentations or slots in the outer surface of the organizer as may be desired. The organizer may be a solid member or may preferably be hollow over at least a portion of its interior. There are a pair or end pieces 14 that are on the ends of the tubular member. One or both of the end pieces may be removable to provide access to the interior of the tubular member. In a preferred embodiment the end pieces may be hingedly connected to the organizer.

[0022] As seen in FIGS. 2A, 3, and 4 the end pieces can have a number of configurations as desired. The endpiece of FIG. 2A has a disk 20 with a recessed skirt portion 21 that extend into the interior of the tubular member 22. In FIG. 3 the endpiece also is provided with a disk 23. The skirt 24 extends over the outside end of the tubular member 22. Another type of endpiece is depicted in FIG. 4. This endpiece has a disk member 25 and a generally: “U” shaped ring 26 about the circumference. The U shaped ring fits over the end edge 28 of the tubular member 22. In this endpiece on leg 27 of the U is positioned on the exterior surface of the tubular member 22. Leg 29 of the U is positioned on the interior surface of the tubular member 22. The endpieces may be secured to the tubular member be any suitable means. for example they may be retained in position by a friction fit, by a glue or other suitable means. Preferably, the endpieces are removable from the tubular member.

[0023] The organizer may be of any desired length. The cross section of the organizer should preferably be sufficiently large so that the elastic material in the hair arrangers is stretched at least slightly to be retained in position on the tubular member so that the desired hair arranger may be readily seen and selected by the user. The organizer may be made of any suitable material including paperboard, plastic, wood or metal. Similarly, the end pieces may be made of any suitable material such as metal, wood or plastic. Preferably the organizer is made of a thermoplastic material that has been extruded and cut to length. The interior of the tubular member may be provided with one or more tracks 15 or slots 16 to retain for example a card in position inside the organizer. The card may hold bobby pins, clips or barrettes or other types of hair arranging devices as desired. Alternatively, these articles may be retained loose inside the organizer of the present invention. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a rod 40 may extend from one end piece to the other. This rod is preferably removably retained on the interior surface of the endpieces and can hold any variety of items.

[0024] The organizer of the present invention may be provided with one or two bases. If there is a single base 41 it may be on one end of the organizer and permit the tubular member to be maintained in an upright position. If there are two bases 42 and 43 on either end the organizer may maintained in a horizontal position. Although the organizer of the present invention is shown with the tubular member having a uniform cross section across its entire length this is not required. for example there may be one or more sections of different cross section than other areas of the tubular member. In addition, the tubular member need not be generally straight, it will be appreciated that the organizer may have one or more curved portions along its length. The present invention has applicability for storing and organizing hair arranging devices that are ring shaped or circular and are elastic. The invention is particularly useful for storing and aranging the har products sold under the name “Scrungee” and variations thereof. The hair products have an elastic member in form of a circle that is covered by a fabric or other material. These device usually have a “gathered” appearance on the hair. These devices may be placed over the tubular member where their elasticity causes them to be retained thereon.

[0025] The end pieces of the present invention may also be of any configuration, the outer end 45 of the end the end piece may be provided with suitable decorative features such as an animal head, sphere, pyramid, etc., as desired.

Claims

1. An organizer for hair arranging devices comprising a tubular member having a length and a cross section, and wherein at least a portion of a perimeter of its cross section is greater than the circumference of a hair arranging device having an elastic ring therein when placed on said tubular member, said hair arranging device being positioned on said tubular member such that said tubular member passes through said elastic ring.

2. the organizer according to claim 1 wherein the tubular member is hollow over at least a portion of its interior.

3. The organizer according to claim 2 wherein there is at least one endpiece at an end of said tubular member.

4. The organizer according to claim 3 wherein an end of said tubular member is positioned in a base to permit the tubular member to be retained in a vertical position.

5. The organizer according to claim 3 wherein each end of said tubular member is provided with an end piece.

6. The organizer according to claim 5 wherein said end pieces each comprise a base to permit the tubular member to be retained in a horizontal position.

7. The organizer according to claim 3 wherein the end piece comprises a disk and a skirt extending from one side of the disk.

8. The organizer according to claim 7 wherein said skirt extend into the tubular member.

9. The organizer according to claim 7 wherein the skirt extends over an end of the tubular member.

10. The organizer according to claim 7 wherein said endpiece has a “U” shaped ring around the circumference of the disk, said “U” shaped ring receiving the end edge of said tubular member.

11. The organizer according to claim 3 wherein the tubular member has at least one rail extending from one end of said tubular member to the other end along an interior surface of said tubular member.

12. The organizer according to claim 3 wherein the tubular member has at least one slot extending from one end of said tubular member to the other end along an interior surface of said tubular member.

13. The organizer according to claim 3 wherein there is an endpiece at each end of said tubular member and there is a rod extending from one end piece to the other endpiece.

14. The organizer according to claim 13 wherein the rod passes through the tubular member.