HEAD BAND WITH SECURING DEVICE
A head band includes an elongate body and a securing device. The body is configured to be placed on and generally conform to the contour of a user's head. The securing device extends between attachment portions of the body so that the securing device and the body cooperatively define a continuous loop. The securing device has flexible teeth that engage the user's hair to comfortably secure the head band to the user's head. In one embodiment, the securing device extends between opposite end portions of the elongate body, in another the elongate body has tail portions that wrap over and conceal the securing device, and in still another an elastic strap is routed through the teeth.
The present application is a continuation-in-part and a divisional of U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 11/330,487 filed Jan. 12, 2006, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/643,198 filed Jan. 12, 2005, the entire scope and content of both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates generally to a head band and, more particularly, to a head band including a securing device for aiding retention of the head band on the user's head.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHead bands, or head wraps as they are interchangeably referred to, are known in the art, and are used in various manners. For example, some head bands form a continuous loop and may be constructed from a terrycloth or similar material. These types of head bands are used for collecting beads of sweat on the user's head during physical exertion, such as exercise. Other types of head bands form a horseshoe shape and may be constructed from a plastic or similar material. These types of head bands are used for pulling back a user's hair such that, for example, the user's hair is removed from the user's face. The head bands may also be used for decorative reasons.
These and similar retaining types of head bands or head wraps, however, have a tendency to loosen and become dislodged during use. Also, they tend to create pressure and corresponding pain on the user's head from the tightness of the head band when configured to remain in place during physical exertion by the wearer.
Accordingly, it can be seen that there is a need for improved headbands that stay in place and at the same time are comfortable to wear. It is to the provision of solutions meeting these and other needs that the present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a hair band having an elongate semi-circular body and a securing device is disclosed. The elongate semi-circular body is configured to be placed on and conform to the contour of a user's head, and includes an inner surface that is adjacent the user's hair, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The securing device is disposed on the inner surface of the body. The securing device is configured to engage the user's hair and secure the hair band to the user's head more securely than the material from which the body is constructed.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a head band having an elongate body and a securing device is disclosed. The elongate body is configured to be placed on and generally conform to the contour of a user's head and includes an inner surface that is adjacent the user's hair, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, a first attachment portion, and a first attachment portion spaced apart from the first one. The securing device is disposed between the first and second attachment portions of the elongate body to form a continuous loop, and includes a plurality of flexible teeth configured to receive the user's hair therebetween. In one embodiment, the attachment portions are at opposite ends of the elongate body, in another embodiment the elongate body has tail portions that wrap over and conceal the securing device, and in still another embodiment an elastic strap is routed through the teeth.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a hair band having an elongate body, an opening, and a pocket is disclosed. The elongate body includes an inner surface adjacent the user's hair when worn on a head of the user, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The pocket is disposed on the body and is accessible through an opening. The pocket is for retaining one or more objects.
While the method and device described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure and the claims.
Referring now to the drawings and with specific reference to
The configuration of the head band 20 as illustrated in
The body 22 may be constructed from a number of materials ranging from soft pliable materials to hard and rigid yet resilient materials, and may be constructed from a combination thereof. For example, the body 22 may simply be constructed from a single piece of rigid material, such as plastic, wood, composites, etc., or may be constructed from a pliable material, such as fabric, that may be wrapped or disposed on a rigid core (not shown) that provides a skeleton or frame for the head band 20. The materials may also vary among the body 22 such that, for example, the inner surface 24 may be constructed from one material, and the outer surface 26 may be constructed from another material.
To aid in the retention or holding of the head band 20, a securing or gripping device is disposed between the inner surface 24 of the body 22 and the user's head. Specifically, as illustrated in
The inner and/or outer surface 24, 26 may be entirely formed of or covered with the gripping device 40 that may be constructed from a material similar to Coban®. Coban® is a non-woven material that is constructed from many continuous strands of Lycra (stretchy yarn), laid in parallel, and are suspended/adhered to a group of shortly cut fibers that form a semi-permeable stretchy fabric. The Lycra provides the stretch and grip characteristics, and the adhered short cut fibers provide the substance or body of the material.
As illustrated in
When the user places the head band 20 around the user's head such that the gripping device 40, 41 and/or 43 on the inner surface 24 engages the user's hair, the gripping device 40, 41 and/or 43 aids in holding the hair band 20 on the head by providing additional friction to retain the head band 20 than is provided by the material of the head band 20 itself having a relatively lower coefficient of friction.
The head band may have alternate gripping devices for securing the head band to the user's hair/head. For example, a head band 120 illustrated in
An outer surface of the clip 45, is disposed generally parallel to and may abut an inner surface 124 of a body 122 of the hair band 120. A front of the clip 45 may be disposed near a front edge 132 of the body 122, such that the an opening to the clip 45 is oriented toward a rear edge of the body 134. As a result, when the head band 120 is placed on the user's head in a usual manner, the clip 45 automatically receives the hair as the head band 120 is pushed rearwardly on the user's head. Once the user has the head band 120 in a desired position, the user need only press down onto the head band 120, and hence the clips 45, to cause the clips 45 to close and grip or secure the hair.
In this embodiment, the head band 120 may be constructed from a soft or flexible material, such as a cloth, that lacks a rigidity of other head bands constructed of plastic, for example. As a result, the head band 120 may include one or more connection portions 146 disposed between first and second ends 128, 130 of the body 122. The connection portion 146 may be constructed from an elastic material or may simply have an elastic property. The connection portion 146 may form a continuous loop in combination with the head band 120, and may be worn such that connection portion 146 is located near a rear of the user's head, thereby retaining the head band 120 on the user's head.
In another embodiment illustrated in
An outer surface of the comb 47 is disposed generally parallel to and may abut an inner surface 224 of the body 222. As a result, when the head band 220 is placed or slid rearwardly on the user's head, the bristles 252 receive the user's hair therebetween, thereby securing the head band 220 to the user's head.
In a similar embodiment illustrated in
An outer surface of the comb 49 is disposed generally parallel to and may abut an inner surface 324 of the body 322. As a result, when the head band 320 is placed or slid rearwardly on the user's head, the bristles 352 receive the user's hair therebetween, thereby securing the head band 320 to the user head. In this exemplary embodiment, the head band 320 may include one or more connection portions 346 disposed between first and second ends 328, 330 of the body 322.
In another embodiment illustrated in
To aid in the retention of the head band 420 on the user's head, a securing (i.e., gripping) device in the form of a flexible comb 51 is disposed between the first and second ends 428, 430 of the body 422. Specifically, as illustrated in
To wear the head band 420 as illustrated in
In another embodiment illustrated in
As shown, the body 522 includes one or more pockets 560 (shown in hidden lines) having an opening 562. In particular the body 522 includes the pocket 560 having the opening 562 disposed on the inner surface 524. The pocket 560 may be sewn or otherwise affixed to the body 522, or may be comprised, at least in part, by the inner and outer surfaces 524, 526 such that the pocket 560 is disposed in the body 522 itself. Alternatively, however, the opening 562 may be disposed on the outer surface 526, such that the pocket 560 may be accessed when wearing the head band 520. The pocket 560 may include a closure mechanism 564, such as a zipper, button, clip, hook and loop fastener (VELCRO), etc. for closing the pocket 560. The pocket 564 may be sized and shaped to receive an icepack, a plurality of keys, and a driver's license, but may have many different sizes and shapes to accommodate a variety of objects.
To aid in the retention of the headband 620 on the user's head, a securing (i.e., gripping) device is disposed between the first and second attachment portions 628 and 630 of the elongate body 622. The securing device is in the form of a flexible comb 53 that may be of the same or a similar construction as the comb 51 of the embodiment shown in
The comb 53 is attached to the body 622 at the attachment portions 628 and 630, for example, by the end teeth extending through or otherwise engaging loops or other connection devices attached to the body. In this way the elongate body 622 and the comb 53, in combination, form a continuous loop for circumscribing placement on the user's head.
In addition, the body 622 includes first and second tail portions 676 and 678 that extend beyond the first and second attachment portions 628 and 630, respectively. The tail portions 676 and 678 may be integral parts of the body 622 (i.e., a single piece of material) or they may be separate pieces that are attached to the body. The tail portions 676 and 678 have a combined length that is at least as long as the comb 53 so that the tail portions can substantially cover and conceal the comb when the headband 620 is worn, as described below. Preferably, the tail portions 676 and 678 have a combined length sufficiently long that they can be wrapped around the user's head over the comb 53 and tied together. In other embodiments, the tail portions include fasteners (e.g., snaps, buttons, etc.) for coupling the tail portions together when the headband is worn.
To wear the headband 620, it is placed on the user's head in the same manner as the headband 420 of the embodiment of
In this embodiment, the headband 720 includes a strap 780 made of an elastic material such as spandex. The strap 780 is preferably routed through the teeth 752 of the comb 55 in an alternating fashion, that is, it arranged on one side of one tooth, on the other side of the adjacent tooth, and so forth. In this way, when the headband 720 is worn on the user's head, at least a portion of about half of the teeth 752 are concealed from view so that the comb 55 is less noticeable. In other embodiments, the strap 780 is parallel with the teeth 752 of the comb 55 (i.e., beside them) and outside of all or substantially all of the teeth so that the strap substantially conceals the teeth from ordinary view.
Preferably, the strap 780 and the comb 55 are securely attached to each other and only one of them is actually attached to the body 622. In the depicted embodiment, for example, the strap 780 has two end openings (e.g., slits) in it and the end teeth 752 extend through the openings to secure the comb 55 to the strap. In other embodiments, both the strap 780 and the comb 55 are attached to the body 622.
While the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to be limiting of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes, additions or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A headband for wearing on a user's head, comprising:
- an elongate body configured to be placed on and conform to the contour of the user's head, the body having an inner surface that is adjacent the user's hair, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, a first attachment portion, and a second attachment portion spaced apart from the first attachment portion; and
- a securing device extending between the first and second attachment portions of the elongate body, the securing device including a plurality of teeth configured to receive the user's hair therebetween.
2. The headband of claim 1, wherein the securing device includes a spine and the teeth extend from the spine.
3. The headband of claim 2, wherein the comb is sinusoidally shaped and includes leg portions, peaked portions extending between upper portions of the leg portions, and base portions extending between lower portions of the leg portions, wherein the teeth are each cooperatively defined by adjacent ones of the leg portions and the peaked portion therebetween, and wherein the spine is collectively defined by the base portions.
4. The headband of claim 2, wherein the spine and the teeth of the securing device are made of a resilient material.
5. The headband of claim 1, wherein the teeth of the securing device are made of a resilient material.
6. The headband of claim 1, wherein the elongate body has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and the first and second attachment portions are at the first and second ends of the elongate body.
7. The headband of claim 1, wherein the elongate body has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a first tail and a second tail opposite the first end, and wherein the first and second tails extend beyond the first and second ends of the elongate body.
8. The headband of claim 7, wherein the tails have lengths such that they can be wrapped over the securing device and coupled together to substantially conceal the securing device from view when the headband is worn by the user.
9. The headband of claim 1, further comprising an elastic strap extending between the first and second attachment portions of the elongate body.
10. The headband of claim 9, wherein the elastic strap that is routed through the teeth in an alternating fashion.
11. The hair band of claim 1, wherein the elongate body and the securing device form a continuous loop.
12. The hair band of claim 1, wherein the elongate body is semi-circular.
13. A headband for wearing on a user's head, comprising:
- an elongate body configured to be placed on and conform to the contour of the user's head, the body having an inner surface that is adjacent the user's hair, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, a first attachment portion, and a second attachment portion spaced apart from the first attachment portion; and
- a securing device disposed between the first and second attachment portions of the elongate body, wherein the securing device includes a spine and a plurality of flexible teeth extending from the spine, the teeth are configured to receive the user's hair therebetween, the spine and the teeth are made of a resilient material, and the elongate body and the securing device form a continuous loop.
14. The headband of claim 13, wherein the comb is sinusoidally shaped and includes leg portions, peaked portions extending between upper portions of the leg portions, and base portions extending between lower portions of the leg portions, wherein the teeth are each cooperatively defined by adjacent ones of the leg portions and the peaked portion therebetween, and wherein the spine is collectively defined by the base portions.
15. The headband of claim 13, wherein the elongate body has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and the first and second attachment portions are at the first and second ends of the elongate body.
16. The headband of claim 13, wherein the elongate body has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a first tail and a second tail opposite the first end, and wherein the first and second tails extend beyond the first and second ends of the elongate body.
17. The headband of claim 16, wherein the tails have lengths such that they can be wrapped over the securing device and coupled together to substantially conceal the securing device from view when the headband is worn by the user.
18. The headband of claim 13, further comprising an elastic strap extending between the first and second attachment portions of the elongate body.
19. The headband of claim 9, wherein the elastic strap that is routed through the teeth in an alternating fashion.
20. The hair band of claim 13, wherein the elongate body is semi-circular.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 22, 2008
Publication Date: Apr 9, 2009
Inventors: Stan Chudzik (Alpharetta, GA), Sarah Kraft (Atlanta, GA), Deborah Rubin (Atlanta, GA)
Application Number: 12/255,892
International Classification: A45D 8/00 (20060101); A45D 8/28 (20060101);