DEVICE FOR HAIR VOLUMIZING

Abstract

The present invention provides hair styling devices worn on the user's head to give the appearance of greater hair volume. The invention is adapted to be worn in the hair without being seen using a mechanism that secures one's natural hair to the device allowing for coverage as well as hiding the device. The device may or may not have comb-like appendages. The device may have coloration that mimics the general color of one's hair. The invention also provides for methods of using the devices.

Description

REFERENCE TO PRIOR FILED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/298,247 filed Jan. 26, 2010 under 35 U.S.C. §119(e).

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to hair styling devices worn on the user's head to give the appearance of greater hair volume. Additionally, the present invention relates to hair styling devices which give the appearance of greater volume and are adapted to be worn in the hair without being seen. The invention also relates to methods of using the devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Adding height or fullness to one's hair is a highly desirable stylish appearance. A number of methods and devices have been proposed to create height and fullness to hair styles. Various devices including clamps, curling irons, rollers and the like are known which are designed to mechanically and physically alter the shape of the hair. A plethora of other products are available from a number of sources designed to volumize hair. These products are generally based on chemicals such as polymers and surfactants and are applied as sprays, creams and other treatments. The process of “teasing” creates fullness to a hair styling but at the expense of unnatural abuse to the natural structure of hair stands. Other devices are designed to be placed in the hair and left there during use, including pins, clips, combs and other devices, which control hair and hold the hair in place.

Other methods and devices include addition of hair attachments or extensions to add fullness to the main body of hair. These methods and devices suffer from the need to match the color, fineness and length of the wearer's natural hair, a need that can not readily be achieved when compared to using the wearer's own natural hair.

Some devices for providing fullness to a hair style incorporate a dome-like foundation that is placed on the head and hair is then combed over the foundation. Recognizing the problem that hair will continuously reposition itself during the time worn, a further embodiment of the foundation device provides for a barrette-like fastening to hold the hair in place. A barrette fastener can be seen as the hairs shifts around during use and the foundation can shift during usage.

The current invention provides for solutions to the shortcomings of devices currently presented that are proposed to add fullness to a hair styling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a device that increases the volume of a hair style when in use. The device is held in place either by altering the surfaces of the device to allow the hair to secure it or by alterations to the surfaces that adhere the device to the hair and to the scalp. The present invention includes comb-like appendages as well as adaptability to adjust the height.

In one embodiment of the invention the device for adding volume to a hair styling, contains a body having a front end, a back end, a top surface and a bottom surface wherein the top surface is configured to hold onto hair and prevent significant movement of the hair while adding height to the hair styling.

In a further embodiment of the invention the device is further configured is to hold the device in place when applied to the surface of a head; the top and bottom surfaces being fully or partially configured with at least one of an array of hooking elements, a mild adhesive, embossed patterns, surface roughness or a material having a high coefficient of friction.

In a further embodiment the height of the device is fixed or is capable of being adjusted to a desired height.

Further embodiments of the present invention are methods of using the devices described in the above embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a generalized depiction of a side view of the inventive device for volumizing hair style showing the attached appendages 20.

FIG. 2 depicts the view of the inventive device as it is positioned on a head when in use.

FIG. 3 depicts an exploded view of the inventive device showing he top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14 of the device. The top surface of 12 and the bottom surface of 14 are fully or partially configured with an array of elements configured to hold onto hair when in use.

FIG. 4 depicts an oblique view of the inventive device showing the device without attached appendages.

DETAILS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the current device 10 is shown and has a top portion 12, a bottom portion 14, a front end 16, and a back end 18 as well as sides, not numbered, and attached appendages 20. The bottom portion 14 may be flat or may be contoured to lay flat and in full or partial contact with the surface of the head as shown in FIG. 2.

The device may be made from a number of plastic materials, including, for example, rubber materials or other soft plastic or injection moldable materials. The material may have varying levels of flexibility to allow for continual conformation during movement of the user, or may be rigid to prevent any movement.

In an expanded view, FIG. 3, the top portion of the device 12 is shown. The top surface of 12 can be fully or partially configured with an array of elements configured to hold onto hair when in use. One method of holding into the hair is by small hooking elements. The hooking elements are similar to the J-hook mechanisms that are used in “hook and loop” technology used for temporarily connection. In the current invention, hair takes the place of the loops so that when hair is applied over the J-hooks, the J-hooks grab onto the hair, hold it in place and prevent movement of the hair during use. In this manner the device holds onto the hair and the device becomes covered with the hair, thereby making the device invisible to the casually observer. Thus, the device provides a natural looking volumization since the device will be covered with the wearer's own hair blending the device into the remaining hair. The bottom portion of the device, 14 in FIG. 3, may also be fully or partially configured on its bottom surface with an array of J-hooking elements. When placed on the head the J-hooking elements will hook onto the hair upon which the device has been positioned. In this manner the device will be secured and will not have significant movement during usage. The J-hooks of the invention of the device are configured of materials that will allow the hair to hook and hold, but is pliable enough so that when the device is removed from the head, the J-hooks bend to release to hair with a minimum of discomfort to the user.

The top surface of the top portion 12 and bottom surface of the bottom portion 14 of the device may also be fully or partially configured with a mild adhesive which will adhere to the hair and prevent movement as well as adhere to the hair upon which the device has been positioned. In this case the adhesive will have low adhesive levels that will allow the hair to be secured and at the same time will allow the device to be readily removed with minimum discomfort to the wearer.

The top surface of the top portion 12 and bottom surface of the bottom portion 14 of the device may also be fully or partially patterned with channels or indentations or roughness so that hair will lie on the surface and be secured to the channels, indentations or roughness, thus preventing movement of the hair.

The top and bottom portions of the device may be configured with the same materials or with different materials as desired. They may be configured from a number of plastic materials, including, for example, rubber materials or other soft plastic or natural products such as wood, or the device may be coated with soft rubbery material allowing for an increase in comfort for the wearer. The soft rubbery material may have a high coefficient of friction which allows the device to be held in place. The materials used for securing the device to the head and for securing hair to the device may be one or more of the materials as described above. The device may have coloration to generally blend in with the basic hair color such as blonde, brunette, red, gray and the like.

An array of comb-like appendages may also be attached and protrude from the front end of the body, the back end of the body, or both, see 20 in FIG. 1 where the appendages protrude from the front. The appendages are positioned in the plane of the bottom surface. They may be cylindrical, square, conical, tapered, and ovate or take any form that is configured to slide into the hair. They can be made from the same material as the body or may be a different material.

There are times when it is desirable to heighten the hair by only a small amount or by a large amount. The height can be determined by the distance between the top surface and the bottom surface of the body. Distances may range from ¼ inch to 2 inches or more depending on the height desired. The current invention includes a device which is configured to alter the distance between the top surface and the bottom surface.

Claims

1. A device for adding volume to a hair styling, comprising a body having a front end, a back end, a top surface and a bottom surface wherein the top surface is configured to hold onto hair and prevent significant movement of the hair while adding height to the hair styling.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the bottom surface is structured to align with the contour of a head.

3. The device of any of one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom surface is configured to hold the body in place when applied to the surface of a head.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising an array of comb-like appendages protruding from the front end of the body, the back end of the body, or both, wherein the appendages are positioned in the plane of the bottom surface.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are fully or partially configured with an array of hooking elements, a mild adhesive, embossed patterns, roughness, or a combination thereof.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are fully or partially configured with material having a high coefficient of friction.

7. The device of any one of claim 5 or 6, wherein the distance between the top surface and the bottom surface is configured to be fixed to provide a desired hair height or adjustable to provide a desired hair height.

8. (canceled)

9. A method of volumizing a hair style comprising the steps of;

a. placing the device of claim 1 onto the head, and

b. combing hair over the device to covered the device.

10. A method of volumizing a hair style comprising the steps of;

a. placing the device of claim 2 onto the head, and

b. combing hair over the device to covered the device.

11. A method of volumizing a hair style comprising the steps of;

a. placing the device of claim 3 onto the head, and

b. combing hair over the device to covered the device.

12. A method of volumizing a hair style comprising the steps of;

a. placing the device of claim 4 onto the head, and

b. combing hair over the device to covered the device.

13. A method of volumizing a hair style comprising the steps of;

a. placing the device of claim 5 onto the head, and

b. combing hair over the device to covered the device.

14. A method of volumizing a hair style comprising the steps of;

a. placing the device of claim 6 onto the head, and

b. combing hair over the device to covered the device.

15. A method of volumizing a hair style comprising the steps of;

a. placing the device of claim 7 onto the head, and

b. combing hair over the device to covered the device.