SALON BELT SYSTEM

Abstract

A belt system is designed for use by salon workers to manage a variety of the heavy and/or bulky containers and implements used for cutting, coloring, perms, hair treatments, and any other table-free cosmetologist operation. The belt system can be a worn belt system that can be removably secured about a waist of a user. Alternatively, the belt system can be a salon chair belt system, where a belt is disposed about the back and sides of a salon chair. In either embodiment, the belt can have a hook and loop fastener disposed on its outer surface. One or more detachable equipment holders, having a hook and loop fastener, can be removably attached to the belt. In each embodiment, the implements for the cosmetologist can be readily available for convenient access.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/103,650, filed May 9, 2011, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to belts and, more particularly, to belts for holding implements used in hair care and related cosmetology work.

Tool-holding belts are well known for use in carpentry, construction, and other tool-intensive trades.

One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,356 to Noriega et al. (Noriega), showing a lumbar support belt having self-fastening hook-and-loop end sections, and different kinds of article-holding devices with mating hook-and-loop backings that mate with the hook-and-loop sections of the belt. The larger of the article-holding devices is a pouch that requires a strap system for connection with the belt, and the hook-and-loop backing on the pouch appears to be provided to prevent movement that the straps alone cannot. The belt has a large intermediate elastic section connecting the two substantially non-elastic end sections. The large elastic section draws the non-elastic end sections securely against the wearer's waist, captures the straps of the pouch between the non-elastic sections and the wearer's waist, and presses against the lumbar portion of the wearer's back, presumably for lumbar support.

Construction tool belts, however, are not suitable for the salon work environment or for salon implements. They are too bulky, too inconvenient for frequently swapping equipment on and off the belt, and not designed to hold salon implements in a convenient, stable, and comfortable manner.

Salon chairs offer no assistance for holding salon implements. Too often, a cosmetologist finds themselves walking around the chair and client to swap equipment disposed on a shelf or rack mounted on the wall.

As can be seen, there is a need for a system that can allow a cosmetologist to have convenient access to a plurality of salon implements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an equipment-holding belt system for a salon worker comprises a belt which includes a non-elastic, stiffened non-folding section having an outer end, the stiffened non-folding section including a majority of the belt's circumference; and a movement-enhancing elastic section connected to an inner end of the stiffened non-folding section; and at least one detachable equipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of the stiffened non-folding section of the belt.

In another aspect of the present invention, a user-worn equipment-holding belt system for a salon worker comprises a belt which comprises a non-elastic, stiffened non-folding section having an outer end, the stiffened non-folding section including a majority of the belt's circumference; a movement-enhancing elastic section connected to an inner end of the stiffened non-folding section; and a non-stiffened, non-elastic closure end adapted to connect to the stiffened non-folding section's outer end; and at least one detachable equipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of the stiffened non-folding section of the belt, wherein at least a portion of the stiffened non-folding section's outer face is faced with hook-and-loop fastening material; and the equipment-holder includes a flexible attachment panel backed with hook-and-loop fastening material that detachably secures to the hook-and-loop fastening material on the stiffened non-folding section.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a chair-attached equipment-holding belt system comprises a belt comprising a rigid or semi-rigid member having hook and loop fastener material disposed thereupon; and at least one detachable equipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of the hook and loop fastener material of the belt, wherein the belt is disposed about a back portion of a salon chair and extends above arm members of the salon chair, wherein belt system is a salon chair belt system.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a worn belt system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, worn by a user;

FIG. 2 is an exploded front perspective view of the worn belt system of FIG. 1, illustrating the removable attachment of articles holders thereupon;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the worn belt system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the worn belt system of FIG. 1, illustrating removal of the belt from the user;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a salon chair belt system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of the salon chair belt system of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a belt system designed for use by salon workers to manage a variety of the heavy and/or bulky containers and implements used for cutting, coloring, perms, hair treatments, and any other table-free cosmetologist operation. The belt system can be a worn belt system that can be removably secured about a waist of a user. Alternatively, the belt system can be a salon chair belt system, where a belt is disposed about the back and sides of a salon chair. In either embodiment, the belt can have a hook and loop fastener disposed on its outer surface. One or more detachable equipment holders, having a hook and loop fastener, can be removably attached to the belt. In each embodiment, the implements for the cosmetologist can be readily available for convenient access.

The belt of the worn belt system can include a continuous, non-elastic, non-folding stiffened body section having an outer end, the stiffened body section comprising the majority of the belt's circumference; a movement-enhancing elastic section connected to an inner end of the stiffened body section; and a non-stiffened, non-elastic closure end that connects to the stiffened section's outer end.

The detachable equipment-holder is adapted to be attached to and detached from the face of the belt. In an exemplary embodiment, the equipment-holder includes a flexible attachment panel and an equipment-holding retainer portion, the retainer portion being located below an upper end of the attachment panel. In another embodiment, the retainer portion includes a flexible fabric retainer with a sidewall and a partially open bottom, and further with one or more support straps defining the bottom of the retainer at a location spaced from the sidewall. In a further embodiment, the support straps form a T configuration with an open front.

In an exemplary embodiment of the worn belt system of the present invention, the outer face of the outer end of the belt and the inner face of the second end are faced with mating hook-and-loop material. In one embodiment, the outer face of the stiffened body is also faced with hook-and-loop material as the attachment means, and the equipment-holder has an inner face (the inner face of the attachment panel) supplied with mating hook-and-loop material so that it can be pressed onto and removed from the stiffened body's outer face.

In an exemplary embodiment of the salon chair belt system of the present invention, the belt can be designed similar to that described above, except that the ends of the belt need not be designed to interconnect. The chair belt system can be disposed about the back and sides of the chair. The “belt” of the chair belt system can be attached to the chair in various manners. In some embodiments, the hook and loop fastener of the belt can be disposed on a rigid or semi-flexible member that can be built in to the back of the salon chair or attached to the back of the salon chair, typically near or at a top portion of the back of the salon chair, and can curve about the sides of the chair, typically above the chair arms, thereby not interfering with the arms of a client sitting in the chair. The chair belt system can be designed as an add-on to an existing salon chair, or may be integrated into a salon chair at the time of manufacture.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a worn belt system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown being worn by a salon worker W. The system includes a belt 10, and one or more detachable equipment holders 18 for holding and supporting various salon implements, supplies, tools and the like (hereafter “equipment”) such as product cup C, perm paper dispenser box B, and spray bottle S. It will be understood that detachable holders 18 can be modified to hold most types of equipment that a salon worker may need to have at-hand when standing and working on a client's hair or other needs in a table-free hair care task. Other equipment for which holders 18 can be used or modified include styling irons, perm bags, shear/razor/comb holders, clippers, brushes, and foil dispensers, without limitation.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, illustrated belt 10 includes a stiffened main body section 12 with an outer end 12a, an inner end 12b, an outer face 12c, and a non-folding insert or backing 13 that is substantially contiguous with inner and outer fabric layers between which it is fixed, and that substantially prevents main body 12 from folding about its lengthwise axis A (shown in broken lines). The torsional (twisting or folding) stiffness of belt section 12 makes it difficult for upper edge 12e and lower edge 12f to be folded to any significant degree toward one another, and for outer face 12c to be folded or creased inwardly or outwardly by a salon worker's movements when the belt 10 is being worn. Stiffened section 12 is accordingly “non-folding” in this sense.

The non-folding insert 13 can be multiple layers of stiff cloth such as (but not limited to) “sailcloth”, which is a very stiff fabric; a sheet of longitudinally flexible but torsionally stiff plastic material; or any other structure that allows the belt 10 to be curved around the wearer's waist and fastened closely and securely to the body, while preventing the outer face 12c from folding while being worn. The non-folding insert can be secured between the inner and outer faces of the belt by sewing, gluing, or otherwise fixing it between inner and outer layers of fabric. It might also be possible, depending on the insert material, to have a two-layer construction in which the insert forms the inside face of stiffened belt section 12, without an inner covering layer of fabric.

Belt 10 can also include an elastic section 14 secured to the inner end 12b of the stiffened main body 12, and a non-elastic, non-stiffened closure portion 16 secured to the other side of elastic 14 and forming the other end of belt 10. Closure end 16 is typically shorter than stiffened section 12, and elastic section 14 is typically shorter than closure end 16. Closure end 16 can be detachably secured to the outer end 12a with various means, but in the illustrated embodiment, the inner face 16b of closure end 16 is faced with a hook-and-loop material, and the outer face 12c of outer end 12a is faced with a mating portion of hook-and-loop material. The connection between closure end 16 and outer end 12a of the stiffened belt section 12 is infinitely adjustable over the length of closure end 16 for a secure and custom fit. When closure portion 16 is secured to the outer face of stiffened end 12a, elastic section 14 may be stretched somewhat for a snug fit, although it should not be tensioned to its full extent. Different sizes of belt are possible where the adjustability inherent in the elastic portion 14 is not enough.

It should be understood that although elastic section 14 is shown as a solid section of fabric material, it could be discontinuous, for example in the form of spaced straps or bands of elastic material. The same is true of closure end 16. Stiffened section 12 might also be non-solid, for example with perforations or interruptions in the material for weight-reduction or ventilation, but only to the extent that it does not compromise the non-folding nature of section 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a chair belt system can include a belt 10-1 attached to a salon chair 42 or other similar seat for a client receiving services from a cosmetologist. In some embodiments, the belt 10-1 can be formed from a rigid or semi-rigid member having hook and loop fastener material 48, or the like, disposed thereupon.

The belt 10-1 can extend about a back 44 of the chair 42 and can extend above the arms 50 of the chair 42. At least one support 40 can be disposed from ends of each belt 10-1 and can attach to a base 46 of the chair 42. In some embodiments, more than one support 40 may be disposed on each side of the belt 10-1.

The belt 10-1 can be disposed along a top edge of the back 44 of the chair 44 so that the belt 10-1 is well above the arms 50. In this configuration, the belt 10-1 can provide a surface for the holders 18 to removably attach, while not interfering with the client in the chair 42.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, holders 18 are detachably secured to outer face 12c of stiffened main body portion 12. The means for attaching can vary, but the illustrated embodiment uses hook-and-loop fasteners, with most or all of the outer face 12c faced with a hook-and-loop fastening material (for example, the “female” loop half), and inner faces of the holders 18 faced with a mating hook-and-loop fastening material (for example, the “male” hook half).

Illustrated holders 18 are constructed according to exemplary forms in which they comprise flexible fabric attachment panels 20 backed on their inner faces with hook-and-loop fastening material. The stiffened portion 12 of the belt is typically wide enough to bridge the wearer's waist between their hips and abdomen, for example on the order of three to six inches wide from upper edge to lower edge, and the attachment panels 20 are sized typically to be substantially fully mated with the outer face 12c of stiffened belt section 12. Holders 18 also include equipment retainer portions 22 secured to the front faces of attachment panels 20. Attachment panels 20 are also sized typically to be as wide or wider than their equipment retainer portions 22, and to have upper edges 20a spaced above the upper edges 23 of retainer portions 22. Attachment panels 20 allow the salon worker to attach even heavy, bulky items to belt 10 with one hand, by simply pressing the attachment panel 20 to the outer face of stiffened belt section 12.

Retainer portions 22 of holders 18 can be rigid retainers, such as a spray bottle cup 22s, or they can be flexible retainers such as a fabric perm paper pouch 22p or a fabric product cup retainer 22c. Retainer portions can have closed rigid or flexible bottoms, such as shown in retainers of cup 22s and pouch 22p, respectively, or open bottoms as shown in retainer 22c. Retainer portions 22 can be secured to flexible attachment panels 20 in various ways, for example with adhesive, sewing, or mechanical connectors, depending on the material and shape of the retainer portion 22.

Retainer portion 22c represents an exemplary embodiment especially useful and stable for heavy, rigid containers, such as product cup C, for holding contents that could splash or spill during use or when being inserted or removed in holder 18. Retainer portion 22c can be made from a flexible fabric such as nylon, and includes a sidewall 24, an open bottom with flexible fabric support straps 26 for retaining the bottom of the product cup C. Straps 26 can be arranged in a T configuration, with a cross-strap 28a running from one side to another, and a fore strap 28b running from attachment panel 20 forwardly to a junction with cross-strap 28a. The T-configuration of straps 26 leaves an open front area 32, and spaces at the bottom of the retainer portion 22c from sidewall 24. Sidewall 24 may be split, for example at 24a, to be opened up to receive the cup C from the front, and with a hook-and-loop closure to secure it in place around the cup. A pull tab may be disposed at the end of the retainer portion 22c to assist the user to open and close the retainer portion 22c.

The spacing of retainer portions 22 below the upper edges of the attachment panels 20 has been found to keep the items being held in holders 18 very stable during use, with pull tabs to improve access to the items as they are needed, and makes it easier to attach and detach the holders 18 with one hand, even when equipment such as spray bottles, perm paper boxes, product cups, and other items are in the holders 18.

Attachment panels 20 can optionally be provided with assist tabs such as pull tabs 20b, useful for removing the panels 20 from the face of belt 10 and belt 10-1.

The fabrics and other materials used in the belt system comprising belt 10 and holders 18 can vary, and heavy-duty nylons, polyesters, and canvas materials are possible options. Plastics are preferred where more rigid materials are needed, although other rigid materials could be used. The definition of “fabric” should be construed broadly.

While hook-and-loop is shown as the primary attachment means for detachably securing equipment holders 18 to belt 10 and belt 10-1, other connectors may be possible, either in place of the hook-and-loop fasteners or in addition to the hook-and-loop fasteners. Magnetic, mechanical (e.g., snaps), or re-usable adhesive or static-cling type connections might be possible.

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION

In one embodiment, the belt 10 is worn by salon worker W, who wraps the unsecured ends 12a and 16 around his or her waist, and fastens closure end 16 to outer stiffened end 12a so that the belt is snug. In another embodiment, the belt 10-1 is attached to the salon chair 42, either as an integrated unit from manufacture, or as an add-on to an existing chair.

In either embodiment, equipment holders 18 can be applied before the belt 10 is put on (in the worn belt embodiment), but more likely will be attached after the belt 10 is secured around the waist (or to the chair 42). The hook-and-loop attachment panels 20 allow the holders 18 to be attached to the belt whether the holders are holding equipment or not, easily with one hand. Holders 18 can be re-positioned virtually infinitely about the circumference of stiffened portion 12, for a custom fit and placement suited to the salon worker's preference.

The stiff, non-folding nature of main body 12 ensures that holders 18 cannot be accidentally popped or peeled off by the salon worker's movements, and are held in a stable and secure manner. Elastic section 14 provides enough localized flexibility to let the salon worker bend at the waist when needed. Non-elastic, non-stiffened closure end provides a secure, adjustable, custom-length fit around the waist without compromising the function of stiffened portion 12 or elastic section 14. Elastic section 14 does not need to be stretched when fitting and securing the belt around the waist in order to function properly, since length adjustments are made with the adjustable overlap between closure end 16 and outer end 12a of stiffened section 12. In normal use, elastic section 14 is substantially un-tensioned or only partially tensioned until the salon worker bends at the waist, at which point it yields or stretches an additional amount to allow some bending movement without placing strain on the stiffened section 12.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An equipment-holding belt system for a salon worker, comprising:

a belt comprising: a non-elastic, stiffened non-folding section having an outer end, the stiffened non-folding section including a majority of the belt's circumference; and a movement-enhancing elastic section connected to an inner end of the stiffened non-folding section; and

at least one detachable equipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of the stiffened non-folding section of the belt.

2. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 1, further comprising a non-stiffened, non-elastic closure end adapted to connect to the stiffened non-folding section's outer end, wherein the belt system is a belt system configured to be worn by a user.

3. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 1, wherein:

at least a portion of the stiffened non-folding section's outer face is faced with hook-and-loop fastening material; and

the equipment-holder includes a flexible attachment panel backed with hook-and-loop fastening material that detachably secures to the hook-and-loop fastening material on the stiffened non-folding section.

4. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 3, wherein the equipment-holder includes an equipment retainer portion, and the retainer portion is located below an upper end of the flexible attachment panel.

5. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 3, wherein:

the portion of the outer face of the stiffened non-folding section faced with the hook-and-loop material is faced substantially continuously with the hook and loop material over its width from an upper edge to a lower edge; and

the flexible attachment panel has a height substantially equal to the width of the stiffened non-folding section and is substantially continuously faced with the mating hook and loop material.

6. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 1, wherein the retainer portion comprises a flexible fabric retainer with a flexible fabric sidewall and a partially open bottom.

7. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 6, wherein one or more support straps define the bottom of the retainer at a location spaced from the sidewall.

8. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 7, wherein the support straps form a T configuration with an open front.

9. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 1, wherein the outer face of the outer end of the belt and the inner face of the closure end are faced with mating hook-and-loop material and are infinitely adjustable over a length corresponding to the inner face of the closure end.

10. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 9, wherein the elastic section is less than fully tensioned when the belt is secured about the waist.

11. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 1, wherein the belt is disposed about a back portion of a salon chair and extends above arm members of the salon chair, wherein belt system is a salon chair belt system.

12. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 11, wherein the belt is supported from a base portion of the salon chair at ends thereof.

13. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 11, wherein the belt is attached to an upper portion of the back portion of the salon chair.

14. A user-worn equipment-holding belt system for a salon worker, comprising:

a belt comprising: a non-elastic, stiffened non-folding section having an outer end, the stiffened non-folding section including a majority of the belt's circumference; a movement-enhancing elastic section connected to an inner end of the stiffened non-folding section; and a non-stiffened, non-elastic closure end adapted to connect to the stiffened non-folding section's outer end; and

at least one detachable equipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of the stiffened non-folding section of the belt, wherein

at least a portion of the stiffened non-folding section's outer face is faced with hook-and-loop fastening material; and

the equipment-holder includes a flexible attachment panel backed with hook-and-loop fastening material that detachably secures to the hook-and-loop fastening material on the stiffened non-folding section.

15. The user-worn equipment-holding belt system of claim 14, wherein the equipment-holder includes an equipment retainer portion, and the retainer portion is located below an upper end of the flexible attachment panel.

16. The user-worn equipment-holding belt system of claim 14, wherein:

the portion of the outer face of the stiffened non-folding section faced with the hook-and-loop material is faced substantially continuously with the hook and loop material over its width from an upper edge to a lower edge; and

the flexible attachment panel has a height substantially equal to the width of the stiffened non-folding section and is substantially continuously faced with the mating hook and loop material.

17. The user-worn equipment-holding belt system of claim 14, wherein the retainer portion comprises a flexible fabric retainer with a flexible fabric sidewall and a partially open bottom.

18. A chair-attached equipment-holding belt system comprising:

a belt comprising a rigid or semi-rigid member having hook and loop fastener material disposed thereupon;

at least one detachable equipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of the hook and loop fastener material of the belt, wherein

the belt is disposed about a back portion and a side portion of a salon chair, wherein the belt system is a salon chair belt system.

19. The chair-attached equipment-holding belt system of claim 18, wherein the belt is supported from a base portion of the salon chair at ends thereof.

20. The chair-attached equipment-holding belt system of claim 18, wherein the belt is attached to an upper portion of the back portion of the salon chair.