ADJUSTABLE NO-SLIP HEADBAND

Abstract

An adjustable athletic headband is provided with silicone strips applied to an inwardly facing surface of the headband for a non-slip engagement with the wearer's forehead and hair. The headband restricts movement on the wearer's head when engaged in athletic or rigorous activities due to the frictional engagement of the silicone material with the wearer's head and hair. An adjustable strap interconnects the ends of the headband for an adjustable holding tension around multiple sizes of heads.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/409,963, filed Oct. 19, 2016, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to headbands for securing a wearer's hair, and more particularly to headbands for athletic and other rigorous activities.

Hair is difficult to keep in place when conducting athletic activities. The physical activity causes the hair to fall in a person's face and distract the person from focusing on their activity. Conventional headbands often slip on the wearer's hair, requiring constant adjustments of the headband, which also causes the person to lose focus on their activity.

The materials used in making other headbands also allows for stretching which contributes to the slipping of the headband and hair becoming loosened. These conventional headbands lack the proper material and fabrication to hold the headband in place and keep hair from falling out of the headband during physical activities.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved head band that remains in place on a wearer's head during athletic and other rigorous activities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention include an athletic headband, having an elongate length of fabric material forming a headband body. A resilient strap is attached to a first end and a second end of the headband body. The resilient strap is configured to be adjustable to fit a wearer's head. A plurality of strips are defined in a spaced apart relation along an inner surface of the headband body, the plurality of strips formed of a silicone non-slip composition configured for frictional engagement with a forehead and hair of the wearer.

The headband may also include a strap adjuster that threadingly receives the resilient strap and is configured to adjust the length of the strap to size the athletic headband to the user. A clip may be attached to a free end of a first resilient strap, and a receiver is formed at a free end of a second strap, wherein the clip is configured for cooperative engagement in the receiver to secure the free ends of the first strap and the second strap around the wearer's head. The headband body may be formed of a plurality of fabric layers, which are joined along an outer edge of the headband body. The headband body may be constructed to narrow at the first end and the second end thereof. The plurality of strips may terminate within the narrowed first end and second. The plurality of strips may be formed on an outer surface of the headband body.

Other aspects of the invention include a method of restraining hair for athletic training. The method includes providing an athletic headband, having an elongate length of fabric material forming a headband body; a resilient strap attached to a first end and a second end of the headband body, and a plurality of strips defined in a spaced apart relation along an inner surface of the headband body, the plurality of strips formed of a silicone non-slip composition. The inner surface of the headband is applied to a user's hair line or slightly behind the start of the hair line for frictional engagement of at least one of the plurality of strips to the user's hair. The resilient strap is secured around the user's head. The method may also include interconnecting a clip at a first free end of the strap with a cooperating receiver defined at a second free end of the strap to secure the headband around the wearer's head. It may also include adjusting the length of the resilient strap via an adjuster configured to threadingly receive the second free end of the strap.

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 the headband shown in use.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the headband shown in use (clasped).

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the headband.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the headband.

FIG. 5 is a section detail view of the headband taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

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, embodiments of the present invention provide a head band 10 that does not move when worn on a wearer's head 24, as shown in reference to FIG. 1, while the wearer 24 is conducting athletic activities.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the headband includes an elongate length of fabric material, such as polyester and Lycra, forming a body 12 of the headband 10. The Lycra material allows the headband 10 to stretch the full circumference of the wearer's head 24. Typically, the body 12 is on the order of about three inches wide. The body 12 of the headband 10 may have an inner hair contacting surface and an outer surface. The body 12 may be defined by one or a plurality of layers of fabric material including an outer layer positioned away from the wearer's head 24 and an inner layer positioned adjacent to the wearer's head 24. The outer surface may have a decorative pattern and colors to suit the wearer's taste. The inner surface may also have a decorative pattern and colors to suit the wearer's taste and may be the same or a different pattern than the outer surface.

An elastic strap 14 is joined to each of a first end and a second end of the body 12 of the headband 10. The elastic strap 14 being adjustable to size the headband 10 to the wearer's head 24. The strap 14 may include a plurality of straps 14. A first strap 14 at the first end of the body 12 may be configured with a clip 18, while a second strap 14 at the second end may be configured with a cooperating receiver 20 for interconnection with the clip 18. The receiver 20 may be formed by a loop of the strap 14 being folded onto itself, or a separate receiver 20 carried by the second strap 14. Preferably the strap 14 is formed of an elastic material, such as spandex. The second strap 14 may include a strap adjuster 16, to change the length of the strap so as to adjust to a circumference of the wearer's head 24 and volume of hair to obtain a desired tension in the headband 10.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, at least the inner surface of the headband body 12 is provided with a plurality of strips 22, which are formed of a silicone or non-slip composition. The strips 22, may be applied to the inner surface in a spaced apart relation and are preferably aligned generally along a longitudinal length of the body 12. In use, the non-slip strips 22 provide frictional engagement between the headband and the hairline 26 wearer's hair to maintain the headband 10 in place. As may be seen, the non-slip composition 22 may be formed such that it blends with the color or design applied to the inner surface, making it barely visible.

The headband 10 does not move when being worn due to the silicone material on the strips 22. The adjustable clip 16 on the back allows for adjustment of the strap 14 to accommodate a secure holding tension to multiple sizes of heads 24.

The body 12 of the headband 10 may also be formed with the polyester Lycra material cut to the size of the headband 10 in two separate pieces. The pieces are sewn together with thread along the lateral edges of the pieces creating the body 12 of the headband 10. The spandex straps 14 may then be sewn onto each end of the material leaving a gap between their ends. On one spandex strap 14 there is the adjuster clip 16 that may be threaded through to receive one side of the spandex strap 14. The other end of the strap 14 may be sewn around the strap adjuster 16 to allow it to slide up and down the strap 14 for adjusting the length. The clip 18 may have an open hook end and can be fastened to the receiver loop 20 sewn on the end of the other strap 14 and threaded through the strap adjuster 16. The silicone non-slip strips 22 are glued, thermally bonded, or otherwise adhered to the body 12, preferably in three strips 22 applied to the inner surface of the headband 10 in a spaced apart.

In use, the wearer would place the headband 10 over the top of their head in the desired location and clip the ends together with the clips 18 and receiver 20. The rubbcr silicone strips 22 would press against the hair and forehead 26 the headband 10 would be held in place along with the hair underneath.

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 athletic headband, comprising:

an elongate length of fabric material forming a headband body;

a resilient strap attached to a first end and a second end of the headband body, the resilient strap configured to be adjustable to fit a wearer's head; and

a plurality of strips defined in a spaced apart relation along an inner surface of the headband body, the plurality of strips formed of a silicone non-slip composition configured for frictional engagement with a forehead and hair of the wearer.

2. The athletic headband of claim 1, further comprising:

a strap adjuster threadingly receiving the resilient strap and configured to adjust the length of the strap to size the athletic headband to the user.

3. The athletic headband of claim 2, further comprising:

a clip attached to a free end of a first resilient strap; and

a receiver formed at a free end of a second strap, wherein the clip is configured for cooperative engagement in the receiver to secure the free ends of the first strap and the second strap around the wearer's head.

4. The athletic headband of claim 3, wherein the headband body is formed of a plurality of fabric layers, joined along an outer edge of the headband body.

5. The athletic headband of claim 3, wherein the headband body narrows at the first end and the second end thereof.

6. The athletic headband of claim 5, wherein the plurality of strips terminate within the narrowed first end and second.

7. The athletic headband of claim 6, wherein the plurality of strips are formed on an outer surface of the headband body.

8. A method of restraining hair for athletic training, comprising:

providing an athletic headband, comprising: an elongate length of fabric material forming a headband body; a resilient strap attached to a first end and a second end of the headband body, a plurality of strips defined in a spaced apart relation along an inner surface of the headband body, the plurality of strips formed of a silicone non-slip composition

applying the inner surface of the headband for frictional engagement of the plurality of strips to a user's forehead;

securing the resilient strap around the user's head.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

interconnecting a clip at a first free end of the strap with a cooperating receiver defined at a second free end of the strap.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

adjusting the length of the resilient strap via an adjuster configured to threadingly receive the second free end of the strap.