Hairstyling Former

Abstract

A hairstyling former comprising a ring of elastomeric material disposed within the material of an outer ring of resiliently deformable material. This outer ring comprises two layers of the resiliently deformable material, mutually joined at an outer periphery. The resiliently deformable material is an inelastic polymeric thread, knitted or woven in a manner providing limited stretch.

Description

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a hairstyling former and a method of making a hairstyling former.

Shapers for forming a bun in the hair are known. In particular, a so-called doughnut bun shaper comprises nylon mesh rolled into a doughnut shape. In some versions, such a shaper can be formed from an elongate roll of nylon mesh, having a fastener for fastening ends of the roll together to form the shaper into a ring.

The existing doughnut bun shaper requires a support to hold it in place. It has an almost exactly circular perimeter, the configuration of which is fixed. The shaper has a high density and limited elasticity. Thus, its shape is fixed. This limits the applicability of the shaper. A given shaper is generally only suitable for one length and type of hair and will produce only one hairstyle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the invention to provide a hairstyling former of greater versatility than known formers.

Accordingly, the invention provides a hairstyling former comprising a ring of elastomeric material disposed within the material of a ring of resiliently deformable material. The latter material includes or is a loosely knitted, or woven, inelastic thread, such as a polymeric thread.

The elasticity of the ring of elastomeric material means that the former can be used to hold the hair without requiring a separate support.

In one embodiment, the resiliently deformable material is substantially disc-shaped, the ring of elastomeric material being located at an inner periphery of the resiliently deformable material. Two layers of the resiliently deformable material may be mutually joined at an outer periphery.

The former of the invention thus has a variable shape and an adjustable inner circumference, so that it can be used to hold the hair in different ways and produce different styles.

The resiliently deformable material may comprise a knitted or woven polymeric mesh. The elastomeric ring can comprise a ring of natural or artificial rubber or polyester-polyurethane copolymer.

The invention also provides a method of making a hairstyling former, comprising the steps of taking a sheet of resiliently deformable material, placing a ring of elastomeric material around the sheet of resiliently deformable material, and folding the resiliently deformable material so that the ring of elastomeric material is inside.

The sheet of resiliently deformable material may be substantially rectangular. The ring of elastomeric material may be placed around a width of the sheet of resiliently deformable material at a midpoint along the length thereof, to cinch the resiliently deformable material at the midpoint.

After insertion into the ring of elastomeric material, halves of the resiliently deformable material may be folded around the ring of elastomeric material into two superimposed, substantially disc-shaped layers. These two layers may then be attached, e.g. sewn, together at their common outer periphery, to form a circumferential seam. Optionally, the resiliently deformable material may then be everted, moving the circumferential seam from the outside thereof to the inside. The radially extending edges of the resiliently deformable material may then be joined, e.g. sewn, together in each layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a ring of elastomeric material;

FIG. 2 shows a sheet of resiliently deformable material;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a former formed from the components of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the former of FIG. 3, showing the elastomeric ring partly exposed; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the former.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a ring 1 of elastomeric material, for example formed of natural or artificial rubber or a polyester-polyurethane copolymer (elastane), or a blend of elastomeric and inelastic fibres. This is, in this example, essentially a well known hairband, also called a hair tie, hair binder or pony tail holder. In its unstressed state it may have a diameter of about 50 mm.

FIG. 2 shows a rectangular sheet 2 of resiliently deformable material, in this example, a mesh loosely knitted or woven e.g. from polyethylene or nylon thread. The diameter of this thread is preferably greater than 0.1 mm, in particular 0.25 to 0.5 mm. Knitted stitches can range in size from 1 mm to 4 mm, in particular 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. The sheet can be provided in different colours, to provide a former of a colour similar to a user's hair. The width of the sheet can be between 75% and 100% of its length; the length and width are in a ratio of about 6:5 in this embodiment. The sheet 2 can be provided in different sizes in order to make respective correspondingly sized hairstyling formers. In one example, the sheet measures 180 mm by 150 mm, for a large former. Smaller sheets are also usable for smaller formers.

In order to create the hairstyling former, the elastomeric ring 1 is stretched and placed around the sheet 1, which can be roughly folded or rolled along its length for this purpose. In particular, the ring 1 is placed around the width of the sheet 2, at a midpoint along the length of the sheet.

Next, the halves of the sheet 2 on opposite sides of the ring 1 are folded around the ring 1 into approximately annular layers that meet each other. There layers are sewn together at their mutual outer circumference. The material, sewn together in this manner, is then gathered and turned inside out, in order to locate the circumferential seam 3, shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, between the layers rather than being exposed. This improves the appearance of the former. Finally the edges which were the long sides of the rectangular sheet and now lie radially, are sewn together, forming a radial seam 4 which completes the substantially annular shape of the former.

The finished former is shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. In FIG. 4, a part of the elastomeric ring 1 has been exposed to show the location of the ring. The former is generally disc shaped, with the elastomeric ring 1 at the periphery of a central hole. This ring can be used to hold the hair without requiring additional hairdressing tools or accessories.

In view of the low density material 2, the hairstyling former is easily deformable into different shapes, but will return to its original shape when the load or force is removed. The polymeric thread from which the resilient material 2 is knitted or woven is not elastic by itself in this example, but the knit or weave of the material can be deformed to provide some stretch. Thus, the former of the invention can be used in the manner of a known doughnut bun former to form a conventional hair bun, but alternative hairstyles can also be facilitated. In one mode of operation, the former can be folded, to form a smaller bun. Also, by manipulating the elastomeric ring 1, the former can be used to make unconventional hairstyles, whether natural, textured or with a fuller appearance. The mesh material 2 conveniently grips the hair. The former of the invention acts as an invisible tool or accessory. It is easy to use, can cover a large volume of hair, is easy to store and transport and can be made at low cost.

Claims

1. A hairstyling former comprising a ring of elastomeric material disposed within the material of an outer ring of resiliently deformable material; said outer ring comprising two layers of the resiliently deformable material, mutually joined at an outer periphery; the resiliently deformable material comprising an inelastic polymeric thread, knitted or woven in a manner providing stretch.

2. A hairstyling former according to claim 1, wherein said thread is of polyethylene.

3. A hairstyling former according to claim 2, wherein the resiliently deformable material is substantially disc-shaped, the ring of elastomeric material being located at an inner periphery of the resiliently deformable material.

4. A hairstyling former according to claim 3, wherein the elastomeric ring comprises a ring of natural or artificial rubber or polyester-polyurethane copolymer.

5. A method of making a hairstyling former, comprising the steps of taking a sheet of resiliently deformable material, knitted or woven of inelastic polymeric thread, placing a ring of elastomeric material around the sheet of resiliently deformable material, and folding the resiliently deformable material so that the ring of elastomeric material is inside.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the sheet of resiliently deformable material is substantially rectangular.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the ring of elastomeric material is placed around a width of the sheet of resiliently deformable material at a midpoint along the length thereof, to cinch the resiliently deformable material at the midpoint.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein folding of the resiliently deformable material comprises folding halves of the resiliently deformable material around the ring of elastomeric material into two superimposed, substantially disc-shaped layers.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein after the folding step, the two layers are attached together at their common outer periphery, to form a circumferential seam.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the attachment at the outer periphery is by sewing.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein after the attachment at the outer periphery, the resiliently deformable material is everted, moving the circumferential seam from the outside thereof to the inside.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein in each layer, radially extending edges of the resiliently deformable material are attached together.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the attachment of the radially extending edges is by sewing.

14. A method according to claim 5, wherein folding of the resiliently deformable material comprises folding halves of the resiliently deformable material around the ring of elastomeric material into two superimposed, substantially disc-shaped layers.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein after the folding step, the two layers are attached together at their common outer periphery, to form a circumferential seam.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the attachment at the outer periphery is by sewing.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein after the attachment at the outer periphery, the resiliently deformable material is everted, moving the circumferential seam from the outside thereof to the inside.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein in each layer, radially extending edges of the resiliently deformable material are attached together.

19. A hairstyling former according to claim 1, wherein the resiliently deformable material is substantially disc-shaped, the ring of elastomeric material being located at an inner periphery of the resiliently deformable material.

20. A hairstyling former according to claim 1, wherein the elastomeric ring comprises a ring of natural or artificial rubber or polyester-polyurethane copolymer.