Abstract:
A hair band assembly includes a lower band element and an upper band element defining a cavity there between. A pair of eyeglasses, including a frame element enclosing lenses therein, is connected to the hair band assembly via a connector that allows the eyeglasses to pivot between two positions an extended position on the individual&#39;s face, and a refracted position within the cavity of the hair band. The frame element on the eyeglasses includes a tab that projects outwardly from the side of the eyeglasses. The tab fits into a recess defined within the upper band element to allow easy retrieval. The frame element also includes a protrusion that mates with a recess on the lower side of the upper band element, such that the recess forms a protrusion snap lock for holding the eyeglasses in place within the cavity. The hair band assembly encompasses a reversible decorative element that is removable from the hair band. The decorative element includes patterned fabric on either side and is attachable to the hair band by a pocket tab. The pocket tab is adjustable for flipping inside out to display one side of fabric or the other on the same hair band.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of prior co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/105,827 filed on Oct. 16, 2008. This prior application is incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0002]    This application also claims the benefit of prior co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/159,932 filed on Mar. 13, 2009. This prior application is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    The application relates to the field of hair bands with additional accessories including retractable eyeglasses or sunglasses and decorative removable covers thereon. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    Many women and children use decorative hair bands as fashion accessories. Several hair band designs allow for interchangeable decorations making the hair band adaptable for varying occasions and tastes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,106 to Lawson discloses a foldable decorative hair band. The hair band in Lawson has a rail strip whereby various decorative plates are slidably attached to or removed from the hair band. U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,316 to Klug also discloses a hair band having interchangeable decorations. Decorations are attached and removed by using hook and loop fasteners. 
         [0005]    Sun glasses have also become a popular accessory not just for their practical value in protecting the eye from harmful solar rays but also for ornamental and fashion value. Because of the size of glasses and their effect of reducing visible light seen by their wearers, sunglass wearers commonly remove them to improve their vision and physical comfort. Once removed, sunglasses wearers have the burden of keeping track of their sunglasses. For the convenience of sunglasses wearers, efforts have been made to combine sunglasses with various types of headgear. The prior art typically shows eyeglasses in combination with certain kinds of headbands that extend across an individual&#39;s forehead. For purposes herein, therefore, a “headband” is construed to extend around at least a portion of the front of the head (e.g., the forehead). In contrast, a “hair band” at least partially engages the top of the head (i.e., the region on the skull where hair typically grows to a length that requires control and keeping in place). 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,254 to Daigle discloses a headband and eyeglasses combination. The headband is made from a flexible and resilient cloth and includes a pocket therein that extends across the forehead when the headband is worn. Eyeglasses are attached to the headband with a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes track elements for sliding the eyeglasses between a refracted position within the pocket of the headband and a downwardly extended operative position when the wearer uses the glasses. When the eyeglasses are retracted, they are positioned entirely within the pocket. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,496 to Holtan also discloses an eyeglasses and headgear combination. The eyeglasses frame is attached to a headband by a coupling member. The coupling member includes a pivoting member for pivoting the eyeglasses about an axis. When the eyeglasses are pivoted upwards away from the eyes, the eyeglasses remain visible and not obscured by the headband. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,475 to Lynd discloses a head gear element in the general shape of a visor with an eye shield incorporated therein. The head gear element includes a visor cavity within the headband portion, and the eye shield pivots from a position within the cavity to a position on the wearer&#39;s face. The forehead section within the head gear element is formed from suitable plastic having front and rear walls interconnected by a top wall defining the visor cavity for storing the eye shield. The eye shield is coupled to the head element with a support bracket. The support bracket enables the eye shield to be pivoted from a position in front of the wearer&#39;s eyes to a position within the storage cavity. 
         [0009]    Design patents of interest in this field include U.S. Pat. Nos. D331,250 (Acosta 1992) and D338,099 (Gentile 1993). 
         [0010]    None of the above-noted prior patents show or suggest eye wear that can be disposed within a hair band worn on top of the head (i.e., in the hair). Such a hair band assembly would be a convenient accessory to accommodate a consumer&#39;s desire for fashion and functionality. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A hair band assembly includes a hair band that defines a cavity therein, and the cavity is accessible from one side of the hair band. The hair band assembly includes eyewear connected to the hair band. The eyewear is connected to the hair band in a pivoting relationship such that the eyewear moves along an arcuate path from an extended position on the wearer&#39;s face to a retracted position within the cavity. 
         [0012]    The hair band may include an upper band element, wherein the upper band element is shaped as an open loop that conforms to a head of a wearer when positioned over the top of the wearer&#39;s head. The hair band further includes a lower band element connected to the upper band element, wherein the lower band element is shaped as an open loop that conforms to the head of the wearer when positioned over the top of the head. The upper band element and the lower band element define a cavity there between. A frame element extends around a wearer&#39;s face. A coupling element connects the frame element to at least one of the band elements, wherein the coupling element enables the frame element to be pivoted between an extended position on a wearer&#39;s face and a retracted position in the cavity of the hair band. 
         [0013]    The hair band also incorporates a removable decorative element that attaches and detaches from the hair band via reversible pocket tabs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hair band defining a cavity for eyewear to fit within the cavity. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows the hair band of  FIG. 1  on the head of a wearer with the eyewear in the extended position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a cross section of the hair band assembly described herein with the eyewear in the extended position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows a cross section of the hair band assembly described herein with the eyewear in the retracted position inside the cavity of the hairband. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows a front view of the hair band of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  shows an up close cross section view of the hair band and the cavity therein. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7A  shows removable eyewear used with the hair band described herein. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7B  shows a close up view of the temple portion that allows for snapping the eyewear of  FIG. 7A  into the hair band of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  shows the hair band of  FIG. 1  adapted for fitting a decorative element thereon via pocket tabs described herein. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  shows the hair band of  FIG. 8  with the decorative element affixed to the hair band. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10A  shows the decorative element connector in the form of a pocket tab on one side of the decorative element. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10B  shows the wearer pulling the pocket tab to reverse the decorative element and move the pocket tab to the opposite side of the decorative element. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10C  shows the wearer pulling the pocket tab over the hair band in a way that reverses the pocket tab and displays an opposite side of the decorative element in comparison to  FIG. 10A . 
           [0027]      FIG. 10D  shows the decorative element on the opposite side of the hair band as compared to  FIG. 10B . 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  shows the hair band described herein with a decorative element affixed thereon by pocket tabs. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  shows the reversible nature of the decorative elements described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention and is a hair band structure broadly designated at  10 . The hair band  10  has an upper band element  11  and a lower band element  12 . In one embodiment, the band elements are formed from a flexible plastic. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the band elements  11  and  12  are shaped as respective open loops that conform to the shape of the head of a wearer when positioned over the top of the wearer&#39;s head. For purposes herein, a hair band at least partially engages the top of the head. In one embodiment, a hair band defines an opening that fits over an individual&#39;s head, and the hair band extends from a first tip portion  32  (see  FIG. 5 ) proximate the wearer&#39;s ear, across the top of the head, and continues over the head to a second tip portion  32  proximate the other ear on the opposite side of the head. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  depicts one of the embodiments of the invention being worn. When worn, the hair band  10  is positioned substantially vertically on the wearer&#39;s head so that a top portion  31  of the upper band element  11  is positioned substantially above the top of the wearer&#39;s head. The lower band element  12  includes a textured surface  22  which helps to secure the hair band  10  on the wearer&#39;s head. 
         [0032]    One of the purposes of this invention is to provide a combination including eye wear and a hair accessory. In a preferred embodiment, the eye wear is pivoted from a position on the wearer&#39;s face (i.e., the extended position) to a position that is substantially, if not entirely, enclosed within the hair band (i.e., the retracted position). In this regard, the hair band  10  further includes a frame element  14  for holding the lenses of a pair of glasses. The lenses within the frame element  14  can be used for one or more purposes including but not limited to sight correction, safety, sunlight protection, and fashion. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3 , which is a cross-sectional view of the hair band  10 , depicts the frame element  14  in the extended position. This is the position in which the wearer would be using the glasses over the eyes. When in an extended position, therefore, the frame element  14  is positioned in front of the wearer&#39;s eyes as a typical pair of glasses. The frame element  14  is mechanically coupled to at least one and possibly both of the band elements  11  and  12  by a coupling element  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the upper band element  11  and the lower band element  12  are connected to form the overall single hair band that accommodates retractable eye wear. The upper band element  11  and the lower band element  12  may be connected at the lower tips  32  on either side. Coupling element  20  may be used to connect the upper band element  11 , the lower band element  12 , and the frame element  14  of the overall hair band  10 . Alternatively, the coupling element  20  may connect any two of the band elements  11 ,  12  and the frame element  14 . In one embodiment, the coupling element  20  is a post that fits within a cavity  24  defined by the hair band and engages a portion of the frame element  14  to allow pivoting in extended and retracted positions. 
         [0034]    The frame element  14  defines a slide rail  21  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ), which engages the coupling element  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the slide rail  21  is a substantially horizontal opening in the frame element  14 , and the slide rail  21  has edges that define an extended oval or rectangle. In one embodiment, the coupling element  20  may include regions of different sizes, such that the coupling element fits within the slide rail  21  but does not slide out. In other words, in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the end of the coupling element  20  is larger than the portion of the coupling element  20  within the slide rail  21 . 
         [0035]    In a different embodiment, the frame element  14  is entirely removable from the hair band  10 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the temple portion  19  of the frame element  14  defines a groove  17 , similar to the above noted slide rail, at a distal end opposite the lens portion of the eyewear. For purposes herein, the term “distal end” is from the perspective that the eyewear lenses would be the most “proximal” portion to a person facing the wearer. The distal end, therefore, is the end of the eyewear that would typically be positioned adjacent the wearer&#39;s ear. The temple portion  19  terminates at the distal end in two legs  18 A,  18 B that define the groove  17  there between. At the most distal end of the temple portion  14  of the eyewear, the legs  18 A,  18 B converge to form a separable engagement  27  that is biased in a closed position. In other words, the legs  18 A,  18 B of the temple portion  14  are shaped such that the outermost distal end of the temple portion  14  forms an entryway  27  for the coupling element  21  described above. The shape of the legs  18 A,  18 B and the position of the legs on either side of the groove  17  in the temple  19  bring the legs together at the distal end. The legs  18 A,  18 B touch but are separable by a force that pries the legs apart. This configuration is adapted for receiving the coupling element  21  of the hair band  10  through the entryway  27  to the groove  17  in the temple portion  19 . 
         [0036]    When attaching the eyewear shown in  FIG. 7  to the hair band assembly of  FIG. 1 , each temple portion  19  of the eyewear slides into the cavity  24  defined by the hair band  10 . The coupling element  21  in the cavity engages the closed leg portions  18 A,  18 B and pries the legs apart. The coupling element slides into the groove  17  in the temple portion  19  and allows for sizing of the eyewear to different wearers. The shape of the groove  17  includes a divot  28  in which the coupling element  21  may initially rest unless moved by the wearer to a different position along the groove  17 . This divot  28  provides an initial resting position that may serve as the default position for the coupling element in the groove. Again, the default position in the divot is arranged for the most often used size of eyewear, but the groove allows for the temple portion, and therefore the entire frame, to be adjusted lengthwise for wearers who desire a different length along the temple. 
         [0037]    The divot  28  is also useful in allowing the coupling element  21  to rotate within the groove  17 , so that the frame element  14  can be retracted into the cavity of the hair band. In this regard, the divot along the groove is a pivoting point for the coupling element, as it gives more leeway for rotation about the axis provided by the coupling element. 
         [0038]    The coupling element is sized to fit within the groove such that it maintains a stable position that requires an outside force for adjustment. The coupling element is sufficiently secured within the cavity of the hair band to withstand the force of prying the legs of the temple portion apart. 
         [0039]    In addition to adding pivoting capabilities, the coupling element and groove  17  or slide rail  21  enable the eyeglasses frame element  14  to be fitted to a wearer&#39;s head and face. In other words, the coupling element  20  slides along the slide rail  21  or the groove  17  (or, vice versa, the slide rail slides along the coupling element  20 ) so that the distance between the coupling element  20  and the far edge of the frame element (proximate the lenses) can vary. In this way, a single hair band  10  fits individuals with varying head sizes. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the slide rail  21  also includes an indentation  26 , which is the default location for the coupling element  20  within the slide rail  21 . The default location within the indentation  26  is the most convenient location for sizing the frame element  14  so that it fits within the cavity  24 . In a preferred use, a wearer would raise up the frame element  14  from an extended position on the wearer&#39;s face, size the frame element  14  to the default location within the indentation  26 , and then slide the frame element  14 , including lenses into the cavity  24 . All of these steps occur without removing the hair band  10  from the wearer&#39;s head. Accordingly, the depiction of the indentation  26  within the slide rail  21  in  FIG. 4  is illustrative only and is not intended to show the only mechanism for fitting the frame element  14  into the cavity  24 . The indentation  26  may be located at any convenient location within the slide rail  21  to allow the frame element  14  to retract up into the cavity  24 . The indentation does not prohibit any back and forth movement of the frame element, but allows the user to find the best spot for sizing the frame element so that it fits within the cavity  24 . The coupling element  20  fits nicely within the indentation  26  and pops into place to allow the user to know that the frame element  14  is in a position ready for retracting into the cavity  24 . The coupling element  20 , however, still allows the frame element  14  to slide back and forth along the slide rail  21  with minimal force into and out of the indentation  26 . 
         [0041]    In addition to coupling the frame element  14  to the hair band  10 , the coupling element  20  may connect the upper band element  11  to the lower band element  12 . Alternatively, the band elements  11  and  12  may be connected by any other appropriate means that does not interfere with the structure or operation of the hair band  10 . For example, the upper and lower band elements  11 ,  12  may be connected along various edges of the band elements so long as the connection points of the band elements  11 ,  12  do not interfere with the operation of the overall hair band  10  assembly. 
         [0042]    The upper band element  11  and the lower band element  12  define a cavity  24 , in which the frame element  14  may be positioned when retracted.  FIG. 6  depicts a zoomed in cross-sectional view of the cavity  24 .  FIG. 4 , a cross-sectional view of the hair band  10 , depicts the frame element  14  being in the retracted position. 
         [0043]    In a preferred embodiment, the frame element  14  also includes a protrusion  16  and a glide tab  15 . The upper band portion has a protrusion snap lock  23  complementary to the protrusion  16  for securing the frame element  14  when the frame element  14  is in the cavity position. The upper band portion  11  also has a recess  13  positioned so that the glide tab  15  fits into the recess  13  when the frame element  14  is in the retracted position. 
         [0044]    The combination of the glide tab  15  and the recess  13  provides a manual cue to the wearer regarding the location of the most convenient portion of the frame element  14  that the wearer should grasp to pull the frame element  14  out of the cavity  24 . When the frame element  14  is in the retracted position, the glide tab  15  mates with the recess  13  to create a substantially uniform surface along the front edge, or ridgeline  25 , of the upper band element  11 . The uniformity is aesthetically appealing, but the wearer still has the ability to detect a difference in the surface of the front edge  25  of the upper band element  11  even when the frame element  14  is in the retracted position. That difference manually alerts the wearer to pull down on the glide tab  15  to move the frame element  14  into an extended position over the wearer&#39;s eyes. 
         [0045]    As noted above, the frame element  14  includes a raised bump, or protrusion  16 , on the outer region of the frame element  14 . This protrusion  16  slides between upper and lower bands  11 ,  12  such that the top of the protrusion  16  is adjacent the underside of the upper band  11 . In other words, the protrusion  16  slides into the cavity  24  between the frame element  14  and the upper band element  11 . The upper band element  11  defines a recess, referred to herein as a protrusion snap lock  23 , on its underside adjacent the cavity  24 .  FIG. 4  depicts the protrusion  16  being mated to the protrusion snap lock  23 . The protrusion snap lock  23  engages the protrusion  16  with a sufficient hold to releasably maintain the frame element  14  in the cavity  24  as desired. Of course, the overall hair band assembly may include a pair of protrusions  16  and a pair of protrusion snap locks  23 . A respective pair  16 ,  23  may be located on either side of the frame element  14  and hair band  10  combination. 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  further shows the glide tab  15  being mated to the recess  13 . The glide tab  15  enables the wearer of the hair band  10  to grip the frame element  14  so that it may be pivoted from the refracted position inside the cavity  24  to the extended position on the wearer&#39;s face. 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the hair band  10 .  FIG. 5  depicts a plane  30  bisecting the hair band  10 . The upper band element  11  has a top portion  31  defined by the intersection of the upper band element  11  with the plane  30 . The lower band element  12  has a top portion  33  defined by the intersection of the lower band element  12  with the plane  30 . In a preferred embodiment, the top portion  31  of the upper band element  11  is wider than the top portion  33  of the lower band element  12  so that a front edge, or ridgeline,  25  substantially obscures the frame element  14  when the frame element  14  is in the cavity  24  position. The upper band element  11  also has two tip portions  32 . The upper band element  11  may be tapered from the top portion  31  of the upper band element to each of the tip portions  32  of the upper band element. The lowered band element  12  may be similarly tapered. 
         [0048]    The hair band  10  may further include one or more decorative elements. One or more connectors may be on the upper band element  11  for connecting and readily removing one or more of the decorative elements to the upper band portion  11 . 
         [0049]    The removable decorative elements are shown in more detail in  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 12  shows a hair band  40  similar to the hair band  10  described above and of the same general shape. The hair band  40  includes optional retaining guides  42 A and  42 B extending along the arcuate edges of the hair band. The optional retaining guides  42 A and  42 B may be described as raised lips on one edge or both edges of the hair band. Removable decorative elements  51  and  52  are designed to fit on the hair band  40  and stay in place by extending across the hair band between retaining guides  42 A and  42 B. For hair bands with only one retaining guide, the decorative element  51 ,  52  fits alongside the retaining guide. 
         [0050]    The removable decorative elements of  FIG. 12  are shown as two different strips of fabric that are reversible. The removable and reversible decorative elements  51 ,  52  have different prints on either side of the fabric. For decorative element  51 , a first side  51 A of the decorative element  51  is a pattern of checks and the underside  51 B of the decorative element  51  is a densely dotted pattern. A second decorative element  52  also has two sides for alternative use with the hair band  40 . A top side of decorative element  52  has sparsely dotted pattern, and the second side of decorative element  52  has a striped pattern. The types of patterns are examples only and in no way limit the invention, but the decorative elements have a reversible functionality such that one strip of fabric has two sides that can be used with the hair band for different looks. The reversible nature of the decorative elements  51 ,  52  gives the user more options for matching the outer side as desirable with different outfits. 
         [0051]    One useful feature of the decorative elements  51 ,  52  is the pocket tab used to hold a decorative element  51 ,  52  onto the hair band  40 . Each decorative element  51 ,  52  has a pair of pocket tabs  61 A,  61 B,  62 A,  62 B on each respective end of the decorative element. The pocket tabs fit around a respective end of the hair band  40  to hold the decorative element in place on the hair band  40  alongside and/or between retaining guides  42 A,  42 B.  FIG. 8  shows decorative element  52  fitting around hair band  40 . Respective ends  43 A,  43 B of the hair band  40  fit within pocket tabs  62 A,  62 B on the decorative element.  FIG. 9  shows decorative element  52  in place around the hair band  40 . 
         [0052]    For a more detailed view of the reversible nature of the decorative elements  51 ,  52 ,  FIGS. 10A-10D  illustrate the concept of how a single pocket tab on either end of the decorative element can be used on either reversible side of the decorative element. Starting with  FIG. 10A , end  43 B of the hair band  40  fits within pocket tab  62 B such that one side  52 A of the decorative element would be worn directly adjacent the hair band and the other side  52 B would be exposed. The pocket tab  62 B is allowed to be flipped inside out as in  FIGS. 10B and 10C  so that the same pocket tab  62 B is adjacent the other side of the decorative element  52 B. In this way, the same hair band  40  fits within the pocket tab  62 B such that decorative element side  52 B is on the interior and directly adjacent the hair band  40 . In the drawing of  FIG. 10D , the pocket tab has been flipped inside out so that side  52 A could be worn on the outside of the hair band  40 .  FIG. 11  shows this embodiment installed on the hair band  40 . 
         [0053]    In the specification and drawings, typical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and, although specific terms have been employed, they have been used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Different kinds of materials and elements may be substituted for the parts disclosed herein, and any method steps can be adjusted yet still fall within the ambit of the invention. The invention is further set forth in the claims below.