Abstract:
A method and apparatus for inserting a decorative ribbon into braided human hair. The apparatus is of a needle configuration having an elongated shaft pointed at one end and a ribbon-retaining eyelet at the opposite end. The eyelet has a progressive engagement and retaining insert to selectively engage and hold a ribbon within. A ribbon can therefore pass through the weaves of the braid in a variety of decorative repetitive patterns.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to the field of hair styling specifically devices to insert fabric into hairbraids in a decorative pattern. Such devices are used to pull and weave material through human hair. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art devices of this type have been divided into styling tools that hold and separate portions of human hair to allow for direct manipulation and needle type inserts, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,036,870, 5,657,776, 5,806,538 and 5,832,938. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,870 a hair styling tool can be seen having an elongated probe with an elastic loop extending there from. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,776 claims a hair stitching shaft for decorating hair in which an elongated shaft having a pointed end and an opposing end eyelet is disclosed. A scarf is threaded through the eyelet having a diamond shape cutout with equal lateral narrowing points into which the scarf is wedgeably disposed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,538 shows a hair styling tool having a U-shaped hook and arm extending from the distal end of a contoured handle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,938 described a hair styling method for weaving strands of one ponytail through the hair foundation using a weaving tool having a hollow needle with a reciprocating sleeve. A noose extends from the needle&#39;s proximal end. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A hair weaving method and apparatus for pulling decorative ribbon material through a braid of human hair in a variety of repetitive patterns. The hair-weaving tool is of an elongated needle configuration having a ribbon engagement element integrally formed within an enlarged eyelet inwardly of its proximal end. A ribbon can be frictionally secured within without damage or distortion and pulled through incrementally spaced weave points within the braid to form a “woven” pattern of distinctive color and contrast in the hair. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lacing tool of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the ribbon engagement eyelet portion of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on lines  4 — 4  of FIG. 3 of the drawings; 
     FIG. 5 is a graphic representation of the top and back portion of a human head with a hair braid and tool of the invention engaged there under. 
     FIG. 6 is a graphic representation of a human head set forth in FIG. 5 illustrating a tool insert positioned through the hair braid; 
     FIG. 7 is a graphic representation of a hair braid with a ribbon being partially woven there through; 
     FIG. 8 is a graphic representation of a hair braid illustrating the first insertion point required to form a unique x-ribbon pattern within the braid; and 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a completed ribbon insertion pattern showing an x-pattern. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a lacing tool  10  can be seen having an elongated shaft body  11  with a conical end portion  12  defining a hair engagement point at  13  on its distal end. A ribbon engagement and registration eyelet  14  is positioned inwardly of its oppositely disposed proximal end. The engagement point  13  facilitates pushing the tool  10  through the hair  15  on a human head  16  as illustrated in FIG. 5 and 6 of the drawings. Referring to FIGS. 1,  3 , and  4  of the drawings, the eyelet  14  of the lacing tool  10  can be seen having a pair of spaced parallel elongated body members  19  and  20  extending longitudinally from the elongated shaft body  11  to a termination point at  21  defining a material engagement opening at  22  there between. A material restraint fitting  23  is formed within the opening  22  extending from a continuous support bead  24  about the opening  22  as best seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings. A support web  25  is formed within the opening  22  between the respective body members  19  and  20  inwardly of the termination point  21 . The restraint fitting  23  has a pair of oppositely disposed web elements  26  and  27  extending from the bead  24  adjacent the web  25 . The web elements  26  and  27  define an intersecting V-shaped notch at  28 . The support web  25  and web elements  26  and  27  are of a combined length equal to about one-third the overall longitudinal length of the opening  22  as hereinbefore described. The notch at  28  has a dimensional opening aspect of 0.015 of an inch at its widest point between oppositely disposed angular surfaces  29  and  30  of the respective web elements  26  and  27  to 0.005 of an inch adjacent its termination point at  31 . 
     The defined dimensional aspects of the notch  28  is critical to the function of the device in which a fabric ribbon  32  is passed through and wedgeably engaged therein as generally illustrated in FIGS. 5,  6  and  9  of the drawings. It will therefore be evident that once the ribbon  32  is inserted through the engagement opening  22  it will be wedgeably secured within the tapered notch  28  at any point along its length allowing for any required adjustment thereto. 
     The lacing tool  10  of the invention is of a sufficient length to transect and extend beyond its insertion and exit points within the hair as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5-8 of the drawings, a basic hair weaving sequence is illustrated on a single braid  33  of hair on the head  16  as follows. 
     A length of the ribbon  32  to be used is determined by measuring the length of the braid  33  three times. The lacing tool  10  is then threaded with the ribbon  32  at a point that is approximately two inches inwardly of its end at  33 A. The threaded lacing tool  10  is then passed under the top portion of the braid  33  at  34  from right to left as seen in FIG. 5 of the drawings to a point at which the ribbon  32  is of equal lengths  32 A and  32 B on either side of the braid  33 . The lacing tool  10  is then inserted through the braid  33  repeatedly from right to left at  35 , as seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The insertion sequence is repeated longitudinally down the length of the braid  33  inserting the tool at each of the braid&#39;s hair section intersections V formed by the braid&#39;s respective hair bands  36 ,  37  and  38  keeping the ribbon  32  flat and smooth in the process as illustrated best in FIG. 7 of the drawings. 
     The ribbon  32  is removed from the lacing tool  10  and inserted onto the remaining end at  39  of the ribbon  32  extending from the right side  39  of the braid  33 . The lacing tool  10  is then inserted from the right at  40  each of the respective hair band intersections integrally weaving the ribbon  32  in repetitive fashion down the right side of the braid  33  as seen in broken lines. 
     Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, an alternate hair weaving ribbon pattern is illustrated in which an X-pattern is achieved. In FIG. 8 of the drawings, the steps as illustrated and described hereinbefore for the basic pattern have been used then a first step to inter-weave the X-pattern by inserting the lacing tool  10  under the entire braid  33  from the right side at  40  and bringing it out on the left side in the middle of a braid band. Loop the tool  10  and ribbon up over and across the braid  33  to the right side and then back under the braid  33  to the left. The resulting pattern will define one-half of the respective X-pattern desired. The lacing tool  10  is then removed from the ribbon  32  and re-attached as previously discussed on the remaining ribbon portion and beginning again with the pattern insertion from the top of the hair braid  33  on its right side inserting the tool into insertion points that have the first ribbon inserted and crossing the hair to form an X as seen in FIG. 10 of the drawings. 
     It will be evident from the above description that a variety of other weaving and patterns can be achieved by utilization of the lacing tool  10  of the invention and that by combining multiple steps and sequential arrangement, the desired decorative effect can be achieved as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 8 and 10 of the drawings. 
     It will thus be seen that a new and novel lacing tool method of use has been disclosed herein and that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.