Abstract:
A hair accessory device with a cover is provided. Through the use of this novel device one can facilitate hair styling while shielding from view the hardware that is used to style the hair. The device provides a cover that shields most if not all of any spring, hinge or other mechanical system that is used to style one&#39;s hair.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to hair accessories and hair accessories with attachments. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Women use hair accessories to facilitate imparting a wide variety of hairstyles to their hair, for example, ponytails, braids, pigtails, etc. They also frequently select particular accessories not only for their function but also for their ability to impart their function without drawing an undesirable amount of attention to the accessory or any negative attention to the accessory itself. One well-known type of accessory is the hair clip. 
         [0003]    Hair clips function by attaching, engaging or associating a hair switch with the hair clip and permitting a hair piece to hang from it. When in use, the hair clip and its attachment mechanism typically remain at least in part visible. However, the user may wish to wear a hair accessory to complement or to supplement the user&#39;s natural hair or to style her hair without having the attachment device visible or to have it be only minimally visible. Unfortunately, known devices do not adequately address this need. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides devices and methods for styling hair and using hair accessories that conceal fully or in part their attachment mechanism. Through the use of these devices and mechanisms, users can have improved hair styling experiences. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, a hair clip apparatus is provided that comprises a hair association element comprising a first set of elongated branches and a second set of elongated branches. The first set of elongated branches and second set of elongated branches are hinged together at their respective first ends about a hinge axis, thereby enabling the first set of elongated branches and second set of elongated branches to pivot between a first position and a second position. The hair clip apparatus further comprises a gripping element, wherein the gripping element enables a user to manipulate the hair association element between said first position and said second position; and a cover, wherein said cover encases a portion or all of the gripping element and the hinge. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a hair accessory is provided. The hair accessory comprises a hair clip having at least two sets of elongated branches connected through a hinge member. The hair clip is covered in whole or in part by a cover on at least three or at least four sides. The sides that are covered may for example comprise the top (when viewed from above and in use), the back (referring to the side distal from a user&#39;s head when in use) and/or each of the lateral sides. 
         [0007]    Further, an ornament may be attached to the back of the cover. Additionally, when users have short hair, the ornament itself may comprise of a hair switch thus enabling users to supplement their hair and to create the impression of longer hair. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, another hair accessory is provided. This hair accessory comprises a hair clip that has a first clip portion and a second clip portion joined to the first clip portion along or through a hinge. The first and second clip portions may be reversibly threaded between each other through the use of a spring. Each of the first and second clip portions has a plurality of tines on a respective side of the hinge. The hair accessory may further comprise a cover with at least ornament extending therefrom. 
         [0009]    In a further embodiment, a method for making a hair accessory is provided. The method comprises providing a hair clip having a plurality of tines, and attaching a cover to said tines where the cover extends from a first portion of the tines of a first set of elongated branches across the back of the clip to a first portion of the tines of a second set of elongated branches. The cover also extends over the top of the hair clip thereby preventing impeding anyone from observing how the hair clip is attached to the user&#39;s hair. The cover may be attached using any method that does not substantially impede the opening and closing of the hair clip. 
         [0010]    Through the use of certain embodiments of the present invention, one may obtain an instrument that is convenient, practical, and inexpensive for use in hair styling. The devices and methods may be used by causing each claw of a hairclip to penetrate the hair sections and to grasp them tightly without exposing the means by which the hair is associated with the hairclip. Accordingly, preferably the tensile strength is sufficient that the hair accessory doesn&#39;t become loose on the user&#39;s head when using various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0011]    Further objects of the invention will become apparent in the detailed description of the invention that follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    It is to be understood that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Further, the relationship between objects in a figure may not be to scale and may in fact have a reverse relationship as to size. The figures are intended to bring understanding and clarity to the structure of each object shown, and thus, some features may be exaggerated in order to illustrate a specific feature of a structure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention of a hair accessory as it appears in use on a user&#39;s head. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a representation of a hair accessory with an ornament element in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that may be included within the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0016]    Definitions 
         [0017]    Unless otherwise stated or implicit from context, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings provided below: 
         [0018]    The phrase “elongated branch” refers to the elements attached to the hinge device. It comprises an attachment region or element at its base end thorough which it is attached to a hinge and a protrusion region or element at its extension end, which may be in the form of a tine. 
         [0019]    The phrase “gripping element” refers to a handle or tool by or through which a user can grasp and activate an element or component of a hair clip. By way of a non-limiting example, a gripping element may be part of a butterfly clip. 
         [0020]    The term “hair clip” refers to a hair association element such as but not limited to a hair clip, barrette, hair claw or other device used to grip and retain hair. By way of a non-limiting example a hair clip may be in the form of a butterfly clip. 
         [0021]    The term “hinge” refers to a jointed or flexible device that allows the pivoting of an element or a component that is attached to the device between at least two positions, e.g, open and closed. 
         [0022]    The term “tines” refer to the protrusions from the elongated branches. They may also be referred to as fingers, teeth or claws. Typically in a hair clip there are two sets of interlocking tines wherein a first set has one more or one fewer individual tines than the second set. Alternatively, there may be the same number of tines in each of the two sets that interlock. 
       Preferred Embodiments 
       [0023]    According to a first embodiment, the present invention is directed to a hair clip apparatus with two sets of elongated branches that are hinged together thereby enabling a user to open and close the hair clip. Exemplary hair clips are those devices that bear elements such as but not limited to jaws, teeth, fingers, claws, or tines or other elements that are configured to grip or attach to an item placed within the hair clip. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, the hair clip preferably comprises the two sets of elongated branches, a hinge, a gripping element, and a cover that encases the gripping element and the hinge. The sets of elongated branches may each comprise a plurality of tines. The cover may further encase at least a portion of the tines of the elongated branches. In some embodiments the cover may encase at least 10% of the tines, at least 20% of the tines, at least 30% of the tines, at least 40% of the tines, at least 50% of the tines, at least 60% of the tines, at least 70% of the tines, at least 80% of the tines, at least 90% of the tines, or the entirety of the tines. The percentages refers to the surface area on the outside sides of the tines. In some embodiments, the gripping element may be a handle. 
         [0025]    According to another embodiment, the cover of the hair clip comprises an ornamental element. Exemplary ornamental elements may be drawn from the group consisting of a ribbon, a fabric, a jewel, a feather, and a bow. The ornamental elements may be attached to the hair clips by, for example, glue or other adhesive element. In some embodiments, the ornamental element is reversibly attached to the hair clip by, for example, a latch and hook system (Velcro) or snap and fastener system or magnetic attraction or the use of interlocking pieces. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the first set of elongated branches comprises at least two teeth and the second set of elongated branches comprises at least three teeth, and the sets of three teeth and two teeth are aligned so that the individual tines from each branch alternate when the hair clip is in the closed position. In some embodiments, one set of elongated branches comprises at least three teeth and the second set of elongated branches comprises at least four teeth. In some embodiments, the first set of elongated branches comprise a least four teeth and the second set comprises at least five teeth. 
         [0027]    A further embodiment of the hair clip comprises a two-piece cover where the first cover piece encases the sets of elongated branches, the gripping elements and the hinge and the second cover piece attaches either to the first cover piece and/or the underlying hair clip, and the second cover piece covers the top of the gripping elements and the hinge. 
         [0028]    It will be appreciated that although certain embodiments are described in connection with the use of a hair clip that comprises jaws and/or elongated branches, the covers of the present invention may for example also be used in connection with barrettes and other hair clips that do not have elongated branches that form tines, e.g., butterfly hair clips in which the jaws have flat opposite edges such that even in a closed position they do not interlock, instead they merely abut. 
         [0029]    When the cover is in two pieces and both pieces cover the hinge and gripping elements, each cover may shield from view part or all of each of the hinge and gripping element. Further, one cover may shield from view part of the other cover and the hinge and/or gripping element, thereby causing the covers to overlap in part. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hair accessory  100 . A hair clip (hidden from view by the cover in  FIG. 1 ) is beneath cover  200  and concealed from sight by the cover. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows a device of the present invention with an ornamental element. In hair accessory  100 , cover member  200  may be designed to cover at least a portion of the first set of elongated branches  102 . In alternative embodiments, the cover member may cover at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% of the elongated branches. The cover member may be attached to the elongated branches as shown in  FIG. 2  through looping fabric around the tines. The material used for looping may for example be elastic. When assembling the device, the a first cover piece may, after being attached to one set of elongated branches, be placed across the gripping element (hidden beneath the cover in  FIG. 2 ), across the back of the hinge  106  and continue around to the second set of elongated branches  104 . 
         [0032]    A cover top  108  (second cover piece) may then be attached to the upper perimeter of cover  200 . Cover top  108  may be attached to cover  200  by adhesion, fusion, welding, stitching, or the like. The ornament  300  may then be attached to the back of cover  200 . Alternatively, the first cover piece and the second cover piece cover first be assembled together and then affixed to the hair clip. Further, optionally the ornamental element could be affixed to the first cover piece and/or second cover piece prior to associated them with the hair clip. The hair clip as shown in  FIG. 2  includes first and second sets of elongated branches  102  and  104  joined together by a hinge pin  106 . 
         [0033]    In one embodiment, the tines of at least one or both of first and second sets of elongated branches and are arcuate. When the clip is in a closed position, the tines of one set of elongated branches are received in the spaces between the tines of the other set of elongated branches. A spring hinge engages first and second set of elongated branches and biases the hair clip to a closed position. 
         [0034]    In an exemplary embodiment, first and second sets of elongated branches and are each provided with a gripping element or handle (hidden by the cover in  FIG. 2 ). By applying a force on the gripping elements, the clip can be opened to enable the clip to be applied to the user&#39;s hair. 
         [0035]    In use, the user collects the hair into a section to be gripped. The user holds the hair clip assembly by its gripping members within one hand while using the other hand to lift a section of the hair away from the scalp. Thus, the clip may be opened by bringing the individual members a pair opposable gripping members together, which forces the sets of elongated branches apart as is know for use in standard butterfly hair clips. The clip is held open until the user puts her hair in place. Next the gripping members are released and the jaws interlock with hair between them. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, the ornament (also referred to as the ornamental element) is sewn to the back of the cover. In an alternative embodiment, the ornament is attached to the back of cover by a hook and loop pressure fastener (Velcro). In another embodiment, the attachment device is a snap. In a further embodiment, the attachment device is a button. Alternatively, the ornament may be attached by adhesion, fusion, welding, stitching, or the like. 
         [0037]    The ornamental element may for example comprise hair that is human hair and/or synthetic hair or a combination thereof. Synthetic hair may for example be comprised of acrylic fiber or modacrylic fiber. The use of additional hair may impart the appearance that the user&#39;s hair is longer than it actually is. The ornamental element may alternatively or additionally comprise plastic, metal or other methods that are formed in the shaping of a desired design. The ornament may also for example be selected from the group of jewels, bows, ribbons, beads, chains and combinations thereof and in further combination with hair. When the ornament selected is a ribbon or hair, said ornament may be further decorated with one or more of beads, decorative figures, jewels and the like. 
         [0038]    The hair clip, including the elongated branches and gripping members, may be constructed from a variety of materials and in some embodiments are constructed from stainless steel or plastic. Typically, the spring will be metal but any other method that enables a spring of the desired strength to be formed, can be used. 
         [0039]    The cover member that covers the elongated branches and/or the cover top may be constructed from, for example, materials such as leather, imitation leather, suede, imitation suede, velvet, vinyl (such as polyvinyl chloride material), cotton, polyester, rayon, silk, hemp, reptile skin, imitation reptile skin, or a combination of any of these materials. They may further comprise ribbons, strips of fabric or other pliable materials. This aspect of one embodiment of a cover provides a flat surface for the attachment of an ornament. 
         [0040]    According to another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a hair clip apparatus comprising a cover; and a hair association element. The hair association element (e.g., clip such as a butterfly clip, barrette, etc.) may comprise an engagement mechanism that enables the hair association element to exist in at least two positions (e.g., open and closed). IN some embodiments, the cover may shield at least 50% of the engagement mechanism from view when said hair association element is associated with hair. In some embodiments, the cover shields at least 80% of said engagement mechanism from view when said hair association element is associated with hair. 
         [0041]    The engagement mechanism may comprise a hinge and/or spring. The hinge and/or spring may be completely shielded from view when the device is in use. 
         [0042]    As with other embodiments, the hair clip apparatus may further comprise an ornamental element. Exemplary ornamental include but are not limited to hair, ribbons, bows and other decorative pieces and combinations thereof. 
         [0043]    In still another embodiment, the present invention provides a hair clip apparatus comprising a cover and a hair association element. The hair association element may comprise an engagement mechanism that enables said hair association element to exist in at least two positions. The cover may shield at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of said engagement mechanism from view when the hair association element is associated with hair. The cover may be attached to the hair association element.