Hair accessory and method of styling hair

The presently disclosed technology teaches a hair accessory for receiving and restraining a bundle of hair, a method of making the hair accessory, and methods of styling hair and instructing others to style hair using the hair accessory. The hair accessory comprises a pair of opposing ductile metallic members. In one implementation, the ductile metallic members are generally rectangular and each has a pair of longitudinal ends. The ductile metallic members are covered by at least one backing member. The ductile metallic members are generally configured in an opposing relationship to each other with at least one closed end. The ductile metallic members may be separated from each other along a portion of their longitudinal lengths to define an opening for receiving a bundle of hair. The opposing ductile metallic members may also be closed about the bundle of hair to secure the hair accessory within a wearer's hair.

BACKGROUND

The presently disclosed technology relates to a hair accessory, a method of making such a hair accessory, a method of styling hair using such a hair accessory, and a method of instructing others to style hair using such a method of styling hair.

BRIEF SUMMARY

It is desirable to be able to provide a hair accessory that easily and securely maintains a wearer's hair in a decorative and/or functional configuration. In one implementation, the presently disclosed technology comprises a hair accessory for receiving and retaining a bundle of hair.

A hair accessory for receiving and restraining a bundle of hair, a method of making such a hair accessory, and methods of styling hair and instructing others to style hair using such a hair accessory are provided. The hair accessory comprises a pair of opposing thin, resilient ductile metallic members. In one implementation, for example, the ductile metallic members comprise generally rectangular ductile metallic members each having a pair of longitudinal ends. The ductile metallic members are covered by at least one thin sheet-like backing member. The ductile metallic members are generally configured in an opposing relationship to each other and are generally configured with at least one closed end. The ductile metallic members may be separated from each other along at least a portion of their longitudinal lengths to define an opening for receiving a bundle of hair. The opposing ductile metallic members may also be closed about the bundle of hair to secure the hair accessory within a wearer's hair. As described below, this hair accessory may be used to provide a number of different and new hairstyles for a wearer.

In another implementation, the presently disclosed technology comprises a method of making such a hair accessory, and further comprises methods of styling hair and instructing others to style hair using such a hair accessory.

The foregoing and other aspects, features, details, utilities, and advantages of the presently disclosed technology will be apparent from reading the following description and from reviewing the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is an isometric view of a first implementation of a hair accessory10.FIG. 2shows a cross-sectional view of the hair accessory10shown inFIG. 1taken along section line2-2. In this implementation, the hair accessory10comprises a pair of ductile metallic members12,14. Each of the pair of ductile metallic members12,14is each wrapped in at least one backing member16. The pair of opposing ductile metallic members is connected at least at a first end18of the hair accessory10and may be separated from each other to define an opening20for receiving a bundle of hair. The pair of opposing ductile metallic members12,14may then be brought back together to secure the bundle of hair disposed between the opposing ductile metallic members12,14

In the particular implementation ofFIG. 1, the hair accessory10comprises a pair of opposing ductile metallic members wrapped and fixedly attached within at least one backing member16. The opposing ductile metallic members12,14are generally disposed in an end-to end configuration within the at least one backing member16. A portion22of the backing member16connects longitudinal ends24,26of the pair of ductile metallic members12,14at the first end18of the hair accessory10. In other implementations, however, the longitudinal ends24,26of the pair of ductile metallic members12,14may be attached by any other method, such as a clamp, a rivet, a bolt and nut, a staple, welding, soldering, heat staking, adhesive, tape, or the like.

In this particular implementation, the ductile metallic members12,14are fixedly attached within at least one backing member16along at least a portion of a length of the ductile metallic members12,14. For example, the ductile metallic members12,14may be fixedly attached within the backing member16along substantially the entire length of the ductile metallic members12,14. The ductile metallic members12,14, for example, may be affixed within at least one backing member16by an adhesive or tape15(e.g., two-sided tape), In other implementations, the ductile metallic members12,14may be affixed within at least one backing member16by weld, fuse, heat stake, stitch, hook and loop fastener, or the like. In this manner, movement of the affixed ductile metallic members12,14with respect to the backing member16can be reduced and allow the hair accessory10to grasp a wearer's hair without slipping. In one implementation, for example, the backing member comprises a velvet or suede material, although other materials may also be used. The ductile metallic members12,14may comprise any ductile metallic materials, such as copper, aluminum, or alloys of one or both.

FIGS. 3 through 5show a method for assembling the hair accessory10shown inFIG. 1. InFIG. 3, for example, a pair of generally rectangular ductile metallic members12,14is provided disposed in a generally end-to-end configuration with a spacing between opposing longitudinal ends of the ductile metallic members12,14. A backing member16is then wrapped about the ductile metallic members12,14as shown by arrows28,30and is fixedly attached to the ductile metallic members12,14. The backing member16, for example, may be fixedly attached to the ductile metallic members by any known attachment structure, such as adhesive, two-sided tape, weld, fuse, heat stake, stitch, hook and loop fastener, or the like. The backing member16, for example, may comprise a material that covers the ductile metallic members12,14and protects them from an external environment and/or protects a wearer from potentially sharp edges of the ductile metallic members. A soft material, such as velvet, suede, or leather, for example, may be used as the backing member16. In other implementations, a polymer such as polyurethane may be used.

As shown inFIG. 5, a connecting portion22of the backing member16connects the longitudinal ends of the ductile metallic members12,14at a first end18of the hair accessory10. The generally rectangular ductile metallic members12,14covered by the backing member16, are disposed in an opposing relationship by bending the hair accessory10at the connecting portion22of the backing member16as shown inFIG. 1. The opposing ductile metallic members12,14and the connecting portion22of the backing member16form an opening18for receiving a bundle of hair. The opposing ductile metallic members12,14may be closed about the bundle of hair and worked into a hairstyle as described below.

FIG. 6shows another implementation of a hair accessory40. The hair accessory40again comprises a pair of opposing generally rectangular ductile metallic members42,44wrapped and fixedly attached within at least one backing member46. In this particular implementation, for example, the pair of ductile metallic members42,44are individually wrapped by separate backing members46A and46B.

In an alternative implementation, however, the ductile metallic members may be wrapped together as described above with respect toFIGS. 1 through 6. In this alternative implementation, the backing member may be cut at the end48of the hair accessory or merely folded over between the pair of ductile metallic members.

The pair of opposing ductile metallic members is connected at least at a first end48and may be separated from each other to define an opening50for receiving a bundle of hair. The pair of opposing ductile metallic members42,44may then be brought back together to secure the bundle of hair disposed between the opposing ductile metallic members42,44. In this implementation, the pair of opposing ductile metallic members42,44is connected together at the first end48of the hair accessory40by an attachment means, such as a rivet60(e.g., a self-piercing rivet with or without a cap), a bolt and nut, a clamp, a staple, welding, soldering, heat staking, or the like.

In the particular implementation ofFIG. 6, the hair accessory40comprises a pair of opposing ductile metallic members wrapped and fixedly attached within at least one backing member46.

In this particular implementation, the ductile metallic members42,44are fixedly attached within at least one backing member46along at least a portion of a length of the ductile metallic members42,44. For example, the ductile metallic members42,44may be fixedly attached within the backing member46along substantially the entire length of the ductile metallic members42,44. The ductile metallic members42,44, for example, may be affixed within at least one backing member46by adhesive, two-sided tape, weld, fuse, heat stake, stitch, hook and loop fastener, or the like. In this manner, movement of the affixed ductile metallic members42,44with respect to the backing member46can be reduced and allow the hair accessory40to grasp a wearer's hair without slipping. In one implementation, for example, the backing member comprises a velvet or suede material, although other materials may also be used. The ductile metallic members42,44may comprise any ductile metallic materials, such as copper, aluminum, or alloys of one or both.

FIGS. 7 through 8show a method for assembling the hair accessory40shown inFIG. 6. InFIG. 7, for example, a pair of generally rectangular ductile metallic members42,44are individually wrapped as shown by arrows58,60by and fixedly attached within backing members46A and46B. The ductile metallic members4244are disposed opposing each other with longitudinal ends54,56disposed adjacent to each other at a first end48of the hair accessory40. In one implementation, the longitudinal ends may be secured (e.g., by an adhesive or two-sided tape62disposed between longitudinal ends) to prevent or reduce rotation (or sliding motion) of one ductile metallic member42with respect to the other ductile metallic member44. In an alternative implementation, a second securing mechanism (e.g., a second rivet and cap) may be used to prevent or reduce rotation of one ductile metallic member42with respect to the other ductile metallic member44.

Where the means for connecting the longitudinal ends54,56of the ductile metallic members42,44comprises an attachment mechanism that allows the overlapping longitudinal end regions to rotate relative to each other (e.g., a rivet60or a bolt and a nut), the means for connecting the first and second longitudinal end regions may additionally comprise a means for securing the longitudinal end regions to restrain the overlapping end regions from rotating relative to each other about the attachment mechanism. A layer of two-sided tape or adhesive62, for example, may be disposed between the longitudinal ends of the opposing ductile metallic members to affix end regions to each other. It has been found that by restraining the longitudinal ends from rotating about this rivet or other connector, the ductile metallic member is less likely to fracture and potentially cause a failure of the hair accessory. Another possible means for securing the longitudinal ends of the opposing ductile metallic members together may comprise a piece of tape wrapped about end regions of the ductile metallic members to restrain the ductile metallic members from rotating with respect to each other. Where a rivet or other connector extends through the longitudinal ends of the opposing ductile metallic members, the piece of tape may be wrapped about the overlapping longitudinal end regions before and/or after the rivet or other attachment mechanism is inserted through the overlapping longitudinal end regions. Again, wrapping the overlapping longitudinal end regions restrains the longitudinal end regions from rotating with respect to each other about the rivet or other connector extending through the longitudinal end regions. The means for securing the longitudinal end regions may also comprise at least one of a bond, weld, fuse, stitching, or any combination thereof, otherwise securing the first longitudinal end region to the second longitudinal end region to restrain the overlapping end regions from rotating with respect to each other.

As shown inFIG. 8, the longitudinal ends54,56of the wrapped ductile metallic members42,44are connected by a securing structure, such as a rivet60(e.g., a self-piercing rivet with or without a cap), a bolt and nut, a clamp, a staple, welding, soldering, heat staking, or the like. Further, the longitudinal ends54,56may also be secured (e.g., by an adhesive or two-sided tape62disposed between longitudinal ends) to prevent or reduce rotation (or sliding motion) of one ductile metallic member42with respect to the other ductile metallic member44. The opposing ductile metallic members42,44and the securing structure60of the backing member46form an opening48for receiving a bundle of hair. The opposing ductile metallic members42,44may be closed about the bundle of hair and worked into a hairstyle as described below.

Although examples of wrapping the ductile metallic members of the hair accessories by the backing member are described above with respect toFIGS. 1 through 8, other methods of wrapping or covering the ductile metallic members may also be used. Many such methods, for example, are described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/157,232 and 12/033,552, which are each hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

One particular implementation of connecting longitudinal ends of the ductile metallic members comprises the use of one or more rivet. In one particular implementation, a rivet may comprise a steel self-piercing rivet. In another implementation, a rivet may comprise a breakstem blind rivet fastener including a stem, a head, and a shank extending from the stem to the head. The head and the shank are extended through the longitudinal ends of the ductile metallic members. The end of the stem is pulled, retracting the head into the shank until the longitudinal ends of the ductile metallic members are connected, and the stem fractures and is removed from the rivet. Alternatively, the rivet may be a solid, blind, multi-grip, grooved, peel type blind, self-piercing, plastic, tubular type rivet, a multi-piece rivet with a cap, or any other type of rivet known in the art.

In example implementations, the ductile metallic members may comprise cold-rolled copper or alloys thereof comprised substantially of copper, in thicknesses between about 0.010″ and about 0.070″, to provide a combination of ductility and resistance to flexure for the ductile metallic member. Substantially pure cold-rolled annealed copper in thicknesses between about 0.010″ and about 0.070″ provide an easily manually bendable member that possesses sufficient resilience to flexure to retain a bundle of hair in a desired configuration. Other metals possessing comparable ductility and resistance to flexure may also be used. The ductile metallic member may, for example, comprise a generally rectangular piece of metal having a length from about 6.5″ to about 9.25″.

The backing member may comprise, 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, open or closed-cell neoprene, polyethylene, or polyurethane, or a combination of any of these materials. The backing member may further comprise a material resistant to flexure to prevent a portion of the backing member extending beyond the ductile metallic member from being folded or bent around the ductile metallic member. The backing member may also comprise a memory, wherein when the backing member is deformed (e.g., about the ductile metallic member), the backing member is sufficiently resilient to return the deformed portions to their original position substantially parallel or coplanar with the ductile metallic member. This aspect of one implementation of a backing member provides a flat decorative surface and, in the case where the width of the hair accessory is substantially greater in comparison to the width of the ductile metallic member, restores the flat decorative surface in the event that the hair accessory is deformed when it is placed on a wearer's hair. The backing member, however, should be insufficiently resilient to overcome the resistance to bending of the ductile metallic member.

Methods of and Instructions for Styling Hair

Referring back toFIG. 1, in one example use of the hair accessory10, a wearer may open the hair accessory10by separating the ductile metallic members12,14to provide an opening20for receiving a bundle of hair. The opening20of the hair accessory10may then be closed by moving the ductile metallic members12,14toward each other and the bundle of hair disposed between the ductile metallic members12,14. The hair accessory10can then be rolled up, with the bundle of hair, toward the wearer's head. The hair accessory10can then be folded over itself to form a circle that secures it in the wearer's hair and forms the wearer's hair into a donut. The wearer's hair can also be fanned out over the hair accessory to improve uniformity of the donut.

FIGS. 9-14show steps of a method for styling hair into a donut using a hair accessory102according to the presently disclosed technology and a corresponding method of instruction for showing a wearer how to style hair according to the disclosed method. As shown inFIG. 9, a wearer's hair is gathered into a bundle100for forming the donut. The bundle100may comprise an upper portion (as shown inFIG. 9), a lower portion, or substantially all of the wearer's hair. Further, multiple bundles of hair may be gathered for forming multiple donuts. The hair accessory102has opposing ductile metallic members that may be separated from each other along at least a portion of their longitudinal lengths to define an opening104for receiving the bundle of hair100.

The bundle of hair100is inserted or slid in the opening104of the hair accessory102as the hair accessory102is held close to the wearer's head, as shown inFIG. 10. The wearer then slides the hair accessory102downward to a desired position along a length of the bundle100as illustrated by arrow108inFIG. 11. After positioning the hair accessory102at the desired position, the wearer may fan her hair out so that it is evenly distributed through the opening104of the hair accessory102. The opening104may then be closed around the bundle of hair100by moving the ductile metallic members toward each other. Once the wearer is satisfied with the position of the hair accessory102and the distribution of the bundle of hair100within the opening104, she may roll the hair accessory102upward toward her head as illustrated inFIGS. 12A and 12B. The wearer's hair wraps around the hair accessory102forming a roll106, at least partially obscuring the hair accessory102.

If before rolling the hair accessory102the desired position of the hair accessory102is closer to a free end of the bundle100rather than a root of the bundle100at the wearer's head, then substantially all of the bundle100will be contained within the roll106of the hair accessory102, as shown inFIG. 12A. This is referred to herein as a classic donut. However, if the wearer desires a portion of the bundle100to extend out of the roll106, for instance as a style variation, she may select a desired position of the hair accessory102closer to the root of the bundle100at the wearer's head than the free end of the bundle100. When the bundle100is rolled up, a portion of the free end of the bundle100extends outward from the roll106as illustrated inFIG. 12B. This is referred to herein as a funky donut.

Regardless of whether the roll106takes the form depicted inFIG. 12AorFIG. 12B, in order to form the roll106into a donut110, the wearer grasps the ends of the hair accessory102within the roll106and bends the ends downward and together to form a generally round shape as shown inFIG. 13. In other implementations, the roll may be bent in other shapes (e.g., a square, triangle, and oval) to form the donut110. Still further, the wearer may alternatively bend the ends of the hair accessory102upward to form the donut110. When the wearer is satisfied with the shape of the hair accessory102forming the donut110, the wearer may re-distribute her hair around the hair accessory102to provide a uniform appearance of the donut110and obscure hair accessory102to provide the appearance of a continuously formed donut110, as illustrated inFIG. 14.