Abstract:
A styling accessory is adapted to be configured into different configurations for performing different corresponding functions and comprises a band having a length and a width. The length is at least ten times the width. The band has first and second surfaces. The band is made of a material capable of being formed into a curved shape. A plurality of male snaps are disposed along a first portion of the length of the band. A plurality of female snaps are disposed along a second portion of the length of the band. The second portion is adjacent the first portion. The female snaps mate with the male snaps.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a fashion accessory referred to herein as a styling accessory styling that can be accommodated to different users and/or transformed to serve as a multifunctional adornment to enhance the image of the wearer. 
       CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Today, there is an increasing awareness of style and the need to appear attractive, garner attention and elicit a favorable response from ones friends, associates at work and others that we may meet. The demands on a fashion accessory are substantial. They must appear dramatic (for one reason or another) and interesting. They are often at their best when they appear novel or unusual. However, at the same time, they must fit in with relatively rigid protocols dictated by past fashion, current trends, and a certain hard to particularize “sense of fashion.” Thus, the development of fashion accessories that stand out and yet fit within the above parameters presents a substantial challenge to designers. 
         [0005]    As a result, the number of successful introductions is very limited, and the number of tried and failed entrants represents a substantial cost to innovators. Thus, despite the necessity for innovative personal adornment to enhance the beauty of an individual, create a sense of status or create attraction, while at the same time being efficient on cost of the adornment, creates inherent and substantial conflicts and challenges. Moreover, costs of introduction must take into account, not only design costs, but also other new product costs, such as market education, advertising, tooling, sales costs and so forth. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with the invention, costs associated with the inventive new product may more effectively be utilized on a garment that is at once traditional and innovative, while allowing the user a large measure of self expression. Notwithstanding the facility for self-expression, the structural elements act as an anchor, at once assuring that user expression will remain in a range consistent with mechanical stability, accepted aesthetic limits and a quality look. 
         [0007]    Moreover, the subject design, in addition to allowing a wide range of self expression, also is adapted to accommodate users within a large range of clothes sizes. Efficiencies in cost can be maximized with the inventive personal adornment that is manufactured with the facility of being able to be worn in a plurality of configurations and/or as different types of adornments. The inventive accessory, referred to herein as a styling accessory, can be used in different arrangements. More particularly, the inventive styling accessory can be arranged or configured in many different configurations, allowing personal creativity. Resulting arrangements may function as a bracelet, belt, headband or necklace. 
         [0008]    Moreover, the structure of the inventive styling accessory is such that that the wearer of the strap-like accessory may choose to snap down essentially every snap that the wearer does not choose to leave free. 
         [0009]    Snap shapes can be varied, as can their size and color. For example, the female decorative side can be any shape (i.e. pyramid shaped, cone shaped, heart shaped etc). Also, snaps can be employed in the invention in any material, such as plastic, wood, ceramic, bone, horn, any metal, or precious metal such as gold, silver, and platinum, etc. 
         [0010]    In accordance with the invention, an accessory for personal adornment that transforms into a plurality of adornments each having a plurality of configurations is provided. The styling accessory can be transformed, for example into such accessories as a bracelet, a belt, a headband, and single and double strap necklaces. 
         [0011]    The inventive accessory comprises a leather ribbon, which is, for example, one centimeter in width. Any material, and most preferably a flexible, bendable or formable material, may be used in place of leather. 
         [0012]    The top surface of the inventive styling accessory may carry forty-two 42 snaps disposed its length, with equal, for example, numbers of female and male snaps. The leather may have a finished and unfinished side, with the male portion inserted through the leather ribbon exposing a, for example metallic, rounded knob on the finished or unfinished side of the ribbon. Female snaps are likewise disposed along the length of the leather ribbon. 
         [0013]    A styling accessory is adapted to be configured into different configurations for performing different corresponding functions and comprises a band having a length and a width. The length is at least ten times the width. The band has first and second surfaces. The band is made of a material capable of being formed into a curved shape. A plurality of male snaps are disposed along a first portion of the length of the band. A plurality of female snaps are disposed along a second portion of the length of the band. The second portion is adjacent the first portion. The female snaps mate with the male snaps. 
         [0014]    The first and second portions styling accessory comprise at least 95% of the length of the styling accessory. One of the surfaces is finished, and said female snaps extends between the finished surface and the other surface. The female snaps each comprise a cavity configured to matingly engage said male snaps, said cavity being oriented to be disposed on said other surface. 
         [0015]    The male snaps of the styling accessory each comprise a protrusion configured to matingly engage said cavity on said female snaps. The protrusions may be oriented to be disposed on said finished surface. 
         [0016]    The protrusions may be configured to matingly engage said cavity on said female snaps. the protrusion may be oriented to be disposed on said other surface. 
         [0017]    At least one of said surfaces is finished and said female snaps extend between the finished surface and the other surface. The female snaps each comprise a cavity configured to matingly engage said male snaps, said cavity being oriented to be disposed on said other surface. 
         [0018]    Optionally, the styling accessory may have at least one of said surfaces is finished. The protrusion is oriented to be disposed on said other surface, and said female snaps extend between the finished surface and the other surface. The female snaps each comprise a cavity configured to matingly engage said male snaps, and said cavity is oriented to be disposed on said other surface. the protrusion on said male snaps configured to matingly engage said cavity on said female snaps, and may be separated by a third portion of the length of said band, and further comprises an additional male snap positioned on said third portion. The additional male snap comprises an additional protrusion mating with a female snap, and said additional protrusion is positioned on said finished surface. The additional male snap is closer to the closest of said female snaps, than it is to the closest of the other male snaps. 
         [0019]    The styling accessory may have has a width between 0.5 cm and 7 cm and a length between 80 cm and 120 cm, and the center to center separation between snaps may be between 1.6 to 3.0 cm. 
         [0020]    The styling accessory may have a width between 0.5 cm and 7 cm and a length between 80 cm and 120 cm, and the center to center separation between snaps may be 1.8 to 2.9 cm. 
         [0021]    Thus snaps, optionally numbering twenty-one male snaps and twenty-one female snaps may be positioned 2.5 cm (one inch) apart from each other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The structure and use of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are plan views illustrating different portions of the inventive styling accessory multifunctional adornment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates the inventive styling accessory configured as hairband in accordance with the present invention and in place around the head of a wearer; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates the inventive styling accessory utilized as a headband in accordance with the present invention, in place around the forehead of a wearer; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates the inventive styling accessory utilized as a bracelet, being placed around the wrist of a wearer; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates the inventive styling accessory being utilized as a necklace, being placed around the neck of a wearer; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  illustrates the inventive styling accessory while being utilized as a belt, being in place around the waist of a wearer; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  illustrates a male snap in the inventive accessory; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  illustrates a female snap; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment of the invention with male and female structure on opposite sides; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment of the invention with male and female snaps on the same side; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment of the invention adapted to be doubled over and positioned around the waist of a user; 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  illustrates orientation of the inventive styling accessory of  FIG. 12  after being folded on itself; 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  illustrates the inventive styling accessory after being folded on itself and snap in position; 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  illustrates one embodiment of the inventive styling accessory configured to be placed around the waist of a wearer; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  illustrates another embodiment of the inventive styling accessory configured to be placed around the waist of a wearer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]    Reference is first made to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , where it may be seen that in accordance with the present invention, the inventive styling accessory  10  comprises a flexible band  12 , which is, optionally, made of leather, such as vat dyed top grain leather sealed with a transparent finish. Alternatively, it may be made of other flexible materials, such as cloth, plastic and/or rubber. While band  12  is shown as a single ply device, it may also comprise multiple layers of the same or different materials. If desired, the multiple layers may be glued to each other (for example to provide two finished top grain leather sides), and/or held to each other by stitching along opposite ends of the width of the band. 
         [0039]    Stitching may be made by machine. Alternatively, and more desirably, stitching may be done by prepiercing the leather with holes for receiving the thread, and then lacing the leather together with a first thread end entering one finished side of the band and exiting the other finished side of the band, for example, a band made of two strips of top grain cowhide glued back to back. A second thread end enters the same hole at the other finished side of the band and exits at the said one finished side of the band. The process is continued until one edge of the band is thus stitched. The opposite edge of the band is then secured in the same fashion. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , flexible band  12  carries a number of male snaps  14 , which are made of, optionally, shiny varnished unpainted solid brass in its natural yellow metallic color. Alternatively, snaps  14  can be made of different materials in various colors, for example, brass or tin plated steel, or stainless steel. Alternatively, or additionally, male snaps  14  may be painted a color, for example a color that matches the color of flexible band  12 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the center of each male snap  14  is separated by 1.6 to 3.0 cm, most preferably 2 to 2.5 cm from the center(s) of each adjacent snap. 
         [0041]    In  FIG. 1 , the operative female engaging structure  15  is protruding up from the surface of the drawing. Surface  13  may be the unfinished side (or the less finished side of band  12 , insofar as in many configurations substantially all of surface  13  or a substantial portion of surface  13  is hidden as it is covered by the underside of that portion of band  12  which carries female snaps  16 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, the finished side of female snaps  16  takes the form of caps  17 . The finish of caps  17  may be shiny brass, stainless or painted, for example with a glossy or matte finish. 
         [0043]    As an alternative to individual metal snaps mounted on a leather band, the engagement structure may take the form of an integrally molded, for example a single plastic injection molded part comprising a band, female engagement structure and male engagement structure. The male engagement structure may take the form of male engagement knobs having the same operative structure (knob and waist) as a conventional brass snap. 
         [0044]    The snaps are applied in conventional fashion, for example using a template to assure uniform or other desired spacing between the snaps. 
         [0045]    Female engagement structure may take the form of a hole, for example an hourglass shaped hole with a reduced diameter midway between the finished and rough sides of the band to promote engagement with the knob on the male engagement structure. Generally, the widest diameter on the knob of the male engagement structure should be larger than the smallest diameter of the hourglass shape which comprises the operative portion of the female engagement structure. Such integrak structures thus incorporate mating male and female engagement structure found on other items, such as the flexible plastic size adjustment structure in the rear band of some modern baseball caps. 
         [0046]    In accordance with one preferred embodiment, there are forty-two snaps, comprising twenty-one male snaps and twenty-one female snaps. The snaps are separated by 2.5 cm, as measured center to center along the length of band  12 . The resulting 105 cm length works well over a range of, for example, women&#39;s sizes. If wrapped around the waist, the 2.5 cm size adjustment increment works well across a range of, for example, women&#39;s waist sizes, due to the compressibility of the body where it contacts the garment. 
         [0047]    Conversely, if doubled up to act as a headband or hair band, the doubling of inventive accessory  10  over itself effectively results in size adjustment increments of 1.25 cm. Flexible band  12  has multiple functions of use and may be adjusted in size after being configured to perform the desired function as selected by the wearer according to the wearer&#39;s needs and preferences. The provision of a higher degree of resolution in the adjustment of the inventive styling accessory  10  when used as a headband or hair band accommodates the smaller degree of flexibility offered by this part of the body, which is relatively hard and incompressible due to the thinness of the epidermal, dermal and subcutaneous lipid cellular structures of the anatomy in this part of the body and the hair which may tend to be arranged in very compact configurations and be substantially incompressible. 
         [0048]    Use for multiple functions by average to large men may be accommodated by 2.8 cm spacing of the snaps on a 105 cm long strap, optionally increased to a width of 2.8 cm. Aesthetic considerations may suggest narrower or even much wider band dimensions, but widths between 0.5 cm and 7 cm and lengths between 80 cm and 120 cm are contemplated by the present invention. 
         [0049]      FIG. 3 , illustrates the styling accessory  10  with flexible leather band  12  arranged about the hair as a hairband. Arranged on flexible band  12  are the caps  17  of female snap caps  16 . Finished face  13  is exposed to view and serves as a top layer of the styling accessory  10  configured as a hairband. Flexible band  12  is configured with, for example, male snaps  14  snapped into the engagement structure  18  of female snaps  16 , securely holding the band around a person&#39;s head and holding the hair in place, while at the same time becoming a stylish headband adornment  24 . The inventive styling accessory can also be worn on a hat in the same configuration as a headband. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the inventive styling accessory  10  has a leather flexible band  12  disposed over the forehead and the back of the head with female snaps  16  in engagement with male snaps  14 . The 2.5 cm center to center spacing and the doubling of styling accessory  10  around the forehead allows adjustment to an accuracy of 1.25 cm, thus transforming styling accessory  10  into an attractive headband adornment. Secure positioning of the headband is assured by pairing the female snaps  16  with the appropriate male snaps  14 , while the styling accessory is positioned in the desired configuration on a wearer&#39;s forehead, and then snapping the male snaps  14  into the female snaps  16 . Pairing is done in much the same manner as the prong of a conventional square frame and prong belt buckle is paired with the appropriate hole at the other end of a belt. However, in the case of use as a belt, headband or hairband, it is contemplated that, optionally, many male and female snaps will be in engagement with each other, giving the effect of a single cylindrical leather band. 
         [0051]      FIG. 5  illustrates styling accessory  10  in use as a bracelet with flexible band  12  in wound many times around the user&#39;s wrist. In this configuration, only a single pair of snaps need be snapped into each other, although user choice may suggest configuration using several, if not many snapped snap pairs. The use of the 42 female and male snaps in the center of flexible band  12  2.5 cm apart from each other also provides a quality decorative appearance. The styling accessory  10  is kept in place on the wrist by selecting the appropriate pair or pairs of mating male and female snaps. One may employ one or more layers of styling accessory  10  band over various portions of the wrist, as desired to achieve a particular aesthetic or protective effect. 
         [0052]      FIG. 6  illustrates another alternative adornment that can be formed from inventive styling accessory  10 . 
         [0053]    To create a necklace flexible band  12  goes over a user&#39;s shoulder, behind and around the neck, over the other shoulder, and across the other end of flexible band  12 . Styling accessory  10  can be secured by strapping one or more female and male snaps together, perhaps looping the band over itself to achieve a desired ornamental or weighting effect. 
         [0054]      FIG. 7  illustrates still another alternative arrangement of the inventive styling accessory  10  with flexible band  12  extending around a user&#39;s waist. Styling accessory  10  may be adjusted as detailed above around the user&#39;s waist to secure the same and be prevented from falling down off the waist. 
         [0055]    To create a belt adornment the flexible band  12 , in much the same manner as a conventional belt is positioned around the user&#39;s waist and is snapped in position. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the structure of male snap  14  is illustrated. A backer  24  comprises a base  26  and a stem  28 . The tip  30  of stem  28  is deformed to engage inner surface  32  of knob  15  in order to be securely held in position in the conventional manner. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the structure of female snap  16  is illustrated. A cap  17  comprises a knob receiving housing  40  which engages knob  15  with a pair of resilient spring wire ends  42 , in a conventional manner. The tip  46  of stem  44  is deformed to engage inwardly curled structure  48  of cap  17 , and is securely held in position in the conventional manner. 
         [0058]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a styling accessory  110  having 20 male snaps  114  and twenty female snaps  116 . The male and female snaps have their engagement structures on opposite sides on the band  112 , allowing the formation of a cylindrical belt shape. 
         [0059]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a styling accessory  210  having twenty male snaps  214  and twenty female snaps  216 . The male and female snaps have their engagement structures on the same side of the band  212 , allowing the folding of the band  212  upon itself. 
         [0060]      FIG. 12  shows a styling accessory  310  similar to accessory  210 , except that it has only nineteen male snaps  312  with their engagement structure on its unfinished side and a single male snap  311  on its finished side. Accessory  310  my be folded upon itself as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . A loop may then be formed from the doubled band by engaging male snap  311  with a female snap, for example female snap  314  as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0061]    Inventive styling accessory  410  illustrated in  FIG. 15  is similar to accessory  110 , except that it has only about twenty snaps, ten male and ten female allowing the formation of a simple band. The snaps are not shown in the engaged position for clarity of illustration. 
         [0062]    Inventive styling accessory  510  illustrated in  FIG. 16  is similar to accessory  210 , except that it has only about twenty snaps, ten male and ten female allowing the formation of a simple band only by introducing a twist  550 . 
         [0063]    While a number of illustrative embodiments of the inventive caddy have been described above, it is recognized that certain modifications will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, any sizing variation that contains the same components of snaps (ex: equal distanced, equal numbered male and female snaps). For example, one may increase, for example double, the size of the styling accessory to about 200 cm, or reduce the size, for example by one-half the size at disclosed. Such modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention which is limited and defined only by the appended claims.