Abstract:
A device for styling hair is disclosed. The device includes a wire threaded into a flexible hollow tube which is covered by flexible material. The ends of the hollow tube are either joined by a closure device into a circle or independently closed by separate closure devices to form a cylindrical device. The device can be used to form hairstyles with different lengths and textures of hair and can form multiple hairstyles.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/642,856, filed Jan. 11, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to hairstyling devices, namely devices that form ponytails, French twists, buns, flips and the like.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     Medium and long hairstyles that hold the hair firmly are popular with people of all ages and hair textures and types, particularly with women. Because of this desire to have hair held secure and with adorning styles, many devices have been invented. Examples include hair ties, combs, barrettes and ornamental hairpins.  
         [0005]     Of the hairstyling devices/tools invented, there are not many that are currently known to have the diversity and flexibility to style medium and long hair as well as multi-textured hair into various styles, such as French twists, buns, flips, ponytails and other various styles.  
         [0006]     The present invention provides a solution to the various needs of multi-textured hair of different lengths. There are many hair retaining devices made of various materials that limit the degree of tension; therefore, they are not adjustable and cannot be used in the retention of the various textures and lengths of hair. Struggling with and needing an accessory to hold hair resulted in the present invention. The need for a device that allows control over the tension placed on hair was clear. The present invention provides the exact flexibility needed for various degrees of tension.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,494 discloses a hair styling device for forming long hair into a bun or a French knot. The device is strap shaped with a longitudinal slit. In use, the device is deformed to force the slit open. Hair is placed in the slit opening and the device is rotated to twist the hair around the device. The device is only functional to form buns or French knots and is recommended for long hair only.  
         [0008]     An object of the present invention is to provide a hair retention device which works on medium or long hair of any texture.  
         [0009]     An object of the present invention is to provide a hair retention device which can be used to arrange hair in numerous styles.  
         [0010]     An object of the present invention is to provide a hair retention device which provides sufficient tension to retain hair of all lengths and textures.  
         [0011]     Finally, it is an object of the present invention to accomplish the foregoing objectives in a simple and cost effective manner.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present invention addresses these needs by providing a hair styling device formed from a flexible, hollow elongate body such as plastic or vinyl tubing. The elongate body can be bent around hair without breaking and without damaging the hair. A flexible elongate internal element is threaded into the elongate body. The internal element can be bent into a fixed position to maintain a desired hairstyle and can be unbent to release the hairstyle. The internal element is can be made from a metal material such as insulated copper wire. After threading the internal element into the elongate body, the resulting combination is covered by a flexible covering such as fabric or synthetic hair. To cover the combination with fabric, the fabric is sewn into a cylinder which is then placed over the elongate body and the threaded internal element combination. In the preferred embodiment, the ends of the elongate body are then connected, preferably by an adhesive treated dowel, such that the ends remain connected throughout used of the device and such that the internal element remains within the elongate body. The fabric is then secured, preferably by any appropriate method such as stitching or adhesive, such that the elongate body, internal element and dowel are completely covered. In an alternate embodiment, rather than connecting the ends of the elongate body to each other, the ends of the elongate body are separately closed, preferably using adhesive treated dowels. Again, the flexible covering is secured such that the elongate body, internal element and dowel are completely covered.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     A more complete description of the subject matter of the present invention and the advantages thereof, can be achieved by the reference to the following detailed description by which reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a hair retention device according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the preferred embodiment of a hair retention device according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of a hair retention device according to the present invention taken across line III-III in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of a hair retention device according to the present invention taken across line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of a hair retention device according to the present invention taken across line V-V in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a top cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a hair retention device;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in use; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is a view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in use. 
     
    
     ELEMENT LIST  
       [0000]    
       
           100  hair retention device  
           101  flexible hollow elongate body  
           102  flexible internal element  
           103  dowel  
           104  flexible covering  
           106  seam  
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention.  
         [0029]     The present invention provides a device used in retaining hair into various positions while providing the proper degree of tension needed for each individual hair texture and type. The said present invention allows individuals to create hairstyles for themselves at various degrees of tension. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is comprised of an outer covering of fabric of different textures and blends or synthetic hair of various shades and textures, hollow tubing, wire, a closure element and adhesive, all formed and sealed into a preferably circular embodiment. The materials used in the present preferred embodiment of said invention have many advantages. The preferred wire placed within the tubing provided the necessary tension to retain hair and can be flexed again and again and returned back into a circular shape without breaking. The hollow tubing allows pressure to be applied to hair of different textures without causing breakage because there are no pinched pressure points on the hair. The outer covering placed over the hollow tubing and wire, either fabric or synthetic hair, allows another level of protection. All the materials used together provide a new level of flexibility, durability and protection for hair, and particularly for multi-textured hair. The materials used in the present preferred embodiment allow the device to be bent into a flat elongated shape. The elongated shape holds with enough tension so that hair can be placed in the middle of the elongated shape and held in place while the elongated form of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is pulled down the length of the hair and rolled up or under the base of the hair, then each end of the elongated shape is bent in the opposite direction of the rolled hair to hold hair in place. Many styles can be created by pulling the present invention down a length of hair at different points and then rolling to the base of the hair. The amounts of hair to be left out of the roll may be styled in various forms (curled, straight, braided, etc.). The present invention has been invented to provide people with different hair lengths and textures a workable accessory/tool, so as to create different styles while remaining durable and safe for multiple uses in the hair.  
         [0030]     The preferred embodiment of the hairstyling device of the present invention illustrated generally at  100  in  FIGS. 1-5  includes a flexible internal element  102  which is cut to a desired length, preferably eleven inches, fifteen inches or seventeen inches. The flexible internal element  102  is preferably a metal wire and more preferably, fourteen gauge solid insulated copper wire. Other materials which are flexible and which retain a desired orientation until forced to an alternate orientation could also be used as this internal element  102 .  
         [0031]     The flexible wire element  102  is placed through the center of a flexible hollow elongate body  101 , preferably made from flexible vinyl tubing with an outer diameter of 0.25 inches and an inner diameter of 0.17 inches. The hollow body  101  is made from a material which can flex without breaking and is preferably cut to a length approximately an inch longer than the flexible wire element  102 . The combination of the hollow body  101  and the centrally located flexible wire element  102  gives the device  100  flexibility and stability so that the device  100  will hold its shape when bent or twisted.  
         [0032]     The hollow body  101  and flexible wire element  102  combination is then covered by a flexible covering  104 , preferably a piece of fabric or real or synthetic hair, which is preferably twenty-three to twenty-eight inches long and approximately two and one quarter inches wide and formed into a cylindrical shape. The flexible covering  104  can be any type of fabric such as cotton, poly, poly-cotton blend or any satin material. Synthetic or real hair of different colors can be used in place of fabric to give a more blended look with different hair colors and textures. The flexible covering  104  preferably has a seam  106  on one end which is seen on the finished device  100 . To form the cylindrical shape, flexible covering  104  is preferably sewn inside-out with a seam to form a piece of material which is two inches wide. The sewn flexible covering  104  is then inverted so that the seam is hidden, thus forming a cylindrical shape to cover the hollow body  101  and flexible wire element  102  combination.  
         [0033]     Following placement of the hollow body  101  and flexible wire element  102  combination into the cylindrically shaped flexible covering  104 , the ends of the hollow body  101  are closed by a closure device  103 . Preferably a small dowel  103 , which closely approximates the internal diameter of the hollow body  101 , is treated with an adhesive. Each end of the hollow body  101  is forced onto an end of the dowel  103  and the adhesive acts to retain the ends of the hollow body  101  on the dowel  103 , thus enclosing the flexible wire element  102  entirely. Once the ends of the hollow body  101  are in place on the ends of the dowel  103 , the ends of the flexible covering  104  are attached so that the flexible covering  104  covers the hollow body  101  and flexible wire element  102  combination completely. To accomplish the attachment, preferably, the end of the flexible covering  104  which was prepared with a finished seam  106  is placed over the opposite end of the flexible covering  104  such that only the finished seam  106  end is visible and the ends overlap by approximately one and one half inches. The ends of the flexible covering  104  are then secured by any appropriate means such as a closing stitch, pin stitch or adhesive. The hollow body  101 , in combination with the flexible wire element  102 , make the device  100  effective for securing hair in many different styles while holding its shape and contour.  
         [0034]     In an alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , rather than joining the two ends of the hollow body  101  with a single closure element  103 , two closure elements  103  are used to close each end of the hollow body  101  independently. This results in a device  100  which is a strip which can be wrapped around hair rather than the circular shape of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show the device  100  in use in two of the possible hairstyles which can be created. Hair can be wrapped around the device  100  as shown in  FIG. 7  or the device  100  can be twisted around hair as shown in  FIG. 8 . Many other hairstyles are possible with the device.  
         [0036]     Many improvements, modifications, and additions will be apparent to the skilled artisan without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described herein and defined in the following claims.