Abstract:
A French braiding template for forming a French braid is disclosed. The template includes a body having a slightly curved upper portion to match the profile of a user&#39;s head. The upper portion has a plurality of teeth to help hold the template in place during use. Side portions include a plurality of notches and teeth. The notches indicate the proper location for the placement of hair strands during use while the side teeth help hold hair in place.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is directed toward hair care products. More particularly, the present invention relates to a template for forming French braids. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The personal style and fashion industry is a large, growing, and constantly evolving industry. One (1) reason for this is that people continually strive to create and maintain their own personal look, style, and identity, while also keeping in tune with the latest trends as they hit the fashion scene. 
     Not the least facet of the personal style and fashion industry is the field of hair fashion and design. While hair styles frequently change, one (1) hairstyle that has been popular for a rather long time with women having long hair is the French braid. A French braid is a tight braid which encompasses all hair strands and is well suited for use outdoors, particularly in windy conditions. 
     While French braids are popular it can be a challenge to produce a good French Braid due to the requirements of achieving both symmetry and evenness for each braid. The challenge is even more pronounced when one attempts to produce a French braid on oneself. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which the production of French braids can be simplified. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a means by which the production of French braids can be simplified. It can be used on others or on oneself to help produce the braid symmetry and evenness required for a good French braid. 
     A device in accord with the present invention has the general overall shape of a three to four inch (3-4 in.) wide, eight inch (8 in.) tall letter “T.” The upper portion of the “T” is slightly curved to match the profile of a wearer&#39;s head and includes a series of teeth to help hold it in place. The bottom portion of the “T” is provided with a square saw-tooth design and in use is placed along the rear center portion of the wearer&#39;s head. Each individual saw tooth has internal teeth to help hold hair in place. 
     A user simply places the invention on a wearer&#39;s head (either their own or another person&#39;s) and begins French braiding hair using the invention to guide the production of symmetrical and centered French braids. While the invention is left in place under the hairstyle it is not visible from the exterior as it is covered by hair. It is also envisioned that the invention would serve as a learning tool whereupon it would not be needed at a future date after sufficient practice has occurred. It is envisioned that the invention would be one-size-fits-all and would be suitable for all ages of users. The use of the French Braiding Template provides the ability to produce French braid hairstyles in a manner which is not only quick, but easy and fashionable. 
     A template for making French braids that is in accord with this invention includes an elongated intermediate portion having a centerline. The intermediate portion includes a plurality of notches that define a plurality of dividers. Within each notch is a plurality of side teeth. The template further includes an upper portion that is integral with the intermediate portion and that extends symmetrically outward in an arcuate shape from the centerline. The upper portion has a plurality of upper teeth. The template further includes a lower portion that is integrally molded with the intermediate portion and that extends perpendicularly from the intermediate portion. In use the upper teeth engage a wearer&#39;s hair when the template is being used. 
     Beneficially the arcuate shape matches the contour of a head, the intermediate portion has complementary opposing sides, the plurality of side teeth are integrally molded with the intermediate portion, and the dividers are equally spaced along the intermediate portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a French braiding template  10  that is in accord with the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the French braiding template  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 French braiding template 
               
               
                 11 
                 user 
               
               
                 12 
                 hair 
               
               
                 21 
                 upper portion 
               
               
                 22 
                 upper teeth 
               
               
                 24 
                 intermediate portion 
               
               
                 25 
                 notch 
               
               
                 26 
                 side teeth 
               
               
                 27 
                 divider 
               
               
                 28 
                 lower portion 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a French braiding template (herein described as the “template”)  10  which assists in creating French braids. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of the template  10  in use, the template  10  is placed within the hair  12  of a wearer  11  to simplify the production of the perfect French braid. The template  10  is beneficially fabricated from a thin plastic or metal material and measures approximately eight inches (8 in.) in length by three inches (3 in.) in width. The template  10  includes an upper portion  21 , an intermediate portion  24 , and a lower portion  28 . The upper portion  21  is preferably placed on an upper intermediate location within a rear portion of the hair  12  which enables the lower portion  28  to be positioned toward the shoulder region of the wearer  11 . The hair  12  is crisscrossed repeatedly downward toward the shoulder region to form a French braid. 
       FIG. 2  represents a perspective view of the template  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The intermediate portion  24  is elongated along a center axis. The upper portion  21  in integral with the intermediate portion and extends symmetrically outward from the centerline of the intermediate portion  24  but in a slightly arcuate shape relative to the intermediate portion  24 . The arcuate shape is designed to match the contour of the shape of the head of the wearer  11 . The upper portion  21  has a plurality of upper teeth  22  that hold the template in position during weaving hair  12  weaving. The upper teeth  22  operate similarly to the teeth of a hair comb. The upper teeth  22  are integrally molded to the upper edge of the upper portion  21  and extend outwardly. 
     The intermediate portion  24  is an elongated member having complementary opposing sides having a plurality of notches  25 . Within each notch is a plurality of side teeth  26  that extend away from the intermediate portion  24 . The side teeth  26  are integral to the inner surface of the notches  25 . The notches  25  define a plurality of dividers  27  that protrude outwardly. 
     In use the notches  25  provide an area for hair  12  to be positioned while the side teeth  26  hold the hair  12  in the desired crisscrossed pattern. The dividers  27  are beneficially equally-spaced and separate each braid section of crisscrossed hair  12  to provide the French braid appearance. 
     The lower portion  28  is integral with and perpendicular to the intermediate portion  24 . Beneficially the lower portion  28  is also symmetrical with the centerline of the intermediate portion  24 . The lower portion  28  enables the last sections of hair  12  to be secured. The lower portion  28  holds the template  10  within the hair  12  and is comprised of a pair of opposing generally rectangular members. In use, the lower portion  28  may be tucked and hidden within the hair  12 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention; only one particular configuration is shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the template  10 ; inserting the upper teeth  22  into an upper part of the hair  12 ; gathering a first section of hair  12  from the left or right side and crossing the hair  12  to an opposing notch  25 ; enabling the first section of hair  12  to be secured with the respective side teeth  26  and with the first section of hair  12  secured the hair  12  can be wrapped to a back surface of the template  10 ; gathering a second section of hair  12  from the opposing side of the previously crossed first section of hair  12  and crossing the second section of hair  12  to another opposing notch  25 ; enabling the second section of hair  12  to be secured with the respective side teeth  26  and with the second section of hair  12  secured the hair  12  can be wrapped to a back surface of the template  10 ; and repeating the above steps until each notch  25  has been used with a new section of hair  12 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.