Abstract:
A hair accessory is described which includes a ribbon-style member having a first section, a second section, a first plurality of hair strand bundles attached to the first section in a first pattern, and a second plurality of hair strand bundles attached to the second section in a second pattern. The second pattern is different than the first pattern. A method for fabricating a hair accessory is also described.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to hair accessories and, more particularly, to hair accessories that supplement the natural hair of a user.  
         [0002]     A person may supplement their natural hair with hair pieces to allow a wider variety of hair styles to be utilized. Additionally, when the person is has relatively thin hair, the person can supplement their natural hair to create the impression of a fuller head of hair. At least one known form of such a hair piece supplements the natural hair by attaching strands of hair to a hair attachment device. The hair attachment device is then used to secure the hair strands to a user&#39;s head. However, the person may wish to supplement their natural hair without a visible attachment device.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In one aspect, a hair accessory is provided that comprises a ribbon-style member comprising at least a first section and a second section. A first plurality of hair strand bundles is attached to the first section in a first pattern and a second plurality of hair strand bundles is attached to the second section in a second pattern. The second pattern is different than the first pattern.  
         [0004]     In another aspect, a method of fabricating a hair accessory is provided. The hair accessory includes a circular member having a first section, a second section, and a plurality of hair strand bundles. The method comprises attaching a first plurality of the hair strand bundles to the first section of the member and attaching a second plurality of the hair strand bundles to the second section of the member.  
         [0005]     In yet another aspect, a hair accessory is provided that comprises a base member comprising at least a first section and a second section, a first plurality of hair strands and a second plurality of hair strands, and first and second patterns of stitching. The first pattern of stitching attaches the first plurality of hair strands to the first section of the base member and the second pattern of stitching attaches the second plurality of hair strands to the second section of the base member. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a view of one embodiment of a hair accessory.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a view of the hair accessory of  FIG. 1  illustrating attachment methods for the hair strand bundles of the hair accessory.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a view of another embodiment of the hair accessory. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a view of one embodiment of a hair accessory  10  including a circular, transparent, elastic, member  20  including a plurality of sections  30  with a plurality of hair strand bundles  40  extending from sections  30  of member  20 . The transparency of member  20  allows hair accessory  10  to be worn while member  20  remains hidden. The elasticity facilitates securing hair accessory  10  to the user&#39;s head. In an alternative embodiment, member  20  is circular, transparent, elastic and of a ribbon-style. Sections  30  each have an individual length and style to provide various configurations of hair accessory  20  to supplement a user&#39;s natural hair.  
         [0010]     In one embodiment, hair strand bundles  40  include about 5 to about 500 hair strands grouped per hair strand bundle. In another embodiment, hair strand bundles  40  are attached to member  20  about 5 to about 500 hair strand bundles per inch along member  20 .  
         [0011]     In one embodiment, hair strand bundles  40  are sewn to member  20  and held in place with stitching. In one embodiment, hair strand bundles  40  are synthetic hair fabricated from one of a polymer fiber such as modacrylic, a combination of a modacrylic fiber and PVC (Poly vinyl chloride) fiber, or a polymer fiber other than modacrylic, such as, for example, acrylic. In another embodiment, hair strand bundles  40  are natural hair. In yet another embodiment, hair strand bundles  40  include both synthetic hair and natural hair.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment, a portion of hair strand bundles  40  attached to one of sections  30  are of a different length than the length of the hair strand bundles  40  attached to another of sections  30 . In one embodiment, a portion of hair strand bundles  40  attached to one of sections  30  are of a different style, such as a curl or a wave, than the style of the hair strand bundles  40  attached to another of sections  30 . In an alternative embodiment, the lengths and styles of hair strand bundles  40  attached to sections  30  are the same.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of an attachment method of hair strand bundles  40  to member  20  of hair accessory  10 . In one embodiment, member  20  has an inner-side  50 , an outer-side  52 , an upper-edge  54 , and a lower-edge  56  with a length extending between upper-edge  54  and lower-edge  56 . In the illustrated embodiment, hair strand bundles  40  attached to sections  30  of member  20  are attached to inner-side  50  of member  20 , overhang upper-edge  54 , and extend substantially downward in front of outer-side  52  of member  20 . Hair strand bundles  40  attached to sections  30  of member  20  are attached to outer-side  52  of member  20  and extend substantially downward from outer-side  52  of member  20 .  
         [0014]     In the illustrated embodiment, hair strand bundles  40  are sewn to member  20 , and held by stitching to member  20 . In one embodiment, the stitching holding hair strand bundles  40  to member  20  is substantially linear  60  along member  20 . In another embodiment, the stitching holding hair strand bundles  40  to member  20  is in a zig-zag formation  62 . In another embodiment, different stitching patterns are utilized in the various sections  30  of member  20 . In another embodiment, hair strand bundles  40  are attached to member  20  such as by adhesive, pins, and/or clips. Alternatively, any other method of attachment of hair strand bundles  40  to member  20  may be utilized to attach a portion of hair strand bundles  40  to member  20 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a view of another embodiment of a hair accessory  100  including a circular, transparent, elastic, member  120  sectioned into a plurality of sections  130  with a plurality of hair strands  140  extending from sections  130  of member  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, individual hair strands  140  are stitched to member  120 . In one embodiment, the stitching attaching hair strands  140  to member  120  is substantially linear along member  120 . In another embodiment, the stitching holding hair strands  140  to member  120  is in a zig-zag formation . In still another embodiment (not shown), various stitching patterns are utilized to attach hair strands  140  to member  120 . The different stitching patterns help to provide different styling for hair accessory  100 .  
         [0016]     Hair strands  140  are synthetic hair fabricated from one of a polymer fiber such as modacrylic, a combination of a modacrylic fiber and PVC (Poly vinyl chloride) fiber, or a polymer fiber other than modacrylic, such as, for example, acrylic. In addition, natural hair or a combination of synthetic hair and natural hair may be utilized  
         [0017]     In one embodiment, a portion of hair strands  140  attached to one of sections  130  are of a different length than the length of the hair strands  140  attached to another of sections  130 . In one embodiment, a portion of hair strands  140  attached to one of sections  130  are of a different style, such as a curl or a wave, than the style of the hair strands  140  attached to another of sections  130 . In an alternative embodiment, the lengths and styles of hair strands  140  attached to sections  130  are all the same.  
         [0018]     To use hair accessory, the hair accessory is placed over the user&#39;s head, and placement of hair accessory is adjusted according to individual comfort and style. Then hair accessory is blended with the user&#39;s hair by pulling the user&#39;s hair above and around the member, substantially concealing the member.  
         [0019]     The user can utilize the hair accessory to supplement the user&#39;s natural hair to provide various hair styles, some of which may not be attainable, or desirable in appearance, without the hair accessory. While the hair accessory is described as being attachable to the user&#39;s natural hair, the hair accessory can also be attached to a wig or other such supplemental hair accessory worn by the user. Also, while the hair accessory is illustrated using a single color of hair for the entire hair accessory, the hair accessory can have different colors and lengths between hair strand bundles, and/or different colors and lengths for the hair strands within a hair strand bundle. Since the hair accessory is attachable and detachable, the hair accessory may be applied and removed at the leisure of the user.  
         [0020]     While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.