Abstract:
A fashion accessory made with the use of interchangeable parts that are removably fastened together. The interchangeable parts allows for multiple combinations bringing alternative styles, colors, shapes, and decorations to the fashion accessory.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/277,255, filed Sep. 21, 2009, and entitled “Bottlecap bows” which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates broadly to fashionable accessories which can be clipped or otherwise attached to clothing or to the head. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There are numerous reasons why individuals wear hair accessories. Hair accessories can serve to complement clothing or to help style or hold hair. Hair accessories are used by individuals of all ages, including young children. 
         [0004]    There are numerous types and styles of hair accessories and clips currently being manufactured and sold. These hair accessories and clips come in a variety of colors, sizes and styles. Most individual users of hair accessories seek a variety of different colors, sizes and styles, to complement different outfits, hairstyles, or situations, as well as for variety. Most current hair accessories are static, in that the component parts of the hair accessories are not interchangeable, and so multiple hair accessories must be purchased in order for any variety to be available. A hair accessory with interchangeable parts, creating variety in color and style without the need to purchase multiple hair accessories would be an improvement in the art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Exemplary embodiments of the invention disclosed and claimed herein provide for parts and methods for creating hair accessories that have interchangeable parts, including clips, decorations, and bottlecaps. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the hair accessory includes a bottlecap fastened to a clip. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, the accessory includes a clip, a decoration, and a bottlecap, with the bottlecap and decoration fastened to the clip. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the clip has paint, cardstock, ribbon, or other enhancements attached to it. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the bottlecap has paint, cardstock, ribbon, or other enhancements attached to either side of the bottlecap. 
         [0010]    In yet another embodiment, the bottlecap has a jewel or other ornament attached to it. 
         [0011]    In still another embodiment, the decoration is floral shaped. 
         [0012]    Many alterations and variations of the accessories, including the clip decoration and bottlecap exist as described herein. The hair accessory as disclosed and claimed herein can be adapted for any hair accessory, whether varying in size, shape, or sample. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The figures form part of the specification and are included to further demonstrate certain embodiments of the invention. These embodiments may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of embodiments presented. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a clip with a bottlecap and a decoration attached. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a bottlecap according to another embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottlecap according to another embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a clip. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of a hair accessory. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view. 
       
    
    
     DEFINITIONS 
       [0020]    It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only. The terms are not intended to be limiting because the scope of the present invention is intended to be defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 
         [0021]    As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0022]    The term “about” when referring to a numerical value or range is intended to encompass the values resulting from experimental error that can occur when taking measurements. 
         [0023]    The term “bottlecap”, and any plurals thereof, as used in this specification and appended claims means pieces of metal, steel, or plastic to seal a bottle, for example, a pop bottle or canning bottle. 
         [0024]    The term “clip”, and any plurals thereof, as used in this specification and appended claims means a button, clamp, clasp, paperclip, grommet, clothes-pin, rubber band, snap, strap, or tie. 
         [0025]    The term “fastener”, and any plurals thereof, as used in this specification and appended claims means a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. Examples of a fastener include a screw, clamp, nail, peg, pin, retainer, rivet, screw anchor, snap, tack, or stud. Fastener may also include hardware, appendages, or additional features related to such fastener, such as springs, clamps, or glues. 
         [0026]    Ratios, concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. For example, a weight range of about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited concentration limits of 1 wt % to about 20 wt %, but also to include individual concentrations such as 2 wt %, 3 wt %, 4 wt %, and sub-ranges such as 5 wt % to 15 wt %, 10 wt % to 20 wt %, etc. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Embodiments of the invention relate to fashion accessories with exemplary embodiments of hair accessories. In contrast to existing hair accessories, embodiments of the present invention represent hair accessories having interchangeable components, allowing the user to select different styles and colors without purchasing multiple hair accessories. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a particular embodiment of the accessory includes a clip  10  and at least one bottlecap  20  attached to the clip  10 . Additionally, at least one decoration  30  can be attached to the clip. 
         [0029]    The bottlecap  20  can be attached to the clip  10  permanently or removably. In one embodiment, the bottlecap  20  can be attached to the clip  10  via a fastener  70 . 
         [0030]    Some examples of a decoration  30  that may be attached to the clip  10  include but are not limited to cloth in a floral, round, square or other shape or pattern, ribbon, paper or cardstock, or other material. 
         [0031]    In an exemplary embodiment, the fastener  70  attaches the bottlecap  20 , the decoration  30 , and the clip  10 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , in another embodiment, and by way of example, the bottlecap  20  has a concave side  50  and a flat side  60 . A fastener  70  can be inserted through the flat side  60  of the bottlecap  20  such that it extends through the bottlecap  20 . The fastener  70  can then be used to attach the bottlecap  20  to a clip  10 . The flat side  60  of the bottlecap  20  may then be adorned with ribbon, paint, cardstock, cloth, paper or other material. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in another embodiment, and by way of example, the bottlecap  20  has a concave side  50  and a flat side  60 . A fastener  70  may be inserted through a hole in the concave side  50  of the bottlecap  20  such that it extends through the bottlecap  20 . The fastener  70  can then be used to attach the bottlecap  20  to a clip  10 . The concave side  50  of the bottlecap  20  can then be adorned with ribbon, paint, cardstock, cloth, paper or other material. 
         [0034]    In another embodiment, the concave side  50  of the bottlecap  20  may be adorned with a jewel, gem, stone, or similar. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6  a particular embodiment of the fastener  70  that attaches the bottlecap  20  to the clip  10  is presented. The fastener  70  consists of a cam dowel, spring  64 , and head  65 . The pin has a head  65  attached to one end of the cam dowel or the head  65  is integral to one end of the cam dowel either removably or permanently. The cam dowel is then positioned through the spring  64 . The cam dowel mates with a cam lock  63 . The fastener  70 , as described in this paragraph, retains the bottlecap  20  when it is placed through the bottlecap  20 , depressed while the cam dowel engages the cam lock  63 , and the cam dowel is rotated clock-wise or counter-clockwise engaging the cam lock in a locking position thus securing the bottlecap to the clip  10 . Spacers  61  or  62  may be used to add additional locking capability or adjustability to the height of the bottlecap  20  and prevent unintentional wear between the bottlecap  20  and the cam lock  63 .