Abstract:
A decorative headband having modular detachable decorative ribbons or other attachments. The wearer may select such attachments to accessorize to selected outfits or for other aesthetic purposes. The attachments include fabric ribbons manufactured from natural or artificial fabric, including cotton, silk, polyester, blends thereof, and the like. Attachments may be removably attached to the headband by hook-and-loop type attachments, buttons, hooks, clasps, pins, hooks, or other known attachment mechanisms.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a modular headband. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a headband having removable and interchangeable ribbons or other attachments to selectively customize and accessorize a headband according to a wearer&#39;s outfit and preference. 
     2. Background 
     One common type of headband with wide appeal is the resilient horseshoe-shaped headband, which may be referred to at times as an “Alice band.” Such resilient headbands may typically be manufactured from flexible metal, plastic, or the like in a variety of shapes, thicknesses, and sizes. Resilient headbands may further be covered with a thin layer of fabric, leather, or other covering material for aesthetic or comfort purposes. Such covering material is typically permanently adhered to the headband and therefore not easily interchangeable nor customizable according to the wearer&#39;s wishes. Accordingly, a wearer typically owns numerous headbands having a variety of colors and patterns in order to accessorize one of her headbands with a selected outfit. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a modular headband that allows a wearer to selectively and interchangeably add decorative elements according to her current outfit and other accessories. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a modular, decorative, resilient, and horseshoe-shaped headband has a top surface, a bottom surface, two distal ends where attachment mechanisms are located, and multiple decorative accessories. The decorative accessories are removably attachable to the attachment mechanisms on the headband. 
     In another embodiment, a method of accessorizing a resilient horseshoe-shaped headband to a wearer&#39;s outfit includes: putting the headband having two distal ends onto the wearer&#39;s head; selecting a decorative accessory to match with an outfit of the wearer; and attaching the decorative accessory to at least one distal end. 
     The present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description, and any preferred or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only so that this disclosure will be thorough, and fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a decorative headband of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows a decorative headband of the present disclosure having attached decorative strips; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a side view of a person wearing the decorative headband; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a rear view of a person wearing the decorative headband; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a rear perspective view of a person wearing the decorative headband; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a rear perspective view of a person wearing the decorative headband with the attached decorative leather strips of an alternate embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that modifications to the various disclosed embodiments may be made, and other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the headband system of the present disclosure comprises a resilient horseshoe-shaped headband  100 . The headband  100  may be manufactured from plastic, metal, wood, leather, or any other material known in the art having desirable properties that one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure would understand. The headband  100  may be partially or completely covered by a covering material of fabric, leather, or other suitable material that provides desired aesthetic properties to the headband  100 . 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure comprise attachment mechanism  110  located at the distal ends of headband  100 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , attachment mechanism  110  is located on the top (or outer) surface of headband  100 . In alternative embodiments, attachment mechanism is located on the bottom (or inner) surface of headband  100 . In other embodiments, attachment mechanism is located on the downward facing end surface of the headband  100 . Depending on the type of attachment mechanism used (as will be discussed below), one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that an optimal or preferable specific location of an attachment mechanism may depend on the type of attachment mechanism used. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 2 , embodiments include accessory decorative strips  120  that may be attached to headband  100  at attachment mechanism  110 . Embodiments comprise an attachment mechanism on the decorative strips  120  that corresponds to attachment mechanism  110  on the headband  100 . Decorative strips  120  may exhibit a variety of aesthetic qualities, as selected by the wearer or sold in conjunction with matching headbands  100  to allow the wearer to coordinate her outfit with headband  100  and decorative strip  120 . 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, attachment mechanism  110  comprises a hook-and-loop type fastener, commonly known as Velcro. Such a fastener allows the wearer to quickly and easily affix an accessory decorative strip  120  to the headband  100 . In alternative embodiments, attachment mechanism  110  comprises one of any number of attachment mechanisms known in the art. For example, embodiments comprise a hinged clasp, a pin, a clip, an adhesive, a magnet, button, snap, or a spring-loaded clasp or hook and corresponding loop. 
     In certain embodiments comprising a button and/or buttonhole attachment mechanism  110 , a button is attached at or near the distal ends of headband  100 . The button may be located on the top (or outer) surface or the bottom (or inner) surface of headband  100 . In alternative embodiments, the button is located on forward or rear-facing surfaces of headband  100 . A corresponding buttonhole is located on decorative strip  120 , into which a user may insert the button to thereby removably secure decorative strip  120  to headband  100 . Buttons may be attached to headband through any means known in the art, including glue or the like, sewing, and stapling. In alternative embodiments, headband  100  comprises buttonholes at or near each distal end. In such embodiments, decorative strips  120  comprise a button that corresponds to buttonholes and which wearer can insert into buttonholes to removably secure decorative strip  120  to headband  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-5 , embodiments of the present disclosure comprise decorative strips  120  made of fabric having aesthetically pleasing patterns or images. Such fabric strips may be cotton, polyester, silk, any other natural or manufactured fibers, or any blend thereof. As depicted in  FIG. 6 , in certain embodiments of the present disclosure, decorative strips  120  comprise multiple leather strips that may fashionably accessorize the wearer&#39;s outfit and/or the headband  100 . As  FIG. 6  illustrates, decorative strips  120  in some embodiments further comprise feather inserts. In alternative embodiments, decorative strips  120  include other types of decorative inserts to allow additional customization. Decorative inserts may comprise pins, patches, or other item that are removable from decorative strips  120 . Alternatively, decorative inserts may be semi-permanently fixed to decorative strips  120 . As used herein, “semi-permanent” means are affixed in a way so as to not be removable by the wearer in normal use. Examples of semi-permanent attachment means include glue, sewing, stapling, and the like. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , headband  100  may further include decorative attachment  130  along the curve of the headband  100 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , decorative attachment  130  comprises a fabric flower. In alternative embodiments, decorative attachment  130  comprises other aesthetically pleasing elements such as a brooch, beads, or leather strips. Decorative attachment  130  attaches to headband  100  by a spring-loaded clip. In certain embodiments, decorative attachment  130  attaches to headband  100  by a button and buttonhole combination. In alternative embodiments, decorative attachment  130  attaches to headband  100  by other means known in the art. In other embodiments, decorative attachment  130  is fixed to headband  100  by semi-permanent means. 
     In operation, a wearer may choose from multiple headbands  100  and multiple decorative strips  120 , which she may selectively match to outfits to result in aesthetically-pleasing ensemble. As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , decorative strips  120  may be tied together if desired by the wearer. Decorative strips  120  may be wrapped around the wearer&#39;s hair in addition to or instead of tying. Decorative strips  120  may be tied in an aesthetically-pleasing bow or other manner as desired by the wearer. 
     As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, embodiments disclosed herein may provide a wearer with many options to accessorize her headband with her outfits by selectively attaching decorative strips  120  and/or decorative attachments  130  to her headband  100 . The modular nature of the headband  100  allows the wearer to mix and match headbands  100  with decorative strips  120  and/or decorative attachments  130  to result in desired combinations. 
     Although the present disclosure is described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, including embodiments that do not provide all of the benefits and features set forth herein, which are also within the scope of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.