Patent Publication Number: US-2012042895-A1

Title: Hair Holder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hair holder and, more particularly, to a decorative hair holder for ponytails. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional hair holders for ponytails generally include an elastic band in a circular form for encircling and holding hair in a tight ponytail. An ornament is attached to the elastic band for decorating the hair holder. However, the hair holders are prone to slip when the users are engaged in athletics or recreational activities, requiring constant readjustments to move the hair holders back into place or to tighten it. Furthermore, the position of the ornament relative to the elastic band can not be easily adjusted to enhance the appearance of the user. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned shortcoming and deficiency of the prior art by providing a hair holder that can adequately hold a ponytail of a user when the user is engaged in an athletic or recreational activity while allowing easy adjusting of a decorative ornament on the ponytail. 
     To achieve the foregoing objective, a hair holder of the present invention includes an engaging member, a circular elastic band, and a decorative ornament. The engaging member includes inner and outer surfaces spaced in a thickness direction. The engaging member further includes a pin extending from the inner surface of the engaging member in the thickness direction and adapted to be inserted in a hair tuft of a user. The engaging member further includes an engaging portion formed on the inner surface of the engaging member and spaced from the pin. The circular elastic band extends through the engaging portion of the engaging member and is adapted for encircling and holding the hair tuft. The decorative ornament is attached to the outer surface of the engaging member for decorative purposes. 
     In a preferred form, the engaging portion of the engaging member includes a through-hole through which the circular elastic band is extended such that the engaging member is moveable relative to the circular elastic band in a circumferential direction of the circular elastic. 
     In a preferred form, the pin of the engaging member includes a distal end and at least one annular groove on an outer periphery of the pin and intermediate the inner surface of the engaging member and the distal end in an axial direction of the pin. 
     The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hair holder according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows another perspective view of the hair holder of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the hair holder of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows an exploded, perspective view of the hair holder of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows the hair holder of  FIG. 1  in use on a ponytail of a user, with a circular elastic band of the hair holder encircling around the ponytail, a pin of the hair holder inserted in the ponytail, and a decorative ornament located on the ponytail; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a hair holder according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A hair holder of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5  of the drawings and generally designated  10 . The hair holder  10  includes an engaging member  12 , a circular elastic band  14 , and a decorative ornament  16 . The hair holder  10  can be used as a stylish hair accessory for encircling and holding a hair tuft such as a ponytail  18  of a user  20  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     According to the preferred form shown, the engaging member  12  is a planar plate and includes inner and outer surfaces  22  and  24  spaced in a thickness direction of the plate. A pin  26  extends from the inner surface  22  of the engaging member  12  in the thickness direction and includes a beaded distal end  28  by which the pin  26  is adapted to be inserted into the ponytail  18  of the user  20 . Several spaced, annular grooves  30  are provided in an outer periphery  32  of the pin  26  for griping by the ponytail  18 . The grooves  30  are intermediate the inner surface  22  of the engaging member  12  and the distal end  28  in an axial direction of the pin  26 . A ring-shaped engaging portion  34  with a through-hole  36  is provided on the inner surface  22  of the engaging member  12  and spaced from the pin  26 . 
     According to the preferred form shown, the circular elastic band  14  is a rubber band and extends through the through-hole  36  of the engaging portion  34  of the engaging member  12  such that the engaging member  12  is moveable relative to the circular elastic band  14  in a circumferential direction of the circular elastic band  14 . Two ends  37  of the circular elastic band  14  are combined together after the circular elastic band  14  extends through the through-hole  36  of the engaging portion  34 . The circular elastic band  14  with elasticity can stretch around the ponytail  18  of user  20  and then apply a constricting tension to hold the ponytail  18  in place. 
     According to the preferred form shown, the decorative ornament  16  is a plastic plate having a flower-shaped configuration and having a decorative design  38  on an outer face  40  thereof. The decorative ornament  16  may be attached to the outer surface  24  of the engaging member  12  by adhesives, sonic welding, or conventional engagement methods. In another preferred form, the decorative ornament  16  is integrally formed with the engaging member  12  as a single member. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the hair holder  10  in use holding the ponytail  18  of user  20 . The circular elastic band  14  is tensioned around the ponytail  18  by inserting the ponytail  18  through the circular elastic band  14  and twisting the circular elastic band  14 . Once the circular elastic band  14  encircles and holds around the ponytail  18 , the pin  26  is engaged in the ponytail  18  with the distal end  28  inserted into the ponytail  18  and with the annular grooves  30  gripped by the ponytail  18 . The pin  26  ensures that the hair holder  10  will remain secure without requiring frequent readjustments during athletics or recreational activities. After the hair holder  10  is properly positioned on the ponytail  18 , the decorative ornament  16  is located on the ponytail  18 , and the decorative design  38  on the outer face  40  of the decorative ornament  16  faces outwardly from the ponytail  18 , exhibiting an aesthetically attractive appearance. Furthermore, according to the preference of the user, the position of the decorative ornament  16  on the ponytail  18  can be easily adjusted by changing the engagement position of the pin  26  in the ponytail  18  and/or changing the insertion depth of the pin  26  into the ponytail  18 . The user  20  can change the insertion depth of the pin  26  by selecting engagement of one or two of the annular grooves  30  with the ponytail  18 . 
     Now that the basic teachings of the present invention have been explained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art. The hair holder  10  shown in  FIG. 6  is a modification of that shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 . Description of the parts of the hair holder  10  shown in  FIG. 6  identical to those shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5  is omitted. In this embodiment, the pin  26  does not include annular grooves  30  on outer periphery  32  thereof. Furthermore, it is apparent that there may be one or more than two annular grooves  30  formed on the outer periphery  32  of the pin  26 . 
     Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.