Patent Publication Number: US-5427123-A

Title: Headband kit

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Probably the simplest form of head wear, next to a common ribbon, is the headband, fillet or bandeau. These were worn both by men and women in early societies, chiefly to keep long hair away from the face. Special kinds of head gear, such as the feathered headband of the American Indian warrior, were regarded as symbols of status. 
     Although head wear has evolved into much more sophisticated forms, the headband has survived to the modern day. The headband takes two forms, that which encircles the forehead and that which extends over the top of the head. The later type of headband is still popular with ladies and particularly with young girls. The headband is worn for purposes of hair control and as an item of decoration as well. The headband typically comes in very decorative forms. However, it is fundamental that to change the decoration, the wearer needs to change the headband, resulting in a headband collection. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to a headband kit for use by women and particularly, young girls. The kit includes a headband and a number of interchangeable display panels that are releasably fixable to the headband. The headband has a resilient base in the shape of an open loop configured to conform to the top of the head and pass over the head with legs that straddle either side of the head in bearing relationship to it. A backboard extends upwardly from the top of the base to carry a display panel. A number of display panels are included in the kit and have different displays upon them. Means are provided for releasably fixing display panels one-at-a-time to the backboard. 
    
    
     IN THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a headband of a headband kit according to the invention, having a display panel installed thereon; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the headband of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a headband like that of FIG. 1 but with the display panel removed; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion of the headband structure of FIG. 3 taken along the line 4--4 thereof; 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of some interchangeable display panels mountable on a headband base; 
     FIG. 6 is a back view and an end view of one of the display panels of FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 7 is a packaged headband kit according to the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a headband assembly 10 to be worn by women and particularly, young girls. The purpose of the headband assembly 10 is for hair control as well as decoration. Headband 10 includes a base 11 which is curved in shape and configured as an open loop of resilient material such as metal or plastic. Base 10 is configured to fit over the top of the head of the wearer, and has legs 12, 14 that straddle the head and bear against the sides of the head. Legs 12, 14 resiliently spread apart for installation of base 11 on a head. An upper portion or platform 15 extends across the top of the head between the legs 12, 14. As shown in FIG. 2, legs 12, 14 taper downwardly from the platform 15. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-4, base 11 carries a backboard 16 for the purpose of carrying interchangeable display panels. Backboard 16 has a lower edge 17 that is situated in a notch 18 circumferentially formed in the platform 15 of base 11, and held therein by suitable means such as glue. Backboard 16 is a planar member that has a front face looking forward when the base 11 is installed on the head to provide a display surface to mount display panels. Backboard 16 is symmetrically posed on the top of the base 11 and is crescent in shape for aesthetic purposes, having an upper edge 20 that is curved in shape and can generally follow a circular arc. Backboard 16 could have other aesthetic shapes as well. 
     Headband assembly 10, as shown in FIG. 1, carries a removable display panel 21 on the backboard 16 having a floral scene. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the backboard 16 has a plurality of mounting openings 23. The removable display panel 21 has a rear mounting surface 22 with a plurality of mounting pins or pegs 24 which are arranged in formation to register with the mounting holes 23 in friction fit. As shown, three holes are symmetrically placed. Display panel 21 is sized and shaped to substantially cover the front exposed surface of the backboard 16 when attached thereto. Accordingly, display panel 21 can have a truncated-crescent shape. 
     Display panel 21 is fixed to the backboard 16 simply by inserting the mounting pegs 24 in the corresponding mounting holes 23. It is removed simply by pulling it away from the backboard 16. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the headband kit will contain a plurality of display panels 21, 26, 27. The front display surface of the display panel can carry designs, such as a floral arrangement, animals, catch phrases, scenes or information such as the day of the week, a person&#39;s name, a cheerful salutation, or the like. As shown in FIG. 6, the display panel 21 is equipped with the mounting pegs 24 of sufficient number in order to assure that the display panel 21 will be securely affixed to the backboard 16. A display panel can be transparent except for the design thereon. 
     The headband kit can come in a packaged kit form, as shown in FIG. 7. A plurality of interchangeable display panels, for example, five or seven, are placed in a decorative packet 29. The headband base 11 and backboard 16 assembly, along with the packet 29, are placed in a larger and sturdier plastic bag 30. A paper or cardboard display piece 31 is fixed to the top of the bag as by gluing and folds over the top to facilitate hanging and advertising.