Patent Publication Number: US-10758021-B2

Title: Volume enhancing hair device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hair may be styled into several forms by an individual. Often it is desirous to maximize the volume of the Individual&#39;s chosen hair style to project an image of healthy hair. However, the hair of some individuals is not naturally voluminous and generally lays flat regardless of the chosen hair style. It would be advantageous to provide a device that artificially increases the volume of a chosen hair style. It would further be advantageous to provide such a device that achieves this end in a structurally and functionally simple manner. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In some embodiments, a device is provided comprising a comb element; a coupling joint attached to a first end of the comb element; a clasping mechanism coupled to at least one of the comb element and the coupling joint; and one or more elastic bands coupled to the coupling joint. 
     In some embodiments, the comb element comprises a base disposed at the first end and one or more elongate teeth extending from the base element. 
     In some embodiments, the coupling joint is rotatably attached to the first end of the comb element and swivels about an axis perpendicular to the first end of the comb element. 
     In some embodiments, the one or more elastic bands are removably coupled to the coupling joint via an apertured clasp. 
     In some embodiments, the clasping mechanism is coupled to at least one of the comb element and the coupling joint via at least one of: an elastic coupling, a magnetic coupling, and a hinge. 
     In some embodiments, the clasping mechanism comprises a clasp attached to a base coupling and the clasp secures hair to the base coupling via at least one of: the elastic coupling, the magnetic coupling, and the hinge. 
     In some embodiments, the comb element is secured in a position within a head of hair by the clasp attaching to the base coupling. 
     In some embodiments, the elastic coupling is visibly transparent. 
     In some embodiments, the clasping mechanism secures hair to the comb element. 
     In some embodiments, the one or more elastic bands wrap around a first portion of a head of hair to form a pony tail. 
     In some embodiments, the comb element is secured in a position within a second portion of the head of hair by the clasping mechanism. 
     In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second portions of the head of hair exhibits a higher level of volume relative the remainder of the head of hair. 
     In some embodiments, a method is provided comprising wrapping one or more elastic bands around a first portion of a head of hair; inserting a comb element at a position within a second portion of the head of hair; and securing the second portion of the head of hair to the comb element at the position with a clasping mechanism. 
     In some embodiments, securing the second portion of the head of hair to the comb element at the position with the clasping mechanism comprises coupling a clasp to a base coupling. 
     In some embodiments, the method comprises securing the first portion of the head of hair via the clasp to the base coupling via at least one of: an elastic coupling, a magnetic coupling, and a hinge. 
     In some embodiments, the method comprises rotatably attaching a coupling joint to a base of the comb element, and removably coupling the one or more elastic bands to the coupling joint. 
     In some embodiments, a device is provided comprising a comb element; a coupling joint attached to a first end of the comb element; a clasping mechanism coupled to at least one of the comb element and the coupling joint; and one or more elastic bands coupled to the coupling joint, wherein the one or more elastic bands are wrapped around a first portion of a head of hair, the comb element is inserted at a position within a second portion of the head of hair, and the second portion of the head of hair is secured to the comb element at the position using the clasping mechanism. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are top views of respective hair devices in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a comb element of  FIG. 1B  in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a coupling joint of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of a method of using the hair device of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before describing the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any one of the particular embodiments, which of course may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and therefore is not necessarily intended to be limiting. As used in this specification and the appended claims, terms in the singular and the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a hair device,” also includes a plurality of hair devices, and the like. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying figures. As shown in  FIG. 1A , a hair device  100  is primarily comprised of a comb element  120 , a coupling joint  140 , an elastic band  160  and a hair clasp  180 . Each of the comb element  120 , the coupling joint  140 , the elastic band  160  and the hair clasp  180  are operably coupled together. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , the comb element  120  comprises a plurality of elongate teeth  122  and a base  124 , where the plurality of elongate teeth  122  extend from the base  124 . The coupling joint  140  is attached at a first end of the comb element  120  adjacent the base  124 . The coupling joint  140  may be permanently or semi-permanently and rotatably coupled to base  124  of comb element  120  via one or more of a rivet, a bearing, an adhesive, male and female fastening joints, snap and release mechanisms and other similar coupling elements. Further, the comb element  120  may take the form of a hair comb, a bridal comb, a banana clip, a jaws clip or other similarly structured comb elements. 
     As described in further detail in  FIG. 3 , the elastic band  160  may be secured in an aperture  142  of the coupling joint  140  by a releasable clasp  146  attached to a base  144  of coupling joint  140 . Further, a base attachment  182  of the hair clasp  180  may also be secured in the aperture  142  by the releasable clasp  146 . In this case, the base attachment  182  may take the form of an elastic coupling that is visibly transparent in order to hide the existence of the attachment  182  in the hair. In this embodiment, the hair clasp  180  is preferably a bobby pin or other similarly structured hair clip. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates a derivative embodiment of the present invention in the form of hair device  200  which comprises modified compatible features from hair device  100  of  FIG. 1A . In this embodiment, a hair clasp  280  comprises a base attachment  282  and a releasable clasp  284  which collectively attach directly to the base  124  of the comb element  120 . Base attachment  282  may be permanently or semi-permanently coupled to base  124  of comb element  120 . Releasable clasp  284  may be releasably coupled to base attachment  282 . In some embodiments, releasable clasp  284  may be coupled to base attachment  282  via a magnetic and/or mechanical coupling. In some embodiments, base attachment  282  and releasable clasp  284  may comprise or be compatible with one or more magnets, one or more hinges, hook and loop fasteners, raised c-clips, indented slots and other snap and release configurations that allow for releasable clasp  284  to be releasably coupled to base attachment  282 . In some embodiments, releasable clasp  284  may take the form of a magnetically-attractive elongate bar, a bobby pin or other similarly structured hair clip. 
     Hair clasp  280  is shown in  FIG. 2  to be directly coupled to the base  124  of the comb element  120 . Specifically, base attachment  282  of clasp  280  is shown to be disposed on a bottom side of base  124  and to magnetically couple to a releasable clasp  284 . Alternatively, base attachment  282  may be disposed on a top side of base  124  and may couple to releasable clasp  284  in a magnetic and/or mechanical manner using, for example, one or more magnets, one or more hinges, hook and loop fasteners, raised c-clips, indented slots and other similarly structured snap and release configurations. 
       FIG. 3  depicts the coupling joint  140  of  FIGS. 1A-1B &amp; 2  in detail. Similar to  FIGS. 1A-1B &amp; 2 , the coupling joint  140  comprises the aperture  142 , base  144  and releasable clasp  146 . The base  144  further comprises upper base portion  144   a  and lower base portion  144   b  and may be constructed to rotate about an axis  148  to allow for elastic band  160  to be oriented in any manner without twisting of the band  160  itself. Releasable clasp  146  releasably secures upper and lower base portions  144   a ,  144   b  together to maintain the elastic band  160  within the aperture  142  of the coupling joint  140 . Further, releasable clasp  146  may be unclasped to allow separation of upper base portion  144   a  from lower base portion  144   b  in the event it is desired to insert or replace the elastic band  160 . Separation of upper base portion  144   a  from lower base portion  144   b  may be achieved in a hinged manner where the hinge coupled the base portions together at an end opposite that of releasable clasp  146 . Alternatively, multiple releasable clasps  146  may be utilized at opposite sides of the coupling surface of upper and lower base portions  144   a ,  144   b  to secure and separate the base portions. In other embodiments, coupling joint  140  may utilize other forms of snap and release or clasp and release coupling arrangements to selectively couple the elastic band  160  within the aperture  142 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flow diagram of process  400  for using the hair devices  100 ,  200  of  FIGS. 1A-1B &amp; 2 , respectively. In step  410 , a user of the hair device wraps the elastic band  160  around a first portion of hair which forms a first hair style. The first hair style may be a pony tail, a braid or other similarly formed style. In step  420 , the user places the comb element  120  in a second portion of hair. Comb element  120  is inserted in the second portion of hair such that the elongate teeth  122  comprise the second portion of hair therebetween. 
     In step  430 , the user secures hair to the base  124  of the comb element  120  using a hair clasp. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1A , the hair clasp  180  itself secures hair to the base  124  and is coupled to the coupling joint  140  via the base attachment  182 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1B , step  430  involves the user securing hair to the base  124  using hair clasp  280 . Hair clasp  280  utilizes the releasable clasp  284  to secure hair to the base  124  and is coupled to the comb element  120  via base attachment  282  which may comprise or be compatible with one or more magnets, one or more hinges, hook and loop fasteners, raised c-dips, indented slots and other snap and release configurations. 
     One object of process  400  is to increase the visual volume of the second portion of hair. Another object of process  400  is to increase the vertical orientation of the first portion of hair so that it is closer in alignment with a vertical axis of the user. Increasing the visual volume of the second portion of hair and the vertical orientation of the first portion of hair gives the perception that the user&#39;s hair strands are thicker, that the follicles are more densely populated and that the user more generally has a healthier head of hair. 
     It is further contemplated that the user of the hair device and process of using the hair device of the present invention could be an end consumer or a hair stylist styling the hair of the end consumer. When the hair device is being used by the end consumer, the object of end consumer use may be to increase the volume of the end consumer&#39;s chosen hair style. When the hair device is being used by the hair stylist, the object of hair stylist use may be to maintain end consumer&#39;s hair at a desired level of volume in order to execute a desired hair styling upon the end consumer&#39;s hair. 
     It is further contemplated that the hair device of some embodiments may comprise multiple comb elements, coupling joints, elastic bands and hair clasps along with the respective associated subcomponents described above. The comb element may comprise a plurality of gripping structures thereon which are shaped to grip strands of hair and may generally take the form of a hook shape to achieve that end. In some examples, gripping structures may take the form of hook and loop fasteners for hair or other similarly structured hook-shaped elements for gripping strands of hair. 
     It is further contemplated that the comb element, the coupling joint and the hair clasp may be formed as a unitary structure or as discrete elements. Further, the comb element, the coupling joint and the hair clasp may be formed of a rigid material such as one or more of metals or polymeric materials. In some embodiments, the elastic band and base attachment may be formed of elastomeric materials. 
     While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be clear to one skilled in the art from a reading of this disclosure that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention. For example, all the techniques and apparatuses described in the above embodiments may be used in various combinations.