Patent Abstract:
A hair accessory organizer for holding many different types of hair accessories. The hair accessory organizer is magnetized to hold hair accessories either wholly or partially made of metal. In addition, the hair accessory organizer holds non-metal hair bands and hair accessories. The hair accessory organizer is capable of resting on a countertop, in a drawer or hung on a wall or door. The hair accessory organizer has a curved top member that holds substantially “U” shaped hair bands both on its top surface, and on its bottom surface. Two rings allow for attachment sites of hair clips and hooks. The hooks provide attachment sites for elastic hair bands and the like.

Full Description:
[0001]    This is a divisional application claiming priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/413,184, filed Mar. 27, 2009 titled “Hair Accessory Holder and Organizer. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to hair accessories such as hair bands barrettes and hair clips, and more specifically, to an organizer or holder for storing and maintaining various types of hair accessories. The hair organizer of the present invention provides storage of metallic and non-metallic hair accessories, and can be placed on a countertop, in a drawer, or on a wall or door. Storage of the hair accessories allows for less clutter and more space in bathroom or bedroom drawers. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    There exists in the prior art hair accessory and bow organizers, jewelry containers and boxes, vanity racks and the like. Many of the prior art organizers have drawers and compartments, and contain several movable parts. These drawers and compartments hold excess hair accessories that otherwise are not accommodated on the organizer. As a result, elastic hair bands, barrettes and the like are thrown into these drawers, making a tangled mess of the hair accessories. 
         [0006]    Other organizers are equipped to handle a particular type of hair accessory such as a bow or a hair band, but are not versatile to accommodate several different types of hair accessories. Still other organizers are bulky and not stowable in a drawer or on a countertop without taking up substantial space. Other prior art organizers are not attachable to a wall or door. Some prior art organizers have multiple stackable parts such that a user must remove at least one stackable part to store a hair accessory. Other prior art organizers have elaborate storage spaces to store hair bands and the like with hinged doors to hide the storage spaces. 
         [0007]    Yet, none of the prior art devices provide a hair accessory organizer that is capable of holding and storing virtually every type of hair accessory and is easy to access and store such hair accessories without need of moving various parts, or open doors or drawers. Moreover, none of the prior art provides such a versatile organizer is easily stowable on a counter top, on a wall or door, or in a drawer. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention is different than the prior art. The hair accessory organizer of the present invention is designed to accept and hold any type of existing hair accessory available. Elastic hair bands, barrettes, hair clips, ponytail holders, bows, hair claws, and the like can easily be stored on the present invention without need for separate specially made compartments to store differing hair accessories. The preferred embodiment of the present invention rests on a vanity, a night stand, or a countertop. A base member is attached to a support member. The support member is a vertical elongated cylinder extending vertically from the base member. On the end of the vertical member opposite the base member, a first ring member is attached. The first ring member extends vertically upward away from the support member. 
         [0009]    A second ring member is spaced from the first ring member and attached thereto by a plurality of hanging members. The second ring member and first ring member are substantially parallel to one another. The hanging members are horizontally disposed between the first ring member and second ring member. The end portions of the hanging members are attached to the first ring member and second ring member thereby attaching the second ring member to the first ring member. 
         [0010]    The second ring member is further attached to the first ring member by a curved top member. The top member is curved downward at the appropriate curvature to receive a portion of the outer curved surfaces of the first ring member and second ring member. The top member is attached to the second ring member at an end portion such that the top member does not substantially extend beyond the second ring member. The top member extends between the first ring member and second ring member and is attached to the first ring member at an approximate middle portion of the top member relative to a longitudinal axis. Thereafter the top member extends outward, substantially horizontally from the first ring member. 
         [0011]    In an alternative embodiment, the base member of the hair accessory organizer has a vertical portion to receive a first end of the support member. The base member has a horizontal member perpendicular to the vertical portion and ends in an attaching portion. The attaching portion likewise is perpendicular to the vertical member, and provides an attachment site to allow the organizer to be attached to a wall or door. The support member extends vertically upward from the vertical portion of the base member, and attaches to the top member at the approximate middle portion thereof relative to the longitudinal axis. 
         [0012]    A ring member is substantially vertically oriented and spaced from the support member. The top member is attached to the ring member along an end portion of the top member. The top member extends substantially beyond the support member in the horizontal direction. However, the top member does not substantially extend beyond the ring member. A plurality of hooks are placed on the ring member and extend substantially toward the support member for hanging elastic hair bands and the like. 
         [0013]    In another alternative embodiment, the base member is elongated and has a first support rod, a second support rod and a third support rod thereon. All three support rods are spaced from one another and substantially perpendicular to the flat top surface of the base member. A first ring member is attached to the first support rod at the end opposite the base member, and extends upward away from the base member. Likewise, a second ring member is attached to the second support rod at the end opposite the base member and extends upward away from the base member. The first ring member and the second ring member are substantially parallel to one another. 
         [0014]    A plurality of hanging members extend between and attach to the first and second ring members. The hanging members are substantially horizontally oriented and substantially parallel to one another. A top member is attached to the first and second ring members, and extends outward from the first ring member. The first ring member is attached to the top member at the approximate middle portion thereof relative to the longitudinal axis. The second ring member is attached to an end portion of the top member, and the top member does not substantially extend beyond the second ring member. 
         [0015]    A hanging rod is perpendicularly attached to the third support rod and extends horizontally outward there from, away from the second support rod and second ring member. The hanging rod has a plurality of hooks disposed thereon for hanging elastic hair bands and the like. The base member can be hung on a wall or door such that the top member is oriented on the top portions of the first and second ring members. However, it is not absolutely necessary that this embodiment be hung on a door or wall. It is possible to simply place the organizer on a countertop. In such a situation, the top member would be oriented on a side portion of the first and second ring member. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, the organizer is designed to be placed on a countertop or in a drawer. The base member is substantially square or rectangular. First and second receiving members are disposed on and attached to the top surface of the base member, substantially opposed to one another such that the first and second receiving members curve such that their end portions are oriented toward the inner portion of the base member. A plurality of rods are disposed along a side adjacent the first and second receiving members. First and second hooks are disposed along the side opposite the plurality of rods, and are spaced from the first and second receiving member. First and second pins are disposed at two adjacent corners, respectively. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the hair accessory organizer of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the hair accessory organizer of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the hair accessory organizer of the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the hair accessory organizer of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The hair accessory organizer  10  has a base member  12 , a support member  14 , a first ring member  16 , a second ring member  18  and a top member  20 . Support member  14  is cylindrically shaped and elongated having a first end  14   a  and a second end  14   b . As shown, base member  12  is substantially circular. However, base member could be any suitable shape to support the hair accessory organizer  10  on a countertop, vanity, or on a shelf. First end  14   a  of support member  14  is attached to base member  12  at substantially the center portion of base member  12 . This allows for even weight distribution of the hair organizer  10  on the base member  12 . 
         [0022]    Support member  14  is perpendicular to base member  12  extends substantially vertically from base member  12 , terminating at second end  14   b . Although shown as being elongated and cylindrically shaped, support member  14  could be of any shape such as triangularly elongated or square shaped and elongated. A pair of hooks  22  are attached to an upper portion of support member  14 , just below second end  14   b . However, as discussed herein below, the hooks  22  could be placed on first ring member  16 , second ring member  18  or hanging members  24  alternatively, or in addition to being placed on support member  14 . A cap portion  26  is attached around the circumference of second end  14   b  and caps support member  14 . A receiving ball  28  is attached to cap portion  26  and extends vertically there from. A hole  30  extends through receiving ball  28 . 
         [0023]    First ring member  16  is disposed adjacent the second end  14   b  of support member  14 . A lower portion of first ring member  16  is disposed through hole  30  of receiving ball  28 . Although shown and described as being attached to support member  14  via receiving ball  28 , any suitable attachment could be used to attach first ring member  16  to support member  14 . Moreover, a hole could be placed through support member  14  along second end  14   b  for first ring member  16  to pass there through, thereby eliminating the need for cap portion  26  and receiving ball  28 , or any other attachment, altogether. First ring member  16  extends substantially vertically upward from support member  14 . 
         [0024]    Second ring member  18  is spaced from first ring member  16  and attached to first ring member  16  via a plurality of hanging members  24 . Hanging members  24  are disposed between first ring member  16  and second ring member  18 , and attach to first ring member  16  and second ring member  18  along the end portions of hanging members  24 , thereby attaching the lower portion of second ring member  18  to first ring member  16 . Although shown as having two hanging members  24 , hair accessory organizer  10  could have more than two hanging members  24  between first ring member  16  and second ring member  18 . Moreover, as previously discussed, although hooks  22  are shown as fixedly attached to support member  14 , it is possible to add hooks  22  to first ring member  16 , second ring member  18  or hanging members  24 . Moreover, hooks  22  could be “S”-shaped hooks that can be movably attached to first ring member  16 , second ring member  18  or hanging members  24 . 
         [0025]    Top member  20  is generally curved downward and is of a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of top portions of first ring member  16  and second ring member  18 . One end portion of top member  20  is formed to receive a top portion of second ring member  18 . Likewise, top member  20  is formed at approximately the middle portion relative to the longitudinal axis of the top member  20  to receive a top portion of first ring member  16 . From first ring  16 , top member  20  extends horizontally outward, away from first ring member  16 . While top member  20  is shown and described as being of the appropriate curvature to receive first ring member  16  and second ring member  18 , it should be readily appreciated that the curvature of top member  20  is also appropriate to receive a typical substantially “U” shaped head band (not shown). 
         [0026]    Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, top member  20  is made of a magnetized metal material. Magnetizing top member  20  allows for secure placement of metal or partially metal hair bands on the top surface of top member  20 . Furthermore, metal or partially metal hair band may be placed on the underside of top member  20  and suspended thereto due to the magnetic property of top member  20 . The formed portions of top member  20  which receive first ring member  16  and second ring member  18  further provide stops for non-metal hair bands so that such hair bands do not readily slide off of top member  20  during movement from one location of the countertop to another location of the countertop. Furthermore, base member  12  can also be made of a magnetized metal to allow smaller metal barrettes and bobby pins to be magnetically secured thereto. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an alternative embodiment of the hair accessory organizer  100  is disclosed. Base member  112  of hair accessory organizer  100  is designed to be hung on a wall or a door. Base member  112  can be secured directly to the wall or door by inserting attaching devices such as nails or screws (not shown) through two apertures (not shown) in base member  112 . Alternatively, base member  112  can be attached to a wall or door by attaching a holding bracket (not shown) to the wall or door with a nail or screw (not shown) and attaching base member  112  to the holding bracket and securing thereto by tightening a small securing screw (not shown) which is disposed on an outer rim of base member  112  and oriented to tighten inward toward the center of the circular part of base member  112  to grip base member  112  to the holding bracket in the same manner that a typical towel rod is attached to a wall. 
         [0028]    Base member  112  has a horizontal member  116  perpendicularly attached to base member  112  and extending substantially horizontally outward. A vertical member  124  is perpendicularly attached to the horizontal member  116  and extends vertically upward. Vertical member is cylindrically shaped and open on the upper end to receive first end  114   a  of support member  114 . Support member  114  is inserted into the upper end of vertical member  124  and attached thereto. Top member  120  is attached directly to the second end of support member  114  opposite first end  114   a . Top member  120  is attached to support member  114  at the approximate middle portion relative to the longitudinal axis of top member  120 . 
         [0029]    A ring member  118  is disposed adjacent top member  120 . An end portion of top member  120  is formed to receive a top portion of ring member  118 . Like top member  20  in the preferred embodiment, top member  120  is generally curved downward and is of a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of the top portion of ring member  118 . A plurality of hooks  122  are attached to ring member  118  and extend inwardly toward support member  114 . However, hooks  122  could be oriented to extend outward, away from support member  114 . Like the preferred embodiment, top member  120  is made of a magnetized metal to magnetically attract metal hair bands or metal portions of hair bands either on top member&#39;s top surface or bottom surface, thereby magnetically securing the hair band to top member  120 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , it is contemplated that base member  112  of the embodiment in  FIG. 2  could replace base member  12  in  FIG. 1 , thereby allowing the hair accessory organizer  10  to be secured to a wall or door. Likewise, base member  12  could replace base member  112  in  FIG. 2  to allow the hair accessory organizer  100  to be placed on a countertop. Moreover, rather than attaching directly to top member  120 , support member  114  could have an additional ring member attached to the end opposite first end  114   a , which then attaches to top member  120 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , another embodiment of the hair accessory organizer  200  of the present invention is disclosed. The hair accessory organizer  200  has an elongated, generally rectangular base member  212 . Base member  212  can be placed on a countertop or hung on a wall or door in the same manners described hereinabove with regard to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0032]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , a first support rod  214 , a second support rod  226  and a third support rod  228  are spaced from one another and perpendicularly attached to base member  212 . First ring member  216  is attached to an end portion of first rod member  214  opposite base member  212 , and extends vertically upward there from. Second ring member  218  likewise is attached to an end portion of second rod member  226  opposite base member  212 , and extends vertically upward there from. A plurality of hanging members  24  are substantially horizontally disposed between first ring member  216  and second ring member  218 , and are attached at their end portions to first ring member  216  and second ring member  218 . 
         [0033]    A top member  220  is attached to top portions of first ring member  216  and second ring member  218 . Top member  220  is generally curved downward and is of a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of top portions of first ring member  216  and second ring member  218 . One end portion of top member  220  is formed to receive a top portion of second ring member  218 . Likewise, top member  220  is formed at approximately the middle portion relative to the longitudinal axis of the top member  220  to receive a top portion of first ring member  216 . From first ring member  216 , top member  220  extends horizontally outward, away from first ring member  216 . It should be readily understood that when base member is attached to a wall or door, top member  220  will be oriented along top portions of first ring member  216  and second ring member  218 . However, if placed on a countertop, top member  220  will be disposed sideways, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Because top member  220  is made of a magnetized metal, the orientation of top member  220  will not affect the ability of top member  220  to hold metal hair bands or metal parts of hair bands, regardless of whether the hair accessory organizer  200  is placed on a countertop or hung on a wall or door. 
         [0034]    A hanging rod  230  is perpendicularly attached to third support rod  228 , and extends substantially horizontally away from second ring member  218 . Hanging rod  230  provides an attachment site for hair clips and the like. Furthermore, a plurality of hooks  222  are disposed along hanging rod  230  to attach elastic hair bands and the like. It is further disclosed that hanging rod  230  and/or base member  212  can be made of magnetized metal to hold barrettes, bobby pins, and other metallic or partially metallic hair accessories. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of the hair accessory organizer  300  is disclosed. Hair accessory organizer  300  is designed to be placed on a countertop or in a drawer. Hair accessory organizer  300  has a substantially rectangular or square base member  312  with a first side  314 , a second side  316  parallel and opposite the first side  14 , a third side  318  adjacent the first side  314  and second side  316 , and a fourth side  320  opposite third side  318 . A first receiving member  324  is disposed along first side  314  and curves toward the middle of base member  312 . A second receiving member  322  is disposed along second side  316  and curves toward the middle of base member  312 . As shown, first receiving member  324  and second receiving member  322  are opposite one another, but staggered so that “U” shaped hair bands can be placed on each receiving member  322  and  324  such that the ends of hair bands on opposing receiving members  322  and  324  do not touch one another. However, first receiving member  324  and second receiving member  322  could be directly opposite one another. 
         [0036]    First receiving member  324  and second receiving member  322  are made of magnetized metal so that metallic hair bands are magnetically secured thereto to prevent movement or disengagement from receiving members  322  and  324 . A plurality of rods  330  are disposed along fourth side  320 . Preferably there are more than two rods  330  along fourth side  320  such that the distance between rods  330  is minimal. In this manner, smaller elastic hair bands (not shown) can be stored on the hair accessory organizer  300  by hooking the smaller elastic hair bands on consecutive rods  330  without over stretching the smaller elastic hair bands. Moreover, the plurality of rods  330  could be placed along third side  318 , in which case hooks  326  and pins  328  would be located along fourth side  320 . 
         [0037]    Hooks  326  are disposed spaced from first receiving member  324  and second receiving member  322  along first side  314  and second side  316 . Hooks  326  provide attachment sits for longer elastic hair bands (not shown) in the same manner as hanging the smaller hair bands as previously described. Pins  328  are disposed at the corners of base member  312  formed by first side  314  and third side  318 , and second side  316  and third side  318 , respectively. Pins  328  provide another attachment site for longer elastic hair bands. Furthermore, pins  328  provide an attachment site for hair clips. It is further contemplated that any or all of pins  328 , hooks  326  and rods  330  could be made of magnetized metal to magnetically attach hair accessories either wholly or partially made of metal. Moreover, the entire base member  312  could be made of magnetized metal so that the entire surface of base member  312  could be used to store such hair accessories. 
         [0038]    Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0