Abstract:
A linear hair fastening device with a loop at one end and a ball or cone shape at the other end. A small tab protrudes from the distal end of the loop. The ball/cone is inserted into the loop forming a circle. The apparatus can then be used in the same manner as a ponytail holder. The apparatus may then be removed from the hair by pulling on the tab at the end of the loop, pulling the loop over the ball/cone end, and returning the apparatus to linear form.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This Non-Provisional Patent Application claims priority to Provisional Patent U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/766,273, filed on Feb.  19, 2013, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and claims priority thereto.    
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to hair accessories and hair accessory devices. The present claimed invention relates to hair bands for securely holding a portion of hair without pulling or damaging hair. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Hair bands are traditionally rubber bands that are used to hold hair in place. Hair accessories are well known in the art and are available in a variety of fashions. Numerous devices have been developed to assist people in creating desirable hair arrangements. Depending on the occasion, it may be desirable to use a hair accessory to position the hair in a certain arrangement or to securely hold the hair off the shoulders or away from the face. Consequently, a wide variety of hair accessories are available to securely hold the hair and for decorative purposes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention addresses the above stated situation by providing an invention that is designed to allow easy removal of ponytail holder without causing any damage to the hair. Prior to this many ponytail holders claim to be easily removed without damaging the hair, but the catch and pull on hair causing pain and breakage of the hair. The invention provides a truly easily removable rubber band that unwinds from hair preventing any pulling or damage while still functioning as any other ponytail holder for placement and use. 
         [0005]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0006]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the hair band, shown in its environment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows the hair band of  FIG. 1 , shown in its relaxed form; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows the hair band of  FIG. 1 , shown in its engaged form. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible. 
         [0012]    Reference will now be made in detail to various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The following detailed description is presented for the purpose of describing certain embodiments in detail. The present invention may be further illustrated in the following figures, attention being called to the fact, however, that the embodiments described in the description and shown in the figures are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and that changes may be made in the specific constructions described in this specification and accompanying drawings that a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are within the scope and spirit of the invention. The true scope of the invention is defined by the claims. Further, any features of any embodiment described herein are equally applicable to any other embodiment described herein or envisioned by one of ordinary skill in the art. The detailed description and figures provided herein should not be construed to exclude features otherwise described with respect to another embodiment. 
         [0013]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , according to at least one aspect of the invention, there is shown hair band  10  for enclosing and fastening hair. In  FIG. 1 , the hair band  10  is shown in its environment. The hair band  10  is engaged and is holding hair in place in ponytail form. 
         [0014]    In  FIG. 2 , the hair band  10  is shown in an unengaged condition. 
         [0015]    Next, referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  shows the hair band  10  in its engaged condition. As used here a longitudinal body  14  means the long base of the hair band  10 . The longitudinal body  14  may have a first end and a second end. At one end of the longitudinal body  14 , there may be a loop  16  at the first end. The loop  16  may have a tab  18  attached. In relation to the first end, at the far end or distal end of the longitudinal body  14  may be a plug  12 . The plug  12  may be inserted into the loop  16 , this may allow hair to be retained between the loop  16  and the plug  12  along the longitudinal body  14 . 
         [0016]    As a non-limiting example, the plug  12  may be a cone. The cone may have a narrow end  22  and a thick end  24 . The thick end  24  may act as a barrier  26  once the loop  16  passes through and engages the thick end  24 . The cone would be threaded into the loop  16  while the longitudinal body  14  is being wrapped around hair. The narrow end  22  of the cone would be pushed into the loop  16  until the loop  16  expands to allow the cone to pass through. Once the cone passes the thick end  24  through the loop  16 , the loop  16  may take its original form thereby preventing the plug  12  from releasing. The barrier  26  would be larger than the loop  16  and would not be released. The loop  16  would engage the plug  12  and prevent it from releasing. This would allow the longitudinal body  14  to hold the hair and would be secured by the plug  12  that is engaged in the loop  16 . 
         [0017]    As a non-limiting example, the plug  12  may be a ball. The ball may be a round or circular object. The ball may act as a barrier once the loop  16  passes through and engages the ball. The ball would be threaded into the loop  16  while the longitudinal body  14  is being wrapped around hair. One end of the ball would be pushed into the loop  16  until the loop  16  expands to allow the ball to pass through. Once the ball passes one end through the loop  16 , the loop  16  may take its original form thereby preventing the plug  12  from releasing. The circumference of the ball would be larger than the loop  16  and would not be released. The loop  16  would engage the plug  12  and prevent it from releasing. This would allow the longitudinal body  14  to hold the hair and would be secured by the plug  12  that is engaged in the loop  16 . 
         [0018]    In another embodiment of the invention, the hair band  10  may be made of plastic or rubber. Plastic and rubber have an elastic quality about the material and would be able to stretch when needed to hold hair. Moreover, the loop  16  may require a elastic quality in order for the loop  16  to stretch. This is important because the loop  16  may need to stretch in order to allow for the plug  12  to pass through then the loop  16  may have to revert to its original form to prevent the plug  12  from falling off. Furthermore, the hair band  10  may have a fabric surface in order to prevent the hair to be pulled inadvertently. Other materials may have too much friction and as a result would pull or damage hair by pulling when applying or releasing. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment of the invention, the hair band  10  may have decorative shapes. As a non-limiting example, the hair band  10  may be in the shape of an insect, animal, flower, a heart or some other decorative shape. As another non-limiting example, the plug  12  may be in the shape of a sphere, a cube, a tubular shape, or pyramidal shape. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment of the invention, the hair band  10  may be used to fasten hair. The hair band  10  would include a longitudinal body  14 , a loop  16 , a tab  18 , and a plug  12 . The loop  16  may be slid over the plug  12  and on to the longitudinal body  14 . Once the loop  16  goes over the plug  12 , the loop  16  would retain its original shape and would prevent the plug  12  from falling off the hair band  10  by allowing the plug  12  to act as a barrier  26 . Moreover, the tab  18  may be pulled to release the plug  12  from the loop  16  in order to release the hair. The loop  16  would be stretched beyond the original shape and would allow the plug  12  to be released. As a non-limiting example, the plug  12  may be a cone or ball and would be thread through the loop  16 . As a non-limiting example, the hair band  10  may be in the shape of an insect, animal, flower, a heart or some other decorative shape. As another non-limiting example, the plug  12  may be in the shape of a sphere, a cube, a tubular shape, or pyramidal shape. 
         [0021]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.