Abstract:
A hair accessory made to increase the body and fullness of a ponytail or pig tails. The hair accessory includes a hinged pair of first and second portions movable between an open position and a closed position, each portion having a hinged end and an opposite end, inward facing teeth, and at least one fastener for releasably fastening the portions in the closed position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field) 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to hair accessories and more specifically to accessories that increase the fullness and volume of a ponytail and pigtails. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Out of the multitudes of hairstyles that have become popular over time, the “ponytail” has remained one of the most popular in one form or another over the years. Formed by gathering together all of a person&#39;s hair and securing the gathered strands with an elastic band, the ponytail is the basis of many different hairstyles. A basic ponytail hairstyle is easy to create and is popular among persons of all ages. Various devices have been proposed which seek to enhance the appearance or wearability of the ponytail for the user. However, many of these devices are complicated or do not achieve the fullness of a ponytail that the present invention achieves. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment of the present invention comprises an apparatus for adding fullness to a ponytail including a hinged pair of first and second portions movable between an open position and a closed position, each portion having a hinged end and an opposite end, inward facing teeth, and at least one fastener, located at the opposite ends of said portions, for releasably fastening said portions in the closed position. This embodiment can optionally include a center channel located around the circumference of said first and second portions and a hair tie band. The embodiment can further include a groove located around at least a portion of the outside circumference of said first and/or second portions. In one alternative embodiment, the apparatus comprises a second portion that is wider than the first portion. The embodiment can also optionally include a hood, wherein the hood extends out from said first portion. 
     In alternative embodiments of the present invention the first portion and the second portion are circular when fastened. Or alternatively, the first portion and the second portion are oval when fastened. Or the first portion and second portion are egg-shaped when fastened. Finally, the first portion and said second portion can optionally form a star shape when fastened. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus can include a button for securing hair into a bun. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of enhancing the fullness of a ponytail. The method comprises positioning a hinged pair of first and second portions movable between an open position and a closed position, each portion having a hinged end and an opposite end and inward facing teeth around a portion of hair, fastening the hinged pair of first and second portions around the portion of hair using a fastener, located at the opposite ends of the portions for releasably fastening the portions in a closed position, gathering the remaining hair around the closed hinged pair of first and second portions, positioning a hair tie band over the closed first and second portions, and inserting the hair tie band over the gathered hair in a center channel on the outside of the first and second portions adding fullness to the ponytail. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the method additionally includes allowing the outside portion of hair to fall over a hood attached to the first portion. The second portion can optionally be wider than the first portion. The method can further include securing hair into a bun using a button. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus adds volume to a ponytail and includes a first portion openly attachable to a second portion, at least one fastener, a center channel located around the circumference of said first and second portions, and a hair tie band. The apparatus can optionally comprise inward facing teeth and/or a hood wherein the hood extends out from the first portion. The apparatus can also optionally have portions that are interconnected without fasteners. Finally, the apparatus can include a plurality of outside grooves located around at least a portion of the outside circumference of the first and/or second portions. 
     Objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIGS. 1A-1C  are embodiments of the present invention illustrating a two curved portion design with a hinge, outside grooves and inward facing teeth; 
         FIG. 2  is another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a two curved portion design as two separate pieces not connected by a hinge; 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention wherein one of the curved portions is thicker then the other one for added fullness of the ponytail; 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention wherein a hood is attached to one of the curved portions to give the ponytail lift; 
         FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate several embodiments of the present invention in varying shapes and sizes; and 
         FIGS. 6A-6B  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention wherein a button is used to secure the ponytail into a bun. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As used throughout this specification and claims, ponytail is defined as a hairstyle in which multiple strands of hair on the head is pulled away from the face, gathered and secured at the back of the head with a hair tie, clip or similar device. If the hair is divided so that it hangs in two or more sections, those are pigtails. When used in this specification, ponytail also refers to pigtails. 
     As used throughout the specification and claims, a bun is a type of hairstyle where the hair is pulled back from the face in a ponytail and wrapped in a circular coil around itself, typically on the back of the head or neck. Buns may be tightly gathered or slightly messier and more informal. As used throughout the specification and claims, “a” means one or more. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , hair accessory apparatus  10  comprises first portion  12  and second portion  16  both with outside grooves  14  and outside center channel  20 . Hair accessory apparatus  10  further comprises hinge  24 , fastener  26  and inward facing teeth  28 . A user preferably separates first curved portion  12  from second curved portion  16  at hinge  24  to receive a portion of hair through portions  12  and  16 . After a portion of hair is threaded through portions  12  and  16 , a user closes hinge  24  bringing portions  12  and  16  together fastening them using fastener  26 . Inward facing teeth  28  hold the threaded hair in place. The selected remaining hair is gathered around the outside of hair accessory apparatus  10 . Hair tie band  30  is wrapped around the gathered hair and rests into center channel  20 . Gathered hair then falls around hair accessory apparatus  10  and into outside grooves  14  increasing the volume and fullness of the hair.  FIG. 1C  illustrates a side profile of an embodiment of the present invention, where first portion  12  and second portion  16  are equal thicknesses. 
     Outside grooves  14  can optionally vary in width and depth depending on the thickness and amount of a user&#39;s hair and ponytail.  FIG. 1B  illustrates an embodiment comprising varying depths of outside grooves  14 . In this embodiment, a user with very thick strands of hair would get the most fullness with wider and deeper outside grooves  14  for the hair to fall into, while a user with very thin strands of hair or with not a lot of hair would get the most fullness and also hide the invention in the user&#39;s hair with narrower and shallower grooves. In a non-limiting embodiment, outside grooves  14  are preferably deeper on one side of center channel  20  allowing the gathered hair to go up and over deeper outside grooves  14  adding additional height to the ponytail. Outside grooves  14  can also optionally go partially around first and/or second portions  12  and  16  as illustrated in  FIG. 5B  or not be included at all, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5C . The distance between inward facing teeth  28  and outside grooves  14  can preferably vary since outside grooves  14  can be shallow and/or deep. 
     Hair tie band  30  can include, but is not limited to, elastic hair ties, ribbons, leather bands, decorative hair ties and any combination thereof. Decorative hair ties can comprise decorative accessories that can include but are not limited to beads, charms, shells, silver and/or gold dangles, pearls, gems, jewels, ribbons, glitter, sparkles and any combination thereof. 
     Hair accessory apparatus  10  can optionally vary in width. For example, the width of the outside circumference can be greater than or less than the width of the inside circumference of hair accessory apparatus  10 . In other words, hair accessory apparatus  10  can be thick around the outside circumference and become thinner towards the center. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, inward facing teeth  28  vary in length to either enlarge or reduce the open space in the center of apparatus  10 . For thinner hair strands or when there is not a lot of hair to fasten, longer inward facing teeth  28  is preferable. For thick hair strands or a large volume of hair, shorter inward facing teeth  28  is preferable. Inward facing teeth  28  can optionally reside on only one portion  12  or  16 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5B , or there can be no inward facing teeth  28 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5C . Moreover, inward facing teeth  28  can have different shapes, including but not limited to, being pointed at the end, rounded at the end or squared off at the end; inward facing teeth  28  can also optionally intermesh or not. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIG. 2 , first curved  12  and second portion  16  are separate pieces, not having hinge  24 . In this embodiment, first portion  12  and second portion  16  fasten around a portion of hair with fasteners  26  and  34 . Fasteners  26  and  34  can include, but are not limited to, clips, snaps, buttons, and any combination thereof. In a further embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5D , hair accessory  10  can be made as one piece not including fasteners  26  and  34  or hinge  24 . 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the bottom portion of second portion  16  is wider than the bottom portion of first portion  12 . First portion  12  is placed against a user&#39;s head while the wider portion of second portion  16  is directed to the bottom of a user&#39;s head where the wider portion is located between the selected portion of hair and elastic band  30 . This allows the hair to fall at a greater distance from the head further increasing the look of fullness of the ponytail. 
     In a further embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , apparatus  10  further comprises hood  32  that attaches to first portion  12  to allow the hair to go up and over hood  32 . Hood  32  increases the height of the ponytail and further increases the look of fullness.  FIG. 4B  in a side perspective of apparatus  10  comprising hood  32 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate additional embodiments of the present invention. In  FIGS. 5A-5D , apparatus  10  can preferably vary in size and shape including but not limited to circular, oval, elliptical, egg-shaped, star shaped or any combination thereof. Further,  FIGS. 5A and 5D  illustrate an embodiment of the present invention wherein apparatus  10  is a one-piece apparatus with no portions  12  or  16 , and no fasteners  26  or  34  or hinge  24 .  FIG. 5B  illustrates apparatus  10  with inward facing teeth  28  on one only portion  12  or  16  and outside grooves  14  on only one portion  12  or  16 .  FIG. 5B  also comprises hinge  24  and fastener  26 .  FIG. 5C  illustrates apparatus  10  with no outside grooves  14  and no inward facing teeth  28 , but does comprise hinge  24  and fastener  26 . 
     In another embodiment, the width of first portion  12  and second curved portion  16  can vary according to the thickness of the user&#39;s hair. For example, users with very thick hair may need both first portion  12  and second portion  16  to be wide while users with very thin hair prefer first portion  12  to be narrow in order to ensure apparatus  10  does not poke through the hair and thus become visible, and second portion  16  to be wider in order to increase the fullness of the ponytail. 
     In yet another embodiment and as illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , apparatus  10  additionally comprises button  50 . Button  50  is preferably used to secure a user&#39;s hair inside apparatus  10  forming a loose bun. In this embodiment, apparatus  10  secures a user&#39;s hair into a ponytail, as described in previous embodiments. Then the ends of the hair are gathered and placed inside apparatus  10 , and button  50  is then used to secure the hair between the inner circumference of apparatus  10  and the outside of button  50 . 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference.