U.S. patent application number 12/858518 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-23 for hair holder.
Invention is credited to Shih-Ling Hsu.
Application Number | 20120042895 12/858518 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45593072 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120042895 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu; Shih-Ling |
February 23, 2012 |
Hair Holder
Abstract
A hair holder includes an engaging member having inner and outer
surfaces spaced in a thickness direction. The engaging member
further includes a pin extending from the inner surface thereof in
the thickness direction and can be inserted into a hair tuft of a
user. The engaging member further includes an engaging portion
formed on the inner surface thereof and spaced from the pin. A
circular elastic band is extended through the engaging portion of
the engaging member and adapted for encircling and holding the hair
tuft. An ornament is attached to the outer surface of the engaging
member for decorative purposes.
Inventors: |
Hsu; Shih-Ling; (Tainan
City, TW) |
Family ID: |
45593072 |
Appl. No.: |
12/858518 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/275 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 8/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/275 |
International
Class: |
A45D 8/36 20060101
A45D008/36 |
Claims
1. A hair holder comprising, in combination: an engaging member
including inner and outer surfaces spaced in a thickness direction,
with the engaging member further including a pin extending from the
inner surface of the engaging member in the thickness direction and
adapted to be engaged in a hair tuft of a user, with the engaging
member further including an engaging portion formed on the inner
surface of the engaging member and spaced from the pin; a circular
elastic band extending through the engaging portion of the engaging
member and adapted for encircling and holding the hair tuft; and a
decorative ornament attached to the outer surface of the engaging
member.
2. The hair holder according to claim 1, with the engaging portion
of the engaging member including a through-hole, and with the
circular elastic band extending through the through-hole of the
engaging portion such that the engaging member is moveable relative
to the circular elastic band in a circumferential direction of the
circular elastic.
3. The hair holder according to claim 2, with the pin of the
engaging member including a distal end and at least one annular
groove formed on an outer periphery of the pin and intermediate the
inner surface of the engaging member and the distal end in an axial
direction of the pin.
4. The hair holder according to claim 3, with the decorative
ornament being integrally formed with the engaging member as a
single member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a hair holder and, more
particularly, to a decorative hair holder for ponytails.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventional hair holders for ponytails generally include an
elastic band in a circular form for encircling and holding hair in
a tight ponytail. An ornament is attached to the elastic band for
decorating the hair holder. However, the hair holders are prone to
slip when the users are engaged in athletics or recreational
activities, requiring constant readjustments to move the hair
holders back into place or to tighten it. Furthermore, the position
of the ornament relative to the elastic band can not be easily
adjusted to enhance the appearance of the user.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to
overcome the aforementioned shortcoming and deficiency of the prior
art by providing a hair holder that can adequately hold a ponytail
of a user when the user is engaged in an athletic or recreational
activity while allowing easy adjusting of a decorative ornament on
the ponytail.
[0006] To achieve the foregoing objective, a hair holder of the
present invention includes an engaging member, a circular elastic
band, and a decorative ornament. The engaging member includes inner
and outer surfaces spaced in a thickness direction. The engaging
member further includes a pin extending from the inner surface of
the engaging member in the thickness direction and adapted to be
inserted in a hair tuft of a user. The engaging member further
includes an engaging portion formed on the inner surface of the
engaging member and spaced from the pin. The circular elastic band
extends through the engaging portion of the engaging member and is
adapted for encircling and holding the hair tuft. The decorative
ornament is attached to the outer surface of the engaging member
for decorative purposes.
[0007] In a preferred form, the engaging portion of the engaging
member includes a through-hole through which the circular elastic
band is extended such that the engaging member is moveable relative
to the circular elastic band in a circumferential direction of the
circular elastic.
[0008] In a preferred form, the pin of the engaging member includes
a distal end and at least one annular groove on an outer periphery
of the pin and intermediate the inner surface of the engaging
member and the distal end in an axial direction of the pin.
[0009] The present invention will become clearer in light of the
following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this
invention described in connection with the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The illustrative embodiments may best be described by
reference to the accompanying drawings where:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair holder according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the hair holder of
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the hair holder of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 shows an exploded, perspective view of the hair
holder of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 5 shows the hair holder of FIG. 1 in use on a ponytail
of a user, with a circular elastic band of the hair holder
encircling around the ponytail, a pin of the hair holder inserted
in the ponytail, and a decorative ornament located on the ponytail;
and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hair holder according to
another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] A hair holder of a first embodiment of the present invention
is shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings and generally
designated 10. The hair holder 10 includes an engaging member 12, a
circular elastic band 14, and a decorative ornament 16. The hair
holder 10 can be used as a stylish hair accessory for encircling
and holding a hair tuft such as a ponytail 18 of a user 20 (see
FIG. 5).
[0018] According to the preferred form shown, the engaging member
12 is a planar plate and includes inner and outer surfaces 22 and
24 spaced in a thickness direction of the plate. A pin 26 extends
from the inner surface 22 of the engaging member 12 in the
thickness direction and includes a beaded distal end 28 by which
the pin 26 is adapted to be inserted into the ponytail 18 of the
user 20. Several spaced, annular grooves 30 are provided in an
outer periphery 32 of the pin 26 for griping by the ponytail 18.
The grooves 30 are intermediate the inner surface 22 of the
engaging member 12 and the distal end 28 in an axial direction of
the pin 26. A ring-shaped engaging portion 34 with a through-hole
36 is provided on the inner surface 22 of the engaging member 12
and spaced from the pin 26.
[0019] According to the preferred form shown, the circular elastic
band 14 is a rubber band and extends through the through-hole 36 of
the engaging portion 34 of the engaging member 12 such that the
engaging member 12 is moveable relative to the circular elastic
band 14 in a circumferential direction of the circular elastic band
14. Two ends 37 of the circular elastic band 14 are combined
together after the circular elastic band 14 extends through the
through-hole 36 of the engaging portion 34. The circular elastic
band 14 with elasticity can stretch around the ponytail 18 of user
20 and then apply a constricting tension to hold the ponytail 18 in
place.
[0020] According to the preferred form shown, the decorative
ornament 16 is a plastic plate having a flower-shaped configuration
and having a decorative design 38 on an outer face 40 thereof. The
decorative ornament 16 may be attached to the outer surface 24 of
the engaging member 12 by adhesives, sonic welding, or conventional
engagement methods. In another preferred form, the decorative
ornament 16 is integrally formed with the engaging member 12 as a
single member.
[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates the hair holder 10 in use holding the
ponytail 18 of user 20. The circular elastic band 14 is tensioned
around the ponytail 18 by inserting the ponytail 18 through the
circular elastic band 14 and twisting the circular elastic band 14.
Once the circular elastic band 14 encircles and holds around the
ponytail 18, the pin 26 is engaged in the ponytail 18 with the
distal end 28 inserted into the ponytail 18 and with the annular
grooves 30 gripped by the ponytail 18. The pin 26 ensures that the
hair holder 10 will remain secure without requiring frequent
readjustments during athletics or recreational activities. After
the hair holder 10 is properly positioned on the ponytail 18, the
decorative ornament 16 is located on the ponytail 18, and the
decorative design 38 on the outer face 40 of the decorative
ornament 16 faces outwardly from the ponytail 18, exhibiting an
aesthetically attractive appearance. Furthermore, according to the
preference of the user, the position of the decorative ornament 16
on the ponytail 18 can be easily adjusted by changing the
engagement position of the pin 26 in the ponytail 18 and/or
changing the insertion depth of the pin 26 into the ponytail 18.
The user 20 can change the insertion depth of the pin 26 by
selecting engagement of one or two of the annular grooves 30 with
the ponytail 18.
[0022] Now that the basic teachings of the present invention have
been explained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to
one having ordinary skill in the art. The hair holder 10 shown in
FIG. 6 is a modification of that shown in FIGS. 1 through 5.
Description of the parts of the hair holder 10 shown in FIG. 6
identical to those shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 is omitted. In this
embodiment, the pin 26 does not include annular grooves 30 on outer
periphery 32 thereof. Furthermore, it is apparent that there may be
one or more than two annular grooves 30 formed on the outer
periphery 32 of the pin 26.
[0023] Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in
other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general
characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated,
the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all
respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the
invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by
the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the
meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be
embraced therein.
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