Adjustable Fastener

Abstract

An adjustable fastener apparatus comprising an elongated band made of an elastomeric material attached to a flexible ring which at one end and a hook fastener device attached to the other end of the elongated band opposite the ring. The elongated band is configured to pull through the ring, to be stretched and wound around itself and attach to the elongated band at any point to create a loop, without the use of a looped receptor and to function as both a hair tie and a wrist bracelet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to generally to personal hygiene articles and in particular to adjustable looped fasteners for bundled hair.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A number of adjustable fasteners in the hair industry have been developed to secure bundled hair. Typically, fasteners are made of elastic which is wound around bundled hair in an effort to secure the bundled hair. These fasteners can cause issues, especially for young children, as they tend to slide and cause tangles and knots within the bundled hair. The tangles and knots created by these fasteners cause the hair fastener removal process to be painful. A need, therefore, exists for a device that will releasably bind the hair of a user yet will not slide along the hair strands once secured in place.

[0003] Though adjustable bands using Velcro-like fasteners are present in the prior art, as is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,141, the adjustable bands taught in the prior art contain a hooked fastener which attaches to a looped receptor, limiting the adjustability of the fastener.

[0004] Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY

[0005] The present disclosure provides an adjustable fastener to be used in a system and method of containing human hair. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the apparatus and method comprises an elastomeric band attached to a ring on one end and a Velcro.RTM. like hooked fastener on the other end; wherein the band is operatively arranged to function as both a hair tie and a wrist bracelet.

[0006] The present disclosure provides for methods of use of an adjustable fastener apparatus operatively arranged to fasten bundled hair. The band is placed around bundled hair, with the hooked fastener facing away from the hair. The end of the elastomeric band with the hooked fastener attached is then wrapped around the bundled hair, and inserted into the ring at the opposing end of the elastomeric band. The end of the band with the hooked fastener is then pulled to close the loop to the appropriate tightness. The band can then be stretched and wound around itself, attaching the hooked fastener to any point on the elastomeric band, without the use of a looped receptor, to secure the bundled hair.

[0007] The present disclosure also provides for use of the adjustable fastener as a wrist bracelet. The elastomeric band is placed around wrist, with the hooked fastener facing away from the wrist. The elastomeric band is configured with a hooked fastener and operatively arranged to wrap around the wrist and insert into the ring at the opposing end of the elastomeric band. The hooked fastener end of the band is then pulled to close the loop to the appropriate tightness. The band can then be stretched and wound around itself, attaching the hooked fastener to any point on the elastomeric band, without the use of a looped receptor, to secure the adjustable tie to the wrist.

[0008] Other systems, devices, apparatuses, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention and the manner in which it may be practiced is further illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an adjustable fastener open before being placed around a ponytail of hair.

[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates an adjustable fastener inserted into the ring in the beginning stage of placement around a ponytail of hair.

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an adjustable fastener secured in a first position.

[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an adjustable fastener secured in a wrapped around position.

[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a back perspective view of an adjustable fastener of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates a front perspective view of an adjustable fastener of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates a front perspective view of an adjustable fastener of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates a front perspective view of an adjustable fastener of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of an adjustable fastener of the present disclosure attached to wrist of an arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Reference is now made in detail to the description of the embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. While several embodiments are described in the connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

[0020] It should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions, or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as may be further described or explained by the entire written specification of which this detailed description is an integral part. The drawings are intended to be read together with the specification and are to be construed as a portion of the entire "written description" of this invention as required by 35 U.S.C. .sctn.112.

[0021] Adjustable fasteners such as rubber bands for holding long hair back in a uniform manner such as in ponytail styles have long been used by women to hold their hair together. Typical hair ties have been elastic bands or ties. However it is difficult to place and remove these fasteners to and from the hair because they tend to tangle, snarl, and/or knot the hair. For children, it takes dexterity and strength to wind a simple rubber band, and rubber bands never seem to have enough tension to hold the hair. For adults with large hands it is difficult to manipulate the rubber band in the "figure eight" motion to needed to add enough tension to the rubber band to hold the hair. In addition, other styles of hair ties are limited to the amount of hair the ties can hold. Hair thickness varies greatly, thus a product that limits the end-user is undesirable.

[0022] The adjustable fastener of this disclosure solves the existing problems associated with using fasteners in the art by providing an adjustable fastener comprised of an elongated band of buoyant elastomeric foam attached to a ring on one end and a Velcro.RTM. like hooked fastener on the other end; wherein the band is operatively arranged to be stretched and wound around itself, attaching the hooked fastener to any point on the elastomeric band, without the use of a looped receptor, to function as both a hair tie and a wrist bracelet.

[0023] Adverting now to the drawings, with reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is depicted with an adjustable fastener 10 apparatus for securing bundled hair which is dually functional as a wrist bracelet. FIG. 1 illustrates an adjustable fastener in an open position placed around a ponytail of hair. The apparatus comprises of elastomeric band 20, hooked fastener 22, and ring 24. The hooked fastener is a Velcro.RTM. hook like material attached to one end of elastomeric band 20, and ring 24 is attached to the opposite end of elastomeric band 20.

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates an adjustable fastener inserted into the ring in the beginning stage of placement around a ponytail of hair. The adjustable fastener is in position to gather and secure or tie a predetermined amount of hair. The adjustable fastener is positioned around the bundled hair with the hooked fastener facing away from the hair. A loop is created by inserting end of elastomeric band through the ring.

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an adjustable fastener secured in a first position. The end of the elastomeric band having the hooked fastener is cinched tightly by pulling the elastomeric band through the ring and allowing the hooked fastener to engage with the reverse side of the elastomeric band. The ultra-fine hook engages and meshes with the elastic and holds the entire wrap in place. Because of the elasticity of the band there is sufficient tension created to hold the hair in place without tangling or knotting the hair.

[0026] The adjustable fastener of the present disclosure fastens hair into a ponytail by placing elastic band 20 underneath a bundle of hair, with hooked fastener 22 facing away from the hair. The end of elastic band 20 comprising hooked fastener 22 is then pulled around the hair and through ring 24. The end of elastic band 20 comprising fastener 22 is configured to be pulled through the ring until the bundled hair is secured. The end of elastic band 20 which comprises of hooked fastener 22 then loops around the bundled hair, and can be attached to elastic band 20 at any point.

[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an adjustable fastener secured in a wrapped around position to function as a hair tie. Elastomeric band is flexible enough to wrap completely around the entire apparatus so that the ring is covered. It is configured so that the hooked fastener can engage with any portion of the elastomeric band that the hooked fastener comes in contact with. The band is operatively arranged to stretch and wind around itself, attaching the hooked fastener to any point on the elastomeric band, without the use of a looped receptor. The elastomeric band is configured so that it can be placed on the hair or removed from the hair without winding the band in a figure eight motion to create the needed tension to secure the hair in a ponytail.

[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates a back perspective view of an adjustable fastener of the present disclosure in a flat, ready-to-use condition. The band is preferably formed from a flexible, stretchable material such as elastic made from a combination of rubber, or a synthetic rubber, with cotton, nylon, or polyester. Typically these materials are combined by the following processes: woven, braided, non-roll, or knit. The elastic material is configured to be waterproof, buoyant and resilient enough to mold around a lock of hair, but it also has a high coefficient of friction so that it will not readily slide along either a wet or dry lock of hair during use. It should be appreciated that other suitable materials, other than an elastic combination can be used in the manufacture of the band, for example closed-cell, neoprene foam, closed-cell foam materials made from silicone, polyethylene, polyurethane, a polyurethane elastic or some of new stretchable fabrics, such as Lycra and the like may be substituted for the elastic used to form the preferred band.

[0029] In the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure elastomeric band 20 is produced in about a range of between 4 inches to 11 inches in length and in a range of about between 3/4 of an inch and 11/2 inches in width. In the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure hooked fastener 22 is slightly smaller in width than elastomeric band 20. For example purposes only, where elastic band 20 is 3/4 of an inch in width, hooked fastener 22 is approximately 5/8 of an inch in width. In the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, ring 24 is an oval shape with approximately 1/2 inch diameter. It should be understood that the aforementioned dimensions and shapes are provided for illustration purposes only and it should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the adjustable fastener of this disclosure could be made in any size or shape relative to the amount of hair needed to be contained and the size of the human arm on which the wristband embodiment is worn.

[0030] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a front perspective view of an adjustable fastener of the present disclosure. The product consists of an elastic band with a buckle on one end and an ultra-fine hook fastener on the other. The ultra-fine hook is arranged to attach to either side of the elastic fabric. There is no need for a marrying "loop" for the "hook" fastener tab. This allows the user to wrap as little or as much hair as desired, and the thickness of the hair can vary greatly (the tab/hook fastener end of the band can be pressed and engaged to hold the band in place before the buckle (as shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7) or stretched over the buckle and placed after the buckle (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9.)

[0031] FIG. 8 illustrates a front perspective view of an adjustable fastener of the present disclosure showing the apparatus in a released position. Releasing the band is accomplished by a pull up on the end of the elastomeric band to disengage hooked fastener 22, to allow the band to unwind and the hook fastener to slip out of the ring. The hair is released with no tangles, snarls, or knots.

[0032] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of an adjustable fastener of the present disclosure attached to wrist of an arm. In the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the elastic band 20 can also be secured around a wrist in the form of a bracelet. In this embodiment the present invention is used by placing elastic band 20 underneath a wrist, with hooked fastener 22 facing away from the wrist. The end of elastic band 20 comprising hooked fastener 22 is then pulled around wrist 26 and through ring 24. The end of elastic band 20 comprising fastener 22 is configured to pull through the ring until the bundled wrist is secured. The end of elastic band 20 which comprises of hooked fastener 22 then loops around the wrist, and can be attached to elastic band 20 at any point.

[0033] While the invention has been describes with a high degree of particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made, and the above is not the sole embodiment of the present invention. Although exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the disclosure as described may be made. All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. An adjustable fastener apparatus comprising: a) an elongated band made of an elastomeric material; b) a ring which is attached to one end of the elongated band; and c) a hook fastener fixedly attached to the end of the elongated band opposite the ring, configured to pull through the ring and removably attach by means of said hook fasteners at any point to the elongated band to create a loop.

2. An apparatus of claim 1 where the loop is used to create a tie for bundled hair.

3. An apparatus of claim 2 where the elongated band is made with a small hole or slit which can be used to fasten pre-made attachments to increase the aesthetics of the elongated band.

4. An apparatus of claim 1 where the ring is made of an elastomeric material.

5. An apparatus of claim 1 where the ring is configured to stretch to an elongated shape and return back to its original shape.

6. An apparatus of claim 5 where the ring is made of rubber.

7. An apparatus of claim 6 wherein said elongated band is in about a range of between 4 inches to 11 inches in length and in a range of about between 1/2 of an inch and 2 inches in width.

8. An apparatus of claim 4 where the loop is used to create a wrist-bracelet.

9. An apparatus of claim 1 where the ring is made of synthetic rubber.

10. An apparatus of claim 1 where the elongated band is made of polyurethane elastic.