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(11) | EP 1 750 538 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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ACCESSORY FOR ARRANGING HAIR IN DIFFERENT HAIR STYLES ACCESSOIRE ZUM KREIEREN VON UNTERSCHIEDLICHEN FRISUREN ACCESSOIRE POUR COIFFER LES CHEVEUX DANS DIFFÉRENTS STYLES |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
Scope of the invention
Background of the invention
[0002] To enhance the appealing appearance of persons having long hair, mostly women and children, or to protect or to manage long hair, it is common to arrange long hair in different hair styles, for example pigtail, ponytail or high-piled hair.
[0003] After hair styling, it may be necessary to use different kinds of accessories such as end bands, hair straps, hair pins or the like, in order to maintain the desired hair style. For example US-B2-6,601,590 describes a hair strap with a number of hair loops, which is used for creating a hair style that combines a ponytail with high-piled hair. For example US-A1-2003/0200981 describes a large semicircle-formed end band with a number of small removable end bands attached, which semicircle-formed end band is used for creating a hair style with many smaller ponytails.
[0004] For example US-5,833,335 describes a hair slide used for creating advanced high-piled hair styles, and where it is possible to connect a number of hair slides.
[0005] For example US-5,727,574 describes a method and an apparatus for braiding hair, and where the apparatus comprises two ties, which are connected with a connecting member, and where it is possible to braid the connecting member into a braided ponytail, hence providing a decorative hair style.
[0006] Furthermore different types of accessories are available which combine the features of creating a hair style and then maintaining the desired hair style.
[0007] Persons wanting a hair style with only one ponytail or pigtail often use an elastic end band which is wrapped tightly around a base portion of the person's hair, whereby the lose ends of the hair portion forms the ponytail or pigtail.
[0008] Persons having thin and/or light hair and who use elastic end bands may experience problems using an elastic end band to maintain the ponytail/pigtail, because the elastic end band will slowly slide off the ponytail/pigtail. This may be a source of irritation, and it is time-consuming to redo the hair; furthermore there is a risk of losing the end band.
[0009] A slightly more advanced hair style with more than one ponytail requires the use of several end bands and with them the aforementioned disadvantages.
[0010] All the aforementioned accessories are only described as used for providing simple and different kinds of hair styles.
Object of the invention
[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an accessory usable for different purposes, for example:
- an end band for making different hair styles, which is easy to use, reduces the risk of the end band sliding off, and allows different hair styles.
- pearls,
- spangles,
- jewellery,
- stones
- charms
- light diodes, and/or
- printed/sewn/knitted designs or print
Description of the invention
[0012] In the following description the preferred use of the hair accessory according to the present invention is the use of it as an end band.
[0013] In the following description of the present invention and the use of it, the term "hair tail" will be used to refer to either a ponytail or a pigtail.
[0014] The hair accessory according to the present invention has an array of different configurations where the basic principle is having only two end bands connected with a connection band that is common to all the configurations. To prevent the end band of the accessory according to the present invention to slide off a hair tail, one of the elastic end bands is wrapped tightly around a base portion of the person's hair whereby the lose ends of the hair portion form the hair tail, and the other end bands can also be wrapped around this hair tail.
[0015] For example if an accessory is used that has two end bands connected with one connection band, the first elastic end band will not easily slide down the hair tail because the second elastic end band is in the way; and because the two elastic end bands are connected with a connecting piece, the second elastic end band cannot slide off the pony tail.
[0016] To make it possible to create a hair style with more than one hair tail by using the accessory according to present invention, said accessory comprises elastic end bands connected with one connecting band. This allows making one hair tail with one of the elastic end bands and a second hair tail with the other end band. Said second hair tail can be positioned over or under or to either side of said first hair tail, depending on the wanted hair style, but generally, if said first hair tail is a pony tail, said second pony tail will be positioned above under said first pony tail, and the connecting piece can be arranged around said first pony tail in order to either hide said connecting piece or to use the connecting piece to guide said first pony tail and/or decorate said first pony tail.
[0017] Said two elastic end bands are prevented from sliding off said respective pony tails, because they are connected by said connecting piece. Said first elastic end band cannot slide off because of said connecting piece linking it to said second elastic end band, and said second elastic end band cannot slide off because said connecting piece is either wrapped around said second pony tail, and it will therefore be in the way, or said elastic end bands will have different sliding motions and therefore one of the elastic end bands will always prevent the sliding off of the other elastic end band.
[0018] If said first hair tail is a pigtail, said second hair tail will typically be a pigtail positioned at the other side of the persons head and the connecting band can be arranged around the person's forehead or back head. To enhance the look of the hair style said connecting band and/or two end bands are provided with means for decoration.
[0019] Said means for decoration can be pearls, spangles, jewellery, stones, charms, and /or light diodes. These items can be attached using for example Velcro, snap fasteners or buttons/holes.
[0020] Alternatively, said means for decoration can be an integrated part of said connecting band/end band for example in the form of fixed pearls, printed/sewn/knitted designs or print. In an embodiment of the invention said one connecting band comprises means for longitudinal adjustment of said connecting band, which makes it possible to either arrange the end bands in predetermined positions and always with the same distance, or to arrange the end bands in different positions and then change the hair style.
[0021] Said means for elongating/shortening said connection band are one of the following:
- a two-part connecting band with interlocking Velcro pads,
- a string which can be shortened by wrapping it further around the end band and be extended by unwrapping said string from said end band,
- a double string with a slider arrangement, whereby movement of a slider will increase or decrease the length, and
- a ring-shaped connecting band with snap fasteners/clasps or buttons/holes.
[0022] All the above means for longitudinal adjustment allow said accessory according to the present invention to be used by any person, irrespective of hair length and hair thickness, head size etc. of the person because the connecting band can be adjusted to allow for the aforementioned differences. According to the present invention said end bands and/or said connecting band are elastic, which makes it possible to arrange the elastic end bands in different positions and to compensate for the slight difference in position or size of the hair tails, or the size of the head of the individual person. One connecting band connects two end bands and can be a chain, a strap, a string, a band, a thread, or a combination of these. For example said connecting band may be a double string or a double strap.
[0023] The connecting band can be made of for example a fabric (for example woven cloth), a plastic material, and/or a rubber material. The important thing is that said connecting band safely connects the two end bands.
[0024] To ensure a safe connection between said connecting band and said end bands said one connecting band at both ends comprises means for connecting an elastic end band.
[0025] Said means for connecting an elastic end band can for example be a clasp, a fastener, a chain link, a knot or alternatively be formed by wrapping the end part of said connecting band around said end band and tying to itself.
[0026] In one embodiment of the invention the thread of the connecting band can be invisible in order to further enhance the decoration, i.e. without the thread being shown.
[0027] In an alternative embodiment of the invention said two elastic end bands and said one connecting band can be provided in one piece.
[0028] The connecting band part can be provided along the edges with either snap fasteners, zippers or Velcro bands. Thus it is possible to wrap the connecting band around the hair tail, which is arranged through the end band parts of the accessory. The one-piece accessory can be used as a head band or a sweat band.
[0029] To be able to use said end band said one connecting band comprises means for providing elastic end bands. These means could be for example a clasp, a slider or a knot. If the means is a slider, it is possible to change the size of the end band, and the same accessory can thus be used for different persons and/or different hair styles. According to the present invention said two elastic end bands assume the same diameters when in unstretched condition. This makes it possible to use any of said end bands as the first end band, for example by wrapping it around the base ponytail, and then making a number of equally thick ponytails with the other end band. Above, this invention has been described for use by humans, but may of course also be used for dolls and animals, for example horses, dogs, cats etc.
Short description of the drawing
[0030] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, where
Fig. 1 shows an accessory with two end bands according to the invention,
Fig. 2 shows a person using said accessory in Fig. 1,
Fig. 4 shows an accessory with a decoration band according to the invention,
Fig. 5 shows an accessory with two-string connection band according to the invention,
Fig. 7 shows a person using an accessory.
Detailed description of the invention
[0031]
Fig. 1 shows an accessory 1 for making different hair styles comprising two elastic end bands 2,3, which are connected by a connecting band 4.
Fig. 2 shows an accessory 1 used in the hair 5 of girl 6, where the first elastic end band 3 is wrapped around the first pony tail 8, and the second elastic end band 2 is wrapped around the second pony tail 7, and the connecting band 4 is wrapped around and along the pony tail 8, thereby guiding it down into the pony tail 7.
Fig. 4 shows an accessory 20 with string connection band 21 having decoration in the form of pearls 22 and an ornament 23.
Fig. 5 shows an accessory 30 with strap connection band 31 having decoration in the form of patterns 32.
Fig. 7 shows an accessory 50 used in the hair 5 of girl 6, where the first elastic end band 51 is wrapped around the first pigtail 53, and the second elastic end band 52 is wrapped around the second pigtail 54, and the connecting band 55 runs along the girl's 6 forehead and is decorated with patterns 55.
connecting band (4), wherein said connecting band (4) is elastic and further is a chain, a strap, a band and/or a thread and further said end bands (2,3) and/or said connecting band (4) is provided with means for decoration, where said means for decoration are one or more of the following:
- pearls (22)
- spangles,
- jewellery,
- stones,
- charms,
- light diodes, and/or
- printed/sewn/knitted designs or print
and where said end bands are elastic and assume same diameters when in un-stretched condition.- a two-part connecting band with interlocking Velcro pads,
- a string, which can be shortened by wrapping it further around the end band and be extended by unwrapping said string from said end band,
- a double string with a slider arrangement, whereby movement of a slider (45) will increase or decrease the length, and/or
- a ring-shaped connecting band with snap fasteners/clasps (46) or buttons/holes.
- Perlen (22)
- Pailletten,
- Schmuckstück,
- Steine,
- Charme,
- Lichtdioden und/oder
- bedruckte/genähte/gestrickte Designs oder Bedruckung
und wobei die Endbänder elastisch sind und im ungedehnten Zustand die gleichen Durchmesser annehmen.- ein Zweiteiliges Verbindungsband mit ineinandergreifenden Klettbändern,
- einen Strang, der dadurch verkürzbar ist, dass er weiter um den Endband erstreckt und durch Abwickeln des Stranges von dem Endband verlängerbar ist,
- einen Doppelstrang mit einer Schieberanordnung, wobei eine Bewegung eines Schiebers (45) die Länge vergrössert oder verkleinert, und/oder
- ein Ringförmiges Verbindungsband mit Schnappverschlüssen/Klammern (46) oder Knöpfen/Löchern.
- perles (22)
- paillettes,
- bijou,
- des pierres,
- petits bijoux de fantaisie,
- des diodes électroluminescentes et/ou
- des dessins ou impression imprimés/cousus/tricotés
et lesdites bandes d'extrémité étant élastiques et ayant les mêmes diamètres lorsqu'elles sont dans un état non allongé.- une bande de liaison en deux parties avec des bandes Velcro interverrouillées,
- une corde, qui peut être raccourcie en l'enveloppant davantage autour de la bande d'extrémité et être étendue par déroulement de ladite corde à partir de ladite bande d'extrémité,
- un double fil avec un agencement de curseur, le mouvement d'un curseur (45) augmentant ou diminuant la longueur, et/ou
- une bande de liaison en forme d'anneau avec des fermetures à encliquetage/fermoirs (46) ou des boutons/trous.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description