HAIR TIP PROTECTION DEVICE

Abstract

 Hair protection device for protecting a plurality of hair tips, such as a hair bundle or a hair braid, bundled by a bundling means, comprising a hollow shell comprising an internal space and an opening, said internal space communicating with the exterior of the shell through said opening, wherein said internal space comprises a retaining means presenting a contact surface, said contact surface being adapted to come in contact with the hair bundling means to hang said device on said hair bundling means while enclosing the hair tips within the shell.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a decoration device such as a jewel and more particularly, to a decoration device or a jewel to be worn in the hairs and that provide protection to a hair tip.

[0002] Any person wearing long hairs knows it, it is often mandatory to attach the hairs together with the help of various clamping devices or the like. For example, it is commonly known to use rubber or elastic bands, hair clips or hair slides or the like to attach the hairs together in order to form a hair bundle and thereby keeping them toward the back side of the head to prevent them from passing in front of the eyes thereby hindering the sight. There are several ways of attaching the hairs together, they may be attached together on their uppermost side, that is the most distal point from the tip end of the hairs by carrying out a ponytail for example, or alternatively they can be attached together on the lowermost side, that is at the nearest possible position from the tip end of the airs by carrying out a braid, for example.

[0003] A problem with the current attaching devices is that they do absolutely not protect the tip end of the hairs and that they are themselves subject to possible damages in addition from being usually not enhancing the beauty of the hairs. It has therefore been a challenge to find a device for protecting the tip end of the hairs and for protecting the actual clamping device attaching the hairs together.

[0004] For example, document US 5 590 670 describes a hair tip protection device and more particularly a hair braid tip protection device comprising a bag-like component and a W-shaped rod. The hair tips are wounded in a specific manner around the W-shaped rod which is then inserted into the bag-like component and secured thereto. As a result, the hair braid tip, wounded around the W-shaped rod is hidden into the bag and protected from the outside. However, such device presents several drawbacks such as the use of two separated and completely different elements, the rod and the bag, it also requires a specific hair tip wounding process to attach the hairs to the rod that is troublesome and takes time.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an object or a device overcoming the above mentioned drawbacks and to provide a hair tip decoration and protection device easy to manipulate.

[0006] In order to solve this technical problem, the present invention is a hair protection device for protecting a plurality of hair tips, such as a tip of a hair bundle or a hair braid, bundled by a bundling means, comprising a hollow shell comprising an internal space and an opening, said internal space communicating with the exterior of the shell through said opening, wherein said internal space comprises a retaining means presenting a contact surface, said contact surface being adapted to come in contact with the hair bundling means to hang said device on said hair bundling means while enclosing the hair tips within the shell. Therefore, it is possible to protect both the hairs and the hair bundling means with a single housing element easy to manipulate.

[0007] It is preferred that the retaining means consists in a wall of said internal space. Therefore, the device is even easier to manipulate and manufacture.

[0008] Advantageously, the opening is provided through said wall. Therefore, it is even easier to manufacture.

[0009] Preferably the retaining means is integrally formed with the shell. Therefore, it is more solid.

[0010] It is preferred that the hollow shell comprises at least two half shells adapted to move relative to each other to open and to close said internal space. Therefore, opening of the internal space can be easily carried out.

[0011] Advantageously, each half shells comprises an external surface and an internal surface wherein the internal surfaces each comprise a recess and are adapted to come in close contact with each other to close said internal space constituted by the two recesses. Therefore, the internal space is well protected by an outer shell.

[0012] Preferably the two half shells comprise at least one magnetic element provided on corresponding positions of each internal surfaces of the half shells. Therefore, the securing means is easy to use and provide a smooth locking means.

[0013] It is preferred that the two half shells are adapted to slide on each other upon opening/closing movement. Therefore, the device is easy to release by a simple action of the fingers.

[0014] Advantageously, the two half shells are fixed to each other through a hinge. Therefore, they stay secured to each other even in the open position.

[0015] Preferably the two half shells are adapted to rotate with respect to each other upon movement. Therefore, the device is easy to close by a simple action of the fingers.

[0016] It is preferred that the retaining means comprises at least one hook provided within the internal space. Therefore, the liability can be improved.

[0017] Advantageously, the shell is made of rigid material. Therefore, the protection is even more important.

[0018] Preferably the shell is made of deformable resilient material. Therefore, its manipulation is eased.

[0019] It is preferred that the shell is made of silicone. Therefore, it is easy too manufacture.

[0020] Advantageously, the retaining means further comprises a second wall disposed within the internal space and sandwiching the hair bundling device with the first wall. Therefore, stability is increased.

[0021] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reading the detailed description recited below that is exemplary only and should not by limited thereto. In addition, said detailed description is illustrated by the attached drawings wherein:

Figures 1 a and 1 b schematically represent an external and an internal view of a hair tip protection device according to the present invention;

Figures 2a to 2c schematically represent an internal view of the hair tip protection device according to different embodiments of the present invention;

Figures 3a to 3c schematically represent a hair tip protection device according to different embodiments of the present invention.

[0022] The invention as shown in the drawings is a hair protection device for protecting a plurality of hair tips, such as a hair bundle or a hair braid, bundled by a bundling means.

[0023] The figure 1 a is an external view of the hair tip protection device 1 of the invention hung on a hair braid tip. This figure shows the general principle of the invention where one can see that the device 1 shall hide and protect the tips of the hairs.

[0024] The figure 1b shows a sectional view of the hair tip protection device 1 of the invention where one can see some of its preferred internal features. This figure shows some of the preferred feature of the invention like the magnets 6 that are used as a locking means, or the double-walled retaining means 5, 51.

[0025] The figure 2a to 2c show a cross sectional view of different embodiments of the invention where the device comprises a hollow shell 2 made of at least two half shells, although only one is visible, adapted to move relative to each other to open and to close an internal space 3. The shell 2 also comprises an opening 4 such that the internal space 3 communicates with the exterior of the shell 2 through said opening. The invention is such that the hair tip is passed through the opening 4 and then housed within the shell 2. This is possible since the internal space 3 comprises a retaining means 5 presenting a contact surface 5a. The contact surface 5a is adapted to come into contact with the hair bundling means to hang said device 1 on said hair bundling means while enclosing the hair tips within the shell 2. As shown in figures 2a and 2b, the retaining means 5 can be the internal face of the shell itself (2a) or a wall disposed within the internal space (2b). Also in the present embodiments, the retaining means 5 therefore consists in a wall of said internal space 3 and the opening 4 is provided through said wall 5. Preferably, the retaining means 5 is integrally formed with the shell. As represented, the retaining means 5 further comprises a second wall 52 disposed within the internal space 3 and sandwiching the hair bundling device with the first wall 5. This second wall 51 is optional as it does not actually retain the hair bundling means. However, it can be very useful to stabilize the present invention and to partition the internal space 3. Please note that the dimensions presented in the figures are purely illustrative and do not limit the invention thereto.

[0026] Figures 3a to 3c represent the two half-shells of the device of the invention together. As one can see, each half shells 2 comprises an external surface and an internal surface 21 wherein the internal surfaces 21 each comprises a recess 22 and are adapted to come in close contact with each other to close said internal space 3 constituted by the two recesses 22.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the two half shells 2 comprise at least one, preferably at least two, magnetic element 6 provided on corresponding positions of each internal surfaces 21 of the half shells 2. Therefore, upon closing position, the two internal surfaces 21 are stuck to each other through the magnetic force of the magnetic elements 6, for example magnets.

[0028] Thanks to this system, the two half shells 2 are adapted to slide on each other upon opening/closing movement.

[0029] Figure 3b and 3c show an other embodiment of the invention where, the two half shells 2 shall not slide on each other but are fixed to each other through a hinge 25, so that they can rotate with respect to each other upon opening/closing movement. The figures show a lateral hinge, however, this is not mandatory as the hinge may by placed elsewhere. Also, a spring member can be used to urge the two half shells against each other. Further, figure 3c shows a mechanical locking mechanism 23 replacing the magnets 6.

[0030] Figure 2c shows an other embodiment where it is possible that the walls (see bold line 24) of the recess 22 of the half shell 2 protrude from the internal surface 21 so as to penetrate into the recess 22 of the corresponding half shell 2 (not represented). Thanks to such a structure, it is impossible to have a sliding structure, and it is possible to render seal the internal space 3 that can, with such a structure, possibly contain liquid.

[0031] In addition or in place of the retaining wall, the retaining means 5 can comprise at least one hook provided within the internal space 3 that will be hooked directly on the hair bundling means.

[0032] Preferably, the shell 2 is made of rigid material such as any conventional rigid and light polymer, therefore, the hair tip is well protected and the device 1 is not too heavy.

[0033] As a primary object, the internal space 3 protects and hides the hairs as well as the hair bundling means. However, it may have several other uses. For example, it is possible to fill it with some kind of cosmetics healing the hair tips that are usually the weariest part of the hair. Alternatively, it may be adapted to house some electronics, such as a remote earphone or the same. It can also comprises some kind of light source, like LEDs or the like, this can serve as a light emitting device that can be seen in the dark, as for example when one walks down the road to warn the vehicles.

[0034] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the shell 2 can be made of deformable resilient material, for example, the shell can be made of silicone. In such a case, it does not necessarily comprises two half shells 2 but can be made of a single, preferably integrally formed, element 2 that can be deformed, for example by pressure, to enlarge the opening insert the hair tip and the hair bundling means, and then release the pressure so that the device goes back to its original form.

[0035] Although not represented in the drawings, the shell may have different shapes such as a round shape, a shellfish shape, a feather shape or the same.

[0036] Also, appearance of the shell may vary according to the wish of its user, this means, that is possible to provide a hair protecting device of the invention with exchangeable color or mask sets. It is also possible to provide said device with optional detachable ornamentals.

[0037] It shall be understood that various obvious modifications or improvements for the skilled man in the art can be carried out to the different embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope of protection of the invention s claimed in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Hair protection device (1) for protecting a plurality of hair tips, such as a hair bundle or a hair braid, bundled by a bundling means, comprising
a hollow shell (2) comprising an internal space (3) and an opening (4), said internal space communicating with the exterior of the shell through said opening,
wherein said internal space (3) comprises a retaining means (5) presenting a contact surface (5a), said contact surface being adapted to come in contact with the hair bundling means to hang said device on said hair bundling means while enclosing the hair tips within the shell.

2. Hair protection device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means (5) consists in a wall of said internal space (3).

3. Hair protection device according to claim 2, wherein the opening is provided through said wall.

4. Hair protection device according to claim 2, wherein the retaining means (5) is integrally formed with the shell (2).

5. Hair protection device according to claim 1-3, wherein the hollow shell (2) comprises at least two half shells adapted to move relative to each other to open and to close said internal space (3).

6. Hair protection device according to claim 4, wherein each half shells comprises an external surface and an internal surface (21) wherein the internal surfaces each comprise a recess (22) and are adapted to come in close contact with each other to close said internal space (3) constituted by the two recesses.

7. Hair protection device according to claim 4-6, wherein the two half shells comprise at least one magnetic element (6) provided on corresponding positions of each internal surfaces (21) of the half shells.

8. Hair protection device according to claim 4-6, wherein the two half shells are adapted to slide on each other upon opening/closing movement.

9. Hair protection device according to claim 4-6, wherein the two half shells are fixed to each other through a hinge (25).

10. Hair protection device according to claim 8, wherein the two half shells are adapted to rotate with respect to each other upon movement.

11. Hair protection device according to claim 1-9, wherein the retaining means (5) comprises at least one hook provided within the internal space (3).

12. Hair protection device according to claim 1-11, wherein the shell (2) is made of rigid material.

13. Hair protection device according to claim 1-11, wherein the shell (2) is made of deformable resilient material.

14. Hair protection device according to claim 13, wherein the shell (2) is made of silicone.

15. Hair protection device according to claim 1-14, wherein the retaining means (5) further comprises a second wall (51) disposed within the internal space (3) and sandwiching the hair bundling device with the first wall (5).

Drawing