US20050016560A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20050016560A1
Application number: US10/895,480
Authority: US
Inventors: Dee Voughlohn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-21
Filing date: 2004-07-20
Publication date: 2005-01-27

Abstract

A hair fashioner for styling hair comprises at least one base, at least one bundler, and at least one attacher. The at least one attacher attaches the at least one bundler to the at least one base at at least one predetermined location thereon to define at least one opening therebetween for hair to be bundled therein. Further, if desired, the hair fashioner comprises at least one of the following disposed at at least one predetermined location thereon: at least one separate bundler to bundle hair, at least one retainer for securing hair, at least one coupler for coupling the at least one base to secure hair therebetween, and at least one operator for a user to hold on to operate the hair fashioner.

Description

REFERENCE TO PREVIOUSLY FILED PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION

Provisional Patent Application No. 60/488,830 was filed on Jul. 21, 2003 for this patent application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application is for unique hair fashioner and unique hair method, which are the ramification of my invention in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,335, filed Jan. 12, 1998 (For examples, please refer to FIGS. 1, 7A, 10F, 10H, 10G 12F, 12H, 14E, 14P, 14Q, etc. in the above-mentioned patent). The unique hair fashioner of the present invention, with their unique bundler(s), can:

- Bundle hair up uniquely to prevent hair from going astray;
- Lift hair up uniquely to create gap(s) to create hair volume;
- Prevent hair from falling apart while styling hair; and
- Interlock hair to prevent unique, attractive hair styles from undoing.

The present invention creates new, unique, and attractive hair styles never possible before. Therefore, the present invention teaches away from all the prior arts heretofore.

The difference of the present invention, compared to my above-mentioned invention, is:

- In this application, base or bundler bridges the gap between opposite hair locks to bundle and lift hair therebetween, creating u-shape-hair-lock style (e.g., as in FIGS.6H,22A-22C,23C,29, etc., in this application).
- In my above-mentioned patent, no base nor bundler bridges the gap between opposite hair locks to bundle and lift hair therebetween, creating parallel-hair-lock style (e.g., as in FIGS. 8D, 8G, 8J, 12K etc., in my above-mentioned patent).

BACKGROUND

Hair styling is an important part of personal grooming and appearance. Much time and money are spent preparing the appearance of a person's hair. An entire industry has developed full of products and services to fulfill this demand. As the pace of life continues to accelerate, as hair styles continue to evolve, and as financial pressures are felt everywhere, there is an ever-increasing demand for quicker, easier, and more cost-effective hair styles which are new, unique, and attractive.

Also, there is an ever-increasing desire to create easy and time-efficient hair-styling devices so that the new, unique, and attractive hair styles can be changed easily within the day for different situations and for reflecting the mood of a user without the need for attending a professional salon.

Further, also there is an ever-increasing desire for:

- eliminating the problem of headaches caused by pressure against the head when the head is used as a securing means to secure the hair styles and hair-styling devices which push and pull against a user's head, and may cause unnecessary hair damage and headache during or after repeated or periodic uses;
- eliminating the problem of stray hair strands;
- eliminating the problem of hair styles which gradually come undone when secured with devices such as pins, clips, the likes, the others, or the equivalents.

Therefore, a need exists for versatile, inexpensive, compact, comfortable, self-secured, easy and quick-to-use devices and methods which can be applied for extended periods without damaging hair or causing headache, and which assist in the creation of many new, unique, attractive hair styles which look professional, yet require a minimum amount of time, money, and storage space.

Up until this time, many inventions have introduced a number of different hair-styling devices and methods. However, all these inventions teach either how to use a user's head as a securing means to secure each of the desired hair styles, or how to use additional hair-holding devices such as pins, clips, the likes, the others, or the equivalents to secure each of the desired hair styles. All these inventions have a numerous disadvantages. Therefore, all these inventions teach away from the present invention.

The hair-styling devices and methods in U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,059 issued Feb. 27, 1996, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,723 issued Apr. 19, 1994, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,638 issued Mar. 19, 1996 facilitate incorporating a hair lock with a hair-styling device, and rolling the hair-styling device on one side of the hair lock toward a user's head to wind the hair lock around the hair-styling device until the hair lock is tight against the head. Then, one of the following techniques 1) and 2) is applied to secure the hair lock independently:

1) First technique, using a user's head as a securing means:

Two ends of the device are bent around and brought together on the opposite side of the hair lock, and are twisted together to secure the desired hair style; or at least one end of the device is bent around to the opposite side of the hair lock enclosing the hair lock to secure the desired hair style.

As the result, the unwinding force of the tightly-wound hair lock unrolls the device and the bent-around end or ends of the device. Thus, the bent-around end or ends of the device push against a user's head. A user's head acts as a securing means, blocking and preventing the bent-around end or ends of the device from unrolling, to secure the device and the desired hair style. Therefore, the unwinding force of the tightly-wound hair lock creates a considerable pressure against a user's head.

These disadvantages, during or after repeated or periodic uses, result in:

- blocking the blood flowing under a user's head skin;
- causing undue pain, discomfort, and headache;

2) Second technique, using additional hair-holding devices such as pins, clips, the likes, the others, or the equivalents:

Additional hair holding devices such as pins, clips, the likes, the others, or the equivalents are then inserted around or along the hair-styling device to secure the desired hair style. This technique creates numerous disadvantages during or after repeated or periodic uses, as follows:

- additional hair-holding devices such as pins, clips, the likes, the others, or the equivalents are unsightly, are subject to losing the section of hair intended to be held, pull on the hair and the hair roots, and therefore damage the hair;
- the desired hair style undoes and stray hair strands appear, messing up and diminishing the desired hair style, and often requiring the desired hair style to be redone many times over for each periodic use;
- the desired hair style undoes itself, sags down, looks unfinished and therefore unsightly;
- additional facilities are needed to manufacture additional hair-holding devices such as pins,
- hair clips, the likes, the others, or the equivalents, and these costs are passed along to users.

Therefore, all these inventions teach away from the present invention.

Further, in order for these hair-styling devices to be bent around the hair lock to secure a desired hair style, these devices have to be made substantially longer than the width of the hair roll of the desired style. Further, in order to add fullness to a desired hair style, these hair-styling devices have to be made substantially large in diameter. Further, in order to use these hair-styling devices with enough hair to sufficiently cover these devices and to efficiently secure a desired hair style in place, a user has to have substantially long and thick hair. The longer and larger hair-styling devices create additional disadvantages of extra material, larger molds, extra weight, extra storage space, extra manufacturing costs, and the requirement of having substantially long and thick hair. Therefore, all these inventions teach away from the present invention. Further, the hair-styling devices and methods in U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,482 issued Dec. 1, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,307 issued Mar. 12, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,467 issued Nov. 9, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,485 issued Dec. 1, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,060 issued Feb. 27, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,544 issued Feb. 20, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,127 issued Aug. 27, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,125 issued Oct. 24, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,542 issued Feb. 20, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,159 issued Nov. 7, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,228 issued Oct. 12, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,591 issued Sep. 9, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,549 issued Apr. 3, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 2,133,145 issued Oct. 11, 1938; U.S. Pat. No. 2,459,926 issued Jan. 25, 1949; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,015 issued Aug. 29, 1961 teach a user to use the hair-styling devices to style hair:

- without any bundler to bundle hair up uniquely to prevent hair from going astray and to prevent the hair-styling devices from sliding off hair, and therefore to eliminate the needs for redo the hair style again and again;
- without any bundler to lift hair up uniquely to create gaps to create hair volume;
- without any bundler to prevent hair from falling apart while styling hair to create new, unique, and attractive hair styles, never possible before; and
- without any bundler to interlock hair to prevent unique, attractive hair styles from undoing, so that hair interacts with itself and is self-secured.

Therefore, all these inventions teach away from the present invention.

Further, the above-mentioned inventions teach a user how to use the hair-styling devices to secure hair tightly against a user's hair or head. This technique creates numerous disadvantages during or after repeated or periodic uses, as follows:

- the hair-styling devices will cut and/or damage hair.
- the hair-styling devices will pull on hair, damage hair root, and create unhealthy hair.
- the hair-styling devices will poke head, block blood flow under skin, causing health problem.
  Therefore, all these inventions teach away from the present invention.

Further, in order to handle a spring and levers, the hair-styling devices in the above-mentioned inventions must be stiff and made of material, such as plastic, metal, etc. Therefore, it is slippery, and can not hold onto hair well. As a result, the desired hair style undoes and stray hair strands appear, messing up and diminishing the desired hair style, and often requiring the desired hair style to be redone many times over for each periodic or extended use. Therefore, all these inventions teach away from the present invention.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

In contrast to all the above-mention inventions and all prior arts heretofore, several objects and advantages of the unique hair fashioner of the present invention are:

The unique hair fashioner and unique hair method, with their unique bundler(s), can:

The hair fashioner of the present invention can create a wide variety of new, unique, and attractive hair styles never possible before.

The hair fashioner of the present invention can interlock at least one hair lock. Therefore, hair interacts with itself, is self-secured, and is prevented from going astray. As a result, The hair fashioner of the present invention:

- eliminates the pressure created by the hair-styling devices of the above-mentioned inventions pushing against a user's head to secure desired hair styles;
- eliminates the need for using additional hair-holding devices such as pins, hair clips, the likes, the others, or the equivalents to secure desired hair styles;
- eliminates undue cost for additional facilities to manufacture additional hair-holding devices such as pins, hair clips, the likes, the others, or the equivalents.
- eliminates undue pain, headaches, and the cost of medical treatment for these problems.

Therefore, the present invention teaches away from all the prior arts heretofore.

The hair fashioner of the present invention can solve all the disadvantages of all the prior arts heretofore. It can interlock hair so that hair interacts with itself and is self-secured, eliminating the need to make the hair fashioner longer than the width of each hair lock of desired hair styles to secure the desired hair styles. Therefore, the hair fashioner can be highly compact, saving additional materials, weights, times, spaces, and costs.

The hair fashioner of the present invention uses at least one bundler (for example, an elastic band) to bundle and lift hair up, to create gap(s) between hair and a user's head to create hair volume. As a result, it eliminates the need for large, bulky, long, cumbersome hair-styling devices. It also eliminates the need for thick, long hair to create hair volume. Therefore, the present invention teaches away from all the prior arts heretofore.

Any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner of the present invention can stay away from a user's head, to create gap(s) between hair and a user's head to create hair volume. Thus, it eliminates the need for large, bulky, long, cumbersome hair-styling devices. It also eliminates the need for thick, long hair to create hair volume. Therefore, the present invention teaches away from all the prior arts heretofore.

The hair fashioner of the present invention can be worn on a user's head, partially or fully hidden or exposed (e.g., as an ornament), without causing headache or damaging hair.

The hair fashioner of the present invention can be made of material(s), which is capable of being bent, twisted, or reconfigured into a wide variety of different shapes repeatedly without fracturing, to form a variety of new, unique, and attractive hair styles.

The hair fashioner of the present invention eliminates the need for additional hair holding devices such as pins, hair clips, the likes, the others, or the equivalents to secure the desired hair styles. Therefore, there is no stray hair strands and the hair styles do not come undone, nor sag down, nor look unfinished throughout repeated or periodic uses. As a result, the hair fashioner of the present invention:

- eliminates the need for additional facilities to manufacture additional hair-holding devices such as pins, hair clips, the likes, the others, or the equivalents;
- eliminates undue additional costs involved, which will eventually be passed down to users;

The hair fashioner of the present invention can be worn, floating over or resting on a user's head. The hair fashioner of the present invention can create unique, attractive hair styles:

- a) which can be loose so that hair gracefully drapes into relaxed styles; and/or
- b) which can be tight so that hair sleekly forms into active styles.

The hair fashioner of the present invention can create a wide variety of new, unique, and attractive hair styles, at least one hair tail and/or at least one hair loop of each of which is partially or fully hidden or exposed.

The hair fashioner of the present invention can, further, comprise at least one artificial and/or real hair lock (for example, bundled to any of the unique, attractive hair styles).

The hair fashioner of the present invention can be used easily and quickly by persons of almost any age to create new, unique, attractive hair styles:

- which are free of stray hair strands, look professional, and are secured in place throughout repeated or periodic uses;
- which can be changed easily within the day for different situations and/or for reflecting the different moods of a user without the needs for attending professional salons.

The hair fashioner of the present invention is versatile, inexpensive, compact, comfortable, light, and easy and quick to use:

- It can fasten any hair lock at any section thereof.
- It can create unique, attractive hair styles, the hair of which can be worn relaxed or tight.
- It can, further, comprise at least one of the following, attached or integrated thereto, at at least one predetermined location thereon, in at least one predetermined direction therefrom: relief, opening, recess, inscription, carving, decal, decoration, ornament, printing, embossing, device (for example, scarf), add-on artificial or real hair, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

Other objects and advantages of the hair fashioner of the present invention will become apparent from considering the ensuing drawings and descriptions.

SUMMARY

The hair fashioner of the present invention can be made of material(s), which, partially or fully, is plasticized, non-plasticized, metallic, non-metallic, rigid, semi-rigid, resilient, non-resilient, flexible, non-flexible, stretchable, non-stretchable, elastic, non-elastic, twistable, non-twistable, reconfigurable, non-reconfigurable, bendable, non-bendable, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above:

- For example, the hair fashioner can be made of at least one of the following materials: copper, bronze, steel, paper, leather, iron, rubber, foam, cork, metal, cardboard, wood, fabric, cotton, vinyl, nylon, plastic, polypropylene, aluminum, tin, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.
- For example, the hair fashioner can be made, partially or fully, of material which is capable of being bent, reconfigured, and/or twisted repeatedly without fracturing.

The unique hair fashioner can:

Structure

The unique hair fashioner can style at least one hair lock, for each unique, attractive hair style.

The unique hair fashioner can be worn, floating over or resting on a user's head.

The unique hair fashioner comprises securer(s), bundler(s), and/or attacher(s), as follows:

1) The Securer(s):

Any securer can comprise at least one of the following:

- a) Base(s), disposed at predetermined location(s) on the hair fashioner; and/or
- b) Retainer(s), disposed at predetermined location(s) on the hair fashioner; and/or
- c) Operator(s), disposed at predetermined location(s) on the hair fashioner; and/or
- d) Coupler(s), disposed at predetermined location(s) on the hair fashioner.

Any securer is for securing hair.

2) The Bundler(s):

Any bundler can comprise:

- a) a device, separate from or attached or integrated to the hair fashioner, at predetermined location(s) thereon; and/or
- b) a part and/or portion of the hair fashioner.

Any bundler is for securing hair, by:

- Bundling hair up uniquely to prevent hair from going astray;
- Lifting hair up uniquely to create gap(s) to create hair volume;
- Preventing hair from falling apart while styling hair; and
- Interlocking hair to prevent unique, attractive hair styles from undoing.
  (Note: Any bundler can partially or fully wrap around hair. When hair locks are bundled oppositely, they interlock. Hair can be styled to have at least one hair loop and/or at least one hair tail. Any bundler and/or any base and/or any retainer can secure hair and/or any other bunder(s))
  3) The Attacher(s):

Any attacher can comprise:

Any attacher is for attaching or integrating any part(s) and/or portion(s) of the hair fashioner to each other, releasably or permanently.

Operation

The unique hair method can comprise at least one of the three following steps:

- 1) Bundling at least one hair lock, at least once;
- 2) Disposing at least one hair lock, at least once; and
- 3) securing at least one hair lock, at least once.
  - (Note: a) Any hair lock can be bundled, at least once.
    - For example, a hair lock can be bundled three times: once before steps 2) and 3), once between steps 2) and 3), and once after steps 2) and 3);
  - b) Any hair lock can be disposed, at least once.
    - For example, a hair lock can be disposed two times, at any times;
  - c) Any hair lock can be secured, at least once.
    - For example, a hair lock can be secured once, twice, etc., at any time.)
  - (Note: Any hair lock can be braided, twisted, or a combination thereof, at any time.)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the bottom view of the hair fashioner.

FIG. 2 illustrates the top view of the hair fashioner.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and3C illustrate the dispositions of an elastic section.

FIG. 4A illustrates bundling a hair lock into a hair loop.

FIGS. 4B, 4C, and4D illustrate three unique hair styles.

FIG. 5A illustrates bundling a hair lock into a hair tail.

FIGS. 5B, 5C,5D,5E, and5F illustrate five unique hair styles.

FIG. 6A illustrates bundling two head-side hair locks into a hair loop.

FIGS. 6B and 6C illustrate bundling two hair locks into two hair tails.

FIGS. 6D-6K illustrate a variety of unique hair styles.

FIG. 7A illustrates hair being bundled and lifted up.

FIG. 7B illustrates a prior-art securer with the problem of hair going astray.

FIG. 7C illustrates a prior-art method of styling hair.

FIG. 7D illustrates the unique hair method of styling hair.

FIGS. 8A.8B, and8C illustrate equivalent fashioners, equivalent to the hair fashioner.

FIGS. 8D and 8E illustrate the cross sections of interleaved ridges, teeth, and/or hooks.

FIG. 8F illustrates a separate snap-locking pin.

FIG. 9 illustrates an unique hair style with two twisted hair locks.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate equivalent fashioners, equivalent to the hair fashioner.

FIG. 11 illustrates the end view of a securer with a plurality of tooth rows.

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate two levers, each having the shape of at least one petal.

FIG. 13 illustrates the hair fashioner having two elastic loops,

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate the hair fashioner having an elastic loop.

FIG. 15 illustrates the hair fashioner, with two elastic sections crossing each other.

FIG. 16 illustrates a securer, with an elastic loop hidden therein.

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate two equivalent fashioners, equivalent to the hair fashioner.

FIG. 18 illustrates an elastic section wrapped around a hair lock.

FIG. 19 illustrates one way an elastic loop is hooked on and/or through a securer.

FIG. 20 illustrates one way three elastic loops are hooked on and/or through a securer.

FIG. 21 illustrates an unique hair style with its hair tail disposed horizontally.

FIGS. 22A, 22B, and22C illustrate different views of two unique hair styles.

FIGS. 23A-23D,24A-24D,25A-25G illustrate equivalent fashioners and unique hair styles.

FIGS. 26A-26H illustrate examples of equivalent shapes of parts of the hair fashioner.

FIGS. 27A-27D illustrate examples of equivalent fashioners.

FIGS. 28 and 29 illustrate examples of the unique ways to bundle and to style hair.

FIRST EXAMPLE

Structure

FIG. 1 illustrates the bottom view of the hair fashioner in an open position.FIG. 2 illustrates the top view of the hair fashioner in a closed position. The hair fashioner comprises a securer, a bundler, and attachers, as follows:

1) The Securer:

A securer40 (for example, securer40 can be made of plastic, metal, the like, the other, or a combination of at least two of the above) comprises:

- a) Bases, comprising two bases46. bases46 face each other, for securing hair;
- b) Retainers, comprising teeth or hooks48, which extend beyond the respective edges of bases46, and are interleaved with one another, for securing hair as a plurality of smaller hair locks;
- c) Operators, comprising two levers52. Levers52 extend beyond the respective opposite edges of bases46, opposite to the respective edges where teeth or hooks48 extend beyond. Levers52 extend away from each other, and are for a user to hold on to operate the hair fashioner (e.g., for external force to be applied thereon or removed therefrom to open or close the hair fashioner, respectively); and
- d) Coupler, comprising a spring-loadedhinge50.Hinge50 comprises four perforated lugs, a pin or screw, and a coiled spring. The perforated lugs extend beyond the respective inner-surface areas of levers52, adjacent to bases46. The pin or screw is inserted through two of the perforated lugs, through the coiled spring, and through the other two of the perforated lugs. Two ends of the coiled spring rest on the respective inner surfaces of levers52 to exert the predetermined securing force of the coiled spring thereon.Hinge50 is for coupling bases46;
  2) The Bundler; and
  3) The Attachers:

The bundler comprises an elastic loop41 (For example, elastic loop41 can be a rubber loop covered with predetermined material, so that hair does not get snagged nor damaged by elastic loop41 when hair is in contact with it). Bases46 have four

openings

42,43,44, and45 (which are the attachers) at its four respective ends.

Openings

42,43,44, and45 are for elastic loop41 to be hooked through, so that elastic loop41 is attached to securer40, to define four

elastic sections

54,55,56, and57. As a result,

elastic sections

54 and55 bridge the respective gaps between bases46 (regardless of bases46 being in an open or closed position). The diameter of each of

openings

42,43,44, and45 can be bigger than, equal to, or smaller than that of elastic loop41.

Elastic loop41 is for:

- Bundling hair up uniquely to prevent hair from going astray;
- Lifting hair up uniquely to create gap(s) to create hair volume;
- Preventing hair from falling apart while styling hair; and
- Interlocking hair to prevent unique, attractive hair styles from undoing.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and3C illustrate examples of the side view of the hair fashioner.Elastic section56 and/orelastic section57 can be predeterminedly disposed, to be partially or fully hidden inside or exposed outsidesecurer40.

To open bases46, a predetermined external force is applied on levers52, against the predetermined securing force of the coiled spring. To close bases46, the predetermined external force is removed from levers52.

Note

A drawing symbol of an oval shape with a letter T therein, in any figure from here on, represents the hair fashioner.

Operation

The unique hair method comprises at least one of the three following steps 1), 2), and 3):

- 1) Bundling (at least once, withelastic section54 and/or55 and/or56 and/or57),
  - for example:
  - a) two sections of a hair lock to make a hair loop (as illustrated inFIG. 4A), or
  - b) one section of a hair lock to make a hair tail (as illustrated inFIG. 5A), or
  - c) two head-side hair locks to make a hair loop (as illustrated inFIG. 6A), or
  - d) two respective hair locks to make two hair tails (as illustrated inFIG. 6B), or
  - e) two respective hair locks to make two hair tails (as illustrated inFIG. 6C);
- 2) Disposing (at least once between bases46 and/or between teeth or hooks48); and
- 3) securing (at least once with securer40),
  - for example:
  - a) the hair loop inFIG. 4A to result in the hair styles inFIGS. 4B, 4C,4D (head-back views), or
  - b) the hair tail inFIG. 5A to result in the hair styles inFIGS. 5B, 5C,5D,5E,5F (head-back views), or
  - c) the hair loop inFIG. 6A to result in the hair styles inFIGS. 6D, 6E (head-back views), or
  - d) the hair tails inFIG. 6B to result in the hair style inFIG. 6F (head-back view), or
  - e) the hair tails inFIG. 6C to result in the hair style inFIGS. 6G (end view) and6H (head-back view), or in FIGS.61 (end view) and6J (head-back view).
  - (Note:—The hair style inFIG. 4D has its hair loop secured downward.
    - The hair style inFIG. 5E has its hair tail secured upward.
    - The hair style inFIG. 5F has its hair tail secured downward.
    - The hair loop inFIG. 6A, when styled together with a head-back hair lock, results in the hair style inFIG. 6K.)

Unique Advantages

As a result, some of the advantages of the unique hair fashioner and unique hair method, over all the prior arts heretofore, are as follows:

- a) The resilient force ofelastic sections54,55,56, and57 bundles hair up uniquely.

Therefore, it prevents hair from going astray, and eliminates the problem of hair popping out all along securer40. Plus,

elastic sections

54 and55 bridge the respective gaps between bases46 uniquely (regardless of bases46 being in an open

- - or closed position). Therefore,elastic sections54 and55 prevent hair from going astray, and eliminate the problem of hair popping out of securer40 through the respective gaps, creating the unique, attractive hair styles. This teaches away from all prior arts heretofore.
  - For example,FIG. 7A illustrates a hair lock, bundled and lifted up byelastic section56 or57, in the direction ofarrow95, to prevent it from going astray, to eliminate the problem of hair popping out of securer40, and create hair volume.
  - For example,FIG. 7B illustrates a prior-art clip. Because the prior-art clip does not haveelastic sections54,55,56, and57 to bundle hair up and to bridge the respective gaps between its bases, therefore, when the prior-art clip secures hair, hair will sag down, and will pop out, from between its bases, along its top and bottom, atareas91,92, and93. This undoes the intended hair style and makes it look highly messy, unsightly, unattractive, and snagging-prone.
- b) The resilient force ofelastic sections54,55,56, and57 bundles hair uniquely and lifts hair up uniquely away from a head when securer40 secures hair thereon. Therefore, it creates gap(s) between the hair and the head, creating hair volume, without adding material, hair, weight, or cost, for the attractive hair styles. As a result, the hair fashioner can be compact and can be used with any kind of hair, which is short, long, thin, thick, straight, wavy, etc. This teaches away from all prior arts heretofore.
  - For example,FIGS. 6G and 7A illustrate hair, being lifted up from a head, byelastic sections56 and57 in the direction of arrow94, and byelastic section56 or57 in the direction ofarrow95, respectively, to create gap(s) between the hair and the head, to create hair volume for unique, attractive hair styles.
- c) The resilient force ofelastic sections54,55,56, and57 bundles hair up uniquely. Therefore, it prevents hair from falling apart while styling hair (regardless of bases46 being in an open or closed position). As a result, it allows the unique, attractive hair styles, never possible before, to be created. This teaches away from all prior arts heretofore.
  - For example,FIG. 7C illustrates a prior-art method of styling hair. In order for a prior-art clip to secure ahair section97, a hand must hold hair outsidehair section97. As a result,hair section97 will spread out and go astray when secured. Plus, when bases46 are in an open position, because hair is not bundled with any bundler, as soon as the hand releases hair, hair will fall apart and go astray. This makes it impossible to create intended hair styles. In contrast, for example,FIG. 7D illustrates the unique method of styling hair. The hair fashioner useselastic section56 to bundlehair section97. As a result, hair will not spread out, will not go astray, and will not fall apart. This makes it possible to create unique, attractive hair styles.
- d) The resilient force ofelastic sections54,55,56, and57 bundles hair up uniquely. Therefore, hair is interlocked, secured to elastic loop41, and thus secured to the hair fashioner, preventing the hair fashioner from sliding off hair. As a result, the hair fashioner secures the unique, attractive hair styles, and prevents the unique, attractive hair styles from undoing. This teaches away from all prior arts heretofore.
  - For example,FIG. 7B illustrates the prior-art clip and method of styling hair. Because the prior-art slippery clip does not have any bundler, it can not bundle hair up and secure it like the hair fashioner with elastic loop41 can, therefore, hair will always sag down and pop out, from between its bases, along its top and bottom, atareas91,92, and93. This undoes the intended hair style and makes it look highly messy, unsightly, and snagging-prone. As a result, this frustratingly requires a user to restyle hair again and again.
  - In contrast, for example,FIGS. 5B, 6A,6G illustrate the hair fashioner, with a bundler which is elastic loop41, bundling hair up and interlocking hair, preventing it from going astray and eliminating the problem of hair popping out of securer40, atareas91,92, and93. As a result, the hair fashioner can create unique, attractive hair styles, secure them, and prevent them from undoing.

Equivalents

A) Hair Fashioner:

The hair fashioner can be partially or fully elastic or non-elastic.

The hair fashioner can be partially or fully resilient or non-resilient.

For example, the hair fashioner can be partially elastic, plastic, and/or metallic.

For example, the hair fashioner can be partially elastic and partially plastic.

The hair fashioner can be secured at any predetermined location on a head.

The hair fashioner can be secured in any predetermined direction from a head.

For example, over or on a head, the hair fashioner can be secured upside down, right side up, upwards, downwards, inwards, outwards, sidewards, parallel, longitudinally, diagonally, horizontally, on its side(s), and/or on its edge(s).

For example, a bow, a flower, etc. can be attached or integrated to the hair fashioner.

For example, the hair fashioner can have at least one opening or recess.

An equivalent fashioner, equivalent to the hair fashioner, can comprise any combination of any part(s) and/or portion(s) from the unique hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents.

An equivalent method, equivalent to the unique hair method, can comprise any combination of any step(s) from the unique hair method and/or any of its equivalents.

The three following examples illustrate three equivalent fashioners and three equivalent methods:

Example A:FIG. 8A illustrates an equivalent fashioner, equivalent to the hair fashioner in the first example. The equivalent fashioner comprises the hair fashioner in the first example, withhinge50 and levers52 disposed, instead, at the respective ends of bases46. Equivalently, the unique method in the first example can be applied to the equivalent fashioner to style hair.

Example B:FIG. 8B illustrates an equivalent fashioner in an open position. The equivalent fashioner is equivalent to the hair fashioner in the first example. The equivalent fashioner comprises a securer, bundlers, and attachers, as follows:

1) The Securer:

The securer comprises:

- a) Bases, comprising two bases. The bases can be predeterminedly parallel or not parallel with the curvature of a head when secured thereon (For example, at least one predetermined section of each of the bases predeterminedly curves away from a head when secured thereon, to create gap(s) between the bases and the head, to lift hair up to create hair volume). The bases have respective openings and respective ends, which are attachers;
- b) Retainers, comprising the edge(s) and/or side(s) of the bases;
- c) Operators, comprising the equivalent fashioner, for a user to hold on to use it; and
- d) Coupler, comprising asquare pin87 and a mating square opening88.Square pin87 extends beyond the inner surface of one of the bases or the bundlers, and has a snap-lock at its end. Mating square opening88 is disposed in another of the bases or the bundlers. The snap-lock can be inserted through mating square opening88, so thatsquare pin87 is releasably snap-locked therein, to couple the bases or the bundlers;
  2) The Bundlers; and
  3) The Attachers:

The bundlers comprise twoelastic loops98 and twoelastic loops99. Twoelastic loops98 are separate. Twoelastic loops99 are tied together and attached to the respective bases, by being hooked through the respective openings therein and by being hooked on the respective ends thereof.

The unique hair method comprises at least one of the three following steps:

- Bundling hair withelastic loops98 and99 (elastic loops99 and the bases, functioning as retainers, secureelastic loops98 in place);
- Disposing hair between the bases, by turning the bases indirections36 and37; and
- Securing hair by releasably snap-lockingsquare pin87 in mating square opening88 to secure the equivalent fashioner in a closed position.
  - Hair between opposite hair locks is automatically bundled byelastic loops99. As a result, a unique u-shape-hair-lock style is created.

Example C:FIG. 8C illustrates an equivalent fashioner in an open position. The equivalent fashioner is equivalent to the hair fashioner in the first example. The equivalent fashioner comprises a securer, bundlers, and attachers, as follows:

1) The Securer:

The securer comprises:

- a) Bases, comprising two bases. The bases can be predeterminedly parallel or not parallel with the curvature of a head when secured thereon (For example, at least one predetermined section of each of the bases predeterminedly curves away from a head when secured thereon, to create gap(s) between the bases and the head, to lift hair up to create hair volume). The bases have respective openings, respective hooks, respective hinges, and respective snap-locks, which are attachers;
- b) Retainers, comprising interleaved ridges, teeth, and/or hooks81;
- c) Operators, comprising the equivalent fashioner, for a user to hold on to use it; and
- d) Coupler, comprising a square pin86 and a mating square opening89. Square pin86 extends beyond the inner surface of one of the bases or the bundlers, and has a snap-lock at its end. Mating square opening89 is disposed in another of the bases or the bundlers. The snap-lock can be inserted through mating opening89, so that pin86 is releasably snap-locked therein, to couple the bases or the bundlers;
  2) The Bundlers; and
  3) The Attachers:
- The bundlers compriseelastic loops82 and83 and clasps84 and85, which are equivalent toelastic sections54,55,56, and57. Each ofclasps84 and85 is attached to one of the bases by one respective hinge and one respective snap-lock at respective ends thereof. Each ofelastic loops82 and83 is attached to both of the bases, by being hooked through the respective openings therein and by being hooked on the respective hooks thereof. Interleaved ridges, teeth, and/or hooks81 extend beyond the respective facing surfaces ofclasps84 and85 and the bases (For example,FIGS. 8D and 8E illustrate two examples of the cross section of interleaved ridges, teeth, and/or hooks81, extending beyond the respective facing surfaces ofclasp84 and one of the bases). Each ofclasps84 and85 is capable of being releasably snap-locked to one of the bases to bundle hair therebetween.

The unique hair method comprises at least one of the three following steps:

- Bundling hair withclasps84 and85;
- Disposing hair between the bases, by turning the bases indirections38 and39; and
- Securing hair by releasably snap-locking square pin86 in mating square opening89 to secure the equivalent fashioner in a closed position.
  - Hair between opposite hair locks is automatically bundled byelastic loops82 and83. As a result, a unique u-shape-hair-lock style is created.

If desired, further, the unique hair method comprises the step of:

- Bundling hair with at least one separate elastic loop (clasps84 and85 and the bases, functioning as retainers, secure the at least one separate elastic loop in place). (Note: Square pin86 and mating square opening89 can be replaced with a separate square pin (FIG. 8F) and two mating square openings (each disposed in one of the bases or the bundlers), for the separate square pin to be snap-locked therein.)

B) Hair Lock:

The hair fashioner can style at least one hair lock, for each unique, attractive hair style. Each hair lock can come from any predetermined location on a head.

For example, the hair fashioner can style at least one hair lock coming from: the opposite sides of a head, the opposite halves of a head, the upper and/or lower halves of a head, or the top and/or the back of a head, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

Any hair lock can be styled in any predetermined direction from a head.

Any hair lock can be bundled and/or disposed and/or secured in any direction from a head.

For example, any hair lock can be bundled and/or disposed and/or secured upside down, right side up, upwards, downwards, inwards, outwards, sidewards, parallel, longitudinally, diagonally, horizontally, on its side(s), on its edge(s), and/or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example, a plurality of hair locks can be styled so that they are parallel to each other, angular to each other, linear to each other, across each other,

For example, the hair locks inFIGS. 8B and 8C can be bundled and/or disposed and/or secured in the opposite directions from those of the hair locks illustrated therein.

For example, any hair lock can be secured as a plurality of smaller hair locks, e.g., by teeth.

For example, any hair lock can partially or fully be wrapped around any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner in any direction.

Each time the unique hair method is applied, it comprises at least one of the three following:

a) bundling at least one hair lock, at least once;

b) disposing at least one hair lock, at least once; and

c) securing at least one hair lock, at least once.

For example, the unique method comprises at least one of the three following steps:

- 1) Bundling a hair lock, four times (once with a separate elastic loop before steps 2) and 3), once withelastic section56 or57 before steps 2) and 3), once withelastic section54 or55 between steps 2) and 3), once withelastic section54 or55 after steps 2) and 3));
- 2) Disposing the hair lock, two times (between parts of securer40); and
- 3) securing the hair lock in place (with securer40).

Any hair lock can be braided, twisted, or a combination thereof, at any time.

For example,FIG. 9 illustrates two hair locks from the left and right halves of a head. The two hair locks are twisted before applying the unique method.

C) Base:

The hair fashioner can have at least one base. Each base can have any predetermined shape and size. Each base can be disposed at any predetermined location on the hair fashioner.

For example, any base of the hair fashioner can have the general shape of a waned moon, a waxed moon, a rectangular, a curved rectangular, a square, a curved square, etc.

A plurality of part(s) and/or portion(s) of the hair fashioner can be parallel or not parallel with each other.

For example, two rows of teeth or hooks48 can be parallel or not parallel with each other.

For example, each of teeth or hooks48 can project in any predetermined direction.

Any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner can be parallel or not parallel with a head's curvature.

For example,FIGS. 10A and 10B each illustrate a base of the hair fashioner. The edge of the base, where teeth or hooks extend beyond, is not parallel with the curvature of a head.

For example, the edge of each base of the hair fashioner, where teeth or hooks extend beyond, can be not parallel with the curvature of a head when the hair fashioner is secured thereon, so that the edge is, for example, straight, wavy, slanted, curved, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example, at least one part and/or at least one portion of the hair fashioner can raise, move, bend, or curve away from a head when the hair fashioner is secured thereon, to create gap(s) between the hair fashioner and the head, to lift hair up to create hair volume or hair fullness for new, unique, and attractive hair styles.

D) Retainer:

The hair fashioner can have at least one retainer. Each retainer can have any predetermined shape and size. Each retainer can be disposed at any predetermined location on the hair fashioner.

For example, a securer, equivalent to securer40, can have a plurality of teeth or hooks. At least one of the teeth or hooks can have at least one opening, at least one recess, wavy edge(s), the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example, a securer, equivalent to securer40, can have a plurality of teeth or hooks. At least one of the teeth or hooks can be straight, slanted, curved, split like a fork, perforated, wavy, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example, a securer, equivalent to securer40, can have a plurality of teeth or hooks. At least one of the teeth or hooks can be any tooth described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,544.

Any retainer can comprise knot, ridge, ring, tooth, hook, surface, side, edge, end, opening, recess, tip, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example,FIG. 11 illustrates the end view ofsecurer40.Securer40, further, comprises two additional rows of teeth or hooks disposed on its respective inner surfaces.

E) Coupler:

The hair fashioner can have at least one coupler. Each coupler can have any predetermined shape and size. Each coupler can be disposed at any predetermined location on the hair fashioner.

For example, a spring-loaded hinge, equivalent to hinge50, can have at least one spring. Each spring can be coiled, annular (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,060, filed Feb. 24, 1995), the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example, a coupler, equivalent to hinge50, can comprise hinge, spring-loaded hinge, coiled or annular spring functioning as a hinge, snap-locking pin, pin, latch, loop, string, magnet, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example, the hair fashioner can have at least one coupler. Each of the at least one coupler can comprise at least one snap-lock and/or at least one snap-lock pin and/or at least one pin and/or at least one mating opening and/or recess (e.g., inFIGS. 8B and 8C), each of which can have any shape and size and can be disposed at any predetermined location, in any predetermined direction from the hair fashioner.

F) Operator:

The hair fashioner can have at least one operator. Each operator can have any predetermined shape and size. Each operator can be disposed at any predetermined location on the hair fashioner.

For example,FIG. 12A illustrates the top view of an equivalent securer, which is equivalent to securer40. The equivalent securer has two equivalent levers, which are equivalent to levers52. Each of the two equivalent levers has the shape of three petals.

For example,FIG. 12B illustrates the top view of an equivalent securer, which is equivalent to securer40. The equivalent securer has two equivalent levers, which are equivalent to levers52. The two equivalent levers together have the shape of a blooming flower.

For example, the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 8A can have its two levers replaced with the ends of its bases, so that its bases are its levers and function as its levers. If desired, further, its spring can be replaced with a lock, attached or integrated to the two respective ends of its bases (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,485, filed Aug. 18, 1997).

G) Bundler:

The hair fashioner can have at least one bundler. Each bundler can have any predetermined shape and size. Each bundler can be disposed at any predetermined location on the hair fashioner.

For example, a bundler, equivalent to elastic loop41, can comprise loop, string, clasp, latch, strap, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example, a bundler, equivalent to elastic loop41, can comprise an elastic or non-elastic loop, an elastic or non-elastic string, an elastic or non-elastic clasp, an elastic or non-elastic latch, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example, a bundler, equivalent to elastic loop41, can comprise an elastic loop or string, at least one section of which is glued to at least one base.

For example, a bundler, equivalent to elastic loop41, can comprise an elastic loop covered with elastic or non-elastic material, or can comprise an elastic string covered with elastic or non-elastic material with the two ends of the elastic string coupled together.

For example,FIG. 13 illustrates two bundlers, both of which are equivalent to elastic loop41. The two equivalent bundlers are attached to securer40 the same way elastic loop41 is attached thereto.

For example, a bundler, equivalent to elastic loop41, can comprise

clasp

84 or85, which is illustrated inFIG. 8C.

Any bundler can comprise:

For example, if desired, each of the two separate loops of the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 8B can be tied to one of the two attached loops thereof.

At least one bundler can be attached or integrated to a securer and/or other bundler(s).

For example,FIG. 14A illustrates the hair fashioner having an elastic string, which is equivalent to and replaces elastic loop41. The elastic string has two ends and a mid section, all of which function as attachers.

The two ends are hooked through four

openings

42,43,44, and45. One of the two ends is hooked on the mid section and glued or tied to the other one of the two ends, so that the elastic string becomes an elastic loop, and is attached to securer40.

For example,FIG. 14B illustrates the hair fashioner having two elastic loops, which are equivalent to and replace elastic loop41. Each of the elastic loops has first and second ends. The two first ends are hooked on each other or tied together or otherwise coupled, so that they are attached to each other. One second end is hooked through four

openings

42,43,44, and45 and attached to the other second end, by being tied together, by using an attacher (for example, a letter-s hook or a letter-o hook), or by using other coupling method, so that the two elastic loops are coupled, and are attached to securer40.

Any bundler can have base(s), retainer(s), operator(s), coupler(s), and/or attacher(s) disposed at predetermined location(s) thereon.

For example,FIG. 8C illustrates the equivalent fashioner, having interleaved ridges, teeth, and/or hooks81 disposed on

clasps

84 and85.

Any bundler can cross itself and/or any other part(s) and/or portion(s) of the hair fashioner.

For example,FIG. 15 illustrates the hair fashioner, having an elastic loop, which is equivalent to and replaces elastic loop41. The elastic loop crosses itself.

Any bundler can be partially or fully hidden inside or exposed outside the hair fashioner.

For example,FIG. 16 illustrates the bottom view of an equivalent securer, equivalent to securer40. The equivalent securer has four rings, teeth, or hooks96, which are equivalent to and replace four

openings

42,43,44, and45. Four rings, teeth, or hooks96 are molded to and extend beyond the bases of the equivalent securer, at predetermined locations thereon, for an elastic loop (which is equivalent to elastic loop41) to be hooked thereon and/or therethrough, so that the elastic loop is attached to and hidden inside the equivalent securer.

For example,

Elastic sections

54,55,56, and57 can be predeterminedly disposed on bases46, so that either one of

elastic sections

54,55,56, and57 can be partially or fully hidden inside or exposed outsidesecurer40.

For example,FIG. 17A illustrates the hair fashioner with elastic loop41, hooked through four

openings

42,43,44, and45 in a predetermined way, so that

elastic sections

54 and55 are hidden inside securer40 and

elastic sections

56 and57 are exposed outsidesecurer40.

For example,FIG. 17B illustrates the side view of an equivalent securer, equivalent to securer40. Each base of the equivalent securer has the shape of petals and four openings or recesses therein, for an elastic loop to be hooked thereon and/or therethrough to be partially or fully hidden or exposed.

When bundling hair, any hair lock can be wrapped partially or fully around at least once with at least one bundler.

For example,FIG. 7D illustrateselastic section56, wrapped fully around a hair lock, twice.

For example,FIG. 18 illustrates

elastic section

54 or55, wrapped fully around a hair lock, once.

H) Attacher:

The hair fashioner can have at least one attacher. Each attacher can have any predetermined shape and size. Each attacher can be disposed at any predetermined location on the hair fashioner.

Any attacher can comprise:

For example, an attacher can comprise heat (to mold and/or weld parts together), glue, a hinge, a lock (e.g., the snap-lock inFIG. 8C), an opening, a recess, a hook, a ring, a clamp (e.g., a folded sheet of material to clamp or to otherwise secure elastic-string ends or elastic-loop ends together), a knot, a ridge, a surface, a side, an edge, a tooth, a snap-lock, a press-lock, a rivet, a section of a loop, a section of a string, any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example, inFIG. 1, an attacher can comprise at least one portion of bases46, at least one portion of teeth or hooks48, at least one portion of levers52, at least one portion of the lug ofhinge50, at least one portion of the spring ofhinge50, at least one portion of the pin or screw ofhinge50, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above, for at least one bundler (for example, elastic loop(s), string(s), clasp(s)) to be hooked thereon and/or therethrough, to be tied thereto, to be attached or integrated thereto, or to be otherwise secured thereto, so that the at least one bundler is attached or integrated to securer40.

For example, any section of an elastic loop or string can be hooked through at least one of

openings

42,43,44, and45 in securer40 inFIG. 1, and can be tied into at least one knot, which is an attacher, so that the elastic loop or string is attached to securer40.

For example, as inFIG. 8C, an attacher can comprise at least one opening or recess and/or at least one hook disposed at predetermined locations on the equivalent fashioner. Any section of any bundler of the equivalent fashioner (for example, any section of an elastic loop or string) can be hooked through the at least one opening or recess and/or hooked on the at least one hook, so that the bundler is attached to the equivalent fashioner.

For example, an attacher can comprise at least one of

openings

42,43,44, and45 in securer40 inFIG. 1. The diameter of either one of

openings

42,43,44, and45 can be bigger or smaller than that of an elastic loop or string, which is hooked therethrough, so that the elastic loop or string can move freely or can be secured therein, respectively.

For example,FIG. 19 illustrates an elastic loop, equivalent to elastic loop41. This elastic loop is hooked on and/or through the spring and bases of an equivalent securer, which is equivalent to securer40.

For example,FIG. 20 illustrates securer40. At least one elastic loop, equivalent to elastic loop41, replaces it. The at least one elastic loop is hooked on and/or through bases46.

Further, if desired, at least one additional elastic loop can be hooked on and/or through the coiled spring ofhinge50, so that the at least one elastic loop and the at least one additional elastic loop combined are equivalent to elastic loop41.

Note

Each section of each of the unique, attractive hair styles can be bundled and/or disposed and/or secured, at any predetermined location on a head, in any predetermined direction from a head (for example, upside down, right side up, upwards, downwards, inwards, outwards, sidewards, parallel, longitudinally, diagonally, horizontally, on its side(s), and/or on its edge(s)).

For example, the hair tail inFIG. 5B can be disposed horizontally, as illustrated inFIG. 21.

For example, the hair loop and hair tail inFIG. 4D can be disposed horizontally.

SECOND EXAMPLE

Using the same hair fashioner in the first example, the unique hair method can comprise at least one of the two following steps:

- Bundling two hair locks, with two separate elastic loops; and
- Bundling two hair locks, withelastic sections56,57 to create two hair tails (as illustrated inFIG. 22A (end view)).

THIRD EXAMPLE

- Bundling two hair locks, with two separate elastic loops; and
- Bundling two hair locks, withelastic sections56,57 to create two hair loops (as illustrated inFIG. 22B (end view) andFIG. 22C (head-back view)).

Conclusion

While only some examples of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to those, but extends to a wide range of equivalents.

The hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can comprise the following a), b), and/or c):

- a) at least one securer, which comprises at least one of the following:
  - at least one base, and/or
  - at least one retainer, and/or
  - at least one operator, and/or
  - at least one coupler;
- b) at least one bundler; and/or
- c) at least one attacher.

Some other examples of the hair fashioner and its equivalents are as follows:

The hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents could also be used with doll's hair, string, thread, lace, scarf, ribbon, etc.; and/or could also be used for purposes other than styling hair, such as creating patterns on curtains, drapes, etc.

The hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be, partially or fully, made of or covered with material(s), which, partially or fully, is plasticized, non-plasticized, metallic, non-metallic, rigid, semi-rigid, resilient, non-resilient, flexible, non-flexible, stretchable, non-stretchable, elastic, non-elastic, twistable, non-twistable, reconfigurable, non-reconfigurable, bendable, non-bendable, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example, the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be covered with at least one of the following materials: copper, bronze, steel, paper, leather, iron, rubber, foam, cork, tin, metal, cardboard, wood, fabric, cotton, vinyl, nylon, plastic, aluminum, polypropylene, etc.

Any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be disposed at any predetermined location on a head, in any predetermined direction from a head.

The hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be worn, floating over or resting on a head.

For example, any part and/or portion of any base, retainer, operator, coupler, bundler, or attacher of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can project, raise, or be disposed outwards from, away from, toward, parallel with, along, in an angle from, or in opposite direction from any other part and/or other portion thereof.

For example, any base, retainer, operator, coupler, bundler, or attacher of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be hooked on and/or through, tied to, glued to, attached or integrated to, or otherwise secured to any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents

For example,FIGS. 23A (perspective view) and23B (end view) illustrate an equivalent fashioner equivalent tohair fashioner40. The equivalent fashioner comprises a base100, aretainer101 attached or integrated to an edge of base100, a plurality ofretainers105 such as two rows of opposite or interleaved teeth or hooks attached or integrated to another edge of base100, a bundler such as an attachedelastic loop102 hooked on base100 to be attached thereto, and two separate bundlers such aselastic loops103. Each of

retainers

101 and105 can partially or fully cover at least one respective edge of base100. The

predetermined edges

130 and132 of

retainers

101 and105, respectively, can, for example, project upwards, downwards, inwards, outwards, sidewards, parallel, longitudinally, diagonally, and/or horizontally (for example, edges130 and132 andloop102 together secureelastic loops103 in place when they bundle hair). If desired, further, thepredetermined curvature104 of the teeth or hooks can generally match or not match the curvature of a user's head.

The equivalent fashioner can create unique, attractive hair styles, for example:

The equivalent fashioner, for example:

- a) can be worn, floating over or resting on a head, to create different gap sizes between hair and the head, to create different hair volumes; and/or
- b) can be worn in any direction from a user's head (for example:
  - it can be worn upside down withretainer101 floating over or resting on a head andretainers105 securing opposite hair locks as a plurality of smaller hair locks, creating a look of instant hair braiding;
  - it can be worn right side up withretainers105 floating over or resting on a head andretainers101 floating over or resting on a head; or
  - it can be worn with at least one ofretainers101 and105 on at least one of their sides or edges, floating over or resting on a head).

As illustrated inFIGS. 22A, 22B, and22C, to create unique, attractive hair styles (each of which can have at least one hair loop and/or at least one hair tail partially or fully hidden or exposed), the unique hair method can be applied, which comprises the step of bundling at least one hair lock, at least once.

Each hair lock can come from any predetermined location on a head (for example, from: one of the opposite sides of a head, one of the opposite halves of a head, one of the upper and/or lower halves of a head, or one of the top and/or the back of a head, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above).

FIGS. 23C and 23D illustrate two examples of the unique, attractive hair styles with hair locks coming from the opposite halves of a head and coming from the opposite sides of a head, respectively.

For example,elastic loop102 of the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A above can be replaced with at least one elastic loop, which can be hooked on and/or throughretainer101,retainer105, and/or base100, at any predetermined location(s) thereon.

For example,FIGS. 24A, 24B illustrate an equivalent fashioner equivalent to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A, and an example of unique, attractive hair styles. The equivalent fashioner comprises two bases attached or integrated to each other at both of their ends to define an opening or recess therebetween, two retainers attached or integrated to the two bases, and at least one bundler such as at least one elastic loop hooked on and/or through the two bases to be attached thereto. The unique hair method applied inFIG. 23A can be applied to create unique, attractive hair styles.

For example,FIGS. 24C and 24D illustrate an equivalent fashioner equivalent to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A, and an example of unique, attractive hair styles. The equivalent fashioner comprises two bases attached or integrated to each other at one of their ends to define an opening or recess therebetween, two retainers attached or integrated to the two bases, and at least one bundler attached thereto. The unique hair method applied inFIG. 23A can be applied to create unique, attractive hair styles.

For example,FIG. 25A illustrates an equivalent fashioner equivalent to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A. The equivalent fashioner comprises a base, two opposite retainers attached or integrated to the opposite edges of the base, four attachers such as four openings or recesses at the two ends of the base, and at least one bundler such as two elastic loops hooked on and/or through the four openings or recesses to be attached to the base. The unique hair method applied inFIG. 23A can be applied to either one of the two opposite elastic loops or both, to create unique, attractive hair styles.

For example,FIG. 25B illustrates an equivalent fashioner equivalent to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A. The equivalent fashioner comprises a base, a retainer encircling and attached or integrated to the edges of the base, four attachers such as four openings or recesses at the two ends of the base, and at least one bundler such as two elastic loops hooked on and/or through the four openings or recesses to be attached to the base. At least one section of the two elastic loops lays outside the base and/or the retainer (for example,sections106 lays outside the base and the retainer to lift hair up further to create more hair volume). The unique hair method applied inFIG. 23A can be applied to either one of the two elastic loops or both, to create unique, attractive hair styles.

For example,FIGS. 25C (side view) and25D (end view) illustrate an equivalent fashioner equivalent to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A. The equivalent fashioner comprises a base, a retainer107 attached or integrated to an edge of the base, two attachers such as two openings or recesses at two predetermined base ends108 of the base, and at least one bundler such as an elastic loop hooked on and/or through the two openings or recesses to be attached to the base. At least one part and/or at least one portion of the equivalent fashioner (for example, either one of two base ends108 or both) can be made sufficiently large to lift hair up to create hair volume. The unique hair method applied inFIG. 23A can be applied to create unique, attractive hair styles.

For example,FIG. 25E illustrates an equivalent fashioner equivalent to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A. The equivalent fashioner comprises a predetermined base having the shape of a ring with an opening orrecess110 therein, two predetermined attachers such as two openings or recesses disposed at the two base ends of the base, and at least one predetermined bundler such as an attached elastic loop which is hooked on and/or through the two openings or recesses to be attached to the base (for example, the attached elastic loop can generally stay above, at, or below the level of opening or recess110).

FIG. 25F illustrates an example of how to hold the equivalent fashioner to enlarge opposite bundlingopenings109 between the attached elastic loop and the base to easily style hair. The unique hair method applied inFIG. 23A can be applied to create unique, attractive hair styles.

The hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can have at least one opening or recess. Each opening or recess can have any predetermined shape and size. Each opening or recess can be disposed at any predetermined location thereon, in any predetermined direction therefrom.

For example, the equivalent fashioner in either one ofFIGS. 25A-25C,26A-26H,27A-27C can have at least one opening or recess (e.g., like opening orrecess110 inFIG. 25E) therein.

For example, the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 25E has opening orrecess110 therein.

For example, the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can have one, two, three, or four openings or recesses (e.g., like opening orrecess110 inFIG. 25E). Each opening or recess can have any predetermined shape and size. Each opening or recess can be disposed at any predetermined location on and in any predetermined direction from the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents.

The hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can have

- at least one separate bundler and/or
- at least one attached or integrated bundler
  disposed at any predetermined location(s) thereon, in any predetermined direction(s) therefrom.

For example, the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can have at least one separate loop, clasp, the like, the other, or the equivalent and/or at least one attached loop, clasp, the like, the other, or the equivalent for bundling hair.

For example, the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can have one, two, three, four, five, or six elastic loops attached or integrated to its base(s).

For example, an equivalent fashioner, equivalent to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A can comprise the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 25E except that, the base does not have opening orrecess110. Instead, the base is solid.

For example, the equivalent fashioner inFIGS. 25A or25B can further comprise two separate elastic loops. When bundling hair, each of the two separate elastic loops can stay above , between (e.g., inFIG. 25A), or under (e.g., inFIG. 25B) the two attached elastic loops to create different hair volumes of unique, attractive hair styles.

For example, the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be worn, floating over or resting on a head, to create different gap sizes, to create different hair volumes.

For example, the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 25E can further comprise two separate elastic loops, each of which bundles at least one hair lock. When the attached elastic loop bundles the at least one hair lock, its resilient force automatically bundles the two separate elastic loops generally into opening orrecess110, so that the base, functioning as an attacher or a retainer, attaches or secures the two separate elastic loops to the equivalent fashioner. As a result, the base, also functioning as an attacher or a retainer, attaches or secures the two separate elastic loops and, therefore, hair to the equivalent fashioner.

For example,FIG. 25G illustrates an equivalent fashioner equivalent to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A. The equivalent fashioner is similar to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 25E except that, it, further, comprises:

- at least one predetermined retainer such as a tooth or hook111 attached or integrated thereto, at any predetermined location thereon, in any predetermined direction therefrom, for at least one of the at least one predetermined bundler, hair, etc. to be hooked thereon and/or therethrough to be attached thereto, and/or
- at least one addition bundler such as an elastic loop113 (which is equivalent to teeth or hooks48 inFIG. 6G orelastic loop83 inFIG. 8C) attached or integrated thereto, for bundling hair (for example, for bundling hair loop(s) and/or hair tail(s)).

The tip of any predetermined retainer can be enlarged, bent, curved, or otherwise shaped, in any predetermined direction therefrom.

For example, thetip112 of the tooth or hook111 inFIG. 25G can be enlarged or curved to secure bundler(s), hair, etc. on the tooth or hook111 more securely.

The hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be made in at least one color.

The hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be made integrally or separately (modular or in sections).

The curvature of any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can match or not match the curvature of a user's head.

The cross section of any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can have any predetermined shape and size.

Any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can have any predetermined shape and size.

For example, any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be solid, hollow, perforated, having opening or recess, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example, inFIG. 25E, the base is perforated to create opening orrecess110.

For example, the cross section of a portion or an entirety of any base, retainer, operator, coupler, bundler, or attacher of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be generally round, generally oval, generally triangular, generally rectangular, generally square, generally trapezoidal, generally hollow, generally solid, or generally arched.

For example,FIGS. 26A-26H illustrate some examples of any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents, such as, a portion or an entirety of any base, retainer, operator, coupler, bundler, or attacher, which can have a shape selected from a group consisting of: wave(s), butterfly(s), bow(s), water drop(s), bulb(s), oval(s), interleaved or opposite teeth or hook(s), ring(s), rectangle(s), circle(s), triangle(s), square(s), moon(s), the like, the other, the equivalent, and a combination of at least two of the above.

The hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can have at least one bundler to be attached or integrated thereto to create at least one bundling opening between the at least one bundler and the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents, for hair to be inserted therethrough to be bundled therein. Each bundling opening can have any predetermined shape and size. Each bundling opening can be disposed at any predetermined location on the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents, in any predetermined direction from the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents.

The unique hair method and/or any of its equivalents can comprise any combination of any step(s) from the unique hair method and/or any of its equivalents.

The hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can comprise any combination of any part(s) and/or portion(s) from the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents.

Any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be attached or integrated to any part(s) and/or portion(s) of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents, at any predetermined location thereon, in any predetermined direction therefrom, in any predetermined way, releasably or permanently.

Any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be worn partially or fully hidden or exposed.

Any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can comprise and/or can be replaced with and/or can exchange position with and/or can function like any part(s) and/or portion(s) of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents.

For example,FIG. 27A illustrates the end view of an equivalent fashioner equivalent to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A. The equivalent fashioner comprises a base, two retainers (one attached or integrated to an edge of the base, and another one attached or integrated to the body of the base), and at least one attached bundler such as two elastic loops hooked on the edge(s) and/or side(s) of the base to be attached to the base (the base also functions as an attacher). The unique hair method applied inFIG. 23A can be applied to either one of the two elastic loops or both, to create unique, attractive hair styles. Further, if desired, the equivalent fashioner can comprise at least one separate bundler such as two separateelastic loops120. When bundling hair, the two elastic loopssecure loops120.

For example, the equivalent fashioner inFIGS. 25A, 25B, or25C can, further, comprise at least one separate bundler such as two separate elastic loops for bundling hair.

For example,FIG. 27B illustrates the end view of an equivalent fashioner equivalent to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A. The equivalent fashioner comprises a base, a retainer attached or integrated to the body of the base, and at least one attached bundler such as two elastic loops hooked on the edge(s) and/or side(s) of the base to be attached to the base (the base also functions as an attacher). The unique hair method applied inFIG. 23A can be applied to either one of the two elastic loops or both, to create unique, attractive hair styles.

Further, if desired, the equivalent fashioner can comprise at least one separate bundler such as two separateelastic loops121 for bundling hair.

For example,FIG. 27C illustrates the end view of an equivalent fashioner equivalent to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A. The equivalent fashioner comprises a base, and at least one attached bundler such as two elastic loops hooked on the edge(s) and/or side(s) of the base to be attached to the base (the base also functions as an attacher). The unique hair method applied inFIG. 23A can be applied to either one of the two elastic loops or both, to create unique, attractive hair styles.

Further, if desired, the equivalent fashioner can comprise at least one separate bundler such as two separate elastic loops for bundling hair.

Further, if desired, the equivalent fashioner can comprise at least one retainer such as the edge(s) and/or side(s) of the base for securing hair (the base also functions as a retainer).

For example,FIG. 27D illustrates an equivalent fashioner equivalent to the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 23A. The equivalent fashioner comprises a base having an opening therein running its full length (the base is a tube), and at least one attached bundler such as a number-8-shape elastic loop or two elastic loops hooked through the opening in the base to be attached to the base (the base also functions as an attacher). The unique hair method applied inFIG. 23A can be applied to the elastic loop(s), to create unique, attractive hair styles. Further, if desired, the equivalent fashioner can comprise at least one separate bundler such as two separate elastic loops for bundling hair.

For example, either a partial or whole base, a partial or whole retainer, a partial or whole operator, a partial or whole coupler, a partial or whole bundler, or a partial or whole attacher of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can comprise and/or can be replaced with and/or can exchange position with and/or can function like either hook, ring, clamp, knot, ridge, surface, side, edge, tooth, snap-lock, press-lock, rivet, end, ring, tip, hinge, spring-loaded hinge, coiled or annular spring, snap-locking pin, pin, spring, latch, loop, string, magnet, clasp, latch, strap, glue, lock, opening, recess, the like, the other, the equivalent, or a combination of at least two of the above.

For example, a coupler, equivalent to bothhinge50 and levers52 in the first example, can replace them. The coupler can comprise a magnet and a metal piece, each attached to one of bases46 with attaching device, such as glue. The magnet can be releasably attached to the metal piece to releasably couple bases46 together.

For example, any bundler of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can comprise at least one elastic loop. To be attached to the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents:

- the at least one elastic loop can be wrapped on, hooked on, hooked through, tied to, glued on, attached or integrated to, and/or otherwise secured to any part and/or portion of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents; and/or
- the ends of the at least one elastic loop can be attached to each other by being wrapped on, hooked on, hooked through, tied to, glued on, attached or integrated to, and/or otherwise secured to each other.

For example, a bundler of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can comprise at least one elastic loop. To be attached to the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents:

- the at least one elastic loop can be wrapped on, hooked on, hooked through, tied to, glued on, attached or integrated to, and/or otherwise secured to the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents in any predetermined way, and/or
- the ends of the at least one elastic loop are attached or integrated to each other in any predetermined way (for example, by being wrapped on, hooked on, hooked through, tied to, glued on, attached or integrated to (for example, using s hook, c hook, o hook, j hook, etc.), and/or otherwise secured to each other or one another).

For example, a base, a retainer, an operator, a coupler, a bundler, or an attacher of the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can function as a base, a retainer, an operator, a coupler, a bundler, or an attacher (e.g., inFIG. 27C, the base functions as an attacher for at least one bundler to be hooked thereon to be attached thereto).

Any of the unique, attractive hair styles can be styled and/or bundled and/or disposed and/or secured at any predetermined location on a head, in any predetermined direction from a head (for example, upside down, right side up, upwards, downwards, inwards, outwards, sidewards, parallel, longitudinally, diagonally, horizontally, on its side(s), and/or on its edge(s)).

Any of the unique, attractive hair styles can be styled and/or bundled and/or disposed and/or secured at any predetermined location on the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents, in any predetermined direction from the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents (for example, upside down, right side up, upwards, downwards, inwards, outwards, sidewards, parallel, longitudinally, diagonally, horizontally, on its side(s), and/or on its edge(s)).

Any hair lock of any of the unique, attractive hair styles can be styled and/or bundled and/or disposed and/or secured at any predetermined location on a head, in any predetermined direction from a head (for example, upside down, right side up, upwards, downwards, inwards, outwards, sidewards, parallel, longitudinally, diagonally, horizontally, on its side(s), and/or on its edge(s)).

Any hair lock of any of the unique, attractive hair styles can be styled and/or bundled and/or disposed and/or secured at any predetermined location on the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents, in any predetermined direction from the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents (for example, upside down, right side up, upwards, downwards, inwards, outwards, sidewards, parallel, longitudinally, diagonally, horizontally, on its side(s), and/or on its edge(s)).

Any hair lock of any of the unique, attractive hair styles can be styled (e.g., can be bundled at least once and/or disposed at least once and/or secured at least once) to create at least one hair loop and/or at least one hair tail.

Any hair loop and/or hair tail from any hair lock of any of the unique, attractive hair styles can be worn partially or fully hidden or exposed, at any predetermined location on a head, in any predetermined direction from a head (for example, upside down, right side up, upwards, downwards, inwards, outwards, sidewards, parallel, longitudinally, diagonally, horizontally, on its side(s), and/or on its edge(s)).

Any hair loop and/or hair tail from any hair lock of any of the unique, attractive hair styles can be worn partially or fully hidden or exposed, at any predetermined location on the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents, in any predetermined direction from the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents (for example, upside down, right side up, upwards, downwards, inwards, outwards, sidewards, parallel, longitudinally, diagonally, horizontally, on its side(s), and/or on its edge(s)).

For example,FIG. 23C illustrates an example of the unique, attractive hair styles with hair locks coming from the opposite halves of a head, and the hair loop(s) and/or hair tail(s) is hidden.

For example,FIG. 23D illustrates an example of the unique, attractive hair styles with hair locks coming from the opposite sides of a head, and the hair tails are exposed downwards.

For example, any of the unique, attractive hair styles can be created, so that at least one hair loop and/or at least one hair tail is exposed upwards, outwards, sidewards, etc. (for example, the hair tails inFIGS. 4D and 5E are exposed upwards).

For example, the hair loops inFIG. 4C are exposed sidewards; the hair tails inFIG. 5D are exposed sidewards; the hair tail inFIG. 21 is exposed sidewards.

For example,FIG. 28 illustrates a hair lock bundled sidewards or diagonally while styling hair.

For example, inFIGS. 8B and 8C, instead of being inserted through one bundling opening in the illustrated direction, each hair lock can be inserted through at least one bundling opening in any predetermined direction to be bundled therein (e.g., each hair lock inFIGS. 8B and 8C can be inserted through one bundling opening in the opposite direction from the one illustrated therein).

The hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can be worn, at any predetermined location on a head, in any predetermined direction from a head (for example, upside down, right side up, upwards, downwards, inwards, outwards, sidewards, parallel, longitudinally, diagonally, horizontally, on its side(s), and/or on its edge(s)).

The hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents can style and/or bundle and/or dispose and/or secure at least one hair lock from any predetermined location on a head, in any predetermined direction from a head (for example, upside down, right side up, upwards, downwards, inwards, outwards, sidewards, parallel, longitudinally, diagonally, horizontally, on its side(s), and/or on its edge(s)).

For example, the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 25C can be worn upside down, so that retainer107 floats over or rests on a head.

For example, the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 25C can be worn right side up, so that at least one of base ends108 floats over or rests on a head.

For example, the equivalent fashioner inFIG. 25C can be worn on its side(s) or edge(s).

In addition, the hair fashioner can also perform a variety of functions and create a variety of hair styles found in a number of prior arts. For example, the hair fashioner as illustrated in FIGS.25E,25F,or25G can also invert a hair tail just like the hair-styling tool in U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,870 issued Aug. 6, 1991, and can also invert a hair tail and prevent hair from going astray just like the hair-styling tool in U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,834 issued Mar. 1, 1994. Further, the hair fashioner of the present invention can also create eleven additional hair styles which have been introduced to the public by the same hair-styling tool in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,870 mentioned above.

In contrast, it is impossible for all the prior arts heretofore to create the unique, attractive styles, which can be created by the hair fashioner and/or any of its equivalents.

Accordingly, all the previously-mentioned inventions teach a user how to style and secure each hair lock independently. Further, by using a user's head as a securing means to secure each of the desired hair styles, or by using additional hair-holding devices, such as pins, clips, etc. to secure each of the desired hair styles, all the previously-mentioned inventions have numerous disadvantages. Further, all the previously-mentioned inventions only work with substantially long and thick hair and substantially long and thick devices. Therefore, all the previously-mentioned inventions teach away from the present invention.

In contrast, the present invention teaches a user how to style and interlock at least one hair lock so that hair interacts with itself and is self-secured, creating a wide variety of new, unique, and attractive hair styles never possible before. As a result, the present invention eliminates the need for using a user's head as a securing means to secure each of the desired hair styles, and also eliminates the need for using additional hair holding devices such as pins, clips, the likes, the others, or the equivalents to secure each of the desired hair styles. Further, the present invention can work with all short, long, thick, thin, straight, wavy hair. Further, the present invention can instantly create different hair volumes by lifting hair up at different levels, instantly creating different gap sizes between hair and a head, without the needs for adding any device mass, device weight, device length, hair mass, hair weight, or hair length. Further, the present invention also accomplishes numerous additional important advantages described earlier in the section “Objects and Advantages”. Therefore, the present invention teaches away from all the previously-mentioned inventions and all the prior arts heretofore.

The difference of the present invention compared to my above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,335 is: