US20150250283A1 - Hair volumizing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A hair volumizing device for use beneath a head of hair including a center section and two appendages that wrap in a c-shape around the rear and sides of a user's head underneath their hair to create volume and style.

Description

FIELD
• The subject technology generally relates to hair volumizing devices.
BACKGROUND
• A full, voluminous head of hair is confident and attractive. Women use numerous hair products in their goal to have a full-bodied head of hair. Some products, like mousse or spray, include chemicals, which many people would prefer to avoid. Other products are made of hard plastic, like clips, berets, and the like. Many are bulky, being made of hard substances that do not stay in place because of the weight of the material. Some include large teeth that can be seen and that are unsightly. What they all typically have in common is the inability to keep hair in its place and to provide volume without unnecessary bulk, weight, and/or chemicals.
SUMMARY
• The subject technology overcomes the previous problems by providing a hair volumizing device that is lite weight and that stays in place once positioned beneath a user's hair. Individual embodiments of the instant invention may include all of the elements of the claims and written description as provided herein, or a portion or portions of the element(s) of the claims and written description as provided herein.
• In accordance with the subject technology, a hair volumizing device is configured to remain attached to a head of hair using hooks and loops, barbs, and/or teeth. The device includes a center section with both of a bottom and top side, and two appendages. The center section and the appendages are covered on at least one side with hook-and-loop, or self-gripping, material for attachment underneath a user's hair.
• Additional features and advantages of the subject technology will be set forth in the description below, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the subject technology. The advantages of the subject technology will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well as the appended drawings.
• It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the subject technology as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the subject technology and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects of the subject technology and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the subject technology. The features and nature of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein:
• FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the invention from a top-down perspective of viewing the outer surfaces of the device as they might rest in placement on a user's head, beneath the user's hair.
• FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the invention from a partial side perspective.
• FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the invention from a full side perspective, as seen from a bottom side of the device.
• FIG. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, as seen from a side perspective.
• FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the invention from a full side perspective, as seen from a top side of the device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a full understanding of the subject technology. It will be obvious, however, to one ordinarily skilled in the art that the subject technology may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the subject technology.
• FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the invention. The invention may comprise materials of foam; soft, flexible plastic, layers of VELCRO-type material, or combinations of the previous, or similar, materials. The invention should be lite weight such that its own weight will not dislodge itself after being positioned in a person's hair. As shown inFIG. 1, a center section1 includes atop side2 and abottom side3. Thebottom side3 is substantially lined withteeth8. In a preferred embodiment,teeth8 are extra fine to permit insertion into a person's hair to hold the hair volumizing device in position when in use. Typicallyteeth8 would be inserted into the hair at the rear of a person's head, at or above their hairline. Center section1 has adiameter15 that is substantially 2.5 to 7 inches in length, and preferably is 3.5 to 5.25 inches in length. Various sizes can be used to fit people with different-sized heads.
• As also shown inFIG. 1,appendages4 and5 abut opposite side-ends of center section1.Appendages4 and5 have anappendage length17 that is substantially 1.65 to 3.25 inches, and preferably a length of between 1.75 and 2.25 inches.Appendages4 and5 also have anappendage width16 that is 1.25 to 2.5 inches, and preferably 1.5 to 2 inches.Appendages4 and5 attach to the center section1 athinge points10.Hinge points10 are created with one of heat seaming, stitching, tacking and/or gluing theappendages4 and5 to the dome-shaped center section1.Hinge points10 permit theappendages4 and5 to flex inward towards inner portion of center section1, for instance, as shown asinner section7 shown inFIG. 3. In various embodiments, theappendages4 and5 are configured to flex athinge points10 to a 90 degree position in relation to a flat plane created by the circumference of center section1. In additional embodiments,appendages4 and5 can flex all the way inward, becoming concealed “flaps” that might then rest within theinner portion7 of center section1.
• FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the invention. As shown inFIG. 2, the center section includes abottom side3 and atop side2.Appendages4 and5 attach to the dome-shaped center section1 athinge points10. Thebottom side3 is lined with teeth, preferably fine teeth, to permit the device to rest in a user's hair at or above the hairline. The hatched-shaded areas shown inFIG. 2 illustrate center section1 and theappendages4 and5 being substantially covered with a hook andloop material11, such as VELCRO® brand-type material provided by VELCRO Industries, B.V.). When used with theteeth8, the hook andloop material11 permits a user's hair to be placed in a precise location on the exterior of the hair volumizing device, such that the hair does not then move around or thereafter lose its position, unlike many prior art devices. The areas covered bymaterial11 are curved in shape, and provide a “lift” or “volumized” appearance to a user's hair when the device is installed. The hook and loop, or self-grippingmaterial11 may cover each of theouter sides6 and9, and any portion of the invention that is configured to be in contact with a user's head and/or hair.
• The curved shape is illustrated inFIG. 3, where the center section1 possesses anouter area6, and theappendages4 and5 also have outer areas9. The center section1 also has aninner area7. The center section1 attaches to each of theappendages4 and5 athinge points10. Each of the center section1 and theappendages4 and5 have respective depths of thickness. Respectively, these are shown bynumerals12,13, and14. The depths ofthickness12,13, and14 may be the same depth, or they may be different depths. In one non-limiting embodiment, thethickness depth12 of the center section1 is greater than either of thethickness depths13 or14 forappendages4 and5. In another non-limiting embodiment, thethickness depth12 of the center section1 is equal to each of thethickness depths13 and14, individually.
• FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the device including center section1 withtop side2 andbottom side3, whereteeth8 line thebottom side3. Center section1 has both of anouter side6 and aninner side7. Eachappendage4 and5 has an outer side9 (althoughonly appendage5 is illustrated inFIG. 4). The markings A-A point toward thetop side2.Appendage5 illustrates theappendage width16, this width being 1.25 to 2.5 inches, and preferably 1.5 to 2 inches.
• FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the device including center section1 withouter side6 andinner side7. The center section1 connects at hinge points10 to each ofappendages4 and5. Center section1 includes a depth ofthickness12 that can be 0.75 inches to 2.75 inches, and is preferably 1 to 1.75 inches. In some embodiments, the depth of thickness may be substantially 1.43 inches. Appendages4 and5 include anappendage length17 that is substantially 1.65 to 3.25 inches, and preferably is in the range of 1.75 to 2.25 inches.Appendage5 includes a depth ofthickness13 that may be substantially the same length as a depth ofthickness14 forappendage4. Depths of thickness may be in the range of ½ an inch, to 2 inches, with a preferred thickness of between ¾ of an inch to one inch. Some embodiments may include athickness13 and14 of 0.88 of an inch.
• Each of center section1 andappendages4 and5 can be formed using existing plastic manufacturing processes. Non-limiting examples of such processes include casting, molding, 3-D printing, protrusion, injection, compression molding, transfer, extrusion, blow molding, dip molding, rotational molding, thermoforming, laminating, expandable bead molding, foam molding, vacuum plug assist molding, pressure plug assist molding, matched molding, spray forming, shell molding, sand casting, resin casting, slush or slurry casting, and evaporative-pattern casting, among others. The center portion1 andappendages4 and5 may be joined using known seaming methods such as hot-air welding, plastic soldering, adhesive bonding, sintering, heat-welding, In other, non-limiting embodiments, the center portion1 andappendages4 and5 may be molded as a single unit that does not require subsequent joinder. Center portion1 andappendages4 and5, in a non-limiting example, may be formed using plastic-forming processes that are the same or similar to those processes used to make generic plastic hair rollers, for example, and can thereby be of similar plastic structure.
• The description of the subject technology and device is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various configurations described herein. While the disclosure has been particularly described with reference to the various figures and configurations, it should be understood that these are for illustration purposes only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the subject technology.
• There may be many other ways to implement the subject technology. Various functions and elements described herein may be partitioned differently from those shown without departing from the sprit and scope of the subject technology. Various modifications to these configurations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and generic principles defined herein may be applied to other configurations. Thus, many changes and modifications may be made to the subject technology, by one having ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject technology.
• It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps or blocks in the processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps or blocks in the processes may be rearranged. Any accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.
• The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.
• All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various configurations described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description.

Claims (10)

What is claimed is:

1. A hair volumizing device configured to remain attached to a head of hair with synthetic barbs, hooks and/or teeth, comprising:

a first appendage and a second appendage;

a center section comprising a top side, a bottom side, a curved outer portion, and an inner side, where the bottom side includes teeth that run substantially a length of the bottom side; wherein

each of the first appendage and the second appendage have outward-facing sides, with each of the first appendage and the second appendage attaching to the center section on opposite sides of the center section above the bottom side and below the top side, the first appendage and the second appendage being configured to flex towards the inner side of the center section at a hinge point that marks a connection area between the center section and each of the first appendage and the second appendage; and further wherein

in an installed position, the curved outer portion of the center section and the outward-facing sides of the first appendage and the second appendage face away from a head of a user for installation underneath the user's hair, with the teeth inserted into a rear side of the user's hair and with each of the first appendage and the second appendage wrapping from the rear side of the user's head to a left-side and a right-side of the user's head, respectively.

2. The hair volumizing device ofclaim 1, wherein:

each of the curved outer portion and the outward-facing sides includes an area at least partially covered with a hook-and-loop, or self-gripping, material for attachment beneath a user's hair.

3. The hair volumizing device ofclaim 1, wherein:

the center section, the first appendage and the second appendage comprise a first, a second, and a third depth of thickness, respectively, with each corresponding to a depth of volumization of the user's hair in an installed position.

4. The hair volumizing device ofclaim 3, wherein:

the first depth of thickness of the center section is greater than either of the second or third depths of thickness, individually.

5. The hair volumizing device ofclaim 3, wherein:

each of the first, second, and third depths of thickness are substantially equal.

6. The hair volumizing device ofclaim 1, wherein:

the center section is substantially 2.5 to 7 inches, and preferably approximately 3.5 to 5.25 inches, in diameter.

7. The hair volumizing device ofclaim 1, wherein:

the first appendage and the second appendage are substantially oblong in shape.

8. The hair volumizing device ofclaim 7, wherein:

the oblong shapes of the first appendage and the second appendage are substantially identical, with an appendage length and an appendage width, wherein the appendage length is substantially 1.65 to 3.25 inches, and preferably 1.75 to 2.25 inches, and the appendage width is 1.25 to 2.5 inches, and preferably 1.5 to 2 inches.

9. The hair volumizing device ofclaim 1, wherein:

the device is comprised of plastic roller-type material formed through a plastic manufacturing process.

10. The hair volumizing device ofclaim 1, wherein:

the device is c-shaped and configured to wrap around the rear and sides of the user's head.

Images