US20040200494A1

US20040200494A1 - Attachable hair band

Info

Publication number: US20040200494A1
Application number: US10/412,763
Authority: US
Inventors: Chang Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-04-14
Filing date: 2003-04-14
Publication date: 2004-10-14

Abstract

An elastic head band which fits around a wearer's head from front to back wherein each end of such elastic band has part of attaching devices such that the head band will be held in place. The elastic band has essentially two purposes: one is decorative and the other is functional in that it helps to keep a wearer's wig in place.

The wig in fact can be reversed from front to back and it further has a net attached to the inside. Further, a comb is fixedly attached to the front and back of the wig such that the wearer will insert the teeth of the comb into his or her natural hair.

The band is meant to be replaceable and is attachable to the comb on the front of the wig by means of inserting the teeth of the comb into a plurality of loops disposed on the surface of the head band.

Other means of attaching the head band to the inside of the wig may be employed. This may be in the form of button holes-buttons, male-female velcro, or any other well known fastening devices.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention generally involves the field of technology pertaining to head bands wherein the head band, sometimes referred to as a hair band, is attached to a wig in any one of several ways.

Some standard wigs come with combs sewn into or otherwise attached to all or a portion of the inner circumference of that portion of the wig that fits over the head. The invention described in the instant application does not include the wig, the comb or combs, nor the net which is an essential part of any wig.

The invention lies in a band, elastic or otherwise, that wraps around a wearer's head and means for attaching such head or hair band to the wig.

The band itself, while in a preferred embodiment is made of an elastic stretchable material, may be made of any other material, fabric or otherwise, or may in fact be non-elastic.

The preferred embodiment is an elastic, stretchable fabric having connecting means at its two ends for securing the head band in place around the wearer's head.

At least one comb is affixed to the inner edge of the wig and a second comb is usually also attached to the back inner edge of the wig. Thus, the wig may be reversed, from front to back, and still be affixed to the head or hair band.

This band has essentially two purposes: one is decorative and the other is functional in that it helps to keep a wearer's wig in place. The wig in fact can be reversed from front to back and it further comprises a net, which is standard in any wig, attached to the inside. A comb fixedly attached to the front or front and back of the wig is provided such that the wearer will insert the comb or combs into his or her own natural hair.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the band which forms the basic subject matter of the invention is meant to be replaceable and is attachable to the comb on the front of the wig by means of inserting the teeth of the comb into a plurality of loops disposed on the surface of the head band. While three such loops appear to be the optimum number of such loops, it should be understood that there may be more or less than three loops.

Other means of attaching the band to the wig may be employed. This may be in the form of button holes-buttons, male-female velcro, or any other well known fastening devices.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A search of the prior art has uncovered the following patents which applicant believes may have some relevancy but which it believes that no single reference found discloses all the features of applicant's invention, although some of these prior art references do disclose some, but not all, of the elements of this invention:

It is believed that the closest of these prior art references to applicant's invention is the patent to R. B. Shaw, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,536; Izzo, U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,292; Henderson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,422; Haber, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5, 337,763; and, Neary, 2001/0029963A1.

The patent to R. B. Shaw, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,295, 536 relates to a head covering with detachable wig for interchanging hair pieces. This patent discloses a turban or turban-like portion and a wig portion which is removably secured to the turban so that it may be removed and replaced by a wig portion of a different color or shade, or style. However, this patent does not disclose a band having loops into which comb teeth are insertible

The Izzo patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,292, relates to hair coverings with interchangeable components. These hair coverings use detachable and interchangeable components and includes a hat or ribbon. Again, there is no band having loops into which teeth of combs are inserted both for holding the wig in place and for decorative purposes.

The Henderson patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,422, discloses a combined head band and hair-retainer. It should be obvious that the structure is substantially different than applicant's.

The patent to Haber, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,763, relates to a multi-use hair piece. In fact, this is a kit. This kit comprises a support to be worn across the head of a wearer near one ear to near the other ear, such support being generally comport-able to the shape of the head of the wearer. This patent does not disclose the same type of head band disclosed by the applicant.

The patent to Neary, 2001/0029963A1 is substantially different from applicants as is obvious in

Items

10, 11, 12 and 13, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

It does not seem that any of the above cited references either taken singularly or in combination discloses the concept of applicant's invention as will be claimed below.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided an attachable head band for wigs and preferably an elastic head band which fits around a wearer's head from front to back and wherein each end of such elastic band has part of attaching means such that the head band will be held in place around the wearer's head. Such elastic head band has essentially two purposes: one is decorative and the other is functional in that it helps to keep a wearer's wig in place. It should be noted, and obvious, that the head band can be replaced to suit the wearer's needs.

In general, and as will be much more fully described below in detail, the invention comprises a head or hair band having one or more loops, three being preferable, attached to its surface for receiving teeth of combs which are attached, both in front and in back, to a standard wig for easily and comfortably attaching the band to the wig and therefore the wig and band to the wearer's head. Each end of such band will have a portion of an attachment means such that when the two ends are connected, the head band will be held in place around the wearer's head. It should be understood that not all standard wigs have combs both in front and in back.

As previously indicated, while the loops are the preferred embodiment of the invention, other means for connecting the head band to the wig may be employed such as buttons-button holes, velcro strips, or any other convenient means.

When loops are placed on the surface of the head band, teeth of the comb slidably engage the loops for holding the wig to the band. When velcro is used as the connecting device, a strip or a plurality of strips of velcro are placed on the head band and on the inner edge of the wig including both the front and the back of the wig for holding the wig to the head band. When the button-button holes is used as the method for securing the wig to the head band, then button holes are formed in the head band and buttons are affixed to the inner edge, front and back of the wig, such that the wearer can reverse the wig and still be able to secure the wig to the band.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means for attaching a head band to a comb wherein the teeth of the comb are inserted into loops on the surface of the head band.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a head band wherein the comb is attached to a wig.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide such a head band wherein a strip or strips of velcro are attached to said head band and also to the inside of a wig whereby the wig can be attached to the head band.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a head band wherein button holes are cut into the head band and buttons are attached to the inside of the wig whereby the wig can be buttoned to the head band.

It is still a further object of the invention, to provide such a head band, wig with combs, and various devices for attaching the wig to the head band wherein the wig is reversible, from front to back, and still can be secured to the head.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the head band of the instant invention showing the distal ends having cooperating elements to secure the head band around the head and further showing loops for receiving teeth of combs sewn into a wig. [0030]
FIG. 2 is a view of such a head band as shown in FIG. 1 attached to the head of a wig wearer and showing a cut away wig/hair net and showing the comb attachment into the loops. [0031]
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing velcro as the means for attachment of the wig to the head band. [0032]
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, but showing button holes formed through the head band and showing buttons attached to the inner edge of the wig. [0033]
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the wig having combs both in the front and back of the wig.[0034]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An elastic head band which fits around a wearer's head from front to back and wherein each end of such elastic band has part of attaching means such that the head band will be held in place and wherein the elastic band has essentially two purposes: one being decorative and the other being functional in that it helps to keep a wearer's wig in place will now be described with reference to the drawings. [0035]
Shown at [0036] 10 is a preferred embodiment plan view of a head band to be worn by a wig wearer such as shown in FIG. 2. The head band has two distal ends 11 which are connected together by any well known fastening means. This holds the head band in place as clearly seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.
A plurality of loops are shown at [0037] 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein said loops are sewn onto the surface of head band 10. While three such loops are shown and are believed to be optimal and therefore a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that there can be less than or more than three such loops.
While the head band is shown as a stretchable elastic band and wherein that is the preferred embodiment, it should be understood that such head band can be made of any other material, stretchable or not, and of cloth or otherwise, as long as it can fit around a wig wearer's head and can be securely attached to the head. [0038]
A [0039] wig 13 is shown in a cutaway in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. A standard hair net such as disposed in any wig, is also shown in those figures as Item 14.
A comb best seen in FIG. 2 as [0040] Item 15, is attached by any convenient means to the inside edge of wig 13. There is a comb 15 both in the front and in the back of the wig whereby the wig may be reversed, front to back, on the wearer's head.
The comb further comprises a plurality of [0041] teeth 16 whereby some of the teeth can be inserted into loops 12 as best seen in FIG. 2 for holding the wig in place on the wearer's head band 10.
Since there is also a [0042] comb 15 on the back of the wig 13, the wig can be rotated 180 degrees with these comb teeth now inserted into loops 12 of head band 10.
FIG. 3 discloses a velcro strip or strips [0043] 17 disposed on head band 10. Mating velcro strips or strip 18 are disposed on the inside edge of the wig, both front and back, such that in this embodiment of the invention, the wig also may be reversed with the velcro strips still mating.
FIG. 4 discloses a third embodiment of the invention wherein button holes [0044] 19 extend through head band 10. Buttons 20 are attached, by any well known means, to the inner edge of wig 13 whereby the wig may be buttoned onto the head band. Any other attachment means commonly used such as snaps and the like may also be used to secure the wig to the head band.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

In use, a person desiring to wear a wig with a head band and who also may wish to change the head band from time to time for decorative purposes will wrap the head band around the head from front to back and attach the two ends such that the head band is held firmly in place. [0045]
Next, the wearer selects the wig to be worn and wherein the wig is reversible from front to back. [0046]
After placing the wig over the head and inserting the back comb teeth into the wearer's natural hair, the front end is then pulled forward and down and is attached to the head band by any of the methods described above but preferably by means of inserting the front comb teeth into the loops secured to the head band. [0047]
Now the band is secured firmly to the head and the wig is secured firmly to the head band. The wearer may disengage the wig from the head band and rotate it, front to back, and then reattach the wig to the band. [0048]
Though the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications in shape, size, composition and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims. [0049]

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A device for fixedly holding a wig in place on a wearer's head and wherein the wig may be reversed, front to back, and wherein said device can be replaced comprising:

(a) a head band to be secured around a wig wearer's head from front to back;

(b) securing devices disposed on both distal ends of said head band for securing said head band around the wearer's head when the band is in place; and,

(c) means disposed on said head band in the front thereof for receiving teeth of a comb which is secured to the inner edge of said wig;

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means disposed on said head band for receiving teeth of a comb are a plurality of loops sewn onto a surface of said head band;

3. A device for fixedly holding a wig in place on a wearer's head and wherein the wig may be reversed, front to back, and wherein said device can be replaced comprising:

(a) a head band to be secured around a wig wearer's head from front to back;

(c) a velcro strip disposed on said head band and a mating velcro strip disposed on the inside edge of said wig, whereby said mating velcro strips hold said wig to said head band.

4. A device for fixedly holding a wig in place on a wearer's head and wherein the wig may be reversed, front to back, and wherein said device can be replaced comprising:

(a) a head band to be secured around a wig wearer's head from front to back;

(c) a plurality of button holes extend through said head band for receiving buttons attached to an inner edge of said wig for attaching said wig to said head band.