US20150173481A1 - Elastic beads for hair - Google Patents
Elastic beads for hair Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20150173481A1 US20150173481A1 US14/136,742 US201314136742A US2015173481A1 US 20150173481 A1 US20150173481 A1 US 20150173481A1 US 201314136742 A US201314136742 A US 201314136742A US 2015173481 A1 US2015173481 A1 US 2015173481A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- channel
- elastic
- hair
- bead
- tuft
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A45D8/00—Hair-holding devices; Accessories therefor
- A45D8/34—Hair-braid holders; Hair-plait holders
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A45D8/00—Hair-holding devices; Accessories therefor
- A45D8/004—Hair-holding devices; Accessories therefor with decorative arrangements or form
- A45D8/008—Ornaments specially adapted for being attached to small strands of hair
Definitions
- This disclosure relates generally to decorative beads and, more specifically, to decorative beads for use in an individual's hair.
- this disclosure relates to elastic beads and to uses for elastic beads.
- Elastic bands which are often referred to as “rubber bands,” have long been used to hold an individual's hair in place. Typically a portion of the individual's hair is gathered (e.g., into a tuft, such as a ponytail or pig tail, at the end of a braid, etc.), and an elastic band is placed over the gathered hair at a location near the individual's scalp.
- Placement of the elastic band typically includes stretching the elastic band to expand an opening therethrough, placing the elastic band over the gathered hair and moving it to a desired location over the gathered hair, twisting the elastic band to decrease the size of the opening, pulling the gathered hair through the smaller opening until the elastic band holds the gathered hair in a desired manner, and repeating the acts of twisting and pulling as needed to hold the individual's hair in the desired manner.
- the process of holding hair with an elastic band can be difficult and time consuming, and sometimes has to be redone.
- an elastic band When an elastic band is doubled over, tripled over or otherwise twisted and wrapped around an individual's hair, strands of hair are often entangled in the elastic band.
- an elastic band has been placed in a way that enables it to remain in place for prolonged periods of time and throughout any of a variety of activities (e.g., exercise, sleep, typically daily activities, etc.), it is often difficult to remove from the individual's hair. Removal of an elastic band from hair usually involves rolling the elastic band along a length of the individual's hair. This process usually entangles strands of hair. As the elastic band is removed, it pulls strands of entangled hair from the individual's head, which can be painful and have a detrimental effect on how the individual's hair looks.
- Decorative beads are also incorporated into many girls' and women's hairstyles—particularly in cornrow hairstyles. When incorporated into a cornrow hairstyle, the beads are often placed on tufts of hair as the hair is braided, and held in place by the braiding. Removal of beads that are placed on the hair in this manner typically requires undoing the braid, which necessitates some amount of restyling.
- the decorative beads that are used in styling hair are made of plastic, wood, metal or other relative hard materials.
- hard beads When hard beads are worn in hair, if they are forced toward the wearer's head (e.g., if she falls and hits her head, as she places her head against another object, such as while lying down or sleeping, etc.), they may apply localized pressure to parts of the wearer's head, which may cause the wearer some discomfort, harm and/or pain, and may even cause headaches.
- the hard beads often contact, or knock against, one another, generating potentially disruptive noise.
- the hard beads may impact the individual (e.g., her face, head, neck, shoulders, etc.) and cause pain or injury. Sudden head or hair movements may also cause the hard beads to hit other people or objects, which may cause harm to the person or object, and may damage the hard beads.
- An elastic bead according to this disclosure includes a body and a channel.
- the body may be formed from an elastomeric material that is easily stretched under tensile forces and, when such forces are released, resiliently returns to its original, relaxed state, or substantially returns to its original, relaxed state. Upon stretching an elastic bead, its channel may be enlarged.
- the elastic bead may be used to hold tufts of hair in place, or otherwise placed on tufts or braids of an individual's hair (e.g., for decorative purposes, etc.).
- the elastic bead may be stretched (i.e., a tensile force may be applied to it) in one or more directions that are transverse to a length of its channel.
- a dimension across the channel e.g., its diameter, etc.
- Enlargement of the width of the channel may facilitate placement of the elastic bead over a tuft or braid of hair.
- a tuft or braid of hair may be inserted through the channel until the elastic bead is at a desired location relative to that tuft or braid of hair (e.g., at or near the individual's scalp, at the end of a braid, etc.).
- the tensile forces may be released, enabling the elastic bead to engage the tuft or braid of hair, and to remain in place at the desired location.
- An elastic bead may be repositioned on or removed from a tuft or braid of an individual's hair in a similar manner, by reversing the foregoing process elements. Stated another way, an elastic bead that is to be removed from a tuft or braid of an individual's hair may be stretched, pulled off of the tuft or braid of hair while the elastic bead's channel remains enlarged and until the elastic bead has been repositioned or removed from the individual's hair, and released, enabling the elastic bead to return or substantially return to its original, relaxed configuration.
- the elasticity of the elastic bead may enable its use in hairstyles (e.g., cornrows, etc.) where hard beads have conventionally been used, but without the requirement that the elastic bead be incorporated (e.g., by braiding, etc.) into the hairstyle.
- an elastic bead may be removed from the hair without necessitating that any part of the hairstyling be removed.
- elastic beads may be added to or removed from the hair after it has been styled, enabling an individual to change her look without requiring that her hair be restyled.
- assemblies for storing elastic beads may include a bracelet or necklace that carries one or more elastic beads.
- the elastic bead(s) may impart the bracelet or necklace with a decorative quality.
- a bracelet or necklace may be configured to accessorize (i.e., match) with one or more elastic beads in an individual's hair.
- Elastic beads may be easily removed from and/or replaced on an assembly of this type, enabling an individual to retain one or more elastic beads on her person for when use is desired, and providing a readily available place for the individual to place one or more elastic beads once she no longer wants to wear them.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an elastic bead that incorporates teachings of the present invention
- FIG. 2 shows the elastic beads in an individual's hair
- FIG. 3 provides a schematic representation of an assembly for carrying one or more elastic beads.
- the elastic bead 10 includes a body 12 and a channel 14 extending through the body 12 .
- the body 12 of an elastic bead 10 may be configured (e.g., have a thickness, be formed from a material, etc.) to enable expansion of the distance across (e.g., diameter, etc.), or width, of the channel 14 .
- the channel 14 of an elastic bead 10 may be configured to engage an object, of a particular size or range of sizes, or an object of a particular configuration.
- the width of the channel 14 may be a function of the size or sizes of the objects with which the elastic bead 10 is intended to be used.
- the channel 14 may have a relatively small width, which enables the elastic bead 10 to engage, or “grab onto,” the hair when it is released and allowed to relax (or at least to relax more than when it was stretched).
- the width of the channel 14 of an elastic bead 10 configured for use in gathering hair into a large ponytail or a bun may be larger.
- the width of the channel 14 may be configured to enable the elastic bead 10 to remain in place on a tuft or braid of hair or other appropriately sized object without requiring that the elastic bead be doubled up, tripled up, or otherwise twisted and wrapped around that object.
- the elastic bead 10 is cylindrical in shape, and that includes a body 12 with relatively thin walls.
- a channel 14 that extends through the body 12 , and is centered relative to the body 12 is also cylindrical in shape.
- the body 12 has a thickness that is less than a distance across (i.e., diameter of, or width of) the channel 14 .
- a cylindrical elastic bead 10 may have a length of about 6 mm and a diameter (or width) of about 7 mm, while a distance across (i.e., diameter of) its channel 14 may be about 4 mm and the thickness of its body 12 may be about 1.5 mm.
- an elastic bead 10 may have any of a wide variety of different configurations.
- the body 12 of the elastic bead 10 in the illustrated embodiment is generally cylindrical in shape
- the body 12 of an elastic bead 10 may have virtually any other configuration.
- the shape of the body 12 of an elastic bead 10 may be spherical, spheroid, a prism, another regular three-dimensional shape, an irregular three-dimensional shape, etc.
- the color(s), shape(s) and other features (e.g., the material, coatings, fillers, etc.) of the body 12 of an elastic bead 10 may impart it with a decorative appearance.
- an elastic bead 10 may vary from the relative proportions illustrated by FIG. 1 .
- the length of the channel 14 may be substantially greater than the width of the channel 14 .
- the channel 14 may have a greater height-aspect ratio than that illustrated by FIG. 1 .
- a volume of the body 12 of such an elastic bead 10 may exceed a volume of the channel 14 of that elastic bead 10 .
- the relative sizes of the body 12 and the channel 14 may impart the elastic bead with a more bulbous appearance, or a more bead-like appearance, than that depicted by FIG. 1 .
- channels 14 may also be included in an elastic bead 10 according to this disclosure, so long as the channel 14 extends completely through a portion of the elastic bead 10 ; i.e., it is open-ended, or does not terminate at a location within the body 12 of the bead.
- the channel 14 need not be centered relative to the body 12 of the elastic bead 10 .
- the channel 14 need not have a circular cross-sectional shape, taken transverse to a length of the channel 14 .
- the channel 14 may be linear, non-linear (e.g., curved, bent at one or more angles, etc.) or it may include linear and non-linear sections.
- a material from which the body 12 of an elastic bead 10 is formed enables body 12 of the elastic bead 10 to be stretched from a relaxed state ( FIG. 1 ) to a state under tension (see, e.g., FIG. 2 ), or a stretched state, and to resiliently return or substantially return from the stretched state to the relaxed state.
- Some non-limiting examples of elastic materials from which elastic beads 10 may be formed include, but are not limited to, plasticizer-extended block copolymers (e.g., oil extended styrene-butadiene-stryine (SBS) tri-block copolymers, etc.), silicone, natural rubber and the like.
- the elasticity of the material from which the body 12 of an elastic bead 10 is formed enables a configuration of the channel 14 of the elastic bead 10 , which extends though the body 12 , to be changed.
- the body 12 of an elastic bead 10 may be stretched in directions that enable the channel 14 of the elastic bead 10 to receive hair (e.g., a tuft of hair, a braid, a ponytail, a bun, etc.).
- the tension that has been applied to the body 12 to expand the channel 14 may be released, and the interior walls of the body 12 that define the channel 14 may engage, or “grab onto,” the hair within the channel 14 —provided that the distance across the hair is about the same as or exceeds a distance across (e.g., diameter, etc.) the channel 14 .
- Such engagement may be the result of tension that the hair continues to exert on the body 12 of the elastic bead 10 .
- a surface of the channel 14 may be configured or imparted with a texture that enhances the ability of the elastic bead 10 to remain in place around another object, such as a tuft or braid of hair.
- the elastic beads 10 are made from a soft material, they may be worn on hair without the noise typically associated with hard beads. When they are formed from a compressible material, the elastic beads 10 may apply significantly less localized pressure to the wearer's head as they are forced toward her head (e.g., if her head impacts a surface, as may occur if the wearer stumbles or falls; as the wearer sleeps; etc.). They may also be less likely to cause pain or injury to the wearer or another person, or to cause damage to themselves or to another object.
- FIG. 1 also shows packages 20 that hold a plurality of elastic beads 10 .
- a package may include an application tool 25 , which is configured to facilitate placement of one or more (e.g., simultaneously, etc.) of the elastic beads 10 on a tuft or braid of a wearer's hair.
- the application tool 25 may comprise an elongated element that receives one or more elastic beads 10 and facilitates their expansion (e.g., the expansion of their channels 14 , etc.) to facilitate their introduction onto another object, such as a tuft or braid of hair.
- the application tool includes a threading end 26 , a bead-holding section 28 and a channel-expansion end 29 .
- the threading end 26 which is located at one end of the application tool 25 , is configured to receive one or more elastic beads 10 so that they may be positioned on the bead-holding section 28 .
- the application tool 25 may include a retention element 27 between the threading end 26 and the bead-holding section 28 .
- the retention element 27 may be configured to collapse as the threading end 26 is introduced into the channel 14 of an elastic bead 10 and the elastic bead 10 is forced across the retention element 27 and onto the bead-holding section 28 . Once the elastic bead 10 has moved beyond the retention element 27 , the retention element 27 may re-expand to prevent the elastic bead 10 from unintentionally sliding off of the bead-holding section 28 and the threading end 26 of the application tool 25 .
- An expansion end 29 is located at or adjacent to an opposite end of the application tool 25 from the threading end 26 .
- a distance across, or width, of the expansion end 29 may exceed a width of the channel 14 of an elastic bead 10 with which the application tool 25 is configured to be used, and may be sufficient to enable an individual to easily introduce a finger or an expansion tool into the channel 14 for further expansion.
- the expansion end 29 may be rounded or tapered in a manner that enables an elastic bead 10 to be forced thereover with relative ease.
- a rigidity of the expansion end 29 may exceed the rigidity of an elastic bead 10 by an amount that enables expansion of the width of a channel 14 of an elastic bead 10 as the elastic bead 10 is forced over the expansion end 29 , and off of the application tool 25 .
- an elastic bead 10 may be used as a manner in which an elastic bead 10 may be used.
- the elastic bead 10 may be stretched by pulling opposite sides of its body 12 away from one another. Such pulling may be initiated manually (e.g., by way of an individual's thumbs and/or fingers, etc.) or with an application tool, such as the application tool 25 illustrated in and described with reference to FIG. 1 . With the elastic bead stretched, the channel 14 is enlarged.
- an individual may place two or more of her phalanges (e.g., a finger and a thumb, as shown, etc.) partially through the enlarged channel 14 , enabling her to grasp a tuft of hair 30 over which the elastic bead 10 is to be positioned.
- her phalanges e.g., a finger and a thumb, as shown, etc.
- the individual who is placing the elastic bead 10 in the hair may remove her phalanges from the channel 14 , enabling the body 12 of the elastic bead 10 to resiliently collapse around the tuft or braid of hair 30 and to remain in position along the tuft or braid of hair 30 .
- the elastic bead 10 may be repositioned along the tuft of hair 30 or removed from the tuft of hair 30 in a similar manner.
- FIG. 3 depicts an assembly 40 for storing and/or retaining one or more elastic beads 10 .
- the assembly 40 may include an elongate element on which one or more elastic beads 10 may be placed and from which the one or more elastic beads 10 may be removed.
- the assembly 40 may be configured to be worn or otherwise carried by an individual. Such an assembly 40 may provide the individual with ready access to one or more elastic beads 10 and/or with a place to readily store one or more elastic beads 10 .
- the assembly 40 comprises a bracelet with which one or more elastic beads 10 may be readily assembled and from which one or more elastic beads 10 may be readily removed for use.
- the assembly 40 may serve both a utilitarian purpose (e.g., providing ready access to and storage for one or more elastic beads 10 , etc.), as well as an aesthetic purpose (e.g., as a decoration, etc.).
- An assembly 40 that is configured as an accessory may be tailored to complement other features of an individual's appearance, including, but not limited to, one or more elastic beads 10 worn in the individual's hair.
Abstract
Description
- This disclosure relates generally to decorative beads and, more specifically, to decorative beads for use in an individual's hair. In particular, this disclosure relates to elastic beads and to uses for elastic beads.
- Elastic bands, which are often referred to as “rubber bands,” have long been used to hold an individual's hair in place. Typically a portion of the individual's hair is gathered (e.g., into a tuft, such as a ponytail or pig tail, at the end of a braid, etc.), and an elastic band is placed over the gathered hair at a location near the individual's scalp. Placement of the elastic band typically includes stretching the elastic band to expand an opening therethrough, placing the elastic band over the gathered hair and moving it to a desired location over the gathered hair, twisting the elastic band to decrease the size of the opening, pulling the gathered hair through the smaller opening until the elastic band holds the gathered hair in a desired manner, and repeating the acts of twisting and pulling as needed to hold the individual's hair in the desired manner.
- The process of holding hair with an elastic band can be difficult and time consuming, and sometimes has to be redone.
- When an elastic band is doubled over, tripled over or otherwise twisted and wrapped around an individual's hair, strands of hair are often entangled in the elastic band. In addition, when an elastic band has been placed in a way that enables it to remain in place for prolonged periods of time and throughout any of a variety of activities (e.g., exercise, sleep, typically daily activities, etc.), it is often difficult to remove from the individual's hair. Removal of an elastic band from hair usually involves rolling the elastic band along a length of the individual's hair. This process usually entangles strands of hair. As the elastic band is removed, it pulls strands of entangled hair from the individual's head, which can be painful and have a detrimental effect on how the individual's hair looks.
- Decorative beads are also incorporated into many girls' and women's hairstyles—particularly in cornrow hairstyles. When incorporated into a cornrow hairstyle, the beads are often placed on tufts of hair as the hair is braided, and held in place by the braiding. Removal of beads that are placed on the hair in this manner typically requires undoing the braid, which necessitates some amount of restyling.
- Conventionally, the decorative beads that are used in styling hair are made of plastic, wood, metal or other relative hard materials. When hard beads are worn in hair, if they are forced toward the wearer's head (e.g., if she falls and hits her head, as she places her head against another object, such as while lying down or sleeping, etc.), they may apply localized pressure to parts of the wearer's head, which may cause the wearer some discomfort, harm and/or pain, and may even cause headaches. Furthermore, when an individual who has a long hairstyle that incorporates hard beads moves her head or her hair, the hard beads often contact, or knock against, one another, generating potentially disruptive noise. When the individual moves her head and/or hair in a sudden manner, the hard beads may impact the individual (e.g., her face, head, neck, shoulders, etc.) and cause pain or injury. Sudden head or hair movements may also cause the hard beads to hit other people or objects, which may cause harm to the person or object, and may damage the hard beads.
- An elastic bead according to this disclosure includes a body and a channel. The body may be formed from an elastomeric material that is easily stretched under tensile forces and, when such forces are released, resiliently returns to its original, relaxed state, or substantially returns to its original, relaxed state. Upon stretching an elastic bead, its channel may be enlarged.
- The elastic bead may be used to hold tufts of hair in place, or otherwise placed on tufts or braids of an individual's hair (e.g., for decorative purposes, etc.). In use, the elastic bead may be stretched (i.e., a tensile force may be applied to it) in one or more directions that are transverse to a length of its channel. By stretching the elastic bead in this manner, a dimension across the channel (e.g., its diameter, etc.), or its width, may be enlarged. Enlargement of the width of the channel may facilitate placement of the elastic bead over a tuft or braid of hair. Thus, with the width of the channel enlarged, a tuft or braid of hair may be inserted through the channel until the elastic bead is at a desired location relative to that tuft or braid of hair (e.g., at or near the individual's scalp, at the end of a braid, etc.). Once the elastic bead has been positioned at the desired location, the tensile forces may be released, enabling the elastic bead to engage the tuft or braid of hair, and to remain in place at the desired location.
- An elastic bead may be repositioned on or removed from a tuft or braid of an individual's hair in a similar manner, by reversing the foregoing process elements. Stated another way, an elastic bead that is to be removed from a tuft or braid of an individual's hair may be stretched, pulled off of the tuft or braid of hair while the elastic bead's channel remains enlarged and until the elastic bead has been repositioned or removed from the individual's hair, and released, enabling the elastic bead to return or substantially return to its original, relaxed configuration.
- The elasticity of the elastic bead may enable its use in hairstyles (e.g., cornrows, etc.) where hard beads have conventionally been used, but without the requirement that the elastic bead be incorporated (e.g., by braiding, etc.) into the hairstyle. Thus, an elastic bead may be removed from the hair without necessitating that any part of the hairstyling be removed. As a result, elastic beads may be added to or removed from the hair after it has been styled, enabling an individual to change her look without requiring that her hair be restyled.
- In another aspect, assemblies for storing elastic beads are disclosed. Such an assembly may include a bracelet or necklace that carries one or more elastic beads. The elastic bead(s) may impart the bracelet or necklace with a decorative quality. In addition, a bracelet or necklace may be configured to accessorize (i.e., match) with one or more elastic beads in an individual's hair. Elastic beads may be easily removed from and/or replaced on an assembly of this type, enabling an individual to retain one or more elastic beads on her person for when use is desired, and providing a readily available place for the individual to place one or more elastic beads once she no longer wants to wear them.
- Other aspects, as well as features and advantages of various aspects, of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
- In the drawings:
-
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an elastic bead that incorporates teachings of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 shows the elastic beads in an individual's hair; and -
FIG. 3 provides a schematic representation of an assembly for carrying one or more elastic beads. - With reference to
FIG. 1 , an embodiment of anelastic bead 10 is illustrated. Theelastic bead 10 includes abody 12 and achannel 14 extending through thebody 12. - The
body 12 of anelastic bead 10 may be configured (e.g., have a thickness, be formed from a material, etc.) to enable expansion of the distance across (e.g., diameter, etc.), or width, of thechannel 14. - The
channel 14 of anelastic bead 10 may be configured to engage an object, of a particular size or range of sizes, or an object of a particular configuration. In various embodiments, the width of thechannel 14 may be a function of the size or sizes of the objects with which theelastic bead 10 is intended to be used. As a non-limiting example, when theelastic bead 10 is configured to be placed over a small tuft or braid of hair, thechannel 14 may have a relatively small width, which enables theelastic bead 10 to engage, or “grab onto,” the hair when it is released and allowed to relax (or at least to relax more than when it was stretched). The width of thechannel 14 of anelastic bead 10 configured for use in gathering hair into a large ponytail or a bun may be larger. The width of the channel 14 (e.g., its diameter, etc.) may be configured to enable theelastic bead 10 to remain in place on a tuft or braid of hair or other appropriately sized object without requiring that the elastic bead be doubled up, tripled up, or otherwise twisted and wrapped around that object. - In the illustrated embodiment, the
elastic bead 10 is cylindrical in shape, and that includes abody 12 with relatively thin walls. Achannel 14 that extends through thebody 12, and is centered relative to thebody 12, is also cylindrical in shape. Thebody 12 has a thickness that is less than a distance across (i.e., diameter of, or width of) thechannel 14. In a more specific embodiment, a cylindricalelastic bead 10 may have a length of about 6 mm and a diameter (or width) of about 7 mm, while a distance across (i.e., diameter of) itschannel 14 may be about 4 mm and the thickness of itsbody 12 may be about 1.5 mm. - While
FIG. 1 depicts a particular embodiment ofelastic bead 10, anelastic bead 10 according to this disclosure may have any of a wide variety of different configurations. As an example, while thebody 12 of theelastic bead 10 in the illustrated embodiment is generally cylindrical in shape, thebody 12 of anelastic bead 10 may have virtually any other configuration. Without limitation, the shape of thebody 12 of anelastic bead 10 may be spherical, spheroid, a prism, another regular three-dimensional shape, an irregular three-dimensional shape, etc. The color(s), shape(s) and other features (e.g., the material, coatings, fillers, etc.) of thebody 12 of anelastic bead 10 may impart it with a decorative appearance. - Further, the relative proportions of an
elastic bead 10 may vary from the relative proportions illustrated byFIG. 1 . For example, instead of achannel 14 with a length that only slightly exceeds a width (e.g., diameter, etc.) of thechannel 14, the length of thechannel 14 may be substantially greater than the width of thechannel 14. Stated another way, thechannel 14 may have a greater height-aspect ratio than that illustrated byFIG. 1 . A volume of thebody 12 of such anelastic bead 10 may exceed a volume of thechannel 14 of thatelastic bead 10. In some embodiments, the relative sizes of thebody 12 and thechannel 14 may impart the elastic bead with a more bulbous appearance, or a more bead-like appearance, than that depicted byFIG. 1 . - Alternative configurations of
channels 14 may also be included in anelastic bead 10 according to this disclosure, so long as thechannel 14 extends completely through a portion of theelastic bead 10; i.e., it is open-ended, or does not terminate at a location within thebody 12 of the bead. Thechannel 14 need not be centered relative to thebody 12 of theelastic bead 10. Thechannel 14 need not have a circular cross-sectional shape, taken transverse to a length of thechannel 14. Thechannel 14 may be linear, non-linear (e.g., curved, bent at one or more angles, etc.) or it may include linear and non-linear sections. - With continued reference to
FIG. 1 , and added reference toFIG. 2 , a material from which thebody 12 of anelastic bead 10 is formed enablesbody 12 of theelastic bead 10 to be stretched from a relaxed state (FIG. 1 ) to a state under tension (see, e.g.,FIG. 2 ), or a stretched state, and to resiliently return or substantially return from the stretched state to the relaxed state. Some non-limiting examples of elastic materials from whichelastic beads 10 may be formed include, but are not limited to, plasticizer-extended block copolymers (e.g., oil extended styrene-butadiene-stryine (SBS) tri-block copolymers, etc.), silicone, natural rubber and the like. - In addition to enabling the configuration of the
body 12 to be manipulated, the elasticity of the material from which thebody 12 of anelastic bead 10 is formed enables a configuration of thechannel 14 of theelastic bead 10, which extends though thebody 12, to be changed. Thebody 12 of anelastic bead 10 may be stretched in directions that enable thechannel 14 of theelastic bead 10 to receive hair (e.g., a tuft of hair, a braid, a ponytail, a bun, etc.). When the hair is in place within, or extends through, thechannel 14 the tension that has been applied to thebody 12 to expand thechannel 14 may be released, and the interior walls of thebody 12 that define thechannel 14 may engage, or “grab onto,” the hair within thechannel 14—provided that the distance across the hair is about the same as or exceeds a distance across (e.g., diameter, etc.) thechannel 14. Such engagement may be the result of tension that the hair continues to exert on thebody 12 of theelastic bead 10. Additionally, in some embodiments, a surface of thechannel 14 may be configured or imparted with a texture that enhances the ability of theelastic bead 10 to remain in place around another object, such as a tuft or braid of hair. - Because the
elastic beads 10 are made from a soft material, they may be worn on hair without the noise typically associated with hard beads. When they are formed from a compressible material, theelastic beads 10 may apply significantly less localized pressure to the wearer's head as they are forced toward her head (e.g., if her head impacts a surface, as may occur if the wearer stumbles or falls; as the wearer sleeps; etc.). They may also be less likely to cause pain or injury to the wearer or another person, or to cause damage to themselves or to another object. - In addition to illustrating an embodiment of
elastic bead 10 that incorporates teachings of this disclosure,FIG. 1 also showspackages 20 that hold a plurality ofelastic beads 10. Such a package may include anapplication tool 25, which is configured to facilitate placement of one or more (e.g., simultaneously, etc.) of theelastic beads 10 on a tuft or braid of a wearer's hair. - The
application tool 25 may comprise an elongated element that receives one or moreelastic beads 10 and facilitates their expansion (e.g., the expansion of theirchannels 14, etc.) to facilitate their introduction onto another object, such as a tuft or braid of hair. In the embodiment depicted byFIG. 1 , the application tool includes a threadingend 26, a bead-holdingsection 28 and a channel-expansion end 29. The threadingend 26, which is located at one end of theapplication tool 25, is configured to receive one or moreelastic beads 10 so that they may be positioned on the bead-holdingsection 28. In some embodiments, theapplication tool 25 may include aretention element 27 between the threadingend 26 and the bead-holdingsection 28. Theretention element 27 may be configured to collapse as the threadingend 26 is introduced into thechannel 14 of anelastic bead 10 and theelastic bead 10 is forced across theretention element 27 and onto the bead-holdingsection 28. Once theelastic bead 10 has moved beyond theretention element 27, theretention element 27 may re-expand to prevent theelastic bead 10 from unintentionally sliding off of the bead-holdingsection 28 and the threadingend 26 of theapplication tool 25. Anexpansion end 29 is located at or adjacent to an opposite end of theapplication tool 25 from the threadingend 26. A distance across, or width, of theexpansion end 29 may exceed a width of thechannel 14 of anelastic bead 10 with which theapplication tool 25 is configured to be used, and may be sufficient to enable an individual to easily introduce a finger or an expansion tool into thechannel 14 for further expansion. Theexpansion end 29 may be rounded or tapered in a manner that enables anelastic bead 10 to be forced thereover with relative ease. A rigidity of theexpansion end 29 may exceed the rigidity of anelastic bead 10 by an amount that enables expansion of the width of achannel 14 of anelastic bead 10 as theelastic bead 10 is forced over theexpansion end 29, and off of theapplication tool 25. - Turning now to
FIG. 2 , an embodiment of a manner in which anelastic bead 10 may be used is depicted. Without limitation, theelastic bead 10 may be stretched by pulling opposite sides of itsbody 12 away from one another. Such pulling may be initiated manually (e.g., by way of an individual's thumbs and/or fingers, etc.) or with an application tool, such as theapplication tool 25 illustrated in and described with reference toFIG. 1 . With the elastic bead stretched, thechannel 14 is enlarged. In some embodiments, an individual may place two or more of her phalanges (e.g., a finger and a thumb, as shown, etc.) partially through theenlarged channel 14, enabling her to grasp a tuft ofhair 30 over which theelastic bead 10 is to be positioned. Once the elastic bead is at a desired location over the tuft or braid of hair 30 (e.g., near an end of the tuft of braid ofhair 30; at a more distant location from the end of the tuft or braid ofhair 30, along a mid-section of the tuft or braid ofhair 30; etc.), the individual who is placing theelastic bead 10 in the hair may remove her phalanges from thechannel 14, enabling thebody 12 of theelastic bead 10 to resiliently collapse around the tuft or braid ofhair 30 and to remain in position along the tuft or braid ofhair 30. - The
elastic bead 10 may be repositioned along the tuft ofhair 30 or removed from the tuft ofhair 30 in a similar manner. -
FIG. 3 depicts anassembly 40 for storing and/or retaining one or moreelastic beads 10. Theassembly 40 may include an elongate element on which one or moreelastic beads 10 may be placed and from which the one or moreelastic beads 10 may be removed. Theassembly 40 may be configured to be worn or otherwise carried by an individual. Such anassembly 40 may provide the individual with ready access to one or moreelastic beads 10 and/or with a place to readily store one or moreelastic beads 10. - In the depicted embodiment, the
assembly 40 comprises a bracelet with which one or moreelastic beads 10 may be readily assembled and from which one or moreelastic beads 10 may be readily removed for use. In such an embodiment, as well as in a variety of other embodiments, theassembly 40 may serve both a utilitarian purpose (e.g., providing ready access to and storage for one or moreelastic beads 10, etc.), as well as an aesthetic purpose (e.g., as a decoration, etc.). Anassembly 40 that is configured as an accessory may be tailored to complement other features of an individual's appearance, including, but not limited to, one or moreelastic beads 10 worn in the individual's hair. - The disclosed embodiments should not be deemed to limit the scope of any of the claims that follow. The scope of each claim should be limited merely by its plain language, and should be deemed to include the full complement of available equivalents.
Claims (19)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/136,742 US20150173481A1 (en) | 2013-12-20 | 2013-12-20 | Elastic beads for hair |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/136,742 US20150173481A1 (en) | 2013-12-20 | 2013-12-20 | Elastic beads for hair |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20150173481A1 true US20150173481A1 (en) | 2015-06-25 |
Family
ID=53398704
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US14/136,742 Abandoned US20150173481A1 (en) | 2013-12-20 | 2013-12-20 | Elastic beads for hair |
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US (1) | US20150173481A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9439489B1 (en) * | 2015-04-14 | 2016-09-13 | Tiana Tamara Townsell | Braidloc tube device and method |
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