Toilet – Hair device – Hair fastener
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-13
2001-05-08
Smith, Jeffrey A. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Hair device
Hair fastener
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227207
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a device and method for holding and styling hair. More particularly, it relates to a device and method for holding and styling hair, which utilizes a self-coiling spring member.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are several devices known in the art for holding hair in styled configurations. Elastic loop devices, for example are used to hold sections of hair or bunches of hair in “pony tail-like” styles. The elastic loop devices typically are unattractive and are very limited to their function. Larger hinged clamping devices, hairpins and the like are used to pinch or sandwich sections of hair and hold the sections in a style. Clamp or pin devices serve essentially the same function as elastic loop devices, namely to hold sections of hair. Headband devices are used to hold hair against the head and to keep hair from falling in front of the users face, but are not generally used to style hair. U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,335 issued to Voughloln, describes a hairstyling device and method, where a device engages a section of hair. The device is then used as a template to manually manipulate the hair into several alternative styles. While the device does allow the hair to be styled in several configurations, it does not itself style the hair and only provides a template on which various styles can be created.
What is needed is a device that can hold sections of hair in a styled configuration that is compact, easy to store and can easily be modified to have several decorative features. Preferably, the device is versatile and can be used to hold sections of hair in many different hairstyles. Also, what is needed is a device that not only, holds sections of hair, but also styles the sections of hair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a device and method for holding hair in a style configuration that utilizes a self-coiling spring member. The self-coiling spring member has a stable open state that allows the spring member to be positioned against or through sections of hair during styling operations. After positioning the self-coiling spring member against or through sections of hair, the spring member is actuated and coils sections of hair. The self-coiling spring member is actuated to coil by bending a portion of the spring member towards the 45 coiled positioned.
The self-coiling spring members used in the preferred embodiments of the current invention are elongated pieces of carbon steel spring. For most applications the spring members have widths between 0.5 and 3.0 inches and lengths between 4.0 to 12 inches. The spring members are intended to hold sections of hair in position and, therefore, require appropriate spring strengths. For pieces of carbon spring steel, described herein, it has been determined that appropriate spring strengths are exhibited for sections of carbon spring steel that coil by applying a pressure of 2.0 pounds or greater to an inner coiling surface of the spring. The elongated spring members are easily adapted to have decorative features as described below.
In a preferred embodiment of the current invention the device comprises two elongated strips. Sections of hair are sandwiched between the two spring strips with the spring strips in their elongated open state. The spring strips are then actuated to coil concurrently to generate the desired hairstyle. Prior to actuating the spring strips, the sandwiched hair can be manipulated or rolled to facilitate the generation of numerous hairstyles. It is preferred that the two spring strips are attached at one end in order to keep the spring members aligned while used.
In the most preferred embodiment of the current invention the device comprises one elongated spring strip, with an elastic or stretchable section secured near the ends of the spring strip. Sections of hair are sandwiched between the spring strip and the stretchable section with the spring strip in its elongated open state. The spring strip is then actuated to coil to generate the desired hairstyle. As above, prior to actuating the spring strip to coil, the sandwiched hair can be manipulated or rolled to facilitate the generation of numerous hairstyles.
In an another embodiment of the current invention, the device has one spring strip that is detachably connected to an elastic loop member. The elastic loop member is used to wrap around a section of hair, such as a ponytail, and the spring member wraps around the elastic loop member, thus helping to hold the section of hair in position while adding a decorative feature to the hairstyle. The spring strip is modified with a variety of decorative and functional features including cloth sleeve that can be removed and changed to suit the user's attire.
In yet another embodiment of the current invention a body section connects several spring strips to each other. The spring strips are preferably positioned and attached to the body section such that they coil in the same directions acting as closing fingers or collectively as “a claw” to wrap around a section of hair. For example, the device is positioned near or against a bunched section of hair and with the strips in their elongated open state. Each strip is then actuated to coil, clamping the bunched section of hair in a “claw-like fashion”. This embodiment is particularly useful for holding larger bunched sections of hair.
In still another embodiment, long thin spring strips are configured to be easily pushed through bunched sections of hair like a hair stick. The spring strips are then actuated to coil, as described above, to wrap around portions of the bunched section of hair and holding the hair in a styled configuration.
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Lumen Intellectual Property Services
Robert Eduardo C.
Smith Jeffrey A.
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