Supports: cabinet structure – Accessible from plural sides – Top and vertical side
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-10
2001-05-08
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
Accessible from plural sides
Top and vertical side
C312S309000, C132S212000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227633
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Ladies and young girls typically possess a myriad of personal hair care and styling devices. Included among these devices is the headband. The headband is resilient and has a curved top portion and two sides. The headband is difficult to store efficiently because of its size and tendency to “hook” or “snag” other devices. It is very common for a lady to have several headbands in her collection, which compounds the problem resulting in an often repeated scenario where the storage of hair care and styling devices becomes an entangled and disorganized affair.
Furthermore, headbands, although resilient, often have a high degree of stiffness. This can cause noticeable discomfort when the user resumes wearing it. This stiffness and associated discomfort subsides when the headband is worn for a period of time. This stiffness reduction is due to the “spreading” of the headband, if the headband is maintained in such a “spread” position for a sufficient period of time. However, the stiffness usually returns during the period of time between removal and the next use.
What is needed is a device which stores and secures a lady's collection of headbands, along with other hair care and styling devices, in a manner which eliminates the tendency of the headbands to crowd and entangle the other devices, while simultaneously stretching the headbands in a manner which minimizes initial use discomfort, by reducing the stiffness of the headbands prior to the next use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My invention is a device which stores and secures a lady's collection of headbands, along with her other hair care and styling devices. This is done in a manner which eliminates the tendency of the headbands to crowd and entangle the other devices. While being stored the headbands are also being stretched, resulting in stiffness reduction and less wearer discomfort.
The headbands are resilient and have two sides which join to form a curved top portion. My invention has a frame, which has a height, a curved portion, and two sides attached to the curved portion, the frame being shaped to closely receive one or more headbands and hold each headband in place. To resist movement of the headboard with respect to the frame, the frame sides are spaced such that, when the headband is affixed to the frame, the headband ends exert pressure upon the frame sides. This secures the headband on the frame. The frame sides are also spaced such that the distance between the ends of the headband is less than or equal to the frame's maximum width in a plane transverse to the frame height. This resists movement of the headband along planes which are transverse to the frame height.
In an additional embodiment of my invention, the frame's exterior surface is compressible, such that it is compressed when a headband is affixed. The involved compressible material can be thicker along the frame curved portion than along the frame sides. The compressibility can be such that the headband is flush against the frame exterior surface. Such compressibility resists movement of the headband with respect to the frame, both with respect to the frame height (i.e., the longitudinal axis of the frame), and also with respect to the movement in planes which are transverse to such longitudinal axis.
A grooved frame exterior surface can also be used to secure a headband on the frame the groove resisting movement of the headband with respect to the frame.
My invention also includes a frame exterior surface which has a coefficient of friction of sufficient magnitude that the force necessary to move the headband along the frame exceeds a force equal to the force exerted on the headband by gravity, one “gravity” being approximately 32.2 feet per second per second.
In an additional embodiment, planar shaped end pieces can be attached to the ends of the frame, preventing motion of the headband beyond the end of the frame.
My invention can be utilized in a vertical or a horizontal orientation.
Furthermore, my invention can be readily adapted to provide numerous means of storage for other hair care and styling items. These storage means, while part of the same device, provide for separation of the headbands, which are affixed to the frame, and the other items, which are contained or secured elsewhere. For example, drawers and drawer support means can be situated within the frame interior providing sufficient storage for numerous hair care and styling items. The drawers in one such embodiment open and close in a line of travel that is substantially perpendicular to the frame height. Other drawer configurations include one or more drawers which open and close in a line of travel that parallels the frame height, while using all or part of the frame interior.
Drawers and drawer support means attached to the exterior of the frame are also provided which enhances the storage capacity of my invention. Such exterior drawers can be attached in a manner which supports the frame.
In an additional embodiment of my invention, the frame is enclosed and an opening is provided, allowing access to the enclosure for the placement or retrieval of hair care and styling items. The opening is provided, both with and without means to close or cover the opening, the closing and covering means including doors and both removable and attached covers. In the vertical and horizontal configurations, a door is provided which swings along an axis which is substantially parallel to the frame height. In the horizontal configuration a cover is provided. In additional embodiments, mirrors are mounted to the interior surface of the door or cover. Such doors and covers are also provided with pouches attached to their interior surfaces for additional storage space.
When the frame is positioned horizontally, the uncovered opening allows the vertical storage of longer items such as brushes and combs, which conveniently extend beyond the frame interior where they can be reached easily. Furthermore, the portion of the frame enclosure in the proximity of the opening can be isolated by partitions within the enclosure. Such an embodiment is particularly compatible with one or more end drawers which move in a direction which is parallel to the frame height.
Furthermore, my invention includes an embodiment which provides extensions from the frame, such as arms, which can be sized, shaped and positioned to provide storage for rings, bracelets, necklaces, scrunchies, etc.
In other embodiments an exterior container is provided which attaches to the frame, thus providing additional storage.
My device can be supported in numerous ways. A substantially flat bottom end of the frame can support the device, and if the frame top end is also substantially flat, the support means is reversible, i.e. the device can be supported while inverted. In an additional embodiment, a base, with a rotatable portion, provides the ability to the rotate the device. The rotation feature is applied to both the vertical and the horizontal configurations.
Furthermore, for practical or aesthetic purposes the frame can be curved along its axis into numerous shapes.
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“Document J” is a printout from a patent related database.
“Document K” is a printout from a patent related database.
Cuomo Peter M.
Gray George S.
Vu Stephen
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