Toilet – Hair device – Hair fastener
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-20
2001-05-29
Manahan, Todd E. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Hair device
Hair fastener
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237611
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ornamental and functional banded clothing device used to adorn a wearer as the wearer desires. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fabric band, such as hairbands, hatbands and waistbands, wherein the functional utility of the device includes an improved means for interchangeably receiving ornaments within said band.
BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Wherever there are women and mothers of little girls, fashionable accessorization continues to be an ongoing demand and challenge. While the band basics, such as headbands, hatbands, and waistbands, remain essentially unchanged, ornamental applications such as hair bows, flowers, ribbons, beads, or even favorite cartoon or movie characters are constantly changing trends. This can become an economic nightmare for consumers since trendy accessorization may be costly and limited to one application.
Recognizing that headbands, hatbands and waistbands are unchanging, the inventors of this patent have improved upon the classics and developed a novel way to change accessories while retaining the basics. In so doing, they have solved the single-use limitation problem and provided an invention which will stand the test of time and gives the consumer cost-effective versatility in trendy accessorization.
Banded clothing devices are well known in the prior arts. However, such disclosures are limited in that the ornamentation is glued or sewn to the existing device. This limits the wearer to a single-use application and make versatility or flexibility impossible.
Prior disclosures have not adequately addressed the issue of the single-use limitation. A patent for a hair ornament and hair-control device securing assembly was set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,836, issued to McKeowen in 1998. This device describes a ™ hook and loop means for securing hair ornaments to various hair-control devices. This mating of the strips of hook and loop fasteners, however, does have the limitation of causing the hair to get caught and pull, and can be painful to the wearer. Even worse is the appearance. By placing the ornament atop the ™ strip, one is faced with an ornament which does not lie flat. Rather, the ornament protrudes in a very unattractive manner from the restraining device. Another problem is that over time the velcro will weaken in its ability to adhere. Finally, it has been this inventor's experience, as one skilled in the hair ornamentation arts, that a ™ strip is very difficult to sew in place and if glued in place, will loosen after repeated use.
Another patent for a detachable flower wire tie device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,224, which was issued to Sears in 1997, describes a detachable flower wire tie including a fabric stem enclosing a pliable metal wire. Although the wire tie, having a twisting means is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture, nevertheless, it does not possess the flexibility nor the adaptability as set forth in this disclosure. While patent ,224 may be used as a headband, hatband, and waistband, nevertheless, the invention is limited to one entity, a flower, exclusively. In addition, the wire is stiff and due to the inherent stiffness is limited in its pliability and adaptability.
None of the above inventions and patents adequately solve the problem. It is obvious that a clear need exists for a banded clothing device which not only facilitates an important function but also provides a efficient, simple and cost-effective means for interchangeable ornamentation and accessorization. To this end, the teaching of the present invention embraces and finally addresses this longstanding and unmet need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus and method of this invention have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this invention as expressed by the claims which follow, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT,” one will understand how the features of this invention provide its benefits and advantages.
Simply stated, the invention is a banded clothing device having a pocket. In the preferred embodiment, the band is made of a tubular fabric structure, the fabric of the structure must have at least one pleat, the pleat forming at least one pocket in the longitudinal plane of the banded clothing device.
It is the object of this invention to provide an ornamental and functional banded clothing device which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art. The disclosure sets forth a novel invention having a means for receiving interchangeable ornamentation or other utility. Further, the disclosure describes a method for making and using the device. Additionally, several other objectives and advantages of the present invention are:
A. To provide a useful and cost-effective means for accessorizing one's wardrobe;
B. To provide an interchangeable ornamental and functional device for restraining the hair;
C. To provide an interchangeable ornamental and functional device for dressing a hat;
D. To provide an interchangeable ornamental and functional device for adorning a waist;
E. To provide a classic banded clothing device having a superior means for receiving ornamentation in a reusable, cost-effective, and interchangeable format;
F. To provide a device which can be manufactured in many different types of fabrics, colors, and styles;
G. To provide a device have the additional utility of providing a means for receiving objects other than just ornamentation.
Furthermore, the disclosure which is the subject of this invention, will describe in detail how the device is made to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. The disclosure will detail how to sew together woven fabric in such a manner so as to create a generally tubular structure, know in the art as a band. Prior to sewing the tubular structure, there is created in the fabric one or a plurality of pleats. The pleat or pleats form one or a plurality of pockets in the longitudinal plane of the device. The pocket or pockets provide a means for receiving ornaments. Such ornamentation may be in the form of clips, barrettes, hair pins, hat pins, or bobby pins having ornamentation such as bows, ribbons, flowers, dirndls, and the like affixed thereon to either match or coordinate with the fabric of the device. The device may be worn without the interchangeable ornamentation and the interchangeable ornamentation may be worn without the device. In addition, the pockets or pockets created with this invention have the additional utility providing a means for receiving other objects such as lunch money, bus tokens, cosmetics and the like, therein.
This invention is simple to use and depending upon the fabric selected is generally inexpensive to manufacture. The invention can be used repeatedly and provides the wearer with wardrobe ornamentation versatility never before achieved. Still further other objectives and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
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Hall Denise
LeCrone Vicki
Manahan Todd #E.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
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