US20060144416A1

US20060144416A1 - Headband

Info

Publication number: US20060144416A1
Application number: US11/368,547
Authority: US
Inventors: Susan Neal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-05
Filing date: 2006-03-06
Publication date: 2006-07-06

Abstract

A headband is provided having a coronal section and a first arm and a second arm. The first and second arms are hingedly attached to the coronal section. When the headband is in the open position, the first and second arms are generally perpendicular to the coronal section. When the headband is in the closed position, the first arm is folded adjacent to the coronal section and the second arm is folded adjacent the first arm.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/839,321 filed May 5, 2004 entitled “HEADBAND,” now pending, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a headband used to hold back hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most headbands are curved to fit the shape of the top of a person's head. However, with this type of shape, prolonged use of the headband can cause discomfort or extreme pain. This is because typical headbands are curved inward toward the wearer's ears so that prolonged use can cause the headband to apply a great deal of pressure to the wearer's head around the ear area. This curved shape headband also has a tendency to lift up at the top of the head due to the curved angle and pressure required to keep the headband on the head. This curved shape and the propensity to lift up away from the head increases the pain involved in wearing the headband and requires constant adjustment to correct the pain and reset the hairstyle. The curved headband is also difficult to store or easily transport as it maintains a shape that is large enough to fit on a wearer's head.
Some headbands are curved but do not drastically curve in by the wearer's ears. These types of headbands are more horseshoe shaped. Although this type of headband may not cause as much pain or discomfort to the wearer, there is a need for constant readjustment because the headband may be too loose and does not hold the hairstyle for long periods of time. The horseshoe shaped headband has the same storage/portability problem as the curved headband; it maintains its shape when not in use which makes it more difficult to store or bring along during travel.
It is desirable to provide a headband having a more reliable method for staying in place on a wearer's head without constant adjustment to both decrease the pain level and/or readjust the hairstyle. It is also desirable to provide a headband that folds compactly for storage or travel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A headband in accordance with the present invention includes a coronal section with a first end and a second end, a first arm hingedly attached to one end of the coronal section and a second arm hingedly attached to the other end of the coronal section. When the headband is in the open position, the arms are generally perpendicular to the coronal section. When the headband is in the closed position, the first arm and second arm fold toward the coronal section so that the first arm lies adjacent to the coronal section and the second arm lies adjacent to the first arm. In another embodiment, the coronal section is slightly bowed at the ends where the arms are attached. The ends of the arms opposite attachment to the coronal section may be curved slightly to match the shape of the wearer's ears for a more comfortable fit. In a preferred embodiment, the arms are adjustable in length to more specifically address variations in a wearer's hairstyle, head size, and wearing position, among other things.
The present headband has the benefits of eliminating the pressures on the side of the head that can be created by the use of curved headbands. The inventive headband does not need constant readjustment to keep the wearer's hair in place. The inventive headband also has the added benefit of compact portability. When not in use, the inventive headband can be folded for storage or for easy portability.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be further understood after reviewing the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a headband according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of another embodiment of a headband according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 and FIG. 3A are side views of a portion of the headband according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of a portion of the headband according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a partially folded headband according to the present invention.
FIGS. 6 and 6A are an enlargement of a portion of the headband shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a detailed front view of a portion of the headband.
FIG. 8 is a top view of a headband according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a front view of another embodiment of a headband according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 illustrates a headband constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and shown positioned on top of the head of the wearer.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable length arm embodiment in a locked position.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 being adjusted.
FIG. 13 is a plan view of still another embodiment containing among other things, the features in FIGS. 11-12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used to identify identical or similar components in the various views, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two embodiments of a headband 5 in accordance with the present invention. The headband 5 has a coronal section 10, a first arm 15 and a second arm 20, and hinges 25.
The coronal section 10 is formed to fit on the top portion of a person's head. The length and width of the coronal section 10 will vary depending upon the size and design aspects of the headband 5. The coronal section 10 keeps the wearer's hair out of the wearer's face. The coronal section 10 can be formed of any suitable material such as plastic or light metals.
At either end of the coronal section 10 are tabs 13 that extend perpendicular to the coronal section 10. The tabs 13 are sized for placement of hinges 25 that connect the first arm 15 and second arm 20 to the coronal section 10. As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5, 6A and 6, the tabs 13 are long enough for connection of the hinge 25 and for the first arm 15 and the second arm 20 to be folded against the coronal section 10. Tabs 13 are an extension of either the coronal section 10 or arms 15, 20 and can be made of the same material as the coronal section 10 or arms 15, 20 or some other suitable material. As shown in FIG. 9, when tabs 13 are extensions of the arms 15, 20 they are connected to the coronal section using small screws 26 that insert at the under surface of the coronal section 10. Hinges may be placed on the side of the tabs 13 and arms 15, 20 (i.e., disposed therebetween, in the interior thereof when the arms are deployed (see FIG. 6A)) or on the inside (see FIG. 6). In effect, hinges 25 in FIG. 6A are disposed substantially along the main axis of the arms 15, 20, as opposed to hinges 25 in FIG. 6 that are offset from the main axis of arms 15, 20. The placement of the hinges 25 on the tabs 13 and arms 15, 20 can vary depending upon the type of hinge used.
Hinges 25, are conventional in the art and are small enough for placement on the coronal tabs 13 and arms 15, 20. Hinges 25 are attached to allow the arms 15, 20 to bend inward toward the coronal section 10 when the headband 5 is in the closed position (see FIG. 5). Alternatively, in an embodiment not shown, hinges 25 may be attached to the coronal section 10 at ends 9. In this alternate embodiment, the coronal section 10 does not have tabs 13. In another alternate embodiment (not shown), hinges 25 may be spring latches that are sized for placement on the tabs 13 and arms 15, 20.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the coronal section 10 may be covered with decorative padding or material 11 or may have some other type of design 12 such as beads, paint, crystal, jewels, metals, etc. The designs and material options available are endless. In another embodiment of the preferred invention, the ends 9 of the coronal section 10 may be slightly curved 14 as shown in FIG. 2.
Arms 15, 20 are long enough so that the ends 16, 21 reach to the wearer's ear. A shorter or longer arm 15, 20 can be used as long as the headband 5 remains on the wearer's head during use. The particular details of the arms 15, 20 will be discussed with reference to arm 15. It should be understood that these same details apply to arm 20. The arm 15 end can be squared 16 (FIG. 3) or rounded 16′ (FIG. 3A) or can be curved 17 (FIG. 4). Curved end 17 of arm 15 is curved to match the curvature of the back of the wearer's ear. The curved end 17 allows for a more comfortable fit and helps keep the headband 5 in place on the wearer's head. The curved ends 17 are curved in a general J-shape extending downwardly away from a main axis of each of the arms 15, 20. Arms 15, 20 can be formed of any suitable material such as plastic or light metals. The material used for arms 15, 20 does not have to be the same as the material used for the coronal section 10.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 10, the headband 5 is shown in the open position. When in the open position, the wearer can place the headband 5 on his or her head to keep the hair back or maintain a specific hairstyle (FIG. 10). The headband 5 can be placed on the wearer's head by placing the headband 5 directly on top of the wearer's head or by initially putting the headband 5 in front of the wearer's eyes so that the arms 15, 20 contact the wearer's head just above the ears. The wearer then rotates the headband 5, maintaining the arms 15, 20 contact with the head, so that the coronal section 10 is moved on top of the wearer's head. The curved end 17 may be covered in plastic-like material for additional comfort.
When the wearer is not using the headband 5 and desires to store the headband 5 for future use, the first arm 15 can be folded inward via the hinge 25 so that the first arm 15 is adjacent the coronal section 10. The second arm 20 is then folded in a similar manner. When the second arm 20 is folded, it lies adjacent the first arm 15. It should be appreciated that the second arm 20 could be folded before the first arm 15 so that the second arm 20 lies adjacent the coronal section 10 and the first arm 15 lies adjacent to the second arm 20.
Again, while the invention has been shown and described with reference to one or more particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although each of the illustrated embodiments of the headband 5 shows the arms 15, 20 at a 90° angle in relation to the coronal section 10, a greater or lesser angle could be used and still maintain a comfortable fit while on a wearer's head. Further, the styles and ornamental features of coronal section 10 are endless based upon current fashions. In addition, the ends 16, 16′ of the arms 15, 20 can take on various shapes in addition to those shown in FIG. 3.
FIGS. 11 and 12 are partial section views of still another embodiment of the present invention having arms 30 with an adjustable length. The arms 30 of such a headband may be adjusted to varying lengths to conform to the user's hairstyle, thickness, texture and the like. For thicker or fuller hairstyles, the arms 30 may be extended to increase the arm length so as to not flatten the hair. The arms 30 may, alternatively, be shortened for finer or flatter hairstyles for a comfortable fit.
FIG. 11 is a partial cross-section view of an adjustable-length arm 30. Arm 30 may be used in replacement of both first and second arms 15, 20 in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-10. Arm 30 includes a first, inner portion 32 extending along an axis 34 and a second, outer portion 36. The first portion 32 of arm 30 includes a first axial end, which is the end that is hingedly attached to the coronal section 10 (hinged connection not shown in FIG. 11 but is the same as in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, 6A and 9). First portion 32 further includes a second axial end 38 opposite the first axial end.
Second, outer portion 36 includes a curved, J-shaped end 17 (i.e., as shown in FIG. 4). The second, outer portion 36 further includes a blind bore 40 that is configured in size and shape to receive the second axial end 38 of the first, inner portion 32. In this regard, the first, inner portion 32 is slidably guided within the blind bore 40 to either foreshorten or lengthen arm 30.
Arm 30 further includes a manually-actuatable locking mechanism 42 to releasably fix the first, inner portion 32 with respect to the second, outer portion 36 in one of a plurality of axial positions, as shown in the illustrated embodiment. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, three, fixed positions are available corresponding to three, discrete arm lengths, although it should be understood that greater or fewer positions may be provided and remain within the spirit and scope of the invention.
In the illustrated embodiment, adjustment of the length is conveniently controlled by manual actuation of a spring loaded push-button using one's finger or thumb, which allows the outer portion 36 to slide gently over the inner portion 32 to one of the locking positions to lock the arm 30 into a desired positional setting.
The locking mechanism 42, in the illustrated embodiment, includes the above mentioned spring-loaded pushbutton which comprises a peg 44 and a spring or other bias device 46. The locking mechanism 42 further includes a plurality of radial holes 48 ₁, 48 ₂. . . 48 ₃. The radial holes 48 ₁, 48 ₂. . . 48 ₃extend through the sidewall, namely, from the blind bore 40 to an outer surface of second, outer portion 36.
Peg 44 includes a forward portion 50, a medial portion 52, and an aft portion 54. The medial portion 52 is configured for a sliding fit within a bore 56 disposed in the first, inner portion 32 of arm 30. Peg 44 has an extended position, as shown in FIG. 11, and a retracted position, as best shown in FIG. 12. In particular, spring 46 is arranged relative to the peg 44 and the inner portion 32 so as to urge the peg 44 toward the extended position. The forward portion 50 of peg 44 is configured in size and shape to extend through one of the radial holes 48 ₁, 48 ₂. . . 48 ₃in such extended position when peg 44 is in axial registry with one of the radial holes 48 ₁, 48 ₂. . . 48 ₃. In the extended position, such as that shown in FIG. 11, the position, and thus the corresponding length of arm 30, is locked by way of the locking mechanism 42.
The forward portion 50 of peg 44 is configured to be contacted by a user's finger or thumb to actuate the releasably locking mechanism 42 so as to allow movement of the peg away from the extended position toward the retracted position, thus unlocking or unfixing the position and allowing length adjustment of arm 30. More particularly, when the peg 44 has been moved to the retracted position, the peg 44 no longer extends through one of the radial holes 48 ₁, 48 ₂. . . 48 ₃and the mechanism is thus unlocked, allowing the inner portion 32 and the outer portion 36 to move in a sliding motion one relative to another so as to foreshorten or lengthen the arm 30.
With continued reference to FIG. 11, a description of a length adjustment operation will now be set forth. In FIG. 11, the peg 44 is show in the extended position, locking the length of arm 30. To adjust the length, the peg 44 is depressed, as shown in the direction designated by arrow 58, to move the peg 44 from the extended position to the retracted position (retracted position shown in FIG. 12). While peg 44 continues to be depressed by the user, the outer portion 36 may be moved, for example only, by application of a force in the direction of arrow 60.
FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of arm 30, shown with the peg 44 in the retracted position. In FIG. 12, the length of arm 30 is being adjusted to foreshorten the length, as compared to the length in the locked position shown in FIG. 11. Continued movement of outer portion 36 relative to inner portion 32 to foreshorten the length will result in the spring loaded peg 44 snapping into registration with radial hole 483, thereby locking the relative position and establishing the length of arm 30.
It should be further appreciated that inner portion 32 may be configured either a straight end (as shown), or alternatively as a curved or perhaps even J-shaped end (not shown). It should be further understood that in such alternative embodiment, the blind bore 40 would assume a corresponding shape so that the inner portion and the outer portion mate and allow a sliding relationship therebetween.
Both inner portion 32 and outer portion 36 may comprise conventional materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, inner and outer portions may comprise plastic material, metal, or a combination thereof.
FIG. 13 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the present invention, designated headband 5′. Headband 5′ is shown including the feature of FIGS. 11-12, namely, adjustable-length arms 30. Additionally, headband 5′ shows the feature of internally disposed hinges 25, in combination with tabs 13. Other features will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1. A headband comprising

a coronal section with a first end and a second end,

a first arm with a first end and a second end, said first end hingedly attached to one of said first end or second end of said coronal section,

a second arm with a first end and a second end, said first end hingedly attached to the other of said first end or second end of said coronal section, wherein said second end of said first arm and said second end of said second arm are curved in a general J-shape to match the contour of ears when the headband is in the open position and placed on top of a head, said J-shaped curved ends extending downwardly away from a main axis of said first and second arms,

said first arm and second arms are generally perpendicular to the coronal section when in an open position and when in a closed position, the second end of the first arm folds toward the coronal section so the first arm is adjacent the coronal section and the second end of the second arm folds toward the coronal section and first arm and lies adjacent the first arm and wherein said hinged attachment comprises a pair of hinges wherein each hinge is located on a respective main axis of said first and second arms, respectively, such that each hinge is disposed in an interior between said coronal section and said first and second arms, said first and second arms each including a first inner portion extending along said main axis and a second outer portion, said first portion including said first end hingedly attached to said coronal section, said second portion including a blind bore configured in size and shape to receive said first portion, said first portion being slidably guided within said bore to foreshorten or lengthen said arm, said first and second arms each including a respective manually-actuatable locking mechanism to releasably fix said first portion with respect to said second portion in one of a plurality of positions.

2. The headband of claim 1 wherein the first and second ends of the coronal section bow slightly toward the first and second arms.

3. The headband of claim 1 further including tabs extending from and generally perpendicular to said coronal sections.

4. The headband of claim 1 wherein said first, inner portion includes a spring-loaded peg and said second outer portion includes a plurality of radial holes extending from said blind bore to an outer surface of said second, outer portion, said peg having an extended position and a retracted position, said peg further having a forward portion that is configured in size and shape to extend through one of said radial holes when said peg is in axial registry with said one hole.

5. The headband of claim 4 wherein said forward portion of said peg is configured to be manually-actuated by a user to move said peg from said extended position to said retracted position, wherein when said peg is in said retracted position, said first, inner portion and said second outer portion are slidably movable with respect to each to thereby foreshorten or lengthen said arm.

6. The headband of claim 5 further including a spring arranged relative to said peg and said inner portion to urge said peg toward said extended position.