REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0035] 10 First circular edge

[0036] 12 Second circular edge

[0037] 13 Third circular edge

[0038] 14 Cylindrical band of material

[0039] 15 Cylindrical band of material

[0040] 16 Knot holder

[0041] ∫Preformed band of material

[0042] ˜Head of a wearer

[0043] 19 Flexible memory-retentive band of material

[0044] 20 Hair knot made by twisting ponytail

[0045] 21 Ponytail

[0046] 22 Elastic band

[0047] 22a Elastic band

[0048] 23 First elastic band

[0049] 24 Second elastic band

[0050] 25 Key

[0051] 26 Folded cash

[0052] 27 Elastic band

[0053] 27a Elastic band

[0054] 28 Arm of a wearer

[0055] 30 Elastic circle

[0056] 32 Bead

[0057] 33 Drawstrings

[0058] 35 Cutouts to provide fingerholds

[0059] 36 Narrow portion of knot holder

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0060] Various aspects of the present invention will evolve from the following detailed description which should be taken in conjunction with the prior described drawings.

[0061] FIG. 1—Knot holder in use

[0062] FIG. 1 shows knot holder 16 as worn on the knot 20 on wearer's head 18. The cylindrical band of material 14 can be seen to partially contain the knot with the help of second circular, elasticized edge 12.

[0063] FIGS. 2 and 3—A preferred embodiment

[0064] FIG. 2 shows a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of knot holder 16. Knot holder 16 consists of a flexible cylindrical band of material 14 which is elasticized at its two circular edges forming a first elasticized edge 10 and a second elasticized edge 12. Cylinder 14 can be formed by securing together two edges of a rectangular piece of material. In some embodiments, the two edges of cylinder 14 may be brought together without being actually joined together. This would be the case, for example, when a memory-retentive plastic is used. Cylinder 14 can also be formed in a seamless fashion, for instance, by knitting. Band 14 can be formed from plastic or any other flexible material that will allow the band to be easily and securely placed around the knot of the wearer. The first elasticized edge can be made a little smaller in circumference than the second elasticized edge or they could be made of the same circumference. In FIG. 2, a portion of elastic 30 used to elasticize edge 10 is exposed so that it may be grabbed and pulled. Elastic 30 carries a bead 32 to make the elastic easier to grab. Once the knot holder has been placed on the knot of a wearer, the wearer may grab bead 32 and pull on it to tighten elastic 30. The pulled elastic is then twisted into a figure eight loop which is subsequently placed around the knot in the manner of tightening an ordinary ponytail elastic around a ponytail.

[0065] A tightening mechanism in the manner of elastic 30 may be present at both the first and the second circular edges. Alternatively, it may be present intermediate the two circular edges. In such a case, an extra pocket may be added to house the elastic parallel to the two circular edges.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows the top elevational view of knot holder 16. Elastic 30 can be seen to be partially enclosed along elasticized edge 10. Bead 32 may be replaced by a knot or any other mechanism that will allow the wearer to grab elastic 30 easily. The width of band 14, which is the dimension perpendicular to the circumference of the band, should be just wide enough to allow it to stay taut over a standard hair knot. If the band it made too wide, then it will cover too much of the knot. Also, if the band is too wide, it will not be able to hold the knot tightly against the wearer's head. The circumference of band 14 can be varied vastly depending upon the flexibility of the fabric and the degree of gathers desired.

[0067] FIGS. 4 and 5—A second embodiment

[0068] FIG. 4 shows the front elevational view of a second embodiment of the knot holder. This embodiment uses drawstrings 33 to help tighten the knot holder. After a knot holder has been placed on the knot of a wearer, it may need tightening. Drawstrings 33 provide a mechanism by which such tightening may be accomplished. FIG. 5 shows the top elevational view of the second embodiment of knot holder 16. Drawstrings 33 may be provided at both circular edges of the knot holder.

[0069] FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9—Four other embodiments

[0070] FIG. 6 shows the front elevational view of a third embodiment of knot holder 16. In this embodiment the diameter of first elasticized edge 10 is made small enough that no tightening may be required when the knot holder is placed on the knot of a wearer. Second circular edge will then have a larger diameter so that it can leave the central portion of the knot exposed to view.

[0071] FIG. 7 shows the front elevational view of a fourth embodiment of knot holder 16. In this embodiment, two bands of elastic 27 and 27a are sewn at a slight distance from the first circular edge and the second circular edge respectively resulting in ruffled edges. The bands of elastic 27 and 27a may be placed either on the inside surface or the outside of knot holder 16. The elastics may be small enough in circumference to avoid use of a tightening mechanism. Alternatively, tightening mechanisms such as those previously described may be employed. For instance, drawstrings may be threaded through the tunnel formed between band 14 and elastic 27 by stitching elastic 27 to band 14 along both its circular edges leaving a central tunnel.

[0072] FIG. 8 shows the front elevational view of a fifth embodiment of knot holder 16. In this embodiment circular edges 10 and 12 are elasticized by use of wide bands of elastic 23 and 24. These bands of elastic may or may not be covered with fabric depending on the look desired.

[0073] FIG. 9 shows the front elevational view of sixth embodiment of knot holder 16. This embodiment uses a self-elasticized band 17. An example of such a band would be one that is made by knitting, for instance. The shape of the band with circular edges of a small diameter and a central band of a larger diameter can be achieved during the process of producing band 17 of knot holder 16.

[0074] FIG. 10—An open-cylinder embodiment

[0075] FIG. 10 shows the front elevational of a seventh embodiment of knot holder 16. In this embodiment cylinder 19 is not a closed cylinder but one that can be opened out into a substantially rectangular shape. This embodiment would work very well when made with memory-retentive flexible materials. In order to be able to open out the cylinder with one hand and place it around a knot, finger holds are provided in the form of cutouts 35. Edges 10 and 12 are not elasticized in this case. Instead they are slightly curved inwards to better hold a knot in place. However, the circular edges 10 and 12 could also be made of the same circumference of the rest of the surface without detracting substantially from the utility of this embodiment of a knot holder. Also, in place of cutouts 35, fingerholds could be provided in the form of loops or rings extending outward from the cylindrical band.

[0076] FIG. 11—Knot holder used as a ponytail holder

[0077] FIG. 11 shows a knot holder being used as an ordinary ponytail holder to secure a wearer's ponytail. In this use, the knot holder can either be tightened on the ponytail using tightening means provided such as elastic circle 30 or drawstrings 33. Alternatively, the knot holder can be twisted into a figure eight configuration and relooped around the ponytail in the manner of wearing any ordinary ponytail elastic.

[0078] FIGS. 12, 13 and 14—Knot holder used as a wrist wallet

[0079] FIG. 12 shows a knot holder worn on arm 28 of a wearer. The two elasticized edges 10 and 12 help form an annular pocket between band 14 and the arm of the wearer. This pocket can be used to store a tissue or a key or other such small items. Aside from being used as a wrist wallet, the knot holder, when worn in this fashion, can also serve as a protective cover for a bracelet. Alternatively, the knot holder can be worn as a towel band during sports. For this purpose, the knot holder would need to be made of an absorbent material. The knot holder can also be used a protective medical device to cover a wound on the arm of a wearer.

[0080] FIG. 13 shows an opened-out view of an eighth embodiment of the knot holder. In this embodiment, two cylindrical bands of fabric 14 and 15 are used to form the knot holder. Cylindrical band 15 can be interpreted as being used as a lining for cylindrical band 14. In making this embodiment of the knot holder, the two bands 14 and 15 are first placed one inside the other forming a single cylinder. One set of free edges are then joined together and elasticized by a single piece of elastic. This results in the two bands being joined together to form one circular edge 10. The other free edge of each band is then elasticized individually resulting in edges 12 and 13. In use the knot holder of this embodiment looks substantially like all the knot holders previously described. FIG. 15 illustrates this. In FIG. 15, the two bands 14 and 15 lie one over the other. Band 14 can then be pulled back by elasticized edge 12 to reveal band 15. This construction results in a pocket between the two bands in which small items may be stored while protecting the arm of the wearer from contact with said items. Cylindrical bands 14 and 15 may be attached in one or more places along the width of the two bands, perpendicular to the circular edges. This would result in the formation of several pockets between cylindrical bands 14 and 15.

[0081] The knot holder of the eighth embodiment can also be made by starting with a cylindrical band of material about twice the width of the finished knot holder; elasticizing the two ends of the cylindrical band; placing an elastic around its “waist”, midway between the two elasticized edges and, finally, folding the cylindrical band in half at the waist thus including the elastic placed at the waist. This method would also result in the knot holder of FIGS. 13 and 15.

[0082] FIG. 14 shows an example of how the pocket formed between bands 14 and 15 may be used to store small items. Bands or loops of elastic 22 and 22a are attached to the inside surfaces of the knot holder. These bands of elastic help secure tissues, or key rings or cash or other such items. Bands 22 and 22a helps hold and organize items. As many such bands as desired may be included. Instead of bands of elastic, safety pins, hooks, hook and loop fasteners and other equivalent means may be used to secure small items inside the wrist wallet. Alternatively, small pockets, such as patch pockets, may be attached to the inside surfaces of the wrist wallet. Hook and loop fasteners may be also be used to close band 14 over band 15 with added security.

[0083] FIG. 16—Other embodiments

[0084] Other embodiments of the knot holder are possible. In one such embodiment shown in FIG. 16, cylindrical band 14 may be of varying width. The knot holder of FIG. 16 tapers to width 36 so that the wide portion of the knot holder can be used to grab the knot while the narrow portion can be used like a ponytail elastic to tighten the knot holder. In use, the knot holder is first placed securely around the knot; the wearer the twists the narrow portion 36 of the knot holder into a figure eight configuration and then loops it around the knot.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

[0085] In using the knot holder the wearer first makes a ponytail and twists it into knot 20 close to her scalp. The wearer then places cylindrical band 14 of the knot holder around knot 20 making sure that the first circular edge 10 of the knot holder is placed firmly between the knot and the scalp while the second circular edge 12 of the knot holder grabs onto the knot leaving a central opening to allow the center of the knot to show through.

[0086] The wearer can then decide to tighten circular edge 10 by pulling on elastic 30 with the help of bead 32 and then looping the pulled elastic 30 in a figure eight configuration around the knot as when tightening an ordinary ponytail elastic. The wearer may, alternatively, use drawstrings 33 to tighten the knot holder after placing it securely on her knot.

[0087] In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 10, the wearer would use the knot holder slightly differently. She would first twist her ponytail into a knot. While holding the knot with one hand, she would hook her thumb and forefinger into cutouts 35 provided on band 19 of the knot holder; she would force the band open, place it securely around her knot, and then release the band.

[0088] In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 16, the wearer would place the wide portion of the knot holder over her hair knot. She would then tighten the knot holder by twisting the narrow portion 36 of the knot holder into a figure eight loop in the manner of tightening an ordinary ponytail holder and then snap the loop around the knot thereby securing it.

[0089] The embodiment of FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are intended to be used as wrist wallets. However, they can also be used in the manner of a standard knot holder. When used as a wrist wallet as shown in FIG. 13, the wearer can access the annular pocket of the knot holder by pulling on circular edge 12. This would reveal the inside of the knot holder where items may be stored.

[0090] While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and describe, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

[0091] Thus the reader will see that the knot holder of this invention provides a versatile, decorative article of wear that can result in several looks while adding utility.

[0092] It is a novel form of hair accessory that has a first and second elasticized circular edges in its preferred embodiment. The presence of these dual elasticized edges presents several advantages. The first elasticized edge prevents the hair knot from unraveling while the second elasticized edge grabs onto the knot keeping it close to the wearer's scalp. Also, since the knot holder is open at both ends, it can fit various sizes of knots without appearing to be too small for some and too large for others. It should be noted that the two circular edges do not necessarily need to be elasticized. Drawstrings could be used at the two edges instead of elastic. Alternatively, the two circular edges could be curved inwards by a variety of other mechanisms such as by including small darts along the circular edges. The smaller diameter of the two circular edges could also be achieved by preforming the cylindrical band as, for example, by knitting. In an alternative embodiment, the first and second circular edges could be made of the same diameter or even a larger diameter than the central portion of the band. In that case, the central portion of the band would have to be provided with a tightening mechanism to allow it to grip the knot firmly. A circular tunnel included along the central portion of the cylindrical band and parallel to the two parallel edges would help achieve such a design. The tunnel could be made to include elastics or drawstrings or other equivalent means to allow the knot holder to sit tightly on the knot of the wearer.

[0093] The cylindrical band of the knot holder can be made from a seamless piece of tubular material. Alternatively, it can be made by bringing together two opposite edges of a substantially rectangular piece of material. These two opposite edges could either be joined together, or, as shown in the memory-retentive embodiment of FIG. 10, allowed to remain separate. Finger holds could be provided in the form of cutouts for ease of wearing. In place of cutouts, loops or rings could be provided as fingerholds.

[0094] In the embodiment of FIG. 16, the cylindrical band would only approximate a rectangular shape when opened out since the width of the knot holder of that embodiment varies along the circumference.

[0095] Knot holders of FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 include a tightening mechanism along the first circular edge to allow for further securing of the knot holder after it has been placed on the knot. If desired, such tightening mechanism could be provided along both the circular edges. Additionally, a tightening mechanism could also be provided along the central portion of the band, parallel to the two circular edges. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the extra circumference of the knot holder could be used to tighten the knot holder over the knot of the wearer. Alternatively, the circular edges of the knot holder could be made small enough to eliminate the need for a tightening mechanism. In yet another embodiment, the entire knot holder could be made of predetermined dimensions so as to fit tightly over a knot without requiring any subsequent tightening. Such embodiments are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0096] The knot holder can double as a miniature wallet for carrying small items such as keys, cash, etc. When used in such a capacity, the inside surface of the knot holder can be provided with safety pins, hooks, pieces of elastic or hook and loop fasteners to help secure small items in the annular pocket formed by the knot holder. As shown in FIG. 13, the knot holder could also include an inside cylindrical band to further help secure small items comfortably.

[0097] The knot holder can also be used as a ponytail holder, as an anklet, a bracelet cover or a sweat band.

[0098] Thus it can be seen the knot holder of the present invention is a very versatile and original accessory.

[0099] It is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed apparent, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. While this description is directed to particular embodiments, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations which fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included as well. Thus even though the description above contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an example of a preferred embodiment thereof.