DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The invention provides a hairstyle enhancement apparatus to be worn on the head of a wearer. The apparatus may highlight the wearer's existing hair, that is, give the impression that some of the wearer's hair is of a different color, texture and/or length, or it may clearly supplement the wearer's existing or natural hair.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a hairstyle enhancement apparatus according to the invention. Hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 includes frame 4 which may be a peripheral flexible wire frame. In the illustrated embodiment, frame 1 forms a closed loop, i.e., a halo, but in other exemplary embodiments, frame 4 may include an opening. Frame 4 is generally round and in one exemplary embodiment, frame 4 may be circular, while in other exemplary embodiments, frame 4 may take on other shapes such as an oval or ellipse. Hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 is designed to fit flexibly and comfortably on the head of the wearer. Frame 4 may be a metal wire, a plastic wire or a wire formed of a resiliently deformable material. Frame 4 is designed to fit snugly and comfortably on the wearer's head.

[0024] A grid of filaments 6 is coupled to and supported by frame 4 and is disposed internally with respect peripheral frame 4. Filaments 6 that make up the grid of filaments are designed to be thin and may be formed of various materials and in one exemplary embodiment, filaments 6 may each be formed of a convex monofilament. In various exemplary embodiments, filaments 6 may be formed of various suitable materials such as elastic materials. Hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 may be sized so that frame 4 extends substantially circumferentially around the wearer's head and in another exemplary embodiment, frame 4 may extend about approximately two-thirds of the wearer's scalp. The grid arrangement is intended to be exemplary only and in other exemplary embodiments, the grid may take on other shapes.

[0025] The grid of filaments 6 is woven to contour to the wearer's head and advantageously includes two crowns. In the illustrated arrangement, the grid of filaments include left crown 14 and right crown 16. Applicants have discovered that the double-crown arrangement advantageously enables hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 to fit comfortably in following the contours of the wearer's head and provides a natural look.

[0026] In the exemplary embodiment, hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 includes a plurality of fastening members, comb clips 18 that are attached to frame 4 and fastenable to a wearer's existing hair. Although three comb clips 18 are shown disposed on the sides and rear of hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 in the exemplary embodiment, more or less than three fastening members may be used in other exemplary embodiments and they may be positioned differently and may be devices other than comb clips 18. Comb clips 18 each include self locking bar 20 which provides for locking the comb clips to the wearer's existing hair and for securing frame 4 to the wearer's scalp. In an exemplary embodiment in which frame 4 is made of an elastic material and/or if frame 4 fits snugly and comfortably on the wearer's head without a fastening member, a fastening member such as comb clips 18 may not be needed.

[0027] At a plurality of locations on filaments 6 of the grid of filaments, a tuft or clump of hair is attached to the grid. The clumps of hair may be attached in an ordered pattern or they may be attached in a random or non-ordered manner. Clumps of hair 8A-8J are examples of the plurality of clumps of hair attached to filaments 6 in various embodiments. The clumps of hair may include human hair or artificial hair. Synthetic fibers such as Eleura, Dynal, or Kane Kaion may be used for example. The clumps of hair may be of any color which may differ from, or be the same as, the wearer's existing hair. In an exemplary embodiment, the clumps of hair attached to the grid of filaments 6, may include hair of different color. Within this arrangement, each clump of hair may include hair of one color and clumps of different color may be used, or different color hairs may be provided within each clump of hair, i.e. multiple colors of hair within a clump. The clumps of hair may include hair of different lengths, for example, length 28 of exemplary clump of hair 8A is shown to be greater than length 26 of another exemplary clump of hair 8B. The volume or density of the clumps of hair may also differ. Still referring to FIG. 1, the volume of clump of hair 8F is shown to be greater than the volume of clump of hair 8G. In another embodiment, the clumps of hair may include clumps of hair of different textures. In one embodiment, clumps of hair may be fastened to the grid such that they fixedly extend in different directions. For example, clump of hair 8I extends along direction 22 which differs from direction 20 along which clump of hair 8J extends. In another exemplary embodiment, the clumps of hair may be rotatably attached to filaments 6 such that the clump of hair has the ability to swivel from side to side or rotate around filament 6. Such flexibility at attachment point 10 may be provided in a number of ways. In one exemplary embodiment, special glues may be used to provide flexibility at attachment point 10. The special glues may include various epoxies, or other suitable glues that provide flexibility. According to the embodiment in which flexibility is provided at attachment point 10, any of the clumps of hair 8A-8J may be brushed or combed in any desired direction. Therefore, different clumps of hair 8A-8J attached to the grid at different locations may be brushed or combed in different directions. According to this exemplary embodiment, the double crowned structure of hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 is particularly advantageous as it enables the different clumps of hair 8A-8J of hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 to be parted on the left or right.

[0028] Although the exemplary hair enhancement apparatus shown in FIG. 1 only includes ten exemplary clumps of hair 8A-8J, it should be understood that this plurality of clumps of hair, their relative positions, relative lengths, relative volumes, and so on, are intended to be exemplary only. The hairstyle enhancement apparatus of the invention may include various numbers of additional or lesser clumps of hair attached at various random or ordered locations in various exemplary embodiments. In one exemplary embodiment, a number of clumps of hair may be located in one location in close proximity to one another.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a rear view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows left crown 14 and right crown 16. The double crown arrangement provided by left crown 14 and right crown 16 is intended to be exemplary only and the two crown areas may be positioned differently with respect to one another in other exemplary embodiments.

[0030] Referring again to FIG. 1, when hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 is placed on the wearer's head, the wearer's existing or natural hair is maneuvered to extend through openings in the grid of filaments 6. This is shown in section 32 of FIG. 1. In section 32, the wearer's existing hair 34 extends through hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 and obscures frame 4 as well as filaments 6. If fastening members are used, they will be sized and positioned such that the wearer's hair obscures the fastening members as well. This provides a head of hair with a hairstyle that includes the wearer's existing hair in combination with clumps of hair of hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1. In the exemplary embodiment in which the clumps of hair include hair of a different color than the wearer's existing hair, the hairstyle may give the perception that the wearer has had his or her hair highlighted by conventional chemical methods, i.e. includes hair of a highlighted color. In exemplary embodiments wherein the clumps of hair are a different length or texture than the wearer's existing hair, a different styling effect is produced. The additional hair provided by hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 may be styled together with the wearer's existing hair using conventional gels and sprays and other treatments and it may be trimmed professionally to blend in with the wearer's existing hair as desired.

[0031] Although described in terms of a peripheral wire frame and a grid of filaments, hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 may be formed entirely of one whole piece of material which may be plastic, rubber or other suitably comfortable materials. In one exemplary embodiment, the entire device may be formed from a solitary piece of plastic material with portions thereof punched out to provide the grid and frame. Materials other than plastic or rubber may also be used if they provide strength and flexibility to the device.

[0032] Hairstyle enhancement apparatus 1 is easily removable and replaceable. It can therefore be adorned or removed rapidly. As such, the wearer can switch between various hairstyles rapidly.

[0033] Another exemplary hairstyle enhancement apparatus is shown in FIGS. 3A-3D. Hairstyle enhancement apparatus 40 is advantageously worn with frame 41 extending around the rear of a wearer's head and includes a plurality of filaments 43 extending forward over the wearer's scalp and frontward toward the wearer's face. Although five filaments 43 are shown in the exemplary embodiment, this is exemplary only. Frame 41 and filaments 43 are formed to fit comfortably and snugly on a wearer's head and to be easily removable. Filaments 43 may be formed to include different lengths 47 as illustrated, or lengths 47 may be the same. Frame 41 may be formed of metal or various plastics and filaments 43 may be formed of metal and various plastics that are resiliently deformable to provide a snug but comfortable fit. In one exemplary embodiment, the entire hair enhancement apparatus 40 may be formed of a unitary piece of molded plastic. Filaments 43 are attached to frame 41 at attachment points 49 and may be fixed in position or movable and lockable with respect to frame 41. Filaments 43 each include a plurality of openings 45 that are adapted to receive a corresponding clump of hair. Although openings 45 are shown to be formed in a regular pattern in FIGS. 3A-3D, such is exemplary only and in other exemplary embodiments, openings 45 may be randomly positioned. Openings 45 are exemplary only and in other exemplary embodiments, other receiving or attachment members may be provided to receive a corresponding clump of hair. The clumps of hair that are attached to filaments 43 may include clumps of hair of different colors, different volumes, different lengths, and different textures as describe in conjunction with FIG. 1. A single clump of hair attachable to hair enhancement apparatus 40 may also include hair of multiple colors. Hairstyle enhancement apparatus 40 may also include one or more attachment members such as a lockable comb (not shown) to attach frame 41 to the wearer's head. Hairstyle enhancement apparatus 40 including frame 41 and filaments 43 is designed to have a snug fit on the wearer's scalp such that the wearer's natural hair extends between filaments 43 and obscures filaments 43 and frame 41.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary clump of hair and attachment to be used in conjunction with hairstyle enhancement apparatus 40 shown in FIGS. 3A-3D. Clump of hair 53 includes hair 55 which may be natural or synthetic as previously described. Hair 55 is coupled to attachment member 57 which includes protuberance 59 and may be formed of plastic or other suitable materials. Fastening member 61 may be a wire or other filament used to group and secure hair 55. In other exemplary embodiments, hair 55 may be glued to attachment member 57. Protuberance 59 is designed to snap into a corresponding opening 45. With protuberance 59 snapped into a corresponding opening 45, clump of hair 53 is rotatable about the opening within the plane tangential to the wearer's head at the point of attachment.

[0035] FIGS. 5A-5C show exemplary hairstyle enhancement apparatus 63 that includes band 65 and filaments or tines 67. Hairstyle enhancement apparatus 63 is designed to fit snugly and comfortably on a wearer's scalp and may be formed of an integrally molded plastic designed to be resiliently deformable. Band 65 may include ribs 69 to aid in securing and positioning hairstyle enhancement apparatus 63 in a desired position on a wearer's head. Hairstyle enhancement apparatus 63 may additionally or alternatively include other fastening members for securing the apparatus to a wearer's hair or scalp. Tines 67 include a plurality of troughs 71 formed between ribs 73 shown in further detail in FIG. 6. The three tines 67 are intended to be exemplary only and in other exemplary embodiments, hairstyle enhancement apparatus 63 may include various pluralities of tines 67. Hairstyle enhancement apparatus 63 is advantageously worn with band 65 extending around the rear of a wearer's head.

[0036] FIGS. 6A and 6B show one exemplary attachment device for securing a clump of hair to a corresponding tine 67 in a rotatable relationship. Clump of hair 75 includes fastening member 77 which includes socket 79. Socket 79 snaps into place in corresponding trough 71 formed between a set of ribs 73 on tine 67. In this manner, clump of hair 75 is circumferentially rotatable with respect to tine 67. Fastening member 77 may be formed of various suitable materials such as plastic and may simply snap into place to surround trough 71.

[0037] FIG. 7 shows another exemplary technique and arrangement for rotatably fastening a clump of hair to a corresponding filament or tine. Clump of hair 81 is folded over itself in portion 83 and grouped and secured by wire 85 or other monofilament wrap. Clump of hair 81 is secured to a trough 71 of tine 67. In the exemplary attachment arrangements shown in FIGS. 6A-6B and FIG. 7, the clump of hair is rotatably attached to the corresponding tine and therefore can be brushed or combed in different directions along with the wearer's natural hair.

[0038] FIG. 8 shows another exemplary hairstyle enhancement apparatus 100 including frame, or headband 102 and attachment lines or filaments 104. Headband 102 and filaments 104 may be made of metal, plastic or other suitable flexible materials. The three filaments 104 are exemplary only and each filament 104 includes a plurality of clumps of real or artificial hair 110 attached by joints 108. Joints 108 may be either of the aforedescribed attachments for rotatably attaching clump of hair 110 to filament 104. In order to enhance the attachment of headband 102 to the natural hair of the wearer's head, headband 102 may include a securing mechanism such as one more groups of small teeth 112 disposed along the inner edge of headband 102. The location and number of groups of teeth 112 is exemplary only. In one embodiment, filaments 104 may be fixedly attached to headband 102 at a plurality of fixed locations and in another exemplary embodiment, filaments 104 may be movable with respect to headband 102 to provide added versatility of the apparatus. In the exemplary embodiment in which filaments 104 are movable with respect to headband 102, they may be slidable and may include self locking mechanism 106 to lock filaments 104 into the desired locations on headband 102. Filaments 104 and headband 102 may be formed of various suitable plastic or metal materials. As in the aforedescribed embodiments, clumps of hair 110 may include hair of different colors, textures, lengths, and volumes and a clump of hair 110 may include multiple colors of hair.

[0039] The preceding merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. For example, a feature described in conjunction with one hairstyle enhancement apparatus may be used in conjunction with other of the hairstyle enhancement apparatus embodiments. Furthermore, all examples and conditional language recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes and to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventors to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents and equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

[0040] This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the figures of the accompanying drawing, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

[0041] Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.