HAIR TOOL

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a division of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/433,686, filed Jun. 6, 2019, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to accessories for the hair.

2. Brief Summary of the Prior Art

Accessories for holding and enhancing the appearance of human hair have been known at least since ancient times, expressing cultural and individual values, and reflecting class, sex, and social status. Headbands, pins, barettes, scrunchies, clips, turbans, nets, helmets, hair extensions, elastic loops, combs, and the like have been used in various forms for literally thousands of years. Nevertheless, there is a continuing need for devices to quickly and easily shape hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a hair tool comprising a length of shock cord having a first end and a second end, and a spring-loaded fastener having a closeable aperture and a first side and a second side. The shock cord passes through the closeable aperture such that the first end and the second end of the shock cord each extend from either the first side or the second side of the fastener and the spring-loaded fastener captures two portions of the shock cord to form a loop in the shock cord secured by the spring-loaded fastener. Preferably, the first end of the shock cord and the second end of the shock cord extend through the closeable aperture in the same direction. In a presently preferred embodiment, the hair tool includes a shock cord which is nominally one-eighth inch in diameter. Preferably, the hair tool includes a shock cord which has a length between eight inches and sixteen inches. Preferably, the ends of the shock cord are capped such that the ends cannot pass through the closeable aperture in the spring-loaded fastener. In one aspect of the present invention, the ends of the shock cord are capped with knots.

The present invention also provides a process for shaping hair with a hair tool, the process including providing a hair tool comprising a length of shock cord having a first end and a second end, and a spring-loaded fastener having a closeable aperture and a first side and a second side, the shock cord being passed through the closeable aperture such that the first end and the second end of the shock cord each extend from either the first side or the second side of the fastener and the spring-loaded fastener captures two portions of the shock cord to form a loop in the shock cord secured by the spring-loaded fastener. The process further includes operating the spring-loaded fastener to release tension on the cord; drawing the cord through the spring-loaded fastener until the ends of the cord extend proximate a side of the fastener; releasing the spring in the fastener to capture the cord; passing hair through the loop; and drawing the ends of the cord through the fastener to tighten the loop around the hair. Preferably, the process further includes tucking the ends of the cord between the hair and the loop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a hair tool according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A hair tool 10 according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The hair tool includes a length of shock cord 20 having a first end 22 and and second end 24 and a spring-loaded fastener 30 having a first side 32 and a second side 34 as well as an aperture 40 formed therein for receiving either end 22, 24 of the shock cord 20. The shock cord is preferably one-eighth inch diameter shock cord available in a variety of colors and with a nylon jacket that resists abrasion and UV sunlight. The spring-loaded fastener 30 can be a cylinder cord lock having a cylindrical core and tubular case for receiving the core, with apertures formed in the core and either side of the case with the core biased by a spring away from the bottom of the case, such that when the core is manually pressed down, the aperature in the core and case align so that the ends 22, 24 of the shock cord can be passed through the aligned aperature to form the hair tool 10. Releasing the spring locks the cord in place within the cord lock. Preferably, the two ends 22, 24 pass through the spring-loaded fastener 30 in the same direction as shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the two ends 22, 24 of the shock cord 20 are capped with a suitable cap 50 such that the ends 22, 24 cannot be accidently passed through the fastener 30 by a user. The cap 50 can be a knot formed at the ends 22, 24 of the cord 20. On one side 32 of the fastener 30 the cord forms a loop 26. To use the hair tool 10, a person can bunch his or her hair as desired and pass it through the loop 26 of the hair tool 10. The user then pulls the ends 22, 24 to tighten the loop 26 of the cord 20 at the desired position on the hair. The ends 22, 24 can then be tucked in between the loop 26 and the hair or otherwise, if desired by the user.

Various modifications can be made in the details of the various embodiments of the articles and processes of the present invention, all within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.