EP3871556B1

EP3871556B1 - Device for holding hair

Info

Publication number: EP3871556B1
Application number: EP20159882.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sophie Trelles-Tvede
Original assignee: Invisibobble GmbH
Current assignee: Invisibobble GmbH
Priority date: 2020-02-27
Filing date: 2020-02-27
Publication date: 2023-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2040-02-27
Also published as: US20210267339A1; CN113303580A; EP3871556A1; EP3871556C0

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to device for holding hair, like a hairband, comprising: a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the middle portion extends along a substantially C-shaped path.

PRIOR ART

Hairbands are known in various forms and materials. Most solid hairbands consist of a carrier of resin/ plastics that has a C-shaped body. Embellishments or a cover, e.g. a textile cover, may be provided.
Usually hairbands are elastic to a certain extent in order to enable a user to put the hairband over the head and squeeze the hair to the head. When not being in use, the hairband always adopts the same original shape. In other words, the shape and the size of the hairband are predetermined.
However, when wearing a conventional hairband for some time, marks in the hair may be caused due to the pressure applied by the hairband along a contact line. Furthermore, if the hairband sits too tight, there is a risk that the hairband will be uncomfortable for the user, cause pain, and in the worst case cau se headache or similar adverse effects.
Documents US 5,927,296 A , WO 2009/087766 A1 and US 2002/095714 A discloses hairbands comprising a first end portion, a second end portion and a middle portion, wherein the middle portion cosists of a first connecting element made of a first material and a second connecting element made of a second material.
Document US 5,073,989 A discloses a hairband having the shape of a loop comprising a material section with a braid-like structure, and an elastic material section.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for holding hair which reduces marks in the hair and provides high wearing comfort.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

This object is attained by providing a device for holding hair according to claim 1. The features of the dependent claims refer to preferred embodiments of the invention.
A device for holding hair, e.g. a hairband, according to the invention comprises: a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the middle portion extends along a substantially C-shaped path, wherein the middle portion is formed of at least a first connecting element extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first connecting element being made of a first material, and a second connecting element extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the second connecting element being made of a second material, wherein the first material and the second material have different physical properties. The first connecting element extends along the path of a helix and/or have a wave geometry. The second connecting element extends along the path of a helix and/or have a wave geometry. The first connecting element and the second connecting element are arranged to form a double helix structure. A double helix consists of two helixes, spirals or coils having windings that are arranged relative to each other to mesh or be entwined with each other. Alternatively, the first connecting element and the second connecting element are arranged to form a double wave structure. I.e. each of the connecting elements comprises a wave structure. The wave structures may have different planes of polarization and particularly the waves may be entwined with each other. The first material is a first string of a predominantly elastically deformable material and the second material is a second string of a predominantly plastically deformable material, and the first connecting element and the second connecting element are wound relative to each other.
The first material and the second material have different elasticity. Therefore, a plastic deformation is possible while maintaining the necessary elastic properties of the hairband. Usually the deformation is reversible. Therefore, the shape of the hairband can be adapted to the user's needs.
The first material may be e.g .resin/ plastics, whereas the second material may be e.g. a metal wire.
Particularly, the longitudinal axis of the helix and the longitudinal axis of the wave, respectively, define the C-shaped track of the middle portion of the hairband. The first connecting element and the second connecting element may both have a wave structure, wherein the amplitude of the wave structure of the first connecting element is perpendicular to amplitude of the wave structure of the second connecting element.
The middle portion may comprise a cover material covering, encasing and enclosing, respectively, the first connecting element and the second connecting element. The cover material may comprise resin or plastics material, textile material (e.g. a textile cover), etc.. The cover material may be formed to have an alternating structure of protrusions extending towards a centre of the C-shape and recesses arranged between the protrusions. The cover material may adapt the structure of the connecting elements having apexes protruding towards the centre of the C-shape and recesses provided between the protrusions.
Particularly, the cover material may be formed to have a wave geometry having alternating wave crests and wave troughs. The wave crests protrude towards the centre point of the C-shape of the middle portion.
An inventive device for holding hair, e.g. a hairband, according to the invention comprises: a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the middle portion extends along a substantially C-shaped path which has a centre point, wherein at least the middle portion is formed to have an alternating structure of protrusions extending towards the centre of the C-shape and recesses arranged between the protrusions.
To summarize, the particular advantage and USP of the inventive device is that it does not put pressure on the head because it has a moldable and/or an adaptable shape. It also leaves less marks in the hair because of the spiral, helix or wave-like shape. By providing the spiral/ helix/ wave structure the pressure on the head and hair of the user is substantially applied by the crests/ apexes, whereas between the crests/ apexes the pressure applied to the hair is reduced.
Furthermore, embellishments can be added on top of the device for fashion reasons without taking away from its performance, which is also proprietary.
The invention relates to any combination of any features described in this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and the appended drawings. The figures illustrate

Figure 1: a front view of a structure of a first embodiment of an inventive device for holding hair;
Figure 2: a side view of the structure of the inventive device for holding hair of Figure 1;
Figure 3: a top view of the structure of the inventive device for holding hair of Figure 1;
Figure 4: a perspective view of the structure of the inventive device for holding hair of Figure 1;
Figure 5: another perspective view of the structure of the inventive device for holding hair of Figure 1;
Figure 6: a perspective view of a structure of a second embodiment of an inventive device for holding hair;
Figure 7a: a perspective view of a structure of a third embodiment of an inventive device for holding hair;
Figure 7b: a front view of the structure of the inventive device for holding hair of Figure 7a;
Figure 8a: a perspective view of a structure of a fourth embodiment of an inventive device for holding hair; and
Figure 8b: a front view of the structure of the inventive device for holding hair of Figure 8a.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Figures 1 to 5 illustrate the structure of a device for holding hair according to the present invention. In this first embodiment the device for holding hair is a hairband 1. The hairband 1 is formed like a C-shaped element substantially lying in a plane P. The hairband is substantially solid and elastic.
In a front view (Figure 1) the hairband 1 extends along a section of a circumference of a circle having a virtual centre point or central point M. The hairband 1 has a first end portion 10 having a first end 100, a second end portion 11 having a second end 110, and a middle portion 2. The space between the first end 100 and the second end 110 defines an opening 3 for putting the hairband 1 on a user's head. In use the hairband 1 encloses part of the head of the user, and at least a section of the middle portion 2 is in contact with the hair of the user.
The middle portion 2 extends between the first end portion 10 and the second end portion 11 generally on a C-shaped curve/ path. The C-shaped curve can be a portion of a circumference of a circle, of an ellipse or any other regular or irregular, symmetric or asymmetric substantially C-shaped curve. However, the shape of the curve may be changed by applying a force to the hairband 1, e.g. by bending the middle portion 2, in order to plastically deform the middle portion 2. The middle portion has elastic and plastic properties combined, i.e. when bending the middle portion 2 there is a plastic deformation combined with an elastic force urging the end portions 10 and 11 towards each other when a counter-force is applied. The plastic deformation may be reversible.
According to the invention the middle portion 2 comprises at least two connecting elements 20 and 21. The first connecting element 20 is a first string of material, and the second connecting element 21 is a second string of material. The first string 20 is made of a first material which is elastically deformable, e.g. resin or plastics. The second string 21 is made of a second material which is plastically deformable, e.g. a metal wire. Both strings 20 and 21 extend between the first end portion 10 and the second end portion 11.
Both the first string 20 and the second string 21 have a curved structure which oscillates around the C-shaped track of the middle portion 2. In fact each of the strings 20, 21 has a helix structure. The longitudinal axes of the helix structures are arranged on the C-shaped track of the middle portion 2.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4 the strings 20 and 21 are arranged relative to each other to form a double helix structure. The double helix (or the central axis thereof) is curved and defines the C-shape of the hairband 1. Providing this kind of structure facilitates unifying the plastic properties of the metal wire (forming the second string 21) and the elastic properties of the resin element (forming the first string 20). In fact, each string has combined plastic and elastic properties, but in the first string 20 the elastic properties dominate, while in the second string 21 the plastic properties dominate. In other words the middle portion 2 can be bent plastically so that it adopts a shape wanted by the user. However, the elastic properties necessary for a hairband to press and hold the hair are provided by the resin element. The resin element 20 forces the end portions 10 and 11 towards each other.
Furthermore, as can be seen in Figure 1, the structure of the middle portion 2 provides strings 20 and 21 having apexes A extending in the direction of the centre M and recesses R located between two apexes A. Therefore, the structure of the middle portion 2 which is in contact with the user's hair is alternating between apexes A and recesses R and thus provides protruding pressure points (apexes A) that exert punctual pressure on the hair, and recessed relief portions (recesses R) that allow the hair to be less pressed. Consequently, there is a structure that prevents hair to be pressed along the complete middle portion 2 of the hairband 1, since the pressure is distributed to the pressure points. This feature improves the comfort of the hairband 1.
Figure 5 illustrates the structure with one of the end sections 111 of the middle portion 2 bent away from the circular shape, namely, bent outwardly. This deformation is just an example. It is a plastic deformation, while the hairband is still elastically deformable when being put on a user's head.
The intertwined strings 20 and 21 may be covered by a filling material (not shown), i.e. the structure of the strings 20 and 21 may be integrated in the filling material and/or molded in the filling material. The filling material may be e.g. resin or plastics. The outer shape of the headband 1 may be a wave structure or a helix structure having alternating wave crests (e.g. corresponding to apexes A) and wave troughs (e.g. corresponding to recesses R). The polarization of the wave structure lies in the plane P (see Figures 2, 3) defined by the C-shaped path of the middle portion 2 of the headband 1. By providing the wave structure the pressure on the head/ hair of the user is substantially applied by the crests, whereas between the crests the pressure applied to the hair is reduced.
In the following examples the same parts are designated with the same reference numbers. The properties of the following embodiments may be the same or similar to the properties described in connection with the first embodiment.
Figure 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the device for holding hair 1 according to the present invention. The structure 2 or "skeleton" of the hairband 1 comprises a first connecting element 20 configured as an undulated element, forming a first string of material, and a second connecting element 21 configured as another undulated element, forming a second string of material. The first string 20 is made of a first material which is elastically deformable, e.g. resin or plastics. The second string 21 is made of a second material which is plastically deformable, e.g. a metal wire. Both strings 20 and 21 extend between the first end portion 10 and the second end portion 11.
The first string 20 is a wave-shaped element wherein the amplitude of the wave has a radial direction r. The second string 21 is a wave-shaped element wherein the amplitude of the wave has a direction perpendicular to the radial direction r and perpendicular to the circumferential direction c. In a radial direction of the first string 20 there are alternating convex wave peaks A1 extending inwardly towards the centre M and concave wave peaks R1 extending outwardly away from the centre M. The second string 21 has alternating left side (with reference to the circumference c determined by the hairband 1) wave peaks A2 and right side wave peaks R2. The strings 20 and 21 are intertwined.
The first string 20 may be a plastic piece which is a thicker/ broader flat piece.
Figures 7a and 7b illustrate a third embodiment of the device for holding hair 1 according to the present invention. The structure of the "skeleton" 2 is identical to the one shown in Figure 6. Additionally there is a decoration 4 in the form of a cover made of fabric. The middle portion of the cover 4 extends outside the circumference of the structure 2, whereas the end portions 40, 41 of the cover 4 have pockets in which the end portions 10, 11 of the skeleton 2 are inserted.
Figures 8a and 8b illustrate a fourth embodiment of the device for holding hair according to the present invention. The structure of the "skeleton" is identical to the one shown in Figure 6. Additionally there is a decoration 5 in the form of a plurality of beads 5. The beads are arranged in concave (seen from the outside of the structure 2) wave troughs A1' corresponding to the wave peaks A1 extending inwardly towards the centre. I.e. the beads 5 are arranged outside the structure 2 in wave troughs A1'.

Claims

A device for holding hair (1), comprising:
a first end portion (10), a second end portion (11), and a middle portion (2) connecting the first end portion (10) and the second end portion (11), wherein the middle portion (2) extends along a substantially C-shaped path,

wherein the middle portion (2) is formed of at least a first connecting element (20) extending between the first end portion (10) and the second end portion (11), the first connecting element (20) is a first string made of a first material, and a second connecting element (21) extending between the first end portion (10) and the second end portion (11), the second connecting element (21) is a second string made of a second material, wherein the first material and the second material have different physical properties,

the first connecting element (20) extends along the path of a helix or has a wave geometry, the second connecting element (21) extends along the path of a helix or has a wave geometry,

wherein

the first connecting element (20) and the second connecting element (21) are arranged to form a double helix structure, or

the first connecting element (20) and the second connecting element (21) have a wave structure, wherein the amplitude of the wave structure of the first connecting element (20) and the amplitude of wave structure of the second connecting element (21) have different planes of polarization,

wherein

the first connecting element (20) and the second connecting element (21) are wound relative to each other,

characterized in that

the first material is a predominantly elastically deformable material and the second material is a predominantly plastically deformable material.
The device for holding hair (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that
the first connecting element (20) and the second connecting element (21) have a wave structure, and the amplitude of the wave structure of the first connecting element (20) is perpendicular to the amplitude of wave structure of the second connecting element (21).
The device for holding hair (1) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that
the middle portion (2) comprises a cover material covering, encasing and enclosing, respectively, the first connecting element (20) and the second connecting element (21).
The device for holding hair (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that
the cover material is formed to have an alternating structure of protrusions extending towards a centre (M) of the C-shape and recesses arranged between the protrusions.
The device for holding hair (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that
the cover material is formed to have a wave geometry having alternating wave crests and wave troughs.