Hair Accessory Device

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/663,706, which was filed on Jun. 25, 2024, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates generally to the field of hair accessory devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a V-shaped bobby pin. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.

By way of background, this invention relates to improvements in hair accessory devices. Generally, people may enjoy wearing ponytail hairstyles to display a specific look or style. Sometimes this look or style requires a lot of volume in the hair. Accordingly, people may apply hair tracks or wefts to the hair to provide this extra volume. Further, holding these tracks in place while wearing a ponytail hairstyle may be difficult.

Accordingly, a hair accessory constructed in accordance with the invention can easily accentuate the appearance of a ponytail hairstyle. Further, it is often necessary for people to wear tracks or wefts with ponytails and for those tracks or wefts not to fall out during activity. These tracks and wefts require something to keep them in place. Accordingly, a V-shaped bobby pin can be used to effectively secure a track or weft to the user's head to securely accentuate the ponytail.

Accordingly, there is a demand for an improved hair accessory device that enhances the appearance of short and/or thin ponytails. More particularly, there is a demand for a hair accessory device that provides security for other hair accessories that enhance ponytails.

Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a hair accessory device that provides users with a hair accessory that enhances the appearance of short and/or thin ponytails. There is also a long felt need in the art for a hair accessory device that features a V-shaped bobby pin that holds a hair track in place to create a long and thick ponytail. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a hair accessory device that includes reinforced bends for durability and to help keep the hair track in place. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that lengthens the look of a ponytail with minimal effort. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a hair accessory device that includes a rubber coating to prevent hair from sticking to the device. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a hair accessory device that can be used for other hairstyles or hair uses as well.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a hair accessory device. The device is a modified hair accessory that secures a track or weft in place on a ponytail. The hair accessory device comprises a body component that is configured in a V-shape. The body component is composed in the same general way as a traditional bobby pin. Further, the body component involves reinforced bends for more durability and security. Thus, the body component is relatively small, durable, and safely secures tracks or wefts into a ponytail. The body component can also be coated in rubber to prevent hair from sticking to the device and then being pulled out along with the device.

In this manner, the hair accessory device of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides users with a device that provides a hair accessory that enhances the appearance of short ponytails. The device is a V-shaped bobby pin. The device can comprise reinforced bends.

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a hair accessory device. The device is a modified hair accessory that secures a track or weft to a ponytail to enhance its volume. The hair accessory device comprises a body component that can be pushed into the hair around a track. Further, the body component is a V-shaped bobby pin. Thus, the body component is relatively small, durable, and secures other hair accessories in place. Further, the body component is covered in a rubber coating so that the user's hair does not stick to it.

In one embodiment, the hair accessory device allows users to keep tracks or wefts in their hair whenever they are wearing a ponytail. Further, the device is manufactured as a traditional bobby pin, however, in the shape of a V. Accordingly, users can push the device into the hair where the track or weft is in place to ensure that the accessory stays securely throughout the entire day.

In one embodiment, the hair accessory device comprises a body component that is configured in a V-shape with reinforced bends on the ends to ensure a stronger durability. The body component comprises an exterior surface and rounded ends. However, the body component can be any suitable shape and size as is known in the art, as long as the body component is sized and shaped to securely fit in a user's hair.

In one embodiment, the body component is configured in the same format as a traditional bobby pin. However, instead of the traditional straight line, this device is shaped like the letter V. This allows more security for the hair accessory that is being kept in place while the device is in use. In use, the device slides along the scalp and pins the hair accessory into the user's hair. The body component comprises a top piece and a bottom piece that are connected at one end of the device. The bottom piece of the device slides along the scalp while the top piece slides along the top of the hair accessory essentially holding the hair accessory in place.

In one embodiment, the body component allows for a very secure way to hold a hair accessory in place because of a set of reinforced bends placed at the open end of the device. The reinforced bends are on both the top and bottom piece of the device and allow for the device to get a better grip on the hair accessory that it is holding in place. This better grip ensures that the user can move and do whatever is necessary without the worry of the hair accessory device falling out.

In one embodiment, the body component comprises two bulbs on the tip of both the top and bottom piece of the device at the open end. These bulbs are made of the same material as the rest of the body component and are placed on the tips for security reasons. Since the device is made to slide along the scalp, the bulbs cause the device not to injure the user due to a sharp metal tip. Thus, with a rounded bulb, there is no point which could cut or otherwise harm the user's scalp while it is being inserted.

In one embodiment, the hair accessory device is manufactured from metal, plastic, or other suitable materials as is known in the art, or a combination of such materials.

In one embodiment, the hair accessory device is covered in a rubber coating. This rubber coating encases the entire body component and allows the user's hair not to get stuck to the device. In this way, when either inserting or taking out the hair accessory device the user is not in danger of entangling their hair or accidentally ripping it out along with the device. This decreases the pain a user might feel when inserting traditional bobby pins into the hair.

In one embodiment, the hair accessory device can be any suitable shape, size, or color as is known in the art, so long as the hair accessory device is large enough to ensure security of the hair accessory it is securing into the hair and small enough to not be too unwieldy or visible to others. The hair accessory device can also comprise numerous designs or patterns to make the device more amusing or to match the device specifically to certain hair colors.

In one embodiment, the hair accessory device can also be used for a plurality of hairstyles and not simply the ponytail hairstyle. Any hair style which requires a more secure protection is applicable to use this device as well.

In yet another embodiment, the hair accessory device comprises a plurality of indicia.

In yet another embodiment, a method of securing a hair track to a ponytail hairstyle is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a hair accessory device comprising a body component which is a traditional bobby pin in a V-shape. The method also comprises placing the track into the ponytail hairstyle as desired. Further, the method comprises widening the open end of the device so the top and bottom pieces are spread apart. The method also comprises sliding the open end of the device along the scalp so that the top piece covers the top of the track. Finally, the method comprises pushing down on the top piece of the body component to ensure that it is secure to the user's hair.

Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, upon reading and understanding the following detailed specification.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

As noted above, there is a long felt need in the art for a hair accessory device that provides users with a hair accessory that enhances the appearance of short and/or thin ponytails. There is also a long felt need in the art for a hair accessory device that features a V-shaped bobby pin that holds a hair track in place to create a long ponytail. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a hair accessory device that includes reinforced bends for durability and to help keep the hair track in place. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that lengthens the look of a ponytail with minimal effort. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a hair accessory device that includes a rubber coating to prevent hair from sticking to the device. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a hair accessory device that can be used for other hairstyles or hair uses as well.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel hair accessory device. The hair accessory device comprises a body component that is configured in a V-shape. The body component is composed in the same general way as a traditional bobby pin. Further, the body component involves reinforced bends for more durability and security. Thus, the body component is relatively small, durable, and safely secures tracks or wefts into a ponytail. The body component can also be coated in rubber to prevent hair from sticking to the device and then being pulled out along with the device. The present invention also includes a novel method of securing a track into a ponytail hairstyle. The method includes the steps of providing a hair accessory device comprising a body component which is a traditional bobby pin in a V-shape. The method also comprises placing the track into the ponytail hairstyle as desired. Further, the method comprises widening the open end of the device so the top and bottom pieces are spread apart. The method also comprises sliding the open end of the device along the scalp so that the top piece covers the top of the track. Finally, the method comprises pushing down on the top piece of the body component to ensure that it is secure to the user's hair.

Referring initially to the drawings,illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the hair accessory deviceof the present invention. In the present embodiment, the hair accessory deviceis an improved hair accessory devicethat provides a userwith a V-shaped bobby pin to secure a trackinto a ponytail hairstyle. Specifically, the hair accessory devicecomprises a body componentwhich is comprised of a traditional bobby pin. Thus, the body componentis relatively small, durable, and can easily secure the trackinto the hairstyle.

Further, the body componentis configured in the same format as a traditional bobby pin. However, instead of the traditional straight line, this deviceis shaped like the letter “V”. This V-shape allows more security for the trackthat is being kept in place within the ponytail hairstyle. The hair accessory deviceis made to slide along the scalpand pin the trackinto the user's hair. The body componentcomprises a top pieceand a bottom piecethat are connected at the closed endof the device. The bottom pieceslides along the scalpwhile the top pieceslides along the trackwhich works to hold it in place.

Additionally, the hair accessory deviceis manufactured from metal, plastic, or other suitable materialsas is known in the art, or a combination of such materials.

As shown in, the body componentcomprises two bulbson the tipof both the topand bottom pieceof the deviceat the open end. These bulbsare made of the same materialas the rest of the body componentand are placed on the tipsfor security reasons. Since the hair accessory deviceis made to slide along the scalp, the bulbscause the devicenot to injure the userdue to a sharp metal tip. Thus, with bulbsthat are rounded, there is no sharp point which could cut or otherwise harm the user's scalpwhile it is being inserted.

As shown in, a set of reinforced bendsare placed at the open endof the hair accessory device. The reinforced bendsare on both the topand bottom pieceof the deviceand allow for the hair accessory deviceto get a better grip on the trackthat is being held in place. The reinforced bendsare made of the same materialas the rest of the body componentand are simply small divots made in the wiring of the deviceto allow for more friction between the hair accessory deviceand the trackto ensure it does not fall out with movement.

As shown in, the hair accessory deviceis covered in a rubber coating. This rubber coatingencases the entire body componentand allows the user's hairnot to get stuck to the device. In this way, when either inserting or taking out the hair accessory devicethe useris not in danger of entangling their hairor accidentally ripping it out as they remove the hair accessory device. This decreases the pain a usermight feel when inserting traditional bobby pins into their hair.

As shown in, the V-shape of the hair accessory deviceprovides the extra security required to keep a trackin place while it is in a ponytail hairstyle. Further, the hair accessory devicecan also be used for a plurality of hairstyles and not simply the ponytail hairstyle. Any hairstyle which requires a more secure protection is applicable to use this device, as well. Additionally, the hair accessory devicecan be any suitable shape, size, or color as is known in the art, so long as the hair accessory deviceis large enough to ensure security of the hair accessory it is securing into the hairand small enough to not be too unwieldy or visible to others. The hair accessory devicecan also comprise numerous designs or patterns to make the devicemore amusing or to match the devicespecifically to certain hair colors.

In yet another embodiment, the hair accessory devicecomprises a plurality of indicia. The body componentof the devicemay include advertising, a trademark, or other letters, designs, or characters, printed, painted, stamped, or integrated into the body component, or any other indiciaas is known in the art. Specifically, any suitable indiciaas is known in the art can be included, such as but not limited to, patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc., that may or may not be hair, bobby pin, or brand related.

illustrates a flowchart of the method securing a track into a ponytail hairstyle. The method includes the steps of at, providing a hair accessory device comprising a body component which is a traditional bobby pin in a V-shape. The method also comprises at, placing the track into the ponytail hairstyle as desired. Further, the method comprises at, widening the open end of the device so the top and bottom pieces are spread apart. The method also comprises at, sliding the open end of the device along the scalp so that the top piece covers the top of the track. Finally, the method comprises at, pushing down on the top piece of the body component to ensure that it is secure to the user's hair.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different users may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “hair accessory device”, “hair device”, “accessory device”, and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the hair accessory deviceof the present invention.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the hair accessory deviceof the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hair accessory deviceas shown inis for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the hair accessory deviceare well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the hair accessory deviceare important design parameters for user convenience, the hair accessory devicemay be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.