BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The hair style known as the "pony tail" is one in which the hair is held and then wrapped with some type of hair restraining member either relatively close to the scalp or further away from the scalp to confine the hair at that point with hair hanging free below such point. The most common device used to retain the hair is a rubber band which is wrapped multiple times until the desired tightness of wrap is achieved. Rubber bands provide no decorative effect and are, therefore, not particularly desirable from a fashion viewpoint.

Many devices have been proposed to provide the same type of securement to achieve the pony tail hairdo while being more decorative in nature than the simple rubber band.

One such alternative is shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,668,547 where a decorative mesh is associated with an elastic grommet to completely encircle the hair much like the rubber band. An additional device is shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,805,673 where a decorative band is provided with circumferentially spaced prong members for gripping the hair to support the band in a predetermined position. An additional device is shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,945,500 wherein a ribbon-like member is disclosed having interlocking features so as to be engageable to hold the hair in the desired manner. A further device is shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,099,271 wherein various locking devices are shown to engage a cord which secures the hair in the desired manner. A still further device is shown in U.S. Patent 3,301,266 which again shows a cordlike device which is locked and engaged to secure the

hair in the desired manner. A still further prior art device is shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,156,171 wherein a decorative fabric is shown circumferentially engaged about an elastic member to secure the hair in the desired fashion.

An additional prior art device is shown in U.S. Design Patent No. 292,030 which shows an annular fabric member surrounding an elastomeric material such as a rubber band which is wrapped a number of times to secure the hair in the desired fashion. Devices of this latter type are popular today as the fabric can be made in many colors and designs giving a more fashionable look when in place on hair than a simple rubber band. However this type of hair securing band when in place on a pony tail, due to the completely circumferential nature of the elastomeric material within, presents a bunched and tightly configured look against the hair. Often the bunching of the fabric obscures the design of the fabric. OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an aesthetically pleasing hair retaining device which is easy to use and effective for retaining the hair while being ornamental.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved hair retention device and hair ornament which is relatively easy to use while providing a more pleasing and decorative effect than achieved by prior art hair holding devices.

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a hair retention device which is relatively easy to manufacture and which is effective for holding hair in place without extraneous holding devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An improved hair retaining device for use, for example, to make a pony tail is formed of a decorative fabric which may be of any desired color or pattern. The fabric is provided in an unconnected elongate form and

has disposed along a central portion a short segment of an elastomeric member. The result is, when the elastomeric material is in an unstretched state, an elongate ribbon-like member which is bunched at its central portion due to the relaxation of the elastomeric material.

In use to make, for example, a pony tail hair style, the hair is bunched and the hair ornament or hair scarf of the present invention is stretched and tied once with a simple loop to retain the hair in the pony tail fashion. Because the elastomeric material has a tendency to return to its original unstretched state this simple tying action creates forces on the hair which are directed radially inwardly and due to the frictional engagement of the fabric the device remains in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention illustrating the elastomeric member in phantom in a stretched form; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the one preferred embodiment of the invention in a relaxed state with the elastomeric material unstretched;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing an initial step of applying the present invention to the hair of an individual; Figure 6 is a rear plan view showing the hair device of the present invention in place;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating the elastomeric member in a stretched form;

Figure 9 is a plan view showing the embodiment of Figure 8 in a relaxed state with the elastomeric member unstretched;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating the elastomeric member in a stretched form;

Figure 13 is a plan view showing the embodiment of Figure 12 in a relaxed state with the elastomeric member unstretched;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14 of Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 of Figure 13;

Figure 16 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating the elastomeric member in a stretched form;

Figure 17 is a plan view showing the embodiment of Figure 16 in a relaxed state with the elastomeric member unstretched;

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken along line 18-18 of Figure 16;

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 of Figure 17;

Figure 20 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating the elastomeric member in a stretched form;

Figure 21 is a plan view showing the embodiment of Figure 20 in a relaxed state with the elastomeric member unstretched;

Figure 22 is a sectional view taken along line 22-22 of Figure 20; and

Figure 23 is a sectional view taken along line 23-23 of Figure 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figures 1 through 4, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hair ornament 10 of the present invention is preferably formed of two fabric layers 12 and 14 sewn together at their peripheral edges 16 and 18 in any convenient manner. For example, edge 16 of fabric 12 may be folded inwardly as at 20 and edge 18 of fabric 14 may be folded inwardly as at 22 and stitched together to define a hollow interior 24. The fabric layers 12 and 14 can be of any color or any pattern of -multi colors and can be of any desired shaped such as the "bow-tie" shape shown or triangular or round or any shape desired.

Prior to the two fabric layers 12 and 14 being stitched together, an elastomeric material such as elastic member 26 is secured to one of the fabric members such as fabric member 14. Prior to securement to the fabric layer 14 the elastic member 26 is stretched (see Figure 1) so that it is elastically extended and the member 26 is then sewn, as at 28 to fabric layer 14 along the central portion thereof. Elastic member 26 does not extend the full length of fabric 14 but is of a length when stretched to circumferentially engage the desired quantity of hair to form a pony tail. The fabric 12 and 14 extends beyond the ends of elastic member 26, as shown in Figure 1, a sufficient distance to provide the desired decorative effect when the hairband is in place to form a pony tail. Depending on the style desired, the elongate fabric layers are preferably about 10 to 14 inches in length (25 to 36 cm.) but can of course be longer for aesthetic reasons and the elastic member preferably between about 5 and 6 inches in length (12 to 16 cm.). The elastic member can also be coextensive in length with the elongate fabric member. When at rest prior to use, the elastic member 26 contracts to its original shape, in the directions of the arrows in Figure 2, to provide a

bunched up look to the fabric in the mid portion of the hair scarf 10.

The use of a fabric folded over to form a hollow interior in which the elastomeric member 26 is concealed also has a beneficial aesthetic purpose as well as providing a functional benefit as well. When the elastomeric member foreshortens after being tied as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the foreshortening of the fabric to produce a bunched up look adds to the aesthetic appeal of the hair scarf as it provides some substance to the fabric about the hair. This substance in the bunched fabric additionally assists in providing a greater surface area of contact for the fabric which increases the frictional surface forces when the scarf is tied about the hair to increase the ability of the hair scarf to remain securely in place throughout the day.

Reference is now made to Figures 5 through 7 for a description of the manner of use of the present invention. As shown in Figure 5, the hair ornament or hair scarf 10 of the present invention is placed underneath the hair 30, to be formed into a ponytail, and a first end 32 is moved in the direction of the arrow 34 while the second end 36 is moved in the direction of the arrow 38 and engaged by crossing each other to form a simple knot 40 (see Figures 6 and 7) . When tying the knot the elastomeric material is stretched to the condition as shown in Figure 1 and while maintaining the stretched condition the knot 40 is formed. Because the knot 40 is formed while the elastomeric member 26 is maintained in its stretched or elongated condition after making the knot 40 and releasing ends 36 and 38 the elastomeric member 26 has a tendency to return to its unstretched condition, as shown in Figure 2. Since the material has now been formed into a knot 40, the constriction of the elastomeric material provides sufficient force which has a radially inward component to maintain the hair 38 in the desired pony tail and,

moreover, provides sufficient force to maintain the facing fabric in the knot portion 42 frictionally engaged so that the knot does not become undone.

With reference now to Figures 8 to 11 another embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment the hair ornament 44 is fabricated from three separate pieces of material 46, 48 and 50 which are each sewn together at one edge 52 as at 54 to make a tubular fabric member of each section. The elastomeric member 26 is placed within the center tubular member 48. With the elastomeric member 26 in a stretched condition, as shown in Figure 8, each end fabric section 46 and 50 are folded over upon themselves and respectively secured, for example by stitching as at 56 and 58, to complete the assembly.

With the embodiment of Figures 8 through 11 it is apparent that, if desired, the fabric for central portion 48 can be of one color with the fabric of end pieces 46 and 50 being of another. It is also apparent as seen in Figure 11 that with the folding over of the end panels 46 and 50 a more fuller end portion, in essence four layers of material, may be obtained to enhance the attractiveness of the bow formed with this embodiment. Reference is now made to another embodiment shown in Figures 12 through 15. In this embodiment, as in the embodiment of Figures 8 through 11, the hair ornament 60 is formed of three separate pieces of material 62, 64 and 66 and, as in the embodiments of Figures 8-11, the fabric panels are sewn together at an edge 68 as at 70 to form a hollow or tubular member. In this embodiment the elastomeric member 26 is placed within the center panel member 64 and stretched and at this juncture each end panel 62 and 66, respectively, is stitched to center panel 64 as at 72 and 74 to complete the assembly.

In this embodiment the elastomeric material is located adjacent one edge of center panel 64 and this location provides a slightly different look when the hair ornament is in place on the hair of a user. As with the embodiment of Figures 8 through 11, different materials may be selected and different shapes for the end panels 62 and 66 may be selected to give a variation in the look achieved when using the hair ornament.

Reference is now made to Figures 16 through 19 for still another embodiment of the present invention wherein, as in the embodiment of Figures 1 through 4, a pair of fabric panels 76 and 78 are utilized to form the hair ornament 80. The panels 76 and 78 are stitched together around their peripheral edge as at 82 to form • the enclosed central portion. In this embodiment the elastomeric member 26 is placed within the interior of the hair ornament 80 and the fabric panels and the elastomeric material are stretched and the ends of the elastomeric material 26 are sewn, as at 84 and 86, and while maintained in a stretched condition, the fabric panels 76 and 78 are longitudinally sewn as at 88 and 90 on each side of the elastomeric member 26. In this manner the ends of the elastomeric material 26 are secured to the fabric panels but remain unsecured to the fabric panels throughout their intermediate length but are restrained from movement within the panels by the stitching 88 and 90.

Reference is now made to Figures 20 through 23 for yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment as in the embodiment of Figures 1 through 4 and 16 through 19, a pair of fabric panels 92 and 94 are utilized to form the hair ornament 96 with the panels 92 and 94 being joined at their peripheral edges by stitching 98. The elastomeric member 26 is stretched along with the fabric and is secured at each end 100 and 102, respectively, adjacent one edge 104.

As is readily apparent the various embodiments of the present invention discussed herein provide a wide range of alternative structures to give a different look and design so that the basic principle of the invention provides a method and structure which can give a wider variation to a simple hair ornament.

From the foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention it is apparent that a decorative hair scarf is disclosed which is effective to cooperatively engage with and effectively retain hair, particularly in a hair style known as a pony tail, while providing a wide variation of decorative effects.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention shown and described is understood to be a description of a preferred embodiment of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be made as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.