MAGNETIC HAIR WRAP

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hair wrap devices and method of using magnets for closing the devices.

Background of the Invention

It is common in devices used to retain hair to either not have clasps, being constructed of elastic loop or elastic fabric loop, or to clasp hair using a hinged mechanism. These hair retention devices are deficient in protecting the hair from being damaged and becoming disarrayed during wear and removal. In addition, the conventional method of using the aforesaid hair retention devices requires users to exercise much dexterity, patience and efforts to suitably and securely tie the users' hair.

Accordingly, it is highly desirable to eliminate the shortcomings of the traditional hair retention devices for tying users' hair and to have a hair wrap device whereby users can put on and remove with much less efforts and, at the same time, minimize damaging or disturbing delicate curls and styles of the users' hair. Ideally, the users can use a wrap that is not a loop. Additionally, it is desirable that users can simply pick up the wrap device and tie around their hair and snap close the two distal ends of the wrap by strong fastening means.

Summary of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a hair wrap which allows users to wrap their hair and to snap close the two distal ends of the hair wrap with magnets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for users to tie their hair using a magnetic hair wrap of the present invention.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetic hair wrap comprising an elongated fabric with a predetermined length and width suitable for tying users' hair, wherein a magnet is secured at each of the two distal ends of the elongated fabric.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetic hair wrap comprising an elongated fabric with a predetermined length and width, wherein a magnet is secured in one of the two distal ends of said fabric and a piece of pro-magnetic material, such as iron, steel, nickel, cobalt, mixture of chromium and platinum, or compounds of manganese and bismuth is secured in the other distal end of the fabric.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for tying a user's hair by wrapping a magnetic hair wrap comprising an elongated fabric with a predetermined length and width around the user's hair either a single time or multiple times, wherein the hair wrap is provided with a magnet at each of the two distal ends for the user to easily close the two ends of the wrap together by positioning the magnets against one another.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent with reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiment thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like references have been applied to like components, in which:

Figure Ia is a partially exploded top view of the magnetic hair wrap of the present invention.

Figure Ib shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the magnetic hair wrap shown in Figure Ia along the line B-B'.

Figure Ic shows the top plan view of the magnetic hair wrap.

Figure 2a is a partially exploded top view of a preferred embodiment of the magnetic hair wrap of the present invention showing the distal magnetic pocket portions in an unfolded position.

Figure 2b is a partially exploded top view of a preferred embodiment of the magnetic hair wrap of the present invention showing the distal magnetic pocket portions in a folded and concealed position.

Figure 2c shows the top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the magnetic hair wrap whereby the stitches are concealed.

Figure 3 shows the magnetic hair wrap of the present invention in a closed position with the two magnets embedded at the distal ends of the wrap being pressed against one another.

Figure 4 shows the magnetic hair wrap of the present invention in a closed position with the two magnets embedded at the distal ends of the wrap overlapping one another.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figures Ia and Ib, there is illustrated a magnetic hair wrap 10 of the present invention. The magnetic hair wrap 10 comprises two opposite distal ends 12 and 12' and a mid section 14 in a sheath of elongated fabric. The length and width of the hair wrap 10 varies to suit the need of different users. Suitably, users may use a longer hair wrap to either wrap around a small amount of hair multiple times, or to tie a large amount of hair by wrapping around the hair only once. Likewise, the width, pattern and style of the magnetic hair wrap 10 can vary to suit the personal choice of the users. If desired, the length and width of the hair wrap 10 may be modified to form a headband for wearing around a user's head.

Figures Ia, Ib and Ic illustrate a magnetic hair wrap 10 of the present invention being sewn into a cylindrical tube. As shown in the figures, there is one disc magnet 2 embedded at each distal ends 12 and 12' of hair wrap 10. Each of the disc magnets 2 is secured in place within hair wrap 10 by conventional fastening methods, such as sewing, stitching, stapling or, depending on the type of material used for the wrap, thermo-sealing or gluing. Figures Ia and Ib show the magnets 2 are being sewn at the distal ends 12 and 12'. In these drawings, hair wrap 10 is shown as partially exposing the two opposite distal ends 12 and 12' with the disc magnets 2

sewn therein. The sewing configuration is illustrated whereby the disc magnets 2 are secured by sewing stitches 3.

Figure Ic shows a top plan view of magnetic hair wrap 10. Sewing stitches 3 can be clearly seen surrounding the disc magnets 2.

It is desirable that sewing stitches 3 are not visible on the outside surface of the magnetic hair wrap 10. In order to conceal the sewing stitches 3 which hold the magnets 2 in place, Figure 2a illustrates a preferred embodiment in which the magnets 2 are secured near the two distal ends 22 and 22' of the hair wrap 20 with the opposite fabric edge 4 facing away from the mid section 24. Instead of securing and embedding the magnets 2 between the inside faces of the fabric as in hair wrap 10 shown in Figures Ia and Ib, the magnets 2 are secured and embedded between the outside faces of the fabric in hair wrap 20. In the sewing orientation illustrated in Figure 2a, besides the mid section 24, extra magnet pocket portions 26 and 26' of the fabric are extended from the two distal ends 22 and 22' for positioning the magnets 2. Once the magnets 2 are sewn and secured in place, the fabrics of the wrap 20 are turned right side out so that the magnet pocket portions 26 and 26' are now concealed inside the hair wrap 20 in this preferred embodiment. As a corollary, the fabric edges 4 are now inwardly facing towards the mid section 24.

Figure 2b shows the outside fabric of the shortened hair wrap 20 after it is turned right side out, with the magnets 2 nicely concealed in the magnet pocket portions 26 and 26' and not visible from simply looking at the hair wrap 20. Figure 2c illustrates a top plan view of the magnetic hair wrap 20 without showing any stitches.

Different types of fabrics may be used for manufacturing the hair wrap 10 or 20. Suitable fabrics include stretch fabrics such as, but not restricted to, spandex (elastane), lycra, elastic; natural and man-made fibres, such as but not restricted to, cotton, linen, silk, leather, suede, fur, wool, nettle, hemp, bamboo, rayon, viscose, artificial leather, artificial fur, artificial suede, acrylic, nylon, polyester, acetate, vinyl, polyurethane. It is desirable to incorporate stretch material into the fabric of the wrap in order for it to be extendible.

Even though disc magnets 2 are disclosed herein, other magnets of varying sizes, shapes and strengths may be used. Magnets can either be sintered or bonded. Suitable magnets include rare earth magnets (neodymium iron boron or samarium cobalt), alnico, ceramic or ferrite.

Preferably, rare earth magnets are used for magnets 2 due to their durability and strength. Depending on the style and dimension of the hair wrap 10 or 20, flexible magnetic strips made of ceramic or ferrite may be used for magnets 2. Besides disc shape, other shapes may include round bars, rectangular bars, horseshoes, rings or donuts, rectangles, and other custom shapes. The strengths of the magnets may vary according to the materials used for the hair wrap fabric as long as the strength is strong enough to hold the distal ends 12 and 12' or 22 and 22' of the hair wrap 10 or 20 together securely. While it is not necessary that the two magnets 2 be of exact same type and dimension, it is preferable that they are made of comparable or identical type and dimension in order to obtain optimal magnetic closure strength and results.

The magnetic hair wrap of the present invention can be applied by users to tie their hair with relative ease. The users simply treat the magnetic hair wrap as an ordinary piece of elongated fabric and wrap the hair wrap 10 or 20 around their hair either a single time or multiple times and then effortlessly secure the two distal ends 12 and 12' or 22 and 22' together through the built-in magnetic attraction exerted by magnets 2 when they are pressed against one another. Figure 3 illustrates the magnetic hair wrap 20 in a snap closed orientation after a single time wrapping around users' hair.

The orientation and appearance of the magnetic snap could be conveniently altered by overlapping the two distal ends 12 and 12' or 22 and 22' which contain the magnets 2, instead of pressing them against one another. For illustration purpose, one such orientation is shown in Figure 4.

When the users want to take the magnetic hair wrap 10 or 20 off, all they need to do is to separate the magnets 2 to loosen and untie the elongated fabric from their hair.

It is readily understood that the application of the magnetic hair wrap is not limited to those disclosed herein. For instance, the magnetic hair wrap can be used for other applications where a conventional retention device is called for. Thus, other wrapping applications which use an elongated fabric with magnets secured at the distal ends of the fabric, such as a headband for going around the head of users, are within contemplation of the present invention. The disc magnets 2 are merely an example of the preferred embodiments disclosed in this invention herein. Furthermore, wrap 10 or 20 as shown in the figures of the present disclosure takes the form of an enclosed cylindrical tube with suitable sewing. It should be understood that wrap 10

or 20 can take any form, with or without being sewn together into a cylindrical tube, provided the two magnets 2 are securely attached to the two distal ends 12 and 12' or 22 and 22' thereon.

Even though the embodiments disclosed herein teach placement of one magnet being secured at each of the two distal ends of the wrap, it should also be readily understood that in order for the magnetic hair wrap to work, it is not necessary to employ two magnets. Thus, a magnetic hair wrap can be manufactured with only one magnet being placed in one of the two distal ends and a piece of pro-magnetic material, such as iron, steel, nickel, cobalt, mixture of chromium and platinum, or compounds of manganese and bismuth, being placed in the other distal end.

Hence, although the present invention has been described with referenced to two embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications, alternations, variations, and substitutions of parts and components may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the present application is intended to cover such modifications, alternations, variations, and substitutions of parts and components.