60/409,406, which was filed on September 10,2002, and co-pending U. S. provisional application Serial No. 60/416,799, which was filed on October 8,2002, and are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Disclosure The present invention generally relates to a device for curling and waving hair, and, more particularly, to a press-on curler for creating spiral curls and waves.

Background of the Disclosure Curlers are available in a variety of forms and are widely used to produce different types of curls and waves in hair. The most common type of curler utilizes a cylindrical body over which strands of hair are wound and dried, and then combed out after removal of the curlers. The cylindrical body over which the hair is wound is available in many materials, such as plastic, foam, sponge etc. The means of fastening the wound hair to the cylindrical body is also accomplished in various ways, such as pinning the curler to the hair or using a clasp, a barrette, etc.

There are several drawbacks to such curlers, including that the rollers are difficult to use. For example, the user has to wind the hair strands onto the roller and then has to manipulate a fastening device to attach the roller to the hair or head.

Similarly, the material of the rollers and/or the fastening devices are often constructed from a hard plastic material or from other types of very rigid material, making the

roller uncomfortable to wear, especially when worn for extended periods of time and/or while sleeping.

Summary There is a need for an improved hair waving device that can be used to produce wavy curls and that is relatively inexpensive, safe and simple to use. In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a hair waving device for creating wavy curls is disclosed. The hair waving device includes a body having a core and a wrap portion, wherein the wrap portion is wrapped around the core and is adapted to self- adhere. The core may be of a generally cylindrical shape and may be adapted to ~receive strands of hair. The wrap portion may have a first end and a second end, wherein the first and second ends may be adapted to secure the hair waving device to the strands of hair by adhering to each other.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a hair curling device for creating spiral curls is disclosed. The hair curling device includes a body having a core and a wrap portion, wherein the wrap portion is wrapped around the core and is adapted to self-adhere. The core may be of a generally cylindrical shape and may be adapted to receive bundles of wound hair. The wrap portion may have a lower end and an upper end, wherein the lower end may be adapted to secure the bundle of hair to the hair curling device, and wherein the upper end may be adapted to secure the hair curling device to a head of hair.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a hair curling/waving device; Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the hair curling/waving device of Fig. 1 including a pin;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of hair being wound around the hair curling/waving device of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hair curling/waving device of Fig. 1 being wrapped around a hair bundle after the hair is wound around the hair curling device; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the hair curling/waving device of Fig. 1 with one end of the hair curling/waving device twisted together; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of hair being secured onto the hair curling/waving device of Fig. 1 with a self-adhering flap ; Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of the hair being wound around the hair curling/waving device of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a front perspective view of the hair being wound around the hair curling/waving device of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the hair curling/waving device being wrapped around the hair bundle after the hair is wound around the hair curling/waving device of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the hair curling/waving device of Fig. 1 after it is wrapped around the hair bundle and then adhered to itself; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the hair curling/waving device of Fig. 1 as may be used to create spiral curls; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of strands of hair being wound around the hair curling/waving device of Fig. 2; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the hair curling/waving device Fig. 2 being wound, with the strands of hair, to the top of the user's head; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the ends of the hair curling/waving device Fig.

2 being folded over the strands of hair on the hair curling/waving device;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the ends of the hair curling/waving device Fig.

2 being attached to each other while securing the hair curling/waving device to the strands of hair; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the strands of hair being unwound from the hair curling/waving device Fig. 2; and Fig. 17 is a perspective view of two hair curling/waving device Fig. 2 as may be used in combination.

While the method and device described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. However, there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention and the appended claims.

Detailed Description Referring to the drawings, and with specific reference to Figs. 1 and 2 a hair curling/waving device, as constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, is generally depicted by reference numeral 20. As shown therein, the hair curling/waving device 20 includes a core 22 and a wrap portion 24.

The materials of which the core 22 and the wrap portion 24 may be constructed may vary greatly. The core 22 may, for example, be constructed of foam, sponge, or any other material that may be suitable for this purpose. Similarly the wrap portion 24 may be constructed, from latex rubber, cloth, or any other material that may be suitable for this purpose. In one exemplary embodiment, the wrap portion may be constructed of self-adhesive material, that enables the wrap portion to

hold and retain objects, such as hair 23 and the hair curling/waving device 20, without the use of other retaining means. In an alternate embodiment, the wrap portion, with or without having the self adhesive properties, may utilize other retaining means to aid in the retaining of objects including, but not limited to, rubber bands, pins, clips, tape, etc.

In one exemplary embodiment, the wrap portion 24 may be of a generally rectangular shape when unwrapped, and may be wrapped around the core 22 in a generally cylindrical shape. In the unwrapped position, the length and width of the wrap portion 24 may vary depending on several factors. For example, the diameter of the core 22 around which the wrap portion 24 may be wrapped may require the wrap portion 24 to be wider or more slender, and the length of the core 22 may require the wrap portion 24 to be longer or shorter. Similarly, the size of the wrap portion 24 may vary depending on the amount of overlap that is desired between the wrap portion 24 once the wrap portion 24 is wrapped around the core 22. The wrap portion 24 may further include a lower end 26 and an upper end 28.

In one exemplary embodiment, the core 22 may be of a generally cylindrical shape having a lower end 30 and an upper end 32, a bore 33. The core 22 may vary in diameter and length. The core 22 may, for example, have a larger diameter for instances in which a larger curl is desired, or may have a smaller diameter in instances in which a tighter curl is desired. The core 22 may also have various diameters on the same core to allow for varying sizes of curls or waves. Similarly, the core 22 may be long to allow for longer curls or waves, and/or longer hair, or the core 22 may be short to allow for shorter curls or waves, and/or shorter hair. The core 22 may also have varying lengths relative to the wrap 24.

For example, as can be seen in Fig. 1, the core 22 may be long enough to allow for the lower end 30 of the core 22 to be substantially equal with the lower end 26 of the wrap portion 24. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the core 22 may also be shorter than the wrap portion 24 to allow for the lower end 26 of the wrap portion 24 to extend beyond the lower end 30 of the core 22. Similarly, the upper end 32 of the core 22 may be shorter than the upper end 28 of the wrap portion 24 to allow for the upper end 28 of the wrap portion 24 to extend beyond the upper end 32 of the core 22.

In one exemplary embodiment, as seen in Fig. 2, the hair curling/waving device 20 may include one or more pins 21. The pin 21 may be adapted to fit snugly within a bore 30 of the core 32. More specifically, the pin 21 may fit within the bore 30 in a manner to allow the user to manually insert and/or remove the pin 21 to and from the bore 30. Additionally or alternatively, the pin 21 may fit within the bore 30 in a manner to prevent the pin 21 from falling out from the bore 30 during normal use of the hair curling/waving device 20. The materials of which the pin 21 may be constructed may vary greatly. The pin 21 may, for example, be constructed of plastic, metal, wood, foam, or any other suitable material.

The pin 21 may also be constructed in various lengths (not shown), and may be used for various reasons. The pin 21 may, for example, be long enough to stiffen the hair curling/waving device 20 during use, or the pin 21 may be long enough to allow for the connection. of two hair curling/waving devices 20 (additional hair curling/waving devices 20 not shown). Additionally or alternatively, the pin 21 may be long enough to both stiffen the hair curling/waving device 20 during use and to allow for the connection of two hair curling/waving devices 20.

In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, tom curl the strands of hair 23, the user may twist the upper end 28 of the wrap portion 24 to create a rope-like

end piece. To begin winding the hair 23 around the hair curling/waving device 20, the user may secure the hair to the hair curling/waving device 20 as shown in Fig. 6.

More particularly, the user may secure the hair 23 onto the hair curling/waving device 20 by unwrapping the lower end 26 of the wrap portion 24, as seen in Fig. 2, placing the hair 23 between an inner and outer layer of the wrap portion, and then pressing together the inner and outer layer of the wrap portion 24 with the hair 23 there between.

Anytime before, after and/or during the wrapping of the hair 23 around the hair curling/waving device 20, the user may wet the hair with water and/or any hair styling product to easier manipulate the hair and/or to add a desired quality to the hair, such as body, hold, softness, volume, aroma, shine, lack of frizz, etc. Similarly, anytime before, after and/or during the wrapping of the hair 23 around the hair curling/waving device 20, the user may add or remove the pin 21 to or from the hair curling/waving device 20. The user may, for example, add the pin 21 to the hair curling/waving device 20 to provide additional stiffness to the hair curling/waving device 20 during the wrapping and drying of the hair 23. Conversely, the user may remove the pin 21 from the hair curling/waving device 20 to obtain flexibility or softness. For example, the user may desire to wear the hair curling/waving device 20 while sleeping and/or the user may desire to bend the hair curling/waving device 20 into various shapes and forms. Additionally and/or alternatively, the pin 21 may be flexible, such as a piece of metal wire or plastic wire.

The user may continue wrapping the hair 23 around the hair curling/waving device 20, as seen in Figs. 3 and 7, until the user achieves the desired amount of curl and/or until the user comes to the end of the hair curling/waving device 20, as seen in Fig. 8. The user may wrap the hair 23 around the hair curling/waving device 20 in a

helical pattern, thereby achieving a helical or spiral curl. Once the user has achieved the desired amount of curl and/or the user has come to the end of the hair curling/waving device 20, the user may wrap the upper end 28 of the wrap portion 24, as seen in Fig. 9, around the bundle of hair 23. The user then adheres the upper end 28 of the wrap portion 24 to itself (Figs. 4 and 10). By doing so, the user has secured the hair curling/waving device 20 to the head of hair 36 as shown in Fig. 11.

In another exemplary embodiment, to wave the strands of hair 23, as shown in Fig. 12, the user, in operation, may begin winding the strands of hair 23 around the hair waving device 20, and the user may secure the strands of hair 23 to the hair waving device 20. More specifically, the user may secure the strands of hair 23 onto the hair waving device 20 by unwrapping the ends 26,28 of the wrap portion 24, placing the strands of hair 23 between an inner layer 27 and an outer layer 29 of the wrap portion 24, and then pressing together the inner and outer layers of the wrap portion 24 with the strands of hair 23 therebetween.

The user may continue wrapping the strands of hair 23 around the hair waving device 20, as seen in Fig. 12, until the user achieves the desired amount of wave and/or until the user comes to the end of the strands of hair 23, as seen in Fig. 13. The user may wrap the strands of hair 23 around the hair waving device 20, thereby achieving wavy or curly hair. Once the user has achieved the desired amount of wave and/or the user has come to the end of the strands of hair, the user may secure the hair waving device 20 to the strands of hair 23, as seen in Figs. 14 and 15. More specifically, the user may bend the ends 26,28 of the wrap portion 24 at the ends 30, 32 of the core 22 toward the wound portion of the strands of hair 23 (Fig. 14). To secure the hair waving device 20 to the strands of hair 23, the user may adhere the first end 26 and the second end 28 to each other by pressing the first and second ends

26, 28 together, thereby securing the hair waving device 20 and. preventing the hair waving device 20 from unrolling.

As shown in Fig. 16, the user may unwind or unroll the strands of hair 23 from the hair waving device 20 by separating the first and second ends 26,28 of the wrap portion 24 from each. More specifically, the user may pull or peel the ends 26,28 of the wrap portion 24 to separate the ends 26, 28 of the wrap portion 24 from each other and other portions of the wrap portion 24, and then unroll the hair waving device 20.

In another exemplary embodiment, as shown in Fig. 17, the hair curling/waving device 20 may include one or more linking pins 23. The linking pin 23 may be adapted to fit snugly within the bore 30 of the core 32. More specifically, the linking pin 23 may fit within the bore 30 in a manner to allow the user to manually insert and/or remove the linking pin 23 to and from the bore 30. Additionally or alternatively, the linking pin 23 may fit within the bore 30 in a manner to prevent the linking pin 23 from falling out from the bore 30 during normal use of the hair curling/waving device 20. The materials of which the linking pin 23 may be constructed may vary greatly. The linking pin 23 may, for example, be constructed of plastic, wood, foam, or any other material that may be suitable for this purpose.

The linking pin 23 may also be constructed in various lengths (not shown), and may be used for various reasons. The linking pin 23 may, for example, be long enough to stiffen the hair curling/waving device 20 during use, or the linking pin 23 may just long enough to allow for the connection of two hair curling/waving devices 20. Additionally or alternatively, the linking pin 23 may be long enough to both stiffen the hair curling/waving device 20 during use and to allow for the connection of two hair curling/waving devices 20.

While the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to be limiting of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes, additions or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.