US 2004.0055614A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0055614 A1 Cave (43) Pub. Date: Mar. 25, 2004

(54) PONYTAIL HOLDER WITH LOW FRICTION Publication Classification INTERIOR PORTION

(51) Int. Cl." ...... A45D 8/04 (76) Inventor: Sabrina Cave, Burlington, NJ (US) (52) U.S. Cl...... 132/275

Correspondence Address: (57) ABSTRACT DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH ONE LOGAN SQUARE A ponytail holder with an inner elastic band and an outer 18TH AND CHERRY STREETS cushioning sleeve. The Sleeve is made from at least two PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103-6996 (US) fabrics, one of which has a lower coefficient of friction than the other. The lower frictional fabric is located on the inner portion of the ponytail holder and contacts the wearer's hair. (21) Appl. No.: 10/254,166 The sleeve's outer portion is made from a more absorbent fabric that can be printed upon more easily than the inner (22) Filed: Sep. 25, 2002 portion.

Patent Application Publication Mar. 25, 2004 Sheet 1 of 4 US 2004/0055614 A1

FIG. 1 (Prior Art) Patent Application Publication Mar. 25, 2004 Sheet 2 of 4 US 2004/0055614 A1

Patent Application Publication Mar. 25, 2004 Sheet 3 of 4 US 2004/0055614 A1

FIG. 3

FIG. 4 FIG 5 Patent Application Publication Mar. 25, 2004 Sheet 4 of 4 US 2004/0055614 A1

US 2004/0055614 A1 Mar. 25, 2004

PONYTAL, HOLDER WITH LOW FRCTION the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and the description INTERIOR PORTION are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. FIELD OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 0001. The present invention relates to ponytail holders and, more particularly, an improved ponytail holder that 0008 For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there minimizes tangling and damage to hair, while providing a is shown in the drawings a form which is presently pre Surface that accepts printed indicia. ferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and methodologies BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION shown. 0002 Prior to the introduction of the ponytail holder 0009 FIG. 1 is a top view of a prior art holder for commonly called the “scrunchie” (Des. Pat. No. 292,030 ponytails. shown in FIG. 1), hair was commonly held back with rubber 0010 FIG. 2 is a top view of a ponytail holder according bands or tightly wound elastic bands joined at their ends to the present invention. with a crimped piece of metal. These devices would typi cally become tangled in the hair making removal difficult. 0011 FIG. 3 is cross section of the top view of the People with brittle hair or hair made weaker by medical inventive ponytail holder. conditions Suffered from even greater hair loSS when using 0012 FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the inventive these products, as their hair fell out or broke easily. ponytail holder taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2. 0003. The scrunchie ponytail holder overcame this prob lem by placing a Soft cushioning layer of fabric over an 0013 FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an alternate elastic band. The cushioning minimized damage to the hair embodiment of the inventive ponytail holder of FIG. 4. while the elastic band kept the hair pulled tightly together. 0014 FIGS. 6a and 6b are enlargements of the thread The result was a revolutionary device that minimized tangles pattern for a weave and a . and damage to the hair when removing the Scrunchie pony tail holder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0004. It has also been determined that the fabric used to 0015 Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference form the cushioning material can have an effect on Snagging numerals illustrate corresponding or Similar elements of the users hair. Specifically, conventional plain weaves throughout the Several views, FIG. 2 shows the inventive can cause high friction between the fabric and the hair, ponytail holder 10. Its shape is generally that of the prior art especially curly hair, which can lead to Snagging and dam scrunchie ponytail holder. The ponytail holder 10 has an age. To overcome this problem, Satin woven fabrics like inner portion made of a first fabric 14 and an Outer portion can be used to decrease friction between the ponytail holder made of a second fabric 12. The first and second fabrics are and the wearer's hair. However, Such fabrics have their own joined together at their respective borders or edges 13, drawbacks. For example, it is difficult to print designs and preferably by stitching the fabrics together. Together the first patterns on Satin fabrics. Printed designs are very desirable and Second fabrics form the cushioning sleeve. Other meth since they allow an otherwise bland ponytail holder to ods for joining the fabrics, Such as using an adhesive, could become a unique and eye-catching accessory. be Substituted for the Stitching. However, Stitching is pre ferred since it maintains the flexibility of the sleeve. 0005. A need, therefore, exists to have a ponytail holder that cushions the band from the hair, has decreased friction 0016. The fabrics used are selected such that the coeffi with the hair, and upon which a pattern may be printed. cient of friction for the first fabric 14 is less than the coefficient of friction for the second fabric 12. AS Such, the SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION first fabric is slipperier than the second fabric. The advan tage of the slippery first fabric 14 is that it minimizes 0006 A ponytail holder is disclosed which cushions the Snagging or tangling with its user's hair as compared with a band from the hair while providing decreased friction with rougher fabric. Fabrics using a Satin weave Such as Silk, the hair and yet can be printed upon. The ponytail holder , , , , and duvetyn are best cushions the hair from the band by enclosing the band in an Suited for the first fabric 14. The primary reasons these are oversized sleeve of fabric. The oversized sleeve protects the slippery is that they include long “floats”. That is, the threads hair from the point stress induced by a thin elastic band. The running in a certain direction overlie groups of croSS sleeve is made from at least two fabrics, one of which has threads. For example, many Satin weaves include threads a lower coefficient of friction than the other. The slipperier that overlie 5 or more cross-threads. This can readily be seen fabric is the inner portion of the ponytail holder which is the in FIG. 6b which is an enlargement of a thread pattern in a portion of the holder that contacts the wearer's hair. Finally, satin material. FIG. 6a illustrates the thread pattern in a the sleeve's outer fabric is made from a leSS Slippery fabric conventional plain weave. The longer floats in the Satin that can be printed upon more easily than the inner portion. Weave result in a Smoother contact Surface between the 0007. The foregoing and other features of the invention material and the hair. However, the long floats in a Satin and advantages of the present invention will become more weave also reduce the ability of the material to absorb apparent in light of the following detailed description of the printing inkS. Thus, Satin material is difficult to apply preferred embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying printing to. figures. AS will be realized, the invention is capable of 0017. The second fabric 12 is ideally made from a fabric modifications in various respects, all without departing from that a pattern can be easily printed upon, for example a US 2004/0055614 A1 Mar. 25, 2004

material which is more absorbent. Materials best Suited for 2. The ponytail holder of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the the Second fabric are , , , chambray, length of the elastic band in its non-extended State to that of , , , , , , Viole, the sleeve is approximately 1:4. , albatroSS, balmacaan, , , , , 3. The ponytail holder of claim 1, wherein the first fabric cassimere, and . is a Satin Weave. 0.018 FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the ponytail 4. The ponytail holder of claim 1, wherein the first fabric holder. The cross-section shows the elastic band 16 con is Selected from the group consisting of Silk, rayon, brocade, tained within the sleeve. This band secures the ponytail brocatelle, damask, and duvetyn. holder to its wearer's hair. Enclosing the band 16 within the sleeve distributes the band's 16 point force though the 5. The ponytail holder of claim 1 wherein the second cushioning sleeve. The cushioning is further enhanced if the fabric is Selected from the group consisting of batiste, sleeve is longer than the elastic band, which causes the broadcloth, cambric, chambray, dimity, flannel, muslin, inelastic sleeve to “bunch” up when wrapped around the nainSook, organdy, poplin, viole, linen, albatroSS, bal elastic band. The preferred ratio of the length of the sleeve macaan, chiffon, habutai, ninon, denim, cassimere, and to the length of the unextended elastic band is approximately tweed. 4:1. This prevents the band from exerting too great a point 6. The ponytail holder of claim 1, wherein the first fabric force on a person's ponytail. is Selected from the group consisting of Silk, rayon, brocade, 0019 FIG. 4 is a cross section of the embodiment of the brocatelle, damask, and duvetyn and wherein the Second inventive ponytail shown in FIG. 2. As can be seen in FIG. fabric is Selected from the group consisting of batiste, 4, the interior edges 13 between the fabrics are joined broadcloth, cambric, chambray, dimity, flannel, muslin, together, preferably using a Stitched joint. AS shown in FIG. nainSook, organdy, poplin, viole, linen, albatroSS, bal macaan, chiffon, habutai, ninon, denim, cassimere, and 4, the band 16 is adjacent to the first fabric 14. tweed. 0020. In an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the 7. The ponytail holder of claim 1, wherein the first fabric first and second fabrics fold onto themselves. The elastic is a Satin weave, and the Second fabric has an ink printed band 16 is contained within the first fabric's 12 fold, and the pattern thereon. edges of the first fabric are lined up just inside the edges of the Second fabric's 12 fold. Once the edges line up, a Stitch 8. The ponytail holder of claim 1, wherein the first fabric 18 or other joining means runs through the fabrics to join is less absorbent than the second fabric. them. In this embodiment, the stitching of the two fabrics 9. The ponytail holder in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the Secures the band within by a Second Stitch. The advantage of width of the first fabric to second fabric in the sleeve is maintaining the band 16 within the slipperier first portion 14 approximately 1:3. is to ensure that the Slipperier first portion 14 remains in 10. The ponytail holder in claim 1, wherein the ratio of contact with its wearer's hair, thus minimizing damage. first fabric to Second fabric in the Sleeve is approximately 0021 Although a variety of different widths of material 1:2. can be used, it has been determined that a ratio of the widths 11. The ponytail holder in claim 1, wherein the ratio of of the second (outer) fabric to the first (inner) fabric of first fabric to Second fabric in the Sleeve is approximately approximately 3.1 provides a Sufficient amount of low 1:1. friction material for contacting the wearer's hair while 12. The ponytail holder of claim 1, wherein the elastic providing a large Surface of the Second fabric for printing. band is contained within the inner portion of the sleeve. However, ratioS of 1:1 and 2:1 are also contemplated. 13. The ponytail holder of claim 12, wherein the elastic 0022. Although embodiments of the invention have been band is contained within the inner portion of the sleeve by described in detail, it is understood that the invention is not Stitching that runs the length of the sleeve. limited thereto, and that various changes can be made 14. A ponytail holder comprising: therein without departing from the Spirit and Scope of the invention, which is defined by the attached claims. an elastic band; and What is claimed is: a fabric sleeve Surrounding the elastic band, the sleeve 1. A ponytail holder comprising: forming a generally circular shape, the Sleeve having an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion an elastic band, and made from a Satin weave material, and an outer portion a fabric Sleeve having an inner portion and an outer made from a fabric which is more absorbent than the portion, the inner portion made from a first fabric, and inner portion, the inner portion being attached to the an Outer portion made from a Second fabric, the sleeve Outer portion. having a hollow core that contains the elastic band, the 15. The ponytail holder of claim 14 wherein the elastic sleeve forming a generally circular shape, the first band is located adjacent to the inner portion. fabric having a lower coefficient of friction than the Second fabric.