Knot holder

Abstract

A novel form of a knot holder is provided which, in its preferred embodiment, consists of a cylindrical band of material elasticized along both edges. A method for using a knot holder to secure a knot is also provided. In use, the wearer encloses her knot into the knot holder, ensuring that the first elasticized edge sits between the knot and the wearer's head while the second elasticized edge grabs onto the knot holding it securely against the head while allowing the central portion of the knot to show through. A tightening mechanism may be included along one or both edges. Bands of elastic may be included on the inside surface to allow the knot holder to double as a wrist wallet.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A knot holder to help secure a hair knot on the head of a wearer comprising: 
 a. a flexible, substantially cylindrical band having an inside surface and an outside surface    b. said cylindrical band having a circumference and a width    c. said width being perpendicular to said circumference    d. said cylindrical band having a first circular edge and a second circular edge    e. said first circular edge having a smaller resting diameter than the resting diameter of said cylindrical band    f. said second circular edge having a smaller resting diameter than the resting diameter of said cylindrical band    g. said cylindrical band including a mechanism to tighten said band on said hair knot.    
     
     
         2 . The knot holder of  claim 1  wherein said first circular edge and said second circular edge are both elasticized.  
     
     
         3 . The knot holder of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical band includes a tightening means selected from the group consisting of: elastic circles, drawstrings, and other equivalent means.  
     
     
         4 . The knot holder of  claim 1  wherein said width of said cylindrical band is not constant along said circumference of the cylindrical band.  
     
     
         5 . The knot holder of  claim 1  wherein the first circular edge and the second circular edge are not of the same diameter.  
     
     
         6 . The knot holder of  claim 1  wherein said inside surface includes means for securing small items to said surface, said means selected from the group consisting of: bands of elastic, safety pins, hooks, hook and loop fasteners, and other such equivalent means.  
     
     
         7 . The knot holder of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical band is from a rectangular piece of material by bringing two opposite edges together.  
     
     
         8 . The knot holder of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical band is made from a substantially rectangular piece of memory-retentive material by bringing together two opposite edges of the rectangular piece without joining said opposite edges integrally and thus leaving an opening between the two opposite edges.  
     
     
         9 . The knot holder of  claim 8  wherein said cylindrical band includes fingerholds in the form of cutouts to facilitate the opening and closing of the cylindrical band at said opening between the two opposite edges.  
     
     
         10 . The knot holder of  claim 8  wherein said cylindrical band includes fingerholds in the form of loops extending outward from the outside surface to facilitate the opening and closing of the cylindrical band at said opening between the two opposite edges.  
     
     
         11 . The knot holder of  claim 1  wherein a second cylindrical band similar to the cylindrical band of  claim 1  is attached to said cylindrical band at said first circular edge such that an annular pocket is formed between the cylindrical band of  claim 1  and the second cylindrical band.  
     
     
         12 . A method of wearing a knot holder comprising a substantially cylindrical band of material having a first circular edge and a second circular edge, said method comprising: 
 a. placing the cylindrical band over the hair knot of a wearer    b. positioning the first circular edge of the knot holder between the knot and the wearer's head    c. positioning the second circular edge of the knot holder around the knot so as to securely hold the knot close to the wearer's head while leaving a central opening for the center of the knot to show through.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the first circular edge includes tightening means selected from the group consisting of: elastic, drawstring and other equivalent means.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the knot holder is tightened on the wearer's knot in the manner of a ponytail elastic by pulling on the cylindrical band of the knot holder, twisting said band into a figure eight loop, and snapping said loop around the knot.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein prior to placing the cylindrical band on the knot, said cylindrical band is opened by hooking a thumb and a forefinger into fingerholds provided on said cylindrical band  
     
     
         16 . A wrist wallet comprising: 
 a. an outside cylindrical band of material    b. said outside band having an outside surface and an inside surface    c. said outside cylindrical band having a first circular edge and a second circular edge    d. an inside cylindrical band of material    e. said inside band having an outside surface and an inside surface    f. said inside cylindrical band having a first circular edge and a second circular edge    g. the first circular edge of said outside cylindrical band being attached to the first circular edge of the inside cylindrical band forming a single circular edge,    thereby forming an annular pocket between the outside cylindrical band and the inside cylindrical band, said pocket accessible by separating the second circular edge of the outside cylindrical band from the second circular edge of the inside cylindrical band.    
     
     
         17 . The wrist wallet of  claim 16  wherein the annular pocket includes means for securing items inside said pocket, said securing means selected from the group consisting of: 
 elastic bands, hooks, safety pins, hook-and-loop fasteners, and other equivalent means.  
 
     
     
         18 . The wrist wallet of  claim 16  wherein the annular pocket includes additional attached pockets for containing small items