Hair retention system

Abstract

An improved hair retention system for more securely retaining hair while reducing breakage. A barrette is adhesively secured along one surface to a soft flexible material. The material is also secured to the opposite side of the head and the exterior bodies of the barrette. The interior body of the barrette is not secured on either side to the resilient material. In operation, when the interior body is biased against the exterior bodies of the barrette, instead of metal contacting metal, the metal of the interior body contacts the resilient material, thereby reducing the potential for hair breakage. By providing the material with a nap, the hair system secures the hair more tightly as well. Other accessories, such as bows, gems, monograms, logos and the like may be secured to the back of the improved hair retention system.

1 . An improved hair retention system comprising:
 (a) a barrette comprising:
 (i) a first resilient body having a first side and a second side; 
 (ii) a second resilient body having a first side and a second side; 
 (iii) a third resilient body having a first side and a second side; 
 (iv) wherein said first body is coupled to said third body at a foot and wherein said foot has a first side and a second side; and 
 (v) a head coupled to said first body, said second body and said third body, wherein said head is provided with a first side and a second side; 
   (b) a flexible material having an interior surface and an exterior surface:
 (i) wherein said first side of said first resilient body is secured to an interior surface of said flexible material; 
 (ii) wherein said first side of said third resilient body is secured to an interior surface of said flexible material; 
 (iii) wherein said first side of said foot is secured to an interior surface of said flexible material; 
 (iv) wherein said first side of said head is secured to an interior surface of said flexible material; 
 (v) wherein said second side of said first resilient body is secured to an interior surface of said flexible material; 
 (vi) wherein said second side of said third resilient body is secured to an interior surface of said flexible material; 
 (vii) wherein said second side of said foot is secured to an interior surface of said flexible material; 
 (viii) wherein said second side of said head is secured to an interior surface of said flexible material; 
   (c) wherein said third resilient body contacts an exterior surface of said flexible material positioned over said first resilient body and said second resilient body.   
   
   
       2 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible material is of a one-piece construction; 
   
   
       3 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 2 , wherein said interior surface of said flexible material is of a different construction than said exterior surface of said flexible material. 
   
   
       4 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 2 , wherein said flexible material is secured over both sides of said head and under said third resilient body. 
   
   
       5 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 4 , further comprising an ornamental hair accessory secured to said barrette. 
   
   
       6 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 4 , further comprising an ornamental hair accessory secured to said flexible material. 
   
   
       7 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 6 , wherein said ornamental hair accessory is secured to said exterior surface of said flexible material. 
   
   
       8 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 1 , wherein said interior surface of said flexible material is of a different construction than said exterior surface of said flexible material. 
   
   
       9 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible material is secured over said head and under said third resilient body. 
   
   
       10 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 1 , further comprising an ornamental hair accessory secured to said barrette. 
   
   
       11 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 1 , further comprising an ornamental hair accessory secured to said flexible material. 
   
   
       12 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 1 , wherein said exterior surface of said material is provided with more than ten retainers. 
   
   
       13 . An improved hair retention system comprising:
 (a) a barrette comprising:
 (i) a first body having a head and a foot; 
 (ii) a second body having a head and a foot; 
 (iii) a third body having a head and a foot; 
 (iv) wherein said foot of said first body is coupled to said foot of said third body; 
 (v) wherein said head of said second body is coupled to said head of said first body; and 
 (vi) wherein said barrette is adjustable between a first position where said foot of said second body is biased toward said foot of said first body and a second position where said foot of said second body is biased away from said foot of said first body; 
   (b) a cover provided around said first body, said third body and said head of said second body;   (c) wherein when said barrette is in said first position said foot of said second body is in contact with said cover; and   (d) wherein when said barrette is in said second position said foot of said second body is not in contact with said cover.   
   
   
       14 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 13 , wherein said cover is of a one-piece construction. 
   
   
       15 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 13 , wherein said cover is rectangular. 
   
   
       16 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 13 , further comprising an ornamental hair accessory coupled to said cover. 
   
   
       17 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 13 , wherein said exterior surface of said material is provided with more than ten retainers. 
   
   
       18 . An improved hair retention system comprising:
 (a) a barrette comprising:
 (i) a resilient loop; 
 (ii) a body having a head and a foot; 
 (iii) wherein said head of said body is coupled to said resilient loop; 
 (iv) wherein said barrette is adjustable between a first position, wherein said foot of said body is biased toward said resilient loop, and a second position wherein said foot of said body is biased away from said resilient loop; 
   (b) a flexible cover secured around at least eighty percent of said resilient loop;   (c) wherein when said barrette is in said first position, said foot of said body is in contact with said cover; and   (d) wherein when said barrette is in said second position; said foot of said body is not in contact with said cover.   
   
   
       19 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 18 , wherein said exterior surface of said material is provided with more than one hundred retainers. 
   
   
       20 . The improved hair retention system of  claim 18 , further comprising an ornamental hair accessory coupled to said cover.