Hair attachment

Abstract

A hair adornment accessory having an attachment structure that selectively envelops and grips the natural hair of a user, and an esthetic device coupled to the attachment structure. The attachment structure may be a tube, optionally having a slot along its entire length, into which a plug having a streamer or the like may be inserted so as to pinch the natural hair. An aesthetic member such as a streamer, tassel, etc. may be fixed to the plug, the attachment structure, or to both. In other embodiments the hair adornment accessory may be a tube which is longitudinally split and hinged to selectively open to receive the natural hair and then close and lock to retain the natural hair. The esthetic device may also include flexible filamentary members or other ancillary decorative features. No ancillary tools are needed to install the hair adornment accessory.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hair adornment device for selective installation to and removal from the natural hair of a person, comprising:
 a) an attachment structure disposed to releasably envelop said natural hair, said attachment structure having length, width, and depth, wherein said attachment structure is dimensioned and configured such that said length may be oriented substantially parallel to said natural hair when said attachment structure envelops said natural hair; and   b) at least one esthetic device coupled to said attachment structure;   whereby said adornment may be self-administered without need for tools.   
     
     
         2 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment structure comprises a tube having a hollow interior, and a plug which is dimensioned and configured to be received and retained within said hollow interior of said tube. 
     
     
         3 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 c) an esthetic device attached to said plug.   
     
     
         4 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said esthetic device comprises a flexible member having a length oriented parallel to said natural hair when said attachment structure grips said natural hair. 
     
     
         5 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said esthetic device comprises plural flexible filamentary members. 
     
     
         6 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein plural flexible filamentary members are selected from the group: at least one ribbon, at least one fabric strip, at least one leather strip, at least one string of beads, and at least one feather. 
     
     
         7 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein there is a clearance disposed between said interior region of said tube and said plug, said clearance being sized to capture and retain at least a portion of said natural hair between said plug and said interior region of said tube. 
     
     
         8 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment structure comprises a longitudinally split tube further comprising a first section, a second section, and a hinge pivotally joining said first section to said second section. 
     
     
         9 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said hinge comprises a living hinge. 
     
     
         10 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of said first section and said second section comprise a proximal edge adjacent said hinge and a distal edge opposite said proximal edge, said proximal edges and said distal edges being disposed parallel to a major axis of said longitudinally split tube. 
     
     
         11 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 c) a first portion of a two-part latch mechanism disposed along said distal edge of said first section; and   d) a second portion of a two-part latch mechanism disposed along said distal edge of said second section;   said first and said second portions of said two-part latch mechanism being adapted for selective engagement with one another.   
     
     
         12 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said first and said second portions of said two-part latch mechanism comprises a tongue portion and wherein an alternate one of said first and said second portions of said two-part latch mechanism comprises a tongue receiving portion. 
     
     
         13 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 c) additional adornment disposed on at least a portion of an outside surface of said attachment structure.   
     
     
         14 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein there is a clearance disposed between said interior region of said tube and said plug, said clearance being sized to capture and retain at least a portion of said natural hair between said plug and said interior region of said tube. 
     
     
         15 . A hair adornment device for selective installation to and removal from the natural hair of a person, comprising:
 a) an attachment structure disposed to releasably envelop said natural hair, said attachment structure having length and a slot disposed completely along said length, wherein said attachment structure is dimensioned and configured such that said length may be oriented substantially parallel to said natural hair when said attachment structure envelops said natural hair; and   b) at least one esthetic device coupled to said attachment structure;   
       whereby said adornment may be self-administered without need for tools. 
     
     
         16 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said attachment structure comprises a tube having a hollow interior, and a plug that is dimensioned and configured to be received and retained within said hollow interior of said tube. 
     
     
         17 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said tube has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group: a rectangle, a polygon, and a circle. 
     
     
         18 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said esthetic device comprises a flexible member having a length oriented parallel to said natural hair when said attachment structure grips said natural hair. 
     
     
         19 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said esthetic device comprises plural flexible filamentary members selected from the group: at least one ribbon, at least one fabric strip, at least one leather strip, at least one string of beads, and at least one feather. 
     
     
         20 . The hair adornment device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein there is a clearance disposed between said interior region of said tube and said plug, said clearance being sized to capture and retain at least a portion of said natural hair between said plug and said interior region of said tube.