Apparatus for adorning wearer and associated methods

Abstract

An adornment assembly includes an adornment component with exterior and interior surfaces and an interior hook fabric. The interior hook fabric including hook and back surfaces. The interior hook fabric assembled with the adornment component such that the hook surface faces away from the interior surface of the adornment component and the exterior surface faces away from the back surface of the interior hook fabric. The adornment assembly configured for placement on the wearer in relation to an existing elastic band. The existing elastic band surrounding a bundle of hair and forming a constricted area in the bundle. The interior hook fabric configured to embed and become releasably attached to the existing elastic band in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the constricted area such that the adornment assembly adorns the wearer and the hook surface serves as a fastening mechanism to secure the adornment component in place.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for adorning a wearer, comprising:
 an adornment component with an exterior surface and an interior surface, the adornment component configured to adorn a wearer; and   at least one interior hook fabric, each interior hook fabric including a hook surface and a back surface, wherein each interior hook fabric is assembled with the adornment component to form an adornment assembly such that the hook surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric faces away from at least a portion of the interior surface of the adornment component and at least a corresponding portion of the exterior surface of the adorning component faces away from the corresponding back surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric;   wherein the adornment assembly is configured for placement on the wearer in relation to at least one existing elastic band, each existing elastic band surrounding a bundle of hair and forming a constricted area in the corresponding bundle;   wherein one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric is configured to embed into and become releasably attached to one or more of the at least one existing elastic band in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the corresponding constricted area of the corresponding bundle such that the adornment assembly adorns the wearer and the corresponding hook surface of each one or more interior hook fabric serves as an attaching mechanism to secure the adornment component to the wearer;   wherein, when the releasably attached one or more interior hook fabric is conjoined and comingled with the one or more existing elastic band, the one or more interior hook fabric securely attaches the adornment component to the wearer by affixing to the corresponding bundle of hair.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the adornment component includes at least one of a head covering, a headgear, a hat, a cap, a helmet, a bonnet, a headdress, a head piece, a crown, a hood, a scarf, a face covering, a veil, a hair extension, a hair piece, a wig, a wreath, a floral arrangement, a ponytail holder, a hair accessory, a bow, and a ribbon. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first tube including an inner surface, an outer surface, and a longitudinal slit forming opposing longitudinal edges, wherein the adornment component, the at least one interior hook fabric, and the tube form the adornment assembly;   wherein one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric is secured to the inner surface of the first tube such that the hook surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric faces away from the inner surface of the first tube;   wherein the first tube is configured to receive the corresponding constricted area of the corresponding bundle of hair formed by one or more of the at least one existing elastic band through the longitudinal slit in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the corresponding constricted area.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the adornment component is secured to the outer surface of the first tube. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the adornment component is removably secured to the outer surface of the first tube using at least one of glue, tape, thread, string, wire, staples, rivets, snaps, hooks, pushpins, clips, brads, buttons, and a hook-and-loop fastener, the hook-and-loop fastener including a loop or hook portion secured to the outer surface of the tube and a corresponding hook or loop portion secured to the interior surface of the adornment component. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the outer surface of the first tube comprises the adornment component. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 end caps secured to the adornment assembly along each longitudinal edge of the first tube.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the first tube is configured such that the opposing longitudinal edges can be separated to deform the first tube to facilitate receiving the constricted area of the bundle of hair and biased to return to a tubular-like form when the opposing longitudinal edges are released. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second tube including an inner surface, an outer surface, and a longitudinal slit forming opposing longitudinal edges, wherein the adornment component, the at least one interior hook fabric, and the first and second tubes form the adornment assembly;   wherein one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric is secured to the inner surface of the second tube such that the hook surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric faces away from the inner surface of the second tube;   wherein the second tube is configured to receive the corresponding constricted area of the corresponding bundle of hair formed by one or more of the at least one existing elastic band through the longitudinal slit in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the corresponding constricted area.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the interior surface of the adornment component is secured to one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric to form the adornment assembly, the adornment assembly having a central portion separating opposing end portions, the apparatus further comprising:
 a supplemental fastening mechanism with opposing fastener components secured to, or near to, the opposing end portions of the adornment assembly; 
 wherein the opposing fastener components are configured to be coupled together to fasten the opposing end portions of the adornment assembly together to secure the adornment assembly in place. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the supplemental fastening mechanism includes at least one of snaps, hooks, lengths of elastic, ties, buttons, tape, wire, pushpins, clips, brads, tabs, loop, and a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , the supplemental fastening mechanism further comprising:
 a loop fabric secured to the exterior surface of the adornment component at a first opposing end portion of the adornment assembly; and   a portion of the corresponding hook surface of a select hook fabric of the one or more interior hook fabric, the portion of the corresponding hook surface being disposed at the other opposing end portion of the adornment assembly;   wherein the loop fabric is configured to embed and become releasably attached to the portion of the corresponding hook surface of the select hook fabric to fasten the opposing end portions of the adornment assembly together in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the corresponding constricted area such that the supplemental fastening mechanism secures the adornment assembly in place.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the adornment component includes front and back portions forming a sleeve with opposing open ends, the apparatus further comprising:
 a tube including an inner surface, an outer surface, and a longitudinal slit forming opposing longitudinal edges; 
 wherein the adornment component is configured to slide over the tube by feeding a first longitudinal edge through the sleeve from a first open end until both longitudinal edges are covered by the sleeve; 
 wherein one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric is secured to the back portion of the adornment component such that the corresponding hook surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric faces away from the back portion of the adornment component; 
 wherein the covered tube is configured to receive the corresponding constricted area of the corresponding bundle of hair formed by one or more of the at least one existing elastic band through the longitudinal slit in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the corresponding constricted area. 
 
     
     
         14 . A kit for making an adornment assembly configured to adorn a wearer, the kit comprising:
 directions for making or obtaining an adornment component, the adornment component including an exterior surface and an interior surface and configured to adorn a wearer;   at least one interior hook fabric, each interior hook fabric including a hook surface and a back surface; and   instructions for assembly of the at least one interior hook fabric and the adornment component to form an adornment assembly such that the hook surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric faces away from at least a portion of the interior surface of the adornment component and at least a corresponding portion of the exterior surface of the adorning component faces away from the corresponding back surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric;   wherein the adornment assembly is configured for placement on the wearer in relation to at least one existing elastic band, each existing elastic band surrounding a bundle of hair and forming a constricted area in the corresponding bundle;   wherein one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric is configured to embed and become releasably attached to a corresponding one or more of the at least one existing elastic band in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the corresponding constricted area of the corresponding bundle such that the adornment assembly adorns the wearer and the corresponding hook surface of each one or more interior hook fabric serves as an attaching mechanism to secure the adornment component to the wearer;   wherein, when the releasably attached one or more interior hook fabric is conjoined and comingled with the one or more existing elastic band, the one or more interior hook fabric securely attaches the adornment component to the wearer via the corresponding bundle of hair.   
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a tube including an inner surface, an outer surface, and a longitudinal slit forming opposing longitudinal edges;   wherein the instructions include assembly of the adornment component, the at least one interior hook fabric, and the tube to form the adornment assembly;   wherein one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric are configured for being secured to the inner surface of the tube such that the hook surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric faces away from the inner surface of the tube;   wherein the tube is configured to receive the corresponding constricted area of the corresponding bundle of hair formed by one or more of the at least one existing elastic band through the longitudinal slit in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the corresponding constricted area.   
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15  wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the adornment component is configured to be removably secured to the outer surface of the tube using at least one of glue, tape, thread, string, wire, staples, rivets, snaps, hooks, pushpins, clips, brads, buttons, and a hook-and-loop fastener, the hook-and-loop fastener including a loop or hook portion secured to the outer surface of the tube and a corresponding hook or loop portion secured to the interior surface of the adornment component. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 15  wherein the outer surface of the tube comprises the adornment component. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 end caps configured to be secured to the adornment assembly along each longitudinal edge of the tube;   wherein the instructions include securing the end caps to corresponding longitudinal edges of the tube.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 15  wherein the tube is configured such that the opposing longitudinal edges can be separated to deform the tube to facilitate receiving the constricted area of the bundle of hair and biased to return to a tubular-like form when the opposing longitudinal edges are released. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 14  wherein the interior surface of the adornment component is configured to be secured to one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric to form the adornment assembly, the adornment assembly having a central portion separating opposing end portions, the kit further comprising:
 a supplemental fastening mechanism with opposing fastener components configured to be secured to, or near to, the opposing end portions of the adornment assembly; 
 wherein the instructions include securing the opposing fastener components to the opposing end portions; 
 wherein the opposing fastener components are configured to be coupled together to fasten the opposing end portions of the adornment assembly together to secure the adornment assembly in place. 
 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 14  wherein the adornment component includes front and back portions configured to form a sleeve with opposing open ends, the kit further comprising:
 a tube including an inner surface, an outer surface, and a longitudinal slit forming opposing longitudinal edges; 
 wherein the instructions include assembly of the adornment component, the at least one interior hook fabric, and the tube to form the adornment assembly; 
 wherein the adornment component is configured to slide over the tube by feeding a first longitudinal edge through the sleeve from a first open end until both longitudinal edges are covered by the sleeve; 
 wherein one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric is configured to be secured to the back portion of the adornment component such that the corresponding hook surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric faces away from the back portion of the adornment component; 
 wherein the covered tube is configured to receive the corresponding constricted area of the corresponding bundle of hair formed by one or more of the at least one existing elastic band through the longitudinal slit in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the corresponding constricted area. 
 
     
     
         22 . A method of using hook fabric to manufacture an adornment assembly for adorning a wearer, comprising:
 obtaining an adornment component and at least one interior hook fabric, the adornment component including an exterior surface and an interior surface and configured to adorn a wearer, each interior hook fabric including a hook surface and a back surface; and   positioning each interior hook fabric along the interior surface of the adornment component to form an adornment assembly such that the hook surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric faces away from at least a portion of the interior surface of the adornment component and at least a corresponding portion of the exterior surface of the adorning component faces away from the corresponding back surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric;   wherein the adornment assembly is configured for placement on the wearer in relation to at least one existing elastic band, each existing elastic band surrounding a bundle of hair and forming a constricted area in the corresponding bundle;   wherein one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric is configured to embed and become releasably attached to a corresponding one or more of the at least one existing elastic band in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the corresponding constricted area of the corresponding bundle such that the adornment assembly adorns the wearer and the corresponding hook surface of each one or more interior hook fabric serves as an attaching mechanism to secure the adornment component to the wearer;   wherein, when the releasably attached one or more interior hook fabric is conjoined and comingled with the one or more existing elastic band, the one or more interior hook fabric securely attaches the adornment component to the wearer via the corresponding bundle of hair.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 obtaining a first tube including an inner surface, an outer surface, and a longitudinal slit forming opposing longitudinal edges;   securing one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric to the inner surface of the first tube such that the hook surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric faces away from the inner surface of the first tube, wherein the adornment component, the at least one interior hook fabric, and the first tube form the adornment assembly;   wherein the first tube is configured to receive the corresponding constricted area of the corresponding bundle of hair formed by one or more of the at least one existing elastic band through the longitudinal slit in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the corresponding constricted area.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 removably securing at least a portion of the interior surface of the adornment component to the outer surface of the first tube using at least one of glue, tape, thread, string, wire, staples, rivets, snaps, hooks, pushpins, clips, brads, buttons, and a hook-and-loop fastener, the hook-and-loop fastener including a loop or hook portion secured to the outer surface of the first tube and a corresponding hook or loop portion secured to the interior surface of the adornment component.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the outer surface of the first tube comprises the adornment component. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 obtaining end caps; and   securing the end caps to the adornment assembly along each longitudinal edge of the first tube.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the first tube is configured such that the opposing longitudinal edges can be separated to deform the first tube to facilitate receiving the constricted area of the bundle of hair and biased to return to a tubular-like form when the opposing longitudinal edges are released. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 obtaining a second tube including an inner surface, an outer surface, and a longitudinal slit forming opposing longitudinal edges;   securing one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric to the inner surface of the second tube such that the hook surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric faces away from the inner surface of the second tube, wherein the adornment component, the at least one interior hook fabric, and the first and second tubes form the adornment assembly;   wherein the second tube is configured to receive the corresponding constricted area of the corresponding bundle of hair formed by one or more of the at least one existing elastic band through the longitudinal slit in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the corresponding constricted area.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 securing the interior surface of the adornment component to one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric to form the adornment assembly, the adornment assembly having a central portion separating opposing end portions;   obtaining a supplemental fastening mechanism with opposing fastener components; and   securing the opposing fastener components to, or near to, the opposing end portions of the adornment assembly;   wherein the opposing fastener components are configured to be coupled together to fasten the opposing end portions of the adornment assembly together to secure the adornment assembly in place.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the adornment component includes front and back portions forming a sleeve with opposing open ends, the method further comprising:
 obtaining a tube including an inner surface, an outer surface, and a longitudinal slit forming opposing longitudinal edges; 
 sliding the adornment component over the tube by feeding a first longitudinal edge through the sleeve from a first open end until both longitudinal edges are covered by the sleeve; and 
 securing one or more of the at least one interior hook fabric to the back portion of the adornment component such that the corresponding hook surface of the corresponding interior hook fabric faces away from the back portion of the adornment component; 
 wherein the covered tube is configured to receive the corresponding constricted area of the corresponding bundle of hair formed by one or more of the at least one existing elastic band through the longitudinal slit in conjunction with placement of the adornment assembly over the corresponding constricted area.