Salon belt system

Abstract

A belt system is designed for use by salon workers to manage a variety of the heavy and/or bulky containers and implements used for cutting, coloring, perms, hair treatments, and any other table-free cosmetologist operation. The belt system can be a worn belt system that can be removably secured about a waist of a user. Alternatively, the belt system can be a salon chair belt system, where a belt is disposed about the back and sides of a salon chair. In either embodiment, the belt can have a hook and loop fastener disposed on its outer surface. One or more detachable equipment holders, having a hook and loop fastener, can be removably attached to the belt. In each embodiment, the implements for the cosmetologist can be readily available for convenient access.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An equipment-holding belt system for a salon worker, comprising:
 a belt comprising:
 a non-elastic, stiffened non-folding section having an outer end, the stiffened non-folding section including a majority of the belt's circumference; and 
 a movement-enhancing elastic section connected to an inner end of the stiffened non-folding section; and 
   at least one detachable equipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of the stiffened non-folding section of the belt.   
     
     
         2 . The equipment-holding belt system of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-stiffened, non-elastic closure end adapted to connect to the stiffened non-folding section's outer end, wherein the belt system is a belt system configured to be worn by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The equipment-holding belt system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the stiffened non-folding section's outer face is faced with hook-and-loop fastening material; and   the equipment-holder includes a flexible attachment panel backed with hook-and-loop fastening material that detachably secures to the hook-and-loop fastening material on the stiffened non-folding section.   
     
     
         4 . The equipment-holding belt system of  claim 3 , wherein the equipment-holder includes an equipment retainer portion, and the retainer portion is located below an upper end of the flexible attachment panel. 
     
     
         5 . The equipment-holding belt system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the portion of the outer face of the stiffened non-folding section faced with the hook-and-loop material is faced substantially continuously with the hook and loop material over its width from an upper edge to a lower edge; and   the flexible attachment panel has a height substantially equal to the width of the stiffened non-folding section and is substantially continuously faced with the mating hook and loop material.   
     
     
         6 . The equipment-holding belt system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer portion comprises a flexible fabric retainer with a flexible fabric sidewall and a partially open bottom. 
     
     
         7 . The equipment-holding belt system of  claim 6 , wherein one or more support straps define the bottom of the retainer at a location spaced from the sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The equipment-holding belt system of  claim 7 , wherein the support straps form a T configuration with an open front. 
     
     
         9 . The equipment-holding belt system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer face of the outer end of the belt and the inner face of the closure end are faced with mating hook-and-loop material and are infinitely adjustable over a length corresponding to the inner face of the closure end. 
     
     
         10 . The equipment-holding belt system of  claim 9 , wherein the elastic section is less than fully tensioned when the belt is secured about the waist. 
     
     
         11 . The equipment-holding belt system of  claim 1 , wherein the belt is disposed about a back portion of a salon chair and extends above arm members of the salon chair, wherein belt system is a salon chair belt system. 
     
     
         12 . The equipment-holding belt system of  claim 11 , wherein the belt is supported from a base portion of the salon chair at ends thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The equipment-holding belt system of  claim 11 , wherein the belt is attached to an upper portion of the back portion of the salon chair. 
     
     
         14 . A user-worn equipment-holding belt system for a salon worker, comprising:
 a belt comprising:
 a non-elastic, stiffened non-folding section having an outer end, the stiffened non-folding section including a majority of the belt's circumference; 
 a movement-enhancing elastic section connected to an inner end of the stiffened non-folding section; and 
 a non-stiffened, non-elastic closure end adapted to connect to the stiffened non-folding section's outer end; and 
   at least one detachable equipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of the stiffened non-folding section of the belt, wherein   at least a portion of the stiffened non-folding section's outer face is faced with hook-and-loop fastening material; and   the equipment-holder includes a flexible attachment panel backed with hook-and-loop fastening material that detachably secures to the hook-and-loop fastening material on the stiffened non-folding section.   
     
     
         15 . The user-worn equipment-holding belt system of  claim 14 , wherein the equipment-holder includes an equipment retainer portion, and the retainer portion is located below an upper end of the flexible attachment panel. 
     
     
         16 . The user-worn equipment-holding belt system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the portion of the outer face of the stiffened non-folding section faced with the hook-and-loop material is faced substantially continuously with the hook and loop material over its width from an upper edge to a lower edge; and   the flexible attachment panel has a height substantially equal to the width of the stiffened non-folding section and is substantially continuously faced with the mating hook and loop material.   
     
     
         17 . The user-worn equipment-holding belt system of  claim 14 , wherein the retainer portion comprises a flexible fabric retainer with a flexible fabric sidewall and a partially open bottom. 
     
     
         18 . A chair-attached equipment-holding belt system comprising:
 a belt comprising a rigid or semi-rigid member having hook and loop fastener material disposed thereupon;   at least one detachable equipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of the hook and loop fastener material of the belt, wherein   the belt is disposed about a back portion and a side portion of a salon chair, wherein the belt system is a salon chair belt system.   
     
     
         19 . The chair-attached equipment-holding belt system of  claim 18 , wherein the belt is supported from a base portion of the salon chair at ends thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The chair-attached equipment-holding belt system of  claim 18 , wherein the belt is attached to an upper portion of the back portion of the salon chair.