Hair Accessories and Methods for Their Manufacture

Abstract

Hair accessories include (a) a substrate having a hair-holding surface configured for holding hair, and a structural surface; and (b) a layer provided on at least a portion of the hair-holding surface, wherein the layer contains a plurality of flocked fibers. Methods of manufacturing hair accessories are described.

1 . A hair accessory comprising:
 a substrate having a hair-holding surface configured for holding hair, and a structural surface; and   a layer provided on at least a portion of the hair-holding surface, wherein the layer comprises a plurality of flocked fibers, the plurality of flocked fibers having been attached to the layer at a temperature of about 2° C. and at a relative humidity of between about 30% and about 65%.   
     
     
         2 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the structural surface is substantially devoid of flocked fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of flocked fibers forms a fabric and/or textile material that is configured to convey a velvet-like, velour-like, and/or suede-like tactile feel to a user. 
     
     
         4 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of wood, metal, plastic, glass, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the substrate comprises a plastic resin selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polystyrene, styrene acrylonitrile, polypropylene, acrylic, high impact polystyrene, styrene-butadiene copolymers, polycarbonate, poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate), thermoplastic elastomers, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polyurethanes, silicone, natural latex rubber, nylons, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is monolithic. 
     
     
         7 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of sub-components configured for detachable assembly to form the hair accessory. 
     
     
         8 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the flocked fibers comprise a material selected from the group consisting of silk, cotton, nylon, polyacrylonitrile, rayon, polyester, linen, wool, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the hair accessory is selected from the group consisting of hard headbands, soft head wraps, claw clips, contour clips, self-hinge barrettes, auto clasps, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the flocked fibers are secured to the hair-holding surface via an adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . The hair accessory of  claim 10  wherein at least a portion of the plurality of flocked fibers is oriented substantially perpendicular to the hair-holding surface. 
     
     
         12 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the flocked fibers are deposited on the hair-holding surface by an electrostatic flocking process. 
     
     
         13 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein the layer comprises a die-cut insert having an adhesive on one side and the plurality of flocked fibers on an opposing side. 
     
     
         14 . The hair accessory of  claim 13  wherein the portion of the hair-holding surface comprises a recess configured to receive the die-cut insert. 
     
     
         15 . The hair accessory of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of flocked fibers comprises a length of between about 0.30 mm and about 5.0 mm. 
     
     
         16 . A hair accessory comprising:
 a substrate having a hair-holding surface configured for holding hair, and a structural surface; and   a layer provided on at least a portion of the hair-holding surface;
 wherein the layer comprises a plurality of flocked fibers secured to the hair-holding surface via an adhesive, the plurality of flocked fibers having been attached to the layer at a temperature of about 20° C. and at a relative humidity of between about 30% and about 65%; 
 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of flocked fibers is oriented substantially perpendicular to the hair-holding surface; and 
 wherein the structural surface is substantially devoid of flocked fibers. 
   
     
     
         17 . The hair accessory of  claim 16  wherein the layer further comprises a plurality of voids interspersed among the plurality of flocked fibers, and wherein the plurality of flocked fibers and the plurality of voids are cooperatively configured to engage with a user's hair 
     
     
         18 . The hair accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the flocked fibers are attached to the layer at a relative humidity of about 60%. 
     
     
         19 . The hair accessory of  claim 16 , wherein the flocked fibers are attached to the layer at a relative humidity of about 60%.