Adjustable Ornamental Hair Restraining apparatus and Method

Abstract

An adjustable ornamental hair restraining apparatus and method adjustably restrains portions of the hair while displaying an interchangeable ornamental member. The apparatus and method utilizes a toggle fastener, having a toggle closure and a bar to releasably couple the ends of the elastic strap around at least a portion of hair. The toggle fastener provides a simple mechanism that can be easily secured around the hair to enable quick styling and adjustments of the hair while also offering customizable looks. Additionally, style disruption, discomfort, hair loss, and damage are minimized. An interchangeable ornamental member displays from the apparatus to enhance the appearance of the head. The bar passes through an opening in the toggle closure and rotates to extend generally in a plane perpendicular to the opening for forming a locked position. A base joins with the bar or toggle closure. The ornamental member attaches to the base.

1 . An apparatus for restraining at least a portion of hair and displaying an ornamental member, the apparatus comprising:
 an elastic strap comprising a first end and a second end, the strap configured to wrap around at least a portion of hair for restraining the hair; a toggle closure disposed to join with the first end, the toggle closure comprising an opening, the opening comprising a diameter,   a bar disposed to join with the second end, the bar comprising a length,   the bar configured to pass through the opening and rotate to extend generally in a plane perpendicular to the opening for forming a locked position, the locked position configured to fasten the first end to the second end for locking the strap wrapped around at least a portion of the hair,   wherein the length of the bar is greater than the diameter of the opening, such that the bar is restricted from passing through the opening in the locked position;   a base disposed to join with the toggle closure and/or the bar; and   an ornamental member disposed to join with the base;   wherein the first end and the second end are removable from the toggle closure and the bar respectively;   wherein the first end is configured to pass through a first end strap opening and fold over a generally U-shaped toggle closure extension; wherein the U-shaped toggle closure extension has a width and height similar to a width and height of the strap and is capable of accepting the strap to adjustably fasten the strap to the toggle closure by attaching a front portion of the first end to a back portion of the first end with a first end fastening mechanism; wherein the front portion of the first end and the back portion of the first end are adjacent the U-shaped toggle closure extension and are separated by the toggle closure extension; wherein the front portion of the first end has passed through the first end strap opening;   wherein the second end is configured to pass through a second end strap opening and fold over a generally U-shaped bar extension wherein the U-shaped bar extension has a width and height similar the width and height of the strap and is capable of the strap to adjustably fasten the strap to the bar by attaching a front portion of the second end to a back portion of the second end with a second end fastening mechanism; wherein the front portion of the second end and the back portion of the second end are adjacent the U-shaped bar extension; wherein the front portion of the second end and the back portion of the second end are separated by the bar extension; and wherein the front portion of the second end has passed through the second end strap opening.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strap comprises an elastic band. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is configured to extend and retract along a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the toggle closure comprises a toggle closure extension configured to join with the first end. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the toggle closure extension comprises a substantially U-shape. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bar comprises a bar extension configured to join with the second end. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the bar extension comprises the substantially U-shape. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the toggle closure and the bar are configured to be operable to join and separate. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a magnet. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a ornamental member is configured to attach to a magnetic base. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a clamp, the clamp disposed to attach along a longitudinal axis, the clamp configured to detachably join with the ornamental member. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a hair claw, the hair claw disposed to attach along a longitudinal axis of the strap or hair, and detachably join with the ornamental member. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a bobbi pin, the bobbi pin disposed to attach along a longitudinal axis of the strap or hair, and detachably join with the ornamental member. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a ring, the ring disposed to attach along a longitudinal axis of the strap, and detachably join with the ornamental member. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for restraining at least a portion of hair and displaying an ornamental member, the apparatus comprising:
 an elastic strap comprising a first end and a second end, the strap configured to wrap around at least a portion of hair for restraining the hair;   a toggle closure disposed to join with the first end, the toggle closure comprising an opening, the opening comprising a diameter,   a bar disposed to join with the second end, the bar comprising a length,   the bar configured to pass through the opening and rotate to extend generally in a plane perpendicular to the opening for forming a locked position, the locked position configured to fasten the first end to the second end for locking the strap wrapped around at least a portion of the hair,   wherein the length of the bar is greater than the diameter of the opening, such that the bar is restricted from passing through the opening in the locked position;   a base disposed to join with the toggle closure and/or the bar; and   an ornamental member disposed to join with the base; and   wherein the apparatus further comprises a clamp, the clamp disposed to attach along a longitudinal axis of the strap, the clamp configured to detachably join with the ornamental member,   wherein the clamp is generally U-shaped having a first side and a second side and an open end with a gap between the first and second side; wherein said first side and said second side may be manually separated to allow for the strap to be inserted into the clamp between said first side and said second side; wherein the first side and second side of the clamp encase the strap when the strap is between the first and second side upon release of the manual separation of the first and second side; and   wherein the clamp may slide to any position on the strap without the need for removal of the clamp from the strap.   
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for restraining at least a portion of hair and displaying an ornamental member, the apparatus comprising:
 an elastic strap comprising a first end and a second end, the strap configured to wrap around at least a portion of hair for restraining the hair;   a toggle closure disposed to join with the first end, the toggle closure comprising an opening, the opening comprising a diameter,   a bar disposed to join with the second end, the bar comprising a length,   the bar configured to pass through the opening and rotate to extend generally in a plane perpendicular to the opening for forming a locked position, the locked position configured to fasten the first end to the second end for locking the strap wrapped around at least a portion of the hair,   wherein the length of the bar is greater than the diameter of the opening, such that the bar is restricted from passing through the opening in the locked position;   a base disposed to join with the toggle closure and/or the bar; and   an ornamental member disposed to join with, the base;   wherein the first end and the second end are removable from the toggle closure and the bar, respectively; wherein the first end is configured to pass through a first end strap opening and fold over a generally U-shaped toggle closure extension; wherein the U-shaped toggle closure extension has a width and height similar to a width and height of the strap and is capable of accepting the strap to adjustably fasten the strap to the toggle closure by attaching a front portion of the first end to a back portion of the first end with a first end fastening mechanism; wherein the front portion of the first end and the back portion of the first end are adjacent the U-shaped toggle closure extension and are separated by the toggle closure extension; wherein the front portion of the first end has passed through the first end strap opening;   wherein the second end is configured to pass through a second end strap opening and fold over a generally U-shaped bar extension wherein the U-shaped bar extension has a width and height similar to the width and height of the strap and is capable of accepting the strap to adjustably fasten the strap to the bar by attaching a front portion of the second end to a back portion of the second end with a second end fastening mechanism; wherein the front portion of the second end and the back portion of the second end are adjacent the U-shaped bar extension; wherein the front portion of the second end and the back portion of the second end are separated by the bar extension; and wherein the front portion of the second end has passed through the second end strap opening;   wherein the apparatus further comprises a clamp, the clamp disposed to attach along a longitudinal axis of the strap, the clamp configured to detachably join with the ornamental member;   wherein the clamp is generally U-shaped having a first side and a second side and an open end with a gap between the first and second side; wherein said first side and said second side may be manually separated to allow for the strap to be inserted into the clamp between said first side and said second side; wherein the first side and second side of the clamp encase the strap when the strap is between the first and second side upon release of the manual separation of the first and second side; and   wherein the clamp may slide to any position on the strap without the need for removal of the clamp from the strap; and   wherein a magnet is attached to an outer surface of the first side of the clamp; wherein an ornamental member is configured to attach to said magnet.