Hair bands with easy to change fashion accessories and storage and display cases

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a hair band for keeping hair out of the face of the wearer, comprising a band having two surfaces, an inner surface that contacts the head and hair of an individual, which is formed to fit the head over the hair in a vertical orientation, and an outer surface that face away from the head, wherein the band has a multitude of magnets distributed along the length of the band, or wherein the band has an opening through the inner and outer surfaces that runs the majority of the length of the band. In one embodiment, the opening has a soft plastic or silicon strip inserted therein, wherein the strip has a series of openings or holes formed down its length or the opening has a lattice formed within the opening of the band, wherein the lattice is created by a series of crisscrossing strings or strands, and the holes formed by the lattice allow for one or more tabs to be inserted therein to allow fashion accessories that have tabs to be attached to the hair band. Additionally, the present invention is directed to the fashion accessories themselves, storage/carrying cases and display cases for use with the hair bands and fashion accessories

We claim: 
     
         1 . A hair band for keeping hair out of the face of the wearer, comprising:
 a band having two surfaces, an inner surface that contacts the head and hair of an individual, which is formed to fit the head over the hair in a vertical orientation, and an outer surface that face away from the head, wherein the band has a multitude of magnets distributed along the length of the band;   the band has a width selected from the range of about 0.5 inches to about 2.5 inches; and   the band has a depth selected from the range of about ⅛ th  inch to about 1.0 inch.   
     
     
         2 . The hair band of  claim 1 , wherein the band is made of a material selected from a plastic or a metal, and this material may be covered by a soft rubber, a silicon substance, a plastic substance or a fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The hair band of  claim 1 , wherein the magnets are attached to the band on the outer surface facing away from the head, or are countersunk into the band on the outer surface facing away from the head. 
     
     
         4 . The hair band of  claim 3 , wherein the magnets are covered by a soft rubber, a silicon substance, a plastic substance or a fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The hair band of  claim 4 , wherein the magnets are covered such that the magnets cannot be seen. 
     
     
         6 . The hair band of  claim 1 , wherein the magnets are imbedded with the band that is made of a plastic material, such that the magnets are completely covered and cannot touch the hair or scalp of the individual wearing the band. 
     
     
         7 . The hair band of  claim 1 , wherein the band has a width selected from about 0.5 inches, about 0.75 inches, about 1.0 inches, about 1.5 inches, about 2.0 inches and about 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The hair band of  claim 1 , wherein the band has a depth selected from the group consisting of ⅛ th  inch, ¼ th  inch, 0.5 inch, 0.75 inch and 1.0 inch. 
     
     
         9 . The hair band of Claiml, wherein the magnets are selected from the group consisting of ferromagnetic, samarium-cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron (NIB). 
     
     
         10 . The hair band of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the magnets are between about ¼ inch and about ¾ inch, and the thickness of the magnets are between about 1/32 inch to about ¼ inch. 
     
     
         11 . The hair band of  claim 1 , wherein all of the magnets are the same size. 
     
     
         12 . The hair band of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the band has teeth in order to help the hair band stay in place. 
     
     
         13 . The hair band of  claim 1 , wherein the flexibility of the band allows the band to exert pressure on the left and right side of head, which in conjunction with friction, helps the hair band stay in place. 
     
     
         14 . A hair band for keeping hair out of the face of the wearer, comprising:
 a band having two surfaces, an inner surface that contacts the head and hair of an individual, which is formed to fit the head over the hair in a vertical orientation, and an outer surface that face away from the head;   the band is made of a material selected from a plastic or a metal;   the band has a width selected from the range of about 0.5 inches to about 2.5 inches;   the band has a depth selected from the range of about ⅛ th  inch to about 1.0 inch;   the band has an opening through the inner and outer surfaces that runs the majority of the length of the band, wherein the opening has either a soft plastic or silicon strip inserted therein and the strip has a series of openings formed down its length to allow one or more tabs to be inserted through the openings, or has a lattice formed within the opening of the band, wherein the lattice is created by a series of crisscrossing strings or strands, which are made of a soft rubber, plastic or silicon material, and the holes formed by the lattice allow for one or more tabs to be inserted.   
     
     
         15 . The hair band of  claim 14 , wherein the inner surface of the band has teeth in order to help the hair band stay in place. 
     
     
         16 . The hair band of  claim 14 , wherein the flexibility of the band allows the band to exert pressure on the left and right side of head, which in conjunction with friction, helps the hair band stay in place. 
     
     
         17 . A fashion accessory for a hair band, comprising:
 a fashionable design or item with a magnet attached thereto, such that the magnet can be used to attach the fashion accessory to a hair band containing one or more magnets.   
     
     
         18 . A fashion accessory for a hair band, comprising:
 a fashionable design or item with a piece of ferromagnetic metal attached thereto, such that the piece of ferromagnetic metal can be used to attach the fashion accessory to a hair band containing one or more magnets.   
     
     
         19 . A fashion accessory for a hair band, comprising:
 a fashionable design or item with a tab which may be inserted into a hole in a hair band in order to attach the fashion accessory to the hair band.   
     
     
         20 . A package for carrying and storing hair bands and fashion accessories, comprising:
 a case or a bag with one or more handles and an interior area, which contains a means to open the case or bag in order to gain access to the interior area of the case or bag; and   wherein the interior area contains means of storing one or more hair bands and one or more fashion accessories.   
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein the means of opening the case or bag to gain access to the interior is a zippered opening. 
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein the means of opening the case or bag to gain access to the interior is a locking mechanism and one or more hinges that allow the case or bag to open in a clam-shell manner. 
     
     
         23 . A hair band holder for storing and displaying the hair bands of  claim 1  and the fashion accessories for use with the same, comprising:
 a board having a front surface and a rear surface; 
 the rear surface has an arm attached, which extends therefrom in a perpendicular or near-perpendicular manner allowing the hair band holder to stand on an essentially level surface and is also capable of folding flat against the rear surface, and a means for hanging the hair band holder on a vertical surface; 
 the front surface that has a multitude of pegs, wherein the pegs extend from the front surface in a perpendicular manner and are spatially arrange to accommodate hanging one or more hair bands and one or more accessories, and/or a multitude of magnets, which are attached to or embedded in the front surface and spatially arranged for mounting one or more hair bands containing magnets and one or more fashion accessories containing at least one magnet.