Hair Tie or Fashion Accessory

Abstract

Embodiments are disclosed of a fashion accessory, a cord for use in a fashion accessory, and a coupler for use in a fashion accessory. In one embodiment, the fashion accessory comprises a flexible cord comprising multiple nodules and a filament portion adjacent each nodule. The fashion accessory further comprises a substantially rigid coupler comprising two end portions connected by a keel portion. An embodiment of a flexible cord for use in a fashion accessory comprises at least two nodules spaced apart along the length of the cord and a filament portion adjacent each of the at least two nodules. An embodiment of a substantially rigid coupler for use in a fashion accessory comprises a first end portion comprising a first bore hole and first slot, a second end portion comprising a second bore hole and second slot, and a keel portion connecting the first and second end portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fashion accessory, comprising:
 a flexible cord comprising multiple nodules and a filament portion adjacent each nodule; and   a substantially rigid coupler comprising two end portions connected by a keel portion, wherein
 each end portion comprises a slot configured to allow one of the filament portions of the cord to be moved through the slot, and 
 each end portion further comprises a bore hole in communication with the slot in that end portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fashion accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the filament portion comprises a compressible material. 
     
     
         3 . The fashion accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the filament portion comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The fashion accessory of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the nodules are configured to be captured within a respective end portion of the coupler when an adjacent filament portion is moved through the slot and into the bore hole. 
     
     
         5 . The fashion accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the one of the filament portions is configured to be compressed by sidewalls of the slot while being pulled through the slot. 
     
     
         6 . The fashion accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the one of the filament portions is configured to be stretched while being moved through the slot, and to have a reduced diameter while being stretched. 
     
     
         7 . The fashion accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the fashion accessory is configured for use as a hair tie. 
     
     
         8 . The fashion accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the fashion accessory is configured for use as a jewelry item. 
     
     
         9 . The fashion accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the fashion accessory is configured for use as a belt. 
     
     
         10 . A flexible cord for use in a fashion accessory, the cord comprising:
 at least two nodules spaced apart along the length of the cord; and   a filament portion adjacent each of the at least two nodules, wherein a diameter of the filament portion is smaller than a diameter of its adjacent nodule.   
     
     
         11 . The cord of  claim 10 , wherein the filament portion comprises a compressible material. 
     
     
         12 . The cord of  claim 10 , wherein the filament portion comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The cord of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the at least two nodules comprises a substantially flat surface. 
     
     
         14 . The cord of  claim 10 , wherein at least two of the at least two nodules are spheroidal in shape. 
     
     
         15 . The cord of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 multiple nodules spaced along the length of the cord, wherein each of the multiple nodules comprises a substantially flat surface; and   along a cord portion between each pair of the multiple nodules, at least one nodule not comprising a substantially flat surface.   
     
     
         16 . A substantially rigid coupler for use in a fashion accessory, the coupler comprising:
 a first end portion comprising a first bore hole and a first slot, wherein
 the first slot connects the first bore hole to an opening of the coupler, and 
 the opening is configured for insertion into the coupler of a nodule within a flexible cord; 
   a second end portion comprising a second bore hole and a second slot, wherein the second slot connects the second bore hole to the opening of the coupler; and   a keel portion connecting the first end portion to the second end portion, wherein
 the keel portion comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, 
 the coupler has a central width, measured between outer surfaces of the first and second sidewalls, at a position approximately halfway along a line between the first bore hole and the second bore hole, 
 the coupler has a first maximum width, measured between outer surfaces of the first and second sidewalls, at a position partway along a line between the first bore hole and the position of the central width, and 
 the central width is smaller than the first maximum width. 
   
     
     
         17 . The coupler of  claim 16 , wherein
 the coupler has a second maximum width, measured between outer surfaces of the first and second sidewalls, at a position partway along a line between the second bore hole and the position of the central width, and   the central width is smaller than the second maximum width.   
     
     
         18 . The coupler of  claim 16 , wherein the coupler is configured to retain an inserted flexible cord nodule despite the presence of a force stretching the flexible cord along a direction parallel to an axis through the first and second bore holes. 
     
     
         19 . The coupler of  claim 16 , wherein the coupler is configured to be grasped between a thumb and a finger during insertion of a flexible cord nodule into the coupler.