Decorative article of apparel

Abstract

Decorative articles of apparel, such as decorative headbands, are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a decorative article of apparel includes a body member for at least partially encircling a wearer. Further, the decorative article of apparel includes a plurality of elastic string members mounted to the body member. Each elastic string member is configured to be stretched to form a channel between the body member and the respective elastic string member. Also, each elastic string member is configured to exert a constrictive force on and retain an inserted element in a respective channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A decorative article of apparel comprising:
 a body member for at least partially encircling a wearer; and   elastic string members mounted to the body member, wherein each elastic string member is configured to be stretched to form a channel between the body member and the respective elastic string member, and wherein each elastic string member is configured to exert a constrictive force on and retain an inserted element in a respective channel.   
     
     
         2 . The decorative article of apparel of  claim 1  wherein:
 the body member has an outer surface; 
 each elastic string member has an inner surface; 
 each elastic string member has a resting configuration in which the inner surface of the elastic string member abuts the outer surface of the body member; 
 each elastic string member has a stretched configuration in which the respective channel is defined between the inner surface of the respective elastic string member and the outer surface of the body member. 
 
     
     
         3 . The decorative article of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the body member has an outer surface and an inner surface and is formed with apertures passing through the body member from the outer surface to the inner surface, and wherein the elastic string members are formed by an elastic string wound through the apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The decorative article of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the body member has an outer surface and an inner surface and is formed with a first row of apertures passing through the body member from the outer surface to the inner surface and with a second row of apertures passing through the body member from the outer surface to the inner surface, and wherein each elastic string member extends from a respective aperture in the first row of apertures to a respective aperture in the second row of apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The decorative article of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the body member includes a base support and an upper component secured to the base support. 
     
     
         6 . The decorative article of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the body member includes a base support and an upper component secured to the base support, wherein the base support has a first length and a first width, and wherein the upper component has a second length less than the first length and a second width greater than the first width. 
     
     
         7 . The decorative article of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the body member includes a base support and an upper component secured to the base support, wherein the upper component has an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the upper component is formed with apertures passing through the upper component from the outer surface of the upper component to the inner surface of the upper component, and wherein the elastic string members are formed by an elastic string wound through the apertures. 
     
     
         8 . The decorative article of apparel of  claim 1  wherein:
 the body member includes a base support, an upper component, and a binding; 
 the upper component has an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 the upper component is formed with apertures passing through the upper component from the outer surface of the upper component to the inner surface of the upper component; 
 the upper component is secured to the base support by the binding wound through the apertures; and 
 the elastic string members are formed by an elastic string wound through the apertures and overlying the binding. 
 
     
     
         9 . The decorative article of apparel of  claim 1  further comprising a first flower, wherein the first flower is retained in a first respective channel by a first respective elastic string member, and a second flower, wherein the second flower is retained in a second respective channel by a second respective elastic string member. 
     
     
         10 . The decorative article of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the body member is U-shaped for resiliently gripping the head of the wearer. 
     
     
         11 . The decorative article of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the body member is C-shaped for surrounding a limb of the wearer. 
     
     
         12 . The decorative article of apparel of  claim 1  wherein the body member has a first end and a second end, and further comprising a clasp for connecting the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         13 . A decorative headband comprising:
 a U-shaped body member for resiliently gripping the head of a wearer, wherein the U-shaped body member has an outer surface, and wherein the U-shaped body member defines a plane and extends in an arcuate direction from a first end to a second end;   constrictive members mounted to the U-shaped body member, wherein the constrictive members are biased toward a resting configuration in which the constrictive members abut the outer surface of the U-shaped body member, and wherein each constrictive member is movable to a stretched configuration in which a channel is opened between the respective constrictive member and the outer surface of the U-shaped body member for receiving an inserted element therein.   
     
     
         14 . The decorative headband of  claim 13  wherein the U-shaped body member has an inner surface and is formed with apertures passing through the U-shaped body member from the outer surface to the inner surface, and wherein the constrictive members are formed by an elastic string wound through the apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The decorative headband of  claim 13  wherein the U-shaped body member has an inner surface and is formed with a first row of apertures passing through the U-shaped body member from the outer surface to the inner surface and with a second row of apertures passing through the U-shaped body member from the outer surface to the inner surface, and wherein each constrictive member extends from a respective aperture in the first row of apertures to a respective aperture in the second row of apertures. 
     
     
         16 . The decorative headband of  claim 13  wherein the U-shaped body member includes a base support and an upper component secured to the base support. 
     
     
         17 . The decorative headband of  claim 13  wherein the U-shaped body member includes a base support and an upper component secured to the U-shaped base support, wherein the base support has a first length and a first width, and wherein the upper component has a second length less than the first length and a second width greater than the first width. 
     
     
         18 . The decorative headband of  claim 13  wherein:
 the U-shaped body member includes a base support and an upper component secured to the base support; 
 the outer surface of the U-shaped body member is formed by an outer surface of the upper component; 
 the upper component has an inner surface; 
 the upper component is formed with apertures passing through the upper component from the outer surface of the upper component to the inner surface of the upper component; and 
 the constrictive members are formed by an elastic string wound through the apertures. 
 
     
     
         19 . The decorative headband of  claim 13  wherein:
 the U-shaped body member includes a base support, an upper component, and a binding; 
 the outer surface of the U-shaped body member is formed by an outer surface of the upper component; 
 the upper component has an inner surface; 
 the upper component is formed with apertures passing through the upper component from the outer surface of the upper component to the inner surface of the upper component; 
 the upper component is secured to the base support by the binding wound through the apertures; and 
 the constrictive members are formed by an elastic string wound through the apertures and overlying the binding. 
 
     
     
         20 . The decorative headband of  claim 13  further comprising a first flower, wherein the first flower is retained in a first respective channel by a first constrictive member, and a second flower, wherein the second flower is retained in a second respective channel by a second respective constrictive member.