# US 6,293,285 B1 · Hair styling accessory > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,293,285 B1 - Document ID: US6293285B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/688,749 - Filed: 2000-10-16 - Granted: 2001-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 2000-10-16 - Inventors: Bernadine Schach - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6293285B1 ## CPC - A45D 8/34: Hair-braid holders; Hair-plait holders - A45D 2002/005: {for braiding hair} - A45D 2007/004: {for braiding, twisting, locking, wrapping or beading hair} - A45D: HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT (wigs, toupees or the like A41G3/00, A41G5/00; hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04; hair cutting appliances, razors B26B); EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING ## Abstract A device for styling hair in which a plurality of spacers are slidably mounted on parallel, longitudinally-disposed elastic strands which, when not in use, are normally not under tension. In the preferred embodiment, the spacers (e.g., beads) preferably are of at least two significantly different sizes and are disposed in a pattern according to which each bead (other than the two end beads) is adjacent to two beads of a different size or color thus facilitating identification when the device is being mounted on the hair at the back of a person's head. The number of spacers preferably is at least equal to one plus the number of locks of hair selected for inclusion and retention in a particular geometric styling configuration. In use, spacers are temporarily separated by stretching of the elastic strands so that selected locks of hair can be passed between the elastic strands and separated from other hair locks by inter-positioned spacers, the locks of hair being held in a desired position by pressure remaining after manually imparted tension has been released. Also included are methods of use of the device to effectuate selected hair styles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hair styling accessory for separating locks of hair and holding them in side-by-side relationship, said accessory comprising elastic strands disposed in parallel and a plurality of perforated spacers mounted on said strands; the number of said spacers being at least equal to the number of said locks plus one; said spacers being in adjoining positions when said elastic strands are unstretched and providing spaces there between for insertion and temporary retention of said locks of hair when said elastic strands are stretched and for temporary retention of said locks in separated relationship when tension on said elastic strands is released. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A hair styling accessory according to claim 1 in which said spacers are beads slidably mounted on said strands. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A hair styling accessory according to claim 1 in which said spacers are colored beads. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A hair styling accessory according to claim 1 in which said spacers are beads of various colors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A hair styling accessory according to claim 1 in which adjacent spacers are beads of different colors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A hair styling accessory according to claim 1 in which said spacers are beads of a plurality of sizes and shapes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A hair styling accessory according to claim 1 in which said spacers other than end spacers are each adjacent a spacer of a different size. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A hair styling accessory according to claim 7 in which every other spacer is a bead of the same size. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A hair styling accessory according to claim 1 in which said strands are normally disposed adjacent and in parallel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A hair styling accessory according to claim 1 in which each of said spacers includes an aperture adapted for passing one of a pair of elastic strands therethrough. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A hair styling accessory according to claim 1 in which each of said spacers includes an aperture adapted for passing both of a pair of elastic strands therethrough. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A hair styling accessory according to claim 1 further including means for adding and removing spacers. ### Claim 13 A hair styling accessory for separating locks of hair and holding them in side-by-side relationship, said accessory comprising a pair of elastic strands disposed adjacent and parallel to each other and a plurality of colored spacers slidably mounted on said strands; the number of said spacers being at least equal to the number of said locks plus one; said spacers being of at least two different sizes and each having an aperture therewithin adapted for passing said elastic strands therethrough; said spacers being in essentially adjoining positions when said elastic strands are unstretched and providing spaces therebetween for insertion and temporary retention of said locks of hair when said elastic strands are stretched and for temporary retention of said locks in separated relationship when tension on said elastic strands is released. ### Claim 14 A hair styling accessory for separating locks of hair and holding them in side-by-side relationship, said accessory comprising a pair of elastic strands disposed in parallel and a plurality of spacers mounted on said strands; the number of said spacers being at least equal to the number of said locks; said spacers being in adjacent positions, said strands being of a length when unstretched to provide a space between two adjacent spacers sufficient for passage of a lock of hair therethrough, said strands further being of a length such that when said strands are stretched there are provided spaces therebetween for insertion and temporary retention of others of said locks of hair and for temporary retention of said locks in separated relationship when tension on said elastic strands is released. ### Claim 15 A method of implementing a hair style comprising: (a) separating human hair into a plurality of discrete and separate locks, (b) providing elastic strands mounted with a plurality of adjacent spacers; (c) imparting tension to said elastic strands to stretch said strands and increase spaces therebetween; (d) individually passing said separated hair locks through different ones of said spaces thereby disposing said locks in separated relationship; and (e) releasing said tension thereby to urge said strands together thereby temporarily affixing said separated locks in position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of implementing a hair style according to claim 15 further including a step of urging said spacers toward one another further to fix said separated locks in position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of implementing a hair style according to claim 15 further including a step of coloring said spacers in a plurality of different colors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of implementing a hair style according to claim 17 further including a step of sizing said spacers in a plurality of differing sizes and/or shapes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of implementing a hair style according to claim 18 further including a step of disposing said spacers on said strands to produce a pattern in which adjacent spacers are of different sizes and/or shapes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of implementing a hair style according to claim 18 further including a step of disposing said spacers on said strands to produce a pattern in which adjacent spacers are of different colors. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of implementing a hair style according to claim 15 further including a step of sizing said spacers in a plurality of differing sizes and/or shapes. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method of implementing a hair style according to claim 15 further including steps of adding and removing spacers. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The method of implementing a hair style according to claim 15 further including a step of manually sliding at least one of said spacers along said strands. ### Claim 24 A method of implementing a hair style comprising: (a) separating human hair into a plurality of discrete and separate locks; (b) providing a pair of elastic strands mounted with a plurality of normally abutting perforated spacers; (c) imparting tension to said elastic strands to stretch said strands and produce spaces between said normally abutting spacers; (d) individually passing said separated hair locks through different ones of said spaces thereby disposing said locks in separated relationship; and (e) releasing said tension thereby to urge normally abutting spacers together thereby temporarily affixing said separated locks in position. ### Claim 25 A method of implementing a hair style comprising: (a) separating human hair into a plurality of discrete and separate locks; (b) providing a pair of elastic strands mounted with a plurality of adjacent perforated spacers; (c) moving one of said spacers along said strands to create a space between two of said adjacent spacers; (d) passing one of said separated hair locks through said space; (e) urging another of said spacers toward said one of said spacers and against said one of said separated hair locks thereby pressing against said one of said separated hair locks and holding said one of said locks in place; (f) moving a third one of said spacers along said strands to create a second space between said third one of said spacers and said another of said spacers; (g) passing a second one of said separated hair locks through said second space, and (h) urging said third one of said spacers along said strands toward said another of said spacers thereby pressing against said second one of said separated hair locks and holding said second one of said separated hair locks in place. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25 further including: (a) moving a fourth one of said spacers along said strands to create a third space between said fourth one of said spacers and said third one of said spacers; (b) passing a third one of said separated hair locks through said third space; and (c) urging said fourth one of said spacers along said strands toward said third one of said spacers thereby pressing against said third one of said separated hair locks and holding said third one of said separated hair locks in place.