Partial Cap Hair Accessory

Abstract

A support structure and a hair accessory utilizing the support structure are disclosed. The support structure is configured to engage and surround substantially only a rear portion of a user's head, and according to an embodiment the support structure includes a crown segment, a central support member, a crossing member, and a plurality of side segments. The hair accessory includes a plurality of hair strand retention members attached to and extending across the support structure and a plurality of hair strands extending from each hair strand retention member.

1 . A hair accessory, comprising:
 a support structure configured to engage and surround substantially only a rear portion of a user's head; the support structure comprising:
 a crown segment configured to extend across the head of a user, the crown segment comprising a first end and a second end, the support structure being widest between the crown segment first and second ends; 
 a first central support member contacting the crown segment between the first and second ends of the crown segment and extending from the crown segment; 
 a second central support member contacting the crown segment between the first and second ends of the crown segment and extending from the crown segment, the first and second central support members being spaced apart from one another and being substantially mirror images of one another about an imaginary centerline of the support structure; 
 a crossing member extending across the first and second central support members, the crossing member not contacting the crown segment; 
 a first side segment distinct from the crown segment, the first side segment extending directly from the crossing member to a position on the crown segment at one side of the first and second central support members; 
 a second side segment distinct from the crown segment, the second side segment extending directly from the crossing member to a position on the crown segment at another side of the first and second central support members, the first and second side segments being substantially mirror images of one another about the imaginary centerline of the support structure; 
 a first side support member extending from a point directly touching the crown segment to a point directly touching the first central support member; the first side support member being inside an area bounded by the first side segment, the first central support member, and the crown segment; and 
 a second side support member extending from a point directly touching the crown segment to a point directly touching the second central support member; the second side support member being inside an area bounded by the second side segment, the second central support member, and the crown segment; 
   a plurality of hair strand retention members attached to and extending across the support structure; and   a plurality of hair strands extending from each of the hair strand retention members.   
   
   
       2 . The hair accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure further comprises a bottom segment extending in an arcuate shape, the bottom segment not extending outside a width defined by the first and second central support members. 
   
   
       3 . The hair accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the first side support member is generally parallel with the first side segment. 
   
   
       4 . The hair accessory of  claim 3 , wherein the second side support member is generally parallel with the second side segment. 
   
   
       5 . The hair accessory of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the support structure is configured to extend from across an area proximate the crown of the user's head rearward and downward along an area of normal hair growth to an area proximate the base of the user's skull; and   the first and second side support members are substantially minor images of one another about the imaginary centerline of the support structure.   
   
   
       6 . The hair accessory of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of hair strand retention members are configured as substantially parallel rows across the support structure. 
   
   
       7 . The hair accessory of  claim 6 , wherein the support structure further comprises a bottom segment extending in an arcuate shape, the bottom segment not extending outside a width defined by the first and second central support members. 
   
   
       8 . The hair accessory of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the crown segment is nonelastic;   the crossing member is nonelastic;   the bottom segment is nonelastic;   the first central support member is elastic;   the second central support member is elastic;   the first side segment is elastic;   the second side segment is elastic;   the first side support member is elastic; and   the second side support member is elastic.   
   
   
       9 . A support structure for a hair accessory, the support structure comprising:
 a crown segment configured to extend across the head of a user, the crown segment comprising a first end and a second end, the support structure being widest between the crown segment first and second ends;   a first central support member contacting the crown segment between the first and second ends of the crown segment and extending from the crown segment;   a second central support member contacting the crown segment between the first and second ends of the crown segment and extending from the crown segment, the first and second central support members being spaced apart from one another and being substantially minor images of one another about an imaginary centerline of the support structure;   a crossing member extending across the first and second central support members, the crossing member not contacting the crown segment;   a first side segment distinct from the crown segment, the first side segment extending directly from the crossing member to a position on the crown segment at one side of the first and second central support members;   a second side segment distinct from the crown segment, the second side segment extending directly from the crossing member to a position on the crown segment at another side of the first and second central support members, the first and second side segments being substantially mirror images of one another about the imaginary centerline of the support structure;   a first side support member extending from a point directly touching the crown segment to a point directly touching the first central support member; the first side support member being inside an area bounded by the first side segment, the first central support member, and the crown segment; and   a second side support member extending from a point directly touching the crown segment to a point directly touching the second central support member; the second side support member being inside an area bounded by the second side segment, the second central support member, and the crown segment.   
   
   
       10 . The support structure of  claim 9 , further comprising a bottom segment extending in an arcuate shape, the bottom segment not extending outside a width defined by the first and second central support members. 
   
   
       11 . The support structure of  claim 9 , wherein the first side support member is generally parallel with the first side segment. 
   
   
       12 . The support structure of  claim 11 , wherein the second side support member is generally parallel with the second side segment. 
   
   
       13 . The support structure of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the support structure is configured to extend from across an area proximate the crown of the user's head rearward and downward along an area of normal hair growth to an area proximate the base of the user's skull; and   the first and second side support members are substantially mirror images of one another about the imaginary centerline of the support structure.   
   
   
       14 . The support structure of  claim 13 , wherein the support structure further comprises a bottom segment extending in an arcuate shape, the bottom segment not extending outside a width defined by the first and second central support members. 
   
   
       15 . The support structure of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the crown segment is nonelastic;   the crossing member is nonelastic;   the bottom segment is nonelastic;   the first central support member is elastic;   the second central support member is elastic;   the first side segment is elastic;   the second side segment is elastic;   the first side support member is elastic; and   the second side support member is elastic.