Hair fastener and method of manufacture thereof

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with a hair fastener. The hair fastener has an elastic band with opposite ends positioned adjacent each other thus in the form of a closed loop, a first coupler for fixedly connecting the opposite ends together, a layer of fabric enveloping the elastic band and said first coupler, and a second coupler for connecting the opposite ends. The second coupler encases region of the fabric layer enveloping the first coupler.

1 . A hair fastener comprising an elastic band defining circumferential surface along a length of said elongate band and with opposite ends defining end surfaces positioned adjacent each other thus in the form of a closed loop, a first coupler for fixedly connecting said opposite ends together, a layer of fabric enveloping said elastic band, and a second coupler for connecting said opposite ends, wherein said first coupler is an adhesive for gluing said opposite ends together at the end surfaces but without substantially increasing circumferential width or diameter of said elastic band at said opposite ends, wherein region of said first coupler is molded over by material of said second coupler, and wherein said second coupler is made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) fixedly molded over on said fabric layer. 
     
     
         2 . A hair fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said elastic band is made from a material selected from a group including natural rubber, silicone thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and polyester-polyurethane copolymer elastane. 
     
     
         3 . A hair fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive is a glue selected from a cyanoacrylate family. 
     
     
         4 . A hair fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said fabric is made of nylon, polyester, polypropylene or a combination thereof, and knitted or otherwise formed over said elastic band. 
     
     
         5 . A hair fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said elastic band at said first and second connectors has a pull strength of at least 4 Kg. 
     
     
         6 . A hair fastener as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said elastic band at said first and second connectors has a pull strength of 4-15 Kg. 
     
     
         7 . A hair fastener as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said elastic band at said first and second connectors has a pull strength of 10-15 Kg. 
     
     
         8 . A hair fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said fastener is free of clip, crimp or clamp for connecting said opposite ends together. 
     
     
         9 . A hair fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second coupler is substantially free of silicon rubber, rubber or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
     
     
         10 . A hair fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein surface of said coupler is configured with an anti-slipping characteristics for enhancing grip of surrounding hair. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacture of a hair fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a step of encasing said opposite ends of said elastic band. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacture of a hair fastener, comprising steps in the sequence of:
 providing an elongate elastic band with an extended length;   forming a jacket made of a fabric along essentially an entire length over the elastic band;   cutting the elastic band covered with the jacket into sections, each section with a desired length and opposite ends, thus producing a plurality of fabric-covered elastic band sections;   connecting the opposite ends of each elastic band section with a first coupler such that each elastic band section becomes a loop;   optionally completing formation of the fabric jacket over an entire length the loop; and   providing a second coupler fixedly molded over the connected opposite ends or the first coupler;   wherein the first coupler is an adhesive for gluing the opposite ends of each said elastic band section together at end surfaces thereof but without substantially increasing circumferential width or diameter of the elastic band section at the opposite ends; and   wherein the second coupler is made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).   
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the elastic band is made of natural rubber, silicone, TPE, or polyester-polyurethane copolymer elastane. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the jacket is made of a nylon, polyester, polypropylene or a combination thereof, knitted or otherwise formed over said elastic band. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the adhesive is selected from a cyanoacrylate family. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the second connector is substantially free of silicon rubber, rubber or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the elastic band at the first and second connectors has a pull strength of at least 4 Kg, preferably 4-15 Kg, and more preferably 0-15 Kg.