Patent Application
20230320445
The present invention relates to customizable hair extension systems, or wefts or hair, methods of making hair extension systems, and methods of attaching hair extension systems to naturally growing hair, including, attaching hair extensions to naturally growing hair on human beings.
Hair extensions generally comprise one or more multiple hairs coupled together in a unit. A variety of hair extension systems and installation methods are known in the art. The unit may be in the form of a small, individual strand of hair, or the unit may be in the form of a weft where strands of hair are arranged in a linear array such that the individual hairs are located side by side and such that the individual hairs are generally parallel to each other.
Hair extensions are often used for cosmetic purposes wherein they are attached to the head of human recipient so as to be interspersed with the naturally growing hair of the human. Hair extensions are commonly used to stylize a human recipient's natural hair by extending the length of hair, by adding a distinct color of hair, and/or by increasing the volume of hair.
Extensions are usually made of natural human hair, although they can be made of synthetic hair. Extensions are commercially available in a variety of colors and textures, for example, straight, curly, wavy. Furthermore, the hair extensions should be shape retaining, durable and weatherproof and also shampoo resistant.
It is important to secure or attach the extensions to a person's head with a minimum of discomfort to that person. Prior art methods of attaching hair extensions generally involve the use of adhesives applied to the natural hair, keratin bonding, or a technique known as weaving. When adhesives are used, the extensions are traditionally glued or taped to the person's naturally growing hair. Keratin bonding involves heating a keratin-tipped extension so that it melts and thereby bonds to the natural hair. Weaving requires first weaving a braid of the naturally growing hair. Then, an extension is stitched to the braid with needle and thread. Existing hair extension techniques are unsatisfactory in that they are generally short-lived and/or damaging to the naturally growing hair. As the naturally growing hair grows out after a few weeks, the hair extensions must generally be removed and replaced; a time consuming task. Removal may be particularly difficult and/or damaging when adhesives or bonding is used to attach the extensions to the natural hair. Furthermore, existing hair extension systems may generally cause discomfort to the person both during the attachment process and afterwards.
Additionally, existing hair extension systems are unsatisfactory because they are generally not customizable. That is, with prior art hair extensions, the hair stylist, or person installing the hair extensions, must generally install the hair extension pieces or wefts “as is.” They are not capable of having additional wefts of hair be added to the hair extension to customize the hair extension to the user's unique desires such as by adding different lengths, distinct colors, and/or different textures with one hair extension. Hair extension systems and methods are needed for easily and comfortably attaching hair extensions to a person's natural hair and allowing for easy removal and/or repositioning of the extensions relative to the person's natural hair. Additionally, a need exists for buildable and/or customizable hair extension systems where a hair extension may be supplemented with additional pieces or wefts of hair to create a customized length, color, texture and/or volume hair extension.
The present invention addresses the above noted and other shortcomings by the various inventive aspects described herein. Customizable hair extension systems, or wefts or hair, are provided, as well as methods of making hair extension systems, and methods of attaching hair extension systems to naturally growing hair, including, attaching customizable hair extensions to naturally growing hair on human beings.
In certain embodiments, there is disclosed a hair extension system comprising a first band of hardened glue coupled to a first end of a first array of hair, a second band of hardened glue coupled to a first end of a second array of hair; wherein a first edge of the first band is coupled to a first edge of the second band. In certain embodiments, there may be a plurality of holes defined within the first band sized to allow passage of a person's hair, a first fixation device coupled to a second end of the first array of hair, and a second fixation device coupled to a second array of hair.
In other embodiments, there is disclosed a method of making a hair extension, compromising: placing a first end of a first array of hair into a first wet glue band, placing a first end of second array of hair into a second wet glue band, drying the second glue band, coupling a second end of the first array of hair to a first fixation device, coupling a second end of the second array of hair to a second fixation device, punching a plurality of holes into the first glue band, and coupling a first edge of the first glue band to a first edge of the second glue band.
In further embodiments there are disclosed hair extension systems including a base hair extension comprising two arrays of hair to which one or more additional arrays of hair may be added. The hair extension systems may include a first band coupled to a first end of a first array of hair, a second band coupled to a first end of a second array of hair, and a third band coupled to a first end of a third array of hair. Each of the bands has first and second surfaces and first and second edges. The first and second bands may be coupled at a first edge thereof. A plurality of holes may be defined through the first band sized to allow passage of a recipient's hair. The third band may be configured to be permanently or removably attached to any of the first and second surfaces of the first and second bands to provide a buildable and customizable hair extension.
In other embodiments, the invention includes methods for making the hair extension systems of the present invention and securing and/or attaching the hair extension systems to a recipient's hair. Aspects of the present invention involve the buildable and/or customizable nature of the present hair extension systems. Other aspects of the present invention involve methods providing for the recipient's relative comfort during and after installation or attachment of the hair extension systems. Further aspects of the present invention involve the free-floating nature of the present hair extension systems.
In one form, a method of securing or attaching the present hair extension systems includes: (a) parting a recipient's hair horizontally at a preferred location for installation of the hair extension system; (b) securing the hair above the part up and away from the part with clips or the like; (c) selecting a base hair extension comprising a first array of hair attached to a first band and a second array of hair attached to a second band, wherein the first band comprises one or more pairs of holes configured to receive a strand of the recipient's hair therethrough, and the first and second bands are coupled at an outer edge thereof; (d) positioning the base hair extension at or near the part; (e) passing a small strand of the recipient's hair through each of the holes in the first band; (f) securing the stands of hair passed through the one or more pairs of holes together to create one or more cradles; and (g), before at least one of steps (d), (e), and (f) described above, attaching one or more additional arrays of hair to the base hair extension by aligning and affixing a band of the additional array to the first band or the second band.
In still further embodiments, methods are provided for making air extension systems. The method may include placing a first end of a first array of hair into a first wet polymer band, drying the first polymer band, placing a first end of a second array of hair into a second wet polymer band, drying the second polymer band, punching a plurality of holes into the first polymer band, permanently coupling a first edge of the first polymer band to a first edge of the second polymer band, placing a first end of a third array of hair into a third wet polymer band, drying the third polymer band, and coupling a surface of the third polymer band to a surface of the first polymer band or the second polymer band.
These and other features, and advantages, will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is important to note the drawings are not intended to represent the only aspect of the invention.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present inventions, reference will now be made to the embodiments, or examples, illustrated in the drawings and described herein. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended by any specific language used herein. The scope of the current invention includes alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the inventions as described herein as would occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
When directions, such as upper, lower, top, bottom, clockwise, counter-clockwise, are discussed in this disclosure, such directions are meant to only supply reference directions for the illustrated figures and for orientation of components in the figures. The directions should not be read to imply actual directions used in any resulting invention of actual use. Under no circumstances, should such directions be read to limit for impact any meaning into the claims.
Turning now to
In the illustrated embodiment, there is a first band 102 of glue, e.g. polyurethane glue, which may be used as a foundation or point of application. In certain embodiments, the first band 102 may be a hand-formed band or strip of wet polyurethane glue. A first end 104 of an array 106 of parallel hair may then be placed in the first glue band 102 while the glue is still wet or malleable. The first band 102 and hair array 106 may then be dried, for instance, in a kiln, so that the glue forms a hard durable, yet pliable water proof band. In some embodiments, the first band 102 is approximately 2-4 inches long and approximately ½-1 inch tall, but it may comprise other suitable dimensions. A line of small holes 108 (for example, two single holes at the outer edges of the bands and one or more pairs of holes in the interior of the band) may then be punched along a top edge of the band 102 at a predetermined distance. The holes 108 are preferably strategically placed to receive a small amount of the recipient's hair for creating the connection points to cradle the hair extension 100 and for attaching hair extension system 100 to a recipient safely and comfortably. Specifically, the holes 108 are preferably spaced as to not allow the recipient's hair to slide between the glue band 102 and a glue band 202 to prevent tangles and matting. This particular placement of the holes 108 may also allow for a more stable connection, and may also reduce hair shedding and increase the health of the recipient's natural hair. In certain embodiments, the holes 108 may be punched after additional glue is applied to seal the unit.
A second band 202 of glue may be coupled to a second array of hair 206. The second band 202 may then be coupled to the first band 102. The second band 202 may be similar to the first band 102, except for a thin layer of wefted hair stitched across the top or outer side of the second band 202 to hide the first band 102, thus creating a more natural look. As will be illustrated later, the second band 202 may be without punched holes 108. The first band 102 and second band 202 may be joined at the outer edges thereof with another application of wet glue, for example polyurethane glue, and then dried using, for instance, a kiln. The joint 110 formed between the first strip 102 and second strip 202 is preferably flexible and allows the second strip 202 to be folded over the first strip 102 to hide the strips and the connections with the recipient's hair as illustrated in
In certain embodiments, the hair extension 100 may be previously prepared and provided in packaging (not shown). The hair extension 100 may be removed from the packaging and inspected. The hair extension 100 may then be applied to a recipient's hair by horizontally parting the recipient's natural hair. The natural hair may be retained with hair clips 302 or the like to keep the natural hair out of the way.
The first band 102 may then be placed directly in the part as illustrated in
Once the hair extension 100 is temporarily secured in place with the hair clips 304, strands of the recipient's natural hair may be pulled through the holes 108 with small hook (not shown) as illustrated in
After the first band 102 is secured to the recipient's natural hair as explained above, the clips 302 and 304 may be removed, and the hair array 206 attached to glue band 202 may both be folded down over both the hair array 106 and the glue band 102 thereby creating a closed weft. The fixation devices 112 may be removed, and the hair arrays may be brushed to blend with recipient's natural hair illustrated in
Turning to
As shown in
As shown, the first array of hair 406 may be attached at a base end thereof 412 to a first band 402. Likewise, the second array of hair 506 may be attached at a base end thereof 512 to a second band 502.
In one form, the first band 402 and second band 502 are generally rectangle shaped, each having a width and a height. The bands 402, 502 may be thin, preferably about 1-2 mm thick, so as to lay substantially flat against the recipient's head when attached thereto. However, other dimensions may be used. Each of the bands 402, 502 has two surfaces, an inner, recipient-facing surface and an outer surface.
Preferably, the first and second bands 402, 502 are substantially the same size and shape. In one form, the height of the bands 402, 502 is less than about 1 inch, preferably, less than about ¾ inch, more preferably, about ½ inch, though other dimensions may be use. The bands may come in a variety of widths depending on the needs of the recipient. For example, the bands 402, 502 may be about 2 inches wide, about 4 inches wide, or larger in width.
The bands 402, 502 may be formed of any suitable material. In one form, the bands may be formed of a polymer, including for example, but not limited to polyurethane or liquid polyurethane. The bands are preferably light weight, thin, soft, and pliable so as to be safe and comfortable for the recipient and be virtually undetectable by the recipient and or observers when installed in the recipient's natural hair. The bands 402, 502 may be any suitable color. In one form, the bands may be tinted or died a color that closely matches the color of the recipient's natural hair at or near the roots.
In one form, the arrays 406, 506 may be arranged with the bands 402, 502 substantially overlapping one another, with the recipient-facing surface of the second band 502 adjacent to the outer surface of the first band 402. The bands 402, 502 are preferably attached to one another at one or both corresponding outer edges thereof 420A, 420B. The bands 402, 502 may be attached to each other with the same material that the bands are made of. Optionally, the bands 402, 502 may be attached to one another such that a flexible joint 410 is formed between the bands 402, 502 along the width thereof. Flexible joint 410 may be in the form of an opening between bands 402, 502, or may include a suitably thin and flexible material therein.
The flexible joint 410 is preferably configured to allow the arrays of hair 406, 506 to be positioned in an opened configuration as illustrated, for example, in
Also as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the illustrated form, holes 408 are positioned along the band 402 in one or more pairs. Holes 409 are single holes positioned at or near the outer edges of band 402. Pairs of holes 408 may be spaced apart on band 402 at generally regular intervals. The number of pairs of holes 408 may depend on the width of the band 402. Thus, for example, a band 402 that is about 2 inches in width may have one or more pairs of holes 408 as well as a single hole 409 near each outer edge. A band 402 that is 4 inches in width may have 2 or more pairs of holes 408 along with a single hole 409 near each outer edge. Bands that have larger widths may have additional pairs of holes 408 spaced at generally regular intervals along the width of the band 402.
The hair extension system 400 may be secured to the recipient's own hair as shown in
As illustrated in
The adjacent strands of hair may be joined or secured together at the cradle points 432, 433 using any suitable means known in the art. For example, in one form, the adjacent strands of hair may be passed together (for example, with a loop or needle threader tool as known in the art) through a small silicone lined ring known in the art as a micro ring or micro bead. The small ring may be formed of a deformable material such as, but not limited to, aluminum. Thus, once the hair is passed through the ring and the ring is positioned at a desired location at or near the band 402, the ring may be squeezed or crimped tightly (for example, using a crimping tool or plyers as generally known in the art) in a first direction to securely grip the hair therein. Advantageously, the ring may be quickly and easily opened to release the hair by squeezing or crimping the ring in a second direction (generally perpendicular to the first direction). Additionally, the micro-rings may have any suitable color. In one preferred form, the micro-rings have a color that closely matches the color of the recipient's hair near the base or roots of the hair.
Once the band 402 is securely fastened to the recipient's hair as described above, the second array of hair 506 may be rotated generally downwardly to overlap the first array of hair 406. Finally, the recipient's hair above the part may be released from the clips to overlay, blend with, and conceal the hair extension system 400.
As described herein, the hair extension system 400 provides numerous advantages over conventional hair extension systems. When compared to conventional hair extension systems which generally required a fixed point of attachment with adhesive, bonding, weaving, or the like, the free-floating nature of the present hair extension system and the use of the cradle points 430, 433 provides the recipient a relatively comfortable and non-damaging experience both during and after installing or attaching the hair extension systems.
With reference to
Band 602 may be affixed to band 402 and/or band 502 with any suitable fixation means, including for example, adhesive tape, strips, liquid, and the like. Advantageously, band 602 may be affixed directly to band 402 or band 502 rather than to the recipient's natural hair. Unlike conventional hair extension systems, there is no need to sandwich or affix any of the recipient's hair between the arrays of hair. Thus, both base extension 401 and any additional arrays 606 may advantageously be installed without the use of adhesives or bonding directly on the recipient's hair. Additional array 606 may be permanently affixed to base extension 401 or it may be removable or interchangeable with other additional arrays 606.
Preferably, band 602 may be configured so as to be capable of being affixed to either the recipient-facing surface or the outer surface of either band 402 or band 502. For example, in one form, if it is desired that band 602 is to be secured to band 402, then band 602 preferably may include corresponding holes (not shown) that align with holes 408, 409 when the bands 402, 602 are aligned and overlapping. If band 602 is to be secured to band 502, then band 602 need not include holes. If band 602 is to be secured to the outer surface of band 502, band 602 may advantageously have a thin layer of hair on the outer surface thereof, which can advantageously match the hair of the array 606 in color and/or texture. Thus, the layer of hair on the outer surface of band 602 will advantageously conceal or camouflage the outer surface of band 602. Likewise, when the second array of hair 506, with the attached additional array 606 is folded down over the first array of hair 406, the first band 402 and second band 502 are advantageously hidden or camouflaged from view.
One or more additional arrays 606 may be added to base extension 401 to add desired color, texture, length, and/or volume to base extension 401. In a preferred form, up to one additional array 606 may be attached to each surface of bands 402, 502 to provide a desired buildable and customizable effect. For example, an additional array 606 having a different length or color than array 406 or array 506, may be added to a surface of band 502 or band 402 to thereby produce a layered and/or highlight or lowlight effect.
As illustrated in the flow chart in
In one preferred form, if the additional array 606 is to be attached to array 406, it may preferably be done prior to installing the base extension 401. In this manner, when installing the hair extension system 400 with one or more additional arrays 606, the recipient's hair may be simultaneously passed through holes 408, 409 in the first band 401 and the corresponding holes in band 602 for ease of installation.
In yet another form, the bands 402, 502 and 602 may include magnets embedded therein and/or may incorporate a magnetic material such that the bands are configured to be magnetically secured to each other and thereby to resist the bands sliding out of the recipient's hair.
In yet another form, a fixation or containment device (not shown), such as a clip, may be applied to the free end of the hair array 406, 506, and/or 606 to keep the hair array in place and prevent it from tangling with adjacent hair arrays.
Any advantages and benefits described may not apply to all embodiments of the invention. With the word “means” is recited in a claim element. Applicant intends for the claim element to fall under 35 USC 112(f). Often a label of one or more words precedes the word “means.” The word or words preceding the word “means” is a label intended to ease referencing of claims elements and is not intended to convey a structural limitation. Such means-plus-function claims are intended to cover not only the structures described herein for performing the function and their structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. For example, although a nail and a screw have different structures, they are equivalent structures since they both perform the function of fastening. Claims that do not use the word “means” are not intended to fall under 35 USC 112(f).
The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many combinations, modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. For instance, in certain embodiments, each of the above described components and features may be individually or sequentially combined with other components or features and still be within the scope of the present invention. Undescribed embodiments which have interchanged components are still within the scope of the present invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by claims.
The present application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 63/329,275, filed on Apr. 8, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63329275 | Apr 2022 | US |
