Hair Extension

A hair extension includes a weft band having an upper edge and a lower edge, a plurality of hair strands that are attached to the weft band and are suspended below the lower edge of the weft band, and a plurality of elongated rods. Each rod includes a base that is attached to the weft band, and an extended portion that extends from the base and is adapted to be inserted into a tube for holding hair strands. The weft band has a predetermined width. The extended portion of the rod protrudes from the upper edge of the weft band, and is bent toward the lower edge of the weft band. The extended portion includes a free end that is spaced from the weft band by a predetermined distance.

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Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application based on patent application No. 12/758,580 that was filed on Apr. 12, 2010 by the inventor. The contents of the patent application is incorporated by reference as if they were fully disclosed herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The invention is related to hair extension. More particularly, the present invention is related to a reusable hair extension and method therefor that are time-saving and minimize inconvenience such that the user feels that her hair is pulled unnaturally and awkwardly.

Hair extensions are used to provide decorative effects, such as long hair, curly hair, hair of various colors, etc. Hair extensions are commonly attached to natural hair of a user by attaching a weft band hair on multiple locations along the weft band hair. weft band hairs are expensive products. Since they are also durable, there has long been a need for effective system and method for reusing weft band hairs or hair extensions.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U.S. patent application Publication No. 2008/0295856 by Kallabat et al. discloses a method in which tubes are fixed to a weft band hair; client's hair is passed through the fixed tube; and then tube is squeezed with a piler. A disadvantage of this method is that when a tube is squeezed and then unsqueezed more than one time, the tube is broken and no longer reusable. To use the weft band hair again, tubes must be individually sewn to the weft band hair again.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,676 to Sthair discloses a hair extension that uses an adhesive tape to fix the extension to user's hair. Disadvantages of this invention are that when the extension is detached, glue may remain on the user's hair causing inconvenience and that thus washing is required to remove the glue residue after detaching the hair extension.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,921 to Salinas discloses a method for hair extension, in which client's hair is passed through holes provided in a weft band and then tied with a clip. A disadvantage of this method is that it is time consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is to provide a reusable hair extension that is easy and time saving to detach from client's hair and to reattach to client's hair.

In order to achieve the objective, the present invention provides a hair extension that includes 1.

A hair extension comprising a weft band comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the weft band has a predetermined width, wherein the weft band has a length that is substantially bigger than the width of the weft band; a plurality of hair strands that are attached to the weft band and are suspended below the lower edge of the weft band; and a plurality of elongated rods, each of which comprises a base that is attached to the weft band, and an extended portion that extends from the base and is adapted to be inserted into a tube for holding hair strands. The length of the extended portion is predetermined, and the spacing between adjacent elongated rods is predetermined.

The extended portion of the rod protrudes from the upper edge of the weft band, and is bent toward the lower edge of the weft band, wherein the extended portion comprises a free end that is spaced from the weft band by a predetermined distance.

The base is embedded within the weft band.

The extended portion of the rod comprises a bent portion, wherein the bent portion is provided near the free end of the extended portion, and the bent portion is closer to the weft band than the free end, wherein the bent portion contacts the weft band.

Alternatively, the extended portion of the rod is elastic, wherein the free end of the extended portion has an arrowhead shape, wherein the width at the widest portion of the free end is bigger than the inner diameter of the tube into which the extended portion is adapted to be inserted.

Alternatively, the extended portion of the rod has flat and thin cross-section.

Preferably, the predetermined length of the extended portion is in a range from 0.2 cm to 1.5 cm.

Preferably, the predetermined width of the weft band is in a range from 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.

Preferably, the predetermined spacing between two adjacent elongated rods is in a range from 0.5 cm to 4.0 cm.

In another aspect of the invention, an hair extension comprises a weft band comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the weft band has a predetermined width, wherein the weft band has a length that is substantially bigger than the width of the weft band; a plurality of hair strands that are attached to the weft band and are suspended below the lower edge of the weft band; a plurality of elongated rods, each of which comprises a base that is attached to the weft band, and an extended portion that extends from the base; a plurality of first tubes, each of which is adapted to hold a customer's hair strands; and a plurality of second tubes into each of which the extended portion of the elongated rod is inserted.

The first tube and the second tube are concentric and connected by a narrow bridge.

Alternatively, the center of the first tube is offset from the center of the second tube, and the first tube is connected to the second tube.

The advantageous effects of the present invention are: (1) fast service is possible because hook-shaped devices are pre-installed on the weft band and the device is fixed together with a tube and client's hair that has been passed through the tube; (2) side effects after hair extension service including uneven pulling of the hair are minimized; (3) the weft band can be reused without any additional treatment after detaching the weft band from the tubes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the best embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hair extension according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a hook fixed to a weft band;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing how the hook is fixed to the weft band;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a method of fixing the weft band to a client's hair according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view showing that the weft band is fixed to the client's hair;

FIG. 6 is a table showing different types of hooks for the hair extension according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment in which two tubes are used together;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view showing that the weft band is fixed to the client's hair;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a first scheme to use two tubes together; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a second scheme to use two tubes together.

 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a hair extension 10 that includes a weft band 12 having an upper edge 14 and a lower edge 16, a plurality of hair strands 18 that are attached to the weft band 12 and are suspended below the lower edge 16 of the weft band, and a plurality of elongated rods 20, each of which includes a base 22 that is attached to the weft band (refer to FIG. 3), and an extended portion 24 that extends from the base 22 and is adapted to be inserted into a tube 26 (refer to FIG. 4) for holding hair strands. The weft band 12 has a predetermined width w. The weft band 12 has a length L that is substantially bigger the the width w. The length 1 of the extended portion 24 is predetermined. The spacing s between adjacent elongated rods 20 is predetermined.

As shown in FIG. 3, the extended portion 24 of the rod 20 protrudes from the upper edge 14 of the weft band 12, and is bent toward the lower edge 16 of the weft band. The extended portion 24 comprises a free end 28. The base 22 can be fixed to the weft band 12 by any method that provides stable fixing with minimum space. In the embodiment shown on FIG. 3, the base 22 is embedded within the weft band 12.

The dimensions of the elements are decided to facilitate attaching hair extension and to provide firm attachment. The predetermined length of the extended portion 24 is 0.2-1.5 cm. The predetermined width of the weft band 12 is 0.5-1.5 cm. The predetermined spacing between two adjacent rods 20 is 0.5-4 cm.

FIG. 6 shows four different types of the extended portion 24. In the table of FIG. 6, the first row is a view at the cross-section of the weft band 12. The second row is a view of the extended portion 24 from a direction perpendicular to the weft band 12. The third row shows how the extend portion 24 is inserted into the tube 26. Type A has straight extended portion.

Type B includes a bent portion 30. The bent portion 30 is provided near the free end 28 of the extended portion 24, and the bent portion 30 is closer to the weft band 12 than the free end 28. The bent portion 30 contacts the weft band 12. The bent portion 30 prevents the tube 26 from falling off the rod.

For type C, the extended portion of the rod is elastic and the free end of the extended portion has an arrowhead shape 32. The width at the widest portion of the free end 32 is bigger than the inner diameter of the tube 26 into which the extended portion is adapted to be inserted The free end is deformed when it passes through the tube 26 and restores to its original shape when is protrudes out of the tube 26. The fourth row of the table shows how the arrowhead shape prevents the tube from falling off the rod.

For type D, the extended portion of the rod has flat and thin cross-section. Type A, B, C rods are made of metal wire, and Type D rod is made of plastic.

The present invention also provides a method of attaching the hair extension 10 to a client's hair 34, the steps of which includes a) inserting strands of client's hair 34 into the tube 26 (refer to. FIG. 4), b) assembling the tube 26 with the hair extension 10 by inserting the extended portion 24 of the hair extension 10 into the tube 26 (refer to FIG. 4), c) fixing the weft band 12 to the client's hair 34 (refer to FIG. 5), and d) repeating steps a), b) and c) for the remaining rods 20 of the hair extension 10.

In step c) the weft band 12 is fixed to the client's hair 34 by squeezing the tube 26 whereby the extended portion 24 of the weft band 12 and client's hair 34 are fastened together with the squeezed tube 26 with a tool such as a plier. To detach the hair extension 10, the tubes 26 are opened with a tool and the client's hair 34 is freed by taking it out of the tubes 26. When reusing the hair extension, new tubes are used and the above method can be repeated.

FIGS. 7-10 show another embodiment for the method. In step b) the client's hair 34 pass through a first tube 36 and a second tube 38 that are connected to each other and the first tube 36, which is positioned closer to the free end of the client's hair 34, is squeezed whereby the client's hair 34 is fixed to the first tube 36, and the extended portion 24 is inserted into the second tube 38, and in step c) the weft band 12 is fixed to the client's hair 34 by squeezing the second tube 38 whereby the extended portion 24 of the weft band 12 and client's hair 34 are fastened together with the squeezed second tube 38. The first tube 36 has a role of a jig that holds the client's hair so that the second tube 38 can be handled much more easily without worrying about the tube falling from the client's hair. FIGS. 9 and 10 show examples of how the first tube 36 and the second tube 38 are connected to each other.

In FIG. 7-10, an hair extension further comprises a plurality of first tubes 36, each of which is adapted to hold a customer's hair strands; and a plurality of second tubes 38 into each of which the extended portion of the elongated rod is inserted. In FIG. 9, the first tube 36 and the second tube 38 are concentric and connected by a narrow bridge 48. In FIG. 10, the center of the first tube 36 is offset from the center of the second tube 38, and the first tube 36 is connected to the second tube 38.

Claims

1. A hair extension comprising:

a) a weft band comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the weft band has a predetermined width, wherein the weft band has a length that is substantially bigger than the width of the weft band;
b) a plurality of hair strands that are attached to the weft band and are suspended below the lower edge of the weft band; and
c) a plurality of elongated rods, each of which comprises a base that is attached to the weft band, and an extended portion that extends from the base and is adapted to be inserted into a tube for holding hair strands;
wherein the length of the extended portion is predetermined, wherein the spacing between adjacent elongated rods is predetermined.

2. The hair extension of claim 1, wherein the extended portion of the rod protrudes from the upper edge of the weft band, and is bent toward the lower edge of the weft band, wherein the extended portion comprises a free end that is spaced from the weft band by a predetermined distance.

3. The hair extension of claim 2, wherein the base is embedded within the weft band.

4. The hair extension of claim 3, wherein the extended portion of the rod comprises a bent portion, wherein the bent portion is provided near the free end of the extended portion, and the bent portion is closer to the weft band than the free end, wherein the bent portion contacts the weft band.

5. The hair extension of claim 3, wherein the extended portion of the rod is elastic, wherein the free end of the extended portion has an arrowhead shape, wherein the width at the widest portion of the free end is bigger than the inner diameter of the tube into which the extended portion is adapted to be inserted.

6. The hair extension of claim 3, wherein the extended portion of the rod has flat and thin cross-section.

7. The hair extension of claim 3, wherein the predetermined length of the extended portion is in a range from 0.2 cm to 1.5 cm.

8. The hair extension of claim 3, wherein the predetermined width of the weft band is in a range from 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.

9. The hair extension of claim 3, wherein the predetermined spacing between two adjacent elongated rods is in a range from 0.5 cm to 4.0 cm.

10. A hair extension comprising:

a) a weft band comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the weft band has a predetermined width, wherein the weft band has a length that is substantially bigger than the width of the weft band;
b) a plurality of hair strands that are attached to the weft band and are suspended below the lower edge of the weft band;
c) a plurality of elongated rods, each of which comprises a base that is attached to the weft band, and an extended portion that extends from the base;
d) a plurality of first tubes, each of which is adapted to hold a customer's hair strands; and
e) a plurality of second tubes into each of which the extended portion of the elongated rod is inserted;
wherein the length of the extended portion is predetermined, wherein the spacing between adjacent elongated rods is predetermined.

11. The hair extension of claim 10, wherein the extended portion of the rod protrudes from the upper edge of the weft band, and is bent toward the lower edge of the weft band, wherein the extended portion comprises a free end that is spaced from the weft band by a predetermined distance.

12. The hair extension of claim 11, wherein the base is embedded within the weft band.

13. The hair extension of claim 12, wherein the extended portion of the rod comprises a bent portion, wherein the bent portion is provided near the free end of the extended portion, and the bent portion is closer to the weft band than the free end, wherein the bent portion contacts the weft band.

14. The hair extension of claim 12, wherein the extended portion of the rod is elastic, wherein the free end of the extended portion has an arrowhead shape, wherein the width at the widest portion of the free end is bigger than the inner diameter of the tube into which the extended portion is adapted to be inserted.

15. The hair extension of claim 12, wherein the extended portion of the rod has flat and thin cross-section.

16. The hair extension of claim 12, wherein the the first tube and the second tube are concentric and connected by a narrow bridge.

17. The hair extension of claim 12, wherein the center of the first tube is offset from the center of the second tube, and the first tube is connected to the second tube.

Patent History
Publication number: 20130061862
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 5, 2012
Publication Date: Mar 14, 2013
Inventor: Ryan Tokko (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Number: 13/412,603
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Hair Structures (132/53)
International Classification: A41G 5/00 (20060101);