HAIRPIECE FOR CREATING A HAIR PART
A hairpiece for creating a hair part includes a base having an outer perimeter, which includes a front edge, a back edge opposite the front edge, a first side and a second side. The base also includes a slit extending from the front edge toward the back edge and terminating at an apex spaced inwardly from the back edge such that the apex is positioned between the front and back edges. The first side is located on one side of the slit, while the second side is located on an opposite side of the slit. The hairpiece also includes a plurality of hair wefts attached to the base, each of which has a plurality of hair strands extending therefrom. The hair wefts includes at least one hair weft attached to the base along a path extending around the slit from a first location positioned on the first side of the base adjacent the front edge and terminating at a second location positioned on the second side of the base adjacent the front edge
This is a non-provisional application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/550,076 filed Oct. 21, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThe invention relates to hairpieces and, more particularly, to hairpieces that are used to create the appearance of parted hair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany people, particularly women, who are unhappy with their hairstyle utilize hair extensions, wigs and weaves to provide themselves with new and exciting hairstyles. However, the process of weaving hair extensions or a hair weave into a persons hair is arduous, time consuming, expensive, and often requires the service of a hair-weaving professional. Furthermore, if a portion of the person's hair weave ever becomes damaged, replacing that portion of the weave typically requires a complete reworking or replacement of the person's entire hair weave.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA hairpiece for creating a hair part comprises a flexible base that is sized and shaped to coincide with the top-central region of a person's head of hair. The base has, relative to its practical placement on a person's head, a front edge and a back edge. The base also has a V-shaped slit that extends from the front end to an apex proximate to the back end, thereby creating slit edges that can be used to create a hair part on the user's head. The base also has a bottomsurface, on which a textile pad is attached, and a top surface through which hair flows outwardly to facilitate the look of a hair part when the hairpiece is in use.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a hairpiece for creating a hair part includes a base having an outer perimeter, which includes a front edge, a back opposite the front edge, a first side and a second side. The base also includes a slit extending from the front edge toward the back edge and terminating at an apex spaced inwardly from the back edge such that the apex is positioned between the front and back edges. The first side is located on one side of the slit, while the second side is located on an opposite side of the slit. The hairpiece also includes a plurality of hair wefts attached to the base, each of which, has a plurality of hair strands extending therefrom. The hair wefts includes at least one hair weft attached to the base along a path extending around the slit from a first location positioned on the first side of the base adjacent the front edge and terminating at a second location positioned on the second side of the base adjacent the front edge.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of the invention considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The base 12 also has a bottom surface 30 (see
Now referring jointly to
Continuing to refer jointly to
Hair wefts 38b-e are attached to the top surface 32 of the base 12 along side paths 40b-e, respectively, which may extend along lines that are substantially parallel to the nearest respective one of slit edges 26, 28, Further, each of the paths 40b-e extends from one of points 24a-d to a corresponding one of points 50a-d. Points 24a-d are located on, or proximate to, an imaginary line C-C that is substantially perpendicular to the imaginary line B-B and proximate to the slit apex 24. Two side paths (e.g., side paths 40b, 40c) are set off from the slit edges 26, 28 by distances D2 and D3 respectively. The other two side paths (e.g., side paths 40d, 40e) are set off from the slit edges 26, 28 by distances D4 and D5, respectively, In the present exemplaryy embodiment, distance 04 may be about 1.5 cm, and distance D5 may be about 1.5 cm. In the present exemplary embodiment, side paths 40b-40e are substantially parallel to the respective ones of slit edges 26, 28, so that distances D2, D3, D4 and D5 are substantially constant along the lengths of side paths 40b-40e. In other embodiments, side paths 40b, 40c may approach the apex 24 of slit 22, so that distances D2, D3, D4 and D5 would be smaller near apex 24 than near the front edge 14 of the base 12.
Additional hair efts (not shown) are attached to the top surface 32 of the base 12 along back arcuate paths 42, 44, 46, 48. The back arcuate paths 42, 44, 46, 48 are substantially parallel to the first arcuate path 40a, and are arranged in a spaced and nested pattern (i.e., path 48 is nested in path 46, which is nested in path 44, which is nested in path 42). Each of the back arcuate paths 42, 44, 46, 48 begins at a respective start point 42a, 44a, 46a, 48a on or proximate to imaginary line C-C on one side of apex 24, and terminates at a respective end point 42b, 44b, 46b, 48b on or proximate to imaginary line C-C on the other side of apex 24.
The hair wefts 38a-38e are attached to the top surface 32 of base 12 using conventional techniques known in the art, such as sewing or weaving. The hair wefts attached to the back arcuate paths 42, 44, 46 and 48 may be attached to the top surface of base 12 by the same methods.
Each of the hair wefts used in the hairpiece 10 is either a single weft or a double weft (i.e., two single wefts layered one upon the other). In the embodiment shown in
The hair strands 36 include hair strands 52 which are attached to the base 12 throughout a hair part zone 54, which is located proximate to the slit edges 26, 28 of the base 12, and the paths 40b, 40c. The hair part zone 54 (i.e., the stippled area shown on
Referring now to
Referring now to
Once the hairpiece 10 is arranged as discussed above with respect to
Once the hairpiece 10 is secured against the user's hair 58, the hair strands 52 proximate to the hair part line 74 flow outwardly from the hairpiece 10 and away from the hair part line 74, thereby creating a hair part for the user while the hair strands 36 of the wefts 38a-38e (see
Referring now to
Referring now to
Once the hairpiece 10 is arranged as discussed above with respect to
Once the hairpiece 10 is secured against the user's hair 80, the hair strands 52 proximate to the hair part line 86 flow outwardly from the hairpiece 10 and away from the hair part line 86, thereby creating a hair part for the user while the hair strands 36 of the wefts 38a-38e (see
In a third exemplary method of using the hairpiece 10, the first or second exemplary method described above in relation to
The present invention provides a number of benefits and advantages. For instance, the V-shaped slit 22 of the hairpiece 10, along with the arrangement of the hair strands 52 proximate to the slit edges 26, 28 and the apex 24, provides the user with the opportunity to incorporate a stylish hair part into the user's hair style. In addition, the long and arduous process of weaving multiple wefts of hair into the user's hair 58, 80 to create a hair part is replaced by the relatively easy attachment of the hairpiece 10 onto the user's hair 58, 80, which saves the hair-weaving professional time and expense. The flexible mesh of the base 12 is comfortable to the user and allows the area beneath to the base 12 to “breathe” (i.e., allow heat accumulating beneath the base 12 to dissipate without having sweat collect between the user's hair 58 and the hairpiece 10). In addition, if the hair strands 36, 52 of the hairpiece 10 become damaged, the hairpiece 10 can be removed and replaced with a new one without requiring a complete reworking of the user's hairstyle.
It should be noted that the present invention can have numerous modifications and variations. For instance, the hairpiece 10 may be larger or smaller to encompass a larger or smaller portion of the user's hair 58 when the hairpiece 10 is put into use. The slit 22 may offset at an angle from the imaginary line B-B, rather than aligned with it. In addition, while
It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention, as embodied in the claim presented hereinbelow;
Claims
1. A hairpiece for creating a hair part, comprising:
- a base having an outer perimeter, which includes a front edge, a back edge opposite said front edge, a first side and a second side, said base having a slit extending from said front edge toward said back edge and terminating at an apex spaced inwardly from said back edge such that said apex is positioned between said front and back edges, said first side being located on one side of said slit, and said second side being located on an opposite side of said slit; and
- a plurality of hair wefts attached to said base, each of said hair wefts having a plurality of hair strands extending therefrom, said plurality of hair wefts including at least one first hair weft attached to said base along a path extending around said slit from a first location positioned on said first side of said base adjacent said front edge and terminating at a second location positioned on said second side of said base adjacent said front edge
2. The hairpiece of claim 1, wherein said at least one first hair weft passes through a third location positioned between said back edge and said apex.
3. The hairpiece of claim 2, wherein said base includes a first side edge on said first side and a second side edge on said second side, at least a portion of said at least one first hair weft extending substantially parallel to said back edge and said first and second side edges.
4. The hairpiece of claim 3, wherein said path is set off from said front edge, said back edge and said first and second side edges by at least a first distance.
5. The hairpiece of claim 3, wherein said plurality of hair wefts includes at least two second hair wefts attached to said base along second paths extending from fourth locations positioned on said first side of said base and terminating at fifth locations positioned on said second side of said base.
6. The hairpiece of claim 5, wherein each of said at least two second hair wefts passes through a six location positioned between said back edge and said apex.
7. The hairpiece of claim 6, wherein each of said at least two second hair wefts is substantially parallel to at least a portion of said first side edge, at least a portion of said second side edge and said back edge.
8. The hairpiece of claim 7, wherein each of said at least two second hair wefts is substantially parallel to at least a portion of said at least one first hair weft.
9. The hairpiece of claim 8, wherein said plurality of hair wefts includes at least two third hair wefts, at least one of which is attached to said first side of said base and at least another of which is attached to said second side of said base.
10. The hairpiece of claim 9, wherein each of said at least two third hair wefts is attached to said base along a substantially linear path.
11. The hairpiece of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second hair strands hand-tied to said base.
12. The hairpiece of claim 11, wherein said base includes a first slit edge adjacent said first side and a second slit edge adjacent said second side, said first and second slit edges defining said slit, said plurality of second hair strands being arranged along said first and second slit edges.
13. The hairpiece of claim 12, wherein said at least one first hair weft is positioned around said plurality of second hair strands.
14. The hairpiece of claim 1, wherein said plurality of hair wefts includes at least two second hair wefts attached to said base along second paths extending from fourth locations positioned on said first side of said base and terminating at fifth locations positioned on said second side of said base.
15. The hairpiece of claim 14, wherein each of said at least two second hair wefts passes through a six location positioned between said back edge and said apex.
16. A hairpiece for creating a hair part, comprising:
- a base having an outer perimeter, which includes a front edge, a back edge opposite said front edge, a first side and a second side, said base having a slit extending from said front edge toward said back edge and terminating at an apex spaced inwardly from said back edge such that said apex is positioned between said front and back edges, said first side being located on one side of said slit, and said second side being located on an opposite side of said slit;
- at least ore first hair weft attached to said base and including a plurality of first hair strands extending therefrom, said at least one first hair weft being attached to said base along a first path extending around said slit from a first location positioned on said first side of said base adjacent said front edge and terminating at a second location positioned on said second side of said base adjacent said front edge; and
- at least one second hair weft attached to said base and including a plurality of second hair strands extending therefrom, said at least one second hair weft being attached to said base along a second path extending from a third location positioned on said first side of said base and terminating at a second location positioned on said second side of said base.
17. The hairpiece of claim 16, wherein said second path is substantially parallel to at least a portion of said first path.
18. The hair piece of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of said first path is arcuate; and wherein at least a portion of said second path is arcuate.
19. The hairpiece of claim 16, wherein said at least one first hair weft passes through a fifth location positioned between said back edge and said apex; and wherein said at least one second hair weft passes through a sixth location positioned between said fifth location and said apex.
20. The hairpiece of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of third hair strands hand-tied to said base, said base including a first slit edge adjacent said first side and a second slit edge adjacent said second side, said first and second slit edges defining said slit, said third hair strands being arranged along said first and second slit edges, said at least one first hair weft and said at least one second hair weft being positioned around said third hair strands.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 22, 2012
Publication Date: Apr 25, 2013
Inventor: James K. Kim (Manhasset, NY)
Application Number: 13/657,040