Hair clip and method and apparatus for fastening hair clip to bundles of hair

Abstract

A bundle of growing human hair is selected. A bundle of supplemental hair is located together with the selected bundle of growing human hair to form a joint at an attachment site. The joint is inserted into an opening between legs of a U-shaped hair clip, and legs of the hair clip are bent and clinched around the joint. Strands in the bundle of supplemental hair may be pre-glued to one another. An apparatus for fastening a bundle of supplemental hair to a bundle of growing human hair includes a base having an anvil. An arm assembly is movably connected to the base. A driver is coupled to the arm assembly for pressing an open hair clip into the anvil to close the clip. A clip for fastening hair bundles has a crown coupled to spaced apart legs. The clip legs are made of a malleable material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to hair extension and adornment, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for fastening bundles of hair using a hair clip, wherein a bundle of supplemental hair may be fastened to a bundle of human hair to produce longer hair length, greater hair volume, or a new hair style.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A person may wish to supplement their own natural hair with supplemental hair in order to lengthen or increase the volume of hair to change their appearance or to try a new fashionable hair style. Thus, a person with short hair, or a person with sparse hair, may have a hair style that requires longer hair, or greater hair volume. The supplemental hair may be made of natural human hair or synthetic fibers made to look like natural human hair.

In the prior art, supplemental hair strands may be attached or bonded to natural hair by several methods, such as tying, weaving, or gluing the supplemental hair to the person's natural hair.

An example of attaching supplemental hair by weaving or braiding is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,748 issued to Trimarchi. U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,387 issued to Megna discloses a method of attaching supplemental hair to human hair using adhesives.

Some disadvantages of attaching supplemental hair with adhesives include the need to apply heat to a person's hair and the use of a hot iron near a person's scalp. Given a choice, clients receiving supplemental hair would prefer a method that does not use heat on their hair or near their scalp.

Another disadvantage is the loosening of the adhesive over time and when exposed to water, shampoo, conditioner, and other hair care and styling products.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved method and system for applying supplemental hair to natural human hair that provides a secure, easy-to-make fastening between supplemental hair and natural hair that does not use heat and that does not loosen over time with changes in moisture and exposure to chemicals or cleaners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a clip and a method and apparatus for using the clip to attach supplemental hair to natural human hair. After a bundle of growing human hair is selected, a bundle of supplemental hair is located together with the selected bundle of growing human hair to form a joint at an attachment site. The joint is inserted into an opening between legs of a U-shaped hair clip, and legs of the hair clip are bent around the joint and crimped. Strands in the bundle of supplemental hair may be pre-glued to one another.

An apparatus for fastening a bundle of supplemental hair to a bundle of growing human hair includes a base having an anvil. Anvil surfaces guide and orient the clip so that the clip legs enter bend-guiding troughs. An arm assembly is movably connected to the base, and may be used to store and dispense clips. A driver is coupled to the arm assembly for pressing an open hair clip into the anvil to close and crimp the clip.

A clip for fastening hair bundles has a crown and coupled to either side of the crown. The clip may have a length greater than the width spaced apart legs. The clip legs are made of a malleable material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numbers designate like parts, and in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of an apparatus for fastening clips to bundles of hair in accordance with the method and system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the apparatus for fastening clips;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged elevation view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a clip for fastening bundles of hair in accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the clip shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation view of the clip shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an anvil used to fasten hair clips in accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the anvil shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the anvil shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the anvil shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an end elevation view of the anvil shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of a drive blade;

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the drive blade shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the drive blade shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is an end elevation view of the drive blade shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of a hair positioning spring;

FIG. 17 shows a side elevation view of the hair positioning spring shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a driver arm spring;

FIG. 19 is a side elevation view of the spring shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the spring shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an arm assembly spring;

FIGS. 22-25 illustrate steps in the process of fastening a clip in accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of an alternative clip design in accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional end elevational view of the alternative clip design of FIG. 26 clinched about hair bundles in accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention used to attach a bundle of supplemental hair to a bundle of growing human hair;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing the relationships between clip strip 58, anvil 28 and driver 68 within the clip fastening apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is another side elevational view of the clip fastening apparatus of the present invention; and

FIGS. 31 and 32 are detailed portions of FIG. 30 with driver 68 in two different positions in the fastening of a clip in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular with reference to FIG. 1, there is depicted an apparatus for fastening a clip to bundles of hair in accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention. Although apparatus 20 resembles a conventional stapler, and to some degree operates like one, there are important differences because the clip is unique and non-conventional. The fastening of the clip is preferably used to attach, bind, fasten, or join a bundle of supplemental hair, which may be synthetic hair or human hair, to a bundle of human hair growing from a person's scalp for the purpose of creating the appearance of longer or fuller hair, or for creating a new hair style. Alternatively, a clip of the present invention may be used to bundle or fasten strands of hair, synthetic or natural, to create hair pieces, or portions thereof, that may later be attached and worn on a person's head as a part of a new hair style. A clip of the present invention may be used to bind together strands, cords, lanyards, or other objects that fit together within an open clip.

FIG. 28 shows how clip fastening apparatus 20 may be used to fasten supplemental hair bundle 39 to human hair strands 38 growing from a person's scalp. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 28, and 30, clip fastening apparatus 20 includes base 22, which is coupled to arm assembly 24 by hinge 26. Arm assembly 24 pivots about hinge 26 to move arm assembly 24 toward base 22 in a manner similar to a common stapler.

In a preferred embodiment, clip fastening apparatus 20 stores, dispenses and closes clip 30 to fasten bundles of hair. Clip 30 is shown in FIGS. 4-6, which depicts U-shaped clip 30 having two opposing legs 32 connected by a rounded or arched crown 34. Legs 32 define opening 78, which may receive strands or bundles of hair for fastening. Although not required, leg ends 36 are preferably serrated in order to more effectively engage or grip stands of hair in the bundles of hair that are fastened to one another. Clip 30 has a length 118 measured along the ridge of crown 34, and a width 116 measured between points where legs 32 join crown 34. (See FIGS. 5 and 6) In a preferred embodiment, length 118 is greater than width 116.

In a preferred embodiment, clip 30 is made from a malleable material so that legs 32 may be bent and curved inward toward one another and back toward crown 34 in order to close the clip and clinch strands of hair in the bundles of hair that are to be fastened to one another. FIG. 27 shows a cross-sectional end view of a closed clip 30A that clinches hair strands 38 and a pre-glued hair bundle 39. Note that when clip 30 or 30A is closed, legs 32 are curved toward one another, and may be curved back toward crown 34. Leg ends 36 may cross as alternating portions of the serrations interleave. Ends 36 push into the hair bundles and grip the hair to prevent longitudinal movement of the hair clip along either hair bundle.

The embodiment of clip 30A shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 includes tooth 40 formed in the area of crown 34. Tooth 40 projects into the area of clinched hair strands 38 in order to provide an additional grip to prevent hair strands 38 from sliding out of the grasp of the closed hair clip 30A. FIG. 27 also shows a cross section of hair bundle 39 fastened to hair strands 38. Hair bundle 39 may include strands of hair, natural or synthetic, that have been pre-glued to one another by an adhesive so that the bundle may be easily handled and placed near a selected bundle of growing human hair to form a joint or attachment site, as shown in FIG. 28. For additional detail regarding hair bundle 39 and the method of making same, refer to U.S. patent Ser. No. ______ (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20040011372), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

As shown in FIG. 26, which is a plan view of clip 30A before being bent into a U-shape, tooth 40 is located in the center of clip 30A in an area that will be along the arch of crown 34. Tooth 40 may be formed during a die-stamping operation, which may be used to cut the shape of clip 30A from a flat sheet of material, such as brass or another malleable metal or plastic. The material of clip 30 or 30A may also be painted or coated or otherwise colored to match hair colors so that clip 30 or 30A will not be so noticeable in a person's hair. Alternatively, colors may be selected so that colored clips are noticed and become part of a hair style similar to hair styles using colored beads.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, clip fastening apparatus 20 is shown with arm assembly 24 opened to a loading position wherein strips 58 (see FIG. 3) of clips 30 or 30A (note that references herein to clip 30 also refer to clip 30A) may be inserted in a manner similar to the way staples are loaded into an open channel of a typical paper stapler. Base 22 includes anvil 28, which, as described in more detail below, is used for temporarily positioning bundles of hair, for assisting in separating a dispensed clip from a next clip in a glued strip of clips, and for closing a clip around bundles of hair to fasten the bundles of hair to one another. Arm assembly 24 includes three elements pivotally connected by hinge 26: clip dispenser arm 42, driver arm 44, and clip retainer 46. All such arm elements pivot with respect to base 22 about hinge 26.

When clip dispenser arm 42 is opened to the loading position, where an angle between clip dispenser arm 42 and base 22 is large and may be obtuse, a strip of clips 58, which is made of clips 30 glued to one another at legs 32, may be loaded into clip channel 48 in clip dispenser arm 42. Clips 30 are stored in clip channel 48 before they are dispensed from dispenser arm opening 50 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 30, 31, and 32). As arm assembly 24 is opened to this wide loading angle, clip feed spring retractor 56 engages clip strip feeder 52 (see FIG. 3A), compressing feeder spring 54 and moving clip strip feeder 52 toward hinge 26. Thus, when clip dispenser arm 42 is opened to the loading position, clip feed spring retractor 56, which is pivotally coupled at one end to base 22, compresses feeder spring 54 with the other end by sliding clip strip feeder 52 in clip channel 48 back toward hinge 26. With clip strip feeder 52 retracted in this manner there is space to load a new strip of clips 58.

The space in clip channel 48 for storing clips, such as clip strip 58, may be referred to more generally as a clip chamber. This is a space to hold many clips prior to being dispensed through dispenser arm opening 50. In other embodiments, clips 30 may be stored and dispensed in different ways. For example, some embodiments may store clips loosely, or individually, where they are not glued or connected to one another.

Because the strip of clips 58 may buckle and rise out of clip channel 48 when the spring pressure behind clip strip feeder 52 is applied to the newly loaded strip, clip retainer 46 may be pivoted, after loading the strip, into a position above clip channel 48 where it will keep the newly loaded strip of clips 58 supported and retained in a straight line within clip channel 48. Thus, surface 76 (See FIGS. 2, 3, and 32) of clip retainer 46 is positioned slightly above and possibly touching crowns 34 of clips 30 after being loaded in clip channel 48.

With reference now to FIGS. 7-11, various views of anvil 28 are depicted. As illustrated therein, anvil 28 includes anvil base 94 having mounting holes 80 for receiving fasteners that fasten anvil 28 to base 22. Appropriate fasteners that may be used include screws, rivets, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, anvil 28 includes two guide arms 98, with one guide arm 98 including next clip support arm 64. Guide arms 98 extend away from, and substantially perpendicular to, anvil base 94. Next clip support arm 64 is narrow enough and long enough to extend into dispenser arm opening 50 in clip dispenser arm 42 when dispenser arm 42 is closed toward base 22. Next clip support arm 64 extends away from, and substantially perpendicular to, anvil base 94, extending further than guide arm 98. The function and operation of next clip support arm 64 is described more completely below.

Guide arms 98 have guide surfaces 72, which are facing each other and positioned adjacent to two bend-guiding troughs 74 (troughs 74). Guide surfaces 72 are used to guide clip legs 32 into troughs 74. Troughs 74 are preferably adjoining, concave curved surfaces for guiding and bending legs 32 as clip 30 is bent closed to clinch strands of hair 38. Troughs 74 may be described as a surface formed by moving an arc or similar conic curve (the generatrix) along a line (the directrix) perpendicular to the curve. An axis of troughs 74 may be located at the center of the arc or conic curve. An axial length of trough 74 may be the length of the axis or directrix.

Troughs 74 are preferably open-ended because surfaces are not needed to bend clip 30 lengthwise, along the axis of the clip, to shorten the length of the clip. Open-ended troughs 74 allows the placement of strands of hair close to, or in, troughs 74. Troughs 74 have outer edges 114 running parallel to the axis of trough 74 wherein the curved surface of trough 74 joins guide surface 72. Inner edge 120 also runs parallel to the axis of trough 74 and are preferably touching, as shown in FIG. 7.

Guide surfaces 72 are preferably nearly perpendicular to anvil base 94, with a slight tilt or opening away from the outer edges 114 of troughs 74. Guide surfaces 72 brace legs 32 of clip 30 so that clip 30 does not rotate around the clip axis, so that legs 32 enter troughs 74 perpendicular to anvil base 94. Guide surfaces 72 and troughs 74 form a cavity that receives the hair bundles and that forms clip 30 around the hair bundles during the closing or crimping process. The bottom of the cavity is contoured by troughs 74 so as to bend legs 32 of clip 30 more than 90°, thereby causing legs 32 not only to enclose the hair bundles, but to interlock.

Anvil 28 may also include openings 82 for receiving and retaining hair strand retainer springs 84, which spring is illustrated in FIGS. 9, 11, 16 and 17. The purposes of hair strand retainer springs 84 is to temporarily position and hold strands or bundles of hair together to form a joint at an attachment site before clip 30 is pressed into anvil 28 to fasten the strands or bundles of hair together. Hair strand retainer springs 84 are preferably made from a resilient material, such as steel wire. FIGS. 9 and 11 show hair strand retainer springs 84 installed in openings 82 in anvil 28, where they can position strands of hair between and slightly away from anvil surfaces 72 so that legs 32 can move past the strands along anvil surfaces 72. One or more retainer springs 84 may be installed on either or both sides of guiding arms 98 as shown in FIG. 11. One end of retainer spring 84 is fastened to anvil base 94 and may extend into recess 96, while the non-fastened end is free to move in opening 82 when strands or bundles of hair are inserted between hair strand retainer springs 84.

Referring now to FIGS. 12-15, various views of driver 68 are depicted.

Driver 68 is used to press clip 30 into anvil 28. As illustrated, driver 68 is includes shaft 86 mounted perpendicularly to mounting base 88. Mounting base 88 includes mounting holes 90 which receive fasteners for fastening mounting base 88 to driver arm 44 (See FIG. 3). Appropriate fasteners may include screws, rivets, or the like. Driving surface 92 is located at the end of shaft 86, and preferably has a concave curvature adapted to match or conform to the curvature of crown 34 of clip 30.

With reference now to FIGS. 18-20, various views of driver arm spring 70 are depicted. As shown, driver arm spring 70 includes a base 100 with mounting holes 102. Driver arm spring 70 is mounted to driver arm 44 with fasteners in mounting holes 102. Appropriate fasteners that may be used include screws, rivets, or the like. Spring arm 104 applies force to clip retainer 46 to retract driver 68 back into dispenser arm opening 50 after a clip 30 is closed. Driver arm spring 70 is preferably made from a springy resilient material, such as steel or plastic.

FIG. 21 is an illustration of arm assembly spring 66. As shown, arm assembly spring 66 includes base 106 with one or more mounting holes 108 for receiving fasteners to secure spring 66 to base 22. Screws, rivets, or the like may be used as fasteners. Spring arm 110 applies force to arm assembly 24 to keep arm assembly 24 open or away from base 22, ready to receive hair bundles before a fastener is attached, or retracting arm assembly 24 after a clip attachment. Arm assembly spring 66 includes slot 112 so that spring 66 will not interfere with clip feed spring retractor 56 when clip dispenser arm 42 is opened to a loading position as shown in FIG. 2.

With regard to the operation of clip fastening apparatus 20, several steps in the process of dispensing and closing a clip 30 are depicted in FIGS. 22-25. To start the operation, an operator places bundle 38 of natural hair in the anvil cavity. The operator then places supplemental hair bundle 39 (i.e. a second hair bundle) in the cavity (or vice versa, so that two or more bundles are in the cavity). The operator may also place hair bundles together, and then place both in the anvil cavity. Once the bundles are in the cavity, the operator squeezes arm assembly 24 and base 22 to force driver 68 toward the cavity. Hair bundles 38 and 39 are shown in the cavity of anvil 28 in FIGS. 22-25. Hair retaining springs 84 are only shown in FIG. 22 for clarity, and in a preferred embodiment they are also used (but not shown) in FIGS. 23-25 to hold hair bundles 38 and 39 in place while the clip is closed and crimped.

As shown in FIG. 22, a strip of clips 58 is in position for dispensing clip 60, which is the first clip beneath driver 68. Clips 30, including dispensed clip 60 and next clip 62, are glued to one another at legs 32. Driver 68, which is carried by driver arm 44, has been moved toward base 22 and anvil 28 so that next clip support arm 64 on anvil 28 is positioned in opening 78 (see FIG. 6) of next clip 62 and contacts next clip 62 on the inside of crown 34. Next clip 62 is held in place by next clip support arm 64. When arm assembly 24 moves toward base 22 arm assembly spring 66 (See FIGS. 3, 21, 26, and 30) is compressed. When driver 68 moves toward dispensed clip 60 and out through dispenser arm opening 50 (See FIGS. 30-32) driver arm spring 70 is compressed.

Note that FIG. 22 depicts the position of strip of clips 58, next clip support arm 64, and driver 68 at an instant before dispensed clip 60 is broken apart from next clip 62 as it is driven toward anvil 28.

FIG. 23 shows dispensed clip 60 after it is has been separated from next clip 62 and pushed downward (with respect to the orientation of the Figs.) by driver 68. Driver 68, which is attached to driver arm 44, has continued to move toward base 22 thereby continuing to compress driver arm spring 70 (See also FIGS. 30-32).

At the point in the process shown in FIG. 23, legs 32 of clip 30 are beginning to contact and slide along guide surfaces 72, which surfaces are more clearly indicated in FIGS. 9 and 22. Guide surfaces 72 help keep clip 30 in a vertical position as additional force is applied to crown 34 of clip 30 in order to bend legs 32 closed.

As shown in FIG. 24, clip legs 32 have entered troughs 74 and are beginning to curve toward one another as legs 32 move along the bend-guiding surfaces of troughs 74. In FIG. 24, driver 68 applies force to crown 34 of dispensed clip 60 as driver 68 continues to move toward base 22. Force on crown 34 and the directing of the force by the curved surfaces of troughs 74 cause the bending and closing of legs 32.

In FIG. 25, dispensed clip 60 has been closed after legs 32 have followed the curved surface of troughs 74. Legs 32 are beginning to overlap to further compress any strands or bundles of hair that may be in dispensed clip 60, as the serrated ends of leg ends 36 interdigitate.

The manufacturing of strip of clips 58 may begin with a flat piece of metal, similar to that shown in FIG. 26. The flat metal is then bent to form crown 34 with legs 32 that have flat parallel surfaces. The clips are then joined by an adhesive at the outer flat parallel surfaces of legs 32 of adjacent clips 30. A mold or channel may be used to hold a series of clips in a straight line, with leg ends 36 coplanar, as the adhesive sets.

Since the clip fastening method and apparatus of the present invention does not require a hot iron to melt adhesive, the present invention has the advantage of securely fastening bundles or strands or hair without using a very hot iron on a person's hair, or near a person's scalp. In addition, the fastening may be used without applying adhesive or other chemicals to a person's hair. In many cases, the joint formed between hair strands using the hair clip of the present invention will last longer, and withstand more shampoos and other chemical treatments for hair, than hair attachments that use adhesives. Use of the present invention is simple and fast. Unlike a conventional stapler, which drives a fastener through the objects being fastened, clip fastening apparatus 20 fastens a clip around objects, which may require less force.

The hair clips of the present invention may be removed by opening legs 32 to loosen the grip of clip 30.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. A method for attaching supplemental hair to growing human hair comprising the steps of:

selecting a bundle of growing human hair; and

locating a bundle of supplemental hair together with the selected bundle of growing human hair to form a joint at an attachment site;

inserting the joint into an opening between legs of a U-shaped hair clip; and

bending the legs of the hair clip around the joint to fasten the bundle of supplemental hair to the bundle of growing human hair.

2. The method for attaching supplemental hair according to claim 1 wherein the step of bending the legs of the hair clip around the joint further includes crimping the legs of the hair clip around the joint, wherein the legs of the hair clip bend toward each other to fasten the bundle of supplemental hair to the bundle of growing human hair.

3. The method for attaching supplemental hair according to claim 1 wherein the step of bending the legs of the hair clip around the joint further includes pressing the legs of the hair clip into bend-guiding troughs of an anvil to bend the legs of the hair clip around the joint, wherein the bend-guiding troughs are curved to direct the legs of the hair clip toward each other.

4. The method for attaching supplemental hair according to claim 3 wherein the step of locating a bundle of supplemental hair together with the selected bundle of growing human hair further includes the step of inserting the joint between guiding arms of the anvil, wherein the guiding arms extend from outer edges of each of the bend-guiding troughs.

5. The method for attaching supplemental hair according to claim 1 wherein the step of inserting the joint into an opening between ends of a U-shaped hair clip further includes the steps of:

dispensing a dispensed hair clip from a clip chamber that holds a plurality of hair clips; and

moving the dispensed hair clip toward the joint.

6. The method for attaching supplemental hair according to claim 5 further including the step of supporting a next clip in a strip of clips while a dispensed clip is separated from the strip of clips.

7. The method for attaching supplemental hair according to claim 6 wherein the step of supporting a next clip in a strip of clips further includes inserting a next clip supporting arm into an opening of the next clip, wherein the next clip supporting arm substantially fills the opening of the next clip.

8. The method for attaching supplemental hair according to claim 1 wherein the step of bending the legs of the hair clip around the joint to fasten the bundle of supplemental hair to the bundle of growing human hair further includes interleaving serrate edges on the leg ends of the hair clip.

9. The method for attaching supplemental hair according to claim 3 further including the step of temporarily holding the joint proximate to the inner edges of the bend-guiding troughs.

10. The method for attaching supplemental hair according to claim 4 further including the step of guiding the legs of the hair clip into the bend-guiding troughs by moving the hair clip along anvil surfaces on guiding arms of the anvil.

11. The method for attaching supplemental hair according to claim 1 wherein the step of locating a bundle of supplemental hair together with the selected bundle of growing human hair to form a joint at an attachment site further includes locating a pre-glued bundle of supplemental hair together with the selected bundle of growing human hair to form a joint at an attachment site, wherein the pre-glued bundle of includes strands of supplemental hair attached to one another by an adhesive.

12. The method for attaching supplemental hair according to claim 1:

wherein the step of locating a bundle of supplemental hair together with the selected bundle of growing human hair to form a joint at an attachment site further includes locating the joint in a cavity defined by guiding surfaces and a contoured base;

further including retaining the joint in the cavity;

wherein the step of inserting the joint into an opening between legs of a U-8 shaped hair clip further includes driving the clip into the cavity; and

wherein the step of bending the legs of the hair clip around the joint to fasten the bundle of supplemental hair to the bundle of growing human hair further includes driving the legs to follow the contoured base to crimp the joint.

13. An apparatus for fastening strands of hair comprising:

a base having an anvil with a bend-guiding trough, wherein the trough has an axial length greater than a width across the trough, and wherein the trough is open at the ends to be structured and arranged to receive bundles of hair;

an arm assembly movably connected to the base; and

a driver coupled to the arm assembly for pressing an open clip into the

a anvil to close the clip.

14. The apparatus for fastening according to claim 13 wherein the bend-guiding trough includes troughs that meet at inner trough edges.

15. The apparatus for fastening according to claim 13 wherein the anvil includes guiding arms extending from outer trough edges and away from the base, wherein the guiding arms are for guiding the legs of the clip into the trough.

16. The apparatus for fastening according to claim 15 wherein the anvil includes a next clip support arm extending away from the base and beyond the guiding arms for supporting a next clip in a strip of clips as a dispensed clip is pressed by the driver.

17. The apparatus for fastening according to claim 16 wherein the next clip support arm extends into the arm assembly and into the next clip in a strip of clips when the arm assembly is pressing an open clip into the anvil.

18. The apparatus for fastening according to claim 13 further including a hair strand retainer spring coupled to the anvil adjacent to the trough for temporarily holding strands of hair near the trough.

19. The apparatus for fastening according to claim 13 wherein the base is moveably connected to the arm assembly by a hinge.

20. The apparatus for fastening according to claim 13 wherein a driving surface of the driver has a contour that matches the portion of the clip contacted by the driver.

21. A clip for fastening a first bundle of hair to a second bundle of hair comprising:

a crown having a width and a length, wherein the length is at least equal to the width;

legs spaced apart by the width of the crown and extending from the crown along the length of the crown, wherein the legs have leg ends that define a clip opening, and wherein the legs are made of a malleable material.

22. The clip according to claim 21 wherein the leg ends are serrated.

23. The clip according to claim 21 wherein the crown is arched.

24. The clip according to claim 21 wherein the crown includes a tooth extending into the opening of the clip.

25. The clip according to claim 21 wherein the clip is attached to a second clip.

26. The clip according to claim 25 wherein the clip is attached to a second clip by an adhesive between legs of the clips.

27. The clip according to claim 21 wherein the clip is made of brass.

28. The clip according to claim 21 wherein the clip is colored to match a hair color.