Hair Extension Apparatus

Abstract

The apparatus and method provide for the attachment of hair extensions to natural hair, synthetic hair, wigs and dolls. The apparatus includes at least one snap fastener comprising at least one protruding member, at least one socket member and a flexible material. The protruding member is located at a first area of the flexible material. The socket member is located at a second area of the flexible material. The protruding member and the socket member are attached to the flexible material. A band comprises an endless ring having a central hole therein. The band is partially enveloped by the flexible material when the protruding member and the socket member are engaged and is adapted to secure to natural hair, synthetic hair, wigs and dolls. At least one animal, human or synthetic hair strand extends substantially unidirectionally from the snap fastener and the hair strand is attached to the snap fastener.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/211,433 filed on Aug. 28, 2015, the content of which is incorporated by this reference in its entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to hair accessories. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hair extension apparatus for attaching hair extensions to human or synthetic hair.

BACKGROUND

Hair extensions have increasingly become popular among people of all ages, including high profile celebrities. Hair extensions are most commonly used to add volume, length and/or color to natural or synthetic hair. Example uses of synthetic hair include wigs, dolls and other hair extensions. The hair of the hair extension is typically made of animal, human or synthetic hair strands. This allows the hair of the hair extension to blend in with the natural or synthetic hair, providing a more natural look. In the past, hair extensions have been attached to the wearer's head using clamps, combs, clips, ties or adhesives. These types of attachments are hard to hide when the hair is pulled back.

Methods for applying hair extensions using clamps, combs, clips, ties or adhesives are known in the art. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,171 of Okyo Sthair, a hair extension attachment system is described consisting of a seamless self-adhesive for attaching hair extensions to the head of a wearer. More specifically, the natural hair of a wearer is laid upon double-sided self-adhesive tape, resulting in attachment of the hair extension to the wearer's head.

It has been found, in use, that hair extensions attached by use of clamps, combs, clips, ties or adhesives create a number of problems for the wearer. Clamps and ties often loosen over time and require chunks of hair in their attachment. Combs, clips and ties are not easily hidden when the hair is pulled back, making updos time consuming and difficult to create. Combs, clips and ties also require chunks or strips of hair that are close to the scalp making them difficult to hide when creating an updo. Adhesives can often be messy in the application, and a mistake in the application may result in irreversible damage to the hair extension and the natural or synthetic hair upon removal. Additionally, there are chemical considerations when using adhesives, such as the wearer's skin contact and subsequent reaction with the chemicals of the adhesive. Adhesives and clamps are not easily removed and are often destroyed or no longer usable after removal. Clamps, ties or adhesives are also time consuming and expensive to maintain and create a look that is not natural to the wearer because they require chunks or strips of hair for attachment.

Therefore, there is a need for a less expensive and less time consuming hair extension apparatus which replaces the standard clamp, comb, clip, tie or adhesive connection so as to allow easy application and removal, an easier way to add volume, a more natural looking attachment, and an overall more versatile hair extension apparatus. Additionally, there is a need for a natural looking hair extension that blends with a ponytail to make a bun on a wearer, a wig or doll that is easy for the end user or professional to create, thereby saving time and money.

SUMMARY

Certain deficiencies of the prior art may be overcome by the provision of one or more embodiments of a hair extension apparatus having at least one fastener, a flexible material, and a band.

A hair extension apparatus for securing one or more hair extensions is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the hair extension apparatus includes a snap fastener having a protruding member and a socket member attached to a flexible material. The protruding member and the socket member of the snap fastener, when engaged, provide a self-locking snap fastener which has exact and positive snap, self-locking qualities, and may be formed of virtually any size. The hair extension apparatus also includes a band which is enveloped by the flexible material when the members are engaged. The band can be made of any elastic material, such as fabric or yarn, or any rigid material, such as rubber, plastic or metal. The animal, human or synthetic hair strands of the hair extension apparatus is removably restrained to the flexible material. In another embodiment, the protruding member and the socket member are replaced by hook and loop fasteners. For example, the hook and loop fasteners may be VELCRO® brand hook and loop fasteners.

In preferred embodiments, the protruding member of a snap fastener is attached to one end of the flexible material, while the socket member of the snap fastener is attached to the same side of the other end of the flexible material. This allows the flexible material to take the form of a loop when the members are engaged. The protruding member and socket member may be made of resilient materials such as rubber, plastics or metals or any combination thereof. The flexible material may be made of plastic, fabric, rubber or any other suitable material. The flexible material may also have a means, such as second loop, to restrain the hair of the hair extension apparatus. In alternative embodiments, hook and loop fasteners or multiple socket members and protruding members may be used on the individual flexible material for added strength and to lessen the risk of the hair extension apparatus falling off.

The above summary of some example embodiments is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages of the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art with the benefit of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a figure of a hair extension apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a figure of a disengaged hair extension apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a figure of a single disengaged snap fastener of a hair extension apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a figure of a disengaged snap fastener with two socket members and two protruding members attached to a flexible material of a hair extension apparatus of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a figure of a disengaged hair extension apparatus having a plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding features throughout the several views.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a hair extension apparatus 10 with an engaged snap fastener 12 wrapped around a band 14. In a preferred embodiment, there are multiple engaged snap fasteners 12. Additionally, the flexible material 16 of the snap fastener 12 restrains the hair 18 so it remains attached to the snap fastener 12 during use.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the hair extension apparatus 10 with a disengaged snap fastener 12 having two protruding members 22 and two socket members 20 and a disengaged snap fastener 24 having a single protruding member 22 and a single socket member 20. The band 14 rests between the disengaged protruding member 22 and socket member 20. When the protruding member 22 engages the socket member 20 the band 14 is enveloped by the flexible material 16.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown the snap fastener 24 of FIG. 2 having a single protruding member 22 and a single socket member 20 attached to the flexible material 16. In a preferred embodiment, the protruding member 22 has a cylindrical engaging portion 34 having a central bore 32. The socket member 20 has a generally cylindrically extending socket portion 28 dimensioned to snugly engage the circumferentially extending cylindrical engaging portion 34 of the protruding member 22. In one embodiment, the protruding member 22 and socket member 20 are attached to the flexible material 16 by threads 26. In other embodiments, the protruding member 22 and socket member 20 are attached to the flexible material 16 by other means, such as use of an adhesive, heat-bonding, thermoplastic yarn or the like. The hair 18 of the hair extension apparatus is restrained by the flexible material 16 by way of an additional loop 36.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown the snap fastener 12 of FIG. 2 having two protruding members 22 and two socket members 20 for added strength and resilience. In another embodiment, more than two protruding members 22 and socket member 20 may be used to further add strength or function to the snap fastener 12.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown the hook fasteners 40 and loop fasteners 42 attached to the flexible material 16. The hair 18 of the hair extension apparatus is restrained by the flexible material 16 by way of an additional loop 36.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A hair extension apparatus comprising:

at least one snap fastener comprising at least one protruding member, at least one socket member and a flexible material, the protruding member being located at a first area of the flexible material, the socket member being located at a second area of the flexible material, the protruding member and the socket member being attached to the flexible material;

a band comprising an endless ring having a central hole therein, the band being partially enveloped by the flexible material when the protruding member and the socket member are engaged, the band being adapted to secure to a clump of synthetic or naturally growing hair; and

at least one animal, human or synthetic hair strand extending substantially unidirectionally from the snap fastener, the animal, human or synthetic hair strand being secured to the snap fastener.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the protruding member is made of rubber, plastic or metal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the socket member is made of rubber, plastic or metal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hair extension apparatus comprises two snap fasteners.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hair extension apparatus comprises three snap fasteners.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the snap fastener comprises two protruding members and two socket members.

7. A hair extension apparatus comprising:

a fastener comprising at least one hook fastener, at least one loop fastener, and a flexible material, the hook fastener being located at a first area of a flexible material, the loop fastener being located at a second area of the flexible material, the hook fastener and the loop fastener being attached to the flexible material;

a band comprising an endless ring having a central hole therein, the band being partially enveloped by the flexible material when the hook fastener and the loop fastener are engaged, the band being adapted to secure to a clump of synthetic or naturally growing hair; and

at least one animal, human or synthetic hair strand extending substantially unidirectionally from the fastener, the animal, human or synthetic hair strand being secured to the fastener.

8. A method of attaching an extension of hair to hair growing naturally from a user's skin, comprising the steps of:

determining the type of fastener and the amount of fasteners to be used;

securing the animal, human or synthetic hair strand to the fastener;

enveloping the fastener around a portion of a band;

engaging the fastener so the fastener is removably attached to the band; and

securing the band to a clump of synthetic or naturally growing hair.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the fastener is a snap fastener.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the fastener comprises at least one hook fastener, at least one loop fastener and a flexible material.