Lock Weaving Tool

Abstract

A hair lock weaving tool comprises a body having a first end and a second end. A curved hook portion is formed at the first end and a hair receiving portion is formed at the second end that includes a hole for receiving hair. The curved hook portion has a variable width and a variable thickness, wherein the width progressively increases from an interface between the curved hook portion and the hair receiving portion to an intermediate point and then the width progressively decreases in a direction toward and to a pointed end of the curved hook portion that defines the first end of the body. The hair receiving portion has a bilobate configuration with a first lobe that defines one end of the hole and a second lobe that defines an opposite end of the hole, with a narrowed waist defined between the first lobe and the second lobe.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/556,089, filed Sep. 8, 2017, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein as if expressly set forth in its respective entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tool for use in treating hair and more particularly, relates to a lock weaving tool that is used during a hair weaving process.

BACKGROUND

There are many types of hair products on the market that suit a wide range of needs. As is well known, hair weaving is a process by which the hair is manipulated to change the appearance of the hair and in particular and according to one technique, a tool can be used to create stylable locks that are formed using an interlocking method. The interlocking process involves use of the tool to create the locks. The locks can be made from the ends to the roots.

Hair weaving and the formation of locks are quite versatile in application and can be used on different hair styles (e.g., short or long hair), etc.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a hair lock weaving tool comprises a body having a first end and a second end. A curved hook portion is formed at the first end and a hair receiving portion is formed at the second end that includes a hole for receiving hair. The curved hook portion has a variable width and a variable thickness, wherein the width progressively increases from an interface between the curved hook portion and the hair receiving portion to an intermediate point and then the width progressively decreases in a direction toward and to a pointed end of the curved hook portion that defines the first end of the body.

The hair receiving portion has a bilobate configuration with a first lobe that defines one end of the hole and a second lobe that defines an opposite end of the hole, with a narrowed waist defined between the first lobe and the second lobe. Both a size and shape of the first lobe are different relative to a size and shape of the second lobe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a bottom and side perspective view of a lock weaving tool in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevation view of the tool;

FIG. 3 is a right side elevation view of the tool;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the tool;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the tool;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the tool; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a tool 100 that is configured for use in a hair weaving process and therefore, the tool 100 can be thought of as being a hair locking tool or lock weaving tool. As discussed herein, the terminology “retighten” means weaving the new growth of hair back to the scalp. FIGS. 1-7 illustrate the tool 100.

The tool 100 includes a curved hook portion 110 and a hair receiving portion 200. As shown, the curved hook portion 110 and the hair receiving portion 200 can be integral to one another in that the tool 100 is a single structure. The tool 100 can be formed using any number of different techniques and material. For example, the tool 100 can be formed of a metal or a plastic material.

The curved hook portion 110 defines a first end 102 of the tool 100 and as shown in FIGS. 1-7, the curved hook portion 110 has a tapered construction in at least several directions. More particularly, as shown in the front and rear views of FIGS. 4 and 5, the thickness of the curved hook portion 110 is variable and in particular, the thickness decreases in a direction toward the first end 102 which is a pointed end. In other words, the greatest thickness is at the interface between the curved hook portion 110 and the hair receiving portion 200. In one embodiment, the thickness changes in a progressive manner in a direction toward the first end 102.

As shown, the pointed end 102 can be slightly rounded since this is the section of the tool 100 that contacts the scalp of a person and therefore, should not be sharp to the touch.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the width (W) of the curved hook portion 110 is variable and in particular, the width increases from an interface, generally shown at 106, with the hair receiving portion 200 and in a direction toward the first end 102 to an intermediate point which is generally shown at 105. The width of the curved hook portion 110 then decreases from the intermediate point 105 to the first end 102. The width profile of the curved hook portion 110 thus resembles a football shape in that the ends of the curved hook portion 110 have reduced width compared to the center portion (intermediate point 105). However, unlike a symmetric football, the curved hook portion 110 can be asymmetric in that the width at the first end 102 is less than the width at the interface between the curved hook portion 110 and the hair receiving portion 200. It will also be appreciated from the figures that a thickness (T) of the curved hook portion 110 is also variable in that the curved hook portion 110 can be thicker at the interface with the hook receiving portion and has minimum thickness at the free pointed end (first end 102) of the hook receiving portion 110. As described herein, the thickness (T) is measured from the rear face to the front face of the tool 100, while, the width (W) is measured from the left side to the right side of the tool 100.

The hair receiving portion 200 defines an opening 210 which can have an elongated shape and extends from the interface between the curved hook portion 110 and the hair receiving portion 200 to a second end 104 of the tool 100 which is opposite the first end 102.

The hair receiving portion 200 can have a bilobate shape in that it generally defines a first lobe 220 and a second lobe 230 which are in communication with one another. A waist 225 is formed between the first lobe 220 and the second lobe 230. The shapes and sizes of the two lobes 220, 230 can be different from one another as shown in the figures. In particular, the first lobe 220 at the second end 104 has a smaller footprint than the second lobe 230 (i.e., the first lobe 220 has a smaller width). The two lobes 220, 230 can thus have different shapes and/or sizes.

The two inner end surfaces of the opening 210 can be curved as shown. As mentioned herein, the deficiencies with prior interlocking hair tools were that during retightening or interlocking hair, the tools were constructed such that they are placed too close to the scalp and this puts too much pressure on the hair follicles. In addition, the tools were difficult to handle because of their design and they caused too much rotation of the wrist. In addition, these traditional constructions did not address the loose hair around the base of the lock. As will be readily understood, when new hair grows, the hair adjacent to the scalp is loose and not part of the lock that was previously formed. This natural new growth at the scalp necessitates that the hair be retightened or interlocked.

In accordance with the present invention, the tool 100 is configured such that it does not go too close to the scalp. The angle of curvature of the curved hook portion 110 allows a user to retighten faster without a lot of rotating. In addition, the tool 100 pulls into a lock the loose hair at the base, thereby lessening the need for scissors. The construction of the tool 100 also makes it easy to handle which allows the user to even retighten their own hair with ease.

The use of the tool 100 is as follows. The woven hair is inserted through the opening 210 of the hair receiving portion 200. The woven hair can be inserted first into the wider second lobe 230 and can be held there for larger bundles of woven hair and in the case of a smaller bundle of woven hair, the woven hair can be moved to the narrower first lobe 220. The narrower first lobe 220 is configured to better hold the smaller bundle of hair. After the woven hair is held within the opening 210, the curved hook portion 110 is then directed to the non-woven hair portion (new growth of the weave) near the scalp and the thinner distal tip of the curved hook portion 110 is used to accurately part this non-woven hair portion and the larger width portion of the curved hook portion 110 (spaced from the distal tip) is used to separate curls of the hair. With the woven hair within the opening 210, the tool 100 is then moved in a direction to the woven hair portion at which location, the tool 100 is pulled away from the hair bundle (with the woven hair still passing through the opening 210), thereby weaving a portion of the non-woven hair portion through which the curved hook portion 110 was passed previously through. This weaving process is then repeated.

Claims

1. A hair lock weaving tool comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end, wherein a curved hook portion is formed at the first end and a hair receiving portion is formed at the second end that includes a hole for receiving hair;

the curved hook portion having a variable width and a variable thickness, wherein the width progressively increases from an interface between the curved hook portion and the hair receiving portion to an intermediate point and then the width progressively decreases in a direction toward and to a pointed end of the curved hook portion that defines the first end of the body; and

wherein the hair receiving portion has a bilobate configuration with a first lobe that defines one end of the hole and a second lobe that defines an opposite end of the hole, with a narrowed waist defined between the first lobe and the second lobe, wherein both a size and shape of the first lobe are different relative to a size and shape of the second lobe.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first lobe has a smaller footprint relative to the second lobe.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first lobe has a curved inner surface that defines the one end of the hole and the second lobe has a curved inner surface that defines the other end of the hole.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the pointed end comprises a section of the curved hook portion that has both a minimum thickness and a minimum width of the curved hook portion.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the body is formed of metal.