HAIR ACCESSORIES

Abstract

A hair component for use within a ponytail comprising at one end (1) means that can be pushed through the band used to create the ponytail joined to a second end (2) by a narrower neck section (5) so that the band is retained within the ponytail by the band between the two ends (1,2), the means at the second end (2) can be attached to a segment of hair so providing a hair extension. A hair extension comprising the attachment provided with a segment of hair is also provided.

Description

The present invention relates to hair accessories, for use with ponytails and is particularly concerned with attachments for hair extension pieces and to hair extension pieces containing the attachment although the accessory may be used to provide bulk to an existing ponytail. When used to provide a hair extension piece the extension can be used to improve the length and volume of a ponytail. In our PCT publication WO2014/128164 we describe ponytail extension pieces that can be held in place by the band used to create the ponytail.

Ponytail hair extensions have traditionally been fixed into a head of hair with a clasp or clip. For example, a fashion accessory comprising hair attached to a claw type hair grip that may be attached externally to a ponytail in order to enhance the volume and length of the ponytail is known. When a thicker and longer ponytail is required, a clip-on ponytail is often the preferred device. However attachment can cause discomfort and it does not always grip firmly to the ponytail incurring the risk that the accessory may fall out. Furthermore, when the ponytail accessory is clipped in, it can be obviously perceived as fake so that it is obvious that one is wearing a hair accessory to promote thicker and longer hair. This is undesirable as the wearer usually wants others to believe that their hair is real, rather than fake.

In PCT publication 2014/128164 we describe a means of attachment of a ponytail extension comprising an arrowhead attached to a segment of hair and the arrowhead secures the extension within a ponytail. The hair extension is held in place by the band used to create the ponytail. Whilst this has proved satisfactory it has been found difficult to apply and it has not been found to hold the extension firmly in place; furthermore the sharpness of the arrow head could be a safety hazard if, for example, the wearer of the ponytail extension was to fall or was hit on the head.

The invention provides a hair accessory that can boost both the volume of a ponytail and which in one embodiment can be used to secure a hair extension into a ponytail. The accessory can readily be pushed directly into the head of hair, particularly an already formed ponytail and is retained therein by the pressure of the band that forms the ponytail. It is preferred that the ponytail is already formed so that the accessory can be pushed into the already formed ponytail through the band used to form the ponytail which holds the hair accessory in place. In one embodiment the invention therefore provides a hair extension piece that is firmly attached within a head of hair which has a natural look, which does not cause any discomfort and can easily be inserted and removed.

Accordingly the invention is a hair accessory for use in a ponytail comprising means at a first end of the accessory to pass through the band that is used to create the ponytail and a narrow intermediate section extending to the distal end of the device, the distal end being wider than the narrow intermediate section whereby the band is secured around the narrow intermediate section.

The means that passes through the band releasably engages with the band that forms the ponytail preferably has a tapered section at the first end with the taper extending away from the distal end as this will enable the attachment means to slide readily into the ponytail and through and beyond the elastic band that forms the ponytail. It will also have a smooth surface protecting the user from damage in a fall. In a preferred embodiment the first end extends into a neck of narrower cross section than the first end so that the band can be located around the narrower section and yet be unable to pass back across the wider upper section. The narrow neck at the lower end of the tapered section is such that the diameter transverse to the axis of the attachment is narrow and can engage with the band that forms the ponytail and prevent the attachment from sliding back out from the ponytail. The attachment can however be readily removed from the ponytail due to the elasticity of the ponytail forming band.

The means at the distal end is wider than the narrow neck and prevents the band from sliding downwards and out of contact with the accessory. When the accessory is used to provide a hair extension the means at the distal end includes mean to retain the hair. The means provided beyond the narrow neck of the tapered section and is of greater diameter than the narrow neck to prevent the band sliding down over the distal end and may comprise any suitable means that retains the hair extension. The band is therefore held in the narrow neck section between the first end and the distal end and so holds the attachment in place.

Where the accessory is an attachment for a hair extension the hair may be secured permanently to the attachment means or it may be removable so that the attachment may be used with different segments of hair. In a permanent arrangement the distal end of the attachment may provide a cup into which the segment of hair may be secured such as by gluing.

The hair accessory of the present invention can therefore be pushed directly into the head of hair which may comprise an already formed ponytail through the band that forms the ponytail so that it is retained in the head of hair by the pressure of the band of the ponytail locating below the narrow section of the attachment means. The attachment means will then be locked in by removal of the band used to create the ponytail although it can be removed by stretching of the band that forms the ponytail that can be stretched to allow removal of the attachment means.

When the accessory is used to provide a hair extension the segment of hair that forms the extension can be such that it will both increase the volume and length of the hair typically the segments of hair are from 50 to 150 grams particularly 80 to 120 grams in weight. This invention therefore provides an accessory that can be inserted into a ponytail such that the pressure of the band that creates the ponytail ensures that the accessory stays in place. Such an accessory can also be used with hair styles other than a ponytail providing they support this attachment system. It is also possible to use with multiple ponytails.

The accessory means may be of any suitable material such as metal, plastic or wood and should be designed to have adequate strength with the minimum increase of weight. When used as an attachment for a hair extension it may be removable from the segment of hair that is part of the accessory so that it can be used with other segments of hair perhaps of different sizes, shapes and/or colours.

The invention further provides a hair extension comprising an attachment device of the present invention attached at its distal end to a segment of hair. Alternatively the attachment means can be used without any hair attached to it simply to provide bulk to an existing ponytail. The attachment can be of any size or shape providing it satisfies the requirements of this invention.

The hair that is employed in a hair extension employing the accessory of the invention may be natural, human or animal or may be synthetic.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and figures in which show alternate forms of a hair device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a hair accessory according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of the accessory of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the top view of the accessory of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows the accessory of FIGS. 1 and 2 secured to a segment of hair at its distal end.

Any suitable materials can be used to make a hair extension of the present invention, the hair segment can be of different thickness, synthetic or natural hair and can be of different colour which can be selected according to the wishes of the user. The hair extension can vary in size depending on how long and thick one desires their ponytail and the hair extension does not require plastic grips to keep it in place.

FIG. 1 shows an accessory according to the present invention having a first end (1) and a distal end (2). The first end (1) comprises a circular dome shaped projective (3) and is joined to a cup shaped projection (4) at the distal end. The dome shape (3) and the cup shape (4) being connected by a neck (5) of diameter less than the diameter of the dome shaped projection (3) and the cup shaped projection (4).

FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of the accessory shown in FIG. 1 and shows how the cup shaped projection (4) contains an internal void (6) for the attachment of hair.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the accessory of FIG. 1 showing that the dome shaped projection (3) provides the area for pushing through the band that creates the ponytail and that the neck (5) provides the area around which the band that forms the ponytail can grip to secure the attachment in place.

FIG. 4 shows the accessory of FIG. 1 as part of a hair extension with hair (7) secured in the internal void (6) of the cup shaped distal end of the accessory.

Claims

1. A hair accessory for use in a ponytail comprising:

a means at a first end to pass through a band that is used to create the ponytail and a narrow intermediate section extending to a distal end of the haft accessory, the distal end being wider than the narrow intermediate section whereby the band is secured around the narrow intermediate section.

2. A hair accessory according to claim 1, comprising an attachment for a hair piece wherein the distal end is provided with the attachment for the hair piece.

3. A hair accessory according to claim 1, wherein the means to releasably engage with the band that forms the ponytail has a tapered section at the first end with the taper extending away from the distal end.

4. A hair accessory according to claim 1, wherein the means of the distal end to retain the hair is provided beyond the base of the tapered section.

5. A hair accessory according to claim 4, in which the distal end of the attachment provides a cup into which a segment of hair may be secured.

6. A hair extension comprising the hair accessory of claim 1, attached at the distal end to a segment of hair.

7. A hair extension according to claim 6, wherein the segments of hair are from 75 to 150 grams in weight.

8. A hair accessory for use with a ponytail wherein the hair accessory is held in place within the ponytail by a band that forms the ponytail.

9. A hair accessory according to claim 8, wherein the hair accessory is attached to a segment of hair.

10. A hair extension according to claim 9.