U.S. patent application number 09/833116 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-01 for self adhesive hair extension.
Invention is credited to Townsend, Valerie.
Application Number | 20010035192 09/833116 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33544813 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010035192 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Townsend, Valerie |
November 1, 2001 |
Self adhesive hair extension
Abstract
The present invention resides in self adhesive hair extensions
and a method of attaching then to the head of a wearer. The self
adhesive hair extensions comprise a plurality of either natural or
synthetic hair strands attached to a base support unit comprising a
strip of woven material or hair attachment weave or welt at one
end. A fastener comprising a self adhesive tape portion and
removable backing is sewn or otherwise secured by stitching it to
the hair extensions in order to prevent the adhesive tape from
being separated or repositioned during use. The method of use
comprises separating a user's hair along a part line into an upper
portion and a lower portion wherein the upper portion is
temporarily swept up and away from the part line. The backing is
removed from the adhesive hair fastener exposing the removable self
adhesive tape, said self adhesive tape is applied to the scalp or
back of the head of user.
Inventors: |
Townsend, Valerie; (Los
Angele, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Cleveland R. Williams
Suite 100
2501 E Chapman Avenue
Fullerton
CA
92831
US
|
Family ID: |
33544813 |
Appl. No.: |
09/833116 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60196181 |
Apr 11, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/201 ;
132/53 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41G 5/0033
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/201 ;
132/53 |
International
Class: |
A41G 005/00; A41G
003/00 |
Claims
1. A process for attaching removable, self adhesive hair extensions
to the head of a user, which comprises the steps of: (a) forming a
part line on the head of a user to form an upper portion of hair
and a lower portion of hair, (b) temporarily sweeping the upper
portion of hair up and away from the part line over the top part of
the head and securing it in position, (c) removing the backing from
the self adhesive hair extension exposing a self adhesive tape
portion; and (d) Applying the self adhesive tape attached to the
hair extension to a part of the human head.
2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the self adhesive hair
extensions comprise: plurality of hair strands attached to a base
support unit at one end in parallel arrangement, a fastener
attached to the base support unit over the attached ends of the
hair strands; and a removable backing attached to the fastener.
3. The process of claim 2, wherein the base supports unit is a
strip of woven material.
4. The process of claim 2, wherein the base support unit is a hair
attachment weave.
5. The process of claim 2, wherein the base support unit is a weft
strip.
6. The process of claim 2, wherein the hair strands are attached to
the base support unit by sewing individual strands or clumps of
hair to the base support unit.
7. The process of claim 2, wherein the hair strands are attached to
the base support unit by tying individual strands or clumps of hair
to said base support unit.
8. The process according to claim 2, wherein the removable backing
exposes a portion of the fastener when removed therefrom.
9. The process of claim 1, wherein the hair strands are natural
hair.
10. The process claim 1, wherein the hair strands are synthetic
hair.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This version of the invention is concerned with the field of
devices and methods that provide the appearance of longer or
thicker hair. More specifically, this version of the invention is
concerned with a hair attachment comprised of natural or synthetic
hair that is releasably attached directly to the hair or scalp of a
wearer in order to provide the wearer with the appearance of longer
or thicker hair.
[0003] It is a common desire among many people to acquire hair that
is longer and thicker than that which they possess for a variety of
reasons, such as self esteem and satisfaction, quickly changing
fashion styles, and the like. For instance, short hair may, which
is in fashion for a period of time, may quickly be replaced as
current fashion with longer, fuller hairstyles. As hair grows at
the rate of approximately less than one inch per month, many people
find that it is exceedingly difficult to acquire a contemporary
hairstyle in a reasonable amount of time. Even when someone
possesses hair of substantial length, the hair may lack the
thickness or overall volume to achieve a desirable hairstyle.
Others may find that their hair grows unevenly and that constant
attention and trimming may be required to maintain a desired
look.
[0004] Various devices and techniques are available in the prior
art and in the marketplace that attempt to satisfy the need and
desire for longer and thicker hair. A common and well known item is
a wig, whereby the hair of the wearer is completely covered by a
cap like article to which natural or synthetic hair is attached.
Although wigs provide a quick and easy means to achieve longer
hair, they do not present a fully natural appearance, a condition
that leads to their recognition when they are being worn. More
recently, a variety of more natural hair enhancement techniques
have become popular with a variety of users. These consist of hair
weaves, hair extensions, hair braiding and the like, whereby
natural or synthetic hair is attached to the scalp of existing hair
of a wearer by a variety of techniques in order to provide the
appearance of longer, thicker hair without the noticeable artifice
of a wig. These techniques, which overcome the obvious
disadvantages of a wig, also suffer from several drawbacks as they
are relatively expensive and time consuming to acquire and
frequently discomfit the wearer during application.
[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0006] Numerous designs, devices, and methods for hair lengthening
and enhancement have been provided in the prior art. Even though
these designs may be suitable for the specific individual purposes
to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes
of the present version of the invention as they involve relatively
elaborate and time consuming techniques and methods as referenced
earlier. These techniques are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No.
5,072,745, Hair Extension Process, issued to Cheh on Dec. 17, 1991;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,867, Process for Extending Human Hair, issued
to Barrington on Apr. 28, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,145, Hair
Extension and Thickening Process, issued to Spann on Feb. 9, 1999.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,737, Method of Attaching A Hair Weft To The
Hair Of A Wearer, issued to Nelson on Mar. 16, 1999 discloses a
hair attachment device designed to provide the appearance of
longer, thicker, and fuller hair. The attachment consists of a
quantity of natural or synthetic human hair that is attached at one
end to self adhesive tape, which is applied to the scalp or hair of
a wearer in releasable engagement thereon. While a hair attachment
is relatively simple to apply, the self adhesive tape provides a
less than adequate means to secure the ends of the strands of
natural or synthetic hair, which can become prematurely separated
from the self adhesive tape.
[0007] As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing
need for a new and improved method and device for providing the
appearance of longer and thicker hair in a manner that is
relatively simple and inexpensive the achieve. In these respects,
the present version of the invention substantially departs from the
conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing
provides an apparatus that substantially fulfills this need.
Additionally, the prior patents and commercial techniques do not
suggest the present inventive combination of component elements
arranged and configured as disclosed herein.
[0008] The present invention achieves its intended purposes,
objects, and advantages through a new, useful and unobvious
combination of method steps and component elements, with the use of
a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to
manufacture, and by employing only readily available materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present version of the invention, which will be
described in greater detail hereinafter, relates to the field of
devices and methods that provide the appearance of longer or
thicker hair. More specifically, this version of the invention is
concerned with a hair attachment comprised of natural or synthetic
hair that is releasably attached directly to the hair or scalp of a
wearer in order to provide the wearer with the appearance of longer
of thicker hair. My version of the invention overcomes all of the
shortcomings listed previously, in addition to novel aspects that
will be described in detail hereinafter.
[0010] Described briefly, according to a typical embodiment, the
invention presents a hair attachment device or hair extension that
is releasably attached to the hair or scalp of a wearer in order to
provide the appearance of longer, thicker, fuller hair. The hair
extension thus allows the wearer to change the appearance of their
hair in order to achieve fashion styles that use longer hair or
simply to enhance their appearance by achieving particular hair
designs heretofore impossible without the aid of a hair extension.
The hair extension that is the subject of the instant invention
consists of a quantity of natural or synthetic hair strands that
are disposed in parallel relation and are attached or secured at
one end to a flexible strip or weft of woven material. The weave
pattern of said material securely anchors the attached ends of the
hair strands so that said strands do not become separated from the
strip of woven material after repeated use. The weft of woven
material is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the shape or any
scalp or hair mass onto which it is attached. A fastener comprised
of a rectangular strip of self adhesive tape with removable backing
is sewn, stitched or otherwise attached to the weft of woven
material in order to provide the adhesion necessary to secure the
hair extension to the scalp or hair of the wearer. The hair
extension can be applied to the scalp or hair of the wearer in
various quantities and locations thereon as needed to achieve the
desired look and appearance, although it is anticipated that the
hair extensions will be applied primarily to the rear and top
portions of the scalp or adjacent hair. The strands of hair secured
to the weft of woven material as referenced earlier can be natural
or synthetic and are also available in a variety of textures,
colors, lengths, and diameters.
[0011] My invention, therefore, resides not in any one of these
features per se, but rather in the particular combination of all of
them herein disclosed. It is distinguished from the prior art in
this particular combination of all of its structures for the
functions specified.
[0012] In as much as the foregoing has outlined rather broadly the
more pertinent and important features of the present invention in
order that the detailed description of the invention that follows
may be better understood so that the present contribution to the
art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the
invention will be described hereinafter. It should be appreciated
by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed
specific methods and structures may be readily utilized as a basis
for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the
same purposes of the present invention. It should be realized by
those skilled in the art that such equivalent methods and
structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
[0013] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practices
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0014] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention.
[0015] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and
especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art
who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence
of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is
neither intended to define the invention of the application nor is
it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any
way.
[0016] Accordingly, it is an object of my version of the invention
to provide a low-cost, easy-to-manufacture, and easy-to-market self
adhesive hair extension.
[0017] A significant object of the invention is to provide a self
adhesive hair extension that is comprised of a quantity of parallel
arranged natural or synthetic hair strands attached at one end to a
strip or weft of woven material, which is secured to the scalp or
hair of a wearer by a strip of self adhesive tape.
[0018] A final but very significant object of the invention is to
provide a self adhesive hair extension that provides the appearance
of longer and thicker hair by overcoming the disadvantages of
conventional hair enhancing and supplementing devices and
techniques, such as wigs, hair weaves and braids, and removable
hair extensions and attachments.
[0019] For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference
should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter
in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the
invention. The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent
objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be
merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and
application of the present invention. Many other beneficial results
can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different
manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the
disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding
of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the
invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment
in addition to the scope of the invention illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the invention will become more fully understood from the following
description of the preferred embodiment of the invention as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference
characters refer to the same parts throughout different views. The
drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a self adhesive
hair extension in accordance with the present version of the
invention illustrating the constituent components thereof.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a self adhesive hair
extension with a fastener of self adhesive tape attached to a weave
or weft by means of stitching and a removable backing separated
from the fastener of self adhesive tape to reveal the construction
thereof.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a self adhesive hair
extension eligned for attachment to either the scalp or hair of a
wearer.
DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0024] 10 Self Adhesive Hair Extension
[0025] 12 Hair Strands
[0026] 14 Fastener
[0027] 16 Hair Attachment Weave
[0028] 18 Attached End of Hair Strands
[0029] 20 Unattached End of Hair Strands
[0030] 22 Self Adhesive Tape
[0031] 24 Tape Backing
[0032] 26 Stitching
[0033] 28 Wearer
[0034] 30 Part Line of Hair
[0035] 32 Upper Portion of Hair
[0036] 34 Lower Portion of Hair
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Description
[0037] Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to FIG. 1
wherein there is illustrated a typical embodiment of the self
adhesive hair extension 10. The present version of the invention 10
consists of a plurality of hair stands 12, fastener 14 of self
adhesive tape (either single or double side layer of adhesion), and
strip of woven material or hair attachment weave or weft 16. The
hair strands 12 are comprised of natural or synthetic hair in a
variety of lengths, diameters, textures, and colors in order to
accommodate the desires and needs of a variety of wearers and
fashion styles. A quantity of hair strands 12 is arranged generally
in parallel arrangement so that the strands 12 are aligned at a
first attached end 18 and a second attached end 20. The attached
end 18 is secured or anchored in place by having the ends of
individual or clumps of hair strands 12 sewn or tied to individual
portions or sections of the hair attachment weave 16, e.g. base
support unit, to prevent premature separation. The density and
tautness of the weave pattern prevents the attached ends 18 of the
hair strands 12 from becoming separated from the hair attachment
weave 16. The weave 16 is comprised of flexible and durable
material that conforms to the shape and contour of various scalp
and scalp surfaces in order to achieve a comfortable and
unobtrusive fit thereon. The fastener 14 of self adhesive tape is
rectangular and preferably narrow and elongate in order to
correspond to the perimeter of the hair attachment weave 16.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, therein illustrated is the fastener 14
secured to the hair attachment weave 16 and over the attached ends
18 of hair strands 12 as configured before attachment to the scalp
or hair of a wearer. The fastener 14 is comprised of a self
adhesive tape portion 22 and removable backing 24. The self
adhesive tape portion 22 is sewn or otherwise secured by stitching
26 to the hair attachment weave 16 in order to prevent said tape
portion 22 from being separated or repositioned during use.
[0039] In FIG. 3, two self adhesive hair extension 10 are
illustrated as being attached to the rear side of the heads of a
wearer 28. In this example, the wearer 28 is displayed with the
hair separated along a part line 30 at the back of the head with
the hair separated at said part line 30 into an upper portion 32 of
hair that is temporarily swept up and away from the part line 30
over the top part of the head and pinned in place and a lower
portion 34 of hair hanging directly below the part line 30. the
fasteners 14 with the backing 24 removed are aligned over the part
line 30 so that the self tape portions 22 and stitching 26 can make
direct contact with the scalp. If necessary, the hair extensions 10
can be cut or trimmed either vertically or horizontally to conform
to the existing or proposed hair style or desire of the user. Once
the hair extensions 10 are aligned and secured as desired, the
upper portion 32 of the hair can be dropped back to its original
position to conceal the self adhesive tape portion 22 resulting in
a natural, lifelike appearance of longer and thicker hair. Of
course, the hair extension 10 can be attached to the head of the
wearer 28 in a variety of styles and quantities and at an
assortment of location and positions thereon with placement only
limited by the imagination of the wearer and hair dresser. It
should be pointed out that the example of attachment described
previously by no means limits the spirit and scope of the invention
10 and that all possible variation of attaching the self adhesive
hair extension 10 to either the scalp or hair of a wearer remains
within the purview of the instant invention.
[0040] While this version of the invention has been illustrated and
described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the
same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in
character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment
has been shown and described and that all changes and modification
that come within the spirit of the version of the invention are
desired to be protected. With respect to the above description
then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional
relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations
in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation,
assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one
skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Conclusion and Scope of Information
[0041] From the foregoing, it will be understood by persons skilled
in the art that an improved self adhesive hair extension has been
provided. The invention is relatively simple and easy to
manufacture, yet affords a variety of uses. While my description
contains many specificities, these should not be construed as
limitations on the scope of the version of the invention, but
rather as an exemplification of the preferred embodiment thereof.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention. Although this invention has been described in its
preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is
understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has
been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the
details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention.
I claim
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