U.S. patent application number 11/056790 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-17 for hairpiece with attachment rings and heating kit for attaching hairpiece.
Invention is credited to Kevin Kim.
Application Number | 20060180171 11/056790 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36814415 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060180171 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Kevin |
August 17, 2006 |
Hairpiece with attachment rings and heating kit for attaching
hairpiece
Abstract
A hairpiece assembly for adding body and/or length to the user's
real hair. The hairpiece assembly includes a plurality of natural
or synthetic strands of hair arranged in parallel and forming a
first edge; and an elongated strip attached to the first edge to
hold the plurality of strands together. The hairpiece assembly
further includes a plurality of spaced-apart rubber rings attached
to the elongated strip to form a hairpiece assembly; and each of
the rubber rings having an opening for receiving therethrough the
user's real hair for attaching the hairpiece assembly to the user's
real hair, using a crimping and heating tool to flatten the rubber
rings and the user's real hair to join them so that the flat rubber
rings grip and hold the user's real hair.
Inventors: |
Kim; Kevin; (Old Bridge,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EZRA SUTTON PA
PLAZA 9
900 Route 9 North
Woodbridge
NJ
07095
US
|
Family ID: |
36814415 |
Appl. No.: |
11/056790 |
Filed: |
February 11, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/201 ;
132/53 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41G 5/006 20130101;
A41G 5/0086 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/201 ;
132/053 |
International
Class: |
A41G 3/00 20060101
A41G003/00; A41G 5/00 20060101 A41G005/00 |
Claims
1. A hairpiece assembly for adding body and/or length to the user's
real hair, comprising: a) a plurality of natural or synthetic
strands of hair arranged in parallel and forming a first edge; b)
an elongated strip attached to said first edge to hold said
plurality of strands together; c) a plurality of spaced-apart
rubber rings attached to said elongated strip to form a hairpiece
assembly; and d) each of said rubber rings having an opening for
receiving there through the user's real hair for attaching said
hairpiece assembly to the user's real hair using a crimping and
heating tool to flatten said rubber rings and the user's real hair
to join them so that said flat rubber rings grip and hold the
user's real hair.
2. A hairpiece assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
elongated strip is a single layer of material made from a flexible
material selected from the group consisting of cotton, rayon,
polyester, nylon, natural hair or combinations thereof.
3. A hairpiece assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
rubber rings are attached to said elongated strip by stitching,
sewing, epoxy gluing, laser bonding, stapling or combinations
thereof.
4. A hairpiece assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
synthetic hair fibers have a fiber color selected from the group
consisting of black, brown, blonde, blue, red, auburn, grey and
white.
5. A hairpiece assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
plurality of strands have a length in the range of 3 inches to 18
inches.
6. A hairpiece assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
elongated strip has a length in the range of 1 inch to 20
inches.
7. A hairpiece assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
plurality of spaced-apart rubber rings are equally spaced a
longitudinal distance in the range of 1/2 inch to 11/2 inches.
8. A hairpiece assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
plurality of spaced-apart rubber rings are each equally spaced a
longitudinal distance of one inch.
9. A method of securing a hairpiece assembly to the head of the
user for styling the user's hair, comprising the steps of: a)
providing a plurality of natural or synthetic strands of hair
arranged in parallel and forming a first edge; b) providing an
elongated strip attached to said first edge for holding the
plurality of strands together; c) attaching a plurality of
spaced-apart rubber rings to said elongated strip for forming a
hairpiece assembly each of said rubber rings having an opening; d)
weaving the user's real hair through said openings of said
plurality of rubber rings on the elongated strip using a pulling
instrument; and e) crimping and heating said ring openings on the
elongated strip using a crimping and heating instrument to join
said rubber rings and the user's real hair to grip and hold the
user's real hair for preventing removal of the user's real hair
from said rubber rings on the elongated strip.
10. A method of securing a hairpiece assembly to the head of the
user in accordance with claim 9, wherein the step of: a) cutting
the elongated strip into one or more cut lengths for incorporating
into different locations on the user's existing real hair; and b)
connecting each of said cut lengths having the plurality of
strands, to different locations on the user's existing real hair to
create a hair style having more body, fullness and length compared
to the real hair on the user's head.
11. A method of securing a hairpiece assembly to the head of the
user in accordance with claim 10, wherein the step of connecting
includes lifting the user's real hair to expose a portion of the
user's scalp and real hair, and then attaching one of said cut
lengths to the user's real hair.
12. A method of securing a hairpiece assembly to the head of the
user in accordance with claim 9, further including the step of
removing the elongated strip having rubber rings thereon using a
crimping and heating instrument to melt away and remove said rubber
rings to release the user's real hair.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a hair weave or wiglet having
attachment means in order to add further body and/or length to the
user's real hair. More particularly, the attachment means is in the
form of eyelet ring rubber fasteners being connected to the user's
real hair for extending the length of the user's hair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Hair weaves, hairpieces or wiglets having various structures
are well known in the prior art. Hair weaves and wiglets are used
to add further bulk and/or body to the user's real hair due to the
user's hair being very fine or thin or having loss of hair because
of disease, chemotherapy or age longevity. Prior art methods for
attaching supplemental hair to human hair have used thermoplastic
glue in order to fuse the supplemental hair bundles with strands of
human hair. Once the thermoplastic glue hardens, the glue becomes
an irritant to the human scalp, and is difficult, if not impossible
to remove the hardened glue from the human hair.
[0003] There remains a need for a hairpiece assembly, a hair weave
or wiglet that is particularly suited for the easy insertion and
incorporation of the hair weave or wiglet within the user's real
hair in order to increase the length, bulk, and/or body of the
user's real hair. Additionally, the hairpiece assembly, hair weave
or wiglet must have simple attachment means such as eyelet ring
fasteners made of rubber, not glue, to easily attach and fasten to
the user's real hair in one or more multiple layers, after the
rubber eyelet ring fasteners are heated and melted to a flat
configuration by a crimping and heating tool.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0004] Wigs, wiglets, hairpieces, hair bands and hair weaves having
various designs, configurations, structures and materials of
construction have been disclosed in the prior art.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,647,384 and 5,337,763 to
HABAR, et al disclose a headband for mounting hair pieces. The
hairpiece includes a flexible base and hair strands attached to an
extending outwardly from the top side of the base. The hairpiece is
attached to the user's head by an elongated strip of fastening
material, such as "VELCRO.TM.". This prior art patent does not
disclose or teach the structure of the present invention.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,625 to PARK discloses a method of
attaching supplemental hair to natural human hair which begins with
selecting a plurality of strands of human hair growing from a
scalp. A supplemental hair bundle includes a plurality of
supplemental hair strands which have been glued to one another at a
glued section by thermoplastic glue. A joint is formed between the
glued section of the supplemental hair bundle and the selected
plurality of strands of human hair. The glued section is heated and
is fused using a heating element of an applicator. The heating
element may be a heated jaw having a heating channel shaped to
receive the glued section of the hair bundle. A kneading jaw in
opposing relationship to the heating jaw may be used to clamp the
human hair and the supplemental hair bundle to mix the heated glue
into the strands of human hair. This prior art patent does not
disclose or teach the structure or method of the present
invention.
[0007] U.S. Pat. Nos. RE34,186 and 4,804,003 to MOEN disclose a
combined head covering and wiglet. The head covering is combined
with a hank of hair. The hank of hair is secured to a strip of
cloth, and a "VELCRO.TM.", strip is attached to the cloth strip.
This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the structure of
the present invention.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,841 to WON discloses an assembled wig or
wig kit having a front wig portion having a plurality of hook-type
fasteners (VELCRO.TM.) and side links, and a back wig portion
having a plurality of links and side hook-type fasteners
(VELCRO.TM.) secured to the fasteners and links wherein the front
and back wig portions have different hair styles and colors. This
prior art patent does not disclose or teach the structure of the
present invention.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,470 to WILSON discloses an attachments
means for securing wigs, wiglets, hair pieces to the head of the
user. The attachment means are in the form of hook and loop
fasteners (VELCRO.TM.) which are designed with the wig, wiglet, or
hair piece to secure the hair piece more firmly to the user's head
while at the same time affording increased comfort to the user.
This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the structure of
the present invention.
[0010] None of the aforementioned prior art patents teach or
disclose a hairpiece assembly, hair weave or wiglet having
attachment means in the form of rubber eyelet ring fasteners only
for incorporating one or more of the hairpiece assemblies within
the user's real hair.
[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a hairpiece assembly that is particularly suited for the
easy insertion and incorporation of the hairpiece within the user's
real hair in order to increase the length, bulk, and/or body of the
user's real hair.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
hairpiece assembly having a simple attachment means in the form of
rubber eyelet ring fasteners within an elongated strip in which to
easily attach and fasten to the user's real hair in one or more
multiple hairpiece layers.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
hairpiece assembly having different hair colors selected from the
group consisting of black, brown, blonde, red, auburn, grey and
white.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
hairpiece assembly having a particular length of hair for a given
elongated fastener strip, such as a 3 inch length, a 6 inch length,
a 9 inch length or a 12 inch length.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
particular length of a given elongated fastener strip, such as a 4
inch length, a 6 inch length, an 8 inch length or a 10 inch
length.
[0016] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
hairpiece assembly, hair weave or wiglet that can be mass produced
in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by
the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a hairpiece assembly for adding body and/or length to the user's
real hair. The hairpiece assembly includes a plurality of natural
or synthetic strands of hair arranged in parallel and forming a
first edge; and an elongated strip attached to the first edge to
hold the plurality of strands together. The hairpiece assembly
further includes a plurality of spaced-apart rubber rings attached
to the elongated strip to form a hairpiece assembly; and each of
the rubber rings having an opening for receiving therethrough the
user's real hair for attaching the hairpiece assembly to the user's
real hair using a crimping and heating tool to flatten the rubber
ring and the user's real hair to join them so that the flat rubber
ring grips and holds the user's real hair.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Further objects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent upon the consideration of the
following detailed description of the presently-preferred
embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the hairpiece assembly
of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the
major component parts of the hairpiece assembly being assembled and
ready for operational use;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hairpiece assembly of
the present invention showing a single lock of real hair being
connected to a rubber eyelet ring fastener using a hair fastener
instrument;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hairpiece assembly of
the present invention showing the single lock of real hair being
inserted and pulled through the rubber eyelet ring fastener by the
hair fastener instrument;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hairpiece assembly of
the present invention showing the single lock of real hair inserted
and pulled through the rubber eyelet ring fastener by the hair
fastener instrument;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the hairpiece assembly
of the present invention showing the major component parts of the
hairpiece assembly being attached to the user's hair and in an
assembled state ready for operational use;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the hairpiece assembly
of the present invention showing the major component parts of the
hairpiece assembly being gripped, attached, heated, crimped and
joined to the to user's real hair and in assembled state ready for
operational use;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the hairpiece assembly
of the present invention showing the heated and crimped rubber
eyelet ring fastener attached to the user's real hair using a
crimping and heating tool;
[0026] FIG. 7A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hairpiece
assembly of the present invention showing the crimping and heating
tool in an operational mode for processing an open rubber eyelet
ring fastener having a plurality of hair strands therein;
[0027] FIG. 7B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hairpiece
assembly of the present invention showing the crimping and heating
tool in an operational mode for flattening and, crimping a closed
rubber eyelet ring fastener having a plurality of hair strands
therein;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the hairpiece assembly
of the present invention showing the hairpiece assembly fully
attached to the user's real hair; and
[0029] FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of the hairpiece assembly
of the present invention showing the crimped rubber eyelet ring
fastener being melted and removed from the user's real hair using
the crimping and heating tool.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0030] The hairpiece assembly 10 and its component parts of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention are represented in
detail by FIGS. 1 through 9 of the drawings. The hairpiece assembly
10 is used for the insertion and incorporation within the user's
real hair 12 in order to increase the length, bulk and/or body of
the user's real hair 12, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 of the
drawings. Hairpiece assembly 10 includes an elongated fastener
strip member 30 along a first edge 34 for holding a plurality of
synthetic hair fibers 20 in place, as depicted in FIGS. 1 to 5 of
the drawings. A plurality of eyelet ring fasteners 32 are
incorporated within the elongated attachment strip member 30. The
eyelet ring fasteners 32 are connected to the elongated fastener
strip 30 by fastening means, such as stitching 38, sewing,
stapling, epoxy gluing, laser bonding or combinations thereof. The
eyelet ring fasteners 32 are for attaching the elongated fastener
strip 30 to the user's real hair 12. The elongated fastener strip
30 is a single layer of material 36 made from a flexible synthetic
or natural material selected from the group consisting of cotton,
rayon, polyester, nylon, human hair or combinations thereof.
[0031] Ring fasteners 32 are spaced apart a length of 1/2 inch to
11/2 inches along the longitudinal axis of elongated fastener strip
30, and are preferably spaced apart a length of 1 inch along the
longitudinal axis of elongated fastener strip 30. Ring fasteners 32
are made from rubber material that easily flattens into a flat
crimped configuration F when heated using a crimping and heating
tool 42 (See FIG. 7B) to join them so that the flat rubber ring
grips and holds the user's real hair 12.
[0032] The hairpiece assembly 10 can be made into different hair
colors selected from the group consisting of black, brown, blonde,
red, auburn, grey and white. Additionally, the hairpiece assembly
10 can be made into a particular length of hair 20 for a given
elongated fastener strip 30, such as a 3 inch length, a 6 inch
length, a 9 inch length or a 12 inch length. Also, a hairpiece
assembly 10 can be cut into various size lengths of the elongated
fastener strip 30 such as a 4 inch length, a 6 inch length, an 8
inch length or a 10 inch length. The user can incorporate into
their real hair 12 one or more of the cut elongated fastener strips
30 to increase the length, bulk, and/or body of the user's hair 12,
as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings.
[0033] It should be understood that hairpiece assembly 10 may be
cut into short lengths, such as 1'' to 2'' inches wide and attached
to the user's real hair for adding highlights, with different
colors, to the user's real hair 12.
[0034] Further, it is understood that the crimping and heating tool
42 includes a conventional heating coil 44 connected to an
electrical cord 46 and plug 48, as shown in FIG. 7 of the
drawings.
METHOD OF OPERATION
[0035] In operation, the hairpiece assembly 10 of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention is readily put into operational
use by cutting elongated fastener strips 30 into desired lengths
(3'' or 6'' or 9'') and simply placing and attaching one or more of
the cut elongated fastener strips 30 into the real hair 12 of the
user's head 14, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 of the drawings.
[0036] The user initially takes a lock or a portion 18 of his or
her hair 12, and lifts it up in a vertical position by a brush, a
comb 16, or the user's hand, such that a partial parting of hair 12
occurs along a portion of the user's scalp 13. The user then places
the hairpiece assembly 10 and elongated fastener strip 30 facing
inward towards the user's scalp 13, so that the eyelet ring rubber
fasteners 32 of the elongated fastener strip 30 may be attached to
the user's real hair 12 by a hair threading instrument or tool 40.
The user then grips strands of real hair 12 with tool 40 and uses
tool 40 to pull the strands of gripped hair through rings 32. The
user continues this process until each ring 32 has hair 12 threaded
through it, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.
[0037] The user then crimps and heats each rubber eyelet ring
fastener 32 into a flattened configuration F (see FIGS. 6, 7A and
7B) using a crimping and heating instrument or tool 42 in order to
fixedly attach the user's real hair 12 and the flat rubber fastener
32 to the elongated fastener strip 30 so as to attach the hairpiece
assembly 10 within and to the user's real hair 12. The user then
allows the lifted hair portion 18 of the user's real hair 12 to
fall back into place and layer itself to cover and hide fastener
strip 30, as shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings. In this manner, more
body and/or length is added to the user's real hair 12.
[0038] The aforementioned step is repeated as many times as the
user wants to cut and insert additional hairpiece assemblies 10
into the user's real hair 12 at various locations for adding
further length, bulk, and/or body to the user's real hair 12, as
depicted in FIG. 6 of the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 6, 8 to 9,
the user can insert a plurality of the cut hairpiece assemblies 10,
10', 10'' and 10''', one above the other at any desired location in
order to increase the length and fullness of the user's hair, or to
create a new hair style. The incorporation of one or more cut
hairpiece assemblies 10 into the user's real hair 12 affords the
user many different hair styles, as shown in FIG. 8.
[0039] At any point in time the user can remove the hairpiece
assembly 10 by using the crimping and heating tool 42 to simply
melt away and remove each of the crimped rubber eyelet ring
fasteners 32 along the elongated fastener strip 30, and thereby
remove the hairpiece assembly 10 from the user's real hair 12.
ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0040] Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is that
it provides for a hairpiece assembly that is particularly suited
for the easy insertion and incorporation of the hairpiece within
the user's real hair in order to increase the length, bulk, and/or
body of the user's real hair.
[0041] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides for a hairpiece assembly having a simple attachment means
in the form of a rubber loop/eyelet ring fastener in which to
easily attach and fasten to the user's real hair in one or more
multiple hairpiece layers.
[0042] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides for a hairpiece assembly having different hair colors
selected from the group consisting of black, brown, blonde, red,
auburn, grey and white.
[0043] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides for a hairpiece assembly having a particular length of
hair for a given elongated fastener stip, such as a 3 inch length,
a 6 inch length, a 9 inch length or a 12 inch length.
[0044] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides for a particular length a given elongated fastener strip,
such as a 4 inch length, an 8 inch length or a 10 inch length.
[0045] A further advantage of the present invention is that it
provides for a hairpiece assembly, hair weave or wiglet that can be
mass produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily
affordable by the user.
[0046] A latitude of modification, change, and substitution is
intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some
features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding
use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the
appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent
with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.
* * * * *