U.S. patent application number 12/900380 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-12 for insulation plate for hair extension.
Invention is credited to Ryan Tokko, Brian Woobank.
Application Number | 20120085361 12/900380 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45924153 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120085361 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tokko; Ryan ; et
al. |
April 12, 2012 |
Insulation Plate for Hair Extension
Abstract
An insulation plate for hair extension that comprises a base
plate, a hair holding plate extending from the base plate and
comprising a hair holding slot and a finger holding ring attached
to the base plate. The hair holding slot comprises an open end and
a dead end that is opposite to the open end, and the distance
between the dead end and the finger holding ring is predetermined.
The distance between the dead end and the finger holding ring is
adjustable. The base plate further comprises a slot that comprises
a plurality of notches. The finger holding ring comprises a tooth
that moves along the slot and engages with one of the notches, and
a ring holding bar that prevents the finger holding ring and the
base plate from disassembled. The finger holding ring comprises an
aligning groove that is adapted to receive and align strands of
hair.
Inventors: |
Tokko; Ryan; (Los Angeles,
CA) ; Woobank; Brian; (Federal way, WA) |
Family ID: |
45924153 |
Appl. No.: |
12/900380 |
Filed: |
October 7, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/53 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41G 5/0086
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/53 |
International
Class: |
A41G 5/00 20060101
A41G005/00 |
Claims
1. An insulation plate for hair extension comprising: a) a base
plate; b) a hair holding plate extending from the base plate and
comprising a hair holding slot; and c) a finger holding ring
attached to the base plate; wherein the hair holding slot comprises
an open end and a dead end that is opposite to the open end,
wherein the distance between the dead end and the finger holding
ring is predetermined.
2. The insulation plate of claim 1, wherein the predetermined
distance is in the range from 5 mm to 40 mm.
3. The insulation plate of claim 2, wherein the distance between
the dead end and the finger holding ring is adjustable.
4. The insulation plate of claim 3, wherein the base plate further
comprises a slot that comprises a plurality of notches, wherein the
finger holding ring comprises a tooth that moves along the slot and
engages with one of the notches, and a ring holding bar that
prevents the finger holding ring and the base plate from
disassembled.
5. The insulation plate of claim 4, wherein the finger holding ring
comprises an aligning groove that is adapted to receive and align
strands of hair, wherein the aligning groove is provided on the
outer periphery of the finger holding ring opposite to the base
plate.
6. The insulation plate of claim 5, wherein the base plate
comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the finger
holding ring is attached to the upper surface, wherein the hair
holding plate is curved away from the lower surface.
7. The insulation plate of claim 6, wherein the width of the dead
end of the hair holding slot is in the range from 3 mm to 5 mm.
8. The insulation plate of claim 2, wherein the finger holding ring
comprises an aligning groove that is adapted to receive and align
strands of hair, wherein the aligning groove is provided on the
outer periphery of the finger holding ring opposite to the base
plate.
9. The insulation plate of claim 8, wherein the distance between
the dead end and the finger holding ring is adjustable.
10. The insulation plate of claim 9, wherein the base plate further
comprises a slot that comprises a plurality of notches, wherein the
finger holding ring comprises a tooth that moves along the slot and
engages with one of the notches, and a ring holding bar that
prevents the finger holding ring and the base plate from
disassembled.
11. The insulation plate of claim 10, wherein the base plate
comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the finger
holding ring is attached to the upper surface, wherein the hair
holding plate is curved away from the lower surface.
12. The insulation plate of claim 11, wherein the width of the dead
end of the hair holding slot is in the range of 3 mm to 5 mm.
13. The insulation plate of claim 3, wherein the base plate further
comprises a slot, and the finger holding ring comprises a screw
hole, a screw and a nut, wherein the screw passes through the screw
hole and the slot, and can move along the slot, wherein the nut
tightens the screw when the screw is positioned at a desired
position within the slot.
14. The insulation plate of claim 2, wherein the finger holding
ring is integrated with the base plate, wherein the finger holding
ring is partially open opposite to the hair holding plate.
15. The insulation plate of claim 14, wherein the base plate is
flat, wherein the base plate comprises an upper surface and a lower
surface, wherein the finger holding ring is protruded from the
upper surface, wherein the hair holding plate is curved away from
the lower surface
16. The insulation plate of claim 14, wherein the finger holding
has shape of a partially open circle, and the center of the circle
is near a plane in which the hair holding plate is positioned.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the invention
[0002] The invention is related to an insulation plate for hair
styling work. More particularly, the present invention is related
to an insulation plate that reduces labor for hair styling,
especially for hair extension work.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] FIG. 1 shows an insulation plate by prior art. Hair styling
work sometimes involves use of an heater, for example, to melt
glue. The example shown illustrates that the insulation plate is
used to insulate the heat generated by an electric heater that
melts glue in hair extension work. A hair stylist chooses a
position around the head of a customer, grabs some strands of
customer's hair at the position, inserts the grabbed strands into a
slot of the insulation plate, and temporarily fixes the insulation
plate on the customer's hair by inserting a hair clip into the
customer's hair and over the insulation plate. After finishing hair
styling work including using an electric heater which emits high
temperature heat, the hair stylist removes the insulation plate by
disengaging the hair clip. This sequence is repeated for other
positions around the head of the customer until the hair styling
work is completed. Use of an insulation plate is essential due to
safety concerns involved in using a heater that produces high
temperature zone during the hair styling work. Labor handling the
insulating plate forms substantial part of hair extension work time
and thus the cost of hair extension. An insulation plate that can
reduce the labor while preventing danger of the high heat has long
been in need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An objective of the invention is to provide an insulation
plate for hair extension, which reduces steps to finish attaching a
strap of decorative hair to a customer's hair.
[0006] Another objective of the invention is to provide an
insulation plate for extension, which facilitates movement of a
hair stylist between a finished hair extension and a next hair
extension work.
[0007] In order to achieve the above objectives, the present
invention provides an insulation plate for hair extension that
comprises a base plate, a hair holding plate extending from the
base plate and comprising a hair holding slot and a finger holding
ring attached to the base plate. The hair holding slot comprises an
open end and a dead end that is opposite to the open end, wherein
the distance between the dead end and the finger holding ring is
predetermined.
[0008] The predetermined distance is in the range from 5 mm to 40
mm.
[0009] The finger holding ring may be integrated with the base
plate and the finger holding ring is partially open opposite to the
hair holding plate. In an embodiment, the base plate is flat, the
base plate comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and the
finger holding ring is protruded from the upper surface and the
hair holding plate is curved away from the lower surface. In
another embodiment, the finger holding has shape of a partially
open circle, and the center of the circle is near a plane in which
the hair holding plate is positioned.
[0010] Preferably, the distance between the dead end and the finger
holding ring is adjustable. The base plate further comprises a slot
that comprises a plurality of notches. The finger holding ring
comprises a tooth that moves along the slot and engages with one of
the notches, and a ring holding bar that prevents the finger
holding ring and the base plate from disassembled.
[0011] Alternatively, the base plate further comprises a slot, and
the finger holding ring comprises a screw hole, a screw and a nut.
The screw passes through the screw hole and the slot, and can move
along the slot. The nut tightens the screw when the screw is
positioned at a desired position within the slot.
[0012] The finger holding ring comprises an aligning groove that is
adapted to receive and align strands of hair. The aligning groove
is provided on the outer periphery of the finger holding ring
opposite to the base plate.
[0013] The base plate comprises an upper surface and a lower
surface, wherein the finger holding ring is attached to the upper
surface, wherein the hair holding plate is curved away from the
lower surface.
[0014] Preferably, width of the dead end of the hair holding slot
is in the range of 3 to 5 mm. The advantageous effects of the
present invention are: (1) labor and time for hair extension work
are reduced; (2) hair extension work is more streamlined because
the insulation plate is always positioned on a hair stylist's
finger and does not need to be attached to or detached from a
customer's hair; and (3) a customer is not bothered by repeated use
of a hair pin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The accompanying drawings illustrate the best embodiments of
the present invention. In the drawings:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an insulation plate by
prior art;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an insulation plate by
the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the insulation plate;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the insulation plate;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the step of preparing a
customer's hair;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the step of engaging
customer's hair to the insulation plate;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the step of temporarily
holding customer's hair with the insulation plate;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the step of preparing a
decorative hair for hair extension;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the step of fixing the
decorative hair to customer's hair with an electric heater;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the step of rounding
the glued connection of customer's hair and decorative hair with
fingers of a hair stylist;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the step of removing
the insulation plate;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an insulation plate that has
a finger holding ring, the position of which can be adjusted;
[0028] FIG. 13 is an elevation view of the insulation plate;
[0029] FIG. 14 is a plan view showing the base plate of the
insulation plate;
[0030] FIG. 15 is a bottom view showing the finger holding ring of
the insulation plate;
[0031] FIG. 16 is an elevation view of the finger holding ring;
[0032] FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing another
embodiment of an insulation plate that can adjust the position of a
finger holding ring;
[0033] FIG. 18A is a perspective view of the insulation plate for
which the position of the finger holding ring is farthest form the
hair holding slot;
[0034] FIG. 18B is an elevation view of the insulation plate for
which which the position of the finger holding ring is farthest
from the hair holding slot;
[0035] FIG. 19A is a perspective view of the insulation plate for
which the position of the finger holding ring is closest to the
hair holding slot;
[0036] FIG. 19B is an elevation view of the insulation plate for
which the position of the finger holding ring is closest to the
hair holding slot;
[0037] FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing an insulation plate to
which a finger holding ring is integrated to the base plate;
[0038] FIG. 21 is an elevation view of the insulation plate;
[0039] FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing an insulation plate to
which a finger holding ring is integrated with the base plate;
[0040] FIG. 23 is an elevation view of the insulation plate;
[0041] FIG. 24 is a view to similar to FIG. 22 but showing an
insulation plate having a finger holding ring open to different
direction; and
[0042] FIG. 25 is an elevation view of the insulation plate.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0043] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show an insulation plate 10 for hair
extension according to the present invention. The insulation plate
10 comprises a base plate 12, a hair holding plate 14 extending
from the base plate 12 and comprising a hair holding slot 16, and a
finger holding ring 18 attached to the base plate 12. Referring
FIG. 3, the hair holding slot 16 comprises an open end 20 and a
dead end 22 that is opposite to the open end 20, wherein the
distance d between the dead end 22 and the finger holding ring 18
is predetermined. The open end 20 is rounded to facilitate entry of
hair strands into the hair holding slot 16.
[0044] The predetermined distance d (refer to FIG. 3) is in the
range from 5 mm to 40 mm. The distance d is the optimum range of
distance to provide enough space to use an electric heater 44
(refer to FIG. 9) to melt glue of a decorative hair strip 46 (refer
to FIG. 8) while holding the insulation plate 10 as close as
possible.
[0045] The width w (refer to FIG. 3) of the dead end of the hair
holding slot is in the range of 3 to 5 mm. The width w is the
optimum value that corresponds to handle optimal number of strands
of customer's hair for hair extension work.
[0046] Referring FIG. 4, the base plate comprises an upper surface
24 and a lower surface 26. The finger holding ring 18 is attached
to the upper surface 24. The hair holding plate 18 is curved away
from the lower surface 26 to conform to the shape of customer's
head.
[0047] FIGS. 12-16 show another embodiment of an insulation plate
28, for which the distance d between the dead end 22 and the finger
holding ring 18 is adjustable. A base plate 30 comprises a slot 32
that comprises a plurality of notches 34 (refer to FIG. 14). A
finger holding ring 36 comprises a tooth 38 that moves along the
slot 32 and engages with the notches 34, and a ring holding bar 40
that prevents the finger holding ring 36 and the base plate 30 from
disassembled. A hair stylist can adjust the distance d for her
maximum efficiency and convenience. When assembling the finger
holding ring 36 with the base plate 30, the ring holding bar 40 is
aligned with the slot 32 and passes through the slot 32 and then
rotated to the position shown in FIG. 13.
[0048] The finger holding ring 36 comprises an aligning groove 42
that is adapted to receive and align strands of hair. The aligning
groove 42 is provided on the outer periphery of the finger holding
ring 36 opposite to the base plate 30. In hair extension work, a
hair stylist places strands of a customer's hair into the aligning
groove 42 and places strands of decorative hair over the strands of
customer's hair. The aligning groove 42 provides guidance so that
the accuracy of aligning customer hair and decorative hair to be
attached does not depend only on the accuracy of a hair stylist's
finger movement. The aligning groove enhances accuracy of alignment
before the aligned hairs are bonded by an electric heater, and
reduces fatigue of a hair stylist.
[0049] Referring to FIGS. 5-11, a method of hair extension using
the insulation plate 10, 28 of the present invention is explained.
FIG. 5 shows that a hair stylist prepares a customer's hair. She
chooses location on the head of a customer for hair extension, and
grabs appropriate number of strands of the customer's hair. FIG. 6
shows that the hair stylist engages customer's hair strands into
the hair holding slot 16 of the insulation plate 10, 28. FIG. 7
shows that the hair stylist temporarily holds the customer's hair
with the insulation plate. The hair strands contacts the dead end
22 of the hair holding slot 16. FIG. 8 shows that the hair stylist
prepares the decorative hair strip 46 for hair extension. FIG. 9
shows that the hair stylist fixes the decorative hair strip 46 to
customer's hair with the electric heater 44. FIG. 10 shows that the
hair stylist rounds the glued connection of customer's hair and
decorative hair strip with her fingers. FIG. 11 shows that the hair
stylist removes the insulation plate from the connected hair
strands. These steps are repeated for additional decorative hair
strips until desired hair extension effect is obtained.
[0050] FIGS. 17-19B show another embodiment of an insulation plate
48 that can adjust the distance d. A base plate 50 comprises a slot
52, and a finger holding ring 54 comprises a screw hole 56, a screw
58 and a nut 60. The screw 58 passes through the screw hole 56 and
the slot 52, and can move along the slot 52. The nut 60 tightens
the screw 58 when the screw 58 is positioned at a desired position
within the slot 52.
[0051] FIGS. 20 and 21 show an insulation plate 62 that can be
molded as a single body. A finger holding ring 64 is integrated
with a base plate 66 and the finger holding ring 64 is partially
open opposite to a hair holding plate 68. The base plate 66 is flat
and the base plate 66 comprises an upper surface 70 and a lower
surface 72. The finger holding ring 64 is protruded from the upper
surface 70 and the hair holding plate 68 is curved away from the
lower surface 72.
[0052] FIGS. 22 and 23 also show an insulation plate 74 that can be
molded as a single body. A finger holding 76 has shape of a
partially open circle, and the center of the circle is near a plane
in which a hair holding plate 80 is positioned. A curved base plate
78 connects the finger holding ring 76 and the hair holding plate
80. FIGS. 24 and 25 show a variation of an insulation plate 82
having a finger holding ring 84 that is open in a direction
opposite to that in FIG. 22.
* * * * *