U.S. patent application number 16/184544 was filed with the patent office on 2020-05-14 for hair fasteners and methods of manufacture thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to TUNG HING PLASTIC MANUFACTORY LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is TUNG HING PLASTIC MANUFACTORY LTD.. Invention is credited to Ka Chuen SZE.
Application Number | 20200146417 16/184544 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 70552111 |
Filed Date | 2020-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200146417 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SZE; Ka Chuen |
May 14, 2020 |
HAIR FASTENERS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF
Abstract
There is disclosed a hair fastener. The hair fastener is in the
form of a loop for securing a log of hair within the loop. The hair
fastener has an inner elastic core and an outer fabric enveloping
the inner elastic core, wherein the elastic core is made of a band
with a width of 2 to 6 mm and a thickness of 1 to 3 mm, and made of
thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The hair fastener is adapted to
assume a first, default, configuration in which an opening defined
and surrounded by the loop has a first area and a second, fully
expanded, configuration in which the opening defined and surrounded
by the loop has a second area. Due to the physical configuration
and material characteristics of the band, the band is elongateable
up to 8.5 to 10 times of its original length thus enabling the
first area of the loop to expand to the second area by a factor
72.3 to 100.
Inventors: |
SZE; Ka Chuen; (Kowloon,
HK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TUNG HING PLASTIC MANUFACTORY LTD. |
Kowloon |
|
HK |
|
|
Assignee: |
TUNG HING PLASTIC MANUFACTORY
LTD.
Kowloon
HK
|
Family ID: |
70552111 |
Appl. No.: |
16/184544 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 8/34 20130101; A45D
8/36 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 8/36 20060101
A45D008/36 |
Claims
1. A hair fastener in the form of a loop for securing a log of hair
within the loop, comprising an inner elastic core and an outer
fabric enveloping the inner elastic core, wherein the elastic core
is made of a band with a width of 2 to 6 mm and a thickness of 1 to
3 mm, and made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), wherein the
fastener is adapted to assume a first, default, configuration in
which an opening defined and surrounded by the loop has a first
area and a second, fully expanded, configuration in which the
opening defined and surrounded by the loop has a second area, and
wherein, due to the physical configuration and material
characteristics of the band, the band is elongateable up to 8.5 to
10 times of its original length thus enabling the first area of the
loop to expand to the second area by a factor 72.3 to 100.
2. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tensile
strength of the band has a value of 3.02 to 4.08 Mpa.
3. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tensile
modulus of the band has a value of 0.37 to 0.49 Mpa.
4. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tensile
stress of the band at 100% has a value of 0.38 to 0.52 Mpa.
5. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 4, wherein the band has a
Shore Hardness A of 23.8 to 32.2.
6. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 5, wherein the maximum pull
strength of the band is 57.31N.
7. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 6, wherein the specific
gravity of the band has a value of substantially 0.9.
8. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer fabric
is sufficiently loose to provide room for maximum expansion of the
band.
9. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the band
resembling a circle has a joint connecting opposite free ends of
the band by adhesives and enveloped in the outer fabric.
10. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the band
resembling a circle has an integral structure made from one
injection molding step free of a joint and enveloped within the
outer fabric.
11. A method of manufacture of a hair fastener as claimed in claim
1, comprising a step of forming the elastic core by the
thermoplastic elastomer by way of injection molding using a melt
flow rate of 7.57 to 10.23.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is concerned with an improved hair
fastener and a method of manufacture thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are many hair fastening devices in the market to suit
different needs of securing hair. Such devices include hair claws,
barrettes, etc. One type of hair fasteners known as hair loop is
commonly used to maintain a pony tail of a user. Nevertheless, such
hair loops often suffer from different drawbacks. For example, an
inner structure of such hair loops made of a fabric material often
retains moisture which hinders the tying performance of the hair
loop, increases weight to the hair loop, and/or would cause hygiene
problems. Further, hair loops in the market often are not
sufficiently accommodative to secure hair logs of vastly different
sizes of different users. The present invention seeks to address at
least both issues of tying performance and tying comfort as well
increasing tying adaptability to suit different users, or at least
to provide an alternative to the public.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a hair fastener in the form of a loop for securing a
log of hair within the loop, comprising an inner elastic core and
an outer fabric enveloping the inner elastic core, wherein the
elastic core is made of a band with a width of 2 to 6 mm and a
thickness of 1 to 3 mm, and made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE),
wherein the fastener is adapted to assume a first, default,
configuration in which an opening defined and surrounded by the
loop has a first circular area "a" and a second, fully expanded,
configuration in which the opening defined and surrounded by the
loop has a second circular area, and wherein, due to the physical
configuration and material characteristics of the band, the band is
elongateable up to 8.5 to 10 times of its original length thus
enabling the first area of the loop to expand to the second area by
a factor 72.3 to 100. It is to be noted that this combination of
parameters is not arbitrary and are arrived at after much research
and development efforts. With this configuration, in a hair tying
exercise, a user can stretch the hair fastener its default length
up to the maximum length, wrap around a log of hair by the hair
fastener multiple times (at least four times) in a more easily
manipulating manner, and when finished the hair fastener can attain
a tight fit to the hair log thus achieving hair tying reliably.
[0004] Preferably, the tensile strength of the band may have a
value of 3.02 to 4.08 Mpa. The tensile modulus of the band may have
a value of 0.37 to 0.49 Mpa. The tensile stress of the band at 100%
may have a value of 0.38 to 0.52 Mpa. The band may have a Shore
Hardness A of 23.8 to 32.2. The maximum pull strength of the band
may be substantially 57.31N. The specific gravity of the band may
have a value of substantially 0.9. These characteristics further
enhance the physical characteristics so that the fastener is
sufficiently elastic, resilient and accommodative enough to suit
the needs of pony tail tying.
[0005] Suitably, the outer fabric may be sufficiently loose to
provide room for maximum expansion of the band.
[0006] Advantageously, the band resembling a circle may have a
joint connecting opposite free ends of the band by adhesives and
enveloped in the outer fabric. Alternatively, the band resembling a
circle may have an integral structure made from one injection
molding step free of a joint and enveloped within the outer
fabric.
[0007] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of manufacture of a hair fastener as
described, comprising a step of forming the elastic core by the
thermoplastic elastomer by way of injection molding using a melt
flow rate of 7.57 to 10.23. This range of melt flow rate can
enhance the elasticity and resilience of the elastic core.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Some embodiments of the present invention will now be
explained, with reference to the accompanied drawings, in
which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a conventional
hair loop fastener;
[0010] FIG. 2a shows an elastic core of the conventional hair loop
fastener of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 2b shows an embodiment of an elastic core of a hair
loop fastener according to the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3a corresponds to FIGS. 1 and 2b and schematically
illustrates the conventional hair loop fastener of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3b shows an embodiment of a hair loop fastener
according to the present invention incorporated with an elastic
core of FIG. 2b;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a series of schematic diagrams illustrating the
expansion of the conventional hair loop fastener of FIGS. 1 and
3a;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a series of schematic diagrams illustrating the
expansion of the hair loop fastener of FIG. 3b; and
[0016] FIG. 6 shows the hair loop fastener of FIGS. 3b and 5 during
use by a user.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0017] By way of background, a conventional hair fastener is
firstly explained. FIG. 1 shows such a conventional hair fastener
2. FIG. 2a illustrates an elastic core 4 disposed in the hair
fastener 2 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3a illustrates the hair fastener 2 with
the elastic core 4 positioned therein. The elastic core 4 is made
of a knitted structure comprising a fabric material essentially
made of or comprising non-polymeric materials. FIG. 4 shows that
such hair fasteners can expand in length up to at most four times
its original length.
[0018] The present invention is concerned with a hair fastener, and
in particular a hair fastener in the form of a loop typically used
to tie and maintain a pony tail of a user. Such hair fasteners have
improved performance.
[0019] Referring firstly to FIG. 3b, the hair fastener, generally
designated 12, has an outer fabric covering 16 loosely enveloping
or otherwise enclosing an inner elastic core 14. Referring to FIG.
2b, the elastic core 14 is in the form of a band with a width from
2 to 6 mm and a thickness of 1 to 3 mm. The elastic core 14 is made
essentially of thermoplastic elastic (TPE). In the embodiment of
FIG. 3b, the elastic core 14 is made of a band with opposite open
ends 18, 20 connected together by adhesives. Alternatively, the
elastic core 14 may be formed to a loop structure in one injection
molding step. Please see FIG. 2b upper diagram. By way of these
physical characteristics, the elastic core 14 can elongate from its
default state to an expanded state which is 8.5 to 10 times of its
original length. The hair fastener 12 in the form of the loop
defines an area in which a log of hair is secured. Accordingly, the
circular area defined by the loop can expand significantly from its
default configuration to its maximum expanded configuration of 72.3
to 100 times. It is envisaged that with such large degree of
expansion, a log of hair can be wrapped around by the loop multiple
times, at least four of more times. Further, during a hair tying
exercise, the hair fastener 12 can be fully stretched to allow a
user to more easily manipulate the loop to go around the hair log.
Yet further, the use of TPE as the inner elastic core 14 can
minimize moisture trapped within the fabric covering.
[0020] While in different embodiments the circumferential length of
the band of the elastic core 14 may assume any length, research and
development leading to the present invention have indicated that
the length would impact the tying performance in the context of the
present invention. In this regard, studies have identified that the
elastic core 14 preferably has a circumferential length of 8 to 18
cm in order to produce the desired tying performance.
[0021] Studies have shown that the hair fastener 12 as described
can enhance the ease and reliability of hair tying. The following
table shows further preferred characteristics of the inner elastic
core in one experiment.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Experimental Data of Inner Elastic Core of
Hair Loop Fastener Properties Test Condition Typical Value Unit
Melt Flow Rate 190.degree. C./5 Kg 8.9 g/10 min Specific Gravity
25.degree. C. 0.9 N/A Shore Hardness A 25.degree. C./5 sec 28 A
Tensile Strength 25.degree. C./500 3.55 Mpa mm/min Ultimate
elongation 25.degree. C./500 1018.13 % mm/min Maximum pull
25.degree. C./500 57031 N mm/min Tensile Modulus 25.degree. C./500
0.43 Mpa mm/min Tensile Stress @ 25.degree. C./500 0.45 Mpa 100%
mm/min Hardness in Air 100.degree. C./168 / A Shore A hours Tensile
Strength 100.degree. C./168 / % in Air hours Average shrinkage
25.degree. C./168 / % hours ROHS EDX3000B ND ppm
Further experiments have identified that the test results stay
within a .+-.15% margin.
[0022] In a first embodiment of a method of manufacture, the
elastic core 14 may first be formed to an elongate band. The fabric
covering 16 is then produced to form an essentially closed
enveloped but with a small opening such resembling a pocket thus
allowing the elongate band to fit through fabric covering 16
through the opening. Opposite ends of the band 14 are then
connected together by adhesives to a form a loop. The opening of
the fabric covering 16 is then closed by stitching so as to fully
enclose the loop. In an alternative embodiment, the elastic core 14
may be formed to a loop by one injection molding step followed by
placing the loop within the fabric covering. An inner circumference
of the hair fastener 12 is then closed by stitching the fabric
covering 16 together thus fully concealing the loop.
[0023] In an embodiment of a method of manufacture of such a hair
fastener, there is provided a step of forming the elastic core 14
by the thermoplastic elastomer by way of injection molding using a
melt flow rate of 7.57 to 10.23. The use of such a flow rate allows
the manufacture elastic core 14 to behave with the desired tying
performance as discussed above.
[0024] It should be understood that certain features of the
invention, which are, for clarity, described in the content of
separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single
embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which
are, for brevity, described in the content of a single embodiment,
may be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.
It is to be noted that certain features of the embodiments are
illustrated by way of non-limiting examples. Also, a skilled person
in the art will be aware of the prior art which is not explained in
the above for brevity purpose.
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