GB2513071A

GB2513071A - A device for protecting hair extensions during washing

Info

Publication number: GB2513071A
Application number: GB1413862.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gillian Patricia Ashcroft
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-08-05
Filing date: 2014-08-05
Publication date: 2014-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 2034-08-05
Also published as: GB201413862D0; GB2513071B

Abstract

A device 10 comprises a pouch 12 which is suitable for use when washing hair with hair extensions attached. The device 10 has a mouth 16 through which hair extensions can be placed in the pouch 12. The device 10 further comprises a closure arrangement 14, preferably formed as a clip with two spring biased arms 18, 20, for closing the mouth 16 of the pouch 12 around the hair. The arms 18, 20 are preferably pivotally coupled and can be moved apart by pressing levers 28, 30. They may also be resiliently biased towards one another so that they close around the hair when released. The clip 14 may be curved in shape to enable it to sit against the back of a head. Teeth 46 may be provided to help grip the hair. The pouch 12 is preferably formed from an impermeable flexible membrane. Thus the hair extensions can be placed wholly or largely within the pouch 12 and protected during washing. The natural hair is left outside the pouch 12 for washing. The device 10 can also be used to protect the hair extensions during blow drying.

Description

A DEVICE FOR PROTECTING HAIR EXTENSIONS DURING WASHING

The present invention relates to a device for protecting hair extensions during hair washing.

Hair extensions, sometimes referred to as artificial hair integrations, are widely known and used. Strands of extension hair are attached to the natural hair of the wearer to increase its length. The extensions may be formed of donated human hair, synthetic hair, or hair cut from an animal.

Clip-on hair extensions use a simple mechanical attachment such as a clip or comb to secure the extension hair in place and can be easily removed (and in many cases subsequently re-used) after the occasion for which they are worn. Other forms of extension use a variety of techniques to more permanently attach the extension hair.

Some involve the use of a bonding agent while others use braiding. So-called "permanent" hair extensions typically have a lifetime up to a few months.

Hair extensions (other than clip-ons) are normally washed and then dried along with the natural hair. Each time the hair is washed and dried in this way some of the extension hair is typically shed. As a result washing shortens the lifetime of the extensions. Drying and styling after washing can be time consuming, especially as it is not possible to comb or brush the hair from root to tip due to the presence of the bond or braid that secures the extension hair in place.

The inventor has recognised that it is not necessary to wash the extension hair as often as the wearer's natural hair. The natural hair becomes oily due to sebum supplied by glands at its root. The extension hair, having no root, is less prone to becoming oily. The inventor has thus recognised that care for extended hair could be improved by providing a means of protecting the extension hair while the natural hair is washed -and preferably also while it is dried.

In accordance with the present invention there is a device for use in washing hair which comprises natural hair and hair extensions attached to the natural hair, the device comprising a pouch having a mouth through which the hair extensions are insertable into the pouch so that the hair extensions lie wholly or largely within the pouch, the natural hair lies wholly or largely outside the pouch, and the hair extends through the mouth, and a closure arrangement for closing the mouth around the hair to separate the hair extensions from the natural hair.

Thus the extensions can be placed in the pouch and protected by it while the natural hair, left outside the pouch, is washed. The invention makes it possible for the individual to wash the natural hair without washing the extensions. Less frequent washing of the hair extensions reduces shedding and prolongs their lifetime, which can be an important factor for the wearer given the high cost of replacing some permanent hair extensions. Because the hair extensions can be kept dry during washing, the time needed to dry and style the hair after washing can also be reduced.

Note that above and in what follows, the word "haW' on its own should be understood to refer to either or both of the extension hair and the natural hair. The term "natural hair" refers to the hair growing from the individual's head.

The pouch could in principle take a range of different forms. It could for example be formed as or include a box to receive the hair extensions. However in the preferred embodiment the pouch comprises a flexible membrane which is impermeable to water. It may be formed in the manner of a bag. The pouch may be transparent or translucent.

The closure arrangement may also take a range of different forms but it is especially preferred that it comprises a pair of arms coupled in a manner which enables them to be moved apart to open the mouth of the pouch for insertion of the hair extensions and then moved together to close the mouth of the pouch around the hair. They may be resiliently biased toward one another so that when released they tend to close the mouth of the pouch around the hair. Additionally or alternatively they may be provided with a clasp arrangement for releasably retaining them in a closed configuration.

The device is preferably adapted to be left in place while the hair is dried. To this end it may be resistant to the heat involved in blow drying.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is a method of washing hair which comprises natural hair and hair extensions attached to the natural hair, the method comprising placing the hair extensions in a pouch so that the hair extensions lie wholly or largely within the pouch and the natural hair lies wholly or largely outside the pouch, closing a mouth of the pouch around the hair to separate the extensions from the natural hair, and then washing the hair.

The method preferably further comprises drying the hair with the pouch in place.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a device for protecting hair extensions embodying the present invention in an open configuration and viewed from above and to one side; Figure 2 shows the same device from above and in a closed configuration; and Figure 3 shows the same device end-on to the viewer; and Figure 4 shows the same device from above and in the open configuration.

The device 10 for protecting hair extensions comprises a pouch 12 for receiving and protecting the hair extensions and a closure arrangement 14 which serves to close mouth 16 of the pouch around the wearer's hair and so separate the natural hair which is to be washed from the extension hair which is not.

In the present embodiment the closure arrangement 14 is elongate and takes the form of a clip for engaging with the hair. The clip comprises first and second arms 18, 20 which are each arcuate. Typically the clip will be worn at the back of the wearer's head with the arms extending roughly horizontally. The arcuate shape of the clip's arms roughly corresponds to the shape of the wearer's head and enables the clip to sit comfortably against it. Typically a pair of protector devices 10 will be worn side-by-side, extending from the front of the hairline on respective sides of the head and extending around the back of the head. The ends of the two clips may meet at the back of the head. This is found to be more convenient in operation than one long clip extending around the back of the head. In other embodiments three or more clips could be used.

The arms 18, 20 are pivotally coupled to one another enabling them to be moved between the open configuration of Figure 1, in which the arms are angled away from one another to open the mouth 16 of the pouch 12, and the closed configuration of Figure 2 in which the arms are brought together to lie approximately parallel to one another and so close the mouth 16. In the illustrated example each of the arms 18, has a pair of upstands 22, 24. The upstands 22 of the first arm are arranged between the upstands 24 of the second arm (see Figure 3) and a pin 26 passes through aligned holes in the upstands to form the pivotal coupling.

The first and second arms each 18, 20 extend beyond the pivotal coupling to form a respective lever portion 28, 30. By pressing the lever portions together between thumb and forefinger, the wearer can easily move the arms 18, 20 to the open configuration.

The arms 18, 20 are biased toward the closed configuration by a spring 32 (refer again to Figure 3). In the present exemplary embodiment this takes the form of a torsion spring with helical windings 34 through which the pin 26 passes to mount the spring 28. Limbs 36, 38 of the spring 28 are pre-stressed against inner faces of the lever portions 28, 30, urging the lever portions apart and so urging the arms 18, 20 together.

Additionally the arms 18, 20 are provided with a clasp arrangement for releasably retaining them in the closed configuration. In the illustrated example this comprises a pillar 40 projecting laterally from the first arm 18 toward the second arm 20 and carrying an undercut retainer 42. When the first and second arms 18, 20 are pushed together, slight deformation allows an end of the second arm 20 to pass the retainer 42 which then retains the arms 18, 20 in the closed configuration (see Figure 2). By flexing the arms 18, 20 the wearer can subsequently disengage the end of the second arm 20 from the retainer 42 to enable the arms to be moved to the open configuration.

The first arm 18 is provided along its length with teeth 46 facing toward the second arm 20. The profile of the teeth may take a variety of different forms but in the present embodiment they are triangular. In use the teeth engage the hair. Hair passes in particular through spaces formed between the teeth.

The opposed surfaces of the arms 18, 20 may in some embodiments be provided with elastomeric seals (not shown) to engage the hair and so resist ingress of water to the pouch 12 in use.

The first and second arms 18, 20 are each attached along their lengths to a lip portion 50 of the pouch 12 defining its mouth 16 (see Figure 4 in particular). This attachment may be formed by any suitable means but in the present embodiment both components comprise plastics and ultrasonic welding is used. A free portion 52 of the lip of the pouch allows the first and second arms 18, 20 to be moved to their open configuration, and creases 54 extend from this lip portion to facilitate tidy folding of the bag in the closed configuration. The creases 54 effectively form a pleat in the illustrated embodiment, enabling the bag to fold back and forth upon itself to lie flat between the closed arms 18, 20.

The pouch 12 is preferably impermeable to water. In the illustrated embodiment the pouch 12 is effectively a plastics bag depending from the arms 18, 20. An end 56 of the pouch 12 remote from its mouth 16 is closed.

The proportions of the closure device 14 and of the pouch 12 may vary compared with those illustrated. For example for particularly long hair, a long pouchl2 may be provided. For weft type hair extensions, which are joined to the natural hair in a band extending around the back of the wearer's head, the arms 18, 20 may correspondingly be longer than those shown to extend around much or all of the back of the wearer's head.

In use, the device 10 is grasped by means of the lever portions 28, 30. By pushing these together the arms 18, 20 are placed in the open configuration enabling the hair extensions to be placed in the pouch 12 and so protected. By simply reducing pressure on the lever portions 28, 30, the user allows the closure arrangement 14 to close around the hair in the vicinity of the join between the natural hair and the extensions. Slight pressure closes the clasp arrangement to keep the arms securely closed. The hair is gripped where is passes between the closed arms 18, 20. As noted above, two or even more devices 10 may be used, being placed side-by-side around the back of the user's head.

The natural hair is then washed. Ingress of water to the pouch 12 is resisted by the closed arms 18, 20.

The device can then be left in place while the hair is dried, protecting the extensions during drying.

The embodiment depicted and described herein serves only as an example.

Numerous variants are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

S

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for use in washing hair which comprises natural hair and hair extensions attached to the natural hair, the device comprising a pouch having a mouth through which the hair extensions are insertable into the pouch so that the hair extensions lie wholly or largely within the pouch, the natural hair lies wholly or largely outside the pouch, and the hair extends through the mouth, and a closure arrangement for closing the mouth around the hair to separate the hair extensions from the natural hair.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the pouch comprises a flexible membrane which is impermeable to water.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the pouch is formed as a bag.
4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the closure arrangement is coupled to the pouch in the vicinity of the mouth.
5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the closure arrangement comprises a pair of arms coupled in a manner which enables them to be moved apart to open the mouth of the pouch for insertion of the hair extensions and then moved together to close the mouth of the pouch around the hair.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which the arms are resiliently biased toward one another so that when released they tend to close the mouth of the pouch around the hair.
7. A device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 in which the arms are provided with a clip arrangement for releasably retaining them in a closed configuration.
8. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7 in which the arms are pivotally coupled.
9. A device as claim 8 in which the arms extend beyond the pivotal coupling to provide levers, so that by pressing the levers toward one another the user is able to open the closure arrangement.
10. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to9 in which the arms are curved to enable the closure arrangement to sit against the back of a head.
11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the closure arrangement comprises teeth to engage the hair where it passes through the closure arrangement.
12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the closure arrangement comprises an elastomeric seal arranged to engage the hair where it passes through the closure arrangement.
13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim which is suitable to be left in place while the hair is blow dried.
14. A method of washing hair which comprises natural hair and hair extensions attached to the natural hair, the method comprising placing the hair extensions in a pouch so that the hair extensions lie wholly or largely within the pouch and the natural hair lies wholly or largely outside the pouch, closing a mouth of the pouch around the hair to separate the extensions from the natural hair, and then washing the hair.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising blow drying the hair without removing the pouch from it.
16. A method as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, comprising the use of a device as claimed in any of claims ito 13.
17. A device for use in washing hair substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.