GB2526043A

GB2526043A - Hair extension holder

Info

Publication number: GB2526043A
Application number: GB1322207.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vivienne Ann Lavery
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-12-16
Filing date: 2013-12-16
Publication date: 2015-11-18
Also published as: GB201322207D0

Abstract

A hair extension holder 10 comprises a structure 11 adapted for fixedly mounting to a substrate and having a plurality of teeth 12 for holding a hair extension (30, figure 5). The teeth 12 form a series of adjacent hooks in a comb like arrangement and may be curved, angled or bent to provide these hooks. The structure has a first surface portion 13 for fixing to the substrate and a second surface portion 14 from which the teeth 12 project, preferably upwards therefrom. The teeth 12 may be bent so as to have a connecting portion 15 upstanding from the surface 14 and a terminal portion 16 which extends at an obtuse angle relative to the connecting portion 15. The holder 10 is preferably injection moulded from plastics material.

Description

Hair extension holder

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for holding hair extensions.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Hair extensions, which are also referred to as artificial hair integrations or as hair wefts, alter the appearance of a person's real hair by incorporating therein artificial hair or natural hair collected from other individuals or animals. Extensions may enhance the length or volume of real hair, or add colour without applying chemical products, and comprise a plurality of individual strands of hair arranged in bundles or strips. Typically, hair extensions incorporated in small bundles are woven, sewn or bonded in place by a professional hair stylist and are permanent or semi-permanent. Strip hair extensions, made by a substantially side-by-side alignment of the individual strands, are held together along one end by a flexible tape, commonly referred to as a track. The track is used to incorporate the strip extension into real hair, generally by means of bonding, sewing or with a clip or pin attached to the track. Each strip may be of varying width, typically between 50 to 200mm, and is incorporated below a section of real hair which has been lifted away and subsequently replaced to overlie the track. Clip-in hair extensions are temporary and can be incorporated in a professional salon or at home. They may be worn all day, but must be removed before sleeping. Recent years have seen an increase in the popularity of hair extensions, particularly strip hair extensions, which are often styled and worn for special occasions.

[0003] Hair extensions are styled and worked with in much the same way as real hair, in both professional hair salons and the home. Therefore, possible means of styling hair extensions include combing, brushing, cutting, washing, shampooing, drying, straightening, curling and colouring. Styling of hair extensions need not be done with the extensions incorporated into real hair and, particularly with strip extensions, styling is often done prior to the extensions being fitted into the hair of a user. However, this requires that the extensions be firmly held to resist the force of combing, brushing and straightening as a person styles the hair. This task is not as straightforward as it might first appear. Currently, a second person is usually required to hold the extension or, when a second person is not present, the track of an extension may be jammed in a drawer or the like as a means of clamping it in place. The first solution is undesirable in a professional setting, where it may require two members of salon staff to style only a single set of extensions. In any setting, the latter solution is also undesirable, as this can damage the individual strands of hair, and/or the track, or result in the extension(s) falling to the floor during styling.

[0004] Styling of hair extensions may be done several days in advance of the extensions being incorporated into real hair. Therefore, such pre-styled hair extensions need to be carefully and respectfully stored until they are needed if they are to retain the qualities of newly styled hair. Furthermore, to prevent undesirable tangling and matting of hair extensions between uses, they should, again, be carefully and respectfully stored.

[0005] There is no known prior art that discloses a device capable of holding hair extensions firmly enough to allow styling of the extensions without pulling them free from the device or without causing the device to topple over. US 2013/0104922 Al discloses a hanger expressly for the storage of hair extensions. Spring loaded clip fasteners are used to attach extensions to this device to enable the extensions to be organised prior to incorporation or styling. Neither the hanger nor fasteners are described for the purpose of enabling styling or treatment, i.e. resisting the forces applied to the extensions during styling or other treatment -such as drying. JP 2010/196233 A and JP 3551968 Bi also disclose hangers for hair extensions, but these are also unsuitable for resisting the forces applied to hair extensions during styling. Fuithermore, the two latter devices seem designed only for holding small bundles of hair, not strip hair extensions, with which the present invention is concerned. The term "hair extension" shall be used hereafter to refer to a strip hair extension is equally applicable to.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a holder which allows not only the storing of strip hair extensions, but also facilitates the styling and/or treatment of such hair extensions.

BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a hair extension holder comprising a structure adapted for fixedly mounting to a substrate, such as a wall, and having a plurality of teeth for holding a hair extension. Preferably, the teeth are shaped to provide hooks. Thus, they may be shaped as curved hooks. Alternatively, and preferably, the teeth may be angled or bent to provide said hooks. Such hooks allow for the hair extension to be attached to the holder sufficiently securely that they can be easily styled and will not readily be pulled free from the holder when subjected to the force of combing, brushing, straightening and the like. When not incorporated into real hair, hair extensions may be attached to the holder for storage.

[0008] In preferred embodiments of the holder in accordance with the present invention, the teeth are angled and each comprises a terminal portion and an adjacent connecting portion, with the terminal portion extending at an obtuse angle relative to the connecting portion. The structure typically has a first surface portion for fixing to the substrate and a second surface portion from which the teeth project with the teeth being connected to the second surface portion by their connecting portion. In preferred embodiments the second surface portion is generally planar and the teeth project upwards, proud of the second surface portion. However, in other embodiments within the scope of the invention, the teeth may project from a substantially planar second surface portion of the holder in a direction which is generally coplanar with or at only a slight angle relative to the second surface portion. In other words, the teeth may project outwards from an edge of the second surface portion of the structure. Also, in other embodiments within the scope of the invention, the teeth may be angled, but they may be bent at two locations so that the connecting portion of each tooth extends between the terminal portion and an additional proximal portion which connects to the structure, with respective bends linking the proximal portion to the connecting portion and the connecting portion to the terminal portion.

(0009] Preferred embodiments of the holder of the invention may also have pegs at each end of the structure for pivotal attachment of a web providing a support surface for use in treating a hair extension which has been mounted to the holder.

(0010] Although the present invention is primarily concerned with a holder enabling the styling and storing a of person's hair extensions, it is equally applicable to a holder which may be used with hair extensions for animals, such as for dogs or horses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(0011] The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred practical embodiment of a hair extension holder in accordance with the present invention, seen from the front as in use; Figure 2 is a front view of the holder shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the holder shown in Figure 1, seen from the rear as in use; Figure 4 is an end view of the holder shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a reduced scale end view showing the same holder when wall mounted in use, with a hair extension placed onto the hooks; and Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 showing the hair extension being firmly pulled out from the holder in the course of styling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] As shown in Fig. ito 4, a preferred practical embodiment of a holder 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises a moulded plastics body providing a bracket or shelf like structure 11 which has a plurality of teeth 12. The structure 11 has a curving front wall 31 and a substantially planar top wall 34 providing a surface 14, which will be the top/upper surface in use, from which the teeth 12 are upstanding. The rear edges of the front wall 31 and the top wall 34 and respective end walls 36 provide a peripheral edge surface 13 for abutment of the shelf like structure 11 against a wall, or other upright surface, in use of the holder. The teeth 12 project upwards from the top suiface 14 adjacent a front edge 35 thereof, namely in close proximity to the curving front wall 31.

[0013] The teeth 12 form a series of adjacent hooks in a comb like arrangement. They are typically spaced apait between 1 cm and 3 cm. They are of angled or bent configuration, as shown, each having a connecting portion 15 upstanding from the surface 14 and a terminal portion 16 extending inwards relative to the front edge 35 of the top surface 14 at an obtuse angle relative to the connecting portion 15. In other words, the terminal portions 16 extend toward the rear of the structure 11 at an angle greater than 900 and smaller than 1800 relative to the connecting portions 15. However, in this particular preferred, illustrated embodiment the terminal portions 16 extend at an angle of about 95° relative to the connecting portions 15. In other embodiments the terminal portions of the teeth may extend at any other obtuse angle, but a preferred range is between 92° and 135° relative to the terminal portions 16. This is for ease of manufacturing by an injection moulding method, while at the same time being appropriate on the one hand to enable attachment of a hair extension without too much difficulty, but on the other hand retaining such hair extension so that it does not readily slip off the hooks 12 when tension is applied to the strands of hair.

[0014] Referring to Figure 3, the structure 11 is open to the rear of the curving front wall, below the top wall 34, and a plurality of generally parallel cross walls 20 are provided, extending downwards from the top wall 34, at intervals along the length of the moulded structure 11 to provide appropriate rigidity to the structure. Tubular elements 21 are formed in certain of the cross walls 20, in the middle and adjacent the lespective ends of the body 11, to provide for fastening of the structure onto a wall 32 (see figure 5) by means of screws or similar fixing devices. In this respect, a front end bore 22 of each tubular element 21 is of larger diameter than a rear end opening 24, as is apparent by reference to figures 1, 2 and 3, to enable counter sinking of the heads of the relevant mounting screws or similar fixing devices (not shown).

[0015] Pegs 17, 18 are provided at each end of the structure 11. These are for optional pivotal attachment of a web which in a deployed position, extending outwards from a wall to which the holder is mounted, provides a support surface for use in treating (for example dying, colouring) a hair extension which has been mounted to the holder. When not required, such a web can be folded down, out of the way, to lie adjacent the wall 32 to which the holder is mounted.

[0016] In use, as shown in Figure 5 and 6, the holder 10 is fixed at any desired position to an upright wall 32, usually by means of a plurality of screws (not shown). The holder 10 is positioned with the perimeter edge surface 13 offered up to and flat against the wall 32 and the screws are applied through the tubular elements 21 in conventional manner. Only the thread and shank of an appropriately sized screw will pass through the smaller diameter opening 24, causing the heads of the screws to be drawn against the annular end wall to the larger diameter front section bore 22, and retained, countersunk within the latter. The screws are driven into the wall 32 until the edge surface 13 is pulled flush against the wall and the holder 10 is fixed securely to the wall 32.

[0017] To attach a typical hair extension 30 to the holder, the individual strands of hair adjacent the track 38 at the top of the hair extension 30 are located over and on to the teeth 12 such that the teeth 12 penetrate between the strands at closely spaced intervals and the track is retained to the rear of the comb like arrangement of the teeth 12, above the top surface 14.

Attaching the hair extension 30 in this manner holds the extension 30 to the holder 10 in a secure manner. Unlike the known prior art, this means of attaching the hair extension 30 to the holder 10 does not rely on the strength of a clip or clamping mechanism. The teeth 12 allow the extension 30 to hang freely from the holder 10, for the purposes of storage, as shown in figure 5. However, they also allow the extension 30 to be pulled firmly and held under tension, stretching away from the holder 10, as in the course of styling, without the extension 30 being pulled free. This is shown schematically in Figure 6, where the hair is shown here being pulled and treated by curling tongs 39. To remove the hair extension 30 from the holder 10 the extension 30 needs only to be lifted from the teeth in a reverse direction. This can be accomplished using only one hand so the other hand of a user can remain free for holding styling equipment as extensions are attached to or removed from the holder 10.

[0018] The invention is not restricted to the details of the forgoing embodiment and many variations are possible within the scope of the accompanying claims. For example, it will be understood that the shape and configuration of the holder structure and the teeth may differ from those of the illustrated embodiment. Possible alternative configurations of the teeth have already been mentioned in the introduction, namely curving or, when angled, with more than one bend, or with the terminal and connecting portions of the teeth having a different angular relation, albeit preferably an obtuse angle. The spacing of the teeth of any configuration is preferably between 0.5 and 3 cm. The number of teeth may vary. The illustrated embodiment is preferably injection moulded of suitable plastics material, such as polypropylene. However, other embodiments could be formed of different material and fashioned in a different manner.

For example, they could be formed of metal and by physically bending the teeth or forming them into suitable curvature. They could be formed of wood and configured by known woodworking techniques. The teeth could be formed separately and then fixedly attached onto a suitable mountable structure. Also, alternative means of attachment of the structure of the holder to a wall could be provided, for example, areas or pads for adhesive fixing, as is well known in relation to mounting holders for kitchen implements and appliances. It should also be understood that embodiments of a holder in accordance with the invention could be mounted onto any sufficiently rigid substrate, not necessarily an upright or vertical wall of the building. For example, they could alternatively be mounted onto any sort of upright partition or onto a side surface of any sufficiently stable structure, such as a wardrobe, cupboard, refrigerator etc. Moreover, so long as the holder structure and the teeth are suitably configured, other embodiments could be mounted onto horizontal or sloping surfaces of suitable stable, generally immovable structures.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A hair extension holder comprising a structure adapted for fixedly mounting to a substrate and having a plurality of teeth for holding a hair extension.
2. A holder according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth are shaped to provide hooks.
3. A holder according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of teeth are angled or bent to provide hooks.
4. A holder according to claim 3, wherein the teeth each comprise a terminal portion and an adjacent connecting portion and the terminal portion extends at an obtuse angle relative to the connecting portion
5. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the structure has a first surface portion for fixing to the substrate and a second surface portion from which the teeth project, and the teeth project upwards from the second surface portion.
6. A holder according to claim 5 wherein the second surface portion is generally planar and the teeth project out of the plane of the second surface portion.
7. A holder according to any preceding claim which is injection moulded from plastics material.
8. A holder according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one peg for the attachment of other materials or accessories for styling or treating the hair extension.
9. A holder according to any preceding claim further comprising pegs at each end of the structure for pivotal attachment of a web providing a support surface for use in treating the hair extension.
10. A wall mounted hair extension holder according to any preceding claim.
11. A wall mounted hair extension holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.