US20170035132A1

US20170035132A1 - Hair Extension Tube Release Tool

Info

Publication number: US20170035132A1
Application number: US15/051,992
Authority: US
Inventors: Ryan Tokko
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-08-06
Filing date: 2016-02-24
Publication date: 2017-02-09

Abstract

A hair extension tube release tool comprises a first half comprising a first handle and a first tool tip and a second half comprising a second handle and a second tool tip. The first half and the second half are pivotally connected. The first tool tip abuts on the second tool tip when the hair extension tube release tool is in a closed state. The first tool tip pivots away from the second tool tip when the hair extension tube release tool is in an open state. The first tool tip comprises a first half circular recess, and the second first tool tip comprises a second half circular recess. The first half circular recess and the second half circular recess form a release circle when the hair extension tube release tool is in the closed state.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to a hair extension tube release tool. More particularly, the present invention is related to a hair extension tube release tool that facilitates removing extension hair by restoring the shape of a flattened hair extension fixing tube.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Metal tubes are commonly used for fixing extension hair to a customer's natural hair. In the process of fixing hair extension, strands of natural hair are passed through a small metal tube; a tip of hair extension having strands of extension hair is passed through the metal tube; then the metal tube is flattened with a flattening tool. To remove the extension hair, it is required to restore the round shape of the tube so that the strands squeezed within the tube are released to move freely. This removing process needs attention and precision in order not to damage hair strands and not to give unpleasant feeling to a customer. A hair extension tube release tool satisfying such requirements has long been in need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is to provide a hair extension tube release tool that facilitates fast and precise removing extension hair from a customer's natural hair.
In order to achieve the objective, the present invention provides a hair extension tube release tool that comprises a first half comprising a first handle and a first tool tip; and a second half comprising a second handle and a second tool tip. The first half and the second half are pivotally connected. The first tool tip contacts the second tool tip when the hair extension tube release tool is in a closed state. The first tool tip pivots away from the second tool tip when the hair extension tube release tool is in an open state. The first tool tip comprises a first half circular recess, and the second tool tip comprises a second half circular recess. The first half circular recess and the second half circular recess form a release circle when the hair extension tube release tool is in the closed state.
The first tool tip further comprises a first distal end and the second tool tip further comprises a second distal end. The first distal end and the second distal end have a predetermined length. The first distal end abuts on the first half circular recess and the second distal end abuts on the second half circular recess. The first distal end and the second distal end form a release gap between them having a predetermined size when the hair extension tube release tool is in the closed state.
Preferably, the diameter of the release circle is in a range from 2 mm to 4 mm. The length of the first and second distal ends is in a range from 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm. The size of the release gap is in a range from 0.1 mm to 2 mm.
More preferably, the diameter of the release circle is about 2.7 mm. The length of the first and second distal ends is about 0.55 mm. The size of the release gap is about 0.75 mm.
The advantageous effects of the present invention are: (1) fast hair extension release work is possible; (2) the hair extension tube can be reused; and (3) unpleasant feeling to the customer is prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the best embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a hair extension tube release tool according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side-elevation view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view thereof with the hair extension tube release tool in its closed state;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view thereof with the hair extension tube release tool in its open state;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a partial front elevation view of the hair extension tube release tool gripping a flattened hair extension tube;

FIG. 8 is a partial front elevation view of the hair extension tube release tool with the hair extension tube in its restored shape;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating use of the hair extension tube release tool; and

FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged perspective view showing details of the hair extension tube release work.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-6 show a hair extension tube release tool 10 of the present invention. The hair extension tube release tool 10 comprises a first half 12 comprising a first handle 14 and a first tool tip 16; and a second half 18 comprising a second handle 20 and a second tool tip 22. The first half 12 and the second half 18 are pivotally connected. The first tool tip 16 contacts the second tool tip 22 when the hair extension tube release tool 10 is in a closed state (refer to FIG. 4). The first tool tip 16 pivots away from the second tool tip 22 when the hair extension tube release tool 10 is in an open state (refer to FIG. 5). The first tool tip 16 comprises a first half circular recess 24, and the second tool tip 22 comprises a second half circular recess 26. The first half circular recess 24 and the second half circular recess 26 form a release circle 28 when the hair extension tube release tool 10 is in the closed state.
The first tool tip 16 further comprises a first distal end 30 and the second tool tip 22 further comprises a second distal end 32. The first distal end 30 and the second distal end 32 have a predetermined length b. The first distal end 30 abuts on the first half circular recess 24 and the second distal end 32 abuts on the second half circular recess 26. The first distal end 30 and the second distal end 32 form a release gap 34 between them having a predetermined size g when the hair extension tube release tool 10 is in the closed state.
Referring to FIG. 5, the hair extension tube release tool 10 further comprises a spring 42 that returns the hair extension tube release tool 10 to its opens state, and plastic sheaths 44 that prevent slipping of the handles 14, 20 from a beautician's hand.
Preferably, the diameter D of the release circle 28 is in a range from 2 mm to 4 mm. The length b of the first and second distal ends 30, 32 is in a range from 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm. The size g of the release gap 34 is in a range from 0.1 mm to 2 mm. More preferably, the diameter D of the release circle 28 is about 2.7 mm. The length b of the first and second distal ends 30, 32 is about 0.55 mm. The size g of the release gap 34 is about 0.75 mm. An example of hair extension tubes attached to a skin weft is disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. US2008/0295856A1. FIG. 7 shows that the hair extension tube release tool 10 grips a flattened hair extension tube 36. FIG. 8 shows that the hair extension tube 36 is restored to its round shape. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the situation in which the hair extension tube release tool 10 is used to release a hair extension 40 from customer's hair 38 by restoring the shape of the hair extension tube 36. The size g of the release gap 34 is determined to prevent cutting threads that fixes the hair extension tube to a skin weft. If g is too small, possibility of cutting the thread or gripping or interfering with customer's hair strand increases. If g is too large, the release circle 28 cannot surround the hair extension tube 36 enough and thus cannot achieve the restoring work. The diameter D of the release circle 28 is determined to accommodate commonly used hair extension tube and to provide efficient restoring of a flattened hair extension tube. The length b of the first and second distal ends 30, 32 is determined to allow inserting of a thread that fixes the hair extension tube to the skin weft. If b is too small, the distal ends become too sharp increasing risk of hurting hair, thread or skin. If b is too big, the skin weft contacts the distal ends and prevents the hair extension tube, which is fixed to the skin weft with the thread, from stably received in the release circle 28.

Claims

1. A hair extension tube release tool comprising:

a) a first half comprising a first handle and a first tool tip; and

b) a second half comprising a second handle and a second tool tip; wherein the first half and the second half are pivotally connected; wherein the first tool tip contacts the second tool tip when the hair extension tube release tool is in a closed state; wherein the first tool tip pivots away from the second tool tip when the hair extension tube release tool is in an open state; wherein the first tool tip comprises a first half circular recess, and the second first tool tip comprises a second half circular recess, wherein the first half circular recess and the second half circular recess form a release circle when the hair extension tube release tool is in the closed state.

2. The hair extension tube release tool of claim 1, wherein the first tool tip further comprises a first distal end and the second tool tip further comprises a second distal end, wherein the first distal end and the second distal end have a predetermined length, wherein the first distal end abuts on the first half circular recess and the second distal end abuts on the second half circular recess, wherein the first distal end and the second distal end form a release gap between the first distal end and the second distal end, wherein the gap has a predetermined size when the hair extension tube release tool is in the closed state.

3. The hair extension tube release tool of claim 2, wherein the diameter of the release circle is in a range from 2 mm to A mm.

4. The hair extension tube release tool of claim 3, wherein the length of the first and second distal ends is in a range from 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm, wherein the size of the release gap is in a range from 0.1 mm to 2 mm.

5. The hair extension tube release tool of claim 4, wherein the diameter of the release circle is about 2.7 mm, wherein the length of the first and second distal ends is in about 0.55 mm, wherein the size of the release gap is in about 0.75 mm.