US3626955A - Hairpiece-to-hair connector and fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

Hairpiece-to-hair linking and fastening means through the medium of which one can expeditiously and reliably join postiches, for example, curls, wiglets, braids, falls, ponytails and the like to a lock of natural hair. It comprises at least one, usually two, ringlike or annular compressibly resilient integrated but severable collars, each collar providing a circular opening across which an end portion of the lock of hair (artificial or natural) is placed, buckled and temporarily anchored by way of an insertable and removable compressibly resilient ball-type fastener. A plastic strap links the ball fastener to the collar.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Phil .1. Greenwood P.O. Box 1062, Decatur, 111. 62525 Appl. No. 61,666 Filed Aug. 6, 1970 Patented Dec. 14, 1971 HAIRPIECE-TO-HAIR CONNECTOR AND FASTENER 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 132/46 R Int. Cl A4511 8/00 Field of Search 132/46 R, 46 A, 39, 41, 43, 48

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1921 Tolman 132/39 7' 2,179,751 11/1939 McFadden 2,302,480 11/1942 Tara Primary Examiner Louis G. Mancene Assistant ExaminerGregory E. McNeil] Attorneys-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: Hairpiece-to-hair linking and fastening means through the medium of which one can expeditiously and reliably join postiches, for example, curls, wiglets, braids, falls, ponytails and the like to a lock of natural hair. It comprises at least one, usually two, ringlike or annular compressibly resilient integrated but severable collars, each collar providing a circular opening across which an end portion of the lock of hair (artificial or natural) is placed, buckled and temporarily anchored by way of an insertable and removable compressibly resilient ball-type fastener. A plastic strap links the ball fastener to the collar.

HAlRPIECE-TO-HAIR CONNECTOR AND FASTENER This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in attaching means for hairpieces such as curls, wiglets, braids, ponytails and other types of postiches and has to do more particularly, with a structurally and functionally unique innovation which is designed and adapted to be used in lieu of combs, bobby pins, hairpins and clips such as are commonly used.

The regularly followed and customarily accepted practice of attaching and fastening an artificial hairpiece to a persons natural hair involves the use of varying types of combs, bobby pins, hairpins, clips, clasps and the like. It is common knowledge that these types of hair fasteners are quite undesirable for reason that they cannot be depended on due to the fact that they lack the desired connecting and retention power. This situation has long posed a problem when, for instance, the wearer who is outdoors on a windy day or when engaged actively in sports or while dancing and cannot rely on currently used fasteners. Presently used combs, pins and the like are known to slip, loosen and fall out with the result that the postiche is not only insecure, it can and does completely detach itself. Then, too, and because of time and monetary difficulties, the wearer may desire to sleep with postiches attached but in so doing has to run the risk of causing the same to detach themselves and be forced to revisit her beautician. To the ends desired, the herein disclosed invention is an advance in the art and when properly used will enable users to successfully cope with the overall problem in that it is possessed of practical and meritorious advantages not attainable with commonly used connectors and fasteners.

Experience has shown that the instant hairpiece-to-hair coupling and fastening device lends itself to adaptable use in conjunction with hair of long, medium and short length and, despite styling changes, its use is acceptably practical. Also, and because of its simplicity in construction and mass production capabilities the actual unit price can be less than many hair holders and fasteners currently on the open market. It insures an effectually reliable linking connection between the natural and artificial hair-ends, yet is quickly, easily and painlessly applied and removed. Further and for best results the component parts are made of appropriately pliable and compressibly resilient material which adapts with requisite nicety to the hair it is to be associated with.

ln carrying out the principles of the concept no metals or irregular surfaces are used that could conceivably injure the wearers scalp. In fact the inherent yieldable properties of the several coordinating components will not damage the wearer's hair when efficiently used.

Briefly, the invention pertains to a simple one-piece adaptation made from appropriate moldable plastic material and which is feasible for use when one desires to connect curls, wiglets, falls, ponytails, braids and other types of postiches to the ends of the shafts of a lock of natural hair and which, more explicitly, has to do with a hairpiece-to-hair connector and fastening means. The simplest embodiment pertains to at least one adapter collar defining an opening across which the hair shafts of a lock of natural or artificial hair are normally positioned and stretched for temporary anchorage and retention. This collar and the opening which it provides lends itself to use in conjunction with companion fastening means, that is, a member which is carried by the collar and is expressly designed and adapted to be removably but retentively lodged in the opening in a manner to clinch and couple the lock of hair to the collar.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention the collar is made of compressibly resilient material. The fastening means is likewise made of compressibly resilient material. The opening is circular in plan and the fastening means is ball-like in form and of a prescribed size that it can be yieldingly but releasably plugged into the opening. The collar is annular in plan and the body or annular portion thereof is circular in cross section, making the opening correspondingly circular in plan. The ball-like fastening means is linked and connected to the collar by a connecting strap of requisite extensible and retractable elasticity.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a hairpiece-to-hair connector and fastener on a small scale and further showing the terminal ends of a lock or strand of hair fastened to one of the aforementioned collars, the other collar being located and in readiness for the accommodation of the coacting terminal ends of an attachable and detachable artificial hairpiece (not detailed).

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view with parts in section and elevation taken approximately on the plane of the horizontal section line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing two locks of hair, one of which may be natural and the other artificial, fastened in their respectively cooperable collars.

FIG. 3 is a view at right angles to FIG. 2 and which may be conveniently described as taken on the section line 33 of FIG. 2 and which shows a single collar, a single ball-type fastener and its captive strap and further showing how both artificial and natural locks of hair can be linked and coupled for retention purposes.

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the hairpiece-to-hair connector and fastener of the type wherein two collars are integrally joined but are susceptible of being severed for individual use if and when necessary.

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective the purpose of which is to illustrate, that is within the purview of the invention to utilize, where advisable a single collar and complemental strap-attached ball-like fastening means.

As is evident from the views of the drawing and explanatory description it is within the purview of the inventive concept to employ a dual collar type as illustrated in FIG. 4 or a single collar type as shown in FIG. 5. Inasmuch as each component part is the same in conjunction it is believed that like parts had best be set forth with use of like reference numerals. With reference to FIG. 4 the hairpiece-to-hair connector and fastener, as a unit, is denoted by the numeral 6. The component parts are made of pliant compressibly resilient plastic material which is amply soft and pliable that it lends itself to the hair it is intended to be used with. One collar, for example, the one to the right in FIG. 4 is denoted by the numeral 8 and is annular in plan, the body portion being circular and uniform in cross section from end to end and an inner peripheral surface defining a circular opening 10 for passage of the hairends on either the natural lock of hair or artificial lock of hair as the case may be and as is perhaps evident from FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive. The complemental or companion fastening means for this collar is ball-like in configuration and is denoted by the numeral 12 and is of prescribed or requisite size and dimension that it is capable of being forcibly pushed through and lodged in the opening 10 as brought out in FIGS. 2 and 3. This ball-like fastener is maintained in a captive state by way of a plastic attaching strap 14, one end 16 of which is fastened to a peripheral surface of the fastener 12 and the other end portion fastened as at 18 to a suitable peripheral surface of the coacting collar. The collar at the left is of identical construction but for sake of distinction is here referred to by the numeral 20, the same defining an opening 22, the ball-like fastener being denoted at 24. Here again a connecting plastic strap, like the strap 14 is provided and is denoted at 26 and has one end 28 joined with the peripheral surface of the collar 20, the other end portion 30 joined with a peripheral surface of the balltype connector 24. The adjacent peripheral surfaces 32 of the respective collars 8 and 10 are joined by a severable web 34 of appropriate cross-sectional thickness. It is within the purview of the invention to employ a pair of scissors or an equivalent cutting implement (not shown) to separate the collars 8 and 20 for individual use.

It is also within the purview of the invention to use each collar component as brought out in FIG. 5, or, as a matter of fact,

to manufacture the same as a single, instead of a dual unit. The adaptation illustrated in FIG. 5 can be construed as the collar 8.

The invention is so constructed and usable that it may well be set forth as usable in two'basically distinct ways. This is to say, a first basic mode of use pertains to taking the unit as a whole, placing the shafts of hair of a selected lock and of the user's own hair across the opening 10, for example, as brought out in FIG. 1 and as is also evident from FIG. 2. Using the fingers the ball-type fastener 12 is lined up with and piloted through and pressed against the hair buckling the hair so that it spans the opening. By following this procedure the hair is passed through the opening and will be securely fastened until it is desired to be removed by pressing the ball-type fastener back through the stated opening 10. The ball-type fastener is approximately the same size as the opening. Therefore, the addition of the hair creates locking action along with the fact that the ball and opening have, in actual practice, appropriately textured antislipping surfaces. As suggested, the entire unit is preferably made of flexible textured plastic material, the textured surface affording a better retaining action than could be achieved by a smooth finished surface. The fact that the plastic material is flexible allows the elastic strap or arm to which the ball is attached to bend so that the ball can be pushed through the opening, and in addition, utilizing the bent strap to serve the function to grip and hold any excess hair not pressed through the opening by the ball. The second step is to place a desired strand of hair from the selected hairpiece and position it across the opening, bending it around the ball and pressing it and the strand of hair through the opening, this procedure completing the retention of the hairpiece to the user's head. The number of connectors and fasteners (also referred to as anchors) required will depend upon the size and character of the hairpiece which is to be attached and worn.

A second and somewhat basic mode of attachment requires the user to employ a pair of scissors or other cutting device and to severe the collars 8 and 20 by cutting the web 34. By using it after being cut in half the procedure of use must be changed by placing the desired stand of the users own hair and a desired strand of the hair from the hairpiece both over the opening means and pressing the ball or both the strands of the hair through the opening means. A reason for constructing the innovation so that it can be cut in half, if desired, is so that it may be used for extremely small postiches such as single curls or for attachment of postiches in problem areas such as near the hairline where the overall length of the unit might be too long and interfere with proper functioning.

The utilization of appropriate plastic material insures sufficient elasticity to adapt the end product for repetitional use and for economical purposes. The use of plastic permits manufacturing of the end product in a variety of colors to match a variety of hair colors without the use of tape which could, of course, flake off and cause skin reaction. The use of plastic which is nontoxic and the choice of various colors to coincide with the users own hair assist in hiding the device when properly used. I

It is submitted that FIG. 4 shows the readyto-use hairpiecetohair connector and fastener, that a single half of the same is shown aptly in FIG. 5. FIG. 1 shows a first step and FIGS. 2 and 3 show additional steps which taken in conjunction with the description will enable the reader to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter of the invention and manner of use. Accordingly, a more extended description is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows: l. A onepiece hairpiece-to-hair linking and fastening device comprising a collar made of compressibly resilient material, said collar being annular in plan and the annular portion of the interior peripheral surface defining an unobstructed circular opening across which hair shafts of a lock of either natural or artificial hair are manually positioned and drawn for temporary anchorage and retention, a relatively narrow elastic strap having one end joined integrally with a coacting outer peripheral surface of said collar, and fastening means integrally attached to the other end of said strap, said fastening means being made of compressibly resilient material.

2. The hairpieceto-hair linking and fastening means defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein said fastening means is ball-like in form and of a prescribed size that it can be yieldingly but releasably plugged into said opening in a manner to buckle the coacting lock of hair and to bind the portions of the same between coacting peripheral surfaces of the collar and ball-like fastening means respectively.

3. The hairpiece-to-hair linking and fastening means defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein said fastening means is ball-like in form and of a prescribed size that it can be yieldingly but releasably plugged into said opening in a manner to buckle the coacting lock of hair and to bind the portions of the same between coacting peripheral surfaces of the collar and ball-like fastening means respectively, and wherein said strap is of a length sufficient to permit the fastening means to be inserted into and withdrawn from the opening in said collar and wherein a median portion of the fastening means can be relied upon to embrace certain of the shafts of hair to assist in achieving the connecting and fastening result desired.

4. For use when one desires to connect postiches such as curls, wiglets, falls, ponytails and the like to an end of a lock of natural hair, hairpiece-to-hair connecting and fastening means comprising a pair of duplicate side-by-side coplanar collars having adjacent outer peripheral surfaces integrally joined by a severable connecting web, each collar defining an opening across which the hair shafts of a lock of natural or artificial hair can be manually positioned and drawn for temporary anchorage and retention, each collar being made of compressibly resilient material, being endless and annular in plan and the annular portion thereof being circular in cross section and said opening being circular in plan, an elastic strap having one end integrally joined to a coacting outer peripheral surface of said collar, and hair-fastening means comprising a compressibly resilient spherical ball joined to the other end of said strap, said ball being of a size that it is adapted to be aligned with and manually pressed and releasably lodged in said opening, said strap being of a length that it permits the ball to be inserted and forcibly pressed into said opening and subsequently dislodged and withdrawn from said opening.

Claims (4)

1. A one-piece hairpiece-to-hair linking and fastening device comprising a collar made of compressibly resilient material, said collar being annular in plan and the annular portion of the interior peripheral surface defining an unobstructed circular opening across which hair shafts of a lock of either natural or artificial hair are manually positioned and drawn for temporary anchorage and retention, a relatively narrow elastic strap having one end joined integrally with a coacting outer peripheral surface of said collar, and fastening means integrally attached to the other end of said strap, said fastening means being made of compressibly resilient material.

2. The hairpiece-to-hair linking and fastening means defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein said fastening means is ball-like in form and of a prescribed size that it can be yieldingly but releasably plugged into said opening in a manner to buckle the coacting lock of hair and to bind the portions of the same between coacting peripheral surfaces of the collar and ball-like fastening means respectively.

3. The hairpiece-to-hair linking and fastening means defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein said fastening means is ball-like in form and of a prescribed size that it can be yieldingly but releasably plugged into said opening in a manner to buckle the coacting lock of hair and to bind the portions of the same between coacting peripheral surfaces of the collar and ball-like fastening means respectively, and wherein said strap is of a length sufficient to permit the fastening means to be inserted into and withdrawn from the opening in said collar and wherein a median portion of the fastening means can be relied upon to embrace certain of the shafts of hair to assist in achieving the connecting and fastening result desired.

4. For use when one desires to connect postiches such as curls, wIglets, falls, ponytails and the like to an end of a lock of natural hair, hairpiece-to-hair connecting and fastening means comprising a pair of duplicate side-by-side coplanar collars having adjacent outer peripheral surfaces integrally joined by a severable connecting web, each collar defining an opening across which the hair shafts of a lock of natural or artificial hair can be manually positioned and drawn for temporary anchorage and retention, each collar being made of compressibly resilient material, being endless and annular in plan and the annular portion thereof being circular in cross section and said opening being circular in plan, an elastic strap having one end integrally joined to a coacting outer peripheral surface of said collar, and hair-fastening means comprising a compressibly resilient spherical ball joined to the other end of said strap, said ball being of a size that it is adapted to be aligned with and manually pressed and releasably lodged in said opening, said strap being of a length that it permits the ball to be inserted and forcibly pressed into said opening and subsequently dislodged and withdrawn from said opening.

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