Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41G—ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS; WIGS; MASKS; FEATHERS
  • A41G5/00—Hair pieces, inserts, rolls, pads, or the like; Toupées
  • A41G5/004—Hair pieces
  • A41G5/0053—Fastening thereof
  • A41G5/008—Fastening thereof by adhesives

Definitions

• the present invention is related to a permanent or non-permanent hair extension, of the kind particularly used for the thickening of hair. It can be embodied either by a plurality of individual lock-like extension, i.e. a hair extension assembly for thickening hair, or it can be substantially shaped as a weft or layer, known as weft extension. Further, the present invention is referred to a hair thickening method or thickening method, and to a related separating device for receiving hairs as well, for the application of a thickening assembly with hair extensions apt to be used in said method. Then, the invention is also referred to an applicator device for said assembly, apt to be used according to said method.
• hair extension As thickening of hair here and below it is intended the lengthening and the mass increasing of a human hair, through the application of hair extensions to receiving hairs.
• hair extension here and below it is intended a lock of hairs composed by a plurality of single human or artificial hairs, suitable to be handled as a single lengthening unit and to be applied to receiving hairs by a fixing element.
• the weft extension typically has a linear fixing element from which natural or artificial hairs perpendicularly branch, arranged according to a flat configuration having a uniform density.
• the known systems provide a step wherein the hair extensions are fixed to user's hair.
• the hair extension may be substantially sewn, bound or knotted to user's hair, but this thickening way requires a very long time to be operated, considering that a manual and precise handling is requested for each single hair extension.
• thermocurable adhesive In US 4,982,748 (Trimarchi) the use of a thermocurable adhesive is provided, therefore requiring to be heated after a cold state application. In these application examples with adhesive in anyway requested a complex handling of several elements: additional hairs, adhesive, sleeve, glue gun, being also additionally time consuming.
• the cured adhesive realizes a sort of ball or skirt which is clearly felt by the touch, decreasing the comfort level of the methodology, making the fixing element visible and thwarting the desired aesthetic improvement of the thickening.
• the cured adhesive realizes a sort of ball or skirt which is clearly felt by the touch, decreasing the comfort level of the methodology, making the fixing element visible and thwarting the desired aesthetic improvement of the thickening.
• a permanent connection it is understood a stable connection, able to resist unaltered for days and weeks, suitable to undergo washing and hair styling.
• the permanent connection is then eliminated by using suitable non aggressive and hypo allergenic solvents.
• connection element is then positioned in contact with the hair skin, hidden among the hairs of the receiving hair which are advantageously separated and combed.
• the fixing element is then applied to the receiving hairs, a many systems are known for this purpose, using sewing, adhesive, combs, pins and so on.
• the latter can be reduced at a minimum thickness e.g. by using an adhesive layer, but the sewn and or woven fixing element should anyway have a weft and a warp suitable to safely keep the hairs secured, in turn inevitably determining a thickness pressed against the hair skin, causing a discomfort feeling.
• the technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a method for thickening hair, a separator device, a thickening assembly with hair extension and an applicator device apt to be used in said method, allowing to obviate to the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art, generally improving the simultaneous application of hair extensions.
• a hair extension as above specified in which that the linear fixing member is formed by two tapes adhered to each other so as to obtain a fixing strip, with hairs embedded between the two tapes due to an adhesive layer arranged therebetween, wherein:
• the tapes are flexible and made in a thermoplastic material; ⁇ the tapes are provided with a plurality of passing through holes all over the surface thereof;
• At least one of said tapes has an exposed face provided with a pressure-activated and non-permanent outer adhesive layer
• the main advantage of the hair extension according to the present invention lies in allowing either a permanent application, carried out by thermowelding of the fixing member, or a non-permanent application, carried out by the outer adhesive layer.
• the tapes of the fixing member are formed by a network of woven threads, said holes being determined by the network meshes.
• the present invention is also related to a method for thickening hair by the application of one or more hair extensions as above defined, comprising the steps of: ⁇ providing a hair extension according to any of the preceding claims;
• Figure 1 shows a perspective and exploded view of a first embodiment of the invention of a hair extension according to the present invention
• Figure 2 shows a side view of the hair extension of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 2A shows a detail of the hair extension of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 shows an overal I perspective view of the hair extension of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 4 shows a side and longitudinal sectional view of the hair extension of Figure 1 ;
• Figures 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate the application procedure of the hair extension of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a first comb-based device for the application of the hair extension according to the present invention
• Figure 7 shows a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of a hair extension according to the invention.
• Figure 8 shows a perspective view illustrating a separation step of the hair extension of Figure 7, carried out by the device of Figure 6;
• Figure 9 shows a magnified perspective view illustrationg an application and simultaneous separation of the hair extension of Figure 3 or 7;
• Figures 10A, 10B and 10C illustrate through perspective views three different application and separation steps of the hair extension of Figure 3 or 7;
• Figure 1 1 shows a perspective view of an application and separation device of the hair extensions of Figure 3 or 7, explaining the assembling thereof;
• Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the application and separation device of Figure 1 1 in an assembled configuration
• Figure 12A shows a transversal section of the application and separation device of Figure 1 1 , according to axis A-A shown in Figure 12;
• Figures 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E and 13F illustrate the use of the application and separation device of Figure 1 1 through specified perspective views.
• a hair extension of the weft or layer shaped kind, is indicate as 1 as a whole.
• the fixing member 2 has a linear fixing member 2 from which hairs 3 perpendicularly branch, in this embodiment of natural kind, arranged in a flat configuration having a uniform distribution.
• the fixing member 2 is formed by tho overlapped tapes 4, 5, provided with inner faces facing to each other, adhered to carry out a fixing strip.
• a first adhesive layer 6 is provided, which can be the result of the justaxposition of respective adhesive layer on eache of the adhered faces of the tapes 4, 5.
• Such a justaxposition is therefore the result of a manufacturing step of the hair extension 1 .
• both the tapes can be provided with hairs arranged with the proximal ends 7 thereof aligned and uniformly distributed on the respective adhesive face of the tape.
• the extension 1 is hence the result of the coupling of two hemi-extensions obtained on each tape 4, 5.
• proximal ends 7 of the hairs may be initially applied onto only one of said tapes, the other being simply overlapped and pressed against the first one.
• the tapes are formed by strips of thick and flexible material, provided with a plurality of passing through holes on their whole surface, i.e. with a dense foramination extended on the whole surface of each tape.
• the tapes 4, 5 of the fixing member 2 are formed by a network, composed by intertwined or anyway woven threads, and the holes being therefore constituted by the network meshes.
• Such tapes are pressed against each other, so that the hairs 3 and the adhesive material of the adhesive layer are at least partially penetrated inside the network meshes, thus minimizing the overall thicknedd and increasing the strenght by which the hairs are kept between the two tapes.
• proximal ends 7 reach the upper edge of the tapes 4, 5, an arrangement obtainable punching and crushing the tapes and the relative hairs during the manufacturing step.
• the material constituting the tapes is transparent and it is a thermoplastic material.
• the transparency allows to more clearly see the application steps and the visual effect obtained even with linear fixing member 2 applied.
• thermoplastic material is a substance apt to be melted at a temperature higher than the room temperature, assuming the properties of a plastic fluid, and then cooling and hence solidifying at room temperature.
• Substances with similar properties can be melted through the direct application of mechanical energy, as high frequency vibrations, namely ultrasound vibrations.
• the intermolecular vibration and the corresponding friction produces an amount of heat required to make the molecules plastically flowing.
• the heat generation immediately stops when the vibrations are stopped, causing a substantially immediate solidification.
• thermoplastic material examples include polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes and the like.
• the threads constituting the network can be made in polyester, in Elastam (a polyurethane fibre, Lycra ® ).
• Elastam a polyurethane fibre, Lycra ®
• An embodiment understood only for a non permanent application may comprise also very fine cotton threads.
• the network can have an overall exemplarily thickness of 150 ⁇ , however preferably not beyond 200 ⁇ .
• the adhesive material is a very strong adhesive agent, e.g. an acrylic based adhesive agent.
• At least one or both the tapes have a further adhesive layer 8 even on the externally exposed face, protected by a protection strip 9.
• both the tapes 4, 5 or even only one tape are substantially bi- adhesive, i.e. adhesive on both the faces thereof, with the adhesive material permeating through the thickness of the tape and incorporating the hairs of the extension.
• the outer adhesive layer 8 is used to fix the extension to the receiving hair.
• the receiving hairs are raised so as to bare a linear segment of hair skin having a length at least equal to that of the linear fixing member 2 ( Figure 5A).
• the thickness of the fixing member whose transversal size is obviously magnified in the drawings, is uniform and unperceivable to the touch.
• the same above described hair extension can be made permanent simply applying, on the linear fixing member, an adequate pressure and heat so as to temporarily melt the threads in thermoplastic material.
• Energy in the form of ultrasound frequency vibration may be used instead of heat, e.g. frequencies in the range from 20 to 60 kHz.
• one or both the pressing members will be linked to a vibrating device, e.g. a piezoelectric member supplied with alternate voltage at a desired frequency, and they will transmit the vibration to the fixing member 9, either directly or through the tape 1 .
• the vibration supply allow the molecules of the fixing member 2 in thermoplastic material to easily flow among the single hairs of the hair extension and of the receiving hairs, permeating and mixing with them.
• the applicator device is preferably operated at a constant pressure, not depending upon the thickness of what received between the pliers-like pressing members.
• the pressure is exerted for a predetermined time, uniformly along the linear fixing member length.
• FIG. 7 a further embodiment of the hair extension according to the present invention is described, wherein the hairs 3 are provided in the form of individual lock-like extensions, each indicated as 1 1 .
• the hairs are joined in locks 1 1 distinct and separated to each other, whose proximal ends 7' are equidistant to each other along the linear fixing member 2. The latter one can be produced as previously described.
• the fixing member further comprises means for making the separation of the individual lock-like hair extensions easier, which can be realized forming notches embodying tearing lines 12 transverse to the linear fixing member 2 between adjacent individual locklike hair extensions, so as the separated portions of the linear fixing member 2 operate as fixing members for the individual lock-like hair extensions.
• the hair extension herein described can be easily transformed in several individual hair extensions, each individually applicable according to the previously described application methodology, either in a non-permanent way or in a permanent way.
• a comb-like separation device 20 comprising a basement 21 connected to a handle 22, having a shape similar to that of a hairbrush, and a plurality of teeth 23 arranged along a line on a face 24 of the basement 21 .
• the teeth 23 are aligned along the longitudinal development of the basement 21 . Each of them is substantially blade-shaped, arranged perpendicularly to that longitudinal development so as to achieve a series of blades aligned and parallel to each other.
• the teeth 23 are mounted on a vibrating support (not shown), connected to suitable driving means, e.g. of the piezoelectric kind or with a rotating motor provided with cams, which may be started by a suitable switch 25.
• the vibration may be ultrasonic, so as the teeth 23 can locally melt a linear fixing member made of thermoplastic material.
• a separation step is explained, in which the teeth 23 are arranged in the empty spaces between adjacent locks. It is anyway understood that such a device can be used also for separating a hair extension as described with reference to the first embodiment.
• the hair extension can be applied to a receiving hair ( Figure 9), and the above described device can be used for separating the individual hair extensions, transversally cutting the linear fixing member.
• the receiving hairs are raised so as to show a linear segment of hair skin having a lengths at least equal to that of the linear fixing member 2 ( Figure 10A).
• the device 20 is used, operated so as the teeth 23 follow a path strictly parallel to the receiving hairs and to the additional hairs suitably combed and kept stretched, separating the linear fixing member 2 in several individual fixing members.
• the hair extension 1 can also be applied by a plate- or table-like separator device 51 ( Figures 1 1 , 12, 12A), which can divide o portion of hair apt to receive individual hair extensions 1 1 keeping them adjacent to each other and aligned to the corresponding locks of receiving hairs, substantially made of the same amount of receiving hairs, said individual hair extension 1 1 hence being already spaced in relationship with the position of the individual fixing members produced by the separation of the linear fixing member.
• a plate- or table-like separator device 51 Figures 1 1 , 12, 12A
• the separator device 51 comprises a plurality of teeth 52, substantially blade-shaped. They, in view of their size and reciprocal spacing, can automatically select the adjacent portions of receiving hairs, simply laying said portion of hair on them, providing to arrange said portion with a uniform thickness of receiving hairs.
• the separator device 51 comprises a resting surface 53, suitable for the laying of the linear fixing member 2. Indexes or edges, not shown in detail, may be provided for correctly positioning the fixing member with respect to the teeth 52 and then to the divided portions of receiving hairs.
• the resting surface 53 has a width substantially equivalent to that of the fixing member 2, for having the positioning of the latter eased.
• the resting surface 53 can comprise tooth-shaped stop members, apt to be inserted in positioning holes formed at the respective ends of the linear fixing members 2, but not shown in the drawings.
• the teeth 52 are arranged on a slider 54 longitudinally sliding on the plate- like separator device 51 , keeping the teeth aligned and parallel to said resting surface 53.
• the slider 54 can slide along longitudinal supporting grooves 55 on the opposite edges of the exposed surface of the separator device 51 , for drawing up and putting away the teeth 52 to and from the linear fixing member 2, once it has been arranged in place.
• the fixing member 2 arranged in its position, is spaced from the teeth 52 carrying out the separation of the receiving hairs. In this way, the bad positioning diagonally or curled or on the wrong fixing member as well is prevented, of the hairs intended to be fixed to a certain fixing member.
• the resting surface is again delimited by a first and a second spring-biased clips 58, 59, arranged at the upper and lower edges of the surface 53, for keeping in a predetermined position the fixing member 2 with respect to the receiving hairs.
• the application method of a hair extension as previously described with reference to the above embodiments proceeds as follows.
• a portion P of hair to be thickened is combed to align all the hairs in parallel.
• the separator device 51 is placed at said hair portion P, so a sit can be separated in adjacent separated portions ( Figure 13A), each of them substantially comprising the same amount of receiving hairs, each portion corresponding to a predetermined section of the linear fixing member.
• the separation is obtained using the upper spring-biased clip 58 for blocking the receiving hairs near the upper edge of the separator device 51 ( Figure 13), and using the teeth 52 on the slider 54 for forming said portions ( Figure 13C).
• the teeth 52 are put away from the resting surface 53 on which the fixing member 2 and the hairs of the hair extension 1 are laid down ( Figure 13D).
• the second spring-biased clip 59 is then used for blocking the hair etesio 1 , while the teeth 52 are operated to couple said portions of receiving hairs to the hairs of the hair extension 1 ( Figure 13E).
• the stretching applied by the teeth prevents the receiving hairs be tangled at the fixing member 2, opening spaces which can be used for inserting the comb of the previously described application device 20.
• the fixing member 2 is bi-adhesive, i.e. adhesive on both the faces thereof, the steps at the preceding points can be repeated overlapping another weft of receiving hairs on the hair extension 1 , separating it in portions corresponding to the former ones.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Hair Curling (AREA)
• Adhesive Tapes (AREA)
• Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
• Medicines Containing Plant Substances (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=42111483

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (9)

Citations (13)

• 2009
  • 2009-09-28 IT IT000495A patent/ITRM20090495A1/it unknown
• 2010
  • 2010-09-28 WO PCT/IB2010/054374 patent/WO2011036654A2/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (13)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events