Abstract
A method of attaching hair extension to customer's hair includes steps of forming beads with strands of customer s hair using bead forming devices and attaching hair extension to the beads using a hair extension attachment device. The hair extension attachment device includes a weft that holds extension hair strands, an attachment thread fixed to the base weft, an attachment needle fixed to a free end of the attachment thread. The bead forming devices includes a bead tube, a first bead thread that passes through the bead tube, a first bead handle that connects both ends of the first bead thread, a second bead thread that passes through the bead tube and a second bead handle that connects both ends of the second bead thread. The bead tube is positioned between the first bead handle and the second bead handle.
Claims
1. A hair extension attachment device comprising: a base weft that is adapted to hold one or more extension hair strands; an attachment thread coupled to the base weft; an attachment needle for sewing the attachment thread to the base weft; and a hair fixing device, coupled to the base weft, comprising: a bead tube; a bead thread configured to pass through the bead tube; and a bead handle coupled to both ends of the bead thread.
2. The hair extension attachment device of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional wefts that are adapted to hold a plurality of extension hair strands, wherein the one or more additional wefts are aligned with the base weft.
3. The hair extension attachment device of claim 2, wherein the attachment needle has a predetermined curvature, and wherein the attachment needle is fixed to a free end of the attachment thread.
4. The hair extension attachment device of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of extension hair strands fixed to the base weft.
5. The hair extension attachment device of claim 2, wherein the attachment thread comprises a single thread.
6. A hair extension attachment device comprising: a base weft that is adapted to hold a plurality of extension hair strands; an attachment thread having a predetermined length and fixed to the base weft; an attachment needle connected to the attachment thread; one or more additional wefts that are adapted to hold a plurality of extension hair strands, wherein the one or more additional wefts are aligned with the base weft; and two hair fixing devices fixed at both ends of the base weft, wherein each of the hair fixing devices comprises a bead tube, a bead thread that passes through the bead tube and a bead handle that connects both ends of the bead thread.
7. A hair extension attachment device comprising: a base weft that is adapted to hold a plurality of extension hair strands; an attachment thread having a predetermined length and fixed to the base weft; an attachment needle connected to the attachment thread; one or more additional wefts that are adapted to hold a plurality of extension hair strands, wherein the one or more additional wefts are aligned with the base weft; and a first hair fixing device attached at one end of the base weft, and a second hair fixing device attached at the other end of the base weft, wherein each of the hair fixing devices comprises a bead tube, a bead thread that passes through the bead tube and a bead handle that connects both ends of the bead thread.
8. A hair extension attachment device comprising: a base weft that is adapted to hold a plurality of extension hair strands; an attachment thread having a predetermined length and fixed to the base weft; an attachment needle connected to the attachment thread; one or more additional wefts that are adapted to hold a plurality of extension hair strands, wherein the one or more additional wefts are aligned with the base weft; and one or more bead forming device, which comprises: a bead tube; a first bead thread that passes through the bead tube; a first bead handle that connects both ends of the first bead thread; a second bead thread that passes through the bead tube; and a second bead handle that connects both ends of the second bead thread.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The accompanying drawings illustrate the best embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings:
(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hair extension attachment device, wherein a sewing thread is fixed to one or two hair extension wefts, a curved needle is fixed to the end of the sewing thread, to save labor, the needle is provided prefixed to the sewing thread for this hair extension product, after sewing the weft(s) to customer's hair, remaining length of the sewing thread is cut and discarded with its prefixed needle;
(3) FIG. 2 is a side elevation view showing multiple wefts, wherein base weft, second weft, third weft are interwoven;
(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b are a perspective view showing a hair bead forming device, wherein two nylon threads pass through a copper tube, each of the thread is connected by a plastic handle at its two ends, one of the thread handle assembly is assembled to the tube in opposite direction to the other thread handle assembly, wherein to prevent entangling of the first and second threads, the length of the handle is designed to be longer than the loop length of the thread;
(5) FIG. 3c is an elevation view showing the hair bead forming device;
(6) FIGS. 4-12 are schematic views showing a method of using the hair extension attachment device, wherein two bundles of customer's hair strands pass through a tube in two directions resulting in x-shape, such arrangement is repeated as needed to provide attaching points to attach a hair extension to a customer's hair;
(7) FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing that a bead forming device is placed near combed hair of a customer;
(8) FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing that customer's hair strands are guided and drawn through a bead tube using a first bead thread of the bead forming device, wherein the hair strands are passed through the bead tube by pulling the first bead handle;
(9) FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing that customer's hair strands are drawn through a loop formed by the second bead thread by pulling the second bead handle;
(10) FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing that the bead tube is crimped to be flat;
(11) FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the crimped bead tube which forms a criss-crossed bead anchor;
(12) FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing multiple bead or anchor points;
(13) FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing that the hair extension attachment device is fixed to the criss-crossed bead anchors by sewing using the thread and the needle, wherein the needle is guided around the anchor point and is penetrated through the weft, wherein the thread is single to prevent interference between two threads, the needle is firmly and seamlessly fixed to the free end of the single thread with a glue, knotting, etc. in manufacturing plant;
(14) FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing completion of sewing the hair extension attachment device to the beads, wherein the hair extension attachment device sewn near the two ends of the bead tube;
(15) FIG. 15 is a perspective view shoving two hair fixing devices are attached at both ends of the weft;
(16) FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing that the bead tube uncrimped in order to retighten the hair extension weft that has been loosened due to grown customer's hair for example 8 weeks.
(17) FIG. 15 is a perspective view shoving tightening of the hair attachment device by pulling customer hair bundles using both hands;
(18) FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing that the bead tube crimped again;
(19) FIG. 17 is a front perspective view showing another hair attachment device including a plurality of hair fixing devices and a wire holding the hair fixing devices;
(20) FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of the hair attachment device; and
(21) FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing still another hair extension attachment device that includes a plurality of bead forming devices pre-fixed to a weft.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(22) Embodiments will be described in detail below. The accompanying drawings will be used for describing embodiments. For the sake of convenience of illustrating embodiments, thickness, length, diameter, size and other dimensions of components and/or hair would be illustrated or exaggerated to be different with those of actual components and/or hair, and the subject matter of this application is not limited to the illustrated embodiments.
(23) FIG. 1 shows a hair extension attachment device 10 comprising a base weft 12 that is adapted to hold a plurality of extension hair strands 14; an attachment thread 16 having a predetermined length and fixed to the base weft 12; and a curved attachment needle 18 fixed to an end 20 of the attachment thread 16. The predetermined length of the attachment thread is determined to facilitate sewing process with the attachment thread, and two or more times, preferably two to five times the length of the base weft in this embodiment. Preferably, the base weft is provided with lengths of 11″, 9″, 5.5″, 3.5″ and the corresponding lengths of the attachment thread 16 are 36″, 29″, 18″, 12″. Preferably, the attachment thread 16 is made of nylon. The attachment needle 18 is fixed to the free end of the attachment thread 16. When the attaching work is over, the unused length of the attachment thread 16 is cut and discarded together with the attachment needle 18. FIG. 10 shows that two bundles 22 of customer's hair strands pass through a tube in two directions resulting in x-shape beads or anchor points 24. Such arrangement is repeated as needed to provide attaching anchor points to attach a hair extension to a customer's hair. FIG. 2 shows that the hair extension attachment device 10 includes additional hair extension wefts 26. The additional hair extension wefts 26 are adapted to hold a plurality of extension hair strands. The additional hair extension wefts 26 are aligned with the base weft 12. The wefts may be sewn along their entire length to fix the wefts each other. In this way, multiple wefts are attached in one operation to provide rich extension hair appearance. To save labor, the attachment needle 18 is provided prefixed to the attachment thread 16 for this hair extension product. After sewing the weft(s) to customer's hair, remaining length of the attachment thread is cut and discarded with its prefixed attachment needle. The wefts may be made of cloth or polymer which facilitates sewing by the attachment thread.
(24) The attachment needle 18 has a predetermined curvature. Since the attachment needle 18 is frequently manipulated near the scalp of a customer, the curvature helps to keep away the sharp end of the attachment needle as far as possible from the scalp of a customer. The attachment thread 16 is sewn to the base weft 12.
(25) Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the hair extension attachment device 10 further comprises one or More bead forming device 28, which comprises a bead tube 30; a first bead thread 32 that passes through the bead tube 30; a first bead handle 34 that connects both ends of the first bead thread 32; a second bead thread 36 that passes through the bead tube 30; and a second bead handle 38 that connects both ends of the second bead thread 36. The bead tube 30 is positioned between the first bead handle 34 and the second bead handle 38. Two nylon threads pass through a copper tube. Each of the thread is connected by a plastic handle at its two ends. One of the thread handle assembly is assembled to the tube in opposite direction to the other thread handle assembly. The bead tube 30 comprises a silicone lined metal tube. The bead handles 34, 38 are longer than the loops formed by the bead threads 32, 36 so that entangling of the bead threads would not occur. In FIG. 3b, the dimension of the loop, a is in range of 0.5 through 5 cm, and the dimension of the bead handle b is in a range of 1 through 6 cm. More specifically, referring to FIG. 3c, the length b of the bead handle 34 is bigger than half c of the length of the bead thread minus the length of the bead tube d. For convenience of illustration FIG. 3c shows only the first bead thread 32 and the first bead handle 34.
(26) The bead tube 30 is squeezed after the first bead thread 32 pulled by the first bead handle 34 passes through the bead tube 30 and the second bead thread 36 pulled by the second bead handle 38 passes through the bead tube 30 whereby bundles 22 of customer's hair strands are guided through the bead tube 30 from both ends of the bead tube 30, thereby forming a bead or anchor point 24 with the squeezed bead tube 30 holding the strands of the customer's hair bundles 22 firmly. The attachment thread 16 sews the beads 24 to the base weft 12 (and the additional welt 26) thereby fixing the wefts 12, 26 to the beads 24 formed by the bead forming devices 28.
(27) FIGS. 4-12 show the process how the hair extension is attached to a customer's hair. A method of attaching a hair extension to a customer's hair according to the present invention comprises step S1 of forming one or more beads with strands of customer's hair using the bead forming devices 28; and step S2 of attaching a hair extension to the beads using the hair extension attachment device 10.
(28) In the bead forming step S1, the first bead thread 32 pulled by the first bead handle 32 passes through the bead tube 30 and the second bead thread 36 pulled by the second bead handle 38 passes through the bead tube 30 whereby strands of customer's hair are guided through the bead tube 30 from both ends of the bead tube 30, and then the bead tube 30 is crimped thereby forming a bead 24 with the crimped bead tube holding the strands of the customer's hair firmly.
(29) In the hair extension attaching step S2, the attachment needle 18 is passed around the bead tube 30 and penetrates the base weft 12 thereby fixing the base weft 12 to the beads 24. FIG. 12 illustrates the finished state, wherein the hair extension is firmly and stably attached to customer's natural hair and very close to the scalp providing better feeling and appearance, wherein compared to wefts by prior art in which customer's hair strands are parallel in the same direction as the extension hair strands, in the present invention customer's hair strands are perpendicular with the extension hair strands, no loosening occurs, in everyday life, and maintaining the extension hair, and shampooing, the present invention provides solid, natural, convenient feeling, 10-20 bead forming devices are provided with the weft(s) connected to the thread and the needle in a retail package.
(30) Referring to FIG. 1a, the weft 12 comprises a plurality of guide holes 42 arranged with predetermined interval. Preferably, the weft is polyurethane base to facilitate punching the fastening holes 42. The bead forming devices 28, therefore the bead tubes 30 are fixed to the base weft 12 by sewing or gluing for example. The bead forming devices 28 are fixed at predetermined positions so that the loops formed by the bead threads are aligned with the guide holes 42. Customer's hair strands 22 are guided thorough the guide holes 42 and then the loops formed by the threads 32, 36. The bead tube 30 is squeezed after the first bead thread 32 pulled by the first bead handle 34 passes through the bead tube 30 and the second bead thread 36 pulled by the second bead handle 38 passes through the bead tube 30 whereby strands of customer's hair 22 are guided through the bead tube 30 from both ends of the bead tube 30 in crisscross pattern, thereby forming a bead with the squeezed bead tube holding the crisscrossed strands of the customer's hair firmly.
(31) The single thread 16 may be fixed to the weft 12 either by making two knots or by using glue. To facilitate making the anchor base straighter, a plier with thin lower jaw should be used when making the crisscrossing bead.
(32) Referring to FIG. 13, the hair extension attachment device 10 further comprises two hair fixing devices 40 at both ends of the base weft 12. Each of the hair fixing devices 40 includes a bead tube 44, a bead thread 44 that passes through the bead tube and, a bead handle 48 that connects both ends of the bead thread. The hair fixing device fixed strands of customer's hair. In addition to sewing the weft to the anchor points, this fixing provides further attaching of the hair extension at both ends of the weft, thereby enhancing attachment of the hair extension.
(33) FIGS. 14-16 illustrate unsqueezing or uncrimping the bead tube 30. When the customer's hair grows, the bead tubes 30 are unsqueezed, the entire wefts 12, 26 are pulled upward, and then the tubes are squeezed again to provide the tight state as when the hair extension is first attached, it is possible until the tube is broken.
(34) Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, a hair attachment device 50 includes a plurality of hair fixing devices 40, wherein each of the hair fixing devices 40 comprises a bead tube 44, a bead thread 46 that passes through the bead tube 44 and a bead handle 48 that connects both ends of the bead thread 44; and a wire 52, along which the hair fixing devices 40 are slidably attached. The wire 52 comprises two stoppers 54 at its ends, wherein each of the hair fixing devices 40 further comprises a string 56 that is wound around the external wall and the internal wall of the bead tube 44, wherein the wire 52 passes between the string 56 and the external wall of the bead tube. The wire is made of synthetic material or metal. Because the hair fixing devices 40 can freely slide along the wire 52, a user can adjust the interval between the hair fixing devices 40 appropriately depending on a customer's hair and a hair extension. The hair attachment device 50 can be easily assembled to any kind of hair extension weft by sewing etc. A bundle of customer's hair is fixed by the hair fixing device 40 thereby forming an anchor point for attaching hair extension weft.
(35) Although the hair extension attachment device and method according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concept herein described, which may appear to those skilled in the art, will still fall within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
(36) The drawings and the forgoing description gave examples of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, however, is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible. The scope of the invention is at least as broad as given by the following claims.
