ECO-FRIENDLY CROCHET STYLE SYNTHETIC BRAIDING HAIR AND ITS MANUFACTURING METHOD

Abstract

An eco-friendly crochet style synthetic braiding hair and its manufacturing method are disclosed. The synthetic braiding hair is comprised of a plurality of the first synthetic fibers configured to easily form a curly shape; a plurality of the second synthetic fibers configured to be half-length of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers and have a high elastic recovery to maintain curly shape; and a plurality of the combined synthetic fibers is made by plurality of the second synthetic fibers being combined in the middle of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers and folded together.

Claims

1. An eco-friendly crochet style synthetic braiding hair comprising: a plurality of the first synthetic fibers configured to easily form curly shape; a plurality of the second synthetic fibers configured to have high elastic recovery to maintain curly shape therein; and wherein a plurality of the combined synthetic fibers is formed by the plurality of the second synthetic fibers being placed in the middle of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers and folded together.

2. The synthetic braiding hair of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the first synthetic fibers and the plurality of the second synthetic fibers are pre-treated to create unevenness and irregularity on surfaces thereof to resemble natural human hair.

3. The synthetic braiding hair of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the first synthetic fibers is capable of hot water setting to form curly hair.

4. The synthetic braiding hair of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the second synthetic fibers is capable of maintaining curly shape of the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers by material characteristics of high elastic recovery thereof.

5. The synthetic braiding hair of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the second synthetic fibers is capable of hot water setting to form curly hair and its weight is lighter and more volumetric than the plurality of the first synthetic fiber.

6. The synthetic braiding hair of claim 3, wherein the plurality of the first synthetic fibers is made by Polypropylene (PP) compound to be configured of hot water setting for curly shape.

7. The synthetic braiding hair of claim 4, wherein the plurality of the second synthetic fibers is made by a mixture of Poly-Ethylene Terephthalate (PET) compound and Poly-Butylene Terephthalate (PBT) to create high elastic recovery of curly shape.

8. The synthetic braiding hair of claim 7, wherein the mixing ratio of PET and PBT is one to one.

9. The synthetic braiding hair of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers is pre-separated into a separated plurality of the combined synthetic fibers so that it is attached directly onto human hair.

10. The synthetic braiding hair of claim 9, is further comprised of a loop attached in the middle of the separated plurality of the combined synthetic fibers and configured to easily install the separated plurality of the combined synthetic fibers onto human hair.

11. A method of a manufacturing an eco-friendly crochet style synthetic braiding hair comprising the steps of: corrugating a fiber bundle; stretching a plurality of the first synthetic fibers; stretching a plurality of the second synthetic fibers; creating a plurality of the combined synthetic fibers; forming curly shape to the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers; dividing into to a separated plurality of the combined synthetic fibers; and, attaching a loop in the middle of the separated plurality of the combined synthetic fibers.

12. The method of manufacturing the synthetic braiding hair in claim 11 in which the step of corrugating the fiber bundle uses a conveyer belt unit with a plurality of corrugated heated rollers to create unevenness and irregularity on surfaces thereof to resemble natural human hair.

13. The method of manufacturing the synthetic braiding hair in claim 11 in which the step of pulling the plurality of the first synthetic fibers uses a gripper that alternately holds and releases one end of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers while combing the other end of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers with a combing table.

14. The method of manufacturing the synthetic braiding hair in claim 11 in which the step of pulling the plurality of the second synthetic fibers uses the gripper that alternately holds and releases one end of the plurality of the second synthetic fibers while combing the other end of the plurality of the second synthetic fibers with the combing table.

15. The method of manufacturing the synthetic braiding hair in claim 11 in which the step of creating a plurality of the combined synthetic fibers further includes setting the length of the plurality of the second synthetic fibers to be half of the length of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers.

16. The method of manufacturing the synthetic braiding hair in claim 11 in which the step of forming curly shape to the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers further includes submerging the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers into a hot water setting chamber of which the water temperature set to 100 C.

17. The method of manufacturing the synthetic braiding hair in claim 11 in which the separated plurality of the combined synthetic fibers should be an adequate amount that a braider can directly attach onto human hair.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for describing a corrugation process to a fiber bundle.

[0024] FIG. 2(a) to FIG. 2(d) are conceptual diagrams for describing a plurality of the first, second, and combined synthetic fibers.

[0025] FIG. 3(a) is a conceptual diagram of a pulling device for pre-stretching process, describing how to pull the plurality of the first and second synthetic fibers to create natural ending shape and FIG. 3(b) is an embodiment of the pre-stretched fibers.

[0026] FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b) are conceptual diagrams of a curling and pre-separating process of the plurality of the combined fibers.

[0027] FIG. 5(a) is an embodiment of a loop attached in the middle of a separated plurality of the combined synthetic fibers, and FIG. 5(b) is an example figure of prior art.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram for describing a flow chart of manufacturing the eco-friendly crochet style synthetic hair using the plurality of the first and second synthetic fibers.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0029] Hereinafter, illustrative embodiments and examples will be described in detail so that inventive concept may be readily implemented by those skilled in the art. However, it is to be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the illustrative embodiments and examples but can be visualized in various other ways. In drawings, parts not directly relevant to the description are omitted to enhance the clarity of the drawings, and like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the whole document.

[0030] Throughout the whole document, the term on that is used to designate a position of one element with respect to another element includes both a case that the one element is adjacent to the other element and a case that any other element exists between these two elements.

[0031] The terms comprises or includes and/or comprising or including used in the document means that one or more other components, steps, operations and/or existence or addition of elements are not excluded in addition to the described components, steps, operations and/or elements unless context dictates otherwise. The terms about or approximately or substantially are intended to have meanings close to numerical values or ranges specified with an allowable error and intended to prevent accurate or absolute numerical values disclosed for understanding of the present disclosure from being illegally or unfairly used by any unconscionable third party. Throughout the whole document, the term step of does not mean step for.

[0032] Throughout the whole document, the term combination of included in the Markush type description means a mixture or combination of one or more components, steps, operations and/or elements selected from the group consisting of components, steps, operations and/or elements described in the Markush type and thereby means that the disclosure includes one or more components, steps, operations and/or elements selected from the Markush group.

[0033] Furthermore, in the following description of illustrative embodiments, terms related to a direction or a position (upper side, lower side, up and down directions, etc.) are defined with respect to the arrangement state of individual components shown in drawings. For example, the upper side and the lower side may be defined as the upper side and the lower side when viewed from FIG. 1, that is, the left side and the right side on a paper plane. However, it should be noted that when the illustrative embodiment is practically applied, the components may be arranged in various directions with the upper side and the lower side reversed, for example.

[0034] Below, illustrative embodiments and examples of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0035] FIG. 1 depicts a corrugation process to pre-treat a fiber bundle (01) before it goes to main procedures. When the fiber bundle (01) is fed to a belt conveyer unit (03) comprised of a plurality of corrugated heated rollers (02), random unevenness is created along the surfaces thereof through the corrugated shape formed on the outer surface of the plurality of corrugated heated rollers (02). Normally, the synthetic fiber from the manufacturing company itself is provided as straight form, and when used as is, the final hair product gives an artificial look. The corrugation process is very important to convert the synthetic fibers to have more of a human hair feel by creating natural unevenness or irregularity onto it.

[0036] In FIG. 2(a) through FIG. 2(d), an eco-friendly crochet style synthetic braiding hair (10) is shown, comprising of a plurality of the first synthetic fibers (20) and a plurality of the second synthetic fibers (30). Both are pre-treated by corrugation process.

[0037] The plurality of the first synthetic fibers (20) is firstly cut on both ends in a desired length (20-1) from a long fiber bundle. The ending tip of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers (20-1) then becomes constant.

[0038] The ending tip is then pulled through a pre-stretching process to make it more like a natural hair ending shape (20-2, 30-2). FIGS. 3(a) and (b), the conceptual diagram explains the pre-stretching process more in detail. The pre-stretching process is performed using a combing table (50) and a pulling device (60). The combing table is comprised of a plurality of needles (51) perpendicularly extruded from a flat surface thereon. A gripper (61) is located in the middle of the pulling device (60). One end of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers (20-1) is held by the gripper (61) and the other end of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers is placed around the plurality of needles (51) on the combing table (50). The pulling device parallelly moves away from the combing table (50). The plurality of the first synthetic fibers (20-1) passes through the plurality of the needles (51), then is stretched. In a pulling motion, the gripper is slightly and alternatively open and close its gap, which holds and releases the plurality of the first synthetic fibers (20-1) simultaneously so that the end of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers (20-1) is arbitrarily aligned with each other. The slight misalignment of the fiber eventually gives natural hair ending shape (20-2) at the end tip thereof.

[0039] The plurality of the first synthetic fibers is capable of hot water setting to form crochet curly hair shape.

[0040] The plurality of the second synthetic fibers (30-1) is cut about a half length of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers (20), then, as shown in FIG. 2(b), its ending is stretched through the pre-stretching process in the same manner described above to create natural hair ending shape (30-2).

[0041] The plurality of the second synthetic fibers is capable of high elastic recovery to maintain curly shape.

[0042] In the next procedure, as shown in FIG. 2(c), the plurality of the first synthetic fibers (20-2) and the plurality of the second synthetic fibers (30-2) are placed together so that each center of the plurality of the first and second synthetic fibers (20-2, 30-2) is aligned together.

[0043] The plurality of the first and second synthetic fibers is folded together along the center line to form a plurality of the combined synthetic fibers (10), as shown in FIG. 2(d).

[0044] After creating the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers (10), the plurality of the first synthetic fibers is mostly positioned to one end portion of the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers (10) to be mainly used for making curly shape through hot water setting.

[0045] To achieve this functionality, the plurality of the first synthetic fibers (20) is made by Polypropylene (PP) compound for a hot water setting capability to easily form crochet style curly shape. Nominal hot water setting temperature for curly shape of the plurality of the first synthetic fiber (20) is set to 100 C.

[0046] The plurality of the second synthetic fibers is mostly positioned near a middle portion of the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers (10), where the area is directly connected to the human hair, to be mainly used for maintaining its curly shape with the characteristics of high elastic recovery.

[0047] To achieve this functionality, the plurality of the second synthetic fibers (30) is made by a combination of Poly-Ethylene Terephthalate (PET) compound and Poly-Butylene Terephthalate (PBT) compound to create high elastic recovery of curly shape. Nominal hot water setting temperature for curly shape of the plurality of the second synthetic fiber (30) is also set to 100 C.

[0048] The mixing ratio between PET and PBT may be 1 to 1.

[0049] The use of these compounds has additional advantages that the weight of it is much lighter and volumetric compared to the conventional synthetic fibers of which the compound is usually Poly-Vinyl Chloride (PVC).

[0050] In the next procedure, the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers goes through curl forming process as shown FIG. 4(a). The plurality of the combined synthetic fibers (10) may be pressed by a curly shaped die fixture at this moment (not shown) or may be wound along the outer circumference of a cylindrical rod (71), then placed onto an array of tray (72) inside a hot water chamber (70). The water or steam in the hot water chamber (70) is nominally set to 100 C. Either of the proposed methods creates curly shape onto the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers (10).

[0051] After hot water setting, the embodiment of the plurality of the combined synthetic fiber may be shown like FIG. 4(b) on the left side. The bundle of this synthetic fiber is normally too big to directly attach onto natural hair. So, the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers should be divided into a separated plurality of the combined synthetic fibers with an adequate amount so that it can be directly attached without extra separation by a braider. This is referred to as pre-separating process, which will reduce a large amount of extra work.

[0052] To attach a separated plurality of the combined synthetic fiber to the natural human hair, typically a loop is formed using the synthetic hair itself in the middle of it, as shown in FIG. 5(a). The size of the loop shown in this prior art is thick because the whole amount of the fiber bundle is used for the loop, generating large volume around the connected junction to natural human hair. This causes artificial look in the area and becomes unfavorable style in hair braiding.

[0053] FIG. 5(b) shows a new solution of this matter by attaching a loop such as a rubber band in the middle of the separated plurality of the combined synthetic fiber instead of forming the loop with the fiber itself. Attaching extra loop is referred as pre-looping process. The loop allows the separated plurality of the combined synthetic fiber to be installed much easier way and save time compared to the use of the prior art. It also gives a simple, more natural look when attached, because the volume of connected areas much thinner than the conventional method. Also, removal of the synthetic braiding hair is made very convenient, by simply pulling the loop (rubber band) out from natural hair.

[0054] To manufacture an echo-friendly crochet style synthetic braiding hair disclosed herein, the procedure of the following method is suggested in the diagram in FIG. 6, as it shows the step by step procedure of manufacturing an echo-friendly crochet style synthetic braiding hair in detail.

[0055] Firstly, a fiber bundle is fed to a conveyer belt unit to form corrugated shape thereon. The conveyer belt unit with a plurality of corrugated cylinders creates unevenness and irregularity on surfaces of the fiber bundle to resemble natural human hair.

[0056] Secondly, a plurality of the first synthetic fibers is stretched. This includes a step of using a gripper that alternately holds and releases one end of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers while combing the other end of the same plurality of the first synthetic fibers with a pulling device and a combing table.

[0057] The combing table is comprised of a plurality of needles on a flat surface. One end of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers is placed onto the plurality of the needles. A gripper at the pulling device alternately holds and releases the other end of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers when pulling it from the plurality of the needles. Through combing motion with alternating gripping, the end of the fibers is aligned with a slightly different length, which results in natural ending shape similar to human hair.

[0058] The plurality of the second synthetic fiber is stretched in the same way as the plurality of the first synthetic fibers to create the natural ending shape.

[0059] Then, the plurality of the second synthetic fibers is placed in the middle of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers. This step also includes setting the length of the plurality of the second synthetic fibers to be half of the plurality of the first synthetic fibers.

[0060] A plurality of the combined synthetic fibers is formed by folding the plurality of the first and the second synthetic fibers together.

[0061] The plurality of the combined synthetic fibers is submerged into a hot water setting chamber of which the water temperature set to 100 C., then curly shape is formed onto the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers.

[0062] Then, the plurality of the combined synthetic fibers is divided into a separated plurality of the combined synthetic fibers by pre-separating it into an adequate amount that the braider can directly attach it onto human hair.

[0063] Lastly, a loop such as a rubber band is attached on one end of the separated plurality of the combined synthetic fibers. This pre-looping process enables the braider to attach the fiber easily.

[0064] The description above of the illustrative embodiments is provided for the purpose of illustration, and it would be understood by those skilled in this profession so that various changes and modifications may be made without changing technical concepts and essential features of the illustrative embodiments. Thus, it is clear that the illustrative embodiments described above are illustrative in all aspects and do not limit the present disclosure. For example, each component described to be of a single type can be implemented in a distributed manner. Likewise, components described to be distributed can be implemented in a combined manner.

[0065] The scope of the inventive concept is defined by the following claims and their equivalents rather than by the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments. It shall be understood that all modifications and embodiments conceived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents are included in the scope of the inventive concept.