Hair extension organizer and storage case

Abstract

The proposed invention is uniquely configured to allow for the efficient organization, storage and use of hair extensions in a salon setting where it can easily fit into a typical salon work station or cart. The two-piece book design allows for ease of operation and transport as well as the stacking of multiple cases. The specialized cut-out sections in each end of invention facilitate direct access to the attachable end of a hair extension and allow for the storage of longer hair extensions when the invention is closed. The vertical pin arrangement on the interior of the invention prevents damage to the hair extensions and keeps them organized, lying flat and separated. These design elements help the stylist to stay organized and work quickly and efficiently. Because the invention can be easily cleaned and sanitized, it can be manufactured to meet most, if not all, state cosmetology sanitation codes.

Claims

1. A hair extension organizer and storage case, comprising: a bottom cover with raised perimeter edge walls, a top cover with raised perimeter edge walls, wherein said covers are hinged together by a hinging mechanism along the length of one of the perimeter edge walls of the bottom cover and the top cover, wherein the raised perimeter edge walls of said covers that are lateral to the hinged side of the covers each contain a cut-out section of the raised perimeter edge wall such that when the case is closed hair extensions place inside the case can extend out of each of the said cut-out sections, wherein the bottom cover contains a plurality of equal length pins attached in a perpendicular orientation to the interior surface of said bottom cover, and said plurality is arranged in a pattern that covers a majority of the area of the interior surface of said bottom cover, and the top cover contains a plurality of equal length pins attached in a perpendicular orientation to the interior surface of said top cover, wherein said plurality is arranged in a pattern that covers a majority of the area of the interior surface of said top cover.

2. The hair extension organizer and storage case of claim 1, wherein the length of said of pins is equal in height to that of the interior of the perimeter edge walls of said bottom and top covers respectively.

3. The hair extension organizer and storage case of claim 1, wherein the length of said of pins in the bottom cover and the top cover is longer in height than that of the interior of the perimeter edge walls of said bottom and top covers, and said pins are arranged so that the bottom cover pins and top cover pins do not touch one another when the Case is closed.

4. The hair extension organizer and storage case of claim 1, wherein only said bottom cover has a plurality of pins attached in a perpendicular orientation to the interior surface of said bottom cover with said pins being equal in length to the just under the combined height of the interior of the perimeter edge walls of said bottom and top covers.

5. A hair extension organizer and storage case, comprising: a bottom cover with raised perimeter edge walls, a top cover that lacks perimeter edge walls and is instead flat, wherein said covers are hinged together by a hinging mechanism along the length of one of the perimeter edge walls of the bottom cover and the flat edge of the top cover, wherein the raised perimeter edge walls of said bottom cover that are lateral to the hinged side of the bottom cover each contain a cut-out section of the raised perimeter edge wall such that when the case is closed hair extensions place inside the bottom cover of the case can extend out of each of the said cut-out sections in the bottom cover, wherein said bottom cover has a plurality of equal length pins with said pins being equal in length to the height of the interior of the perimeter edge walls of said bottom cover, and wherein the plurality of equal length pins is attached in a perpendicular orientation to the interior surface of said bottom cover, and said plurality is arranged in a pattern that covers a majority of the area of the interior surface of said bottom cover.

6. The hair extension organizer and storage case as in either claim 1 or claim 5, wherein said pins are conical in shape.

7. The hair extension organizer and storage case as in either claim 1 or claim 5, wherein said pins are cylindrical in shape.

8. The hair extension organizer and storage case as in either claim 1 or claim 5, wherein said hinging mechanism is configured so that bottom and top covers may be easily unhinged from each other and then easily re-hinged.

9. The hair extension organizer and storage case as in claim 1 or claim 5, further including a set of concave indents in the exterior surface of the top cover, a set of convex foot bumps on the exterior surface of the bottom cover, wherein the indents and the foot bumps are similar in shape and size so as to permit the foot bumps to nest within the indents when one or more of said cases are stacked.

10. The hair extension organizer and storage case as in either claim 1 or claim 5, further including shallow indentations in the exterior surfaces of the top and bottom covers, such that said indentations would allow the user to place a label and/or logo sticker in the indented area of the top and/or bottom covers of said case.

11. The hair extension organizer and storage case as in either claim 1 or claim 5, further including a removable metal hinge pin to facilitate the unhinging and re-hinging of said hinging mechanism.

12. The hair extension organizer and storage case as in either claim 1 or claim 5, further including a latching mechanism located somewhere on the perimeter edge of said covers that is designed to keep the case secured and shut in the closed position when desired.

13. The hair extension organizer and storage case as in claim 1 or claim 5, further including a latching mechanism wherein said latching mechanism located on the exterior perimeter edge of said covers that is opposite of the hinged side of the covers and that is designed to keep the case secured and shut in the closed position when desired.

14. The hair extension organizer and storage case of claim 1, wherein the cut-out section of the perimeter edge walls forms the general shape of rectangle when the case is closed.

15. The hair extension organizer and storage case of claim 1, wherein the cut-out section of the perimeter edge walls forms the general shape of rectangle with radius corners when the case is closed.

16. The hair extension organizer and storage case, as in either claim 1 or claim 5, wherein said case is made of molded plastic or cast metal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be better understood after the review of the following accompanying numbered figures, which are provided for illustrative purposes and not intended to be limiting upon the scope of the present invention and its different embodiments that are further described via the invention's claims and overall specification thereto.

(2) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the Hair Extension Organizer and Storage Case in an open position.

(3) FIG. 2 is an isometric top view of the Hair Extension Organizer and Storage Case in the closed position.

(4) FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the bottom of the Hair Extension Organizer and Storage Case in the closed position.

(5) FIG. 4 is a detailed view of one embodiment of a typical portion of the interior of the Hair Extension Organizer and Storage Case.

(6) FIG. 5 is a detailed view of one embodiment of the Hair Extension Organizer and Storage Case's hinge mechanism.

(7) FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the Hair Extension Organizer and Storage Case in the open position depicting an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the top cover is flat.

DRAWINGREFERENCE NUMERALS

(8) 201 top cover 202a top cover tab 203 top cover indention for label 204 concave indentationtypical 205a & 205b top cover cut-out sections 206 top cover snap-fit latching mechanism 301 bottom cover 302a bottom cover tab 303 bottom cover indention for label 304 convex foot bumptypical 305a & 305b bottom cover cut-out sections 306 bottom cover snap-fit latching mechanism 401 plurality of pins 402 hair extension stranddemonstrative 501 hinge pin 502 top cover hinge knuckle 503 bottom cover hinge knuckle 601 flat top coveralternative embodiment 602 bottom coveralternative embodiment 605a & 605b bottom cover cut-out sections

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the Hair Extension Organizer and Storage Case (the Case) in an open position wherein the top cover of the Case 201 is in a vertical position and the bottom cover of the Case 301 is in a horizontal position. The top cover 201 and bottom cover 301 are joined together, see FIG. 5, utilizing a hinge mechanism 501, which allows the user to open the Case like a book. When the Case is fully opened, both the top cover and the bottom cover of the Case will be in a horizontal position allowing the Case to lay flat on a countertop or table. Although a Case that is generally rectangular in shape is depicted, the Case itself could be any number of other shapes such as circular, elliptical or rhomboid.

(10) While the Case is in the open position, hair extension strands 402 may be placed within the interior of the bottom cover, see FIG. 4, in an orientation that is parallel to the Case hinge and with the attachment end of the hair extension strand extending out of the bottom cover through a cut-out section 305a found in the lateral end of the bottom cover. If the total length of any hair extension strand is longer than that of the Case itself, the non-attachment end of the hair extension strand may likewise be extended out of opposite lateral end of the bottom cover through a cut-out section 305b found there. The top cover of the Case 201 also allows for hair extension strands 402 to extend out of each lateral end of the case through cut-out sections 205a and 205b. Although a Case with a singular cut-out sections of a rectangular shape is depicted, said cut-outs could be shaped differently and could also be more numerous. The Case could also be configured such that only the bottom cover has cut-outs and the top cover is flat.

(11) Each hair extension strand 402 placed in the bottom cover of the Case by the user is held in place within the bottom cover by a plurality of pins 401 extending from the interior surface of the bottom cover 301. That is to say, if hair extension strands are place in the bottom cover, while it is in the horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 4, the pins found on the interior of the bottom cover will be utilized to hold the hair extension strands in place while the top cover remains open. Although a Case with conical pins is depicted, said pins could be cylindrical in shape as well.

(12) When the user has finished placing hair extension strands 402 in the case, as described above, the top cover of Case 201 may be repositioned over the bottom cover 301 utilizing a hinge mechanism 501 and thereafter, secured in the closed position via two elongated snap-fit type latching mechanisms 206 and 306 that are integrated into partial lengths of the perimeter edge walls of the top and bottom covers opposite of the hinge. Although a Case with an elongated snap-fit type latch is depicted, other types of latches could also be utilized.

(13) Once the Case is secured in a closed position, the hair extension strands 402 contained within will continue to be held in place by the plurality of pins extending from the interior surfaces of the covers. The Case and hair extension strands held within may now be transported by the user without disrupting, tangling or disturbing the original placement of hair extension strands.

(14) Thereafter, the user can gain full access to the hair extension strands held securely within the Case by pulling the Case open via the application of equal amounts of upward and downward pressure to a grouping of two flat tabs 202a and 302a found protruding at ninety-degree angles from the exterior of the perimeter edge walls of the top and bottom covers that are opposite of the hinge.

(15) The hinge mechanism FIG. 5 utilized by the Case is similar in configuration to a standard piano hinge wherein the knuckles 502 and 503 of hinge are attached in an alternating pattern to the exterior of the top and bottom covers. The hinge pin 501 is also configured to be removable so as to facilitate the disassembly and the cleaning of the Case by the user. Although a Case with a standard piano hinge is depicted, other types of hinges could also be utilized.

(16) FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the exterior of the bottom cover 301 in the closed position. Located in the area approximate to each corner of the bottom cover 301 is one of a total of four semi-spherical convex foot bumps 304. When the Case is placed on a flat surface such as a table or counter-top, the foot bumps serve to position the flat exterior portion of the bottom cover just above the surface of said table or counter-top. This creates an air gap between the flat exterior portion of the bottom cover and the surface of the table or counter top upon which the Case rests. This air gap prevents the Case from becoming suctioned onto the surface of said table or counter-top when that surface is wet or otherwise covered with any tacky liquid or substance.

(17) This configuration of foot bumps on the exterior of the bottom cover, see FIG. 3, also allows the user to stack more than one Case upon another by aligning the foot bumps up with a matching set of concave semi-spherical indentations 204 set approximate to each of the corner areas of the exterior surface of the top cover, see FIG. 2. The nesting of the convex foot bumps 304 into the concave indentations 204, when one or more Cases are stacked, keeps the Cases in alignment with respect to each other while they are resting on a table or counter-top or are being transported by the user. Although a Case with four semi-spherical foots bumps and matching indents is depicted, said foot bumps and indents could be any shape and could be more numerous than four.

(18) FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 also depict rectangular indentations 203 and 303 in the exterior surfaces of the top and bottom covers, these indentations allow the user to place a label and/or logo sticker onto each individual Case. Although a Case with rectangular indentations is depicted, said indentation could be any shape and more numerous than one.

(19) FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the Hair Extension Organizer and Storage Case in an open position wherein the top flat shaped cover of the Case 601 is in a vertical position and the bottom box shaped cover of the Case 602 is in a horizontal position. The top cover 601 and bottom cover 602 are joined together, utilizing a hinge mechanism as depicted in FIG. 5, which allows the user to open the Case like a book. Although a Case that is generally rectangular in shape is depicted, the Case itself could be any number of other shapes such as circular, elliptical or rhomboid.