Abstract
A Set for installing hair extensions includes a plurality of connecting elements and at least one extension element. Each of the plurality of connecting elements includes a tubular element provided on an inner side with an anti-slip layer and provided on an outer side with a first magnet. The connecting elements can be connected to respective locks of hair of a person by positioning the tubular element around the locks of hair. The extension element includes a strip to which proximal ends of the hair extensions are connected. The strip further includes a plurality of second magnets which are compatible with the first magnets of the connecting elements so that the extension elements can be connected via the magnets to the locks of hair of the person.
Claims
1. A set for installing hair extensions, comprising: a plurality of connecting elements and at least one extension element, wherein each of the plurality of connecting elements comprises a tubular element provided on an inner side with an anti-slip layer and provided on an outer side with a first magnet, wherein the connecting elements are connectable to respective locks of hair of a person by positioning the tubular element around the locks of hair, wherein the extension element comprises a base element to which proximal ends of the hair extensions are connected, and wherein the base element further comprises a plurality of second magnets which are compatible with the first magnets of the connecting elements so that the extension elements can be connected via the first and second magnets to the locks of hair of the person.
2. The set according to claim 1, wherein each tubular element is plastically deformable so that it can be pinched shut when the tubular element has been positioned relative to the lock of hair of the person to connect the tubular element to the lock of hair.
3. The set according to claim 1, wherein the anti-slip layer is formed by a silicone sleeve placed in the tubular element.
4. The set according to claim 1, wherein each tubular element has a flat segment on the outer side and wherein the first magnet is glued fixedly against the flat segment.
5. The set according to claim 1, further comprising an accessory with a base and a carrier extending from the base, wherein the carrier extends through the tubular elements of the plurality of connecting elements and wherein at a distal end the carrier is engageable with at least one lock of hair of the person.
6. The set according to claim 1, wherein each first magnet has a thickness smaller than 3 mm.
7. The set according to claim 1, wherein the second magnets are connected to the base element in that each of the second magnets is glued to a further tubular element, said further tubular element being provided on an inner side with an anti-slip layer, wherein each further tubular element is clamped around a respective hair extension lock of the hair extensions.
8. The set according to claim 7, wherein the base element is formed as a strip and wherein the second magnets are connected to the strip with a substantially constant predetermined intermediate distance between successive magnets.
9. The set according to claim 1, wherein each second magnet has a thickness smaller than 3 mm.
10. The set according to claim 2, further comprising a pair of pliers for pinching shut the tubular elements.
11. A method for installing extensions in hair of a person, comprising: attaching a plurality of connecting elements to respective locks of hair from the hair of the person by positioning tubular elements of the connecting elements around the locks of hair, wherein the tubular elements are provided on an inner side with an anti-slip layer and are provided on an outer side with a first magnet; connecting at least one extension element, wherein the extension element comprises a base element to which proximal ends of the hair extensions are connected and wherein the base element further comprises a plurality of second magnets compatible with the first magnets of the connecting elements, to the connecting elements by snap-fixing the second magnets onto the first magnets.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein attaching of the plurality of connecting elements comprises, in each case, pinching shut a tubular element when it has been positioned relative to the lock of hair of the person to connect the tubular element to the lock of hair.
13. The set according to claim 1, wherein each first magnet has a thickness smaller than 2.5 mm.
14. The set according to claim 1, wherein each second magnet has a thickness smaller than 2.5 mm.
Description
[0026] In the drawing:
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a set for attaching extension hairs to a person according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 shows an connecting element of the set of FIG. 1; and
[0029] FIG. 3 shows several steps for installing the hair extensions making use of the set according to a preferred embodiment.
[0030] The same or similar elements are designated in the drawing with the same reference numerals.
[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a head of a person 1, wherein a lock of hair 2 is explicitly shown. It will be apparent that the shown lock of hair 2 forms part of the hair of the person 1, and that a plurality of locks of hair 2 can be selected from the hair in different ways. A lock of hair 2 is a bundle of head hairs of person 1. Lock of hair 2 forms part of the hairs of person 1 which are the body's own. At the position of the scalp the hairs are connected to the scalp by means of so-called hair roots.
[0032] FIG. 1 further illustrates an embodiment of base elements from a set for installing hair extensions. FIG. 1 shows here a hair extension lock 3, this being a bundle of extension hairs. Extension hairs are hairs which are not the body's own and which are added to the hair of the person 1 so as to add length and/or volume to the hair. In order to attach the extension hairs 3 connecting elements 4 are connected to the hair 2 of person 1. Each connecting element 4 has a tubular element 5 to which a magnet 6 is attached. In this description the magnet 6 which is connected to tubular element 5 of connecting element 4 is referred to as first magnet. The manner in which connecting element 4 is connected to lock of hair 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.
[0033] FIG. 1 further shows a cross-section of a strip of extension tape 7. Extension tape 7 is known and is commercially available. Strips of extension tape 7 form an elongate bundle of extension hairs which can be easily handled by means of the extension tape 7. Extension tape is commercially available, wherein the hair extension is purchased folded and sewn. The strip of extension tape 7 is here typically positioned close to the scalp, wherein locks of hair 2 which are located higher on the head of person 1 are placed over the extension tape so that extension tape 7 is no longer visible. In this way extension hairs 3 come to lie between the body's own hairs 2, and a functional and/or aesthetic mix of hairs which are the body's own and hairs which are not the body's own is thus obtained. This mixture can then be additionally styled. Additionally styled is understood to mean one or more of cutting, colouring, curling and so on. The skilled person will appreciate that the strip forms the base element of the extension elements. It will however be apparent that other types and forms of element can form a base element, and that the invention is therefore in the first instance not limited to extensions wherein the extension hairs are attached to a strip.
[0034] The strip of extension tape 7 comprises magnets 9 which are typically connected to extension tape 7 with a predetermined, substantially constant intermediate distance. In this description the magnets 9 which are connected to the extension hairs 3 are referred to as second magnet. It is noted in this context that first magnets 6 and second magnets 9 can be the same or different magnets. First magnets and second magnets are technically compatible, such that the first magnets and the second magnets are attracted to each other when brought into the vicinity of each other, as the skilled person will appreciate.
[0035] FIG. 1 further shows an exemplary embodiment for connecting second magnets 9 to strip 7. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 magnets 9 are connected to a further tubular element 8, wherein the further tubular element 8 is clamped around extension hairs 3 in order to thus connect the extension hairs to magnet 9. The skilled person will appreciate that the second magnets can be connected to the strips of extension tape in different ways without thereby departing from the core idea of the invention.
[0036] FIG. 1 further illustrates how the extension hairs are removable while connecting elements 4 are fixedly connected to locks of hair 2. Extension hairs 3 are connected to the locks of hair 2 of the person by connecting the first magnets 6 of the different connecting elements 4 which are positioned in the hair of person 1 to corresponding second magnets 9 of extension hairs 3. The skilled person will appreciate that magnets further have the option of being uncoupled by means of applying a force of a predetermined minimum magnitude, such that when first magnets 6 and second magnets 9 are connected, they can also be disconnected from each other so that extension hairs 3 can be removed from connecting elements 4. As elucidated above, giving extension hairs 3 a removable configuration has a number of advantages.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an connecting element 4. FIG. 2 makes clear here that connecting element 4 has a tubular element 5. A tubular element is defined as an element with a cavity extending from a first opening to a second opening and wherein the element has a substantially constant material thickness all the way around the cavity. The tubular element is preferably manufactured by extrusion from metal. It is not essential here for the tubular element to have a round section, on the contrary. Tubular element 5 preferably has a flat side 11 which allows magnet 6 to be connected to an outer side of tubular element 5 in simple manner. Magnet 6 is preferably adhered against flat side 11 of tubular element 5. Magnet 6 is more preferably glued to tubular element 5 by means of epoxy.
[0038] FIG. 2 further illustrates how an anti-slip layer 10 is provided on an inner side of tubular element 5. Anti-slip layer 10 is preferably formed as a further tubular element which fits in tubular element 5, this further tubular element 5 preferably consisting of an elastic material with good anti-slip properties, preferably from a silicone material. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 anti-slip layer 10 is formed as a silicone sleeve 10 which is placed in tubular element 5. The metal is preferably selected here to allow a plastic deformation of tubular element 5, as will be further elucidated with reference to FIG. 3.
[0039] FIG. 2 further illustrates the thickness of the magnet d, which is preferably as small as possible, more preferably smaller than 3 mm, most preferably about 2 mm. Tests have shown that a magnet 6 with a thickness d of about 2 mm is sufficiently strong not to break during normal use of connecting elements 4 and is sufficiently compact not to cause any unnecessary discomfort in the hair of person 1. It is mainly when tubular element 5 has been plastically deformed in order to connect connecting element 4 to lock of hair 2 that the overall thickness of connecting element 4 is reduced because tubular element 5 is pinched shut in the direction of the thickness d of magnet 6. This is further elucidated with reference to FIG. 3.
[0040] FIG. 3A shows an accessory 12 which in a preferred embodiment forms part of the set for installing hair extensions. Accessory 12 comprises a base 13 with thereon a carrier extending from base 13. A plurality of connecting elements 4 can be placed over carrier 14. In FIG. 3A only one connecting element 4 is placed over carrier 14 for the sake of clarity. The skilled person will however appreciate that a plurality of connecting elements 4 can be provided over carrier 14 in a row. The distal end 15 of carrier 14 is configured to engage a lock of hair 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 3A distal end 15 is provided with a loop which is sufficiently large to carry a lock of hair 2 therethrough in simple manner. This is illustrated in FIG. 3B. FIGS. 3A and 3B further show how connecting element 4 is placed around carrier 14 of accessory 12 by means of its tubular element 5. Each connecting element 4 further comprises a first magnet 6.
[0041] FIG. 3C shows that tubular element 5 can be slid via distal end 15 off carrier 14 after a lock of hair 2 has been pulled through the loop of distal end 15. This automatically results in tubular element 5 coming to lie around lock of hair 2. Pulling lock of hair 2 from the situation as shown in FIG. 3C further through tubular element 5 achieves the situation of FIG. 3D, in which tubular element 5 is situated all the way around lock of hair 2. The tubular element is then carried into the desired position, typically by sliding upward 16 of connecting element 4 relative to lock of hair 2. After tubular element 5 with magnet 6 has reached its desired position relative to lock of hair 2, tubular element 5 is pinched shut as illustrated in FIG. 3E.
[0042] By pinching shut tubular element 5 silicone sleeve 10 will also be pinched shut, whereby this sleeve is positioned around the hairs of lock of hair 2 with a predetermined force. By providing silicone sleeve 10 with a material thickness of at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 1 mm, forces resulting from the pinching shut, illustrated in FIG. 3E with arrows 17, are distributed sufficiently over the different hairs in lock of hair 2 so that a good attachment is obtained. The skilled person will appreciate that the pinching force 17 can be optimized in order to achieve a resistance between lock of hair 2 and silicone sleeve 10 which is sufficiently great to carry extension hairs 3 and which is sufficiently small to allow connecting element 4 to be slid upward relative to lock of hair 2 when the hair has grown out. The pliers are preferably formed such that the two jaw parts of the pliers come to lie substantially parallel after tubular element 5 has been pinched shut. In this way a balanced clamping between the tubular element and lock of hair 2 is obtained.
[0043] In order to slide the connecting element upward the lock of hair 2 can be grasped below the connecting element with a force greater than the resistance force between silicone sleeve 10 and lock of hair 2, so that sliding upward of connecting element 4 can be forced.
[0044] On the basis of the above description the skilled person will be able to design a set for installing hair extensions which on the one hand allows the connecting elements to be installed in the hair of a person 1, which connecting elements can be slid upward once the hair has grown out. A skilled person will also be able to provide extension elements which can be connected releasably to the connecting elements in the hair of the person. This allows the extension elements to be installed in the hair only when this is desired. The advantages hereof have been described above. On the basis of the functional description the skilled person will also be able to select magnets 6 and 9 which, when connected, have an attractive force which is sufficiently great to carry the hair extensions, and wherein the attractive force is not too great, this in order to allow magnets 6 and 9 to be disconnected without doing considerable damage to the hair 2. All this allows a set to be provided for installing hair extensions which can be installed without intervention by a professional or specialized hair stylist.
[0045] The skilled person will appreciate on the basis of the above description that the invention can be embodied in different ways and on the basis of different principles. The invention is not limited to the above described embodiments. The above described embodiments and the figures are purely illustrative and serve only to increase understanding of the invention. The invention will not therefore be limited to the embodiments described herein, but is defined in the claims.
