HAIR EXTENSION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME

Abstract

A hair extension apparatus includes a filament. The filament includes a first end region, a middle region and a second end region. The hair extension apparatus includes a first section of artificial hair coupled to the first end region and a second section of artificial hair coupled to the second end region.

Claims

1. A hair extension apparatus comprising: a filament comprising a first end region, a middle region and a second end region; a first section of artificial hair coupled to the first end region; and a second section of artificial hair coupled to the second end region.

2. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filament is constructed of an elastic material.

3. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filament is constructed of an elastic thread.

4. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hair is coupled to the first end region by knotting the artificial hair to the first end region and wherein each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hair is coupled to the second end region by knotting the artificial hair to the second end region.

5. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first end region comprises a layer of glue disposed on a surface thereof and wherein each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hair is coupled through the glue layer to the first end region.

6. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hair is coupled to the first end region by crocheting the artificial hair to the first end region and wherein each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hair is coupled to the second end region by crocheting the artificial hair to the second end region.

7. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second end region comprises a layer of glue disposed on a surface thereof and wherein each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hair is coupled through the glue layer to the second end region.

8. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the artificial hair coupled to the first end region comprises human hair.

9. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the artificial hair coupled to the second end region comprises human hair.

10. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the artificial hair coupled to the first end region comprises human hair and synthetic hair.

11. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the artificial hair coupled to the second end region comprises human hair and synthetic hair.

12. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein no artificial hair is coupled to the middle region of the filament.

13. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first terminus of the first end region comprises a first knot and a second terminus of the second end region comprises a second knot.

14. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filament comprises a continuous piece of material, or wherein the first end region, the middle region and the second end region are separate pieces of material coupled together to form the filament.

15. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first end region and the second end region comprise a first type of material and the middle region comprises a second type of material and wherein the first type of material and the second type of material are different.

16. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a length of the filament is about four to six inches.

17. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a length of the middle region is about 0.75 to 1.5 inches.

18. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a color of the first section of artificial hair is selected from black, brown, blonde, red, blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof, and wherein a color of the second section of artificial hair is selected from black, brown, blonde, red, blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof.

19. The hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a color of the filament is selected from black, brown, blonde, red, blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof.

20. A method of manufacturing the hair extension apparatus according to claim 1, the method comprising: knotting the first section of artificial hair to the first end region and knotting the second section of artificial hair to the second end region; or crocheting the first section of artificial hair to the first end region and crocheting the second section of artificial hair to the second end region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain embodiments will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a hair extension apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates an expanded view of a hair extension apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a hair extension apparatus according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0015] The following detailed description of certain embodiments will be made in reference to the accompanying drawings. In the detailed description, explanation about related functions or constructions known in the art are omitted for the sake of clearness in understanding the concept of the invention, to avoid obscuring the invention with unnecessary detail.

[0016] The phrase artificial hair, as used herein, refers to synthetic hair products as well as human hair or animal hair and combinations thereof. The artificial hair may be embodied in various traditional hair colors, such as black, brown, blonde, and red, as well as non-traditional hair colors, such as blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof, including individual strands of hair having two or more colors. The artificial hair may be embodied in various textures, such as curly, wavy, straight, thick, thin, and combinations thereof.

[0017] The term user, as used herein, refers to any purchaser of the wig configured according to any of the embodiments disclosed herein, including, but not limited to, individual members of the public, wholesale distributors, retail merchants, manufacturers, importers and exporters of the wig and related components of the wig.

[0018] Reference to individual embodiments, whether by number of embodiment or relevant feature of the embodiment, is used for convenience in describing such embodiments. Moreover, reference to individual embodiments does not indicate that any of such embodiments are preferred over any other embodiments. Furthermore, each individual embodiment may be combined with any other individual embodiment whether or not expressly stated.

[0019] According to embodiments of the invention described herein, a hair extension apparatus having artificial hair coupled to an elastic filament is provided. The hair extension apparatus includes a filament that has three separate regions. Artificial hair is coupled to two of the outer regions, and in certain embodiments, is not coupled to the region between the outer regions. The region of the filament to which artificial hair is not coupled is where the user will couple the hair extension apparatus to their natural hair. As further described herein, the manner in which the hair extension apparatus is structurally configured enables the user to couple the hair extension apparatus to their natural hair such that it is not noticeable to an observer. The artificial hair of the hair extension apparatus is coupled securely in place to the user's natural hair, providing added volume, length and style to the user's natural hair.

[0020] Existing hair extensions frequently present challenges due to their noticeable appearance and insecure attachment to a user's natural hair, often leading to an unnatural look or being readily visible to observers. The hair extension apparatus described herein addresses these limitations. The hair extension apparatus features a filament comprising a first end region, a middle region, and a second end region, with sections of artificial hair coupled to the first and second end regions. In certain embodiments, no artificial hair is coupled to the middle region of the filament. This design enables users to inconspicuously couple the apparatus to their natural hair, for instance by braiding or weaving their natural hair to the middle region, thereby maintaining a thin and discreet profile and a natural, fashionable appearance that is not apparent to an observer.

[0021] Furthermore, the filament is preferably constructed of an elastic material, offering significant advantages including flexibility, foldability, twistability, and stretchability for effectively binding the hair extension apparatus to the user's natural hair. The hair extension apparatus also incorporates various coupling methods for the artificial hair, such as knotting, glue, or crocheting, and permits the use of diverse types of artificial hair, including human hair, synthetic hair, or combinations thereof, in a wide array of colors and textures to match the user's natural hair. Through these various structural configurations, embodiments of the hair extension apparatus ensure that the hair extension apparatus is securely coupled to the user's natural hair and provides added volume, length, and style while overcoming the insecure attachment and readily noticeable components of conventional hair extensions.

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a hair extension apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hair extension apparatus 100 includes a filament 101. The filament 101 includes a first end region 105, a middle region 110 and a second end region 115. The middle region 110 is disposed between the first end region 105 and the second end region 115. In certain embodiments, the filament 101 is a thread or string. In certain embodiments, the filament 101 is constructed of an elastic thread. The filament may be constructed of any suitable material, including an elastic material or an inelastic material. The elastic material can be diene elastic fiber, commonly known as rubber yarn or elastic yarn and mainly composed of vulcanized polyisoprene, polyurethane fiber, polyether ester elastic fiber, polyolefin elastic fiber, composite elastic fiber, or hard elastic fiber and combinations thereof.

[0023] In certain embodiments, there is no artificial hair coupled to the middle region 110 of the filament 101. The absence of artificial hair in the middle region 110 of the filament 101, enables a user of the hair extension apparatus 100 to couple the hair extension apparatus 100 to their natural hair. For example, the user may couple the hair extension apparatus 100 to their natural hair by braiding their natural hair to the middle region 110 of the filament 101. Since there is no artificial hair coupled to the middle region 110, the middle region 110 maintains a thin and inconspicuous profile when the hair extension apparatus 100 is coupled to the user's natural hair, enabling the user to securely couple the hair extension apparatus 100 to their natural hair and providing a desirable and fashionable appearance.

[0024] In certain embodiments, there is artificial hair coupled to the middle region 110 of the filament 101. In certain embodiments, there is artificial hair coupled to the middle region 110 of the filament 101 and there is no artificial hair coupled to the first end region 105.

[0025] In certain embodiments, the filament 101 is a continuous piece of material. In other words, the filament 101 may be a single piece of material and not multiple separate sections of material coupled together.

[0026] In certain embodiments, the first end region 105, the middle region 110 and the second end region 115 are separate pieces of material coupled together to form the filament 101. A color of the filament is selected from black, brown, blonde, red, blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof. The filament 101 includes a first terminus, which refers to the end of the first end region 105. The first terminus is opposite the middle region 110, that is, it does not border the middle region 110. The first terminus includes a first knot. The purpose of the first knot is to prevent the first end region 105 from fraying. The first knot also prevents the artificial hair from falling out of the first end region 105. The filament 101 includes a second terminus, which refers to the end of the second end region 115. The second terminus is opposite the middle region 110, that is, it does not border the middle region. The second terminus includes a second knot. Similar to the first knot, the purpose of the second knot is to prevent the second end region 115 from fraying. The second knot also prevents the artificial hair from falling out of the second end region 115. The first terminus and the second terminus are disposed on opposite ends of the filament 101.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the first end region 105 and the second end region 115 include a first type of material and the middle region 110 includes a second type of material. The first type of material and the second type of material may be different or they may be the same. In certain embodiments, a length of the filament is about four to six inches or about 5 inches. In certain embodiments, a length of the middle region is about 0.75 to 1.5 inches or about 1.25 inches.

[0028] In certain embodiments, the first end region 105 and the second end region 115 are a first thickness and the middle region 110 is a second thickness. In certain embodiments, the first thickness is the same as the second thickness. In certain embodiments, the first thickness is different from the second thickness. In certain embodiments, the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

[0029] In certain embodiments, the middle region 110 is constructed of multiple intertwined filaments. In certain embodiments, the middle region 110 is constructed of a single filament. In certain embodiments, the middle region 110 is constructed of a single thick filament with multiple thinner filament extension from the ends thereof.

[0030] The hair extension apparatus 100 includes a first section of artificial hair 120 coupled to the first end region 105. In certain embodiments, the artificial hair coupled to the first end region 105 is human hair, synthetic hair, or combinations thereof. The hair extension apparatus 100 includes a second section of artificial hair 125 coupled to the second end region 115. In certain embodiments, the artificial hair coupled to the second end region 115 is human hair, synthetic hair, or combinations thereof.

[0031] In certain embodiments, the hair extension apparatus 100 includes multiple first sections of artificial hair 120 coupled to the first end region 105 and multiple second sections of artificial hair 125 coupled to the second end region 115. Multiple first sections of artificial hair 120 and multiple second sections of artificial hair 125 provide added volume of artificial hair to the hair extension apparatus 100. In certain embodiments, there are at least two, three, four or five or more sections of artificial hair 120 and sections of artificial hair 125.

[0032] In certain embodiments, the first hair section 120 and the second hair section 125 include hair textures that include loose curly, tight curly, loose wavy, tight wavy straight, thick, thin, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the first hair section 120 and the second hair section 125 are the same hair texture. In certain embodiments, the first hair section 120 and the second hair section 125 are different hair textures.

[0033] In certain embodiments, the first hair section 120 and the second hair section 125 are the same length. In certain embodiments, the first hair section 120 and the second hair section 125 are different lengths.

[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates an expanded view of the hair extension apparatus 100. As illustrated in FIG. 2, each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hair 120 is coupled to the first end region 105 by knotting the artificial hair to the first end region 105. Similarly, each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hair 125 is coupled to the second end region 115 by knotting the artificial hair to the second end region 115.

[0035] In certain embodiments, a color of the first section of artificial hair 120 is selected from black, brown, blonde, red, blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, a color of the second section of artificial hair 125 is selected from black, brown, blonde, red, blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof.

[0036] In certain embodiments, the first end region 105 includes a layer of glue disposed on a surface thereof. In this embodiment, each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hair 120 is coupled through the glue layer to the first end region 105 by either knotting or crocheting the first section of artificial hair 120 to the first end region 105.

[0037] In certain embodiments, each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hair 120 is coupled to the first end region 105 by crocheting the artificial hair to the first end region 105 and each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hair 125 is coupled to the second end region 115 by crocheting the artificial hair to the second end region 115. In certain embodiments, the second end region 115 includes a layer of glue disposed on a surface thereof and each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hair 125 is coupled through the glue layer to the second end region 115 by either knotting or crocheting the second section of artificial hair 125 to the second end region 115.

[0038] Embodiments of the invention described herein include a method of manufacturing the hair extension apparatus 100. The method includes coupling the artificial hair to the filament 101 by hand or machine knotting. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hair 120 is knotted to the first end region 105, and each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hair 125 is knotted to the second end region 115. This knotting method securely anchors the artificial hair to the filament 101, complementing the function of knots at the filament's 101 termini that prevent fraying and detachment of artificial hair from the ends of the regions themselves.

[0039] Alternatively, in other embodiments, the manufacturing method includes crocheting rather than knotting. In this alternative, each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hair 120 is crocheted to the first end region 105, and each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hair 125 is crocheted to the second end region 115.

[0040] Both knotting and crocheting provide robust and durable means of coupling the artificial hair to the filament 101, ensuring the hair extension apparatus 100 is of a high-quality and durable construction. Other methods of coupling the artificial hair to the filament 101 that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art may be employed as well.

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a hair extension apparatus 200 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The hair extension apparatus 200 is configured according to a pre-loop style of hair extension and includes each of the aspects and alternatives of the hair extension apparatus 100 described herein.

[0042] The hair extension apparatus 200 includes a filament 201 configured as a loop. The filament 201 includes a first end region 205, a middle region 210 and a second end region 215. The middle region 210 is disposed between the first end region 205 and the second end region 215. In certain embodiments, the filament 201 is a thread or string. In certain embodiments, the filament 201 is constructed of an elastic thread. The filament may be constructed of any suitable material, including an elastic material or an inelastic material. The elastic material can be diene elastic fiber, commonly known as rubber yarn or elastic yarn and mainly composed of vulcanized polyisoprene, polyurethane fiber, polyether ester elastic fiber, polyolefin elastic fiber, composite elastic fiber, or hard elastic fiber and combinations thereof.

[0043] The hair extension apparatus 200 includes a first section of artificial hair 220 coupled to the first end region 205, similar to the manner described herein with respect to the first section of artificial hair 120 being coupled to the first end region 105. In certain embodiments, the artificial hair coupled to the first end region 205 is human hair, synthetic hair, or combinations thereof. The hair extension apparatus 200 includes a second section of artificial hair 225 coupled to the second end region 215, similar to the manner described herein with respect to the second section of artificial hair 125 being coupled to the second end region 115. In certain embodiments, the artificial hair coupled to the second end region 215 is human hair, synthetic hair, or combinations thereof.

[0044] The first end region 205 and the second end region 215 are coupled together with a wrap member 230. The wrap member 230 wraps around the first end region 205 and the second end region 215, keeping the first end region 205 and the second end region 215 together similar to a pre-loop style of hair extension.

[0045] Accordingly, embodiments of the hair extension apparatus described herein, are configured to overcome limitations with existing hair extensions, particularly their noticeable appearance and insecure attachment. The hair extension apparatus includes a filament comprising a first end region, a middle region, and a second end region, with sections of artificial hair coupled to the first and second end regions and, thus, in certain embodiments, no artificial hair is coupled to the middle region of the filament. This absence enables the user to inconspicuously couple the hair extension apparatus to their natural hair, for example, by braiding, thereby maintaining a thin and discreet profile and a natural, fashionable appearance that is not apparent to an observer. The filament itself is preferably constructed of an elastic material offering advantages such as flexibility, foldability, twistability, and stretchability for binding the hair extension apparatus. Various coupling methods for the artificial hair, such as knotting, glue, or crocheting, and the ability to use different types of artificial hair, including human hair, synthetic hair, or combinations thereof, in various colors and textures to match the user's natural hair, contribute additional advantages to the hair extension apparatus over conventional hair extensions. Thus, embodiments of the invention described herein ensure that the hair extension apparatus is securely coupled to the user's natural hair and provides added volume, length, and style to the user's natural hair.

[0046] While embodiments of the invention have been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and equivalents thereof.