Hair extension

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a hair extension that can be worn in a manner that is natural in terms of appearance without giving a sensation of touching a lump different from hair. Accordingly, provided is a hair extension that is capable of maintaining a natural appearance of being seamlessly merged with a person's own hair. [Solution] A hair extension 1 is an assembly of hair bundles to be attached to a person's own hair and made of human hair or chemical fibers, and comprises: a fibrous attachment base wire material 2; a plurality of hair bundles 3, 3… fastened to the attachment base wire material 2 at a predetermined interval; and wound elastic wire materials 4 wound around the base end sides of the hair bundles 3, 3… fastened to the attachment base wire material 2 so as not to form a gap therebetween.

Description

Hair Extensions

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair extension made by bundling hair made of human hair, synthetic fiber, etc., which is attached to natural hair.

[0002] Simply put, hair extensions are strands of (artificial) hair that are added to your natural hair. They are used to add length and volume to your hair, or to change your hairstyle, making them a fun accessory for styling. By wearing hair extensions, you can easily increase the length and volume of your natural hair, instantly making short hair appear longer and more voluminous, and allowing you to try out new styles and hair colors. Removable hair extensions make it easy to change up your style on a daily basis or wear them for special events.

[0003] Hair extensions are a type of false hair or partial wig that are attached to the wearer's natural hair using some method. Besides braiding, other attachment methods include adhesives (tape), metal tips, heat-shrink tubing, and elastic thread. Professional attachment methods include attaching the extensions to the natural hair using small metal rings called microrings, and using special adhesives (be careful, as the adhesive may damage the natural hair). There is also a method of attaching extensions to the natural hair using ultrasound (using special equipment).

[0004] Patent Document 1 states that its objective is to provide a hair extension that can be easily attached to hair in a short time without requiring skill or separate tools, and that does not damage natural hair, as well as a method for attaching the same (excerpt from paragraph 0005 of Patent Document 1), and discloses a hair extension and a method for attaching the same (Patent Document 1: Title of the Invention) in which "the base end of a false hair bundle is attached with an adhesive, and the base end of a binding thread serving as a fastening means is adhesively fixed to the base end, and an unwinding stop ring made of a binding thread is fitted to the binding thread so as to be movable along the binding thread (excerpt from paragraph 0017 of Patent Document 1).

[0005] JP 2011-042906 A

[0006] In the hair extension and attachment method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the base end of the false hair bundle is bonded with an adhesive, so when actually worn, the base end of the false hair bundle hardens in one place and forms a lump, which makes the part feel uneven (i.e., it feels like touching a lump that is different from hair). Moreover, because the base end of the binding thread is fixed with adhesive and the anti-unwinding ring is movably fitted, the feel becomes even more uneven, which is undesirable.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a hair extension that can be worn without feeling rough to the touch and with a natural look, that is, a hair extension that blends seamlessly with the natural hair, making it almost impossible to tell from the outside that it is there, and maintaining a natural look.

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a hair extension made by bundling human hair or hair made of synthetic fibers to be attached to natural hair, characterized in that the base ends of the hair bundles made of multiple hairs are arranged at predetermined intervals on a fibrous attachment base wire, and the base ends of the hair bundles are fixed by wrapping an elastic fibrous wire around them.

[0009] The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, the base end portion of each hair bundle is adhered to a fibrous mounting base wire by an adhesive.

[0010] The present invention provides a hair extension that is an assembly of (multiple) hair bundles made of human hair (person's hair) or synthetic fiber, which is attached to natural hair. The hair extension of the present invention includes an attachment base wire, a plurality of hair bundles tied to the attachment base wire at predetermined intervals, and a wound elastic wire that is wound (preferably wound without gaps) around the attachment base wire side of the hair bundles tied to the attachment base wire at predetermined intervals.

[0011] In the hair extension of the present invention, multiple strands of hair are attached (distributed) at predetermined intervals to the attachment base wire, so unlike conventional extensions (attached to natural hair), the base ends of the false hairs are not concentrated in one place, but are distributed at appropriate intervals. Therefore, the hair extension of the present invention does not feel bumpy to the touch and can be worn with a natural look.

[0012] Furthermore, since the wrapped elastic member side of the hair bundle in the hair extension according to the present invention is held together by an adhesive, when the wrapped elastic wire is wrapped around the attachment base wire side of the hair bundle without any gaps, the interaction between the elasticity of the wrapped elastic member and the adhesive (elasticity and adhesiveness) allows the wrapped elastic member to be attached smoothly without falling off.

[0013] Fig. 3(b) is an overall view of a hair extension according to the present invention; Fig. 3(c) is an explanatory view showing a method for making a hair bundle; Fig. 3(d) is an explanatory view showing a method for making a hair extension; Fig. 3(e) is an explanatory view showing a state in which a hair bundle is fixed (adhesive state) to a base wire (enlarged view of part A in Fig. 3(b)); Fig. 3(f) is an explanatory view showing a method for forming a first loop and a second loop of a base wire; Fig. 3(f) is an explanatory view showing a method for using an extension; Fig. 3(f) is an explanatory view showing a method for making a hair bundle; Fig. 3(f) is an explanatory view showing a method for making a hair ... extension; Fig. 3(f) is an explanatory view showing a method for making a hair extension; Fig. 3(f) is an explanatory view showing a method for making a hair extension; Fig. 3(f) is an explanatory view showing a method for

[0014] <Structure of Hair Extension> One embodiment of a hair extension 1 according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is an overall view of a hair extension 1 according to the present invention.

[0015] The hair extension 1 according to the present invention comprises an attachment base wire 2, a plurality of hair bundles 3, 3... tied to the attachment base wire 2 at predetermined intervals, and a wound elastic wire 4 wound around the base ends (attachment base wire 2 side) of the hair bundles 3, 3... tied to the attachment base wire 2 so that no gaps are formed (see Figure 1). The (plurality of) hair bundles 3 constituting the hair extension 1 are held together on the wound elastic member 4 side by an adhesive material 5 (described below using Figures 2 and 3).

[0016] The attachment base wire 2 can be made of a material selected from artificial fibers such as polyester and natural fibers such as cotton thread (or a bundle of multiple such fibers). On the other hand, the wound elastic wire 4 can be made of a material selected from polyurethane rubber, silicone rubber, etc. Note that the materials and raw materials for the attachment base wire 2 and the wound elastic wire 4 are not limited to those mentioned above, as long as they satisfy the performance requirements of the hair extension 1.

[0017] Furthermore, a tab P having an inner circumference of a predetermined length (approximately 90 mm) is formed at the tip of the mounting base wire 2 by bundling the mounting base wire 2, through which a finger can be inserted when pulling the mounting base wire 2. Furthermore, a first loop Ra having an inner circumference of a predetermined length (approximately 7.0 mm) is formed in a portion a predetermined length (approximately 20 mm) inward from the tip, and a second loop Rb having an inner circumference of a predetermined length (approximately 7.0 mm) is formed at a position a predetermined length (approximately 2.0 mm) away from the first loop Ra (i.e., in the mounting base wire 2, the distance between the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb is adjusted to approximately 2.0 mm).

[0018] 5 shows a method for forming the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb, which are formed by bundling the mounting base wire 2 through the following steps (1) to (4): (1) a first step of forming a loop 16 by guiding one end (first edge 14a) of the mounting base wire 2 from the front side to the back side of the other end (second edge 14b) (see FIG. 5(a)); (2) a second step of forming the first loop Ra by guiding the first edge 14a, which has been guided to the back side of the second edge 14b, to the front side of the second edge 14b (see FIG. 5(b)). (3) A third step in which the first edge 14a, which has been guided to the front side of the second edge 14b, is guided to the back side of the second edge 14b, penetrates the inside of the hoop 16 from the back side, goes around the second edge 14b, and then penetrates the inside of the hoop 16 from the back side to form a loop. Thereafter, the first edge 14a is penetrated through the inside of the hoop 16 from the front side to the back side of the second edge 14b, and then is guided to the front side of the second edge 14b, and then penetrates the inside of the hoop 16 from the front side to form a second loop Rb by the first edge 14a that has penetrated the inside of the hoop 16 (see FIGS. 5(c) and 5(d)). (4) A fourth step of adjusting the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb to a predetermined size (a circular or elliptical shape with an inner periphery length of approximately 7.0 mm) by pulling the mounting base wire 2 so as to separate the first end edge 14a and the second end edge 14b.

[0019] <Method of Producing a Hair Bundle> Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of producing a hair bundle 3 (which constitutes the hair extension 1). The method of producing the hair bundle 3 will be described with reference to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2(a), about 30 to 50 hairs (human hairs) are aligned on a glass plate 6 so that the tips are positioned at one end of the glass plate 6, and the longitudinal direction of the hairs is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the glass plate 6.

[0020] After arranging the hairs in this manner, adhesive 5 (or a glue) is applied (first time) to the tip-side portions of the hairs (the crosshatched portions in FIG. 2(a)), specifically, to the hairs arranged on a portion of the glass plate 6 that is approximately 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 the width in the short direction. Then, the adhesive 5 (or a glue) is dried (it is sufficient if it appears dry on the surface), and then adhesive 5 (or a glue) is applied again (second time).

[0021] Then, as described above, the adhesive 5 applied to the tip side of the hair (the hair placed on the portion approximately 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the width of the glass plate 6 in the short direction) is allowed to dry (it is sufficient if it is dry on the surface), and then the glass plate 6 is removed (dismounted), and the tip side of the portion to which the adhesive 5 is applied is cut, so that the remaining portion has a shape of multiple semicircles lined up (see Figure 2(b)). Furthermore, the tip side portion of the cut hair (the portion having a shape of multiple semicircles lined up) is folded in opposite directions for each semicircle to obtain a hair bundle 3. That is, the shape of the cut end of the hair bundle 3 is formed into a semicylindrical shape (i.e., a flattened semicylindrical shape) having a predetermined thickness by alternately folding each semicircle in opposite directions (so that the front and back are reversed). That is, (one) hair bundle 3 is formed from 30 to 50 hairs (human hair) and the adhesive 5.

[0022] <Method of Making Hair Extension> Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of making the hair extension 1. Note that a dedicated jig is used when making the hair extension 1, but the dedicated jig is not shown in Figure 3.

[0023] When producing the hair extension 1, first, as shown in Figure 3(a), the (first) hair bundle 3 is tied (temporarily fastened) to the attachment base wire 2. That is, the semi-cylindrical portion at the base end of the hair bundle 3 (the portion adhered with the adhesive 5) is positioned so that the radial direction of the most protruding portion coincides with the longitudinal direction of the attachment base wire 2, and is fixed to the attachment base wire 2 with an adhesive (or glue) or the like. Then, after the (first) hair bundle 3 has been tied (temporarily fastened) to the attachment base wire 2 in this way, as shown in Figure 3(b), the winding elastic wire 4 is wound around the tip end of the hair bundle 3 (mainly the portion bound with the adhesive 5) (first winding step). When winding the wound elastic wire 4 around the tip end of the hair bundle 3 (mainly the portion bound with the adhesive 5), it is preferable to wind the wire longitudinally starting from the tip of the hair bundle 3, as this pushes out excess adhesive 5 in the longitudinal direction, thereby extending the adhesive effect to the portion of the hair bundle 3 where no adhesive is applied. Figure 4 shows the state in which the hair bundle 3 is fixed to the attachment base wire 2 by adhering the hair bundle 3 to the attachment base wire 2 with the adhesive 5 and then winding the wound elastic wire 4 around it. After winding the hair bundle 3 around the base wire 2, the base end of the wound elastic wire 4 is cut off. This base end may be tied to the tip or may be adhered to the wound portion with an adhesive or the like.

[0024] After the (second) hair bundle 3 is attached (temporarily fastened) to the base wire 2 above the tip of the wrapped hair bundle 3 (in the first winding step), the wound elastic wire 4 is wound around the tip of the hair bundle 3 (mainly the part bound with the adhesive 5) as shown in Figure 3(c). At this time, care is taken to ensure that no gaps are formed between the wound elastic wire 4 wound around the (first) hair bundle 3 and the wound elastic wire 4 wound around the (second) hair bundle 3 (second winding step). In other words, the wound elastic wires 4 are wound so that they come into contact with each other.

[0025] (In the second winding step), the (third) hair bundle 3 is attached above the tip of the wrapped hair bundle 3 and tied (temporarily fastened) to the base wire 2, and then, as shown in Figure 3(d), the winding elastic wire 4 is wound around the tip side of the hair bundle 3 (mainly the part bound with the adhesive material 5). At this time, care is taken to ensure that no gaps are formed between the winding elastic wire 4 wound around the (second) hair bundle 3 and the winding elastic wire 4 wound around the (third) hair bundle 3 (finished product: third winding step). Through these steps, the hair extension 1 is produced (see Figure 3(d)).

[0026] <Method of Wearing the Hair Extension> Figure 6 shows how to use the above-mentioned extension 1. When wearing the extension 1 on natural hair, a predetermined amount (approximately 50 strands) of natural hair H, H... is bundled together and passed through the second loop Rb, and then through the first loop Ra (see Figure 6(a)). Note that when passing the natural hair H, H... through the second loop Rb and the first loop Ra in this manner, a tool such as a crochet hook can be suitably used.

[0027] Then, while grasping the main body portion (the portion where the hair bundles 3, 3... are bound), the knob P of the attachment base wire 2 is pulled outward. Pulling the attachment base wire 2 in this manner causes the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb to twist and rotate relative to each other while slightly widening the gap between them, and the diameters of the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb gradually decrease (i.e., the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb contract (see FIG. 6(b))). As the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb contract while twisting relative to each other, the natural hairs H, H... are held by the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb in a state where they are bent in a spiral of approximately 180 degrees between the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb and conform to the unevenness of the attachment base wire 2 (the unevenness formed by the bundling). Therefore, the natural hairs H, H... inserted through the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb are held with an extremely strong binding force.

[0028] Then, as described above, after the natural hair H, H... is gripped by the first loop Ra and second loop Rb of the attachment base wire 2, the attachment of the hair extension 1 to the hair is completed by cutting the base wire 2 outside the contracted first loop Ra and second loop Rb.

[0029] <Effects of the Hair Extension> As described above, the hair extension 1 has multiple hair strands 3 attached at predetermined intervals to the attachment base wire 2, so the base ends of the false hairs (attached to natural hair) are not concentrated in one place as in the prior art, but are dispersed in multiple places. Therefore, the hair extension 1 can be worn in a way that does not feel bumpy to the touch and looks natural.

[0030] Furthermore, the tip of the hair bundle 3 (and adhesive 5) is cut to form a shape of multiple semicircles (see FIG. 2(b)). That is, by cutting the tip of the hair bundle 3, the tip of the hair bundle 3 changes from a rectangular parallelepiped shape to a semicylindrical shape when bundled, and thus the volume is reduced accordingly, making it less lumpy. Therefore, it can be worn without feeling lumpy to the touch (i.e., without giving the feeling of touching a lump that is different from hair) and with a natural appearance.

[0031] Furthermore, as described above, the extensions 1 are attached to the natural hair H, H... using the string-like attachment base wire 2, and the first and second loops 15a and 15b are formed to be spaced a predetermined distance (approximately 2.0 mm) apart, and contract when the base and tip are pulled apart to bind the natural hair H, H.... Therefore, the extensions can be attached to the hair very easily by simply inserting the natural hair H, H... through the first and second loops 15a and 15b formed on the attachment base wire 2 and pulling the attachment base wire 2 to contract the first and second loops 15a and 15b. Furthermore, since there is no need to apply heat or adhesive to the natural hair H, H... when attaching the extensions to the hair, the natural hair H, H... will not be damaged. Furthermore, the first loop 15a and the second loop 15b, which are positioned a predetermined distance apart, each fasten different parts of the natural hair H, H..., so that the natural hair H, H... is held in place with a high degree of binding force, and the hair can be maintained in its attached state for a long period of time. In addition, the attachment base wire 2, which is the means for attaching the hair to the hair, can be cut to become very compact after attachment, so the user does not feel uncomfortable even when lying down with the hair attached.

[0032] <Modified Examples of Hair Extensions> The hair extension according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the shape, structure, and materials of the attachment base wire, winding elastic wire, hair bundle, adhesive, etc. can be appropriately modified as needed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the hair extension is not limited to the above-described embodiment, in which a hair bundle is attached to the attachment base wire by wrapping a winding elastic wire around the attachment portion each time a hair bundle is attached to the attachment base wire. It may also be formed by attaching multiple hair bundles to the attachment base wire at predetermined intervals and then winding a winding elastic wire around each attachment portion. Furthermore, the hair extension is not limited to the above-described embodiment, in which three hair bundles are attached (tied) to the attachment base wire. It may also be the above-described embodiment, in which two or four or more hair bundles are attached to the attachment base wire.

[0033] Furthermore, the hair extension is not limited to having a knob, a first loop, and a second loop on the attachment base wire as in the above embodiment, but may have a simple string-like attachment base wire, etc. In addition, when the hair extension has a first loop and a second loop on the attachment base wire as in the above embodiment, the distance between the first loop and the second loop is not limited to approximately 2.0 mm, but can be changed as needed. Note that adjusting the distance between the first loop and the second loop to between 1.0 mm and 8.0 mm has the advantage of providing an extremely strong binding force for the natural hair.

[0034] Furthermore, the hair extension is not limited to the above embodiment in which the inner circumference of each of the first and second loops is approximately 7.0 mm, and the length of the inner circumference of the first and / or second loops can be appropriately changed as needed. Note that, if the length of the inner circumference of the first and second loops is adjusted to be 5.0 mm or more and 13.0 mm or less, there is an advantage that the hair extension can be easily attached in a shorter time.

[0035] In addition, the hair extension is not limited to the above embodiment in which the base end portion (the portion consisting of hair and adhesive) of a hair bundle formed in an approximately semi-cylindrical shape is fixed to an attachment base wire and wrapped with a winding elastic wire, but may be formed in an approximately semi-elliptical or approximately triangular prism shape in which the base end portion of a hair bundle is fixed to an attachment base wire and wrapped with a winding elastic wire, etc.

[0036] The hair extension according to the present invention has the excellent effects as described above, and can therefore be suitably used as a fashion item to be added to hair (natural hair) to increase the length and volume of hair or to change the hairstyle itself.

[0037] 1. Hair extension 2. Mounting base wire 3. Hair bundle 4. Wrapped elastic wire 5. Adhesive 6. Glass plate P. Knob Ra. First loop Rb. Second loop

Claims

1. A hair extension made by bundling together human hair or hair made of synthetic fibers to be attached to natural hair, characterized in that the base ends of the bundles of multiple hairs are arranged at predetermined intervals on a fibrous attachment base wire, and the base ends of the hair bundles are fixed by wrapping them around an elastic fibrous wire.

2. The hair extension according to claim 1, wherein the base end portion of each hair strand is adhered to a fibrous attachment base wire by an adhesive.

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