Hair Supplement Device with Segmented Plastic Matrices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hair supplement devices either have limited hair capacity, are bulky, prone to tangling, or require high manual skills for production, and struggle with hair detachment due to moisture absorption.

Innovation Solution

A hair supplement device with multiple rows of hairs embedded in plastic matrices attached to a carrier tape, where each row's upper ends are aligned parallel to the main direction, allowing for increased hair capacity without bulkiness and minimizing tangling risks, with anti-hygroscopic sealing to prevent hair detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If hairs are arranged close together on the carrier band to securely anchor them in the plastic matrix, then the number of hairs that can be added is increased, but the device becomes bulkier and more difficult to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of hairsVSAvoidmanufacturing effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple independent plastic matrices, each containing a subset of hairs. This segmentation allows hairs to be distributed across multiple smaller units rather than concentrated in one large matrix, reducing the complexity of manufacturing each individual matrix while increasing the total hair capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a single-layer hair arrangement to a multi-layer structure by attaching multiple plastic matrices to the carrier band in sequence. This dimensional expansion allows for increased hair quantity without proportionally increasing the lateral footprint or manufacturing complexity of individual matrices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If real hair is used for hair replacement, then the natural appearance and texture are improved, but the hair absorbs moisture and changes diameter leading to detachment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenatural appearanceVSAvoidhair anchoring stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies anti-hygroscopic sealing to the hair ends before they are inserted into the plastic matrices. This preliminary protective action prevents moisture absorption and diameter changes in the future, thereby maintaining the reliability of hair anchoring while preserving the natural appearance of real hair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the hair ends by applying an anti-hygroscopic coating. This modification alters the moisture-absorbing properties of the hair, preventing diameter changes and maintaining stable anchoring in the plastic matrix while keeping the hair's natural appearance intact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If hairs are bent 180 degrees and sewn together to create a hair weft, then a large number of hairs can be contained, but the sewn section becomes thicker and adds considerable bulk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehair capacityVSAvoidbulk
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical sewing process with a chemical bonding process using plastic matrices. Instead of mechanically joining hairs together through sewing, which creates bulk, the hairs are chemically anchored within the plastic matrix structure, achieving high hair capacity with minimal bulk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses thin plastic matrices as containers for the hairs. These thin-film structures provide sufficient containment for large numbers of hairs without adding significant bulk, replacing the bulky sewn weft structure with a sleek, thin plastic enclosure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Ease of manufacture

If the plastic matrix is made transparent or translucent to maintain optical concealment, then the visual appearance is improved, but the anchoring strength may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical concealmentVSAvoidanchoring strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The plastic matrix is designed with different local properties: the regions containing hair roots are made more opaque or densely structured to provide strong anchoring, while other regions remain transparent or translucent to maintain optical concealment. This spatial differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between strength and aesthetics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The plastic matrix is constructed as a composite structure combining materials with different optical and mechanical properties. This allows certain areas to provide strong anchoring while other areas maintain transparency, achieving both functional requirements and aesthetic goals through material composition rather than uniform structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device allows for a large number of hairs to be added without being bulky, reduces tangling, and can be produced with less effort, while maintaining secure anchoring and optical concealment of the plastic matrices.

Implementation Method 1

the anti-hygroscopic sealant to encase the ends of the individual hairs so that they do not detach when the device is repeatedly washed and thus exposed to varying humidity levels in its environment. Real hair, such as that preferably used in the known hair replacement device, absorbs moisture from its environment and changes its diameter in the process.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnti-hygroscopic sealing: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentEP3657972B1Device for supplementing hair with multiple hair strips
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 BEAUTY INDUSTRY GROUP GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3657972B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3657972B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3657972B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for supplementing hair, said device comprising a first plurality of hairs (3), which are oriented in parallel with one another at the upper ends (4) thereof in a main direction (6) and are embedded and anchored in a plastics matrix (5), a second plurality of hairs (3), which are oriented in parallel with one another at the upper ends (7) thereof in the main direction (6) and are embedded and anchored in a second plastics matrix (5), a support strip (2), which extends transversely to the main direction (6) and to which the first plastics matrix (5) and the second plastics matrix (8) are fastened, and a fastening means (15) for fastening the support strip (2) to natural hairs of a wearer of the device (1) in order to supplement hair, in which device the hairs (3), emerging from the first plastics matrix (5), of the first plurality of hairs (3) extend on the side of the second plastics matrix (8), which side faces away from the support strip (2), in the main direction (6) over and away from the second plastics matrix (8).