US20170099901A1

US20170099901A1 - Spun and Tapered Faux Hair With Crochet Portal

Info

Publication number: US20170099901A1
Application number: US15/133,315
Authority: US
Inventors: Chang Moo LEE
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-04-20
Filing date: 2016-04-20
Publication date: 2017-04-13

Abstract

A hair extension is formed by wrapping a mid-region of a length of yarn around a stick or pole. The removal of the stick or pole created a hollow interior, with the portal on one end of the hair extension and tapering of the other end. One can then attach the hair extension to hair. The hair extension is light weight by virtue of the hollow interior and can return to its original shape, structure, and length when forces acting on the tapered end stretch the length of the extension.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

The disclosed technology relates generally to hair accessories and, more specifically, to hair extensions.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

Hair extensions add length to the hair by clipping, gluing, sewing, weaving, or otherwise adding hair to one's head. Rather than wait for months to grow one's hair to a desired length and having to spend extensive amounts of time styling the hair, one can simply add an extension to one's existing hair. Hair extensions can be styled like regular hair, but they last up to three months without the need for further styling.
One downside to hair extensions is the time necessary to weave, glue, or sew hair extensions into one's own hair. A woman might spend hours at a salon getting hair extensions set in place. While clipping hair extensions can be less time-consuming, the clips tend to lack strength; e.g., if the hair becomes caught on an object or is pulled too hard, the entire extension can become disconnected from the hair. Further, the tension of clips can weaken over time, meaning that the hair extension is no longer held as firmly as it once was.
Another problem with hair extensions is quality versus cost of procurement. One can purchase human hair, but it is very expensive. Or one can purchase synthetic hair, but it is usually much heavier than human hair and does not look as nice.
Thus, there is a need in the art to provide improved hair extensions which are inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, and which are less bulky/have less weight.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

A hair extension of embodiments of the disclosed technology is formed from the wrapping of synthetic resin fibers or semi-synthetic fibers (defined as “naturally occurring fibers which are chemically treated, in order to change their chemical properties”) into a yarn having a first end and said second end. A mid-region is situated between the first and the second ends. The first and second ends are defined by the regions which will be tapered (have a smaller cross-sectional area than the mid-region) once the hair extension is completed.
The yarn of the synthetic resin or semi-synthetic fibers is wrapped around a resilient elongated member, starting at a mid-region of the yarn, such as at a mid-point, or substantially a mid-point, of the yarn. The yarn is then doubled over on itself, forming a double thickness region of the yarn, such as along most of, substantially all of, or all of the mid-region of the yarn. A tapered end is formed from the first end and second ends being wrapped around each other, the tapered end having a smaller cross-sectional area than the double thickness region. The resilient elongated member is then removed from the double thickness region of the yarn. This causes a portal to be formed where the elongated member exited from the double thickness region of the yarn, this portal being substantially, or exactly, at an opposite end from the tapered end.
The hair extension can be crocheted to hair by way of the portal. The synthetic resin fibers or semi-synthetic fibers are, in some embodiments of the disclosed technology, limited to semi-synthetic fibers derived from naturally occurring, chemically treated, fibers. Removal of the resilient elongated member from the double thickness region creates a hollow interior space substantially, mostly, or fully between the tapered end and the portal, in embodiments of the disclosed technology.
A distance from the tapered end to the portal has a first resting distance. Due to the elasticity of the fibers and hollow interior, this distance can be increased, or extended to a second distance, which is at least 10% greater than the resting distance. This can be accomplished by applying pressure, such that the tapered end is pulled away from the portal. In embodiments of the disclosed technology, the resilient nature of the fibers/yarn is such that, after releasing, the resting distance is restored. This can happen, for example, when attaching the hair extension to the hair, or while wearing the hair extension, when one pulls on the tapered end.
Another way of describing embodiments of the disclosed technology is by way of a method of use. A pliable (defined as able to deform and return to its original shape and elasticity (or substantially original shape and substantial elasticity) to further forces which change its shape) and hollow (defined as having an interior space filled with the ambient atmospheric air or surroundings) hair extension is used as follows. One procures fibers wrapped into a length of yarn (defined as at least three strands/fibers which are wrapped around each other repeatedly). On wraps the yarn at least partially around a resilient (defined as retaining its shape and form in the face of outside forces acting there-on during regular usage) elongated member (such as a stick or pole) starting substantially at a mid-point of the length of the yarn. One then continues wrapping the yarn around the resilient elongated member until opposite ends of the length of yarn wrap around each other into a tapered end. The tapered end is defined as a region of the yarn wrapped around itself, which has a smaller cross-sectional area than the rest of the yarn, which is wrapped around itself. One then removes the resilient elongated member from the yarn, forming a hollow interior in the rest of the yarn.
Upon the step of removing, a portal is formed at an opposite end from the tapered end, in embodiments of the disclosed technology. The portal has a space entering into a hollow region of the wrapped yarn and is adjacent to the rest of the yarn. One can also crochet the hair extension to hair by way of the portal.
The tapered region can be solid, and the rest of the yarn, except for or including the portal, can be hollow. The yarn can be produced from a plurality of semi-synthetic fibers derived from naturally occurring fibers which are chemically treated.
An additional step of attaching the portal to hair can be carried out by means of crochet stitching. Before, during, or after the step of attaching, one can pull the tapered end away from the portal, increasing the distance between the tapered end and the portal by at least 10%. Upon release, the distance returns to the original amount which existed before the pulling. In other words, the hair attachment is both pliable and resilient, in embodiments of the disclosed technology.
“Substantially” and “substantially shown,” for purposes of this specification, are defined as a majority of at least 90%. It should be understood that the use of “and/or” is defined inclusively such that the term “a and/or b” should be read to include the sets: “a and b,” “a or b,” “a,” “b.” The parts which are described as being part of a device can consist or comprise thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a hair extension of embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom end view of a hair extension of embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 3 shows a second side view of a hair extension and a needle used to attach same to hair, in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 4 shows a step of wrapping yarn around a resilient elongated member, in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 5 shows the yarn further wrapped around the resilient elongated member, in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 6 shows a tapered end region of the yarn after being formed into a hair extension, in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 7 shows a portal region of the yarn after being formed into a hair extension, in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

A hair extension is formed by wrapping a mid-region of a length of yarn around a stick or pole. One removes the stick or pole which has created a hollow interior with portal on one end of the hair extension, and which tapers the other end. One can then attach the hair extension to hair. The hair extension is light weight by virtue of the hollow interior and can return to its original shape, structure, and length when forces acting on the tapered end stretch the length of the extension. The hair extension can be procured from semi-synthetic fibers.
Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become clearer in view of the following description of the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a side view of a hair extension of an embodiment of the disclosed technology. A looped region 10 encompasses a portal 8 (numbered in FIG. 2) at a first end of the hair extension 1. A mid-region, defined by its position between the portal 8 and tapered region 14, extends between the portal/looped region and tapered region. The tapered region 14 is at an opposite end from the portal and looped region. The tapered region is defined by its small cross-sectional area compared to that of the mid-region. The mid-region, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, has a constant, or substantially constant (within 10%), circumference and cross-sectional area, whereas the tapered region has a smaller circumference than the mid-region and extends to the extreme tip of the hair extension.
FIG. 2 shows a bottom end view of a hair extension of embodiments of the disclosed technology. Here, one can see that the tapered region 14 has a smaller cross-section than the mid-region 12 such that the mid-region is visible in this view from the bottom end looking up towards the portal. The tapered end has at least a 10%, 20%, or 30% smaller circumference and cross-section than the mid-region 12.
FIG. 3 shows a second side view of a hair extension and needle used to attach same to hair, in embodiments of the disclosed technology. Here, the portal 8 is visible within the looped region 10 at one end, and the tapered region 14 is at another end. A latch hook or crochet needle 22 can be used to attach the hair extension to hair 20 (such as hair connected to someone's head) by way of the portal 8.
FIG. 4 shows a step of wrapping yarn around a resilient elongated member, in embodiments of the disclosed technology. The yarn 32 is a series of fibers wrapped around each other, or held together. The fibers can be natural fibers (e.g. human, animal hair, or a plant source), synthetic resin fibers, or semi-synthetic fibers. Semi-synthetic fibers are those which are procured from natural fibers but are chemically treated, thereby changing their chemical composition. This includes brands known on the market such as “Naturalon” and “Toyokalon.”
Here, the yarn 32 is wrapped, started at a mid-point or substantially a mid-point, around a resilient elongated member 30. This elongated member can be a stick, pole, or the like having a much greater length than its width/circumference by a factor of, for example 10, 20, 30, or more. The yarn 32 is then wrapped around the elongated member 30 and the opposite side of itself producing a double-layer of yarn extending repeatedly around the elongated member 30. As such, the yarn 32 becomes wrapped around the elongated member 30.
FIG. 5 shows the yarn further wrapped around the resilient elongated member in embodiments of the disclosed technology. Here, the yarn 12 is wrapped around the stick/elongated member 30. The spot where the elongated member exits from the yarn at the top side will become the portal 8. The yarn 12 has already formed some of the mid-region 32 of the hair extension in this state where it is still being wrapped.
FIG. 6 shows a tapered end region of the yarn after being formed into a hair extension, in embodiments of the disclosed technology. FIG. 7 shows a portal region of the yarn after being formed into a hair extension, in embodiments of the disclosed technology. The elongated member 30 is removed from the yarn forming the portal 8. On the extreme other end, the ends of the yarn 32 become thinner when double-wrapped around each other and form the tapered end 14. This tapered end is held together by one or multiple ones of frictional forces, the force of the fibers vector direction against each other, and/or glue.
Referring again to FIG. 5, the resultant hair extension thus has a hollow center formed by the fibers of the yarn 12 wrapped around each other and the elongated member 32 removed. This creates a “bouncy” hair extension, and one which is lighter than another with a solid core. One can pull the two opposite ends (tapered end and portal/looped region) from each other and, without causing any breakage or reduced strength, or substantial breakage or reduced strength, to the hair extension, one can extend the total length by 5%, 10%, 15%, or 25% of its original length. Upon release of the force pulling the two opposite ends away from each other, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, the original length of the hair extension (distance from the extreme opposite ends of the tapered region and portal/looped region, from each other) is restored or substantially restored.
While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described hereinabove are also contemplated and within the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A hair extension formed as follows:

wrapping synthetic resin fibers or semi-synthetic fibers into a yarn having a first end and said second end and a mid-region situated there-between said first and said second end;

wrapping said yarn of synthetic resin fibers or semi-synthetic fibers around a resilient elongated member, starting at a mid-region of said yarn, such that a wrapped region is formed with a double thickness region of said yarn;

forming a distal end from said first end and said second end being wrapped around each other;

removing said resilient elongated member from said double thickness region of said yarn forming a portal at an opposite end from said distal end.

2. A method of using the hair extension of claim 1, comprising crocheting hair into said portal, causing attachment of said hair extension to said hair.

3. The hair extension of claim 1, wherein said synthetic resin fibers or semi-synthetic fibers are semi-synthetic fibers derived from naturally occurring fibers which are chemically treated.

4. The hair extension of claim 1, wherein upon removal of said resilient elongated member from said double thickness region a hollow interior space is created substantially between said distal end and said portal.

5. The hair extension of claim 4, wherein said hollow interior space extends fully between said distal end and said portal.

6. The hair extension of claim 1, wherein a distance from said distal end to said portal has a resting distance which is extendable to a second distance, which is at least 10% greater than said resting distance, by applying pressure pulling said distal end away from said portal; and

after releasing said pressure said resting distance is restored.

7. A method of creating a pliable and hollow hair extension comprising the steps of:

procuring fibers wrapped into a length of yarn;

wrapping said yarn at least partially around a resilient elongated member starting substantially at a mid-point of said length of said yarn;

continuing said wrapping until opposite ends of said length of yarn wrap around each other into a distal end;

removing said resilient elongated member from said yarn forming a hollow interior in said rest of said yarn.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein upon said step of removing, also forming a portal at an opposite end from said distal end, and which is adjacent to said rest of said yarn.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of crocheting said hair extension to hair by way of using said portal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said rest of said yarn is hollow, and said distal end is solid.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said yarn is produced from a plurality of semi-synthetic fibers derived from naturally occurring fibers which are chemically treated.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of attaching said portal to hair by way of a crochet stitch; and

before, during, or after the step of attaching, pulling said tapered end away from said portal increasing a distance between said distal end and said portal by at least 10% and the releasing said distal end until said distance returns to an original amount before said pulling.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein pulling said tapered end away from said portal, such that a distance between said portal and said distal end increase by at least 10% and then releasing said distal end causes said distance to return to an amount equal to that of said distance between said portal and said distal end before said pulling.

14. The hair extension of claim 1, wherein said distal end having a smaller cross-sectional area than said double thickness region.

15. The hair extension of claim 14, wherein said distal end is tapered.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein said distal end having a cross-sectional area less than that of a rest of said yarn which has been subjected to said wrapping.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said distal end is tapered.

18. A hair extension comprising:

a yarn having a plurality of fibers, the yarn having a first end, an opposing second end and a mid-region therebetween,

a first region formed between the first end and the mid-region and a second region formed between the second end and the mid-region, the first region and second region of the yarn wrapped against each other to form a wrapped region, the wrapped region having a space formed therein, and

a portal formed at the mid-region, and the first and second ends combined to form a distal end.

19. The hair extension of claim 18, wherein the distal end having a cross-sectional area less than the wrapped region.

20. The hair extension of claim 19, wherein the distal end is tapered.