US20170119123A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20170119123A1
Application number: US15/337,861
Authority: US
Inventors: Nina Butler Sanders
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-10-29
Filing date: 2016-10-28
Publication date: 2017-05-04

Abstract

The invention features an apparatus and method of attaching false hair. The hand-held device allows false hair to be secured onto the user's weft of hair and braid. Clips are dispensed from a tray within the apparatus to a crimping assembly by way of operation of a number of geared components of the apparatus. Aspects of embodiments of the invention also contemplate use of levered components in operation of the apparatus.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of, and is related to, the following Applicant's provisional patent application: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/247,937 titled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING FALSE HAIR” filed Oct. 29, 2015, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a device and method of attaching false hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hair care is a billion-dollar industry. Many women wear false hair such as wigs, weaves, hair extensions or pieces to add volume or length to their real hair. Wigs, weaves, and hair extensions or pieces allow women to have versatile hairstyles. Also, they allow users the freedom to use styling tools and products without damaging their own natural hair. Current false hair installation methods are expensive, time consuming and the methods are harmful to the user's real hair. Bonding methods such as glue are potentially harmful to healthy hair and may cause breakage and irritation. Clip-in extensions are temporary and they do not guarantee that the hair will not inadvertently fall out of the user's hair. Users cannot swim, shower, workout, or sleep in clip-in extensions. False hair can be sewn into the user's hair; however, this method requires sewing continuous loops across a weft of hair and it typically takes two to four hours to sew in the hair properly and this method is expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for attaching false hair that shortens the overall installation time, eliminates the need for threading multiple needles, eliminates the monotonous task of sewing continuous loops across a weft of hair, and reduces stress on operators' joints and limbs. Ultimately, a reduction in time and labor for the operator results in lower fees for the consumer.

An aspect of an embodiment of the present invention contemplates a hair clip fastener apparatus which may include a handle section which may include a trigger, where the trigger comprises of gear teeth, a gear tooth power transfer wheel, where the gear tooth power transfer wheel comprises of a number of gear teeth interlocking with the trigger gear teeth, a force transfer lever, connected to the gear tooth power transfer wheel and levered at a point within the apparatus, a crimping assembly which may include of an upper crimp, a lower crimp and a holding and alignment area, where the lower crimp is connected to the force transfer lever and movable by motion of the force transfer lever and where the crimping assembly crimps or deforms a clip, and a clip cartridge which may include of one or more clips, where the cartridge is structurally aligned to feed the one or more clips into the holding and alignment area of the crimping assembly.

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the upper crimp of the apparatus may be fixed.

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may further include a return spring mechanism, positioned to return the trigger to its original position after it has been depressed. In one aspect, the return spring mechanism may be connected to the trigger at a position adjacent to its gear teeth.

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the clip cartridge may be spring-loaded at its end.

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the clip cartridge may further include a spring mechanism positioned at an end of the cartridge opposite the crimping assembly, and where the cartridge further comprises of a slider mechanism, connected to the spring mechanism, and positioned between the spring mechanism and the clips, where the slider mechanism advances clips towards the crimping assembly. In one aspect, the slider mechanism may be movable upon connection with power transfer wheel gear teeth upon rotation of the power transfer wheel.

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the clip(s) may be u-shaped.

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the clip(s) may be tear shaped.

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the lower crimp may be a lever connected to an end of the force transfer lever.

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the lower crimp may include a crimping end, where the crimping end crimps the one or more clips in cooperation with the upper crimp when the lower crimp pivots.

Additional aspects, objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a side view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates a side perspective view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1C illustrates a rear view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1D illustrates a bottom view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1E illustrates a front view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1F illustrates a rear perspective view of a clip fastener apparatus showing a drawn-out clip tray according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1G illustrates a top view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1H illustrates an interior cutout view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a clip according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a view of a clip on a braid according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a clip around the backside of a braid according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a clip having a double hook and eye closure according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a clip with false hair secured to a braid according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIGS. 1A through 2, different exterior views of aclip fastener apparatus100 andhair fastening clip200 are shown according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention.Clip fastener apparatus100 may include ahandle102 having atrigger104.Clip fastener apparatus100 may also include atop portion106 and acrimping assembly108.Apparatus100 may also include atray110 forholding clips200.Tray110 may be installed or removed withintop portion106 by way of opening112 (FIG. 1F). In aspects of embodiments of the present invention,clips200 may be metal, plastic or the like.

In an alternate aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a user may press a button or series of buttons to activate electronic mechanisms within the housing ofapparatus100, thus causing mechanical, electrical, or thermal events to occur in order to attachclip200.

Referring now toFIG. 1H, an interior cutout view ofapparatus100 is shown according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.Apparatus100 is shown withtrigger104 having a number ofgear teeth114.Gear teeth114 are in contact with gear teeth ofpower transfer wheel116.Power transfer wheel116 is connected to forcetransfer lever118, which pivots about a point.

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,apparatus100 also includes crimpingassembly108 which comprises of anupper crimp108A and alower crimp108B. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,lower crimp108 may be a lever which is connected to forcetransfer lever118. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,upper crimp108A may be immovable.

Operation ofapparatus100 begins with the depressing oftrigger104. A series ofgear teeth114 molded into the trigger plate engage with gearedpower transfer wheel116. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the trigger plate's movement is restricted to one axis only. By way of molded gun body bosses and molded slots in the trigger plate, the teeth of thetrigger plate114 and the teeth of the gearedpower transfer wheel116 will always engage and will not bind or jam.

As a result of the connection betweengear teeth114 and gear teeth ofpower transfer wheel116, when a user depressestrigger104, itsgear teeth114, being in contact with the gear teeth ofpower transfer wheel116, rotatespower transfer wheel116 clockwise to raise the end offorce transfer lever118 that is connected withpower transfer wheel116. As a result of this end being lifted, the end offorce transfer lever118 that is connected withlower crimp108B is pulled down thereby leveringlower crimp108B upwards towardsupper crimp108A to crimp or deform loadedclip200 positioned within holding and alignment area108C of crimpingassembly108.

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,tray110 may by a spring-loaded clip cartridge having aspring120 which pushesslider mechanism122 to guideclips200 toward crimpingassembly108. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention,slider mechanism122 guides clip200 forward when one or more gear teeth ofpower transfer wheel116 connects withslider mechanism122 whenpower transfer wheel116 is rotated by the user's depressing oftrigger104. Eachclip200 is moved into holding and alignment area108C of crimpingassembly108 eachtime trigger104 is depressed.

Once within crimpingassembly108,clip200 may be deformed or crimped by motion oflower crimp108B towardsupper crimp108A. This is effected whenapparatus100 is positioned over the weft of fake hair that is about to be attached to the natural hair loop(s). Upon the crimping process by crimpingassembly108, theclip200 is wound around the weft of fake hair and the natural hair loop thereby fastening the fake hair to the hair loop.

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, one ofclip200's open ends may extend past the other open clip end, thus allowing the user to slide the longer end ofclip200 through the layers of hair material. Onceclip200 is slid into place,apparatus100 is actuated, andclip200 is simultaneously crimped and sheared from the continuous row of clips. The end result is a crimped plastic loop that securely holds the synthetic hair material mesh to the natural hair loops.

Referring now toFIG. 3 aclip200 is shown installed on abraid300 according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.Clip200 can be a variation of shapes. In aspects of embodiments of the present invention,clip200 may be u-shaped or tear shaped.Clip200 may be sized to fit aroundnatural braid300 and secure the weft of hair. The user would repeat this process along the length ofbraid300 to securehair weft302. No threading is required and no additional tools are necessary.Clips200 may be pinched by the teeth to move inwardly slightly to cliphair weft302 ontobraid300.

Referring now toFIGS. 4 and 5

clip

200 is shown around the backside ofbraid300 according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. Also shown (inFIG. 5) are details ofclip200's double hook and eye closure according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.Clip200 is shown having a double hook and eye closure, as further elaborated inFIG. 5.

Teeth

202A and202B ofclip200, in one aspect, may be used to aid in properly positioningclip200 ontobraid300. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the double hook and eye closure would open asclip200 is pressed againstbraid300. Then, the closure will close when no pressure is applied to the closure.Clip200 would extend around the front ofbraid300 and the back ofbraid300 forming a ring aroundbraid300. As discussed above,hair weft302 would be positioned along the top ofbraid300 so thatclip200 would securehair weft302 to braid300.

Referring now toFIG. 6

clip

200 is shown withfalse hair weft302 being secured to braid300 according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown,hair weft302 may be centered alongbraid300.Clip200 secureshair weft302 to braid300, as discussed above. Multiple wefts of hair can be added to a single braid to create more volume and to allow multiple styles. Wefts of hair can be added above and below the weft, as desired. The wefts will be secured to the natural braid using the false hair applicator and method discussed.Clip200 is on the outside ofbraid300. The other half of clip goes intobraid300 and the only thing visible is one side ofclip200.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hair clip fastener apparatus comprising:

a handle section comprising of a trigger, wherein the trigger comprises of gear teeth;

a gear tooth power transfer wheel, wherein the gear tooth power transfer wheel comprises of a number of gear teeth interlocking with the trigger gear teeth;

a force transfer lever, connected to the gear tooth power transfer wheel and levered at a point within the apparatus;

a crimping assembly comprising of an upper crimp, a lower crimp and a holding and alignment area, wherein the lower crimp is connected to the force transfer lever and movable by motion of the force transfer lever and wherein the crimping assembly crimps or deforms a clip; and

a clip cartridge comprising of at least one clip, wherein the cartridge is structurally aligned to feed the at least one clip into the holding and alignment area of the crimping assembly.

2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the upper crimp is fixed.

3. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a return spring mechanism, positioned to return the trigger to its original position.

4. The apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein the return spring mechanism is connected to the trigger at a position adjacent to its gear teeth.

5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the clip cartridge is spring-loaded at its end.

6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the clip cartridge further comprises of a spring mechanism positioned at an end of the cartridge opposite the crimping assembly, and wherein the cartridge further comprises of a slider mechanism, connected to the spring mechanism, and positioned between the spring mechanism and the clips, wherein the slider mechanism advances clips towards the crimping assembly.

7. The apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein the slider mechanism is movable upon connection with power transfer wheel gear teeth upon rotation of the power transfer wheel.

8. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one clip is a u-shaped.

9. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one clip is a tear shaped.

10. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the lower crimp is a lever connected to an end of the force transfer lever.

11. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the lower crimp comprises of a crimping end, wherein the crimping end crimps the at least one clip in cooperation with the upper crimp when the lower crimp pivots.