Abstract:
Particles of hair, each particle having no dimension greater than 3 mm, are prepared and affixed to a desired region, which may or may not have hair, to achieve thickening of the hair on the region or to add hair to the region, if lacking in hair. Such regions include the scalp or eyebrow. The particles of hair may be prepared by freezing and then pulverizing, chopping, or milling the frozen hair into the desired size. Alternatively, the hair is not frozen during preparation of hair particles. The hair particles may be combined with a carrier, such as a hair styling agent, for affixing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/854,692, entitled “Method for Thickening Hair and Hair Thickener”, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to hair thickener and methods for preparing and affixing hair thickeners.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Hair loss is a common problem for many men and women. As a consequence, systems and methods to supplement regions of thinning hair have been developed.  
         [0004]     In some systems and methods, synthetic fibers are utilized to supplement regions of thinning hair. U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,596 to Yamada, discloses artificial hair made of a synthetic filament with silver particles applied to the filament by vacuum deposition. The artificial hair is used for hair implantation.  
         [0005]     In other systems and methods, fibers comprised of the same organic keratin protein as natural hair are sprayed onto a scalp to supplement regions of thinning hair. Animal fibers, such as ground-up sheep&#39;s wool, are utilized.  
         [0006]     In additional systems and methods, natural human hair may be utilized to supplement thinning hair. U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,298 to Hinton discloses use of human hair particles on a layer to join a hair supplement to the scalp. The layer includes an adhesive on a lower surface of the layer which is used for attachment to human hair on the scalp.  
         [0007]     Natural human hair is a complex structure comprised of a hair shaft including a cortex, a cuticle, microfibrils and macrofibrils. Microfibrils and macrofibrils are composed of keratin. Use of natural human hair is desirable, as it typically appears more natural looking than synthetic hairs, keratin protein alone, or animal hairs. Though keratin protein or animal hairs may have a protein in common with natural human hair, they are lacking in remaining structural elements of natural human hair.  
         [0008]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and composition for increasing the thickness of hair.  
         [0009]     It is another object of the present invention to increase thickness of hair.  
         [0010]     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a method and composition concealing hair loss.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     These and other objects have been achieved by preparing a composition of particles of natural human hair, each of the particles ranging in size from 3 mm or less, and affixing the human hair particles to a desired region, for example, human hair located on a region of the human body, such as a scalp or an eyebrow. Additionally, or alternatively, the particles adhere to a surface lacking in hair, including a scalp. Because the particles are comprised of natural human hair, the particles blend in naturally with the existing hair while thickening a person&#39;s hair. Further, the small size of the particles are advantageous because larger particles do not appear as natural or tend to fall off the person. The small size of the particles allows a person to gradually build on the thickness of adhered particles and/or the hair to be supplemented resulting in a natural looking, desired amount of hair. The user may utilize particles of approximately the same size or of varied sizes to build on the thickness of existing hair to a desired level and/or to build the thickness of the particles to a desired level. The human hair particles may be comprised of a desired type or color.  
         [0012]     The human hair particles, in one embodiment, are prepared by cutting larger dimensioned hair into the smaller specified size of 3 mm or less. Larger dimensioned hair is typically greater than 3 mm in size.  
         [0013]     In another embodiment, the particles are prepared by snap freezing larger dimensioned human hair and by pulverizing the frozen hair into the specified size at 3 mm or less. Pulverizing includes one or more methods for reducing the size of the larger dimensioned hair such as crushing or grinding, as well as other methods. The particles may be in powder or granular form.  
         [0014]     In another embodiment, larger dimensioned human hair is frozen and placed in a blender for processing. The blender may include a whirling blade that chops the frozen hair into hair particles of the specified size of 3 mm or less for use as a hair thickener.  
         [0015]     In another embodiment a mill, such as an ultra-centrifugal mill, is used to mill larger dimensioned hair into hair particles of the specified size of 3 mm or less for use as a hair thickener.  
         [0016]     Fixing agents may be applied to the human hair particles to affix the hair particle to the desired location. In one example, the human hair particles are combined with a carrier, such as a hair styling agent for affixation.  
         [0017]     Also, the human hair particles may be adhered to hair supplements, such as hair pieces, to thicken the appearance of the hair on the hair pieces. The hair pieces may be comprised of, for example, synthetic hair.  
         [0018]     In one embodiment, animal hair may be used as the hair thickener of the present invention. Larger dimensioned animal hair, instead of, or in addition to, larger dimensioned human hair, may be used in methods of preparing the hair particles of the specified size or 3 mm or less as described herein. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of hair particles of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of hair, on a portion of a surface, prior to attachment of the hair particles of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of hair particles of  FIG. 1  attached to the hair and surface of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates hair particles  10  of the present invention. The hair particles  10  of the present invention range in size from 3 mm or less. In one embodiment of the present invention, the hair particles  10  are human hair particles. In another embodiment, the hair particles  10  are animal hair particles  10 , such as sheep&#39;s wool. The methods of producing the hair particles  10  and uses for the hair particles  10  are described below with regard to human hair. However, animal hair may be substituted for or supplement human hair in methods and uses described below, if desired. The particles  10  may be small enough to comprise a powder or to be granular in form. Typically, no dimension of the hair particles  10  is greater than 3 mm. For example, where the particles  10  are round, no diameter is greater than 3 mm and where the particles are straight, as depicted, no length or width of the particle  10  is greater than 3 mm. Though only one shape and type of particles  10  is illustrated, the particles  10  may vary in shape and type and may include a desired mixture of shapes and types. Hair types include for, example, curly or straight. Further, the hair particles  10  are comprised of a desired color or mixture of colors.  
         [0023]     In one example, a method for harvesting human hair particles  10  comprises cutting human hair strands/pieces to a particle size of 3 mm or less as described above. Scissors or other equipment may be used to cut hair in to the desired particle size. The human hair to be cut (not shown) may be obtained from the person whose hair is to be thickened or it may be obtained from other sources, such as businesses that specialize in the sale of human hair.  
         [0024]     In another method for harvesting human hair particles  10 , human hair strands are frozen. For example, the human hair may be snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. In another example, the human hair is frozen with dry ice powder. The human hair to be frozen (not shown) may be obtained from the person whose hair is to be thickened or it may be obtained from other sources. The frozen human hair is pulverized, or otherwise processed, into human hair particles  10  of the present invention.  
         [0025]     In one example of preparing particles  10 , hair is cut into pieces approximately 5 mm in length. The cut hair pieces are mixed with liquid nitrogen at, for example, −196 degrees Celsius. The frozen hair is then pulverized into particles  10  of the present invention. In one example, pulverizing the frozen hair includes crushing the hair with a mortar and pestle. In another example, pulverizing includes crushing the frozen hair with a mechanical mortar and pestle. In another example, pulverizing includes grinding.  
         [0026]     Once the hair is pulverized, cut, or otherwise processed into particles  10  of the present invention, the particles may be separated by size. A sizing sieve may be utilized to separate by size. Particles  10  may be divided into particles of the same size or of different sizes, depending on the user&#39;s or manufacturer&#39;s preference.  
         [0027]     In one embodiment of the present invention, hair particles  10  are harvested by combining human hair strands of a size, typically larger than 3 mm in length, with liquid nitrogen in a blender (not shown). In one example, an amount of liquid nitrogen is added to cover the hair present within the blender. The liquid nitrogen freezes the hair. The blender is then activated to process the liquid nitrogen and hair mixture resulting in hair particles  10  of the present invention, of a size as described above. The blender includes, for example, a whirling blade. The blade may rotate to chop the hair in the mixture into the particles  10 . The blender may process the hair in other ways using other functions present on a blender. In one example, the blender is an industrial blender. In another example, the blender is a Waring® blender. The hair particles  10  may be separated by size as described above with, for example, a sizing sieve.  
         [0028]     In another embodiment of the present invention, hair particles  10  are harvested with the use of a mill, such as an ultra-centrifugal mill (not shown) or a planetary ball mill (not shown). An example of an ultra-centrifugal mill used, is the Retsch® Ultra-Centrifugal Mill ZM 200. Human hair to be processed (not shown) is cut into strands that are small enough to be milled by the ultra-centrifugal mill, if the hair is not already of a size that can be milled. In one example, the hair is cut into strands that are about 2 cm in length or less to facilitate milling. The hair is cut, for example, by hand with scissors, or with a knife mill such as a Glenmill® knife mill at, for example, room temperature. The cut hair or hair to be milled is mixed with dry ice, such as dry ice powder, and the hair and dry ice mixture is placed in the mill such as the Retsch® ultra-centrifugal mill for milling the hair into particles  10 . The ultra-centrifugal mill includes a vibratory feeder which vibrates and allows for continuous automated feeding of the dry ice/hair mixture. For example, during milling, a mill rotor sheers the hair into hair particles  10 . Hair particles  10 , which may be in a powder form, result from the milling.  
         [0029]     In one example, human hair strands that are about, for example, 2 cm or less in length, are placed in a mill such as an ultra-centrifugal mill for milling, without dry ice. The hair particles  10  that result may have a burnt or bad smell. Therefore, the hair particle  10  may be washed, aired out, or have a fragrance applied to them to remove or mask the smell. Airing out the particles includes exposing the particles to air before use. The hair particles  10  may be divided by size with, for example, a sizing sieve.  
         [0030]     An example of a planetary ball mill used is the Retsch® Planetary Ball Mill, Type PM 400. Human hair to be processed is cut into strands that are small enough to be milled by the planetary ball mill, if the hair is not already of a size that can be milled. The hair may or may not be frozen during or before milling. In one example, hair is snap frozen to create smaller hair pieces. Which are further reduced in size by the planetary ball mill. Hair to be processed, frozen or non-frozen, is placed in the planetary ball mill for milling. The hair is milled into hair particles  10 . Milling, includes, for example, pulverizing or grinding.  
         [0031]     Milling hair allows for production of hair particles  10  that are, for example, a powder. The hair particles  10  that are produced by milling are for example, 2 mm or less in length. Typically, the majority of particles produced by milling are less than 1 mm in length.  
         [0032]     With regard to all of the processes described herein to produce human hair particles  10 , it is important to note that the human hair particles  10  still retain and/or contain the entire complex structure of human hair including a hair shaft with a cortex, a cuticle, microfibrils, and macrofabrils. In other words, the human hair particles  10  typically include either individual particles that include the entire complex structure of human hair and/or a mixture of particles  10  that contains all of the structural elements of hair within the mixture.  
         [0033]     A region  12 , which is desired to be supplemented with hair particles  10  made by, for example, the methods of the present invention as described herein, includes hair  14  to be supplemented and a surface  16 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In one example, the surface  16  is a body surface and the hair  14  which is desired to be supplemented with hair particles  10  comprises human hair on the body surface  16 . For example, the surface  16  may comprise a human scalp and the hairs  14  to be supplemented may comprise strands of human hairs on the scalp. In another example, the surface  16  may comprise a brow region of a head and the hairs  14  to be supplemented in thickness may include hairs of an eyebrow on the brow region.  
         [0034]     In another example, the hair  14  which is desired to be supplemented is a part of a hair piece, such as a toupee or wig. The hair piece may include artificial hair (synthetic or animal hair) and the surface  16  may be a synthetic surface.  
         [0035]     A region  18  supplemented with hair particles  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The human hair particles  10  of the present invention may be affixed to the hair  14  to be supplemented or the desired surface  16  resulting in a thickening of the hair  14 . Further, the human hair particles  10  may be affixed to other particles  10 . A fixing agent  20  is depicted in  FIG. 3 , affixing the human hair particles  10  to the hair  14  to be supplemented, to hair particles  10  which have been affixed to human hair particles  10 , to hair particles  10  which have been affixed to the hair  14 , and to the surface  16 .  
         [0036]     The small size of the particles  10  of the present invention allow a person to gradually build on the thickness of the hair  14  to be supplemented resulting in a natural looking, desired amount of hair. Further, the particles  10  may build on other particles  10  which have already been affixed to the hair  14  to be supplemented or to the surface  16  for a natural look. The user may utilize particles  10  of approximately the same size or of a varied size to build on the thickness of existing hair  14  or particles  10  to a desired level. Also, the particles  10  conceal regions lacking in hair. Whether of a varied size or not, the particles  10  are less than 3 mm in dimension, as described above.  
         [0037]     The user may use hair particles  10  which are the same color as the hair  14  to be supplemented, or the user may use hair particles  10  which are different in color from the hair  14  to be supplemented in order to change the color of the hair  14  to be supplemented.  
         [0038]     The hair particles  10  of the present invention are affixed to a desired surface, to human hair disposed on the body surface, to other particles  10 , and to hair on synthetic surfaces in various ways. A fixing agent  20  is used to affix the hair particles  10  to the hair  14  to be supplemented, to hair particles  10 , and/or to the surface  16 . For example, the hair particles  10  of the present invention are dispersed within a carrier, such as a hair styling product and the carrier, including the particles  10 , is applied to the hair  14  to be supplemented. Hair styling products include, for example, mousse, cream, gel, pomade, and spray. The carrier acts as the fixing agent  20  or adhesive. In one example, hairspray or other fixative may be applied in addition to the fixing agent  20 .  
         [0039]     In another example, the human hair particles  10  are applied to the hair  14  to be supplemented, the human hair particles  10  which have already been affixed to hair  14  or surface  16 , and/or to the desired surface  16 , and are affixed with the fixing agent  20 , such as hairspray. The hairspray is sprayed onto the human hair particles  10 , hair  14 , and/or surface  16  to affix the human hair particles  10 . Hairspray may be sprayed onto human hair particles  10  of the present invention, onto hair  14 , or onto surface  16  after the particles have been applied to hair  14  which is desired to be thickened, to affixed particles  10 , and/or to surface  16 . Hairspray acts as the fixing agent  20  or adhesive which affixes the human hair particles  10  of the present invention to the surface  16 , hair  14 , and/or particles  10  on the surface  16 .  
         [0040]     In one example, the particles  10  may be applied to surface  16 , hair  14 , and/or particles  10  on the surface  16  without a fixing agent.  
         [0041]     The drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. In particular, the drawings are not intended to limit the location, orientation, or amount of the fixing agent  20  or the hair particles  10  of the invention.