Hair-increasing device and method of producing the same

This invention relates to a hair increasing device that improves the freedom of hair styles and, is constituted in such a manner that each hair is knotted to a rib constituting a hair-secured frame with one end portion being twice wound, and the other end portion being once wound and pulled out thereafter. The one end portion of the tied hair is supported so as to stand upright with regard to a rib, and the other end portion is knotted so as to extend longitudinally on and along a rib, and thereby hair flow is formed in the longitudinal direction on a plurality of ribs so that the plurality of ribs is covered and hidden, and becomes hardly visible. Hence the rib or wig base linear member is hardly visible, the knot does not loosen, and the hair increasing device provides a rich voluminous appearance and allows versatility of hair styles.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hair-increasing device which can be utilized for a wig covering the thinning areas of a head, for example, a hair-increasing device which can attach hair to a wig base in good appearance mainly composed of a net member made of filaments arranged in a lattice-like pattern, or to a hair-secured frame formed by assembling longitudinal ribs having rigidity and elasticity, and a method of producing the same.

BACKGROUND ART

A wig comprises in general a sheet-like or film-like wig base formed with artificial skin made of thin synthetic resin and hair planted on said wig base. In cases where hair is thus planted on a wig base formed film-like with artificial skin or others, hair flow or hair amount can be freely designed depending upon the user's preferred hair style, using known hair planting arts such as single, half-knot, and split-knot plantings.

For example, if desired to finish in back style, hair is planted from the forehead to the top portion so to extend backward, and to make the hair appear to flow backwards at an angle on side head portions.

Also, in case to form a hair-dividing portion or a hair whorl in a wig base of artificial skin, hair flow or hair density can be freely designed so to extend in the pre-determined direction.

Thus, for a wig base formed sheet-like, film-like, or plane-like with densely woven textile, hair style can be freely expressed depending upon the user's preference by properly mixing known hair-planting arts.

Here, when the hair is in an early stage of thinning, or it is desired to increase hair amount only at a portion of a head, it is annoying to use a wig base formed film-like with artificial skin which has high airtightness, and hence a hair-increasing device mainly comprising light nets excellent in air permeability is used, instead of an artificial skin base as a more convenient hair piece.

As such a hair-increasing device, a net base composed with filaments arranged lattice-like in matrix, or a hair-secured frame formed in the shape of a rib cage by assembling longitudinal linear ribs having rigidity and elasticity is often used.

For example, as is schematically shown in a diagonal view ofFIG. 13, the hair-increasing device30comprising a rib cage-shaped hair-secured frame32and hair33knotted to said hair-secured frame32is currently in wide use, as, in addition to its lightness and excellent air permeability, the appropriate desired hair-increasing treatment is possible, and arbitrary variation of hair style can be expressed, fully utilizing the user's own hair.

The rib cage-shaped hair-increasing device30comprises a hair-secured frame32having a connecting rib32aat the center and a plurality of ribs32bextending at both sides from said connecting rib32a, and is formed by curving along the user's head shape (See Patent reference 1).

Hair33is knotted densely to respective ribs32aand32bof said hair-secured frame32, though only its portion is shown inFIG. 13, and most of hair33is omitted.

FIG. 14is an enlarged diagonal view schematically illustrating hair flow of the hair33knotted by, for example, half-knot planting.

A strand of hair or a few strands of hair33are bound and bent at a center, and said bent portion is secured with knots33cformed in32aand the ribs32b.

Here, the term “planting” or “hair planting” is used to convey the concept which would widely include the cases to knot hair to linear members or to attach hair on a film-like wig base by sewing or bonding.

However, in cases where hair is attached on said net base or to a hair-secured frame, since filaments or ribs (hereinafter, these are termed as linear members as a whole) are all made of thin and long linear members, hair is wound and knotted to said linear members by using known hair planting arts such as single, half-knot, and split-knot plantings.

Therefore, unlike hair planting to artificial skin, the flow of the hair attached to filaments or ribs has to be restricted in a certain direction.

That is, in either case of a net member or a hair-secured frame, since it is formed by assembling linear members in matrix or diagonal direction, in case, for example, to knot hair to the linear members arranged in the forward and backward direction of a head, hair flow is necessarily in the direction in which one end portion and the other of the knotted hair are both orthogonally crossing to the linear members, that is, divided left and right, and hence the backward hair flow is difficult in case, for example, back style is desired.

Explanation is made here, referring toFIGS. 15-17, of the case to apply the known single, half-knot and split-knot planting to said linear member32barranged in back and forth direction of the hair-secured frame as shown inFIG. 14to knot hair33.

InFIG. 15, the upper end of the linear member32bis assumed to be arranged in the forehead direction, and the lower end in the backhead direction.

The single planting is the method to form a loop34by twisting the bent hair33(See FIG.15(A)), winding said loop34from the lower to the upper side of the linear member32bwith a hair-tying needle, and to knot after pulling out both one end portion33aand the other end portion33bof hair from the loop34(SeeFIGS. 15(B) and (C)).

Therefore, both one end portion33aand the other end portion33bof the hair knotted by single planting are horizontally supported in the right angle direction to the linear member32barranged in the back and forth direction of the head, forming the right side hair flow in the figure.

The half-knot planting is, as shown inFIG. 16, the method to form a loop34by twisting the bent hair33(See FIG.16(A)), winding said loop34like the above-mentioned case from the lower to the upper side of the linear member32bwith a hair-tying needle (See FIG.16(B)), and next to knot only the other end portion33bof hair to the linear member after pulling out from the loop34(SeeFIG. 16(C)). By this method, the leftward and rightward direction hair flow is formed in which one end portion33aof hair orthogonally crosses to the left side of the linear member32b, and the other end portion33bto the right side in the figure, and both one end portion and the other end portion of hair do not stand up in the planted state, but are knotted as the lying state.

The split-knot planting shown inFIG. 17is the method to form a loop34, as shown in (A), by twisting clock-wise the bent hair33(See FIG.17(B)), to form a second loop35like the above-mentioned case with the other end portion33bby passing the other end portion33bof hair through the loop34(See FIG.17(C)), and next to knot one end portion33ato the linear member after pulling out from the second loop35(SeeFIG. 16(D)). By this method, one end portion33aof hair stands diagonally upward with regard to the linear member32bin the figure, but the other end portion33blies to the left of the linear member to form a crossing hair flow. Here, since a loop34is formed by clock-wise twisting in the illustrated example, the hair flow like one end portion33aand the other end portion33bof hair ofFIG. 17(D)is formed, but if a loop34is formed by anticlock-wise twisting and knotted sequentially, the other end portion33bof hair stands diagonally upward with regard to the linear member32b, but one end portion33alies likewise in the orthogonal direction to the linear member to form crossing hair flow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved

As explained above, by any of the known hair planting methods, hair33has to be knotted orthogonally in the left and right direction with regard to the linear member32b.

Therefore, first of all, since hair extends left and right with regard to the linear member32barranged in the back and forth direction of the head, it is difficult to design hair flow in the directions of forehead or backhead, and it tends to cause hair divided left and right, thereby the degree of freedom of hair style is restricted.

That is, since the base end side closer to the hair knot is knotted in the sideward direction, that is, in the directions of left and right side head portions, even if natural backward hair flow is to be made from the forehead to the backhead portion, hair tends to have a sideward flow after a while due to its elasticity even if combed to make the tip side of hair flowing backward, resulting in separation from the user's own hair.

Thus, conventional knotting methods can only restrict the freedom or the versatility of hair style.

Secondly, since the linear member32bis arranged orthogonally to the hair flow direction of hair33, it is difficult to cover the linear member32bcompletely with hair, and it might be possible for the linear member to be visible as a longitudinal line from the user's front or the upper side, and hence there is a problem that a hair-increasing device tends to be visible when worn.

Thirdly, both known hair knotting methods, especially the single or half-knot planting, cause the knotted hair to lie sideward as explained above, and hair does not stand upright even if knotted densely, resulting in a feeling of not having thick hair (rich voluminous appearance). Also, split-knot planting causes one end portion of hair to stand upright, but the other end portion to lie likewise in the orthogonal direction to the linear member.

Fourthly, both known methods tend to cause the knots to loosen. Therefore, a hair fixing process to firmly fix the hair33to the linear members32aand32bis indispensable after knotting.

In order to firmly fix hair, adhesive solution diluted with organic solvent is applied and cured from the back side of linear members32aand32bafter the hair33is knotted, so-called resin coating has to be applied (not shown in the figure), and the knotted portion of the hair33has to be sandwiched between the ribs32aand32band resin coating to be fixed and held.

As explained above, in case where hair is knotted and attached to a linear member of a net base or a rib-type hair-secured frame, the conventional planting method knots hair33to a linear member so to extend perpendicular, and hence hair does not stand upright and has a sensation of not having thick hair due to lying down of hair.

Also, since hair is knotted to the linear member sideward, the linear member is not completely hidden. Therefore, the sire material tends to be visible through hair gaps, and there is a problem that the use of a wig may be apparent.

Furthermore, even if hair33knotted to the linear member is combed by brushing, it is difficult to align the hair flow in the longitudinal direction of the linear members32aand32b, that is, to give the hair flow toward a back head or a forehead portions, and hence there is a problem of poor freedom of hair style.

One of the objects of the present invention is, in reference to the above-mentioned problems, to provide a hair-increasing device capable of making a linear member hardly visible because it is hidden with hair, the hair knot hardly loosened, causing good upright standing of the knotted hair, and giving free hair flow from the forehead toward the back of the head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new method of hair securing to the hair-increasing device, and a method of producing a hair-increasing device with said hair planting method applied thereto.

Here, a hair-increasing device of the present invention includes a wig base made mainly of net members produced by assembling filaments in mesh shape, and a hair-secured frame with hair knotted thereto produced, for example, rib cage-shaped with synthetic fiber having rigidity and elasticity similar to that of strings of a tennis racket, but, not limited only to them, but also includes known wigs made of a film-like wig base of artificial skin or others, and also a method of hair securing in accordance with the present invention is applicable to any wig.

Means to Solve Problems

In order to achieve one of said objects, a hair-increasing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is characterized to have a linear member and hair tied to said linear member, bent hair being knotted to said linear member, its one end portion extending from the knot standing upright with regard to said linear member, and the other end portion extending from the knot on and along said linear member.

That is, the hair-increasing device of the present invention is such that the bent portion of bent hair is knotted by twice winding said one end portion of hair around the linear member, and by once winding and pulling out thereafter the said other end portion, thereby said one end portion of hair stands upright from the linear member, and the said other end portion of hair is secured on the linear member to make hair flow extending along the longitudinal direction of said linear member.

More concretely, the hair-increasing device of the present invention has a first loop formed by twisting the bent portion of bent hair, a second loop formed on said one end portion by winding said first loop to the linear member, and passing said one end portion of the bent hair into the first loop, a third loop formed on said one end portion by passing said one end portion into the second loop, and a knot formed with said one end portion and the said other end portion of hair by tightly binding the first, the second, and the third loops, characterized in that said one end portion of hair stands and extends upward from the knot with regard to the linear member, and the said other end portion of hair extends from the knot on and along the linear member after pulled out of the third loop.

That is, said one end portion of hair is pulled out of the third loop, and is supported with said third loop to stand upright and extend upward with regard to the linear member, whereas the said other end portion of hair is clipped between the linear member and the lower side of the second loop pushed down by the third loop, and lies on said linear member to extend along.

According to each of said aspects, as to the bent portion of bent hair, since said one end portion is wound twice, while the said other end portion is once wound and pulled out thereafter, and hence one half and the other half of hair are knotted to the linear member, the knot will not loosen, and is firmly knotted.

Also, since one half of the hair knotted to the linear member stands upright and extends vertically from the linear member to give hair flow in a direction of vertically standing upright, a sensation of having thick hair (rich voluminous appearance) increases, and hair-increasing appearance is realized by relatively small hair planting amount.

Further, since the said other end portion of hair lies along the linear member and extends in its longitudinal direction, the surface side (upper side) of the linear member is covered and hidden with the said other end portion of hair knotted in plurality in parallel. Therefore, since the linear member is hidden with hair, and becomes invisible, the use of a hair-increasing device has no possibility of exposure.

In order to achieve said another object, the present invention provides a method of knotting hair to the linear member constituting a hair-increasing device, characterized in that it includes a first step to bring a hair-tying needle at the lower side of the linear member, hook and scoop with the hair-tying needle the bent portion of the bent hair, and thereby to form a first loop by twisting, a second step to form a second loop by winding said first loop to the linear member and scooping said one end portion of hair with the hair-tying needle inserted through the first loop at said one end portion of said hair scooped through the first loop, a third step to form a third loop by scooping again said one end portion of hair with the hair-tying needle inserted through the second loop at said one end portion of hair scooped through the second loop, next a fourth step to scoop the said other end portion of hair with the hair-tying needle inserted through the third loop and to completely pull out the said other end portion of said scooped hair from the third loop, and finally a fifth step to have one end portion of hair stand upright on the linear member by tightly binding the first, the second and the third loops, and have the said other end portion lie and extend on and along said linear member.

In order to further achieve said another object, the present invention provides a method of producing a hair-increasing device having a linear member and hair tied to the linear member, characterized in that a process of knotting hair to the linear member is constituted with a first step to bring a hair-tying needle at the lower side of the linear member, hook and scoop with the hair-tying needle the bent portion of the bent hair, and thereby to form a first loop by twisting, a second step to form a second loop by winding said first loop to the linear member and scooping said one end portion of hair with the hair-tying needle inserted through the first loop at said one end portion of said hair scooped through the first loop, a third step to form a third loop by scooping again said one end portion of hair with the hair-tying needle inserted through the second loop at said one end portion of hair scooped through the second loop, next a fourth step to scoop the said other end portion of hair with the hair-tying needle inserted through the third loop and to completely pull out the said other end portion of said scooped hair from the third loop, and finally a fifth step to have said one end portion of hair stand upright on the linear member by tightly binding the first, the second and the third loops, and have the said other end portion lie and extend on and along said linear member, and, by repeating said first to fifth steps sequentially, hair is tied to said linear member while said linear member is covered with the said other end portion of hair.

Said first loop can be formed by twisting half a turn of the bent portion of the bent hair, and crossing the said other end portion over said one end portion of hair.

At the second step, the second loop may be formed by passing said one end portion of the scooped hair into the first loop, and said second loop may be twisted half a turn.

At the third step, the third loop may be formed by passing said one end portion of hair into the second loop, and said second loop may be twisted half a turn.

At the fifth step, when said one end portion of hair is pulled, said first, second and third loops are tightened, and at the same time the third loop passes the second loop, protrudes through said second loop, and opens in a vertical direction with regard to the linear member at the top position, and said one end portion of hair is supported by the third loop to stand upright with regard to said linear member by passing through the opening of the third loop from the lower side to protrude upward, and further the said other end portion of hair is clipped between the second loop and the linear member, as the third loop presses the second loop downward, to extend on and along said linear member longitudinally.

The linear member used for the present invention may be filaments to constitute the net member of a wig base, or may be composed of a rib cage-shaped rib formed by assembling a plurality of rigid synthetic fiber filaments having elasticity. A frame of the predetermined shape made by assembling a plurality of ribs may be used as a hair-secured frame for hair-increasing.

In said aspect, hair may be knotted to each rib constituting a hair-secured frame after forming a frame of the predetermined shape made by assembling a plurality of ribs, or, after knotting hair to a rib in advance, a hair-secured frame may be constituted by assembling a plurality of knotted ribs in matrix shape.

Here, the method of hair tying of the present invention is of course applicable to a film-like wig base made of artificial skin or textile, and these cases are also included within the range of the present invention.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, since hair knotted to the linear member is such that said one end portion of hair stands upright and extends vertically from the linear member, it provides a good upright angle and a sensation of having a good standing and rich voluminous appearance of hair, and since the said other end portion extends in the longitudinal direction of the linear member, hair flow can be formed along the longitudinal direction of the linear member. Therefore, the hair-increasing device can be easily produced in which a linear member is hardly visible because it is covered and hidden by the said other end portion of hair, knots do not easily loosen, excels in appearance and rich voluminous appearance, and various hair styles can be freely designed.

Also according to the method of hair knotting of the present invention, it is possible to knot hair, not only to said sire material but also to a film-like wig base, so as to make hair styles freely, and to knot for not easily loosened knots and good upright standing.

EXPLANATION OF MARKS AND SYMBOLS

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention.

A hair-increasing device of the present invention comprises linear members arranged in lattice shape and the hair tied to these linear members, in which the hair paired by bending at about the middle portion is knotted to the linear member by binding one strand or a few strands of hair, one end portion of this pair of hair stands and extends upward with regard to the linear member from the knot, and the other end portion lies and extends from the knot on and along said linear member. Therefore, rich voluminous appearance is excellent, as one end portion stands upright with regard to the linear member by knotting a number of hairs densely to the linear member according to the present invention. Also, since the other end portion of hair extends along the longitudinal direction of the linear member, the linear member can be covered and hidden with the other end portion of hair.

FIG. 1illustrates an embodiment of a hair-increasing device in accordance with the present invention. In the embodiment below, a hair-increasing device is explained as an example which uses ribs11aand11bformed with the rigid and elastic synthetic fiber of relatively large diameter as a linear member, and comprises a rib cage-shaped hair-secured frame11made by combination of a plurality of said ribs and hair12knotted to said hair-secured frame11.

Said hair-secured frame11is constituted similarly to a hair-secured frame2of the conventional rib type hair-increasing device1shown inFIG. 13, and is provided with a connecting rib11aat the center, and a plurality of ribs11bconnected to said connecting rib11aand extending to both sides.

Both connecting rib11aand a plurality of other ribs11bare made of same materials of about same diameter, and, for example, the connecting rib11aillustrates a rib cage structure of a horizontal direction (that is, the direction of the user's left and right side head portion), and a plurality of the other ribs11billustrates a rib cage structure of a longitudinal direction (the direction from the user's forehead to back head portions).

Said hair-secured frame11is formed so that its whole including ribs11aand11bcurves along the user's head shape. At both ends of ribs11aand11bare preferably formed swollen portions11c.

By forming said swollen portions11cin approximately a swollen spherical shape, the hair attached to each rib can be prevented from falling off, and contact with scalp is made soft so that injuring scalp can be prevented.

As the material for the ribs11aand11b, such synthetic resin material as nylon (polyamide synthetic fiber) and polyester that would neither injure the user's scalp nor be thermally distorted by a drier or others is preferred, and, in addition, the materials having elasticity and rigidity such as metal, hard paper, hard rubber, wood, bamboo, glass fiber and carbon fiber can be used.

Said hair12is made of human hair or artificial hair, and is knotted to ribs11aand11bat the loop side formed at the bent portion by binding and bending at about the middle portion one strand or a plurality of strands of hair12.

FIG. 2is an enlarged diagonal view schematically illustrating the flow of the hair12tied to the rib11bofFIG. 1.

As is illustrated, each hair12is knotted by binding one strand or a plurality of strands of hair, and bending at about a middle portion to make a pair of one end portion12aand the other end portion12b, so that said one end portion12astands upright in approximately a perpendicular direction from the rib11b.

As the base portion of one end portion12aof hair is knotted in the perpendicular direction, a sensation of having thick hair (rich voluminous appearance) can be realized with little hair tying amount, compared with the hair lying along a scalp.

The other end portion12bof a hair portion is knotted along the longitudinal direction of the rib11band lies and extends on the upper surface of the rib11b.

Therefore, the rib11bis covered and hidden with the other end portion12bof hair12.

Thereby, since hair flow is formed along the longitudinal direction of the rib11b, natural hair flow can be formed, and the degree of freedom of hair styles is improved, and thereby exposure of a hair-increasing device can be prevented. Here, hair knotting to a connecting rib11acan be conducted similarly, but it may be by a known knotting method for a connecting rib11ato be worn in the traversal direction, that is, in the direction of a user's left and right side head direction.

As for each hair12knotted to a hair-secured frame11of the hair-increasing device10, as described below, since one end portion of hair12ais wound twice, and the other end portion is once wound and pulled out thereafter for knotting, the knot12cshown inFIG. 12would not loosen, and further since the other end portion is wound once, the knot12cwould not become too large.

Since knotted on the upper side of the rib (the opposite side of scalp), the knot12cwould not contact scalp to cause bad feeling on skin upon wearing of the hair-increasing device10. Since also one end portion of hair12ais supported by said knot12cso as to stand upright vertically from both sides, rich voluminous appearance can be increased with little hair planting amount, whereas the other end portion of hair12bis supported by said knot12chorizontally so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the rib11b, the rib is hidden by the other end portion of hair12b, as well as hair flow can be formed in the forward and backward direction from a user's forehead portion to back head portion.

The hair-increasing device10of the present invention uses a wig base made of a net member of wide meshes, or a rib cage-shaped hair-secured frame like the above-mentioned example, and is suitable to a so-called living hair-utilizing type wig used by mixing with the user's own hair.

For wearing the hair-increasing device10of the present invention on a head, it is possible by attaching a specific stopper on the back side of the hair-increasing device10, and clipping living hair on a head with said stopper, or by knitting living hair into the hair of a wig, or knotting living hair to a string member provided on the periphery of a base.

Explanation is next made of an example of the case to attach hair to a rib using said hair-secured frame by a producing method of the hair-increasing device10of the present invention.

First, a hair-secured frame of the predetermined shape is produced. More concretely, twisted fiber of nylon of 0.1-3.0 mm diameter or the like, for example, is made ready as ribs11aand11bconstituting a hair-secured frame11, and it is formed by assembling appropriate number of strands, and mutually jointing these cross sections by such various methods as adhesion, knotting, sewing and melting so that the predetermined shape is prepared suitable to the wearer's head shape. In this case, as shown inFIG. 1, longitudinal ribs11bare bonded one by one at proper intervals to connecting ribs11aas crossing ribs.

Next, the hair-secured frame11prepared by connection is placed on a pattern prepared in advance of the wearer's head shape, for example, a plaster type, and a pattern is prepared for the wearer's head shape by heating for the pre-determined time at the pre-determined temperature.

Here, if the surface of each rib11aand11bis made coarse with sand paper or else, the gloss of the rib surface is suppressed, and the fall off or misalignment of the hair12attached by the later process is better prevented. A swollen portion11cis also formed at both tips of each rib11aand11bto prevent fall off of the knotted hair12and to protect a scalp. On the thus formed hair-secured frame11, hairs are attached one by one according to the hair planting method of the present invention.

Hereinafter, explanation is made of embodiments of the knotting method of hair12in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 3-11illustrate each step to knot hair12to a rib11barranged in the back and front direction of a head, andFIG. 12shows the state of knotted hair completed by tightening.

As a first step as shown inFIG. 3, a strand or a bundle of 2-4 strands of hair12(a strand is shown in the figure) brought to the lower side of a rib11bfrom the left side in the figure of the rib11bis hooked with a hook-shaped hair-tying needle brought to its lower side (the side contacting scalp) from the right side of the rib11b.

In this case, a loop is formed first by bending hair12, for example, at about the middle portion, a hair-tying needle20is hooked to this loop, and, as shown inFIG. 4, the loop is twisted by half rotating the hair-tying needle20anticlockwise on the figure.

InFIG. 4, twisting is conducted so that the other end portion12bof hair comes above one end portion12aof hair which is made a pair by bending. Thus, a first loop21is formed. Said first loop21is taken up from the lower side of the rib11b, and wound upward above the rib11b.

In the actual hair planting work at said first step, the hair-tying needle20is hooked to the first loop21, and thereafter is twisted by one rotation anticlockwise on the figure so that the hook of the hair-tying needle20turns upward (illustration omitted). In this state, the first loop21is wound around the rib11bby moving the hair-tying needle20from the lower to the upper side of the rib11b. In this case, if the positions are interchanged of one end portion12aand the other end portion12bof hair, the first loop21is in the twisted state by half rotation (SeeFIG. 4).

After bending the first loop21wound around the rib11bto the other end portion (the left side in the figure), as a second step as shown inFIG. 5, the hair-tying needle20is inserted through the first loop21, hooking and scooping one end portion12aof hair12, and is pulled into the first loop21.FIG. 5(A) is a front view of a middle way of pulling one end portion12aof hair12into the first loop21using the hair-tying needle20, and (B) is a right side view.

As shown inFIG. 6, a second loop22is formed with one end portion12aof the scooped hair. In this case, the second loop22may be inverted by half rotating the hair-tying needle20. Of course, the process may proceed to the next step without inversion.

As a third step as shown inFIG. 7, said second loop22is bent to the other end portion (the left side in the figure) using the hair-tying needle20which is inserted into said second loop22as shown inFIG. 8, one half12aof said hair12is again hooked and scooped, and is pulled into the second loop22. A third loop23is formed above the second loop22with one half12aof the scooped hair12. Here,FIG. 8(A) is a front view of the state to scoop one half12aof hair with the hair-tying needle20, (B) is a right side view of the state to pull one half12aof the scooped hair into the second loop22, but illustrates the state before tightening to clearly show the knotting step. (C) is a left side view.

As a fourth step that follows as shown in the front view ofFIG. 9(A), the hair-tying needle20is inserted into the third loop23, and hooks and scoops in this case the other end portion12bof hair, and, as shown inFIGS. 9(B) and (C), the hair-tying needle20is pulled out completely the other end portion12bof the scooped hair from said third loop23, as shown inFIG. 10. The state of the other end portion12bof hair pulled out from the third loop23is illustrated inFIG. 10(B). In this state, one end portion12aof hair extends to the left side in the figure, and the other end portion12bextends to the right side in the figure. The hair knotting step to the rib is thus completed.

The final step is a process to tightly binding the knotted hair. In this case, if both halves12aand12bof said hair12are held with fingers, for example, one end portion12ais grabbed with left fingers, the other end portion12bgrabbed with right fingers, and then one end portion12ais pulled in the direction of an arrow mark ofFIG. 11, a loose knot is gradually tightened, and one end portion12aand the other end portion12bof hair slide in the opposite direction (lower and upper directions in the figure) along the rib11b, as shown inFIG. 11, so that each of the first, second and third loops21,22and23is tightened.

When one end portion12aof hair is further tightened in the arrow mark direction ofFIG. 11(B), the third loop23passes through the opening of the second loop22, as shown inFIG. 12, is brought above said second loop22, and ultimately forms a loop at the uppermost portion in the approximately horizontal direction. Therefore, one end portion12aof hair passes through the opening from the lower side of said third loop23to protrude upward, supported by the third loop23, and stands upright above the rib11band extends upward.

The second loop22is pressed on to the rib11bwith said third loop23below the third loop23. Therefore, the other end portion12bof hair is in the state of being clipped and pressed between the second loop22and the rib11b, and lies and extends horizontally on said rib11btoward the tip of the rib11b(upper direction inFIGS. 12(A) and (B)).

Thus, at the final fifth step, when one end portion12aof hair is pulled and tightened, one end portion12aof hair12is supported mainly with the third loop23, as shown inFIG. 12, and can extend vertically upward above the rib11b. That is, since the third loop23is formed approximately horizontally so as to open in the upward and downward direction at the uppermost position of the knot, one end portion12aof hair is tightened and supported therearound with ring-shaped hair, as the third loop23opening upward above the rib11bis closed. Thus, one end portion12aof hair is supported vertically with the third loop23, and extends in the vertical direction to the rib11b. However, the tip portion of hair12acurves downward by flexibility.

On the other hand, the other end portion12bof hair is clipped and pressed between the lower side of the second loop22pressed with the third loop23and the rib11b, and extends in the longitudinal direction of said rib11bon said rib11b. Therefore, if a number of strands of hair12are densely knotted to the rib11b, the rib11bis completely covered and hidden with the other halves12bof hair, so that the rib11bis hardly exposed, and hair flow can be formed in the forward and backward direction of a head with the other halves12bof hair along the longitudinal direction of the rib11b.

By repeating the above-described method of tying, strands of hair12of the predetermined number are tied to each rib11b, and thereby a hair-increasing device10can be produced.

Here, for a connecting rib11ashown inFIG. 1, that is, a rib in the traversal direction, since hair flow in the forward and backward direction can be formed, if hair planting is conducted using a known knotting method, for example, split-knot planting, it is in the same direction as the above-mentioned hair flow, and hence fits well. Alternatively, if variation is properly made depending upon hair planting positions by the knotting method of the present invention and by known knotting methods, various tasteful hair flow and hairstyle can be formed.

The hair increasing device10in accordance with embodiments of the present invention is constituted as described above, and is used by wearing at the predetermined position of a user's head. Since said hair-increasing device10is such that one end portion12aof each hair12is tied to stand upright in the approximately vertical direction from a rib11b, it has rich voluminous appearance.

Since the other end portion12bof hair makes hair flow extending along the longitudinal direction on the rib11b, the rib11bis covered with hair12, and hence it is almost invisible from outside. Also, since hair flow is easily formed along the longitudinal direction on each rib11b, a hair style rich in variation can be realized.

As for each hair12knotted to a hair-secured frame11of a hair-increasing device10, since one end portion is knotted by twice winding, and the other end portion is knotted by once winding and pulling out thereafter, knots would not loosen, and moreover since the other end portion is wound only once, knots would not become so large, and would not cause bad feeling on skin by contact of knots on the scalp upon wearing of the hair-increasing device10.

As has been described, according to the present invention, a hair-increasing device and a method of planting thereon are provided which offer a hair-secured frame and its rib hardly visible, knots hardly loosened, and good upright standing.

EXAMPLE

First of all, ribs11aand11bof a proper number were prepared by cutting twined nylon filament of 1.2 mm diameter to the predetermined size as a linear member, assembled to the predetermined shape suited to a user's head shape, and each of their cross sections was mutually connected by supersonic bonding, thereby a hair-secured frame11was produced.

Next, the connected hair-secured frame11was placed on a plaster pattern of the wig wearer's head shape prepared in advance, shaping of the hair-securing frame was conducted of the wig wearer's head shape by heating at 170° C. for 3 hours, the surface of each of ribs11aand11bwas made coarse.

Thereafter both tip portions of each of ribs11aand11bwere soaked in nylon solution dissolved in organic solvent, and solidified by cooling, or were coated with or soaked in a thermosetting resin solution and dried, thereby each swollen portion11cwas formed.

By the fastening method explained by the above-mentioned producing method (SeeFIGS. 3-12), hairs of the predetermined number were tied to each rib11b. Finally, by bonding and fixing the tied hair to each rib with an adhesive for hair, the hair-increasing device10was obtained.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE

A hair-increasing device of Comparative Example was produced, using the same hair-secured frame11and rib11bas Example, and by the conventional method of knotting hairs of the same number.

Outlook inspection was conducted next for Example and Comparative Example.

In case of the hair-increasing device10of Example, it turned out that hair flow of the tied hair12was formed in the longitudinal direction of the rib11b, and the rib11bis not exposed, and hence has good appearance compared with Comparative Example. On the other hand, in case of Comparative Example, since hair flow was formed on left and right sides of the rib11b, hair dividing was caused as time elapsed in spite of brushing and combing, and the rib tended to be exposed, hence appearance turned out to be poorer than Example. As hair lied down, rich voluminous appearance was also poor.

Next, the hair-increasing device10of Example was worn by a tester, and outlook observation was conducted after blended with the wearer's own hair. Then, the presence of the rib11bwas not observed.

Also, hair flow of the wearer's own hair and that of the hair12knotted on the hair-increasing device10fitted one another well, wearing of the hair-increasing device10was undetectable even upon long time wearing, and appearance was excellent.

Heretofore, suitable embodiments of the present invention were explained, but the present invention is not limited only to these embodiments, but proper modification is possible within the range of the present invention. For example, the color or size of knotted hair12may be chosen freely, and particularly in case for decoration, hair12of various color may be knotted to the ribs11aand11b. Also as a linear member, it is not limited only to the ribs11aand11bshown in the above-mentioned Example, but obviously filaments constituting a wig base made of ordinary net member, and other various linear, rod-shaped, or belt-shaped materials may also be applicable. The method of hair planting of the present invention is also obviously applicable to a film-like wig base formed with artificial skin or textile sheet or film. Further, concrete numerical values and others explained in said embodiments may be properly changeable as is required. It is of course possible to add a process, after hair is attached by the present invention, of bonding and fixing to the linear member with an adhesive for hair.

Here, as an embodiment, an example was shown in which a loop21was formed at a first step by twisting a bent portion of hair anticlockwise, and laying the other end portion12bof hair on one end portion12a, followed by knotting in turn, but a loop may be formed by twisting a bent portion of hair clockwise, and laying one end portion12aof hair on the other end portion12b, and the process may proceed on to next step (illustration omitted). In this case, one end portion12aand the other end portion12bof hair are knotted in turn in the reverse order to the above-mentioned explanation, and finally, the other end portion of hair stands and extends upward from the knot with respect to a linear member, as well as one end portion lies and extends from the knot on and along the linear member. In the present invention, one end portion and the other end portion of hair are a relative concept, and it is obvious that which side is defined as one half or the other half is not an important factor of the present invention.