Hair piece provided with a wave-form weaving band

Hair piece (1) for connection with basic hair (11) comprising at least one thin, broad hair bundle (10) consisting of a number of parallelly oriented hairs (20), a weaving band (2) made from hair or another suitable material the weaving band (2) being interconnected with an outer end of the hair bundle (11), whereby the weaving band (2) is provided with a—zigzag, staggered running—wave-form as a result of which the weaving band (2) comprises band crests 4 and band troughs (5), and the weaving band (2) is further provided with support elements (12) for maintaining the wave-form of the weaving band.

The invention relates to a hair piece for connection with basic hair comprising at least one thin, broad hair bundle consisting of a number of parallelly oriented hairs and a weaving band made from hair or another suitable material like cotton or a synthetic material, the weaving band being interconnected with an outer end of the hair bundle.

Such a hair piece is known from Dutch Patent nr. 1024734 of the applicant. This hair piece is provided with connection openings between two weaving bands of two hair bundles en may be reliable and quickly attached into the basic hair, whereby the weaving band and the knots of basic hair connected therewith are hardly visible because—after attachment of the hair piece into the basic hair—the second hair bundle is folded up over the first hair bundle whereby the knots of basic hair and the hair connection means are hidden from view.

This hair piece with weaving band know per se has the disadvantage that a straight hair line is formed; that the flat hair bundle increases the hair volume only to a little extend and that the integrating and mixing of the hairs of the bundle with the basic hair is not optimal. Furthermore there is a need for increasing the amount of hairs in the hair bundles. After the attachment of the known hair piece nearby the parting in the basic hair, outgrow of the basic hair with the attached hair piece will be quickly visible nearby the parting. Furthermore the weaving band of the know hair piece has the tendency to move away from the head skin thereby decreasing the natural integration with the basic hair.

The object of the invention is to provide a hair piece that is easily, reliably and fastly connectable with basic hair, whereby the weaving band and the knots of basic hair are hardly visible, and whereby the integration and mixing of basic hair with the hair piece is improved, so that the volume of the basic hair is increased and appears to have a softer hair line.

According to the invention the hair piece for connection with basic hair comprises the following elements:the weaving band is provided with a—zigzag, staggered running—wave-form as a result of which the weaving band comprises band crests and band troughs,the weaving band is further provided with support elements for maintaining the wave-form of the weaving band.

By providing the weaving band with a—zigzag, staggered running—wave-form the hair bundle allows for an increase of the amount of hairs and will impart a greater volume to the basic hair, and the hair connected to this weaving band will form a softer hair line at its free bottom end resulting in a more natural effect with respect to the hair line of a straight hair piece.

In particular the support elements are chosen from the list: rigid or shape-retaining element; bridge element provided between the band crests and/or band troughs of the wave-form weaving band. By providing the wave-form weaving band with a shape-retaining element the wave-form is maintained and retained better after its attachment in the basic hair. Alternatively the wave-form may also be easily fixed and retained by mutually interconnecting the crests and/or the troughs of the weaving band.

In a preferred embodiment a number of bridge elements form an—essentially one piece—second weaving band. In this embodiment the wave-form of the weaving band is fixed by means of a simple and easily manufactured construction and also an additional hair bundle is connected to the second weaving band.

In particular in use in the basic hair the band crests of the wave-form weaving band are tilted towards the basic hair. As a result an improved fit or alignment is obtained between the weaving band and the basic hair so that the hair parting will remain covered, in spite of the outgrow of the basic hair.

Preferably the bridge elements of the second weaving band are/is interconnected with the first weaving band in the neighbourhood of the band troughs. By mounting the support elements to the band troughs of the wave-form weaving band the crests are allowed to tilt towards the basic hair so that integration and mixing with the basic hair is improved and during the outgrow of the basic hair the hair parting will be longer covered.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the hair piece is provided with a second hair bundle with its outer end being connected to a third weaving band. As a result a hair piece with a higher volume is obtained giving an enhanced volume effect to the basic hair. Furthermore the hair piece may be easily attached and folded over, while at the same time the advantages of an upper wave-form weaving band remain intact.

Preferably connection openings are provided between the third weaving band and the first and/or the second weaving band. Particularly with their upper sides—the sides opposite of the hair bundle—the third weaving band and the first and/or the second weaving band are transversely interconnected at regular mutual distance by means of connection elements. More in particular the upper sides of the third weaving band and the first and/or second weaving band are transversely adjacently abuttingly positioned with respect to each other. By these features the hair piece is easily attached by folding it open before its attachment into the basic hair and subsequently easily folded up. Moreover the hair piece is better camouflaged or concealed in the basic hair.

In a special embodiment the hair piece is provided with mounting means. With these means the hair piece is easily attached into the basic hair and removed there from e.g. for repositioning due to outgrow of the basic hair.

Preferably the mounting means are provided upon a weaving band positioned on a mounting opening formed between two connection elements. Advantageously, when the hair piece is attached into the basic hair by folding the first hair bundle with weaving band over the second hair bundle with weaving band, the mountings means will thereby be positioned in the neighborhood of the (connection) openings between the weaving bands so that local thickening is prevented in the hair piece at the position of the mounting means.

Alternatively the hair piece according to the invention is obtained by the connection elements being connected to the first or the second weaving band in the neighbourhood of the band troughs of the first wave-form weaving band. As a result the mounting means are hidden from view under the first and/or the second weaving band of the hair piece.

In particular the mounting means are chosen from the list: hair clip, hair pin, hair clamp, adhesion piece.

In an alternative embodiment the first and/or the second and/or the third weaving band at regular mutual distance is/are provided with dividing zones like stitched seams or knot elements, so that the hair piece may be shortened or divided within the dividing zones such that the hair pieces obtained after the division won't fray or otherwise be or become unusable. Advantageously the hair piece may be shortened by cutting the weaving band within a dividing zone between the (stitched seam) elements so that a hair piece (portion) is obtained which wont fray or has unwanted open hanging parts.

Preferably the dividing zones are positioned in the neighbourhood of the band troughs of the first weaving band. By these measure the two hair pieces are provided with a neat, clean exterior without crests of the wave-form weaving bands hanging loose.

The invention also relates to a hair piece for connection with basic hair comprising:two thin, broad hair bundles consisting of a number of parallelly oriented hairs,two weaving bands made from hair or another suitable material like cotton or a synthetic material, the weaving band being interconnected with an outer end of the hair bundle,
whereby the weaving bands are interconnected with their upper sides, in other words, with the sides opposite of the hair bundle, by means of connection elements provided transversely at a regular distance, such that connection openings are configured between the weaving bands,
and whereby a weaving band is provided with mounting means between two connection elements forming the connection openings.

InFIG. 1is shown how hair piece1according to the invention is attached into basic hair11of the hair(do) of a person, in order to supplement or fill up the basic hair with the hair bundle10and provide for more hair volume and a voluminous hairstyle. The hair piece1is provided with a hair bundle10comprising a number of parallelly oriented hairs20. The weaving band2is preferably made or woven from a flexible thread material like cotton or synthetic yarn. The hair bundle10is connected with this weaving band2e.g. by means of weaving elements17(seeFIG. 2) whereto hairs are knotted or attached. This weaving band2is provided with a—zigzag, staggered running—wave-form as a result of which this weaving band2comprises band crests4en band troughs5. The hair piece10ofFIG. 1is provided with a—optional—second weaving band3, which is connected with the troughs5of first weaving band2. The hair piece is attached into the basic hair11by firstly lifting a lock of hair13, so that a hair parting16will be become visible. Subsequently the hair piece1is attached into the basic hair in such a way that the band crests4are positioned in the neighbourhood of or even upon the hair parting16. After the attachment into the basic hair11the lock of basic hair13is repositioned over the hair piece1, so that the upper side of the hair piece with weaving bands2,3are hidden from view. The hairs20constitute a wave-form hairline caused by their connection to the wave-form weaving band, achieving an improved natural mixing with the basic hair11. With respect to the known per se straight hairline disclosed in NL102473 resulting from the straight weaving band comprising equally long hairs20, the bottom side of the hair bundle10attached to the weaving band will constitute a natural waving hairline which will naturally integrate and mix with the outer ends of the basic hairs.

FIG. 2shows in more detail how the waving weaving band2is constructed. In order to maintain and retain the waving shape of the first weaving band2support elements are provided. In this embodiment both the crests4and the band troughs5are provided with support elements12. In an alternative embodiment the weaving band obtains and retains its zigzag-form by providing a rigid or shape-retaining element in or under the weaving elements17of the weaving band2. It is an essential aspect of the invention that the weaving band and the thereto connected hair20comprises a—zigzag, staggered running—wave-form shape creating a softer hairline allowing for more hairs to be included in the hair piece, so that the hair piece is more voluminous. It is clear that within the scope of the current invention other alternative methods may be used to provide a hair piece10with an upper side having a wave-form. Therefore all technical equivalents known to a person skilled in the art are also considered to be part of the inventive idea.

FIG. 3shows an alternative embodiment of the hair piece1according to the invention. The hair piece is provided with a first hair bundle10comprising a wave-form weaving band2, a second weaving band3and hairs20connected with these weaving bands. Furthermore the hair piece1is provided with a second hair bundle21comprising a third weaving band7having hairs20connected therewith. The first hair bundle10and the second hair bundle21are mutually interconnected by means of connection elements6, preferably in such a way that the adjacent upper sides of the third weaving band7and the first and/or second weaving band2,3are transversely abuttingly positioned. Preferably these connection elements6are connection cords positioned at regular mutual distance between the weaving bands of both hair bundles10,21. As a result (connection) openings9are configured between the weaving bands of both hair bundles. These connection openings9may be used to conduct through (to be interconnected) knots of basic hair in order to attach the hair piece in the basic air. Alternatively the knots of conducted through basic hair may be connected to a weaving band and/or a hair bundle10. It is also possible to conduct knots of basic hair through opening9to improve mixing between the hair piece1and the basic hair, without interconnecting these knots with the hair piece. When the hair piece is fixedly connected with the basic hair the second hair bundle21may be folded up over the first hair bundle10so that the weaving band(s) of the first hair bundle10and optionally connected knots basic hair are hidden from view. Preferably the outer sides—located on the opposite side of the weaving bands3,7with respect to the head,—in closed position during use—in other words while being wearied in the basic hair—are provided with hair20, thereby camouflaging the weaving bands. In a special embodiment of the hair piece ofFIG. 3the weaving band is provided with mounting means8.

InFIG. 3is shown that the mounting means8are positioned upon the second weaving band3but if desired the mounting means may also be mounted on another location of the hair piece1. In the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 3the mounting means8are repeatedly provided upon the second weaving band3between two connection elements6by positioning the upper sides of the mounting means8at the same level as the upper side of the second weaving band3. When the mounting means8are attached in this way the (connection) opening9between both hair bundles10,21will be positioned (the hair piece being in folded up use position) in the vicinity of the mounting means8so that thickening of the hair piece at the location of the mounting means is reduced or completely prevented. As a result the wearing comfort for the user is increased and the hair piece will be more concealed. It is also possible to manufacture the hair piece10ofFIG. 3without the first waving weaving band2. The mounting means8inFIG. 3is a hair clip but every other well known mounting means, like a hair pin, hair clamp of adhesion piece may be applied.

FIG. 4shows in detail a preferred embodiment of a weaving band of the hair piece according to the invention whereby the first2and/or the second3and/or the third weaving band7at regular distance is/are provided with dividing zones14configured by e.g. stitched seams or knot elements15so that the hair piece may be easily shortened and be made suitable for the hair(do) wherein it must be attached.

By cutting the weaving band within the dividing zone14between stitching seams15the new outer ends within the dividing zones14will not fray, hang open or have an otherwise anaesthetic appearance. Preferably the dividing zones14are provided in the third weaving band3neighbouring the band troughs5of the first weaving band2, so that after being cut open the adjacent loop with band crest4of the wave-form weaving band2will not hang loose. If desired the first weaving band2may also be provided with stitching forming the dividing zones there between. When the hair piece is provided with a second hair bundle connected to a third weaving band7the connection elements6are preferably positioned upon the second weaving band in the vicinity of a stitched seam of a dividing zone14, so that as a result of cutting open the third weaving band7its outer end remains connected with the first and/or the second weaving band2,3.

Other equivalent measures, known to a men skilled in the art, for configuring a hair piece provided with a waving weaving band are considered to be included within the scope of the herewith described invention.