Abstract:
A hair gathering construction for securing hair strands together preparatory for securement to the head of the user which includes a single layer of curable tacky material extending across an edge marginal region of the hair strands. A thin fabric strip may be used to aid attachment of the strands together and for handling purposes. A peel-off strip may be used to removably cover the tacky material. Exposed tacky material such as an adhesive is placed in a desired position on the natural hair of the user.

Description:
[0001]    Priority Claimed Based on Ser. No. 60-202,674 filed May 8, 2000 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of artificial or replacement hair decorations, and more particularly to a hair extension employing real and synthetic hair that is readily attachable to the user&#39;s hair and wherein the construction is thinner and more secured than conventional hair extensions and which can be more readily attached or removed from the hair of the user in a convenient and comfortable manner.  
           [0004]    2. Brief Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Hair extensions have been widely used among women. The main reason for using a hair extension varies in each individual case such as a simple decoration for fashion on the user&#39;s own hair or to making a partial or full hair supplement to compensate for thinning hair or the like. A great percentage of hair used for extensions is either from a natural source or artificially produced and the supply is usually obtainable from an import source from mostly Asian countries.  
           [0006]    Problems and difficulties have been encountered in the method of making a weft hair extension. Currently, all weft extensions have been made with a sewing technique. Such a technique involves sorting, spreading and aligning strands of bulk hair followed by sewing the top side of the gathered hair with a sewing machine so that the strands of hair are sewn in a row. Due to the sewing technique, the strands of hair are not firmly caught by the stitches so that the strands either fall or are easily pulled away or apart from the stitches. This has the effect of thinning the hair when user&#39;s are engaged in combing or brushing procedures. Also, the sewing technique results in relatively thick double layers of stitching in order to make tight stitches which makes the hair extension heavy and this is a serious shortcoming of utilizing the sewing machine method of construction.  
           [0007]    Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a hair extension product which eliminates the shortcomings inherent in a hair extension made with a sewing method so that the attachment or securement of the hair to the user&#39;s hair is as thin as possible and which retains the strands of hair in a secure manner to the hair of the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties are avoided by the present invention which provides a hair gathering construction including a base strip of thin fabric which is flexible and has a back side and a front side. A plurality of hair strands are spread out and gathered to form a wide array of hair strands and wherein the top end of the array is secured to the front of the base strip by an adhesive securement means. Initially, the adhesive is applied to the front of the base strip so that the hair strands can be laid directly on the adhesive for securement. If desired, a peel-off strip may be added to the exposed top end or portion of the array of hair so that the adhesive at the top of the hair strands is covered preparatory for use while the hair extension is positioned for placement on the user&#39;s hair. Once assembled or constructed, the plurality of hair strands forming the array are secured at the gathered top end to a selected area of hair of the user in any position desired by the user. Preferably, the gathered top portion or end is composed of a lightweight adhesive which aids in the handling of the hair extension during application or usage.  
           [0009]    Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a hair extension wherein an array of hair is carried on an adhesively coated gathering of hair flexible and readily attachable to the user&#39;s hair.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachable hair extension employing the positive characteristics of glue or adhesive for not only attaching a plurality of hair strands together on one side of a fabric strip but which also includes employing the glue or adhesive securing the hair extension or array of hair to the natural hair of the user.  
           [0011]    Another object resides in providing a hair extension which does not rely on sewing techniques and which totally eliminates the double stitch connection of gathered strands of hair.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood with reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a conventional hair extension construction utilizing sewing techniques;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the novel attachable hair extension which incorporates the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the attachable hair extension shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view of the attachable hair extension shown in FIG. 3 as taken in the direction of arrows  4 - 4  thereof;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing another embodiment; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a production process for manufacturing the hair extension illustrated in FIGS.  2 - 5  inclusive.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    Referring to FIG. 1, a standard or conventional prior art hair extension is illustrated in the general direction of arrow  10  which includes a gathering of a plurality of hair strands such as indicated by numeral  12  which are joined or collected together. Attachment takes place by employing sewing techniques and a plurality of cross stitches as well as horizontal stitches are illustrated by numerals  13  and  14  respectively. An end view of the hairpiece extension would show that the attachment area is very wide since the threads are of a given dimension or thickness and the stitching occurs over each other to provide a double stitch. All of this has the effect of not only thickening the end product but rigid sizes the product so that it lacks flexibility. Also, comfort of wear is adversely affected and convenience in attaching the strip to the hair of the user is cumbersome.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 2, the novel hair extension is illustrated in the general direction of arrow  15  which includes a thin, elongated fabric base strip  16  having a front surface which is coated with an adhesive such as glue or the like as indicated by numeral  17 . The back or reverse side of the base strip  16  is plain while the adhesive  17  serves as an attachment adhesive intended to be engaged with the hair of the user in order to install the hair extension onto the head of the user. A peel-off strip  21  may be used to cover the tacky adhesive  17  and may take the form of a wax paper strip or the like. An alternative construction is to provide the adhesive  17  in a form which will readily dry and, therefore, the covering peel-off strip  21  need not be used.  
         [0022]    The front side of the base strip  16  carrying the adhesive  17  is used to secure the top ends of a plurality of hair strands forming an array of hair to the natural hair of the user. The ends of the hair strands are forcibly pressed into the adhesive  17  and after curing, are firmly attached to the base strip  16 . If desired, the strip  21  may be placed over the top end array of hair strands in contact with adhesive  17  so that the hair extension can be handled preparatory to securement to the natural hair of the user. It is to be understood that the peel-off strip  21  is an option. In any event, the thickness of the base strip  16  and the adhesive is extremely thin and flexible and even when combined together, provide a thickness which is under the thickness of the stitching or double stitching of the prior art as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0023]    Referring now in detail to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the array of hair strands  20  crosses the entire length of the base strip  16  and that the peel-off strip  21 , when used, is of the same length. The ends of the hairs are sandwiched between the opposing surfaces or sides of the base strip  16  and the peel-off strip  21 . The strands of hair downwardly depend from the base strip and may be combed or otherwise woven into a variety of decorative styles and forms, even when attached to the natural hair of the user.  
         [0024]    Referring in detail to FIG. 4, a greatly enlarged cross-section is illustrated of the inventive hair extension wherein it can be seen that the fabric base strip  16  includes a plain back side  18  and on its front side, an adhesive  17 . The individual hairs or strands of the array  20  are placed against the adhesive  17  and after curing, securement takes place so that the array of hair downwardly depends on the front surface of the base strip  16 . If desired, a peel-off covering or strip  21  may be employed, as previously described, which may be used to cover or protect the adhesive  17 . However, when adhesive  17  is a dry adhesive, no cover strip or sheet is required.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the hair strands  20  are separate and illustrated preparatory for attachment to the dry adhesive  17 . The top end of the gathered hairs are placed against the dry adhesive  17  to effect securement and a cover or peel-off strip is not needed.  
         [0026]    Referring now to FIG. 6, a double layer or array of hair can be accommodated by the present invention by applying a tacky material or adhesive  40  and  41  to both sides of a small mesh fabric base  42 . The extension hair is indicated by numerals  43  and  44  held on opposite sides of the strip or netting  42 . The adhesive is applied along the top edge marginal region of gathered hair strands  43  and  44 . The adhesive saturates the gathered hair strands and is tacky for securement onto the user&#39;s natural hair at a desired location. If desired, a peel-off strip may be used to temporarily cover the adhesive.  
         [0027]    In all instances, the color of the strip or band should match the natural or synthetic hair. The adhesive must be strong in its bonding strength, flexible after drying, water resistant, chemical resistant and heat resistant. The adhesive must be nontoxic and non-hypoallergenic on skin contact. Bee-waxed paper may serve as the peel-off strip.  
         [0028]    For a manual production process, a melted adhesive is applied to the fabric strip. Bulk hair strands are spread thinly onto the adhesive fabric band and allowed to dry to make a dry surface hair extension. For a pressure sensitive application, another coat of adhesive is placed over the hair on the band. Nest, the bee-waxed paper or strip is placed over the glued band before it is dry.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 illustrates an automated production process wherein the fabric band or strip indicated by numeral  30 , is contained on a roll  31  and is fed past an adhesive sprayer  32  which places a quantity of glue onto the fabric of the band  30 . As the band progresses, the adhesive coated band is introduced to an applicator for placing hair strands  34  onto the adhesive using a pusher. Next, a dryer  35  is employed followed by an adhesive sprayed  36  for pressure-sensitive application. Next a glossy paper cover or strip carried on roller  37  can be applied over the adhesive. After curing, the hair extension is introduced to a cutter, which may be set to cut the length of the hair array to a predetermined length.  
         [0030]    In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that the inventive hair extension eliminates all shortcomings of the conventional prior art product. The invention&#39;s major benefits include the fact that there is no thinning problem and that thickness or density of the hair can be completely controllable. Furthermore, when the hair extension is cut, there are no open ends and cutting can occur at any hair length desired. The resultant construction provides a more natural look and it is more versatile in that a variety of different glues or adhesives can be used as well as a fabric base strip and/or a protective peelable strip. Manufacturing cost is lowered since there is less labor intensive utilization.  
         [0031]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.