Abstract:
The invention features an apparatus and method of attaching false hair. The hand-held device allows false hair to be secured onto the user&#39;s weft of hair and braid. Clips are dispensed from a tray within the apparatus to a crimping assembly by way of operation of a number of geared components of the apparatus. Aspects of embodiments of the invention also contemplate use of levered components in operation of the apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of, and is related to, the following Applicant&#39;s provisional patent application: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/247,937 titled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING FALSE HAIR” filed Oct. 29, 2015, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates, in general, to a device and method of attaching false hair. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Hair care is a billion-dollar industry. Many women wear false hair such as wigs, weaves, hair extensions or pieces to add volume or length to their real hair. Wigs, weaves, and hair extensions or pieces allow women to have versatile hairstyles. Also, they allow users the freedom to use styling tools and products without damaging their own natural hair. Current false hair installation methods are expensive, time consuming and the methods are harmful to the user&#39;s real hair. Bonding methods such as glue are potentially harmful to healthy hair and may cause breakage and irritation. Clip-in extensions are temporary and they do not guarantee that the hair will not inadvertently fall out of the user&#39;s hair. Users cannot swim, shower, workout, or sleep in clip-in extensions. False hair can be sewn into the user&#39;s hair; however, this method requires sewing continuous loops across a weft of hair and it typically takes two to four hours to sew in the hair properly and this method is expensive. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a method and apparatus for attaching false hair that shortens the overall installation time, eliminates the need for threading multiple needles, eliminates the monotonous task of sewing continuous loops across a weft of hair, and reduces stress on operators&#39; joints and limbs. Ultimately, a reduction in time and labor for the operator results in lower fees for the consumer. 
         [0005]    An aspect of an embodiment of the present invention contemplates a hair clip fastener apparatus which may include a handle section which may include a trigger, where the trigger comprises of gear teeth, a gear tooth power transfer wheel, where the gear tooth power transfer wheel comprises of a number of gear teeth interlocking with the trigger gear teeth, a force transfer lever, connected to the gear tooth power transfer wheel and levered at a point within the apparatus, a crimping assembly which may include of an upper crimp, a lower crimp and a holding and alignment area, where the lower crimp is connected to the force transfer lever and movable by motion of the force transfer lever and where the crimping assembly crimps or deforms a clip, and a clip cartridge which may include of one or more clips, where the cartridge is structurally aligned to feed the one or more clips into the holding and alignment area of the crimping assembly. 
         [0006]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the upper crimp of the apparatus may be fixed. 
         [0007]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may further include a return spring mechanism, positioned to return the trigger to its original position after it has been depressed. In one aspect, the return spring mechanism may be connected to the trigger at a position adjacent to its gear teeth. 
         [0008]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the clip cartridge may be spring-loaded at its end. 
         [0009]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the clip cartridge may further include a spring mechanism positioned at an end of the cartridge opposite the crimping assembly, and where the cartridge further comprises of a slider mechanism, connected to the spring mechanism, and positioned between the spring mechanism and the clips, where the slider mechanism advances clips towards the crimping assembly. In one aspect, the slider mechanism may be movable upon connection with power transfer wheel gear teeth upon rotation of the power transfer wheel. 
         [0010]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the clip(s) may be u-shaped. 
         [0011]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the clip(s) may be tear shaped. 
         [0012]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the lower crimp may be a lever connected to an end of the force transfer lever. 
         [0013]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the lower crimp may include a crimping end, where the crimping end crimps the one or more clips in cooperation with the upper crimp when the lower crimp pivots. 
         [0014]    Additional aspects, objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a side view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a side perspective view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1C  illustrates a rear view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1D  illustrates a bottom view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1E  illustrates a front view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1F  illustrates a rear perspective view of a clip fastener apparatus showing a drawn-out clip tray according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1G  illustrates a top view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1H  illustrates an interior cutout view of a clip fastener apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates a clip according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a view of a clip on a braid according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates a clip around the backside of a braid according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates a clip having a double hook and eye closure according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates a clip with false hair secured to a braid according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A through 2 , different exterior views of a clip fastener apparatus  100  and hair fastening clip  200  are shown according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention. Clip fastener apparatus  100  may include a handle  102  having a trigger  104 . Clip fastener apparatus  100  may also include a top portion  106  and a crimping assembly  108 . Apparatus  100  may also include a tray  110  for holding clips  200 . Tray  110  may be installed or removed within top portion  106  by way of opening  112  ( FIG. 1F ). In aspects of embodiments of the present invention, clips  200  may be metal, plastic or the like. 
         [0029]    In an alternate aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a user may press a button or series of buttons to activate electronic mechanisms within the housing of apparatus  100 , thus causing mechanical, electrical, or thermal events to occur in order to attach clip  200 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 1H , an interior cutout view of apparatus  100  is shown according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus  100  is shown with trigger  104  having a number of gear teeth  114 . Gear teeth  114  are in contact with gear teeth of power transfer wheel  116 . Power transfer wheel  116  is connected to force transfer lever  118 , which pivots about a point. 
         [0031]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, apparatus  100  also includes crimping assembly  108  which comprises of an upper crimp  108 A and a lower crimp  108 B. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, lower crimp  108  may be a lever which is connected to force transfer lever  118 . In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, upper crimp  108 A may be immovable. 
         [0032]    Operation of apparatus  100  begins with the depressing of trigger  104 . A series of gear teeth  114  molded into the trigger plate engage with geared power transfer wheel  116 . In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the trigger plate&#39;s movement is restricted to one axis only. By way of molded gun body bosses and molded slots in the trigger plate, the teeth of the trigger plate  114  and the teeth of the geared power transfer wheel  116  will always engage and will not bind or jam. 
         [0033]    As a result of the connection between gear teeth  114  and gear teeth of power transfer wheel  116 , when a user depresses trigger  104 , its gear teeth  114 , being in contact with the gear teeth of power transfer wheel  116 , rotates power transfer wheel  116  clockwise to raise the end of force transfer lever  118  that is connected with power transfer wheel  116 . As a result of this end being lifted, the end of force transfer lever  118  that is connected with lower crimp  108 B is pulled down thereby levering lower crimp  108 B upwards towards upper crimp  108 A to crimp or deform loaded clip  200  positioned within holding and alignment area  108 C of crimping assembly  108 . 
         [0034]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, tray  110  may by a spring-loaded clip cartridge having a spring  120  which pushes slider mechanism  122  to guide clips  200  toward crimping assembly  108 . In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, slider mechanism  122  guides clip  200  forward when one or more gear teeth of power transfer wheel  116  connects with slider mechanism  122  when power transfer wheel  116  is rotated by the user&#39;s depressing of trigger  104 . Each clip  200  is moved into holding and alignment area  108 C of crimping assembly  108  each time trigger  104  is depressed. 
         [0035]    Once within crimping assembly  108 , clip  200  may be deformed or crimped by motion of lower crimp  108 B towards upper crimp  108 A. This is effected when apparatus  100  is positioned over the weft of fake hair that is about to be attached to the natural hair loop(s). Upon the crimping process by crimping assembly  108 , the clip  200  is wound around the weft of fake hair and the natural hair loop thereby fastening the fake hair to the hair loop. 
         [0036]    In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, one of clip  200 &#39;s open ends may extend past the other open clip end, thus allowing the user to slide the longer end of clip  200  through the layers of hair material. Once clip  200  is slid into place, apparatus  100  is actuated, and clip  200  is simultaneously crimped and sheared from the continuous row of clips. The end result is a crimped plastic loop that securely holds the synthetic hair material mesh to the natural hair loops. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 3  a clip  200  is shown installed on a braid  300  according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. Clip  200  can be a variation of shapes. In aspects of embodiments of the present invention, clip  200  may be u-shaped or tear shaped. Clip  200  may be sized to fit around natural braid  300  and secure the weft of hair. The user would repeat this process along the length of braid  300  to secure hair weft  302 . No threading is required and no additional tools are necessary. Clips  200  may be pinched by the teeth to move inwardly slightly to clip hair weft  302  onto braid  300 . 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5  clip  200  is shown around the backside of braid  300  according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. Also shown (in  FIG. 5 ) are details of clip  200 &#39;s double hook and eye closure according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. Clip  200  is shown having a double hook and eye closure, as further elaborated in  FIG. 5 . Teeth  202 A and  202 B of clip  200 , in one aspect, may be used to aid in properly positioning clip  200  onto braid  300 . In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the double hook and eye closure would open as clip  200  is pressed against braid  300 . Then, the closure will close when no pressure is applied to the closure. Clip  200  would extend around the front of braid  300  and the back of braid  300  forming a ring around braid  300 . As discussed above, hair weft  302  would be positioned along the top of braid  300  so that clip  200  would secure hair weft  302  to braid  300 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 6  clip  200  is shown with false hair weft  302  being secured to braid  300  according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, hair weft  302  may be centered along braid  300 . Clip  200  secures hair weft  302  to braid  300 , as discussed above. Multiple wefts of hair can be added to a single braid to create more volume and to allow multiple styles. Wefts of hair can be added above and below the weft, as desired. The wefts will be secured to the natural braid using the false hair applicator and method discussed. Clip  200  is on the outside of braid  300 . The other half of clip goes into braid  300  and the only thing visible is one side of clip  200 . 
         [0040]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.