Abstract:
A rack for holding and organizing hair extensions comprises a vertical stand upon which a cylindrical member is attached at the upper end. A plurality of rack arms radiate outwardly from the cylindrical member. Each rack harm comprises a plurality of parallel and spaced apart teeth, the teeth having a groove between them. The width of the groove is sized such that the individual strands of hair of the extension fit through the groove, but the protein polymer at the end of the extension is too large to fit through the groove, such that the extensions may be suspended from the rack arms. The rack arms may be angled to facilitate placing extensions within the grooves, and removing the extensions from the grooves.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/694,147 was filed for this invention on Jun. 23, 2005 for which this inventor claims domestic priority. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention generally relates to apparatuses and methods for styling, grooming and enhancing human hair. It more specifically relates to apparatuses and methods which assist a hair stylist in preparing hair extensions for attachment to a person&#39;s head, and to assist the hair stylist in the application process.  
         [0003]     It is known to attach hair extensions to a person&#39;s existing hair. An extension is a plurality or bundle of individual hairs, each hair usually of a consistent length. Usually each extension is attached to existing hair strands close to the client&#39;s head, perhaps about one quarter inch away from the scalp. When applied properly, the extensions blend in naturally with the client&#39;s own hair, providing additional length and/or fullness to the client&#39;s existing hair style. Typically, the extensions come in lengths of eight, twelve, sixteen, eighteen, twenty and twenty-four inches.  
         [0004]     Various methods of attaching the hair extensions are known. One method employs a protein polymer which is affixed at the end of the extension, holding the individual hair strands of the extension together. When the polymer is heated with an application tool, the polymer, and thus the end of the extension, bonds to the strands of the client&#39;s own hair. The extensions are applied one at a time, and, because each extension comprises a limited number of individual hair strands, a large number of extensions is usually required in order to provide the desired effect. Therefore the process of applying the extensions is time consuming and usually requires several hours to complete. To expedite the process, the stylist should have ready access to each extension. Unfortunately, this often requires an assistant to hand the stylist each individual extension. As an alternative, the stylist might lay the extensions out flat on a stand or table and reach for them as the need arises. Unfortunately, when presented in this manner, the extensions often become disarrayed or tangled with one another, requiring the stylist to suspend the application process to untangle the extensions.  
         [0005]     Moreover, it is often desirable to treat the extensions before applying them to a client. For example, the color or shade of the extension may require alteration or the length of the extension may require adjustment or the extension may have more curl than desired, so a relaxing agent is sprayed on the hair. It is often desirable to treat the extensions in these or other ways before applying the extensions to the client&#39;s hair. However, it is to be appreciated that handling the extensions during these processes can be difficult and aggravating.  
         [0006]     Finally, it is often desirable for a stylist to be able to display to the client in an organized manner the extensions the stylist proposes to apply to the client&#39;s hair.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention is directed to an apparatus for solving the above-identified problems and accomplishing the desired goals. A rack is disclosed which allows the stylist to organize the extensions in a manner which expedites the application process, maintaining each extension untangled from the others. The apparatus allows the stylist to easily locate each extension during the application process and to remove it from the apparatus. Moreover, the rack holds the extensions in place during any desired pre-application treatments, and even allows blow drying the extensions without the hair becoming tangled. The disclosed rack allows a stylist to display the extensions to a client prior to application so that the client may appreciate the length, color and other features of the proposed application.  
         [0008]     The apparatus comprises a vertical ground-engaging stand comprising a vertical member having a first end and a second end. A tripod or base is attached to the first end, the tripod or base suitable for maintaining the vertical member in a stable vertical position. The second end of the vertical member is threaded. A cylindrical drum member having an open end and a closed end with a hole in the center of the closed end is placed on the second end, the hole fitting over the threads of the second end. The open end and closed end of the drum member define a longitudinal axis. The wall of the cylindrical drum has a plurality of slots which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis, the slots extending from the open end into the wall. A wingnut or other fastener may be used to attach the drum member to the second end of the vertical member. The wingnut may be loosened when the device is in use to allow the easy rotation of the drum and the rack arms attached to the drum, allowing the stylist to rotate the hair extensions within the rack according to need and utility.  
         [0009]     A plurality of rack arms are attached to the cylindrical drum, each rack arm radiating outwardly from the drum. Each rack arm comprises a plurality of parallel and spaced apart teeth, the teeth generally transverse to the main axis of the rack arm. The grooves between the teeth are adapted to receive hair extensions. The teeth are sufficiently wide to allow sufficient spacing between the extensions so that there is sufficient room for the stylist&#39;s fingers to individually grasp an extension. The stylist hangs the extensions between the teeth of each rack arm, the end of each extension having polymer or other substance or structure of sufficient width at the end of the extension to prevent the extension from falling through the groove. The extensions are securely retained within the grooves between the teeth, such that the stylist may perform a variety of operations upon the extensions, including such operations as combing, coloring, straightening, applying rollers for permanent waving, and blow drying the extensions. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top view of one embodiment of the disclosed apparatus.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a rack arm arrangement for the disclosed apparatus.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an embodiment of a rack arm.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the rack arm shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of one embodiment of the disclosed device, without the hair racks attached.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a top view of one embodiment of a cylindrical drum which may be used with the disclosed apparatus.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a top view of one embodiment of a leg hanger which may be used with the disclosed apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the disclosed hair rack  10  comprises a vertical ground-engaging stand  12 . The vertical stand  12  comprises a vertical member  14  having a first end  16  and a second end  18 . Ground-engaging standing means, such as tripod  20 , or other type of base member capable of retaining the ground-engaging stand in a vertical position, is attached to the first end  16 . The second end  18  of the vertical member  14  is adapted to receive a cylindrical drum member  22 . For example, the second end  18  may be threaded and the cylindrical drum member  22  may have an opening  24  having threads corresponding with the threads of the cylindrical drum member, as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0020]     The cylindrical drum member  22  is disposed on the second end  18  of the vertical member  14 , wherein the cylindrical drum member has a vertical axis generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the vertical member  18 , and a horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cylindrical drum member  22  has peripheral wall  24 . The peripheral wall  24  a plurality of slots  26  extending radially through the peripheral wall. If cylindrical drum member  22  is not connected to second end  18  with threads, a wingnut  28  or other fastener may be used to attach the cylindrical drum member to the second end  18  of the vertical member  14 . The wingnut  28  may be loosened when the device is in use to allow the easy rotation of the drum member  22  and the rack arms  30  attached to the drum member, allowing the stylist to rotate the hair extensions within the rack according to need and utility.  
         [0021]     A plurality of rack arms  30  are attached to the cylindrical drum member  22 , each rack arm radiating outwardly from the drum member. Each rack arm  30  comprises an attachment end  31  which is adapted to attach to the cylindrical drum member  22 . For example, the attachment end  31  may have a slot  32  adaptable for being received by a corresponding slot  26  of the cylindrical drum  22 . Each rack arm  30  further comprises a lower vertical section  34  and an upper angled section  36 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , an obtuse angle may be formed by the lower vertical section  34  and the upper angled section  36 . This angle is also seen in  FIG. 3 , which shows the edge of rack arm  30 ″ superimposed against rack arm  30 ′. It has been found that an angle of approximately 130 degrees makes it easier for the stylist, who may be standing, to reach beneath the teeth  38  to grasp the extension, without raking his or her fingers against the edge of the upper angled section  36 .  
         [0022]     The upper angled section  36  comprises a plurality of parallel and spaced apart teeth  38 , the teeth transverse to the main axis of the rack arm  30 . Each tooth  38  is greater than a quarter inch in width. The ends of each tooth may be tapered as shown in  FIG. 5  such that the slots between each tooth widen at the leading edge. An optional locking device may be used which fits over the upper angled section of each rack arm  30 , where the locking device comprises a plurality of parallel and spaced apart teeth which close over the spaced apart teeth of the rack arm. When the locking device is utilized, the apparatus may be transported without risk of the extensions falling off of the rack arm  30 . In addition, use of the locking device allows treatment of the extensions, such as brushing, without the risk of the extensions being pulled off of the rack arm.  
         [0023]     The grooves  40  between the teeth  38  are adapted to receive hair extensions, where grooves are sized such that the polymer structure at the end of the extension is sufficiently large to prevent the polymer structure from falling through the groove, thus preventing the extension from falling to the ground. For example, the width of the groove (i.e., the space between the teeth  38 ) may be sized at approximately 1/32 inch. If the rack arm is configured as shown in  FIG. 6 , the upward facing angle of the teeth  38  allows the stylist easy access to reach beneath each tooth and grab an extension. The grooves  40  are sufficiently spaced apart by the width of the teeth  38  to allow sufficient spacing between the extensions so that there is sufficient room for the stylist&#39;s fingers to individually grasp an extension. An acceptable tooth width is 5/16 inch.  
         [0024]     If the rack arm  30  is configured as shown in  FIG. 6 , the angle of the upper angled section  36  allows easy placement of the extensions on the rack  10 , where the stylist is able to use the assistance of gravity to prevent the extensions from becoming tangled together, which otherwise occurs when the extensions are laid on a horizontal surface. The stylist hangs the extensions in the grooves  40  between the teeth  38  of the rack arms  30 . While in the rack  10 , the extensions hang vertically. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the lower vertical section  34  of each rack arm  30  has sufficient vertical length h to provide a backup for the extensions hanging therefrom, such that when the stylist reaches in to remove an extension from the rack  10  for attachment to the client&#39;s hair, the upper portion of the extension lays against the lower vertical section of the rack arm. This allows the stylist to use the lower vertical section  34  as a backup when pinching the upper portion of the extension between his or her fingers without pushing the extension away.  
         [0025]     The extensions are securely retained within the grooves  40  between the teeth  38 , such that the stylist may perform a variety of operations upon the hair extensions, including such operations as combing, coloring, straightening, applying rollers for permanent waving, and blow drying the extensions. In addition, the rack  10  securely retains the extensions despite the frequent use of blow dryers in a salon environment, or wind or the disturbance caused by a passing person which, if the extensions were simply laid out on a table or stand, would cause the extensions to become tangled. A locking device comprising a plurality of teeth attached to a spine member may be used to further lock the extensions within the grooves of each rack arm. The teeth of the locking device are adapted to fit within the grooves of the rack arm, thereby securing the extensions within the grooves.  
         [0026]     As shown in the figures, a variety of options may be employed with the disclosed apparatus. As shown in  FIG. 7 , a telescoping vertical member  14 ′ may be used so that the height of the rack arms  30  is adjustable. The ground engaging stand may be a fixed tripod  20  as shown in  FIG. 3 , collapsible tripod  20 ′ as shown in  FIG. 7 , or the ground engaging stand may comprise a round or square base. The collapsible tripod  20 ′ may comprise a leg hanger  42  as shown in  FIG. 9 . It has been found that for a rack  10  where the rack arms extend approximately 15 inches from the cylindrical drum member  22  (i.e., the rack arms extending from either side of the drum member define a diameter of approximately 30 inches) the rack is sufficiently stable if the legs of a tripod stand define a diameter of approximately 16 inches.  
         [0027]     The rack arms  30  are removable and thus the stylist may employ as many rack arms as desired for a particular client. For example,  FIG. 4  shows an embodiment having twelve rack arms  30 .  FIG. 8  shows a cylindrical drum member  22  which has sufficient slots  26  for receiving twelve rack arms  30 . The number of teeth per rack arm may vary according to the length of the rack arm and the desires of the user.  
         [0028]     The components of the rack  10  may be manufactured from a variety of materials, including metal, such as stainless steel, and plastic. The vertical stand  14  may be manufactured from stainless steel tubing.  
         [0029]     Additional features of the device, such as leg attachments, locking clamps and attachment devices may be added by those skilled in the art of the invention, thus the invention should not be limited by the embodiments shown in the drawings. It is to be appreciated that alternative embodiments of the generalized embodiment might include other modifications. While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the size, shape, and/or material of the various components may be changed as desired. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures disclosed. Instead the true scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims.