Abstract:
A hair extension device is provided wherein the hair extension device comprises: at least one comb; at least one bendable member having opposing ends, a first end being attached to the comb; and at least one length of hair attached to the second end of the bendable member wherein the end user forms a ponytail and the comb is attached onto the end user&#39;s existing hair adjacent to the ponytail and the bendable member is bent around the ponytail and shaped to provide for a plurality of hairstyles.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/438,133, entitled “Hair Extension Device” which was filed on May 14, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention generally relates to hair attachment apparati and related methods of manufacture. More specifically, the present invention provides for a hair extension apparatus comprising: at least one comb; at least one bendable member having opposing ends, a first end being attached to the comb; and at least one length of hair attached to the second end of the bendable member wherein the end user forms a ponytail and the comb is attached onto the end user&#39;s existing hair adjacent to the ponytail and the bendable member is bent around the ponytail and shaped to provide for a plurality of hairstyles.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Hairpieces and hair extensions are well known in the beauty industry. Hair pieces are commonly used by individuals with thin hair to provide a fuller and, often, a more appealing look. Hair extensions are also often used to provide a fuller looking heads of hair. However, hair extensions are also used cosmetically to allow the user to change their hair style quickly and without having to wait for their natural hair to grow to the required length in order to obtain the desired style.  
         [0006]     Known forms of hair extensions include hair attached to clips, combs and elastic bands. These hair extensions may be arranged in and around the natural hair. However, many of these devices require a great deal of skill to properly arrange on the head in an unobtrusive manner. In addition, some devices are hard to keep secured on the head during times of physical exertion such as, for example, during exercise routines, running and dancing the jitterbug. Furthermore, other hair extensions are not diverse in that they are limited in terms of the hairstyles that they provide.  
         [0007]     One example of a known hair extension device, often referred to as a scrunchy, attaches hair to an elastic band. The band is then wound around a ponytail formed on the users head from the natural hair. The elastic of the scrunchy acts like a rubber band and secures the user&#39;s ponytail. The hair attached to the elastic may then be left to hang loose or gathered to form a bun or a ponytail. The scrunchy device, though, tends to slip during physical activity causing the users hair to become tangled. In addition, the elastic tends to lose its elasticity over time, making the device ineffective for its intended use.  
         [0008]     It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a hair extension device that overcomes these and other disadvantages. It would also be desirable to have a hair extension device that would provide for a plurality of different hairstyles.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a hair extension apparatus comprising: at least one comb; at least one bendable member having opposing ends, a first end being attached to the comb; and at least one length of hair attached to the second end of the bendable member wherein the end user forms a ponytail and the comb is attached onto the end user&#39;s existing hair adjacent to the ponytail and the bendable member is bent around the ponytail and shaped to provide for a plurality of hairstyles.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment, the length of hair is comprised of a plurality of individual strands of hair sewn together to form the length of hair. In still another embodiment, the plurality of individual strands of hair is curled prior to being secured on the bendable member. In yet another embodiment, the length of hair is comprised of a plurality of individual stands of hair with different hair colors.  
         [0011]     In still yet another embodiment, the comb is constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of metal, plastic, bone, shell and mixtures thereof. In a further embodiment, the bendable member is constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of formable wire, formable rubber, formable plastic and mixture thereof. In another further embodiment, the formable wire is coated with rubber.  
         [0012]     In still another further embodiment, the hair is attached to the bendable member by wrapping the at least one portion of the length of hair around the bendable member. In yet another further embodiment, the comb is secured to the bendable member by one of the following selected from a group consisting of glue, thread, string, wire and mixtures thereof.  
         [0013]     In still yet another further embodiment, the length of hair is selected from a group consisting of real human hair, real animal hair, synthetic hair and mixtures thereof. In another further embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of hair strands, each of the hair strands having different lengths. In another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a second bendable member with at least one length of hair. In still another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a plurality of bendable members, each bendable member having at least one length of hair.  
         [0014]     In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides for a hair extension device comprising: a comb; at least one elongated bendable member having opposing ends and a central section; and at least one length of hair attached to each of the opposing ends of the bendable member, at least a portion of the central section being attached to the comb, wherein the end user forms a ponytail and the comb is attached onto the end user&#39;s existing hair adjacent to the ponytail and the opposing ends of the bendable member with attached hair is bent around the ponytail and shaped to provide for a plurality of hairstyles.  
         [0015]     In still yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to a hair extension device comprising: a comb; at least two bendable members having two ends, a first end of each of the bendable members being attached to the comb and a second end of each of the bendable members being attached to at least one length of hair; and a connector situated between the first ends of the first and second bendable members wherein the end user forms a ponytail and the comb is attached onto the end user&#39;s existing hair adjacent to the ponytail and the bendable member is bent around the ponytail and shaped to provide for a plurality of hairstyles. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the connector is attached to the comb.  
         [0016]     In another further embodiment, the present invention also relates to a hair extension device comprising: a comb; at least one bendable member comprising first and second hair attachment portions and a comb attachment portion disposed between the first and second hair attachment portions; and at least one length of hair attached to the first and second hair attachment portions of the bendable member, a part of the comb attachment portion being attached to the comb, and wherein the first and second hair attachment portions of the bendable member can be bended and shaped by the user to provide for a plurality of hairstyles.  
         [0017]     In a further embodiment, the invention provides for a hair extension device comprising a comb, a bendable member attached to the comb and at least one length of hair attached to the bendable member.  
         [0018]     In still a further embodiment, the invention further provides a method for manufacturing a hair extension device. The method comprises forming at least one length of hair from a plurality of individual strands of hair; securing an end of a first length of hair to a first end of a bendable member; wrapping the first length of hair around the bendable member a first distance extending from the first end; securing an end of a second length of hair to a second end of the bendable member; wrapping the second length of hair around the bendable member a second distance extending from the second end; and securing a comb to the bendable member between the first length of hair and the second length of hair.  
         [0019]     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a hair extension device in accordance with the invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates a detail of the comb of the hair extension device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of the comb of the hair extension device according to the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates a detail of the bendable member and stands of hair of the hair extension device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 5   a - c  shows a user with a ponytail and the hair extension apparatus of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0026]     Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessary to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.  
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of a hair extension device in accordance with the present is shown generally at  100 . Hair extension  100  includes a hair assembly  10  and a comb  30 . Hair assembly  10  includes bendable member  12  and hair  20 . In one embodiment, hair  20  is synthetic hair. In another embodiment, hair  20  is real hair. Hair  20  may be dyed various colors to approximate natural hair colors or, alternatively, may be dyed bright unnatural colors that are well known in the art. Hair  20  is attached to bendable member  12  by an exemplary method described below.  
         [0029]     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , bendable member  12  is divided into three portions, hair attachment portions  26 ,  28  and comb attachment portion  18 . Comb attachment portion  18  is positioned between hair attachment portions  26  and  28 . Hair attachment portions  26 ,  28  may be of various lengths, the length depending on the style of hair extension desired. In one embodiment, bendable member  12  is a formable metal wire. In another embodiment, bendable member  12  may be, for example, formable plastic. In another embodiment, bendable member  12  may comprise a formable metal wire having a coating. The coating may be, for example, a plastic or a rubber coating.  
         [0030]     The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  shows a bendable member  12  having an end  16  that is blunt. In one embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the blunt end is fashioned in a hook-like manner  38 . Those skilled in the art will recognize other configurations to provide a blunt end for bendable member  12 . For example, the end may be capped using a small plastic cap that is inconspicuous to the user.  
         [0031]     Comb  30  includes body portion  32  and a plurality of teeth  34  extending from the body portion  32  in a manner that is well known in the art. The comb  30  may be formed from plastic, metal, bone, shell or any other suitable material known in the art.  
         [0032]     Hair extension device  100  may be fashioned in the following manner. First, strands of hair  20  are sewn together, in a manner that is well known in the art, to form a length of hair  40 . In one embodiment, the hair is curled once it is formed into the length of hair. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various types of hair may be used to form the length of hair. For example, the hair may be straight, curly, or wavy. The hair may also be of various lengths depending on the desired style.  
         [0033]     Second, one end of the length of hair  40  is securely attached to end  16   a  of bendable member  12 . The hair  40  may be secured to end  16   a  by any means known in the art, such as, for example, glue. Once the end of hair  40  is attached, the length of hair is wrapped around the first hair attachment portion  26  of bendable member  12 . The length of hair  40  is wrapped around bendable member  12  until it reaches comb attachment portion  18  of bendable member  12 . Comb attachment portion  18  of bendable member  12  is not covered by hair  40 . This process is repeated for the second hair attachment portion  28  beginning at end  16   b . Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are other methods known in the art suitable for attaching the hair to device  100 .  
         [0034]     Once both of the hair attachment portions  26 ,  28  are covered with hair  40 , comb attachment portion  18  of bendable member  12  is bent to form two spaced apart angles  22 ,  24 . Comb  30  is then disposed on comb attachment portion  18  of bendable member  12 . The comb  30  may then be secured to the bendable member  12 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate that the comb  30  is secured to bendable member  12  using thread  36 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are other methods of securing the comb  30  to the bendable member  12  such as, for example, by gluing or thin gauge wire.  
         [0035]     Those skilled in the art will recognize that hair extension device  100  may be fashioned in other manners. For example, the comb attachment portion of bendable member  12  may be an integral part of the comb as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Other embodiments may attach the bendable member to a barrette-type device instead of a comb.  
         [0036]     In practice and referring now to  FIGS. 5   a - c , the user of the hair extension device may, first, form their natural hair into a ponytail  201 . In  FIG. 5   a , the user then secures the hair extension device  200  on the head by inserting the comb  205  of the hair extension device  200  into the hair adjacent to the ponytail  201 . Once secured and as shown in  FIG. 5   b , the user then bends and forms one of the two bendable members  208  of the hair extension device  200  in and around the ponytail  201 . In  FIG. 5   c , the second bendable member  208  of the hair extension device  200  is then bent and formed in and around the ponytail  201 . Finally, the bendable members  208  and the hair  210  of the hair extension device  200  may then be styled and shaped according to the desired hairstyle of the user.  
         [0037]     In another embodiment, the present invention may use another hair attaching means instead of a comb such as a clips, hooks, snap-on elements, barrettes, pins, etc. In such an embodiment, at least a portion of the bendable member will then be attached and secured to the hair attaching means. In another embodiment, the bendable member will have two opposing ends and a central section, and the hair is attached to the opposing ends of the bendable member and at least a portion of the central section is attached to the hair attaching means. In still another embodiment, the hair extension device comprises two ends and a connector, whereby the hair is attached to the two ends and a portion of the two ends are attached to the connector and at least a portion of the connector is attached to the hair attaching means.  
         [0038]     Therefore, while the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.