Patent Publication Number: US-2020297099-A1

Title: Hair weave preparation board

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to preparation of a hair weave, and particularly to a board that holds and supports a hair weave over a sink for cleaning and styling. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A hair weave is a bundle of natural or artificial hair that can be attached to a person&#39;s head or hair by sewing, clips, or adhesives to extend and style the person&#39;s hair. Hair weaves need periodic washing, and they can be colored, straightened, or curled. These operations are often best done when the hair weave is not attached to a person&#39;s head. Devices for holding a hair weave are known, but improvements in convenience are desired. US patent application 2018/0220775 shows a device with a row of hooks for holding a hair extension. It can be attached to a wall, but it has no provision for channeling wash water into a sink. It does not back the hanging hair for combing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Objectives of the invention include provision of a hair weave preparation board that holds a hair weave over a sink for cleaning and styling, supports the hair weave from behind for combing and other manipulation, provides easy attachment of the hair weave to the board, and provides attachment of a top end of the board to a wall over the sink with the bottom end of the board angled away from the wall to overhang the sink so water and other liquids drain from the hair weave into the sink. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained in the following description in view of the drawings that show: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric front view of a hair weave preparation board according to aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric front view of a hook according to aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of the preparation board mounted on a wall over a sink. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view showing hanging of a hair weave on an S-shaped hook. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view showing removing a hair weave from the S-shaped hook. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the preparation board mounted on a wall over a sink. 
         FIG. 7  is a side sectional view of an alternate wall mount using a hinged plate with adhesive. 
         FIG. 8  is a transverse sectional view of the bottom portion of a hook taken on line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a hook with a vertically elongated bottom portion. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a hair weave preparation board  1 , with a central panel  2 . Left and right side walls  3 ,  4  extend forward of the central panel to channel water. A drainage gap or opening is provided between the side walls at the bottom end  2 B of the central panel. The bottom of the central panel may lack a forward extending wall as shown, thus providing a drainage gap. Alternately a forward extending wall with a funnel, hole, or partial gap may be provided, not shown. A horizontal row of hooks  5  extend across the central panel near the top  2 A of the central panel, for example within 2 inches of the top edge. Screw holes  7  may be provided at upper left and right corners of the central panel to secure the board to a wall as later shown. The screw holes may be located within 1 inch of the top edge since the top edge may be the only part of the board that contacts the wall in a leaning position of the board as later shown. The side walls  3 ,  4  may extend at least ½ inch forward of the central panel. The hooks may be attached to the central panel or molded integrally with it. 
       FIG. 2  shows an S-shaped hook  5 . A bottom portion  5 A of the hook extends from the central panel  2 , a top portion  5 B of the hook extends away from the central panel, and a mid-span  5 C of the hook is spaced from the central panel. The mid-span  5 C of the hook may have a maximum spacing from the central panel at  5 D proximate the bottom portion of the hook, and at least ⅛ inch less than the maximum spacing proximate the top portion of the hook at  5 E. These spacings provide for entry, exit, and capture of the binding of a hair weave as later shown. More specifically, the mid-span  5 C of the hook may be spaced from the central panel by ¼ to 1 inch at the maximum spacing  5 D proximate the bottom portion of the hook, and at least ⅛ inch less than the maximum spacing at  5 E proximate the top portion of the hook. 
       FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of a hair weave  8  mounted on S-shaped hooks  5  on the hair weave preparation board  1  attached to a wall  9  or other vertical surface via screws  10  so the board overhangs a sink  11  for drainage. A horizontal ridge  12  may be provided on the back of the central panel  2  extending over and including the screw holes  7 . The ridge  12  provides thickness to countersink the screw head, and provides a line of contact of the board against the wall directly under the screw head. It also reinforces the central panel. One or more additional horizontal ridges not shown may be provided for additional reinforcement. 
       FIG. 4  shows a hair weave  8  being mounted on the hooks  5 . The S-shape of the hooks allows the hair weave to be pushed  13  directly onto the top portions of the hooks without holding the weave horizontally to push it downward on hooks with vertical ends. The top part of the hook extends away from the central panel  2  and slides directly through gaps between tufts or strands of hair near the binding  8 A of the hair weave, thus parting them for the rest of the hook. In contrast, simple upward pointing hook ends as in US patent application 2018/0220775 makes the end of the hook go through the hair sideways if the weave is pushed horizontally onto the hooks. 
       FIG. 5  shows the motion  14  that removes the hair weave from the hooks  5 . The S-shaped hook requires slight backward movement of the weave binding  8 A to remove it from the hook, reducing accidental removal by upward forces during styling. The amount of restriction for removal is determined by the amount of reduction in spacing of the upper portion  5 E from the central panel  2  relative to the spacing of the lower portion  5 D. 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the preparation board  1  mounted on a wall  9  by screws  10  to overhang a sink  11  for drainage. 
       FIG. 7  shows an alternate wall mount using a hinge  15  with a horizontal axis at or near the top of the central panel  2 . The hinge holds a plate  16  that pivots to match the angle of the wall  9  or other attachment surface relative to the central panel. This allows double-backed tape  17  or other adhesive on the plate to mount the preparation board to a wall without screws. 
       FIG. 8  shows a vertically elongated transverse section of the bottom portion of a hook taken on line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 9 . Vertical elongation strengthens the hooks, and allows them be made of plastic. For example, the hooks may have a transverse sectional profile similar to a tooth of a plastic hair comb, but curved into the S-shape. 
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a hook with a bottom portion  5 A having a vertically elongated transverse section. The transverse section of the bottom portion may be maintained throughout the hook, or it may be reduced toward the top portion  5 B as shown. In particular, the transverse section of the top portion may be less elongated than the transverse section of the bottom portion. For example, the top portion may have a circular transverse section. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Variations and substitutions may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope and intended meaning of the appended claims.