Patent Publication Number: US-2006000484-A1

Title: Method and device for attaching decorative hair to natural hair

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a method and device for attaching decorative hair to the natural hair. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and device for attaching decorative hair to the natural hair with a clip device having multiple forks.  
      While many devices and methods have been suggested to provide decorative effect to the natural hair by attaching or binding decorative hair to the natural hair, none of the prior art devices or methods have been satisfactory in the combined aspects of decorative effect, ease of use, and cost effectiveness.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art.  
      An objective of the invention is to provide a hair-attaching device that is easy to use.  
      Another objective of the invention is to provide a hair-attaching device that has decorative effect by itself.  
      Still another objective of the invention is to provide a hair-attaching device that is inexpensive to manufacture.  
      Still another objective of the invention is to provide a hair-attaching device that can be used without a tool to handle the device.  
      Still another objective of the invention is to provide a method for using the hair-attaching device.  
      To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a hair-attaching device for attaching decorative hair to natural hair. The device includes a first body having a plurality of first forks extending from the first body, and a second body having a plurality of second forks extending from the second body.  
      The first body and the second body are connected with each other in a way that the first body can pivot with respect to the second body. At least part of the first forks positioned between the two adjacent second forks when the first body and the second body are pivoted toward each other to attach the decorative hair to the natural hair. The decorative hair has a plurality of hair strands, and the ends of the hair strands are attached together so that the plurality of hair strands are moved together. The decorative hair is supported by the first forks. The decorative hair may include various colors and lengths of hair strands that can be used interchangeably or combined together. The decorative hair may also include hair jewelry such as a series of beads.  
      Preferably, the first forks and the second forks have a curved shape.  
      A hinge is provided between the first body and the second body.  
      A spring is provided between the first body and the second body to pivot the first body and the second body toward each other.  
      The first body further includes a first handle extending from the first body, and the second body includes a second handle extending from the second body. The handles facilitate pivoting the first body away from the second body.  
      The first body and the second body are made of transparent material. The first body and the second body may be colored.  
      The decorative hair has a plurality of hair strands, and the ends of the hair strands are attached together so that the plurality of hair strands are moved together. The first forks and the second forks are inserted between the hair strands.  
      The present invention also provides a method for attaching decorative hair to natural hair. The method includes steps of bringing the decorative hair adjacent a part of the natural hair, attaching the decorative hair with the part of the natural hair with the hair-attaching device described above, and repeating the brining step and the attaching step until desired decoration effect is obtained.  
      In the step of attaching, the decorative hair is supported by the first forks of the hair-attaching device by inserting the first forks between the hair strands of the decorative hair, so that different kinds of the decorative hair can be supported by the hair-attaching device per the desire of a user.  
      The different kinds of the decorative hair include different number, color, and length of the decorative hair.  
      The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the hair-attaching device is convenient to use; (2) operation with the hair-attaching device is done without any additional tool, adhesive, etc; (3) the hair-attaching device provides a natural transition between the natural hair and the decorative hair; (4) the hair-attaching device also has a role of hair accessory; (5) the hair-attaching device is cost efficient.  
      Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view showing a hair-attaching device of the present invention and decorative hair and natural hair;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the hair-attaching device in its closed state;  
       FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the hair-attaching device in the closed state;  
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the hair-attaching device in its open state;  
       FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the hair-attaching device in the closed state;  
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of the hair-attaching device in the open state;  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view showing the decorative hair; and  
       FIG. 8  is a flow diagram showing a method for attaching the decorative hair to the natural hair according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIG. 1  schematically shows how a hair-attaching device  10  according to the present invention is used for attaching decorative hair  12  to natural hair  14 . A plurality of the hair-attaching devices  10  may be used depending on the decorative result that a user wants.  
       FIGS. 2 and 6  show the hair-attaching device  10 . The hair-attaching device  10  includes a first body  16  having a plurality of first forks  18  extending from the first body  16 , and a second body  20  having a plurality of second forks  22  extending from the second body  20 .  
      As shown well in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first body  16  and the second body  20  are connected with each other in a way that the first body  16  can pivot with respect to the second body  20 . As shown well in  FIG. 3 , at least part of the first forks  18  are positioned between the two adjacent second forks  22  when the first body  16  and the second body  20  are pivoted toward each other to attach the decorative hair  12  to the natural hair  14 .  
      Preferably, the first forks  18  and the second forks  22  have a curved shape. This feature further improves interlocking of the first forks  18  and the second forks  22 .  
      A hinge  24  is provided between the first body  16  and the second body  20 . The first body  16  and the second body  20  are pivoted toward or away from each other with respect to the hinge  24 .  
      A spring  26  is provided between the first body  16  and the second body  20  to pivot the first body  16  and the second body  20  toward each other when there is no external force. When there is no external force, the hair-attaching device  10  keeps its closed state with the spring  26 . A user opens the hair-attaching device  10  against the force exerted by the spring  26  during the operation of attaching the decorative hair  12  to the natural hair  14 .  
      The first body  16  further includes a first handle  28  extending from the first body  16 , and the second body  20  includes a second handle  30  extending from the second body  20 . The handles  28 ,  30  facilitate pivoting the first body  16  away from the second body  20 .  
      The first body  16  and the second body  20  are made of transparent material. The first body  16  and the second body  20  may be colored to have the appearance as hair accessory. In this way, the first body  16  and the second body  20 , and hence the hair-attaching device  10  provides decorative effect.  
       FIG. 7  shows that the decorative hair  12  has a plurality of hair strands  32 , and the ends  34  of the hair strands  32  are attached together so that the plurality of hair strands  32  are moved together. The first forks  18  and the second forks  22  are inserted between the hair strands  32 . The decorative hair  12  may include various colors and lengths of hair strands  32  that can be used interchangeably or combined together. The decorative hair may also include hair jewelry such as a series of beads.  
       FIG. 8  shows a method for attaching the decorative hair  12  to the natural hair  14 . The method includes step S 01  of bringing the decorative hair  12  adjacent a part of the natural hair  14 , and step S 02  of attaching the decorative hair  12  with the part of the natural hair  14  with the hair-attaching device  10  described above. Step S 01  of bringing and step S 02  of attaching are repeated until desired decoration effect is obtained.  
      In step S 02  of attaching, the decorative hair  14  is supported by the first forks  18  of the hair-attaching device  10  by inserting the first forks  18  between the hair strands  32  of the decorative hair  14 . Different kinds of the decorative hair  14  can be supported by the hair-attaching device  10  per the desire of the user. The different kinds of the decorative hair  14  include different number, color, and length of the decorative hair  14 . Also, hair jewelry such as a series of beads may be used as the decorative hair  14 .  
      In this way, the method of attaching decorative hair of the present invention provides great flexibility and convenience for attaching various combinations of the decorative hair to the natural hair.  
      While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.