Patent Publication Number: US-11375787-B2

Title: Hair carrying device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of this disclosure relate generally to a hair carrying device for transporting and protecting hair and a method for protecting the hair. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hair extensions, wigs, and other hair pieces can be used as cosmetic enhancements. These devices comprise natural human hair, synthetic hair or a combination of both. In recent years, the economic impact of these hair products has increased the reach in global markets for the trafficking of these goods. The economic impact has also increased the cost to acquire and maintain these hair products. In efforts to protect their hair products, customers have sought means to maintain and transport their hair. Accordingly, there exists a need for methods and/or devices that can protect and transport hair extensions, wigs and other hair pieces. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some or all of the above needs and/or problems may be addressed by certain embodiments of the disclosure. Certain embodiments of the disclosure can include devices for protecting and carrying hair. An embodiment of the hair carrying device can include a collapsible container having an internal surface and an external surface. The internal surface can include a top internal surface side and the external surface can include a top external surface side. The top internal surface side and the top external surface side can be coupled and define an opening comprising an area. The embodiment can also include at least one clamping device coupled to the internal surface. 
     In another embodiment, the hair carrying device can include a bag comprising a top edge; a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The bottom edge can oriented opposite the top edge. The first side edge can be oriented opposite the second side edge. The first side edge can be adjacent to the top edge and bottom edge. The second side edge can be oriented adjacent the bottom edge and the top edge. The top edge, the bottom edge, the first side edge and the second side edge define an external surface and an internal surface. The external surface and the internal surface can be coupled and define an opening into the bag. The embodiment can also include at least one clamping device coupled to the internal surface. The embodiment can further include a securing system configured to couple to the internal surface. 
     According to another example embodiment, a method for protecting the hair can include adjusting the area of the opening of the collapsible container; reaching into the opening of the collapsible container; grabbing an internal surface of the collapsible container; pulling the internal surface through the opening; and coupling the hair piece to the internal surface by at least one clamping device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
         FIG. 1  shows a top perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  shows a partial top perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  shows a top perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 1  in an inverted orientation. 
         FIG. 4  shows a partial top perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 1  in an inverted orientation. 
         FIG. 5  shows a partial top perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a hair piece in an inverted orientation. 
         FIG. 6  shows a top perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a hair piece. 
         FIG. 7  shows a top perspective view of another illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  shows a top perspective view of the illustrative embodiment in  FIG. 7  in an inverted orientation. 
         FIG. 9  shows a partial side perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 7  in an inverted orientation. 
         FIG. 10  shows a top perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 7  with a hair piece in an inverted orientation. 
         FIG. 11  shows a partial top perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 7  in an inverted orientation. 
         FIG. 12  shows a flow chart for illustrating a method for affixing a hair piece for storage in the illustrative embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. 
     Whenever appropriate, terms used in the singular also will include the plural and vice versa. The use of “a” herein means “one or more” unless stated otherwise or where the use of “one or more” is clearly inappropriate. The use of “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise. The use of “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising,” “include,” “includes,” and “including” are interchangeable and not intended to be limiting. The term “such as” also is not intended to be limiting. For example, the term “including” shall mean “including, but not limited to.” 
     The following description is provided as an enabling teaching of the disclosed articles, systems, and methods in their best, currently known embodiments. To this end, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate that many changes can be made to the various aspects of the articles, systems, and methods described herein, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the disclosure. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present disclosure can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present disclosure without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present disclosure are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present disclosure. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure and not in limitation thereof. 
     As used throughout, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a gasket” can include two or more such gaskets unless the context indicates otherwise. 
     As used throughout, “substantially” with respect to a measure can refer to a range of values. For example, substantially orthogonal, normal, or parallel can include embodiments, where the referenced components are oriented +/−10 degrees of being classified as orthogonal, normal, or parallel respectively. 
     Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. 
     As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. 
     The word “or” as used herein means any one member of a particular list and also includes any combination of members of that list. 
     As used herein, the word proximal can define a distance between an initial point and an end point that is less than the distance between the initial point and a midpoint, located equidistant between the initial point and the endpoint. Similarly, the term distal can define can define a distance between the initial point and the end point that is greater than the distance between the initial point and the midpoint. 
     The word hair or hair piece can refer to any type of device of hair device, which includes but not limited to: hair extensions, wigs, weave, falls, toupees, loose hair, braids, etc. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a hair carrying device  100  can comprise a collapsible container  102 . The collapsible container  102  can have an internal surface  104  and an external surface  106 . The internal surface  104  can have a top internal surface side  108 , while the external surface  106  can have a top external surface side  110 . The top internal surface side  108  and the top external surface side  110  can be coupled and define an opening  112 . In another aspect, the collapsible container  102  can be a bag. The bag  102  can comprise a top edge  116  having a width dimension W 1 . The first side edge  120  can have a length dimension L 1 . The bag  102  can further have a bottom edge  118  with a width dimension W 2 . The bag can also have second side edge  122  that can have a length dimension L 2 . The bag  102  can be structurally oriented such that the first side edge  120  is adjacent to the top edge  116  and the bottom edge  118 . Also, the bottom edge  118  can be oriented adjacent to the first side edge  116  and the second side edge  122 . The second side edge  122  can also be oriented adjacent to the top edge  116 . 
     In a further aspect of the embodiment, the top edge  116  can be oriented such that it is opposite the bottom edge  118 . The first side edge  120  and the second side edge  122  can be oriented to be opposite each other. In another aspect, theses adjacent edges can define multiple surfaces with corresponding area dimensions. One example surface can be the external surface  106 , which can be viewed from the exterior of the bag  102 . Further, the bag  102  can include an internal surface  104 . The area dimensions of the internal surface  104  and external surface  106  can be determined from the dimensions of the edges that circumscribe these surfaces  104 ,  106 . Further, the internal surface  104  can have dimensions about the same as the external surface  106  because the internal surface can be circumscribed by the same dimensions (L 1 , L 2 , W 1 , and W 2 ) as the external surface. 
     In another aspect of the embodiment, the top edge  116  can define an opening  112 . The opening  112  can provide a conduit from the exterior of the bag  102  into a cavity  114  of the bag. In a further aspect, the cavity  114  can be spatially defined by the internal surface  104  that envelopes the cavity. In another aspect, the cavity  114  can be defined by the external surface  106  when the bag  102  is manipulated into an inverted configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 and 8-11 . One example of an inverted configuration (inside-out) can occur when then internal surface  104  is pulled through the opening  112 , exposing the internal surface to the exterior space surrounding the bag  102 ; in the same process, the external surface  106  is pulled through the opening to redefine the spatial parameters of the cavity  114 . 
     In a further embodiment, the bag  102  have a rectangular prism-like shape, where the W 1  and W 2  dimensions are about the same and the top edge  116  and the bottom edge  118  are substantially parallel, while L 1  and L 2  dimensions are about the same as the first side edge  120  and the second side edge  122  are substantially parallel to each other. Other geometric orientations of the respective sides are contemplated as well. The variable configurations can address the variety of potential hair piece  124  options. For example, a bag  102  can have a trapezoidal shape, where W 1 &lt;W 2  and the top edge  116  and the bottom edge  118  are substantially parallel to each other. The trapezoidal shape can allow for hair extensions to flair distally away from a hair piece&#39;s attachment fixture (comb)  125 , located proximal to the bag opening  112 , without damaging portions of the hair piece  124  located distally from the bag opening. In another example, the edges  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122  can have rounded or arch-type shapes such that the bag  102  can have a curved or rounded shape. A hair piece  124  with a circular hair style or wig may be better suited for a bag  102  with a rounded shape to avoid any unintentional folding. 
     As mentioned earlier, the hair piece  124  can come in a variety of lengths and widths. To accommodate the various size of the hair piece, the L 1  dimension of the first side edge  120  and the L 2  dimension of the second side edge  122  can range from about 12 in. to 42 in. Optionally, in exemplary aspects, L 1  and L 2  can range from about 16 in. to 36 in. or optionally, from about 20 in. to 30 in. Similarly, the W 1  and W 2  dimensions can range from about 6 in. to 20 in. Optionally, in exemplary aspects, W 1  and W 2  can range from about 12 in. to 18 in. or optionally from about 14 in. to 16 in. It is further contemplated that the bag  102  can have any combination of the dimensions of L 1 , L 2 , W 1  and W 2  in the aforementioned ranges. 
     In other example embodiments, the internal surface  104  can be in contact with the hair piece  124 . The internal surface  104  can be configured to protect the hair piece  124  based on the material that can comprise the internal surface. In a further aspect, the materials that comprise the internal surface  104  can be non-abrasive. For example, the internal surface  104  can be comprised of silk, polyester, rayon, nylon, plastic, cotton fabric, vinyl, microfiber, canvas, fleece, wool, chamois, woven fabric, suede or imitations of the aforementioned fabrics. While in contact with any combination of the aforementioned materials, the hair piece  124  can be transported with reduced abrasive or fraying type damage to the hair. Further, some of these non-abrasive materials can increase the luster and shine of the hair in the hair pieces  124  by polishing the hair while the hair moves within the bag  102 . In one aspect, the external surfaces  106  can also be comprised of a different material as the internal surface  104 . In a further aspect, using the same assortment of non-abrasive materials in the external surface  106  can reduce the risk of the damage as the hair pieces  124  are inserted from the exterior of the bag  102  into the interior surface  104 . 
     In an aspect, constructing the bag out of non-abrasive fabrics and the orientation of the internal surface  104  and outer surface  106  can make the bag  102  invertible. An invertible bag  102  can be manipulated such that the internal surface  104  can be pulled through the opening  112 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 and 8-11 , once the bag manipulation is complete, the internal surface  104  can be positioned on the exterior of the bag  102 . For example, in one aspect shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , the internal surface  104  can be attached to the external surface  106  by at least one attachment stitch  126  located distally from the opening. When the bag  102  is inverted to expose the internal surface  104  to the exterior space  170 , the attachment stitch  126  can maintain the opposing orientation of the internal surface  104  and external surface  106 . Similarly, when the bag  102  is returned to a normal orientation, such that the internal surface  104  is spatially oriented in the interior of the bag, the attachment stitch  126  can continue to maintain the opposing orientation of the internal surface  104  and external surface  106 . 
     In a further aspect, the fabrics that comprise the bag  102  can allow the bag to be collapsible. The collapsible container or bag  102  can reduce the size of the cavity  114  defined by the internal surface  104  and external surface  106 . Prior to being affixed to a customer&#39;s head, hair pieces  124  might be prepped. This preparation step for the hair piece can include: washing, dyeing, drying and brushing. However, the brushing step can be the most physically exhaustive step because the hair dresser may be required to remove entanglements and folds introduced during transportation. The current disclosure reduces the folds and entanglements because the bag  102  can be collapse by rolling the various edges along the primary axis A 1  or secondary axis A 2 . 
     In a further aspect of the embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the clamping device  130  can be a clip including: a base arm  132 , a clamp arm  134 , and a rotational spring  136 . Structurally, the rotational spring  136  can be placed between the base arm  132  and the clamp arm  134 . The base arm  132  can be coupled to the internal surface  134  with a connector strap  135 . In a further aspect, the spring  136  can be pre-tensioned, wherein the normal state of the clamping device  130  is open. The clamping device  130  can be closed by placing a force (F) at a latch  141  located above the clamp arm  134  near a grip end  142  of the clamp arm  134 . In a further aspect, the grip end  142  can comprise a plurality of nodules  143  that extend away from a surface of the grip end. These nodules  143  can more effectively grab the hair piece  124   
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , another embodiment of the clamping device  130  can be a strap device  144 . The strap device  144  can comprise a pre-tensioned elastic band  146  wherein each end of the strap is coupled to a base  148 . The base  148  can be attached to the internal surface  104  by a fastener or stitching. The hair piece  124  is secured by: stretching the elastic band  146 ; placing the hair piece  124  between the elastic band and the base  148 ; and releasing the elastic band to contact the base thereby securing the hair piece between the elastic band and the base. Any plurality of strap devices  144  can be coupled to the internal surface  104 . It is further contemplated that the clamping device  130  can comprise any mechanism known or hereafter developed in the art capable of securing hair products between two members. 
     In another aspect, the bag  102  can include a closing device  150 . In an aspect, the closing device  150  can be a mechanism that regulates the opening&#39;s area by adjusting the size of the opening. Accordingly, the closing device  150  can open and close the opening  112 , adjusting the size of the opening. In a further aspect, the closing device can be a drawstring type mechanism. For example, closing device  150  can comprise a string  152  that circumscribes the opening  112  through a channel (not shown). The channel can be positioned between the internal surface  104  and the external surface  106 . The closing device  150  can reduce the area of the opening by pulling on the opposing ends  153  of the strings  152 . To prevent unintentional reopening, string ends  152  can be tied or a pre-tensioned clip can be placed on the strings to prevent movement. It is further contemplated that the closing device  150  can comprise other mechanisms to reduce or increase the size of the bag opening  112 . For example, the closing device  150  can include other mechanisms for adjusting the size opening but not limited to: zippers, buttons, snaps and other fasteners for fabrics. 
     In another aspect of the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6 , the embodiment can include a securing system  160  to prevent the hair piece  124  from moving while the bag  102  is collapsed and/or transported. The securing system  160  can comprise an at least one strap  162  coupled to the internal surface  104 . In one aspect, the strap can be fixed and attached to the internal surface  104 . In another aspect, the strap  160  can be detachable. The detachable strap  162  can have clips attached to the ends of the strap  162 . In a further aspect, the securing system  160  can include a plurality of straps  162 . The variety of potential placements for the straps  162  or multiple straps  162  allows a user to customize the stabilizing orientation of the hair piece  124  to the internal surface  104 . 
     The operations described and shown in the method of  FIG. 12  may be carried out or performed in any suitable order as desired in various embodiments of the disclosure. Additionally, in certain embodiments, at least a portion of the operations may be carried out in parallel. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, less than or more than the operations described in  FIG. 12  may be performed. The method  1200  can start in block  1202 , and according to an example embodiment of the disclosure, can include adjusting the area of the opening with a closing device. In one aspect of block  1202 , a closing device  150  can be used to increase the area of the opening allowing for easier access to the cavity of the container collapsible (bag)  102 . In block  1204 , the method  1200  can include reaching into the opening of the collapsible container  102 . In block  1206 , the method  1200  can include grabbing the internal surface  104  of the collapsible container  102 . In block  1208 , the method  1200  can include pulling the internal surface  104  through the opening  112 . In one aspect, completing block  1208  inverts the collapsible container  102  by exposing the internal surface  104  to the exterior space  170 . In block  1210 , the method  1200  can include coupling the hair piece  124  to the internal surface  104  by the at least one clamping device  130 . In block  1212 , the method  1200  can include securing the hair piece  104  to the internal surface  104  with a securing system  160 . In block  1214 , the method  1200  can include reaching into the opening  112  of the collapsible container. In one aspect completing block  1214  can begin the process of reversing the inverted orientation completed in block  1208 . In block  1216 , the method  1200  can include grabbing the external surface  106  of the collapsible container. In block  1218 , the method  1200  can include pulling the external surface  106  through the opening  112 . In block  1220 , the method  1200  can include readjusting the area of the opening. In one aspect block  1220 , readjusting can include using the closing device  150  to decrease the size of the opening, which protects the hair  124  in the container (bag)  102 , during storage or travel. In other example embodiments of the disclosure, the method  1200  can include fewer or greater numbers of operations than those described above, and may be performed in a different sequential order than described above. 
     The disclosure is described above with reference to block and flow diagrams of systems, devices and/or methods, according to example embodiments of the disclosure. It will be understood that some blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams may not necessarily need to be performed in the order presented, or may not necessarily need to be performed at all, according to some embodiments of the disclosure. 
     While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.