WO2025169524A1 - Hair extension - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a hair extension that can be worn in a manner that is natural in terms of appearance without giving a sensation of touching a lump different from hair. Accordingly, provided is a hair extension that is capable of maintaining a natural appearance of being seamlessly merged with a person's own hair. [Solution] A hair extension 1 is an assembly of hair bundles to be attached to a person's own hair and made of human hair or chemical fibers, and comprises: a fibrous attachment base wire material 2; a plurality of hair bundles 3, 3… fastened to the attachment base wire material 2 at a predetermined interval; and wound elastic wire materials 4 wound around the base end sides of the hair bundles 3, 3… fastened to the attachment base wire material 2 so as not to form a gap therebetween.

Description

Hair Extensions

The present invention relates to hair extensions made by bundling strands of human hair or synthetic fibers, etc., which are attached to natural hair.

Simply put, hair extensions are strands of (artificial) hair that are added to your natural hair. They are used to add length and volume to your hair, or to change your hairstyle, making them a fun accessory for styling. Wearing hair extensions makes it easy to add length and volume to your natural hair, instantly making short hair look longer and more voluminous, and allowing you to try out new styles and hair colors. Removable hair extensions make it easy to change up your style on a daily basis or wear them for special events.

Hair extensions are a type of false hair or partial wig that are attached to the wearer's natural hair using some method. In addition to braiding, other known attachment methods include using adhesives (tape), metal tips, heat-shrink tubing, and elastic thread. Methods recommended for professional use include attaching the extensions to the natural hair using small metal rings called microrings, and using special adhesives to attach the extensions to the natural hair (care should be taken as the adhesive may cause damage to the natural hair). There is also a method of attaching the extensions to the natural hair using ultrasound (using special equipment).

Patent Document 1 states that its objective is to provide a hair extension and attachment method that can be easily attached to hair in a short time without requiring skill or separate tools, and that does not damage natural hair (excerpt from Patent Document 1, paragraph 0005). It also discloses a hair extension and attachment method (Patent Document 1: Title of the Invention) in which "the base end of the false hair bundle is attached with an adhesive, and the base end of a binding thread acting as a fastening means is adhesively fixed to the base end, and an anti-unwinding ring made of a binding thread is fitted to the binding thread so that it can move along the binding thread (excerpt from Patent Document 1, paragraph 0017)."

JP 2011-042906 A

In the hair extension and attachment method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the base end of the false hair strand is attached with an adhesive, so when actually worn, the base end of the false hair strand hardens into one place, forming a lump, which feels uneven to the touch (i.e., it feels like touching a lump that is different from hair). Furthermore, because the base end of the attachment thread is fixed with adhesive and the anti-unwind ring is movably fitted, it feels even more uneven to the touch, which is undesirable.

The object of the present invention is to provide hair extensions that are not bumpy to the touch and that can be worn with a natural appearance. In other words, the object is to provide hair extensions that blend seamlessly with your natural hair, making them virtually invisible from the outside and maintaining a natural appearance.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a hair extension made by bundling human hair or hair made of synthetic fibers to be attached to natural hair, characterized in that the base ends of the bundles of multiple hairs are arranged at predetermined intervals on a fibrous attachment base wire, and the base ends of the hair bundles are fixed by wrapping an elastic fibrous wire around them.

The invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, characterized in that the base end portion of each hair bundle is adhered to a fibrous mounting base wire with an adhesive.

The present invention is a hair extension that is an assembly of (multiple) hair strands made of human hair (personal hair) or synthetic fibers that is attached to natural hair. The hair extension of the present invention comprises an attachment base wire, multiple hair strands tied to the attachment base wire at predetermined intervals, and a wound elastic wire that is wound (preferably wrapped so as not to leave any gaps) around the attachment base wire side of the hair strands tied to the attachment base wire at predetermined intervals.

The hair extensions of the present invention have multiple strands of hair attached (distributed) at predetermined intervals to the attachment base wire, so the base ends of the false hairs (attached to natural hair) are not concentrated in one place like in conventional extensions, but are distributed at appropriate intervals. Therefore, the hair extensions of the present invention do not feel bumpy to the touch and can be worn in a natural appearance.

Furthermore, the wrapped elastic member side of the hair bundle in the hair extension of the present invention is held together by an adhesive, so when the wrapped elastic wire is wrapped around the attachment base wire side of the hair bundle without any gaps, the interaction between the elasticity of the wrapped elastic member and the adhesive (elasticity and adhesiveness) allows the wrapped elastic member to be attached smoothly without falling off.

1 is an overall view of a hair extension according to the present invention; FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for producing a hair bundle. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for making a hair extension. 3B is an explanatory diagram showing the state of adhesion (adhesion) of a hair bundle to a base wire (enlarged view of part A in FIG. 3B). FIG. 4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams showing a method of forming a first loop and a second loop of a base wire. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how to use the extension.

<Hair extension structure>
An embodiment of a hair extension 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is an overall view of a hair extension 1 according to the present invention.

The hair extension 1 according to the present invention comprises an attachment base wire 2, a plurality of hair strands 3, 3... tied to the attachment base wire 2 at predetermined intervals, and a wound elastic wire 4 wound around the base end (attachment base wire 2 side) of the hair strands 3, 3... tied to the attachment base wire 2 so that no gaps are formed (see Figure 1). The wound elastic member 4 side of the (plurality of) hair strands 3 that make up the hair extension 1 is held together by an adhesive material 5 (described below using Figures 2 and 3).

The attachment base wire 2 can be made from a material selected from artificial fibers such as polyester and natural fibers such as cotton thread (or a bundle of multiple such fibers). On the other hand, the wound elastic wire 4 can be made from a material selected from polyurethane rubber and silicone rubber. The materials and raw materials for the attachment base wire 2 and the wound elastic wire 4 are not limited to those mentioned above, as long as they satisfy the performance requirements of the hair extension 1.

Furthermore, at the tip of the mounting base wire 2, a tab P with an inner circumference of a predetermined length (approximately 90 mm) is formed by bundling the mounting base wire 2, for inserting a finger through when pulling the mounting base wire 2. Furthermore, a first loop Ra with an inner circumference of a predetermined length (approximately 7.0 mm) is formed in a portion a predetermined length (approximately 20 mm) inward from the tip, and a second loop Rb with an inner circumference of a predetermined length (approximately 7.0 mm) is formed at a position a predetermined length (approximately 2.0 mm) away from the first loop Ra (i.e., in the mounting base wire 2, the distance between the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb is adjusted to approximately 2.0 mm).

Figure 5 shows a method for forming the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb, and the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb are formed by bundling the mounting base wire 2 through the following steps (1) to (4).
(1) A first step of forming a loop 16 by guiding one end (first end edge 14a) of the mounting base wire 2 from the front side to the back side of the other end (second end edge 14b) (see FIG. 5(a)).
(2) A second step of forming a first loop Ra by guiding the first edge 14a, which has been guided to the back side of the second edge 14b, to the front side of the second edge 14b (see FIG. 5(b)).
(3) A third step in which the first edge 14a, which has been guided to the front side of the second edge 14b, is guided to the back side of the second edge 14b, penetrates the inside of the hoop 16 from the back side, goes around the second edge 14b, and then penetrates the inside of the hoop 16 from the back side to form a loop. Thereafter, the first edge 14a is penetrated through the inside of the hoop 16 from the front side to the back side of the second edge 14b, and then is guided to the front side of the second edge 14b, and then penetrates the inside of the hoop 16 from the front side to form a second loop Rb by the first edge 14a that has penetrated the inside of the hoop 16 (see FIGS. 5(c) and 5(d)).
(4) A fourth step of adjusting the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb to a predetermined size (a circular or elliptical shape with an inner periphery length of approximately 7.0 mm) by pulling the mounting base wire 2 so as to separate the first end edge 14a and the second end edge 14b.

<Method of making hair bundles>
Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for producing a hair bundle 3 (which constitutes the hair extension 1). The method for producing the hair bundle 3 will be described with reference to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2(a), about 30 to 50 hairs (human hairs) are aligned on a glass plate 6 so that the tips are positioned at one end of the glass plate 6, and the longitudinal direction of the hairs is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the glass plate 6.

After arranging the hairs in this way, adhesive 5 (or glue) is applied to the tip-end portions of the hairs (the crosshatched portions in Figure 2(a)), specifically, to the hairs arranged on a portion of the glass plate 6 that is approximately 1/3 to 1/2 the width in the short direction (first application). Then, the adhesive 5 (or glue) is allowed to dry (it is sufficient if it appears dry on the surface), and adhesive 5 (or glue) is applied again (second application).

Then, as described above, the adhesive 5 applied to the tip side of the hair (the hair placed on a section approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of the width of the glass plate 6 in the short direction) is allowed to dry (it is sufficient if it is dry on the surface), and the glass plate 6 is then removed (dismounted), and the tip side of the section to which the adhesive 5 was applied is cut, leaving the remaining section in the shape of multiple semicircles lined up (see Figure 2(b)). The tip side of the cut hair (the section with multiple semicircles lined up) is then folded over in opposite directions for each semicircle to obtain the hair bundle 3. In other words, the shape of the cut end of the hair bundle 3 is formed into a semicylindrical shape (i.e., a flattened semicylindrical shape) with a predetermined thickness by alternately folding over each semicircle in the opposite direction (so that the front and back are reversed). In other words, (one) hair bundle 3 is formed from 30 to 50 hairs (human hair) and adhesive 5.

<How to make hair extensions>
Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for producing the hair extension 1. Note that a dedicated jig is used when producing the hair extension 1, but the dedicated jig is not shown in Figure 3.

When making hair extension 1, first, as shown in Figure 3(a), the (first) hair bundle 3 is tied (temporarily fastened) to the attachment base wire 2. That is, the semi-cylindrical portion at the base end of hair bundle 3 (the portion adhered with adhesive 5) is positioned so that the radial direction of the most protruding portion coincides with the longitudinal direction of attachment base wire 2, and is fixed to attachment base wire 2 with adhesive (or glue) or the like. Then, after the (first) hair bundle 3 has been tied (temporarily fastened) to attachment base wire 2 in this way, as shown in Figure 3(b), the winding elastic wire 4 is wrapped around the tip side of hair bundle 3 (mainly the portion bound with adhesive 5) (first winding process). When wrapping the wound elastic wire 4 around the tip end of the hair bundle 3 (mainly the portion bound with adhesive 5), it is preferable to wrap the wire longitudinally starting from the tip of the hair bundle 3, as this pushes out excess adhesive 5 in the longitudinal direction, thereby extending the adhesive effect to the portions of the hair bundle 3 not coated with adhesive. Figure 4 shows the state in which the hair bundle 3 is fixed to the attachment base wire 2 by adhering the hair bundle 3 to the attachment base wire 2 with adhesive 5 and then wrapping the wound elastic wire 4 around it. After the hair bundle 3 is wound around the base wire 2, the base end of the wound elastic wire 4 is cut off. This base end may be tied to the tip or adhered to the wound portion with adhesive or the like.

After the (second) hair bundle 3 is attached (temporarily fastened) to the base wire 2 above the tip of the wrapped hair bundle 3 (in the first wrapping process), as shown in Figure 3(c), the wrapped elastic wire 4 is wrapped around the tip of the hair bundle 3 (mainly the part bound with adhesive 5). At this time, care is taken to ensure that no gaps are formed between the wrapped elastic wire 4 wrapped around the (first) hair bundle 3 and the wrapped elastic wire 4 wrapped around the (second) hair bundle 3 (second winding process). In other words, the wrapped elastic wires 4 are wrapped so that they come into contact with each other.

(In the second winding process) The (third) hair bundle 3 is attached above the tip of the wrapped hair bundle 3 and tied (temporarily fastened) to the base wire 2, and then, as shown in Figure 3(d), the wrapping elastic wire 4 is wrapped around the tip of the hair bundle 3 (mainly the part bound with adhesive 5). At this time, care is taken to ensure that no gaps are formed between the wrapping elastic wire 4 wrapped around the (second) hair bundle 3 and the wrapping elastic wire 4 wrapped around the (third) hair bundle 3 (finished product: third winding process). Through these processes, the hair extension 1 is produced (see Figure 3(d)).

<How to wear hair extensions>
6 shows how to use the extensions 1. When attaching the extensions 1 to natural hair, a predetermined amount (about 50 strands) of natural hair H, H... is bundled together and passed through the second loop Rb, and then through the first loop Ra (see FIG. 6(a)). When passing the natural hair H, H... through the second loop Rb and the first loop Ra in this manner, a tool such as a crochet hook can be suitably used.

Then, while grasping the main body portion (the portion where the hair bundles 3, 3... are tied), pull the knob P of the mounting base wire 2 outward. When the mounting base wire 2 is pulled in this manner, the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb twist so that they rotate relative to each other while slightly widening the gap between them, and the diameters of the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb gradually decrease (i.e., the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb contract (see Figure 6(b))). As the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb contract while twisting relative to each other in this manner, the natural hairs H, H... are grasped by the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb in a state where they are bent in a spiral of approximately 180 degrees between the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb to match the unevenness of the mounting base wire 2 (the unevenness formed by the bundling). Therefore, the natural hairs H, H... inserted through the first loop Ra and the second loop Rb are grasped with an extremely strong binding force.

Then, as described above, after the natural hair H, H... is gripped by the first loop Ra and second loop Rb of the attachment base wire 2, the attachment of the hair extension 1 to the hair is completed by cutting the base wire 2 outside the contracted first loop Ra and second loop Rb.

<Effects of hair extensions>
As described above, the hair extension 1 has multiple hair strands 3 attached at predetermined intervals to the attachment base wire 2, so the base ends of the false hairs (attached to natural hair) are not concentrated in one place as in the prior art, but are distributed in multiple places. Therefore, the hair extension 1 can be worn in a way that does not feel bumpy to the touch and looks natural.

Furthermore, the hair bundle 3 (and adhesive 5) has its tip cut to form a row of multiple semicircles (see Figure 2(b)). In other words, by cutting the tip of the hair bundle 3, the tip of the hair bundle 3 changes from a rectangular parallelepiped shape to a semicylindrical shape when bundled, reducing its bulk (volume) and making it less lumpy. Therefore, it can be worn without feeling lumpy to the touch (i.e., without the sensation of touching a lump that is different from hair) and with a natural appearance.

Furthermore, as described above, the extensions 1 are attached to the natural hair H, H... using the string-like attachment base wire 2, and are formed so that the first loop 15a and the second loop 15b, which contract when pulled in the direction separating the base and tip when tying the extensions to the natural hair H, H..., are positioned a predetermined distance (approximately 2.0 mm) apart. Therefore, the extensions can be attached to the hair very easily by simply inserting the natural hair H, H... through the first loop 15a and the second loop 15b formed on the attachment base wire 2 and pulling the attachment base wire 2 to contract the first loop 15a and the second loop 15b. Furthermore, since there is no need to apply heat or adhesive to the natural hair H, H... when attaching the extensions to the hair, the natural hair H, H... will not be damaged. Furthermore, the first loop 15a and second loop 15b, positioned a predetermined distance apart, each fasten different parts of the natural hair H, H..., providing a high degree of restraint on the natural hair H, H..., allowing the device to remain attached for extended periods of time. In addition, the attachment base wire 2, which is the means for attaching the device to the hair, can be cut to become very compact after attachment, so the user will not feel uncomfortable even when lying down with the device attached.

<Example of changing hair extensions>
The hair extension according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the shape, structure, and materials of the attachment base wire, winding elastic wire, hair bundle, adhesive, etc. may be modified as needed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the hair extension is not limited to the above-described embodiment, in which a hair bundle is attached to the attachment base wire by wrapping a winding elastic wire around the attachment portion. It may also be formed by attaching multiple hair bundles to the attachment base wire at predetermined intervals and then winding a winding elastic wire around each attachment portion. Furthermore, the hair extension is not limited to the above-described embodiment, in which three hair bundles are attached (tied) to the attachment base wire. It may also be formed by attaching two or four or more hair bundles to the attachment base wire.

Furthermore, hair extensions are not limited to those with a knob, first loop, and second loop on the attachment base wire as in the above embodiment, but may also have a simple string-like attachment base wire. In addition, when hair extensions have a first loop and a second loop on the attachment base wire as in the above embodiment, the distance between the first loop and the second loop is not limited to approximately 2.0 mm, but can be changed as needed. Note that adjusting the distance between the first loop and the second loop to between 1.0 mm and 8.0 mm has the advantage of providing an extremely strong binding force for the natural hair.

Furthermore, the hair extension is not limited to having an inner circumference of approximately 7.0 mm for each of the first and second loops, as in the above embodiment, and the length of the inner circumference of the first and/or second loop can be changed as needed. Adjusting the length of the inner circumference of the first and second loops to between 5.0 mm and 13.0 mm has the advantage of being easier to apply in a shorter amount of time.

In addition, hair extensions are not limited to those in which the base end portion (the portion consisting of hair and adhesive) of a hair bundle formed into an approximately semi-cylindrical shape is fixed to an attachment base wire and wrapped with a winding elastic wire, as in the above embodiment, but may also be those in which the base end portion of a hair bundle formed into an approximately semi-elliptical or approximately triangular prism shape is fixed to an attachment base wire and wrapped with a winding elastic wire, etc.

The hair extensions of the present invention have the excellent effects described above, and can therefore be used as a fashion item to add to natural hair, increasing the length and volume of hair or changing the hairstyle itself.

1. Hair extension 2. Mounting base wire 3. Hair bundle 4. Wrapped elastic wire 5. Adhesive 6. Glass plate P. Knob Ra. First loop Rb. Second loop

Claims (2)

A hair extension made by bundling human hair or hair made of synthetic fibers to be attached to natural hair,
The base end portions of the hair bundles each including a plurality of hairs are arranged at predetermined intervals on a fibrous mounting base wire,
The hair extension is characterized in that the base end portions of the hair bundles are fixed by winding an elastic fibrous wire around them. The hair extension according to claim 1, characterized in that the base end portion of each hair strand is adhered to a fibrous attachment base wire with an adhesive.