Hair Extension Tool

This application claims priority to and fully incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/684,485 filed on Aug. 19, 2024, which has the same title and inventor. This application further incorporates by reference and claims priority to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/928,801 filed on Feb. 15, 2024, which has the same title and inventor.

In a traditional salon setup, hair extension stylists are generally provided a workspace of limited area, such as a tray or small workstation known as a service tray. During hair extension installations, this tray becomes cluttered with multiple items: various hair extension bundles, hand tools (such as pliers, clips, scissors and sectioning combs), adhesives or beads, and often hair color products.

Often service trays can become overcrowded with the aforementioned items resulting in a disorganized and chaotic work surface, which is often referred to in the industry as “table spread”. Several issues can result from an overcrowded disorganized work surface including, but not limited to, (1) reduced stylist efficiency as the stylist has to sift through hand tools, strands of hair and the various supplies, (2) poor ergonomics increasing stylist physical and mental fatigue that results from having to sift through the contents of an overcrowded service tray, (3) cross-contamination of hand tools and hair resulting from contact between clean and used hand tools and hair, and (4) an unprofessional appearance which could negatively impact the view a client has of the stylist.

Stand-mounted tools for configuring, treating, repairing and coloring hair extensions are known. Typically, they comprise two elongated parallel sets of aligned and planar tines that are spaced apart from each other about one or more inches. Hair extensions are spread out and placed over one or both sets of tines allowing work to be performed on the extensions. However, these prior art stand-mounted tools have not been widely adopted as they do not eliminate, or at least significantly reduce, the need for using a service tray to hold hand tools and supplies.

Embodiments of the present invention comprise a U-shaped tool used to hold hair extensions while they are being worked upon. The tool is typically comprised of an elongated U-shaped channel made of a single piece of metal plate. Importantly, the upwardly spaced parallel upwardly-extending left and right flanges comprise combs with aligned tines rising from base spines allowing hair extensions to be securely received in the tines of one comb or draped across and received in both combs spanning the space therebetween. This permits the hair extension stylist to more easily work on the extensions to one or more of repair, de-tangle, dye, augment, and customize them. The flanges are joined at their respective base edges by a base web that also includes one or more holes that permit the tool to be mounted to a stand, such as a tripod. The floor of the base web provides a convenient space for a stylist to store items used while working on the extensions, such as but not limited a container of decorative beads.

Proximate an end of certain embodiments of the U-shaped channel, one or both of a vertically-extending spindle and relatively large magnet (also referred to as the first magnet herein) can be attached. The spindle allows a spool of thread to be received over it so that a stylist has convenient and ready access to thread necessary to use when working on the hair extension received in the tool. The first magnet, which typically has a holding capability of over 2 ounces, is used to hold steel hand tools, such as scissors and pliers.

Some embodiments of the hair extension tool further include additional magnets (also referred to herein as second magnets) that can be arranged along the spines of the left and right flange combs to hold other steel articles useful to a hair extension stylist such as needles and loop tools. The additional magnets can be provided in pairs so that one attached to the outside of a left or right flange comb spine and the other to the inside of the spine thereby holding each other in place.

A hair extension tool of the present design mounted to its own stand that is further configured to contain or hold most if not all the hand tools and supplies utilized by the hair extension stylist ameliorates many if not all the drawbacks of prior art hair extension tools. It keeps the hair neatly segregated from other hair in the two sets of tines to avoid cross contamination. It eliminates the need for service trays and the resulting table spread by providing specific places of the various tools, supplies and hair on the hair extension tool permitting quick and easy access by the stylist improving workflow efficiency.

The terms and phrases as indicated in quotes (“ ”) in this section are intended to have the meaning ascribed to them in this Terminology section applied to them throughout this document including the claims unless clearly indicated otherwise in context. Further, as applicable, the stated definitions are to apply, regardless of the word or phrase's case, to the singular and plural variations of the defined word or phrase.

The term “or” as used in this specification and the appended claims is not meant to be exclusive, rather the term is inclusive meaning “either or both”.

References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “a preferred embodiment”, “an alternative embodiment” and similar phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all meant to refer to the same embodiment.

The term “couple” or “coupled” as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to either an indirect or direct connection between the identified elements, components or objects. Often the manner of the coupling will be related specifically to the manner in which the two coupled elements interact.

Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not limited to, left, right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, upper, lower, vertical, horizontal, back, front, lateral, outwardly, and upwardly are relative to each other and are dependent on the specific orientation of an applicable element or article, and are used accordingly to aid in the description of the various embodiments and are not necessarily intended to be construed as limiting.

Unless otherwise indicated or dictated by context, the terms “generally”, “approximately” and “about” mean +−20% and/or wherein the percentage deviation is not quantifiable, the terms mean for the most part as this would be understood by the relevant person of ordinary skill in the art. Unless otherwise indicated or dictated by context, the term “substantially” means +−10%.

illustrate different views and configurations of an embodiment of the hair extension tool. The configuration of the tool will be described primarily with reference to the assembled view ofand the exploded view ofwith reference to the other figures as necessary.

Essentially, the tool comprises an elongated U-shaped channeltypically with a spindle/magnet assembly, and optionally, various second magnets&attached to it. The unitary U-shaped channel, as shown from various perspectives in, is typically about 2″ wide, 12-16″ long and about 1.5″ tall, although dimensions can vary. The channel is typically made of aluminum alloy sheet about 0.95″ thick but variations comprised of other materials and thickness are contemplated. For instance, versions made of steel or plastic are contemplated.

The U-shaped channel comprises a base webwith a solid floor save for one or more mounting holes&configured for mounting the channel to a stand as shown inor for mounting a spindle/magnet assemblyto the channel. Left and right flanges&extend orthogonally upwardly from the longitudinal edges of the base web. Each flange is configured as a comb having a spineand parallel aligned planar tinesextending upwardly therefrom. The dimensions of the tines can vary but in one embodiment, the spine is about 0.5″ tall and the tines are about 1″ tall and about 0.1″ wide with about a 0.1″ spacing between adjacent tines.

The ends of the channelare typically open. In the illustrated embodiment, a spindle/magnet assemblyis attached to one of the channel's ends. The assembly comprises a spindle, a steel L-bracket, a first magnet, and associated washersand wingnuts. The spindle/magnet assembly provides additional functionality to the hair extension toolpermitting a spool of threadto be conveniently positioned on the spindle and for toolsto be attached to the magnet as illustrated in.

As shown, the spindle comprises a 6″ long, ¼″ threaded bolt that is received through an end mounting holein the base webof the channeland is held in place with a fender washertightened against the floor of the base web by way of a wingnut, such that the spindle's longitudinal axis extends substantially vertically upwardly. Spindles of different configurations, materials, and construction are contemplated that can attach to the tool in various ways over which a spool of threadcan be received to allow the thread wound thereon to be conveniently unwound by a stylist during use of the tool.

The steel L-brackethas a vertical bracket sidewith a horizontal bracket sideextending orthogonally from an edge of the vertical bracket side. The horizontal bracket side includes a mounting holethat received the spindle shaft therethrough as it is positioned against the top of the flanges at the end of the channel. The vertical bracket side is typically received flush against the channel end. The L-bracket is held firmly in place by way of another washerand wingnutthreaded to the spindle and tightened against the top surface of the horizontal bracket side. The L-bracket is a ferrous steel permitting the first magnetto be magnetically attached to it typically on the vertical bracket side. Variations are contemplated wherein the L-bracket is comprised of a non-magnetic material and the first magnet is mechanically or adhesively affixed to it. The horizontal bracket side provides a surface against which the bottom of the spool of threadcan rest when received over the spindle.

The first magnetis typically large enough to allow several tools, such as scissorsand pliersto be magnetically secured to it. Further, the holding power of the first magnet is sufficient to hold tools weighing at least 2 ounces, more preferably tools weighing at least 4 ounces, and most preferably tools weighing at least 6 ounces. In the illustrated embodiment, the first magnet is about 2″ long, about 1″ wide, and about ⅜″ thick, although the size of the magnet can vary substantially. In some variations, multiple magnets can be magnetically affixed to the steel L-bracket.

Additional magnets&, (also referred to herein as second magnets) can be placed at other locations of the channel. For instance, as shown in, second magnets can be placed along the spinesof the flanges, wherein an outer second magnetis placed on the outside surface of the spline and a corresponding inner second magnetis placed on the inside surface of the spline aligned with the outer second magnet to hold the pair in place on the aluminum channel. Additional tools and other steel items, such a needles and lighter weight tools, such as a small scissors, can be magnetically secured at these locations. As can be appreciated, wherein the channel is comprised of ferrous steel, the steel L-bracket and an inner second magnet are not required to connect the first and second magnets to the tool. Furthermore, in non-ferrous versions of the channel the magnets can also be mechanically or adhesively secured to the channel.

illustrates the embodiment of the hair extension toolmounted to a tripod-type standwith various tools,and a spool of threadattached thereto. Further, a container of beadsas our often used with hair extensions is received on the floor of the base webin between the left and right flanges&As can be appreciated, other items used by hair extension stylists that are not magnetic can also be stored in between the flanges making these items readily available for use. Typically, the tripod standincludes a threaded stud that extends upwardly from the stand's top mount. The stud is received through the center mounting holeof the u-shaped channeland the channel is secured in place with a threaded nut. In the illustrated embodiment, a wingnutis used to make attachment quick and easy without the use of tools. As shown a pair of pilersis attached to the first magnetand a pair of scissorsis attached to a second magnet. One or more needles (not shown) may also be attached to the second magnets.

is a top view of the toolwithout the spindle/magnet assemblyattached. Specifically, it shows a typical hair extensionreceived in the tinesof the left flange as it would be received to permit a hair extension stylist to work on it. Because of the tool's length depending on the length of the extension, two or more extensions can often be received in the combs of each flange permitting work on the multiple extensions as may be desirable for certain operations, such as dying the hair.

With reference to the various figures, the assembly of the hair extension toolinvolves the steps of: securing the channelto the mount of the tripod standby passing the tripod's threaded stud through the mounting holeand securing the channel in place using a wingnut. The spindle/magnet assemblyis attached to the channel by securing the spindle boltthrough the end mounting holewith a washerand a wingnut, sliding the L-shaped bracketover and down the spindle in the bracket mounting hole, and securing it in place using another washerand wingnut. Finally, the first magnetis positioned and magnetically attached to the L-bracket's vertical bracket side. If optional second magnets&are being used, inner and outer second magnet pairs are positioned on the desired spine in the desired location and magnetically coupled to hold them in place. As desired tools are arranged on or in the tool to prepare the tool for use. For instance, pliersand scissorsmay be magnetically attached to the first magnet, one or more needles may be attached to a second magnet pair, a spool of threadmay be placed over the spindle, and one or more jars of beadsmay be placed on the floor of the base webbetween the left and right flanges&

To use the hair extension tool, the hair extension stylist will place a hair weavehaving an elongated weftin the hair extension tool by sliding the weft downwardly along an interior side of one of the combs such that the strands of hairalong the weft are distributed along at least a portion of the comb and in between the tinesof the comb until the weft is positioned proximate the spineof the comb. The strands of hair are positioned to extend outwardly and downwardly from the outside surface of the comb and associated flange.

Many different operations can be performed on a hair extensionfrom removing damaged hair and adding replacement hair, dying all or some of the hair, repairing a damaged weft, and adding beads to the hair to name a few. To repair a weft or add additional hair to the weft, a stylist will unwind a strand of thread from the spool of thread, thread a needle, and commence sewing the web to one or both repair the weft and secure the new hair in place. To selectively dye portions of the hair, the stylist can tautly suspend sections of the hair and dye the sections.

The various embodiments and variations thereof, illustrated in the accompanying Figures and/or described above, are merely exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is to be appreciated that numerous other variations of the invention have been contemplated, as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure. All variations of the invention that read upon appended claims are intended and contemplated to be within the scope of the invention