Hair Extension Apparatus and Method of Manufacturing Same

The present invention relates generally to hair extensions, and more particularly, to a hair extension apparatus having artificial hair knotted to an elastic filament.

Hair extensions are commonly incorporated into a user's natural hair. The hair extension may be secured to the user's natural hair by weaving artificial hair directly thereto or coupling artificial hair that is attached to a rubber band to the user's natural hair using clips or looped elastic devices. A primary problem is that standard hair extensions frequently do not match the color and texture of the user's natural hair, resulting in a noticeable and unnatural appearance. Furthermore, devices that secure the hair extension to the user's natural hair typically remain visible, and traditional hair clips and elastic bands are often noticeable when worn. Various attempts have been made to improve the aesthetic appearance of hair extensions, including ornamental coverings and some users even attempt to conceal the various devices by covering them with ribbons, bows, or other ornamentation.

For example, U.S. Publication No. 2013/0263884 describes a ponytail cover including an elastic band extending between first and second free ends. Fastening portions such as Velcro portions or hooks are positioned at the first and second free ends of the elastic band and can be fastened together so as to form the elastic band into a loop to cover a ponytail holder. Strips of hair extend over and substantially cover a surface of the elastic band that is outwardly facing when formed into the loop. A ponytail holder includes a band of hair extending between the first and second free ends and hooks attached to the first and second free ends that can be fastened together to secure the ponytail holder when the band of hair is wrapped around a ponytail. However, the above-described components of the ponytail cover are difficult to conceal, resulting in an unappealing appearance.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,884 discloses synthetic hair fibers permanently joined to an elastic band to form a closed loop. As a closed loop used to bind to a ponytail, it must be twisted and doubled up multiple times to achieve a tight fit around the ponytail. This process results in multiple tight loops, some consisting of the elastic band and some of hair fibers, making it challenging to conceal all loops of the elastic band. Attempts to rearrange these tightly wound loops may also damage the hair fibers and the ponytail itself.

U.S. Pat. No. 541,125 discloses hair structures consisting of rings of flexible material covered by hair. These structures are intended as a foundation over which the user's intact hair and the artificial hair are laid to create a fuller appearance. However, this device is not designed as a flexible, foldable, twistable, and stretchable elastic loop for directly binding a hair extension, and would not operate as such.

U.S. Pat. No. 10,130,132 discloses a hair bundle apparatus including a first section that has a loop member. The first section is constructed of synthetic hair, an elastic band, wire, or thread. A second section is a locking member that secures a third section to the first section. The third section is constructed of a human hair. However, the locking member creates extra bulk, which may lead to a less natural appearance and a less comfortable wearing experience for the user.

A challenge in creating hair accessories, such as hair extensions, is ensuring that their use is not apparent to an observer. A significant need has therefore been identified in the art for an apparatus and method capable of both creating and securing a hair extension to a user's natural hair while maintaining a natural appearance of the user's own hair. Existing solutions either fail to combine these functions or present inconveniences, unnatural appearances, or results in damage to the natural hair of the user.

Embodiments of the invention described herein provide a hair extension apparatus. The hair extension apparatus comprises: a filament comprising a first end region, a middle region and a second end region; a first section of artificial hair coupled to the first end region; and a second section of artificial hair coupled to the second end region.

According to further embodiments: the filament is constructed of an elastic material; the filament is constructed of an elastic thread; each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hair is coupled to the first end region by knotting the artificial hair to the first end region and wherein each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hair is coupled to the second end region by knotting the artificial hair to the second end region; the first end region comprises a layer of glue disposed on a surface thereof and wherein each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hair is coupled through the glue layer to the first end region; each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hair is coupled to the first end region by crocheting the artificial hair to the first end region and wherein each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hair is coupled to the second end region by crocheting the artificial hair to the second end region; the second end region comprises a layer of glue disposed on a surface thereof and wherein each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hair is coupled through the glue layer to the second end region; the artificial hair coupled to the first end region comprises human hair; the artificial hair coupled to the second end region comprises human hair; the artificial hair coupled to the first end region comprises human hair and synthetic hair; the artificial hair coupled to the second end region comprises human hair and synthetic hair; no artificial hair is coupled to the middle region of the filament; the filament comprises a continuous piece of material; the first end region, the middle region and the second end region are separate pieces of material coupled together to form the filament; the first end region and the second end region comprise a first type of material and the middle region comprises a second type of material and wherein the first type of material and the second type of material are different; a length of the filament is about four to six inches; a length of the middle region is about 0.75 to 1.5 inches; a color of the first section of artificial hair is selected from black, brown, blonde, red, blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof, and wherein a color of the second section of artificial hair is selected from black, brown, blonde, red, blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof; a color of the filament is selected from black, brown, blonde, red, blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof; and a first terminus of the first end region comprises a first knot and a second terminus of the second end region comprises a second knot.

In an additional embodiment, a method of manufacturing the hair extension apparatus described above is provided. The method comprises: knotting the first section of artificial hair to the first end region and knotting the second section of artificial hair to the second end region; or crocheting the first section of artificial hair to the first end region and crocheting the second section of artificial hair to the second end region.

The following detailed description of certain embodiments will be made in reference to the accompanying drawings. In the detailed description, explanation about related functions or constructions known in the art are omitted for the sake of clearness in understanding the concept of the invention, to avoid obscuring the invention with unnecessary detail.

The phrase “artificial hair,” as used herein, refers to synthetic hair products as well as human hair or animal hair and combinations thereof. The artificial hair may be embodied in various traditional hair colors, such as black, brown, blonde, and red, as well as non-traditional hair colors, such as blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof, including individual strands of hair having two or more colors. The artificial hair may be embodied in various textures, such as curly, wavy, straight, thick, thin, and combinations thereof.

The term “user,” as used herein, refers to any purchaser of the wig configured according to any of the embodiments disclosed herein, including, but not limited to, individual members of the public, wholesale distributors, retail merchants, manufacturers, importers and exporters of the wig and related components of the wig.

Reference to individual embodiments, whether by number of embodiment or relevant feature of the embodiment, is used for convenience in describing such embodiments. Moreover, reference to individual embodiments does not indicate that any of such embodiments are preferred over any other embodiments. Furthermore, each individual embodiment may be combined with any other individual embodiment whether or not expressly stated.

According to embodiments of the invention described herein, a hair extension apparatus having artificial hair coupled to an elastic filament is provided. The hair extension apparatus includes a filament that has three separate regions. Artificial hair is coupled to two of the outer regions, and in certain embodiments, is not coupled to the region between the outer regions. The region of the filament to which artificial hair is not coupled is where the user will couple the hair extension apparatus to their natural hair. As further described herein, the manner in which the hair extension apparatus is structurally configured enables the user to couple the hair extension apparatus to their natural hair such that it is not noticeable to an observer. The artificial hair of the hair extension apparatus is coupled securely in place to the user's natural hair, providing added volume, length and style to the user's natural hair.

Existing hair extensions frequently present challenges due to their noticeable appearance and insecure attachment to a user's natural hair, often leading to an unnatural look or being readily visible to observers. The hair extension apparatus described herein addresses these limitations. The hair extension apparatus features a filament comprising a first end region, a middle region, and a second end region, with sections of artificial hair coupled to the first and second end regions. In certain embodiments, no artificial hair is coupled to the middle region of the filament. This design enables users to inconspicuously couple the apparatus to their natural hair, for instance by braiding or weaving their natural hair to the middle region, thereby maintaining a thin and discreet profile and a natural, fashionable appearance that is not apparent to an observer.

Furthermore, the filament is preferably constructed of an elastic material, offering significant advantages including flexibility, foldability, twistability, and stretchability for effectively binding the hair extension apparatus to the user's natural hair. The hair extension apparatus also incorporates various coupling methods for the artificial hair, such as knotting, glue, or crocheting, and permits the use of diverse types of artificial hair, including human hair, synthetic hair, or combinations thereof, in a wide array of colors and textures to match the user's natural hair. Through these various structural configurations, embodiments of the hair extension apparatus ensure that the hair extension apparatus is securely coupled to the user's natural hair and provides added volume, length, and style while overcoming the insecure attachment and readily noticeable components of conventional hair extensions.

illustrates a hair extension apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hair extension apparatusincludes a filament. The filamentincludes a first end region, a middle regionand a second end region. The middle regionis disposed between the first end regionand the second end region. In certain embodiments, the filamentis a thread or string. In certain embodiments, the filamentis constructed of an elastic thread. The filament may be constructed of any suitable material, including an elastic material or an inelastic material. The elastic material can be diene elastic fiber, commonly known as rubber yarn or elastic yarn and mainly composed of vulcanized polyisoprene, polyurethane fiber, polyether ester elastic fiber, polyolefin elastic fiber, composite elastic fiber, or hard elastic fiber and combinations thereof.

In certain embodiments, there is no artificial hair coupled to the middle regionof the filament. The absence of artificial hair in the middle regionof the filament, enables a user of the hair extension apparatusto couple the hair extension apparatusto their natural hair. For example, the user may couple the hair extension apparatusto their natural hair by braiding their natural hair to the middle regionof the filament. Since there is no artificial hair coupled to the middle region, the middle regionmaintains a thin and inconspicuous profile when the hair extension apparatusis coupled to the user's natural hair, enabling the user to securely couple the hair extension apparatusto their natural hair and providing a desirable and fashionable appearance.

In certain embodiments, there is artificial hair coupled to the middle regionof the filament. In certain embodiments, there is artificial hair coupled to the middle regionof the filamentand there is no artificial hair coupled to the first end region.

In certain embodiments, the filamentis a continuous piece of material. In other words, the filamentmay be a single piece of material and not multiple separate sections of material coupled together.

In certain embodiments, the first end region, the middle regionand the second end regionare separate pieces of material coupled together to form the filament. A color of the filament is selected from black, brown, blonde, red, blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof. The filamentincludes a first terminus, which refers to the end of the first end region. The first terminus is opposite the middle region, that is, it does not border the middle region. The first terminus includes a first knot. The purpose of the first knot is to prevent the first end regionfrom fraying. The first knot also prevents the artificial hair from falling out of the first end region. The filamentincludes a second terminus, which refers to the end of the second end region. The second terminus is opposite the middle region, that is, it does not border the middle region. The second terminus includes a second knot. Similar to the first knot, the purpose of the second knot is to prevent the second end regionfrom fraying. The second knot also prevents the artificial hair from falling out of the second end region. The first terminus and the second terminus are disposed on opposite ends of the filament.

In certain embodiments, the first end regionand the second end regioninclude a first type of material and the middle regionincludes a second type of material. The first type of material and the second type of material may be different or they may be the same. In certain embodiments, a length of the filament is about four to six inches or about 5 inches. In certain embodiments, a length of the middle region is about 0.75 to 1.5 inches or about 1.25 inches.

In certain embodiments, the first end regionand the second end regionare a first thickness and the middle regionis a second thickness. In certain embodiments, the first thickness is the same as the second thickness. In certain embodiments, the first thickness is different from the second thickness. In certain embodiments, the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

In certain embodiments, the middle regionis constructed of multiple intertwined filaments. In certain embodiments, the middle regionis constructed of a single filament. In certain embodiments, the middle regionis constructed of a single thick filament with multiple thinner filament extension from the ends thereof.

The hair extension apparatusincludes a first section of artificial haircoupled to the first end region. In certain embodiments, the artificial hair coupled to the first end regionis human hair, synthetic hair, or combinations thereof. The hair extension apparatusincludes a second section of artificial haircoupled to the second end region. In certain embodiments, the artificial hair coupled to the second end regionis human hair, synthetic hair, or combinations thereof.

In certain embodiments, the hair extension apparatusincludes multiple first sections of artificial haircoupled to the first end regionand multiple second sections of artificial haircoupled to the second end region. Multiple first sections of artificial hairand multiple second sections of artificial hairprovide added volume of artificial hair to the hair extension apparatus. In certain embodiments, there are at least two, three, four or five or more sections of artificial hairand sections of artificial hair.

In certain embodiments, the first hair sectionand the second hair sectioninclude hair textures that include loose curly, tight curly, loose wavy, tight wavy straight, thick, thin, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the first hair sectionand the second hair sectionare the same hair texture. In certain embodiments, the first hair sectionand the second hair sectionare different hair textures.

In certain embodiments, the first hair sectionand the second hair sectionare the same length. In certain embodiments, the first hair sectionand the second hair sectionare different lengths.

illustrates an expanded view of the hair extension apparatus. As illustrated in, each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hairis coupled to the first end regionby knotting the artificial hair to the first end region. Similarly, each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hairis coupled to the second end regionby knotting the artificial hair to the second end region.

In certain embodiments, a color of the first section of artificial hairis selected from black, brown, blonde, red, blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, a color of the second section of artificial hairis selected from black, brown, blonde, red, blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof.

In certain embodiments, the first end regionincludes a layer of glue disposed on a surface thereof. In this embodiment, each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hairis coupled through the glue layer to the first end regionby either knotting or crocheting the first section of artificial hairto the first end region.

In certain embodiments, each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hairis coupled to the first end regionby crocheting the artificial hair to the first end regionand each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hairis coupled to the second end regionby crocheting the artificial hair to the second end region. In certain embodiments, the second end regionincludes a layer of glue disposed on a surface thereof and each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hairis coupled through the glue layer to the second end regionby either knotting or crocheting the second section of artificial hairto the second end region.

Embodiments of the invention described herein include a method of manufacturing the hair extension apparatus. The method includes coupling the artificial hair to the filamentby hand or machine knotting. Specifically, as illustrated in, each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hairis knotted to the first end region, and each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hairis knotted to the second end region. This knotting method securely anchors the artificial hair to the filament, complementing the function of knots at the filament'stermini that prevent fraying and detachment of artificial hair from the ends of the regions themselves.

Alternatively, in other embodiments, the manufacturing method includes crocheting rather than knotting. In this alternative, each individual artificial hair of the first section of artificial hairis crocheted to the first end region, and each individual artificial hair of the second section of artificial hairis crocheted to the second end region.

Both knotting and crocheting provide robust and durable means of coupling the artificial hair to the filament, ensuring the hair extension apparatusis of a high-quality and durable construction. Other methods of coupling the artificial hair to the filamentthat are known to those of ordinary skill in the art may be employed as well.

illustrates a front view of a hair extension apparatusaccording to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The hair extension apparatusis configured according to a “pre-loop” style of hair extension and includes each of the aspects and alternatives of the hair extension apparatusdescribed herein.

The hair extension apparatusincludes a filamentconfigured as a loop. The filamentincludes a first end region, a middle regionand a second end region. The middle regionis disposed between the first end regionand the second end region. In certain embodiments, the filamentis a thread or string. In certain embodiments, the filamentis constructed of an elastic thread. The filament may be constructed of any suitable material, including an elastic material or an inelastic material. The elastic material can be diene elastic fiber, commonly known as rubber yarn or elastic yarn and mainly composed of vulcanized polyisoprene, polyurethane fiber, polyether ester elastic fiber, polyolefin elastic fiber, composite elastic fiber, or hard elastic fiber and combinations thereof.

The hair extension apparatusincludes a first section of artificial haircoupled to the first end region, similar to the manner described herein with respect to the first section of artificial hairbeing coupled to the first end region. In certain embodiments, the artificial hair coupled to the first end regionis human hair, synthetic hair, or combinations thereof. The hair extension apparatusincludes a second section of artificial haircoupled to the second end region, similar to the manner described herein with respect to the second section of artificial hairbeing coupled to the second end region. In certain embodiments, the artificial hair coupled to the second end regionis human hair, synthetic hair, or combinations thereof.

The first end regionand the second end regionare coupled together with a wrap member. The wrap memberwraps around the first end regionand the second end region, keeping the first end regionand the second end regiontogether similar to a “pre-loop” style of hair extension.

Accordingly, embodiments of the hair extension apparatus described herein, are configured to overcome limitations with existing hair extensions, particularly their noticeable appearance and insecure attachment. The hair extension apparatus includes a filament comprising a first end region, a middle region, and a second end region, with sections of artificial hair coupled to the first and second end regions and, thus, in certain embodiments, no artificial hair is coupled to the middle region of the filament. This absence enables the user to inconspicuously couple the hair extension apparatus to their natural hair, for example, by braiding, thereby maintaining a thin and discreet profile and a natural, fashionable appearance that is not apparent to an observer. The filament itself is preferably constructed of an elastic material offering advantages such as flexibility, foldability, twistability, and stretchability for binding the hair extension apparatus. Various coupling methods for the artificial hair, such as knotting, glue, or crocheting, and the ability to use different types of artificial hair, including human hair, synthetic hair, or combinations thereof, in various colors and textures to match the user's natural hair, contribute additional advantages to the hair extension apparatus over conventional hair extensions. Thus, embodiments of the invention described herein ensure that the hair extension apparatus is securely coupled to the user's natural hair and provides added volume, length, and style to the user's natural hair.

While embodiments of the invention have been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and equivalents thereof.