US20110226274A1 - Nosho hair extensions and kit - Google Patents

Nosho hair extensions and kit Download PDF

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Publication number
US20110226274A1
US20110226274A1 US12/661,552 US66155210A US2011226274A1 US 20110226274 A1 US20110226274 A1 US 20110226274A1 US 66155210 A US66155210 A US 66155210A US 2011226274 A1 US2011226274 A1 US 2011226274A1
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hair
cornrow
braid
wearer
wefted
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US12/661,552
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Iris Turner
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41WEARING APPAREL
    • A41GARTIFICIAL FLOWERS; WIGS; MASKS; FEATHERS
    • A41G5/00Hair pieces, inserts, rolls, pads, or the like; Toupées
    • A41G5/004Hair pieces
    • A41G5/0053Fastening thereof
    • A41G5/006Fastening thereof by threading with the remaining hair of the user

Definitions

  • Supplemental hair additions more commonly known as hair extensions, have been worn since Egyptian pharaohs and queens wore a form of intensied hair adornment: painted individual hair strands.
  • hair extensions To this present day women and some men have adorned their head with manes of luxurious hair extensions to feelsimilar and confident, whether they have existing flaws or not.
  • Hair and scalp problems of thinning hair, short hair, receding hair line, and bald spots, and coarse texture encourage people to seek hair replacement and hair addition methods.
  • the most common hair addition methods add length, volume, or both. Regardless of method used, the end user or wearer has consistently been requesting a more natural looking hair extension that is also healthy on the hair and scalp. The most common methods are glued and sewn hair extensions.
  • Glue used with weft and strand methods is harmful to a wearer's native hair and scalp. Sewing methods are more secure than glue methods, also known as bonding, and fusion. Sewing methods last longer than glue methods. However, sewing methods look less natural. Sewing methods are more time consuming to install, and during removal of the thread, the native hair of the wearer is cut by accident. Additional disadvantages of the glue and sewing methods are that glue causes substantial hair loss to the wearer. The Inventor has found that glue methods can fall off in warm temperatures, and so can weft tracks when sewn loosely.
  • the common method is to leave some of a person's own hair out at the front hairline. However, for people with areas of bald patches or thinning hair 148 , there is no hair present at a balding or bald spot 154 to comb over or camouflage the tell tale obvious sign that a commercial weft extension was installed.
  • a welted hair extension 132 comprises a cornrow braid 120 having at least one groove 122 housing individual hair strands 108 at one of its two sides 123 of the cornrow braid 120 , and the zone of attachment rendered invisible.
  • commercial hair strands is used generally throughout the present disclosure to differentiate between loose bulk hair that can be purchased and hair that is growing from a wearer's scalp.
  • non hair and “native hair of a wearer” are used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure to describe hair that is growing out of the scalp of a wearer.
  • parent cornrow is used generally throughout the present disclosure to describe an initial cornrow for any side of the head, left or right.
  • left side (parent) cornrow and “right side (parent) cornrow are used throughout the present disclosure to describe the final direction of the flipped over wefted hair extensions.
  • braid branch is used generally throughout the present disclosure to describe one of the three sections used in a braiding or cornrow braiding process.
  • part line is used generally throughout the present disclosure to describe a line created at the scalp by a comb, for example.
  • part or “hair part” is used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure to describe a head of hair that has been combed to the left and right of a part line.
  • wefted hair extension and “wefted product” are used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure to describe individual commercial, or store bought, hair strands that are cornrow braided by intertwining with either each other, and/the wearers own hair.
  • a new product is formed that is a custom, two dimensional, seamless, and uninterrupted.
  • a “braid spine” describes thin strands of individual commercial synthetic or human hair strands that are added at the beginning of the cornrow braiding process.
  • FIG. 1 a is a perspective view of a braid spine 100 , and horizontally placed individual hair strands 108 in readiness to be inserted under the braid spine. The parted line is for a full head installation.
  • FIG. 1 b is a perspective view of a left side, as well as a left side parent cornrow 138 installation for a full head, or nape only installation, tied with a knot 128 at the distal end 126 .
  • FIG. 1 c is a perspective view of a mirror image part 142 shows the braided side flipped over 134 .
  • FIG. 1 d is a perspective view of a completed mirror image part 142 installation, with the edges 124 of the wefted hair extensions 132 facing each other at a common part line 104 .
  • FIG. 1 e is a perspective view of a no part wefted installation 146 .
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a horizontal installation. The bottom grooves 122 were used.
  • FIG. 2 a is a perspective view of a flipped up curved installation 152 for a ponytail style. The lines are continued in a spiral direction as shown in FIG. 6 .
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a horizontal installation with its braided side flipped over 134 .
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an installation in a curved direction that shows the cornrows. Serial single wefts can be created, leaving some of the wearer's hair between wefts.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a serial overlapping 156 vertical installation.
  • FIG. 6 is an aerial perspective view of another installation in a curved direction.
  • FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of how to begin the article of manufacture.
  • FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the completed article of manufacture.
  • FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a possible installation method for the article of manufacture.
  • FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of another direction of installation for all installations.
  • FIG. 11 shows a top plan view of a person thinning hair and a bald spot.
  • braid spine 102 cornrow rotation 104 part line 105 row 106 native hair 108 individual hair strands 108 110 tips [of commercial hair 112 blunt ends strands] 114 left hand- hair practitioner 116 right hand- hair practitioner 118 hair clip 120 cornrow braid 122 groove 123 side [of cornrow] 124 edge of weft 126 distal end 128 knot 130 remaining hair 132 wefted hair extension 134 braided side flipped over 135 non braided side of weft 136 child rows 138 left side parent cornrow 140 right side parent cornrow 142 mirror image part 144 hair line 146 no part wefted installation 148 thinning hair 150 curved and flipped up 154 bald spot installation 156 serial overlapping rows 158 spiral wefted installation 160 possible installation method- 162 pin article. 164 alternating apex installation 166 loop 168 tip of braid spine 170 article of manufacture 172 pinhead
  • the present invention comprises various embodiments of a wefted hair extension and methods of attaching and removing the hair extensions to and from the native hair of a wearer of a hair extension.
  • the hair extensions eliminate a two-step process required for hair weaving, wherein a braid(s) must be formed, and then the hair extension(s) is/are attached to the braid(s) in a subsequent operation.
  • removal of the present hair extensions may be accomplished by a wearer by merely unbraiding the braided hair to allow the individual hair strands to separate from the natural hair as it is unbraided. No tedious cutting of attachment threads, removal of adhesives, etc., is required with the embodiments.’
  • a first embodiment of the NoSho hair extensions comprises a finishing hair extension.
  • the wefted hair extension 132 that is formed within the body of two part lines 104 , forming a row 105 .
  • the part from the crown of a wearer's head to the nape of the neck is in preparation for a full head serial overlapping 156 installation.
  • the embodiments have a base edge 124 portion or underside comprising a cornrow braid 120 .
  • the wefted hair extensions 132 have a plurality of individual hair strands 108 emanating from one of its two sides 123 . Specifically, the plurality of individual hair strands 108 emanate out of the grooves 122 formed by the cornrow rotations 102 .
  • the embodiments start at the very beginning of a part line 104 , or lack thereof. Where there is a bald spot 154 , hair from an adjoining area is used to commence the braid.
  • the individual hair strands 108 are integrally cornrow braided 120 with the native hair 106 of a wearer at the scalp. A small portion of the wearer's native hair 106 is added to the commercial hair with every cornrow braid 120 rotation, all along the length of a row 105 . Concurrently as the native hair 106 and individual hair strands are braided together, approximately a pinky sized or larger quantity of individual hair strands 108 are inserted into a side 123 of the cornrow braid 120 after each cornrow rotation 102 . The pinky sized or larger quantity of individual hair strands 108 is continuously and progressively inserted all along one side of a cornrow braid 120 , and the joining appears invisible.
  • the embodiments thus provide at least one left directional or left side parent cornrow 138 at a part line 104 —with or without corresponding left side child rows 136 .
  • the embodiments also provide for at least one right directional or right side parent cornrow 140 at a part line 104 —with or without corresponding right side child rows 136 .
  • the present wefted hair extension 132 is a new, uninterrupted, seamless, two dimensional, wefted product that has a cornrow braid 120 at the base of one of its two sides.
  • FIGS. 1 c , and 1 d Crown Area—Mirror Image Installation 142
  • a wefted hair extension 132 is installed directly adjacent another wefted hair extension 132 , but in an opposing direction. More specifically, two parent cornrows 20 —a left side parent cornrow 138 and a right side parent cornrow 140 are installed on opposing sides of their common or shared part line 104 . Each wefted parent cornrow 138 , 140 , has individual hair strands 108 emanating from its edge 124 or base. The edges 124 of the wefted hair extensions 132 face each other, separated by the shared part line 104 . When both wefted hair extension 132 s are flipped over to their non-braided side 134 , the two wefted extensions are mirror images of each other. A common or shared part line 104 separates the two wefted hair extensions 132 .
  • the mirror image part 138 , 140 wefted hair extensions 132 appear to be growing out of the wearer's scalp. This is the case even when the location of installation is originally mostly full of bald spots 154 , is thinning 148 , or has healthy hair.
  • the mirror image part 142 embodiment serves as a camouflage to hide tell tale signs left behind by other hair extension methods. Such methods include the use of clamps, tubes, rings, adhesives, glues, sealants, tracks, comb clamps, snaps, clips, and such. This natural looking embodiment has proven to be valuable to the hair industry. The following describes how the mirror image part 142 and no part embodiments are installed:
  • a part line 104 is created.
  • a second part line is created slightly removed from the first part line 104 .
  • Approximately three cornrow rotations 102 are formed using a thin quantity of commercial hair to form a braid spine 100 .
  • a small quantity of individual commercial hair strands, approximately one size of a pinky finger or larger, is held together at its blunt ends 112 .
  • the blunt ends 112 face toward West, or toward the left hand 114 of a hair practitioner. These blunt ends 112 slightly extend beyond the left parent cornrow 138 by approximately three to five inches.
  • the tips 110 of the commercial hair face toward East, or toward the right hand 116 of a hair practitioner.
  • the blunt ends 112 that extend approximately three to five inches to the left of the right side parent cornrow 140 are added to the left braid branch.
  • the combined blunt ends and left braid branch are then added to the middle braid branch, leaving the tips 110 of the loose strands of bulk commercial hair to hang freely.
  • This new middle braid branch is then moved over to the right and becomes a right braid branch, while the previous right braid branch becomes a middle braid branch.
  • This process is repeated with each and every rotation of a cornrow braid 120 process, integrally as the hair is braided, continuously along the entire length of the right side parent cornrow 140 .
  • the resultant wefted hair extension 132 is then turned over or flipped over 134 to reveal the other side—the non-braided side 135 that appears to be naturally growing out of the scalp of the wearer, even when that location was originally bald, partly bald, or had normal healthy native hair 106 .
  • the new hair extension is an uninterrupted, fully wefted product that is also two dimensional.
  • Any child rows 136 receive commercial hair inserted into the cornrow braid 120 in the same direction as their respective parent cornrows 138 , 140 . This is the case when adding or joining native hair 106 with curly or wavy hair. Child rows 136 can be wefted in an opposing direction than their respective parent cornrows 138 , 140 .
  • Each embodiment may have several child rows 136 , or no child row, several parent cornrows 138 , 140 , or only one parent cornrow 138 , 140 to complete either a crown only installation, or a full head installation. Alternatively, each embodiment may have no designation at all.
  • Wefted hair extensions do not need parent cornrows 138 , 140 , or child cornrows 136 . A no part 146 wefted hair extension can be installed instead.
  • each cornrow braid 120 remaining hair 130 is secured by braiding down approximately three rotations of a single braid, and then securing the braid with a knot 128 .
  • a rubber band can be used to tie the loose ends of each cornrow braid 120 .
  • the method used depends on the texture and length of a person's hair. Any child rows 136 or inner rows that the parent cornrow 140 overlap may be installed in the same direction as the right side parent cornrow 140 , or not.
  • the entire installation of the wefted hair extension 132 s may be completed in one direction.
  • one direction only can be used.
  • the grooves 122 can all have hair emanating from the right side of a cornrow braid 120 —right side (parent). Or, from the left side of the grooves 122 of a cornrow braid 120 —left side (parent).
  • the cornrow braids 120 are installed either with thinner rows, thicker hair strands, or curly hair.
  • both a left parent cornrow 138 and a right side parent cornrow 140 can be installed.
  • curly hair may be used to circumvent the need to create thinner rows. Therefore, it is not necessary to install wefted hair extensions 132 close to each other such that they overlap excessively. Otherwise, the method is the same as the first embodiment.
  • a part line 104 is created starting at a wearer's hair line to a predetermined distance on the wearer's head.
  • another part line 104 is created, a slight distance away from the first part line 104 .
  • a row 105 [of hair] has been created.
  • the direction of the line can be straight or curved.
  • the rest of the native hair 106 is secured away from the row 105 to be braided with hair clips 118 .
  • a braid spine 100 consisting of a few strands or thin quantity of individual commercial hair, approximately 8-20 strands, are incorporated with the native hair 106 of the wearer.
  • a cornrow braid 120 is started at the beginning of a row 105 with approximately three to five cornrow rotations 102 .
  • individual commercial hair strands 108 are held together at their blunt ends 112 .
  • these individual hair strands are placed horizontally across the left side parent cornrow 138 , slightly North of the last formed cornrow rotation 102 .
  • These horizontally placed hair strands 108 have their blunt ends 112 facing toward East, or toward the right hand 116 of a hair practitioner, and extend beyond the left side parent cornrow 138 by approximately three to five inches.
  • the tips 110 of the individual hair strands 108 face toward West, or toward the left hand 114 of a hair practitioner.
  • the blunt ends 112 that extend approximately three to five inches to the right of the left side parent cornrow 138 are moved under the side of a right braid branch. It is then added to a middle braid branch, leaving the tips 110 of the commercial hair to hang free. This addition of the blunt ends 112 to the middle braid branch forms the new middle braid branch.
  • This new middle braid branch is then moved over a left braid branch while simultaneously moving the left braid branch to the middle position as the new middle braid branch.
  • the middle braid branch is moved over the right braid branch while simultaneously moving the right braid branch to the middle position.
  • the process is repeated: another small quantity of individual commercial hair strands are inserted into the side 123 of the cornrow braid 120 by laying it horizontally across the cornrow braid 120 .
  • the blunt ends 112 are turned around a right braid branch such that it meets the middle braid branch.
  • this new middle braid branch is moved over the left braid branch while simultaneously moving the left braid branch under the new left braid branch.
  • the left braid branch is moved to the middle position as the new middle braid branch.
  • the middle braid branch is moved over the right braid branch while simultaneously moving the right braid branch to the middle position.
  • the wefted hair extensions 132 are flipped over 134 to their non braided side 135 . These embodiments are easily removed by the wearer, merely by unraveling the distal end 126 of the braid. Approximately 30 minutes time lapses for take down. There is no accidental cutting of native hair 106 as occurs with sewing methods, and no harmful results as occurs with glues, and small fasteners.
  • NoSho wefted hair extensions 132 Various methods of securing and removing the present NoSho wefted hair extensions 132 to and from the native hair 106 of the wearer are also disclosed herein. These methods all include the steps for creating custom wefted hair extensions 132 without any tools. Essentially, these embodiments are an alternative to commercially sold weft extensions. These embodiments provide a camouflage to hide commercial weft tracks anywhere, including the crown area of a wearer's head. Additionally, my embodiments are an alternative method of hair extensions currently used by Caucasians and Asians.
  • a second embodiment is an article of manufacture 170 and hair kit that has a finished beginning, and distal end 126 . Individual hair strands 108 are intertwined directly with each other, rendering the joining invisible. A new product is formed—a wefted hair extension 132 .
  • a hair kit can contain at least two finishing touch hair extensions, a left side parent 138 , and a right side parent cornrow 140 .
  • a pin 162 such as a long sewing pin or other thin rigid structure that can be secured into or onto a stable base for support such as a long nail with no pin head 172 can be used.
  • the pin 162 —like structure may be of sufficient length so as to prevent the looped 166 hair strands from sliding off. A cushion or the arm of an arm chair will do. Otherwise, the pin 162 —like structure may be secured into a stationery object such as a block of heavy wood, metal, or other stable surface.
  • Approximately 20-40 strands or a thin quantity of commercial hair is used to form a braid spine 100 .
  • the braid spine 100 is then looped around any thin rigid, stationary object such as a large sewing pin 162 .
  • One or two cornrow rotations 102 are made.
  • a small quantity of individual commercial hair strands approximately the width of a pinky finger or larger is held together at its blunt ends 112 then placed horizontally across the cornrow braid 120 , and North of the last formed cornrow rotation 102 .
  • the blunt ends 112 face toward West, or toward the left hand 114 of a hair practitioner, and slightly extend beyond the cornrow braid 120 by approximately three to five inches.
  • the tips 110 , of the commercial hair face toward East, or toward the right hand 116 of the hair practitioner.
  • the blunt ends 112 that extend approximately three to five inches to the left of the cornrow braid 120 are added to the left braid branch, and added to the middle braid branch, leaving the tips 110 of the individual hair strands 108 to hang freely.
  • This new middle braid branch is then moved over to the right and becomes a right braid branch, while the previous right braid branch becomes a middle braid branch.
  • This process is repeated with each and every rotation of a cornrow 120 braiding process continuously along the entire length of the cornrow 120 .
  • the remaining hair 130 is tied with a few strands of the commercial hair. However, additionally, the knot 128 is sealed with glue.
  • the pin 162 is then released from the wefted hair extension 132 .
  • the end can be glued, and the remaining hair 130 left over from braiding sheared off with a razor, scissors, or suitable sharp instrument.
  • the new hair extension product formed is an uninterrupted, fully wefted hair extension 132 product that is two dimensional with a non-braided side 135 , and a braided side 140 .
  • the same process is followed as for installing a right side (parent) row of the first embodiment.
  • the process continues by placing individual hair strands across the last formed cornrow rotation 102 .
  • the pin 162 -like structure can be removed from its base if entrenched. Alternatively, if the pin-like structure has no pin head 172 , the finished embodiment can be slipped off the top of the pin-like structure.
  • the article of manufacture can be packaged as a hair extension kit.
  • wefted hair extension of the embodiment is illustrated as a relatively short and narrow section, it should be noted that the wefted hair extensions and other hair extensions disclosed herein would typically include hair strands having significantly greater length, e.g., eight or more inches, and wefts having the standard span of approximately thirty-six to eighty-four inches.
  • a part line 104 is created at the crown and a finishing touch hair extension is installed on each side of the part line 104 .
  • left side parent row 138 and right side parent row 140 are installed.
  • the beginning end is placed at the hair line 144 , and the distal end 126 faces away from the wearer's hair line.
  • the crown installation is as shown in FIG. 1 d.
  • the article of manufacture embodiments may be attached to the wearer's head in any manner used to attach commercial weft extensions as discussed earlier, such as an attachment comb.
  • the attachment comb may further be secured by sewing onto the edge 124 of the braided side of the wefted hair extension 132 .
  • the article of manufacture wefted hair extension 132 kit may contain a bang.
  • a bang for the article of manufacture can have at least one attachment comb or a hair clip that is sewn onto the braided side or edge 124 of the bang piece.
  • glue, or both glue and sewing can be used to secure the bang to the comb.
  • the tip 168 of the braid spine 100 can be tucked away under the braid edge 124 .
  • the tip 168 of the braid spine 100 can be employed to stitch the comb or clip in place.
  • the kit may further contain left side parent 138 , and right side parent 140 wefted hair extensions 132 or mirror image part 142 finishing touch wefted hair extensions 132 to hide imperfections.
  • the wefted hair extension 132 kit may further contain a bang, and enough wefted hair extensions for a full head installation. Additionally, a separate kit could sell the mirror image part 142 finishing touch embodiments.
  • At least one comb can be attached along the braided edge 124 .
  • braiding of the clients own hair can be eliminated altogether by simply creating a horizontal line and attaching with blanket stitches to the native hair 106 .
  • a zigzag overlapping series 162 can be installed as shown in FIG. 9 .
  • any instrument that can cut and seal can be used so cut the wefted hair extensions 132 to the desired length.
  • the article of manufacture When packaged, the article of manufacture may have the standard two long lengths of hair extensions in addition to at least one left side parent, and one right side parent wefted hair extensions 132 for use at the crown of a wearer's head. Alternatively, when packaged, the article of manufacture will offer only the two left and right side cornrow 120 wefted hair extensions 32 . This is ideal for those who wish to hide imperfections of hair, and scalp, or of other hair extension methods.
  • a bang can be installed. Approximately one inch of native hair is used, and the tips 110 of the hair strands are pulled over the cornrow braids toward the wearer's face.
  • Another embodiment has short, vertical cornrow braids 120 , at least a quarter of an inch in length or height.
  • This additional embodiment can replace harmful bonding methods prevalently used by Caucasian and Asian women— FIG. 5 .
  • Another embodiment has short, horizontal cornrow braids 120 , at least a quarter of an inch in length or height.
  • This additional embodiment can replace harmful bonding methods prevalently used by Caucasian and Asian women.
  • FIG. 5 gives a good idea of how these short, vertical wefted extensions would look like.
  • FIGS. 2 a , and 6 Another embodiment is circular in shape, and traverses the circumference of the wearer's head— FIGS. 2 a , and 6 .
  • This circular installation is great for ponytail styles.
  • FIG. 6 shows that the bottom grooves 122 of the cornrow braid 120 were installed with the individual hair strands 108 .
  • FIG. 2 a shows the operation of the braided side being flipped over 134 the braids and up into a ponytail.
  • some of a wearer's native hair 106 may be left out at the crown to create bang. Additionally, the hair can be worn down at the nape of the neck.
  • Installation can use circular, or a mixture of parallel and angular part lines 104 .
  • the wefted hair extensions may be installed to cross horizontally over small or large bald spots 154 .
  • the outwardly-facing grooves of the cornrow braid 120 can house the individual hair strands 108 , toward the face, ears, and neck— FIG. 11 .
  • the installation can be in a diagonal direction.
  • Another embodiment starts at one temple and ends at the other temple in a ‘U’ or moon shape.
  • Another embodiment is circular in shape, and traverses the circumference of the wearer's head.
  • the hair extensions may be installed facing toward the face, ears, and neck.
  • Another embodiment relates to a bang. Approximately one inch of native hair is used, and the tips 110 of the hair strands are pulled over the cornrow braids toward the wearer's face.
  • a comb or clip can be sewn onto the edge 124 of the braided side of the wefted article of manufacture using needle and thread, glue, or both.
  • Another article of manufacture inserts items of interest to certain groups, such as gold thread to add more flair.
  • ornaments are incorporated into the wefted hair extension 132 .
  • Another article of manufacture is easier to make, use, and is more affordable.
  • the wefted hair extensions can use synthetic hair as opposed to human hair.
  • Installation can be in any direction based on purpose of installation; only one groove can house the individual hair strands as in the case for extremely short rows, or there can be a series of grooves for longer length wefted hair extensions.
  • the embodiments can be used for partial, as well as full head hair extensions.
  • a hair part can be created at an area of hair loss even if that area is completely bald.
  • the embodiments are wearable by women and some men.
  • the embodiments provide more control over the density or thickness of the extension.
  • the embodiments are installable in small or large areas of a wearer's head.
  • the embodiments can replace areas of missing hair.
  • FIGS. 1 d , 2 a , 3 , and 5 show wefted hair extensions 132 that have been flipped over to their non-braided side 135
  • FIGS. 1 c , 1 e , 2 , and 4 show wefted hair extensions 132 that have not been flipped over to their non-braided side 135
  • FIG. 6 can be flipped over to its non-braided side 135 .
  • These wefted hair extensions 132 can be used to hide imperfections of a wearer's hair and scalp, as well as imperfections such as weft tracks and tubes of other methods.
  • the wefted NoSho hair extensions of the various embodiments can be used to camouflage imperfections of the hair and scalp, as well as imperfections left behind by other hair extension methods. Additionally, the mirror image part 142 has a desired outcome of looking natural, and not fake.
  • Another object of the embodiments is to provide a method with more universal appeal.
  • Another object of the embodiments is to provide a healthier method of hair extensions.
  • Yet another object of the embodiments is to provide installation at any location of a wearer's head.
  • Still another object of the embodiments is to provide installation in any direction.
  • Still yet another object of the embodiments is to provide installation at small or large areas.
  • Another object is to provide a welted hair extension that can be installed at anywhere.
  • Another object is to provide coverage for normal, and problem hair and scalp.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,534, issued on Jan. 3, 1967 to Jess Dorkin, titled “Hair Thickening Method,” is another method that does not use braids or cornrows for the installation of hair extensions.
  • the Dorkin method describes a method of thickening the hair of a wearer by—permanently installing individual strands or groups of hair strands that are bonded with the aid of an adhesive agent. This method is time consuming compared to the present embodiments. Additionally, this method suffers from the same harmful problems to the scalp and hair that most bonding methods inflict on the native hair, which includes breakage from brushing and combing, and permanent hair loss from the adhesive used in the bonding process.
  • the Dorkin method does not insert individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120 . Even furthermore, hair care such as brushing, as well as removal, requiring the use of harsh chemicals, also contribute to the native hair of a wearer.
  • This method is the most labor intensive to install as well as to remove, whereas the first embodiment is relatively easy to install and remove. Also, present embodiments also do not use any tools that reduce the comfort level of the wearer, unlike the Nelson method. Furthermore, the Nelson method does not insert individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120 . Even furthermore, this method requires assistance from a professional to uninstall the unit, whereas the first embodiment can be removed by the wearer within a minimum of 30 minutes by simply unraveling the cornrow braids.
  • German Patent No. 3,722,108 published on Jan. 12, 1989, titled “Device For Attaching Artificial Hair To Natural Hair,” describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a small cylindrical sleeve or clamp which is secured to the native hair of the wearer, with a weft of hair having a cooperating mechanical attachment device extending therefrom.
  • the assembly is somewhat related to that disclosed in the Barrington '867 U.S. patent, discussed further above, in which a small heat shrink sleeve is secured about a tuft of the native hair, and a plug forming the end of a hair extension.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,029 issued on May 16, 1989 to Raymond F. Bird, titled “Method Of And Apparatus For Styling Hair,” is another method that does not use braids or cornrows for the installation of hair extensions.
  • the Bird method describes a commercial weft extension with a pocket formed at its bound edge or ‘tape”, having a wire attached to the aforementioned pocket for the purposes of attaching to the native hair of a wearer. Consumers object to this method because the pocket adds additional bulk to the hair, causing discomfort to the wearer when sleeping, combing, brushing, and shampooing.
  • the wires can cause perforations at a wearer's scalp, causing minor injuries. This process is time consuming and laborious to install and remove, unlike the first embodiment.
  • the Bird method requires a professional to uninstall, whereas the first embodiment can be removed by the person herself/himself, and within approximately thirty minutes. Furthermore, the Bird method does not insert individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120 . Even furthermore, this method is a direct opposite of the method of the first embodiment that does not use any tools for installation, let alone wire and tape.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,173, issued on Oct. 30, 1990 to Della L. Russell, titled “Hairpiece For Compensation Of Hair Loss,” is another method that does not use braids or cornrows for the installation of hair extensions.
  • the Russell method describes a head band having individual supplemental hair strands disposed thereon that is easy both to wear and remove by a wearer.
  • this temporary method is only intended to cover a small area of baldness or thinning hair 148 . It is deficient for the purposes of covering up areas of baldness and thinning hair 148 that do not conform to a predetermined linear area.
  • this method is a hair extension method but only in the most minimalistic way, being nothing more than a item to cover a very small area of bald patches, or hair loss.
  • the first embodiment on the other hand, can be installed wherever desired, and is a permanent installation that the wearer can shampoo, and treat generally as they would their normal hair.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,761 issued on Jun. 16, 1992 to Karen L. Meister, titled “Method For Attaching Hair Extensions,” describes the use of a series of small sleeves which are crimped about relatively small clumps or tufts of native hair of a wearer, near the bases thereof. A weft hair extension is then sewn through the bases of the tufts, using a needle and thread.
  • the Meister method eliminates the need to braid the native hair, but substitutes a series of small crimped sleeves, which must be removed professionally when the wearer wishes to remove the hair extensions.
  • the Meister system more closely resembles the supplemental hair attachment method disclosed in the Barrington '867 U.S. patent, discussed immediately above, than it does the present supplemental hair attachment method.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,986, issued on Oct. 25, 1994 to Drucilla W. Hargrett, titled “Hair Locking Process And Apparatus,” describes a braid assembly which is secured to tufts of the native hair of the wearer, rather than braiding the native hair itself.
  • the braid attachment includes a series of small rings therein, with the weft of supplemental hair also having a like series of rings.
  • the weft and braid rings are sewn together to secure the supplemental hair weft to the braid attachment of the wearer. This process involves a fair amount of time, as the braid material must be braided into the native hair of the wearer before the weft hair extension can be sewn to the rings of the braid.
  • This ring-to-ring attachment is relatively loose in comparison to the present wefted hair extension 132 attachment, and moreover cannot be removed by the wearer, due to the need to determine the location of the attachment thread precisely in order to cut it without damaging the native hair of the wearer.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,298, issued on Nov. 19, 1996 to Cassandra Hinton, titled “Apparatus And Method For Concealing Attachments Of Hair Supplements,” describes a relatively short and narrow adhesive tape for concealing the braid line of a conventional hair weave attachment braid, e.g., the weave attachment braid as disclosed in the Mitchell '380 U.S. patent discussed further above.
  • the Hinton tape includes a covering of relatively short hairs on the outer surface thereof, to camouflage the underlying braid and weft attachment.
  • the weft hair extension disclosed in the Hinton U.S. patent is not closely related to the first embodiment, as it does not disclose individual hair strands inserted into a cornrow braid to form a seamless, wefted hair extension directly onto the scalp of a wearer.
  • European Patent No. 876,773 published on Nov. 11, 1998, titled “Method, Apparatus And Hair Extension Product Thereof,” describes a method of forming hair weft extensions from loose locks of hair, by applying a thermoplastic resin to the ends of the hair strands and to seal them.
  • the '773 patent Publication is primarily directed to a tool for forming the hair in the desired shape and sealing or adhesively attaching the common ends together. No disclosure is made for attaching the completed wefts to the native hair of the wearer, as described in the present disclosure.
  • British Patent No. 2,327,605 published on Feb. 3, 1999, titled “Scalp Patch For Hair Extension,” describes a patch having hair extending from one surface for securing to the central area of the scalp of a wearer.
  • the edge of the patch is devoid of hair, and provides a margin for sewing the patch to cornrow braids formed in the native hair of the wearer.
  • the Arogundade '605 patent Publication further discloses the use of a plurality of parallel cornrow braids formed in the native hair, and stitching one or more lengths of weft hair extensions together in a sinusoidal confirmation for greater fullness.
  • no disclosure is made by Arogundade of any provision for attachment strands extending from the weft or bound edge of a hair extension, for interweaving or intertwining into braids formed in the native hair, as provided by the first embodiment.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,107 issued on Feb. 1, 2000 to Tatiana L. Vermeer et al., titled “Detachable Hairpiece,” describes a barrette type device having a hair extension permanently attached thereto and extending therefrom.
  • the barrette clips onto the native hair of the wearer, with the hair extension extending from the barrette to provide the appearance of longer hair for the wearer.
  • No individual commercial hair strands forming a welted product attached to the base of native hair integrally as individual commercial hair strands are being cornrow braided is mentioned, as described with the first embodiment.
  • Clip hair extensions are temporary and cannot be worn for extended periods of time. This method suffers from the same disadvantages as the Jenkins 826 method.
  • the Campbell method does not insert individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120 .
  • U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,327 issued on Jan. 22, 2008 to Carol Frazier describes a laborious method whereby a commercial weft extension having attachment strands secured at its weft base, both of which extend from the weft base in the same direction, has a removable separator sheet between them.
  • the method uses clips for the purposes of fastening the base, or bound end of a weft extension onto the uppermost part line of a horizontal section of braidable native hair of a wearer.
  • the attachment strands are pulled downward and incorporated into the cornrow braid progressively along the length of the row of hair.
  • the separator sheet is removed with some difficulty because of the materials described.
  • the commercial weft is released and allowed to fall down upon itself.
  • the method rolls the weft tracks or edges over upon themselves, and then stitched in place with needle and thread. Consumers object to wearing this method because weft tracks are rigid and bulky. Additionally folding them upon themselves creates even more bulk for the wearer to contend with, especially when sleeping.
  • the Frazier method has other disadvantages as described for commercial wefts, and as per the Bird patent discussed above.
  • the prior art is dissimilar to the embodiments and offers no unexpected results. Additionally, the prior art teaches away from various methods of the NoSho wefted hair extensions 132 such as: no hair shorter than 18 inches can be used. Also, the prior art teaches taking hair out of a cornrow braid all along a row. Additionally, my embodiments looks more polished and mimic a more natural looking head of hair, starting right at a hair line, or lack thereof. The methods and embodiments are starkly dissimilar. The two cannot be confused with each other. Therefore my technique is novel over the prior art. Even furthermore, the prior art does not offer the non surgical hair loss solutions of my method. The prior art method does not anticipate or allow for providing such a service because of its described limitations. Further, the prior art method does not teach inserting individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120 .

Abstract

Various embodiments of wefted hair extensions 132 using individual hair strands 108 intertwined with each other to form a wefted product with a cornrow braid 120 base or edge 124, one of the two sides 123 of the cornrow braid 120 having at least one groove housing a plurality of individual hair strands. The zone of attachment is rendered invisible. The distal end is secured with a knot or other method. The final product is then flipped over to its non braided, seamless side. Installation is in pairs as parents only, parents and children, or individual wefts scattered throughout the wearer's head. A unique mirror image embodiment places two parent embodiments adjacent to each other such that their edges face each other, separated by a part line. The mirror image embodiment solves hair and scalp imperfections and is available as a hair kit. Embodiments can start right at the edges of a hairline using my technique, even if the wearer is mostly bald, has thinning hair 148, short hair, or has no hair problems.

Description

  • A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
  • BACKGROUND Prior Art
  • Supplemental hair additions, more commonly known as hair extensions, have been worn since Egyptian pharaohs and queens wore a form of glorified hair adornment: painted individual hair strands. To this present day women and some men have adorned their head with manes of luxurious hair extensions to feel glamorous and confident, whether they have existing flaws or not. Hair and scalp problems of thinning hair, short hair, receding hair line, and bald spots, and coarse texture encourage people to seek hair replacement and hair addition methods. The most common hair addition methods add length, volume, or both. Regardless of method used, the end user or wearer has consistently been requesting a more natural looking hair extension that is also healthy on the hair and scalp. The most common methods are glued and sewn hair extensions.
  • Glue used with weft and strand methods is harmful to a wearer's native hair and scalp. Sewing methods are more secure than glue methods, also known as bonding, and fusion. Sewing methods last longer than glue methods. However, sewing methods look less natural. Sewing methods are more time consuming to install, and during removal of the thread, the native hair of the wearer is cut by accident. Additional disadvantages of the glue and sewing methods are that glue causes substantial hair loss to the wearer. The Inventor has found that glue methods can fall off in warm temperatures, and so can weft tracks when sewn loosely.
  • However, regardless of the solutions that the new inventions have provided, new disadvantages and short comings have been added, and some problems are still unsolved.
  • Unnatural looking hair extension methods still exist at the scalp and crown level. Any hair extension methods can look great from a back view. However, the Inventor has found that the real challenge is the art of creating and installing a more natural, more believable crown area. People have traveled to a different State or continent to have the latest more natural hair extension technique installed. With licensing, franchising, and training, more people can benefit from a more natural, healthier, hair extension method in their own locale.
  • Partial Hair Extensions—Crown of a Wearer's Head, Combing Native Hair Over Extensions:
  • Caucasian and Asian native hair texture closely matches readily available commercial hair. On the other hand, primarily Women of Color and to a lesser extent, some Caucasian, and Asian persons are forced to apply a chemical perm. Glue and sewing methods offer little help to balding individuals.
  • The common method is to leave some of a person's own hair out at the front hairline. However, for people with areas of bald patches or thinning hair 148, there is no hair present at a balding or bald spot 154 to comb over or camouflage the tell tale obvious sign that a commercial weft extension was installed.
  • SUMMARY
  • In accordance with the various embodiments a welted hair extension 132 comprises a cornrow braid 120 having at least one groove 122 housing individual hair strands 108 at one of its two sides 123 of the cornrow braid 120, and the zone of attachment rendered invisible.
  • ADVANTAGES
  • Accordingly several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: to provide a hair extension that camouflages the braids, that protects the wearer's native hair, that can be installed as a partial, or full head hair extension, that can be installed in serial overlapping wefts, in pairs, or where needed, that looks natural, that can be sold as a kit, that camouflages imperfections such as baldness, thinning hair 148, and short hair, that can be worn by women and some men, that does not require first chemically relaxing the native hair, and that is durable. Other advantages of one or more aspects will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
  • GLOSSARY OF TERMS
  • The term “commercial hair strands” is used generally throughout the present disclosure to differentiate between loose bulk hair that can be purchased and hair that is growing from a wearer's scalp.
  • The term “native hair” and “native hair of a wearer” are used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure to describe hair that is growing out of the scalp of a wearer.
  • The term “parent cornrow” is used generally throughout the present disclosure to describe an initial cornrow for any side of the head, left or right.
  • The terms “left side (parent) cornrow” and “right side (parent) cornrow are used throughout the present disclosure to describe the final direction of the flipped over wefted hair extensions.
  • The term “braid branch” is used generally throughout the present disclosure to describe one of the three sections used in a braiding or cornrow braiding process.
  • The term “part line” is used generally throughout the present disclosure to describe a line created at the scalp by a comb, for example.
  • The term “part” or “hair part” is used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure to describe a head of hair that has been combed to the left and right of a part line.
  • The term “wefted hair extension” and “wefted product” are used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure to describe individual commercial, or store bought, hair strands that are cornrow braided by intertwining with either each other, and/the wearers own hair. A new product is formed that is a custom, two dimensional, seamless, and uninterrupted.
  • A “braid spine” describes thin strands of individual commercial synthetic or human hair strands that are added at the beginning of the cornrow braiding process.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
  • FIG. 1 a is a perspective view of a braid spine 100, and horizontally placed individual hair strands 108 in readiness to be inserted under the braid spine. The parted line is for a full head installation.
  • FIG. 1 b is a perspective view of a left side, as well as a left side parent cornrow 138 installation for a full head, or nape only installation, tied with a knot 128 at the distal end 126.
  • FIG. 1 c is a perspective view of a mirror image part 142 shows the braided side flipped over 134.
  • FIG. 1 d is a perspective view of a completed mirror image part 142 installation, with the edges 124 of the wefted hair extensions 132 facing each other at a common part line 104.
  • FIG. 1 e is a perspective view of a no part wefted installation 146.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a horizontal installation. The bottom grooves 122 were used.
  • FIG. 2 a is a perspective view of a flipped up curved installation 152 for a ponytail style. The lines are continued in a spiral direction as shown in FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a horizontal installation with its braided side flipped over 134.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an installation in a curved direction that shows the cornrows. Serial single wefts can be created, leaving some of the wearer's hair between wefts.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a serial overlapping 156 vertical installation.
  • FIG. 6 is an aerial perspective view of another installation in a curved direction.
  • FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of how to begin the article of manufacture.
  • FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the completed article of manufacture.
  • FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a possible installation method for the article of manufacture.
  • FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of another direction of installation for all installations.
  • FIG. 11 shows a top plan view of a person thinning hair and a bald spot.
  • DRAWINGS Reference Numerals
  • 100 braid spine 102 cornrow rotation
    104 part line 105 row
    106 native hair 108 individual hair strands 108
    110 tips [of commercial hair 112 blunt ends
    strands]
    114 left hand- hair practitioner 116 right hand- hair practitioner
    118 hair clip 120 cornrow braid
    122 groove 123 side [of cornrow]
    124 edge of weft 126 distal end
    128 knot 130 remaining hair
    132 wefted hair extension 134 braided side flipped over
    135 non braided side of weft 136 child rows
    138 left side parent cornrow 140 right side parent cornrow
    142 mirror image part 144 hair line
    146 no part wefted installation 148 thinning hair
    150 curved and flipped up 154 bald spot
    installation
    156 serial overlapping rows 158 spiral wefted installation
    160 possible installation method- 162 pin
    article.
    164 alternating apex installation 166 loop
    168 tip of braid spine 170 article of manufacture
    172 pinhead
  • Detailed Description of the First Embodiments FIGS. 1-6, 10, and 11
  • The present invention comprises various embodiments of a wefted hair extension and methods of attaching and removing the hair extensions to and from the native hair of a wearer of a hair extension. The hair extensions eliminate a two-step process required for hair weaving, wherein a braid(s) must be formed, and then the hair extension(s) is/are attached to the braid(s) in a subsequent operation. Moreover, removal of the present hair extensions may be accomplished by a wearer by merely unbraiding the braided hair to allow the individual hair strands to separate from the natural hair as it is unbraided. No tedious cutting of attachment threads, removal of adhesives, etc., is required with the embodiments.’
  • A first embodiment of the NoSho hair extensions comprises a finishing hair extension. The wefted hair extension 132 that is formed within the body of two part lines 104, forming a row 105. The part from the crown of a wearer's head to the nape of the neck is in preparation for a full head serial overlapping 156 installation. The embodiments have a base edge 124 portion or underside comprising a cornrow braid 120. The wefted hair extensions 132 have a plurality of individual hair strands 108 emanating from one of its two sides 123. Specifically, the plurality of individual hair strands 108 emanate out of the grooves 122 formed by the cornrow rotations 102. The embodiments start at the very beginning of a part line 104, or lack thereof. Where there is a bald spot 154, hair from an adjoining area is used to commence the braid.
  • The individual hair strands 108 are integrally cornrow braided 120 with the native hair 106 of a wearer at the scalp. A small portion of the wearer's native hair 106 is added to the commercial hair with every cornrow braid 120 rotation, all along the length of a row 105. Concurrently as the native hair 106 and individual hair strands are braided together, approximately a pinky sized or larger quantity of individual hair strands 108 are inserted into a side 123 of the cornrow braid 120 after each cornrow rotation 102. The pinky sized or larger quantity of individual hair strands 108 is continuously and progressively inserted all along one side of a cornrow braid 120, and the joining appears invisible.
  • The embodiments thus provide at least one left directional or left side parent cornrow 138 at a part line 104—with or without corresponding left side child rows 136. The embodiments also provide for at least one right directional or right side parent cornrow 140 at a part line 104—with or without corresponding right side child rows 136. The present wefted hair extension 132 is a new, uninterrupted, seamless, two dimensional, wefted product that has a cornrow braid 120 at the base of one of its two sides.
  • Crown Area—Mirror Image Installation 142 FIGS. 1 c, and 1 d:
  • A wefted hair extension 132 is installed directly adjacent another wefted hair extension 132, but in an opposing direction. More specifically, two parent cornrows 20—a left side parent cornrow 138 and a right side parent cornrow 140 are installed on opposing sides of their common or shared part line 104. Each wefted parent cornrow 138, 140, has individual hair strands 108 emanating from its edge 124 or base. The edges 124 of the wefted hair extensions 132 face each other, separated by the shared part line 104. When both wefted hair extension 132 s are flipped over to their non-braided side 134, the two wefted extensions are mirror images of each other. A common or shared part line 104 separates the two wefted hair extensions 132.
  • The mirror image part 138, 140 wefted hair extensions 132 appear to be growing out of the wearer's scalp. This is the case even when the location of installation is originally mostly full of bald spots 154, is thinning 148, or has healthy hair.
  • The mirror image part 142 embodiment serves as a camouflage to hide tell tale signs left behind by other hair extension methods. Such methods include the use of clamps, tubes, rings, adhesives, glues, sealants, tracks, comb clamps, snaps, clips, and such. This natural looking embodiment has proven to be valuable to the hair industry. The following describes how the mirror image part 142 and no part embodiments are installed:
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION Right Side Parent Cornrow 140/Initial Cornrow 120 for Right Side of the First Embodiment
  • A part line 104 is created. A second part line is created slightly removed from the first part line 104. Approximately three cornrow rotations 102 are formed using a thin quantity of commercial hair to form a braid spine 100. Next, a small quantity of individual commercial hair strands, approximately one size of a pinky finger or larger, is held together at its blunt ends 112.
  • These individual hair strands are then placed horizontally across the right side parent cornrow 140, just North of the last formed cornrow rotation 102. The blunt ends 112 face toward West, or toward the left hand 114 of a hair practitioner. These blunt ends 112 slightly extend beyond the left parent cornrow 138 by approximately three to five inches. The tips 110 of the commercial hair face toward East, or toward the right hand 116 of a hair practitioner.
  • Next, the blunt ends 112 that extend approximately three to five inches to the left of the right side parent cornrow 140 are added to the left braid branch. The combined blunt ends and left braid branch are then added to the middle braid branch, leaving the tips 110 of the loose strands of bulk commercial hair to hang freely. This new middle braid branch is then moved over to the right and becomes a right braid branch, while the previous right braid branch becomes a middle braid branch.
  • This process is repeated with each and every rotation of a cornrow braid 120 process, integrally as the hair is braided, continuously along the entire length of the right side parent cornrow 140. The resultant wefted hair extension 132 is then turned over or flipped over 134 to reveal the other side—the non-braided side 135 that appears to be naturally growing out of the scalp of the wearer, even when that location was originally bald, partly bald, or had normal healthy native hair 106. The new hair extension is an uninterrupted, fully wefted product that is also two dimensional.
  • Any child rows 136 receive commercial hair inserted into the cornrow braid 120 in the same direction as their respective parent cornrows 138, 140. This is the case when adding or joining native hair 106 with curly or wavy hair. Child rows 136 can be wefted in an opposing direction than their respective parent cornrows 138, 140.
  • Each embodiment may have several child rows 136, or no child row, several parent cornrows 138, 140, or only one parent cornrow 138, 140 to complete either a crown only installation, or a full head installation. Alternatively, each embodiment may have no designation at all. Wefted hair extensions do not need parent cornrows 138, 140, or child cornrows 136. A no part 146 wefted hair extension can be installed instead.
  • At the end of each cornrow braid 120 remaining hair 130 is secured by braiding down approximately three rotations of a single braid, and then securing the braid with a knot 128.
  • Optionally, a rubber band can be used to tie the loose ends of each cornrow braid 120. The method used depends on the texture and length of a person's hair. Any child rows 136 or inner rows that the parent cornrow 140 overlap may be installed in the same direction as the right side parent cornrow 140, or not.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION No Part 146 Installation of the First Embodiments FIG. 1 e
  • Alternatively, the entire installation of the wefted hair extension 132 s may be completed in one direction. To install the NoSho wefted hair extensions 132 without a part, one direction only can be used. For example, the grooves 122 can all have hair emanating from the right side of a cornrow braid 120—right side (parent). Or, from the left side of the grooves 122 of a cornrow braid 120—left side (parent). The cornrow braids 120 are installed either with thinner rows, thicker hair strands, or curly hair. Alternatively, both a left parent cornrow 138 and a right side parent cornrow 140 can be installed. Additionally, curly hair may be used to circumvent the need to create thinner rows. Therefore, it is not necessary to install wefted hair extensions 132 close to each other such that they overlap excessively. Otherwise, the method is the same as the first embodiment.
  • For a full head installation, with no bald spots 154, a part line 104 is created starting at a wearer's hair line to a predetermined distance on the wearer's head. Next, another part line 104 is created, a slight distance away from the first part line 104. Thus, a row 105 [of hair] has been created. The direction of the line can be straight or curved. The rest of the native hair 106 is secured away from the row 105 to be braided with hair clips 118.
  • A braid spine 100 consisting of a few strands or thin quantity of individual commercial hair, approximately 8-20 strands, are incorporated with the native hair 106 of the wearer. A cornrow braid 120 is started at the beginning of a row 105 with approximately three to five cornrow rotations 102. Next, individual commercial hair strands 108, approximately the size of a pinky finger or larger, are held together at their blunt ends 112. Next, these individual hair strands are placed horizontally across the left side parent cornrow 138, slightly North of the last formed cornrow rotation 102. These horizontally placed hair strands 108 have their blunt ends 112 facing toward East, or toward the right hand 116 of a hair practitioner, and extend beyond the left side parent cornrow 138 by approximately three to five inches. The tips 110 of the individual hair strands 108 face toward West, or toward the left hand 114 of a hair practitioner.
  • Next, the blunt ends 112 that extend approximately three to five inches to the right of the left side parent cornrow 138 are moved under the side of a right braid branch. It is then added to a middle braid branch, leaving the tips 110 of the commercial hair to hang free. This addition of the blunt ends 112 to the middle braid branch forms the new middle braid branch. This new middle braid branch is then moved over a left braid branch while simultaneously moving the left braid branch to the middle position as the new middle braid branch. The middle braid branch is moved over the right braid branch while simultaneously moving the right braid branch to the middle position.
  • The process is repeated: another small quantity of individual commercial hair strands are inserted into the side 123 of the cornrow braid 120 by laying it horizontally across the cornrow braid 120. Next the blunt ends 112 are turned around a right braid branch such that it meets the middle braid branch. Together, this new middle braid branch is moved over the left braid branch while simultaneously moving the left braid branch under the new left braid branch. Continuing, the left braid branch is moved to the middle position as the new middle braid branch. The middle braid branch is moved over the right braid branch while simultaneously moving the right braid branch to the middle position.
  • The above process is repeated with each and every cornrow rotation 102, hair strands inserted continuously into each groove 122 along the entire length of the left side parent cornrow 138. At the distal end 126 of the cornrow braid 120, approximately three rotations are made to create a single braid. Next, a few strands of the remaining hair 130 are wrapped around the braid and secured with a knot 128. A rubber band may be used instead.
  • Operation First Embodiment
  • The wefted hair extensions 132 are flipped over 134 to their non braided side 135. These embodiments are easily removed by the wearer, merely by unraveling the distal end 126 of the braid. Approximately 30 minutes time lapses for take down. There is no accidental cutting of native hair 106 as occurs with sewing methods, and no harmful results as occurs with glues, and small fasteners.
  • Various methods of securing and removing the present NoSho wefted hair extensions 132 to and from the native hair 106 of the wearer are also disclosed herein. These methods all include the steps for creating custom wefted hair extensions 132 without any tools. Essentially, these embodiments are an alternative to commercially sold weft extensions. These embodiments provide a camouflage to hide commercial weft tracks anywhere, including the crown area of a wearer's head. Additionally, my embodiments are an alternative method of hair extensions currently used by Caucasians and Asians.
  • Detailed Description of Second Embodiment Article of Manufacture: FIGS. 7, 8, and 9
  • A second embodiment is an article of manufacture 170 and hair kit that has a finished beginning, and distal end 126. Individual hair strands 108 are intertwined directly with each other, rendering the joining invisible. A new product is formed—a wefted hair extension 132. A hair kit can contain at least two finishing touch hair extensions, a left side parent 138, and a right side parent cornrow 140.
  • A pin 162 such as a long sewing pin or other thin rigid structure that can be secured into or onto a stable base for support such as a long nail with no pin head 172 can be used. Alternatively, the pin 162—like structure may be of sufficient length so as to prevent the looped 166 hair strands from sliding off. A cushion or the arm of an arm chair will do. Otherwise, the pin 162—like structure may be secured into a stationery object such as a block of heavy wood, metal, or other stable surface.
  • Article of Manufacture—Left Side (Parent) Cornrow Braid 120:
  • Approximately 20-40 strands or a thin quantity of commercial hair is used to form a braid spine 100. The braid spine 100 is then looped around any thin rigid, stationary object such as a large sewing pin 162. One or two cornrow rotations 102 are made. Next, a small quantity of individual commercial hair strands approximately the width of a pinky finger or larger is held together at its blunt ends 112 then placed horizontally across the cornrow braid 120, and North of the last formed cornrow rotation 102. The blunt ends 112 face toward West, or toward the left hand 114 of a hair practitioner, and slightly extend beyond the cornrow braid 120 by approximately three to five inches. The tips 110, of the commercial hair, face toward East, or toward the right hand 116 of the hair practitioner.
  • Next, the blunt ends 112 that extend approximately three to five inches to the left of the cornrow braid 120 are added to the left braid branch, and added to the middle braid branch, leaving the tips 110 of the individual hair strands 108 to hang freely. This new middle braid branch is then moved over to the right and becomes a right braid branch, while the previous right braid branch becomes a middle braid branch.
  • This process is repeated with each and every rotation of a cornrow 120 braiding process continuously along the entire length of the cornrow 120. At the end of a cornrow 120, the remaining hair 130 is tied with a few strands of the commercial hair. However, additionally, the knot 128 is sealed with glue. The pin 162 is then released from the wefted hair extension 132. Alternatively, the end can be glued, and the remaining hair 130 left over from braiding sheared off with a razor, scissors, or suitable sharp instrument. The new hair extension product formed is an uninterrupted, fully wefted hair extension 132 product that is two dimensional with a non-braided side 135, and a braided side 140.
  • Article of Manufacture—Right Side (Parent) Cornrow Braid 140:
  • After lassoing the sewing pin 162 or nail-like structure, and braiding with one or two cornrow rotations 102, the same process is followed as for installing a right side (parent) row of the first embodiment. The process continues by placing individual hair strands across the last formed cornrow rotation 102. The pin 162-like structure can be removed from its base if entrenched. Alternatively, if the pin-like structure has no pin head 172, the finished embodiment can be slipped off the top of the pin-like structure.
  • The article of manufacture can be packaged as a hair extension kit.
  • Operation Second Embodiments FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, Operation, Article of Manufacture
  • While the wefted hair extension of the embodiment is illustrated as a relatively short and narrow section, it should be noted that the wefted hair extensions and other hair extensions disclosed herein would typically include hair strands having significantly greater length, e.g., eight or more inches, and wefts having the standard span of approximately thirty-six to eighty-four inches.
  • A part line 104 is created at the crown and a finishing touch hair extension is installed on each side of the part line 104. Namely, left side parent row 138, and right side parent row 140 are installed. The beginning end is placed at the hair line 144, and the distal end 126 faces away from the wearer's hair line. The crown installation is as shown in FIG. 1 d.
  • The article of manufacture embodiments may be attached to the wearer's head in any manner used to attach commercial weft extensions as discussed earlier, such as an attachment comb. The attachment comb may further be secured by sewing onto the edge 124 of the braided side of the wefted hair extension 132.
  • The article of manufacture wefted hair extension 132 kit may contain a bang. A bang for the article of manufacture can have at least one attachment comb or a hair clip that is sewn onto the braided side or edge 124 of the bang piece. Alternatively glue, or both glue and sewing can be used to secure the bang to the comb. The tip 168 of the braid spine 100 can be tucked away under the braid edge 124. Alternatively, the tip 168 of the braid spine 100 can be employed to stitch the comb or clip in place.
  • Also, the kit may further contain left side parent 138, and right side parent 140 wefted hair extensions 132 or mirror image part 142 finishing touch wefted hair extensions 132 to hide imperfections. The wefted hair extension 132 kit may further contain a bang, and enough wefted hair extensions for a full head installation. Additionally, a separate kit could sell the mirror image part 142 finishing touch embodiments.
  • At least one comb can be attached along the braided edge 124.
  • Alternatively, braiding of the clients own hair can be eliminated altogether by simply creating a horizontal line and attaching with blanket stitches to the native hair 106. To install the wefted hair extensions 132 at the nape of the neck without first cutting the wefted extensions a zigzag overlapping series 162 can be installed as shown in FIG. 9.
  • Alternatively, any instrument that can cut and seal can be used so cut the wefted hair extensions 132 to the desired length.
  • When packaged, the article of manufacture may have the standard two long lengths of hair extensions in addition to at least one left side parent, and one right side parent wefted hair extensions 132 for use at the crown of a wearer's head. Alternatively, when packaged, the article of manufacture will offer only the two left and right side cornrow 120 wefted hair extensions 32. This is ideal for those who wish to hide imperfections of hair, and scalp, or of other hair extension methods.
  • The above methods are presently contemplated for the embodiments, however other values, dimensions, lengths, and directions can be used, some of which are already stated above.
  • Additional Embodiments, Ramifications, and Operation Additional Embodiment Relate to the First Embodiments FIGS. 2 a, 4, 6, and 10
  • A bang can be installed. Approximately one inch of native hair is used, and the tips 110 of the hair strands are pulled over the cornrow braids toward the wearer's face.
  • Another embodiment has short, vertical cornrow braids 120, at least a quarter of an inch in length or height. This additional embodiment can replace harmful bonding methods prevalently used by Caucasian and Asian women—FIG. 5.
  • Another embodiment has short, horizontal cornrow braids 120, at least a quarter of an inch in length or height. This additional embodiment can replace harmful bonding methods prevalently used by Caucasian and Asian women. FIG. 5 gives a good idea of how these short, vertical wefted extensions would look like.
  • Another embodiment is circular in shape, and traverses the circumference of the wearer's head—FIGS. 2 a, and 6. This circular installation is great for ponytail styles. FIG. 6 shows that the bottom grooves 122 of the cornrow braid 120 were installed with the individual hair strands 108. FIG. 2 a shows the operation of the braided side being flipped over 134 the braids and up into a ponytail. Alternatively, some of a wearer's native hair 106 may be left out at the crown to create bang. Additionally, the hair can be worn down at the nape of the neck.
  • Installation can use circular, or a mixture of parallel and angular part lines 104.
  • Alternatively the wefted hair extensions may be installed to cross horizontally over small or large bald spots 154. The outwardly-facing grooves of the cornrow braid 120 can house the individual hair strands 108, toward the face, ears, and neck—FIG. 11. Alternatively, the installation can be in a diagonal direction.
  • Another embodiment starts at one temple and ends at the other temple in a ‘U’ or moon shape.
  • Another embodiment is circular in shape, and traverses the circumference of the wearer's head.
  • Alternatively the hair extensions may be installed facing toward the face, ears, and neck.
  • Another embodiment relates to a bang. Approximately one inch of native hair is used, and the tips 110 of the hair strands are pulled over the cornrow braids toward the wearer's face.
  • Additional Embodiments Relate to the Second Embodiments FIGS. 7, 8, and 9
  • During manufacture, and getting closer to a predetermined distal end 126, fewer strands of individual hair strands can be attached to create a thin distal end 126.
  • A comb or clip can be sewn onto the edge 124 of the braided side of the wefted article of manufacture using needle and thread, glue, or both.
  • The above methods are presently contemplated for the embodiments, however other values, dimensions, lengths, and directions can be used, some of which are already stated above.
  • Another article of manufacture inserts items of interest to certain groups, such as gold thread to add more flair. Alternatively, ornaments are incorporated into the wefted hair extension 132.
  • Another article of manufacture is easier to make, use, and is more affordable.
  • Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. For example, the wefted hair extensions can use synthetic hair as opposed to human hair. Installation can be in any direction based on purpose of installation; only one groove can house the individual hair strands as in the case for extremely short rows, or there can be a series of grooves for longer length wefted hair extensions.
  • Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
  • ADVANTAGES
  • From the description above, a number of advantages of the embodiments become evident:
  • (a) The embodiments are flipped over and do not show the cornrow braids.
  • (b) No strands of a wearer's hair can ever be accidentally left out of the cornrow braids.
  • (c) 100% of a client's native hair is cocooned and protected within each cornrow braid.
  • (d) The embodiments can be used for partial, as well as full head hair extensions.
  • (e) The embodiments are a healthier alternative method of hair extensions.
  • (f) The embodiments make commercial weft hair extensions almost obsolete.
  • (g) The non-braided side appears to be growing out of a wearer's scalp.
  • (h) The finished product appears to be growing out a wearer's scalp.
  • (i) The embodiments provide a finishing touch.
  • (j) Several embodiments can be sold as a kit.
  • (k) The embodiments seamlessly and completely cover hair and scalp imperfections.
  • (l) A hair part can be created at an area of hair loss even if that area is completely bald.
  • (m) The embodiments are wearable by women and some men.
  • (n) A majority of the embodiments have universal appeal and use for all hair textures.
  • (o) The embodiments provide a more sophisticated look.
  • (p) The embodiments look naturally occurring.
  • (q) The embodiments provide a seamless, continuous, full weft.
  • (r) The embodiments do not require first chemically processing the wearer's native hair.
  • (s) The embodiments provide more control over the density or thickness of the extension.
  • (t) The embodiments provide more control over creating highlights and/or lowlights.
  • (u) The wearer does not have to first chemically relax their hair prior to installation.
  • (v) The method of the first embodiment has proven to grow hair and protect the scalp.
  • (w) The installation lasts several months.
  • (x) The method is economical compared to some hair extension methods.
  • (y) Highlights and lowlights can be installed concurrently, saving a step.
  • (z) Different lengths can be used concurrently, saving a step from styling to cutting.
  • (aa) Hair practitioners and stylists can install the embodiments with minimal instructions.
  • (bb) The embodiments are an acceptable solution for hair and scalp issues.
  • (cc) The embodiments can be installed at any location, and in any direction.
  • (dd) The embodiments provide a more natural looking crown area.
  • (ee) The embodiments are installable in small or large areas of a wearer's head.
  • (ff) The embodiments can replace areas of missing hair.
  • (gg) The embodiments add volume, and length.
  • FIGS. 1 d, 2 a, 3, and 5 show wefted hair extensions 132 that have been flipped over to their non-braided side 135, while FIGS. 1 c, 1 e, 2, and 4 show wefted hair extensions 132 that have not been flipped over to their non-braided side 135. FIG. 6 can be flipped over to its non-braided side 135. These wefted hair extensions 132 can be used to hide imperfections of a wearer's hair and scalp, as well as imperfections such as weft tracks and tubes of other methods.
  • CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
  • Accordingly, the reader will see that the wefted NoSho hair extensions of the various embodiments can be used to camouflage imperfections of the hair and scalp, as well as imperfections left behind by other hair extension methods. Additionally, the mirror image part 142 has a desired outcome of looking natural, and not fake.
  • Object of the Embodiments
  • It is an object of the embodiments to directly intertwine individual hair strands together.
  • It is also an object to directly intertwine individual hair strands at the base of native hair.
  • It is further an object of the embodiments to provide a more durable hair replacement.
  • Another object of the embodiments is to provide a method with more universal appeal.
  • Another object of the embodiments is to provide a healthier method of hair extensions.
  • Yet another object of the embodiments is to provide installation at any location of a wearer's head.
  • Still another object of the embodiments is to provide installation in any direction.
  • Still yet another object of the embodiments is to provide installation at small or large areas.
  • Another object is to provide a welted hair extension that can be installed at anywhere.
  • Another object is to provide coverage for normal, and problem hair and scalp.
  • The following paragraphs discuss related art, and expound the differences and distinctions from the present embodiments:
  • U.S. Pat. No. 2,621,663 issued on Dec. 16, 1952 to Christina M. Jenkins, titled “Permanently Attaching Commercial Hair to Live Hair,” describes a loom-like weaving method of attaching loose unwefted hair to the native hair, using a series of cords or thread which are intermittently woven with the wearer's native hair, then with commercial hair. Unlike the Jenkins method, the present method inserts individual hair strands 108 directly to the base of the native hair of a wearer without the use of any tools. Additionally, the Jenkins method does not describe installation at the edges of a wearer's hair line, nor from the hair line toward the crown of a wearer's head. Furthermore, the Jenkins method does not insert individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120. Furthermore, the Jenkins method has the same disadvantages of other methods already discussed.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 2,865,380, issued on Dec. 23, 1958 to Princess Mitchell, titled “Hairpieces And Method Of Hair Preparation,” describes a two step process whereby a series of horizontal part lines are created for the purposes of cornrow braiding at the scalp and throughout a wearer's hair. The Mitchell method suffers from the problem that all sewn weft hair extensions have, which includes the problem of accidentally cutting the native hair of the wearer upon removing the thread used for stitching the weft. Furthermore, the Mitchell method requires the assistance of a person or hair practitioner to remove the stitching, whereas the embodiments can be uninstalled by the wearer herself or himself by simply unraveling the distal end of a cornrow braid. Furthermore, the Mitchell method does not insert individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120. Even furthermore, in contrast to the Mitchell method, the first embodiment does not require the use of any tools during installation.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,280,826, issued on Oct. 25, 1966 to Christina M. Jenkins, titled “Hair Piece And Method Of Making And Permanently Attaching Same,” is another method that does not use braids or cornrows for the installation of hair extensions. The Jenkins method describes commercial weft extensions secured by fastener clips stitched thereto and attached to the native hair of a wearer. This method allows temporary installation and removal. However, the clips are bulky and uncomfortable. Generally, this method must be removed to shampoo hair, or to go to sleep. Additionally, fastener clips cannot be worn for extended periods of time. Hair care and maintenance require extra care so as not to drag down the clips progressively lower than originally installed, causing hair to snag on the metal clips and tear the native hair.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,534, issued on Jan. 3, 1967 to Jess Dorkin, titled “Hair Thickening Method,” is another method that does not use braids or cornrows for the installation of hair extensions. The Dorkin method describes a method of thickening the hair of a wearer by—permanently installing individual strands or groups of hair strands that are bonded with the aid of an adhesive agent. This method is time consuming compared to the present embodiments. Additionally, this method suffers from the same harmful problems to the scalp and hair that most bonding methods inflict on the native hair, which includes breakage from brushing and combing, and permanent hair loss from the adhesive used in the bonding process. Furthermore, the Dorkin method does not insert individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120. Even furthermore, hair care such as brushing, as well as removal, requiring the use of harsh chemicals, also contribute to the native hair of a wearer.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,330, issued on Feb. 8, 1983 to Charles W. Nelson, titled “Method And Apparatus For Attachment Of Hair Units,” is another method that does not use braids or cornrow braids for the installation of hair extensions. The Nelson method describes a process whereby tufts of native hair are grouped together and secured at their base by a filament wire that is twisted about each group, forming successive groups of tufts that are then secured using an adhesive. This intricate wire, glue, and thread method suffers the same drawbacks as other glued or sewn methods that are harmful to a wearer's scalp. Further, this wire, glue, and thread method is clumpy and awkward at the scalp. This method is the most labor intensive to install as well as to remove, whereas the first embodiment is relatively easy to install and remove. Also, present embodiments also do not use any tools that reduce the comfort level of the wearer, unlike the Nelson method. Furthermore, the Nelson method does not insert individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120. Even furthermore, this method requires assistance from a professional to uninstall the unit, whereas the first embodiment can be removed by the wearer within a minimum of 30 minutes by simply unraveling the cornrow braids.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,330, issued on Feb. 8, 1983 to Charles W. Nelson, titled “Method And Apparatus For Attachment Of Hair Units,” describes the use of thin wire, or filaments of wire that are twisted about a small number of grouped strands of native hair, and then secured with adhesive. Nelson does not disclose any actual supplemental hair configuration or structure in his patent. The problems associated with Nelson's method are the same as described as with glued or sewn methods—these methods harm the native hair and scalp. Furthermore, this method does not use individual hair strands 108 and cornrows attached directly to the base of native hair to create a wefted hair extension 132.
  • International Patent No. WO 87/5783, published on Oct. 8, 1987, titled “A Method Of And Apparatus For Styling Hair,” describes the same invention as that described in the '029 U.S. patent to the same inventor, discussed further above. The points raised in that discussion are seen to apply here, as well.
  • German Patent No. 3,722,108, published on Jan. 12, 1989, titled “Device For Attaching Artificial Hair To Natural Hair,” describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a small cylindrical sleeve or clamp which is secured to the native hair of the wearer, with a weft of hair having a cooperating mechanical attachment device extending therefrom. The assembly is somewhat related to that disclosed in the Barrington '867 U.S. patent, discussed further above, in which a small heat shrink sleeve is secured about a tuft of the native hair, and a plug forming the end of a hair extension. While the '108 German Patent Publication discloses the mechanical attachment of a complete weft of hair, no disclosure is made of provision for a series of attachment strands from the weft, for interweaving with the native hair. Furthermore, the method does not insert individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,029, issued on May 16, 1989 to Raymond F. Bird, titled “Method Of And Apparatus For Styling Hair,” is another method that does not use braids or cornrows for the installation of hair extensions. The Bird method describes a commercial weft extension with a pocket formed at its bound edge or ‘tape”, having a wire attached to the aforementioned pocket for the purposes of attaching to the native hair of a wearer. Consumers object to this method because the pocket adds additional bulk to the hair, causing discomfort to the wearer when sleeping, combing, brushing, and shampooing.
  • Additionally, the wires can cause perforations at a wearer's scalp, causing minor injuries. This process is time consuming and laborious to install and remove, unlike the first embodiment. Further, the Bird method requires a professional to uninstall, whereas the first embodiment can be removed by the person herself/himself, and within approximately thirty minutes. Furthermore, the Bird method does not insert individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120. Even furthermore, this method is a direct opposite of the method of the first embodiment that does not use any tools for installation, let alone wire and tape.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,173, issued on Oct. 30, 1990 to Della L. Russell, titled “Hairpiece For Compensation Of Hair Loss,” is another method that does not use braids or cornrows for the installation of hair extensions. The Russell method describes a head band having individual supplemental hair strands disposed thereon that is easy both to wear and remove by a wearer. However this temporary method is only intended to cover a small area of baldness or thinning hair 148. It is deficient for the purposes of covering up areas of baldness and thinning hair 148 that do not conform to a predetermined linear area. Additionally, this method is a hair extension method but only in the most minimalistic way, being nothing more than a item to cover a very small area of bald patches, or hair loss. The first embodiment on the other hand, can be installed wherever desired, and is a permanent installation that the wearer can shampoo, and treat generally as they would their normal hair.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,745, issued on Dec. 17, 1991 to Byung J. Cheh, titled “Hair Extension Process,” describes the use of hot melted adhesive to bond small groups of strands of supplemental hair extensions to the native hair of the wearer. Cheh does not disclose the use of any form of wefted hair extension 132 with his process. The Cheh process, and the problems associated therewith, is more closely related to the process described in the Dorkin '534 U.S. patent, described further above, than they are to the first embodiment.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,867, issued on Apr. 28, 1992 to Mark C. Barrington, titled “Process For Extending Human Hair,” describes the installation of a small plug to the ends of a relatively small number of strands of supplemental hair. A heat shrink sleeve is installed near the base of a relatively small number of strands of the wearer's native hair, and the plug of the supplemental hair group is placed in the heat shrink sleeve. The heat shrink sleeve is then shrunk to grip the supplemental hair plug therein. This technique results in the same problems as incurred with methods wherein the supplemental hair is glued or mechanically fastened to small tufts of the wearer's native hair, i.e. the difficulty in combing or brushing out the hair when a large number of relatively small nodules are installed therein. Also, while Barrington states that the supplemental hair plugs may be removed by reheating them, this is a job for a professional. Such a task could not be readily accomplished by the wearer of the Barrington hair supplement.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,761, issued on Jun. 16, 1992 to Karen L. Meister, titled “Method For Attaching Hair Extensions,” describes the use of a series of small sleeves which are crimped about relatively small clumps or tufts of native hair of a wearer, near the bases thereof. A weft hair extension is then sewn through the bases of the tufts, using a needle and thread. The Meister method eliminates the need to braid the native hair, but substitutes a series of small crimped sleeves, which must be removed professionally when the wearer wishes to remove the hair extensions. The Meister system more closely resembles the supplemental hair attachment method disclosed in the Barrington '867 U.S. patent, discussed immediately above, than it does the present supplemental hair attachment method.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,986, issued on Oct. 25, 1994 to Drucilla W. Hargrett, titled “Hair Locking Process And Apparatus,” describes a braid assembly which is secured to tufts of the native hair of the wearer, rather than braiding the native hair itself. The braid attachment includes a series of small rings therein, with the weft of supplemental hair also having a like series of rings. The weft and braid rings are sewn together to secure the supplemental hair weft to the braid attachment of the wearer. This process involves a fair amount of time, as the braid material must be braided into the native hair of the wearer before the weft hair extension can be sewn to the rings of the braid. This ring-to-ring attachment is relatively loose in comparison to the present wefted hair extension 132 attachment, and moreover cannot be removed by the wearer, due to the need to determine the location of the attachment thread precisely in order to cut it without damaging the native hair of the wearer.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,452, issued on Sep. 3, 1996 to Eslie O. Barlow, titled “Hairpiece With Adjustable Support Loop,” describes a loop having a series of hair tufts extending therefrom. The loop has an adjustable circumference, but is still placed relatively loosely upon the head. No method for positively attaching the loop or supplemental hair to the natural hair of the wearer is disclosed.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,298, issued on Nov. 19, 1996 to Cassandra Hinton, titled “Apparatus And Method For Concealing Attachments Of Hair Supplements,” describes a relatively short and narrow adhesive tape for concealing the braid line of a conventional hair weave attachment braid, e.g., the weave attachment braid as disclosed in the Mitchell '380 U.S. patent discussed further above. The Hinton tape includes a covering of relatively short hairs on the outer surface thereof, to camouflage the underlying braid and weft attachment. The weft hair extension disclosed in the Hinton U.S. patent is not closely related to the first embodiment, as it does not disclose individual hair strands inserted into a cornrow braid to form a seamless, wefted hair extension directly onto the scalp of a wearer.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,819, issued on Apr. 21, 1998 to Janice A. Hicks, titled “Process For Securing Supplemental Hair To The Natural Hair Of An Individual,” describes a relatively complex process in which a weft hair extension is bound by sewing a series of blanket stitches therein adjacent to one end thereof, with the bound portion of the weft then being sewn into a previously formed braid in the wearer's native hair. The Hicks method is quite complex in comparison to the present method, and requires considerably more time to complete. Moreover, the Hicks method requires professional care in the removal of hair extensions attached using her method, due to the need to carefully sever the strands of thread securing the hair extensions to the braids without damaging the native hair of the wearer. This is not a problem with the present welted hair extensions 132 and method.
  • European Patent No. 876,773, published on Nov. 11, 1998, titled “Method, Apparatus And Hair Extension Product Thereof,” describes a method of forming hair weft extensions from loose locks of hair, by applying a thermoplastic resin to the ends of the hair strands and to seal them. The '773 patent Publication is primarily directed to a tool for forming the hair in the desired shape and sealing or adhesively attaching the common ends together. No disclosure is made for attaching the completed wefts to the native hair of the wearer, as described in the present disclosure.
  • British Patent No. 2,327,605, published on Feb. 3, 1999, titled “Scalp Patch For Hair Extension,” describes a patch having hair extending from one surface for securing to the central area of the scalp of a wearer. The edge of the patch is devoid of hair, and provides a margin for sewing the patch to cornrow braids formed in the native hair of the wearer. The Arogundade '605 patent Publication further discloses the use of a plurality of parallel cornrow braids formed in the native hair, and stitching one or more lengths of weft hair extensions together in a sinusoidal confirmation for greater fullness. However, no disclosure is made by Arogundade of any provision for attachment strands extending from the weft or bound edge of a hair extension, for interweaving or intertwining into braids formed in the native hair, as provided by the first embodiment.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,107, issued on Feb. 1, 2000 to Tatiana L. Vermeer et al., titled “Detachable Hairpiece,” describes a barrette type device having a hair extension permanently attached thereto and extending therefrom. The barrette clips onto the native hair of the wearer, with the hair extension extending from the barrette to provide the appearance of longer hair for the wearer. No individual commercial hair strands forming a welted product attached to the base of native hair integrally as individual commercial hair strands are being cornrow braided is mentioned, as described with the first embodiment. Clip hair extensions are temporary and cannot be worn for extended periods of time. This method suffers from the same disadvantages as the Jenkins 826 method.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,122, issued on Oct. 24, 2000 to Annie L. Campbell et al., titled “Self Adhesive Hair Weft Extension And Method Of Attaching Same,” describes a weft hair extension having a contact adhesive strip applied to the wefted or bound end of the hair extension. A release strip is removed from the adhesive, and the hair extension is adhesively attached to the native hair of the wearer for use. The adhesive principle also results in damage to the hair when the tape is removed, with at least some hair being torn, broken, and/or pulled out by the roots. Campbell et al. do not disclose a weft hair extension intertwining individual commercial hair strands forming a wefted weave directly onto the native hair, as is the present wefted hair extension 132. Furthermore, the Campbell method does not insert individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120.
  • U.S. Patent Publication No. 2001/35,192, published on Nov. 1, 2001, titled “Self Adhesive Hair Extension,” describes a weft hair extension and method of attachment which closely resemble those describe in the '736 issued U.S. patent to the same Inventor, described further above. No non-adhesive attachment method is discussed by Townsend.
  • U.S. Patent Publication No. 2001/37,813, published on Nov. 8, 2001, titled, “Attachable Hair Extension,” describes the use of an adhesive strip disposed across the individual strands of a mass of hair to form a weft hair extension. Some of the adhesive is exposed between the individual hair strands 108. A release sheet is removed from the adhesive, and the weft is applied to the hair or scalp of the wearer, with the exposed adhesive between the hair strands serving to secure the weft to the hair or scalp of the wearer. This hair extension and method are more closely related to the various adhesively applied hair extensions of the Campbell et al. '122 and Townsend '736 U.S. patents and the Townsend '192 U.S. patent Publication, than it is to the first embodiment with its intertwining of individual commercial hair strands with the base of native hair of the wearer while at the same time progressively forming a new product, namely a wefted product.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,736, issued on Jun. 18, 2002 to Valerie Townsend, titled “Method Of Using A Self Adhesive Hair Extension,” describes a hair extension and process which are very closely related to the disclosure of the Campbell et al. '122 U.S. patent discussed immediately above. Townsend differs from Campbell et al. in that Townsend sews a strip of adhesive material to the wefted end of the hair extension, and adhesively attaches her hair extension to the scalp of the wearer, rather than to the hair, as is the case with Campbell et al Townsend does not disclose a wefted product formed by integrally braiding or cornrowing individual strands of hair onto the base of a wearers native hair.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,636, issued on Sep. 10, 2002 to Christine M. Vittallo, titled “Method Of Attaching Supplemental Hair To Human Natural Hair,” describes the application of a liquid adhesive directly to the scalp or native hair of the wearer, and then adhesively securing a weft of supplemental hair to the adhesive area. This method is more closely related to the adhesive attachment methods of the Campbell et al. '122 and Townsend '736 U.S. patents, than it is to the first embodiment that simultaneously creates a wefted hair extension product by intertwining individual commercial hair strands directly onto the native hair.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,327, issued on Jan. 22, 2008 to Carol Frazier describes a laborious method whereby a commercial weft extension having attachment strands secured at its weft base, both of which extend from the weft base in the same direction, has a removable separator sheet between them. The method uses clips for the purposes of fastening the base, or bound end of a weft extension onto the uppermost part line of a horizontal section of braidable native hair of a wearer. Next, the attachment strands are pulled downward and incorporated into the cornrow braid progressively along the length of the row of hair. After braiding, the separator sheet is removed with some difficulty because of the materials described. Then, the commercial weft is released and allowed to fall down upon itself. To hide the weft tracks, the method rolls the weft tracks or edges over upon themselves, and then stitched in place with needle and thread. Consumers object to wearing this method because weft tracks are rigid and bulky. Additionally folding them upon themselves creates even more bulk for the wearer to contend with, especially when sleeping. The Frazier method has other disadvantages as described for commercial wefts, and as per the Bird patent discussed above.
  • In addition to the above patents and patent publications, As of late April of last year, when the embodiments were finalized and test marketing began, the Inventor became aware of a possible infringer. Several interested calls from many different States including New Jersey confirm commercial viability. A printout of our web page: www.upalmit.com is attached accordingly. Additionally, the Inventor came across a braided hair extension technique on www.braidsbybreslin.com, and kristenlock.com. Printouts are attached accordingly.
  • The prior art is dissimilar to the embodiments and offers no unexpected results. Additionally, the prior art teaches away from various methods of the NoSho wefted hair extensions 132 such as: no hair shorter than 18 inches can be used. Also, the prior art teaches taking hair out of a cornrow braid all along a row. Additionally, my embodiments looks more polished and mimic a more natural looking head of hair, starting right at a hair line, or lack thereof. The methods and embodiments are starkly dissimilar. The two cannot be confused with each other. Therefore my technique is novel over the prior art. Even furthermore, the prior art does not offer the non surgical hair loss solutions of my method. The prior art method does not anticipate or allow for providing such a service because of its described limitations. Further, the prior art method does not teach inserting individual hair strands into grooves 122 on the side 123 of a cornrow braid 120.
  • Accordingly, and within timely fashion, letters patent are being sought.
  • None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly, or in combination, is seen to describe the instant embodiments as claimed. Thus, the reader will see that the embodiments provide more reliable, more functional, more aesthetic, yet economical installation that is readily available to any person with any type of hair and scalp condition and/or hair length and thickening needs. Thus, according to all of the above, a wefted hair extension patent solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

Claims (10)

1. A wefted hair extension 132 comprising the steps of:
a) intertwining individual hair strands 108 directly with native hair 106 of a wearer and a braid means for providing at least one groove 122 along a side 123 of said braid means;
b) inserting a plurality of individual hair strands 108 into at least one of said grooves 122 whereby the zone of attachment is rendered invisible.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said braid means comprises a cornrow braid 120.
3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising a braid spine 100.
4. The method according to claim 3 providing for a mirror image part 142 wefted hair extension 132 comprising a left side parent row 138, and right side parent row 140 whereby said mirror image part 142 provides a natural look as if the wefted hair extension is growing out of the wearer's scalp.
6. In combination, a finishing touch left side parent cornrow 138 and right side parent cornrow 140 wefted hair extensions 132 are installed adjacent to each other, their edges 124 facing each other at a common part line 104 wherein said left side parent cornrow 138 and right side parent cornrow 140 have a distal end 126.
7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising a braid spine.
8. The method according to claim 6 having at least one left side parent cornrow 138.
9. The method according to claim 6 comprising at least one right side parent cornrow 140.
10. A wefted hair extension 132, comprising:
a) a cornrow braid 120 base,
b) said cornrow braid 120 base having a plurality of grooves 122 along its sides 123 whereby said grooves 122 are the result of cornrow rotations 102, and
c) means for providing individual hair strands 108 to be attached through said grooves 122.
11. The hair extension according to claim 10 having a plurality of individual hair strands 108 extending from said plurality of grooves 122, whereby one side 123 of said cornrow braid 120 base has said individual hair strands 108 extending from said cornrow braid 120 base.
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Cited By (12)

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US20120006281A1 (en) * 2010-07-06 2012-01-12 Sandra Mary Rabinowitz Horse hair braiding device and method
US20120145174A1 (en) * 2010-12-13 2012-06-14 Frazier Carol W Braid-on wig hair extension
US20210235800A1 (en) * 2018-11-28 2021-08-05 Kaneka Corporation Artificial hair, artificial hair unit, and method for attaching artificial hair
US11172749B2 (en) 2016-12-20 2021-11-16 Lashify, Inc. Applicators and cases for artificial lash extensions
US11219260B2 (en) 2016-07-28 2022-01-11 Lashify, Inc. Artificial lash extensions
US20220132964A1 (en) * 2020-11-05 2022-05-05 Shantalle SMITH Methods of attaching and removing a hair extension
USD952258S1 (en) 2017-07-27 2022-05-17 Lashify, Inc. Artificial eyelash extension applicator
USD955635S1 (en) 2018-10-19 2022-06-21 Lashify, Inc. False eyelash applicator
US11432608B2 (en) 2019-10-03 2022-09-06 Lashify, Inc. Stacking artificial lash extensions
US11596190B2 (en) 2020-01-31 2023-03-07 Covet and Mane LLC Hand-tied hair weft
US11771158B2 (en) 2018-10-19 2023-10-03 Lashify, Inc. Applicators for applying eyelash extensions and methods for use and manufacture thereof
US11832669B2 (en) 2019-01-14 2023-12-05 Lashify, Inc. Lash extensions and methods of manufacture and use thereof

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120006281A1 (en) * 2010-07-06 2012-01-12 Sandra Mary Rabinowitz Horse hair braiding device and method
US20120145174A1 (en) * 2010-12-13 2012-06-14 Frazier Carol W Braid-on wig hair extension
US11330855B2 (en) 2016-07-28 2022-05-17 Lashify, Inc. Method of applying artificial lash extensions
US11219260B2 (en) 2016-07-28 2022-01-11 Lashify, Inc. Artificial lash extensions
US11234472B2 (en) 2016-07-28 2022-02-01 Lashify, Inc. Artificial lash extensions
US11253020B2 (en) 2016-07-28 2022-02-22 Lashify, Inc. Artificial lash extensions
US11330856B2 (en) 2016-07-28 2022-05-17 Lashify, Inc. Artificial lash extensions
US11172749B2 (en) 2016-12-20 2021-11-16 Lashify, Inc. Applicators and cases for artificial lash extensions
US11278102B2 (en) 2016-12-20 2022-03-22 Lashify, Inc. Applicator for artificial lash extensions
US11832710B2 (en) 2016-12-20 2023-12-05 Lashify, Inc. Storage case for artificial lash extensions
USD1006319S1 (en) 2017-07-27 2023-11-28 Lashify, Inc. Applicator for applying lash extensions
USD971505S1 (en) 2017-07-27 2022-11-29 Lashify, Inc. Artificial eyelash extension applicator
USD952258S1 (en) 2017-07-27 2022-05-17 Lashify, Inc. Artificial eyelash extension applicator
USD987891S1 (en) 2017-07-27 2023-05-30 Lashify, Inc. Applicator for applying lash extensions
USD971506S1 (en) 2017-07-27 2022-11-29 Lashify, Inc. Artifical eyelash extension applicator
USD955635S1 (en) 2018-10-19 2022-06-21 Lashify, Inc. False eyelash applicator
US11771158B2 (en) 2018-10-19 2023-10-03 Lashify, Inc. Applicators for applying eyelash extensions and methods for use and manufacture thereof
US20210235800A1 (en) * 2018-11-28 2021-08-05 Kaneka Corporation Artificial hair, artificial hair unit, and method for attaching artificial hair
US11832669B2 (en) 2019-01-14 2023-12-05 Lashify, Inc. Lash extensions and methods of manufacture and use thereof
US11432608B2 (en) 2019-10-03 2022-09-06 Lashify, Inc. Stacking artificial lash extensions
US11819079B2 (en) 2019-10-03 2023-11-21 Lashify, Inc. Stacking artificial lash extensions
US11596190B2 (en) 2020-01-31 2023-03-07 Covet and Mane LLC Hand-tied hair weft
US11653708B2 (en) 2020-01-31 2023-05-23 Covet and Mane LLC Hand-tied hair weft
US11641900B2 (en) * 2020-11-05 2023-05-09 Shantalle J. Smith Methods of attaching and removing a hair extension
US20220132964A1 (en) * 2020-11-05 2022-05-05 Shantalle SMITH Methods of attaching and removing a hair extension

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