WO2008031436A1

WO2008031436A1 - A device for increasing volume and/or length of a user's hair

Info

Publication number: WO2008031436A1
Application number: PCT/DK2007/050114
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fini Dahl Hansen; Vini Dahl Hansen
Original assignee: Fini Dahl Hansen; Vini Dahl Hansen
Priority date: 2006-09-11
Filing date: 2007-08-27
Publication date: 2008-03-20
Also published as: DK176522B1; DK200601162A; EP2083645A1

Abstract

The device (1) for increasing the volume and/or length of a user's hair (9) comprises an arc-shaped hair band (2) with two ends (2a) and a number of artificial and/or natural strands of hair (3). Moreover, the de- vice (1) comprises a string (4) with two ends (4a), one end of the strands of hair (3) being fastened to and along the string (4) between its two ends (4a), and the ends (4a) of the string (4) are fastened substan- tially to each their respective end (2a) of the hair band (2). Apart from that, the string (4) is not fastened to the hair band (2). Thus, when the hair band (2) is disposed on the user's head, the string (4) can be brought in position at the back head (10) of the user, the hair thus increasing the volume and/or the length of the user's hair (9).

Description

A DEVICE FOR INCREASING THE VOLUME AND/OR LENGTH OF A USER'S HAIR

A first aspect of the present invention relates to a device for in- creasing the volume and/or length of a user's hair, the device comprising an arc-shaped hair band with two ends, the hair band being adapted to be disposed over the head of the user to be fastened thereto, and a number of artificial and/or natural strands of hair.

Devices for increasing, for cosmetic reasons, the volume and/or the length of a user's hair, e.g. wigs and hair extensions, are used as a means for obtaining hair-does, which cannot right away be achieved with the user's own hair. Such a device is preferably to remain securely positioned on the user's head, and, furthermore, the device should be resistant to wear stemming from general use and cleaning. Finally, it should be easy and cheap to manufacture and replace.

One of the methods most frequently used for obtaining the above is the method well known from hairdressing saloons of splicing, plaiting, sowing or knotting artificial or natural hair directly onto the user's own hair. The hairdresser splices, plaits, knots or preferably sows artificial or natural hair onto the user's own hair, most often the back hair, near the root of the hair, with a view to increasing the volume or the length of the user's hair. This method is very costly (several thousand crowns), the mounting alone often taking several hours for a professional hairdresser. Moreover, this solution has a comparatively short life, as the attached strands of hair very quickly decompose by general daily wear and wash, as they cannot be detached and attached according to need. It would, for instance, be advantageous to be able to detach the hair device in the night. Furthermore, the user's natural hair will after some time grow out, the result being that the joints between the at- tached hair and the user's own hair become visible, which leads to a necessary re-attachment of the attached hair within a few months. On the other hand, the method has the advantage that the joints between the attached strands of hair and the user's own hair can be easily and effectively hidden in the user's own hair, just as the hair device provides a natural, appealing and effective increase of the user's hair.

Other devices, which seek to solve the above problems, are known in several different variations according to purpose, and may employ fastening means such as e.g. combs (of the type commonly known from hair ornaments, for instance hair rubber bands and flowers), threads (for instance nylon or metal threads) and hair ribbons (resilient, flat ribbons, preferably made from a textile material) for securing the device to the user's head.

For instance, US 1526440 discloses a device, which comprises an arc-shaped comb, to which strands of hair are fastened in the whole length of the comb. This device is easy to put on and even makes an exchange of the hair possible, but it sits badly, and, when the device is put on, it can clearly be seen that it is a question of artificial hair. Likewise, a device is known from US 1780766, which consists of hair tied to a cord, and each end of the cord is tied to two small combs. In both cases, the combs are used for fastening the device to the user's hair. The device is, however, visible both at the combs and in the whole extension of the cord, which gives an unnatural effect. This device is not secured sufficiently to the user's head either. Another variant is known from GB 2107181, in which a row of individual strands of hair is tied or knotted to and depending along a closed, filamentous circlet, made for instance from nylon, and in which one or more such filamentous circlets can be disposed on a user's head. It is, however, difficult to hide the threads in the user's hair and to ob- tain a natural effect. Moreover, the individual strands of hair are very difficult to exchange. From CH 662043 a similar device is known, said device comprising at least two bands of metal or reinforced plastics shaped after the user's head, hair being knotted to the bands over their entire lengths, and in which the bands are fastened by two cords being tied together, said cords being fastened to the ends of the bands, under the chin of the user. The device lets the artificial hair cover most of the head and must, therefore, be categorized as a toupet, which would not be suitable for hair extension.

US 5647384 discloses a device, in which hair has been attached to the upper side, and possibly also to the underside, of a tubular, flexible element over a major part of its length, and in which the element is adapted to be mounted on the upper part of a hair band or a similar device, which may be mounted on a user's head. This device is most visible and thus unnatural to look at and is, therefore, primarily usable as a kind of hair ornament, i.e. it is not intended for use as a natural extension of a user's hair.

Moreover, WO 05/044031 Al discloses a device made from a bundle of artificial hair fastened to a wide and flat band substantially over the whole length of the band. The device is mounted on the hair of the user by pulling a number of the user's hairs through openings in the band and then to unite the hair tufts pulled through two neighbouring openings by means of for instance a clip device. Thus, the device resembles the device described above, which is sown onto the user's hair, and it is likewise easy to conceal in the user's own hair and sits well. However, the very mounting and thus also the exchange of the strands of hair is, like in the case of the above-mentioned device sown on by a hairdresser, comprehensive and time-consuming, just as it will become visible, when the user's natural hair grows out. Finally, WO 97/47213 discloses a device of the type mentioned by way of introduction for cosmetic attachment of a fringe portion, the device consisting of a natural or artificial fringe portion attached to a resilient headband by sowing, gluing or the like, along the whole length of a crescent-shaped curve of the headband, and in which the headband is either in the form of a circular, resilient headband or a crescent-shaped headband retained on the user's head by a spring action. The device is simple to mount, but it is only suited for creating an artificial fringe. The strands of hair cannot be exchanged without also exchanging the headband. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for increasing the volume and/or the length of a user's hair, where the device can be easily and quickly put in position, easily can be detached and attached and easily be modified according to need, also by the user herself, is cheap in manufacture and falls in naturally with the user's natural hair and thus gives a pleasant and natural look, when it is mounted on a user's head.

The object is met by a device as described by way of introduction, said device being characterized in that, moreover, it comprises a string with two ends, one end of the strands of hair being fastened to and along the string between its two ends, whereby the other end of the strands of hair extends in a direction away from the string, the ends of the string are fastened substantially to each their respective ends of the hair band, and, apart from that, the string is not fastened to the hair band, when the hair band is disposed on the user's head, the string can be brought in position at the back head of the user, the strands of hair thus increasing the volume and/or the length of the user's hair.

The combination of using a hair band and fastening the ends thereof to the respective ends of a string provides a device, the hair of which can easily and quickly be brought to match with the back head of a long-haired user. The use of a hair band further makes it possible to retain the device in a safe way at the desired point on the user's head without making it unpleasant to wear, and makes it at the same time easy to take off and on according to need. The hair band may after the mounting be mistaken for an ordinary hair band and may thus like an ordinary hair band be used for pulling the user's fringe back.

Furthermore, it is possible in an easy and simple way to exchange the string and thus the strands of hair secured thereto, such that the strands of hair and the string can be mounted on different hair bands and vice versa. At the same time, it is possible to wash the hair attached to the string separately and in this way increase the life of this hair substantially. Finally, it is possible to mount the device according to the invention at a much lower price than the above-mentioned device, which is sown onto a user's hair by a hairdresser, as the device according to the invention can be easily and quickly mounted by the user herself.

In a second aspect the invention provides a hair band according to claim 6 for use in the device as described above.

In a third aspect the invention provides a set according to claim 8, which can be put together to form a device for increasing the volume and/or the length of a user's hair.

The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the three aspects of the invention.

The invention will be explained in detail in the following by means of an example of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawing, in which

Fig. 1 shows a photo of an embodiment of a set, which can be assembled to form a device according to the invention for increasing the volume and/or the length of a user's hair, Fig. 2 shows a photo of a set according to Fig. 1, the set being assembled to form a device according to the invention for increasing the volume and/or the length of a user's hair,

Fig. 3 shows a sketch of a hair band according to the invention, which hair band constitutes a part of the set according to Fig. 1, and Figs 4A to 4F show photos of steps involved in the process of disposing the device according to Fig. 2 in position on a user's head.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a set according to the invention, which can be assembled to form an embodiment of the device according to the invention, as shown in Fig. 2. The set comprises an embodiment of a hair band according to the invention designated 2, a string in the form of a cord 4 and strands of hair 3.

The hair band 2 is an arc-shaped hair band with two ends 2a, said hair band being adapted to be disposed onto a user's head to be fastened thereto. The hair band 2 is flat and black and is made from a suitable type of plastics, such that the hair band 2 (like an ordinary hair band) is sufficiently rigid and wide to be able to retain the cord 4 and the hair 3 at the back head of the user and is at the same time sufficiently resilient to be placed and secured over the user's head by use of a spring action. In other embodiments the hair band 2 can be made from another type of plastics or another material and have any other colour or shape imparting the above-mentioned properties to the hair band 2.

The hair band 2 further comprises two fastening means at each of its ends 2a. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the fastening means are, as will be seen from Fig. 3, in the form of snap fastener members 6a, which are adapted to snap into corresponding snap fastener members 6b placed at the ends 4a of the cord 4 by a snap locking mechanism to be detachably fastened. The snap fastener members 6a, 6b shown are of the type known to the person skilled in the art and con- sist of mutually corresponding male and female parts, the female part comprising a hole with a spring action, a protruding tap of the male part being able to snap into this hole by means of the spring. In other embodiments there may be another number of fastening means than two at each of the ends 2a of the hair band 2, and the fastening means may also be other types of buttons, hook and loop tape or the like. In yet other embodiments the fastening means may be of a type like e.g. rivets, the parts of which may be fixedly fastened to each other.

The terms "at the end of" and "substantially at the end of" the band and the cord, respectively, do not generally in this application mean that the snap fastener members 6a, 6b cannot be slightly (e.g. 2-5 cm) displaced towards the centre of the band and the cord, respectively. In the embodiment shown, the two snap fastener members 6a at each side of the hair band 2 are positioned in an end area displaced approx. 3 and 4 cm, respectively, towards the centre of the hair band 2, whereas the snap fastener members 6b are positioned in an end area displaced approx. 0.5 cm towards the centre of the cord 4.

The hair band 2 may further comprise teeth 7 at its inner side, as shown in Fig. 3, said teeth 7 aiding in retaining the hair band 2 on the user's head by meshing with the user's hair. Such teeth 7 are common in conventional hair bands and may also be used for holding back the fringe of the user (see Fig. 4F). These teeth 7 are preferably made integrally with the rest of the hair band 2 and are made from the same material.

The cord 4 of the set shown in Fig. 1 has two ends 4a and is made from a flexible material, e.g. nylon. The cord 4 is substantially longer, for instance approx. twice as long, than the shortest distance between the ends 2a of the hair band 2 in its dismounted condition, see Fig. 1. The ends 4a of the cord 4 can, by putting together the respective snap fastener members 6a, 6b, be fastened to each their respective ends 2a of the hair band 2. The length of the cord 4 is typically so short that in the mounted condition of the device it will not be possible to make the cord follow the curve of the hair band 2 over the whole length.

To be securable to the hair band 2 the cord 4 comprises, as mentioned, one fastening means in the form of snap fastener members 6b at each of its ends 4a corresponding to the snap fastener members 6a, by means of which fastening means it may be detachably secured to the hair band 2. In other embodiments several fastening means may also be provided at each of the ends 4a of the cord 4, and the fastening means may also be in the form of other types of buttons, or they may be in the form of hook and loop tape or the like. In yet other embodiments the fastening means may be of a type, the parts of which are fixedly secured to one another, e.g. rivets. In this case, it is not possible to exchange hair band or hair relative to one another. The cord 4 may, when the hair band 2 is placed on the user's head, be brought into abutment against the back head of the user. In other embodiments the cord may be in the form of a band, a wire or the like, imparting the above-mentioned properties to the cord.

The strands of hair 3 are at one end secured to the cord 4, whereby the other end of the strands of hair 3 extends in a direction away from the cord 4. The strands of hair 3 are preferably sown onto the cord 4. In other embodiments the strands of hair 3 may be tied, knotted or woven onto the cord 4.

The strands of hair 3 are joined to form a number of, preferably four, lengths of hair, which are in turn joined to form a unity of hair 3. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the lengths of hair are sown together. The lengths of hair may be placed in extension of each other in the longitudinal direction of the cord 4 or in extension of each other in the transverse direction of the cord 4 (to increase the volume of the hair 3) or both at the same time. The lengths of hair may further comprise artificial and/or natural strands of hair, and the artificial and/or natural strands of hair may be of any colour, type (curly, sleek, long, short, etc.) or combinations thereof.

In other embodiments, the set comprises additional hair bands 2 according to the invention and/or additional strings including additional different and/or identical artificial or natural strands of hair 3. In this way it is for instance possible to exchange the hair band, while keeping the hair, the colour and the shape of the hair band being adaptable to the user's choice of clothes, such that the hair band and the clothes will match in style. In such an embodiment, the set may thus be assembled to form several different devices according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows the set according to Fig. 1 assembled to form a device 1 according to the invention. The set is assembled as mentioned to the device 1 by bringing the snap fastener member 6a on the hair band 2 in engagement with the corresponding snap fastener member 6b on the cord 4.

The device 1 thus provided comprises two snap fastener members 6a at each end 2a of the hair band 2 and one corresponding snap fastener member 6b at each end 4a of the cord 4. When the cord 4 and the hair band 2 have been assembled by means of the snap fastener members, the cord 4 may then be turned about an axis through the snap fastener members, whereby the cord can be brought into abutment against a user's back head. Besides, the two snap fastener members 6a at each of the ends 2a of the hair band 2 make it possible to adjust the positioning of the cord 4 relative to the hair band 2.

In embodiments, in which the hair band 2 and/or the cord 4 comprises another number of fastening means than those stated above, it becomes possible to adjust the positioning of the cord relative to the hair band 2, whereby it becomes possible to adjust the cord to any desired place on the back head of a user, such that the cord ends up being completely hidden by the user's hair 9.

Figs 4A to 4F illustrate in consecutive steps a process for disposing the device 1 according to the invention in mounted position on a user's head. The device 1 is first held with the hair 3 hanging down in front of the user, as shown in Fig. 4A. Then the hair band 2 is placed on the upper part of the user's head with its ends 2a placed behind the ears of the user, as shown in Fig. 4B. The cord 4 is placed, the hairs 3 still hanging down in front of the user, immediately behind the hair band 2, which is placed so that it pulls back the user's hair and sits comfortably and neatly secured on the user's head by a spring action. Then the cord 4 including the hair 3 is turned about an axis through the snap fastener members 6a, 6b used, so that the cord 4 is brought from the upper part of the head into abutment against the back head 10 of the user on top of the user's own hair 9, as shown from the side in Fig 4C and from the back in Fig. 4D. The process is finished as shown in Fig. 4E by the user's own hair 9 being lifted from its position under the cord 4 and being placed above the cord, while the band 2, if necessary, is being held, so as to completely hide the cord 4 by the user's hair. As will be seen from Fig. 4F, the user's own hair 9 is sufficiently long to completely hide the cord 4. As will also be seen from the mounted device shown in Fig. 4F, only the hair band 2 is visible. Therefore, it looks like a common hair band, while the cord 4 is completely hidden. As will be seen from Fig. 4F, the user's hair 9 and the strands of hair 3, which are fastened to the cord 4, completely match, whereby a natural effect and to a high degree a visually satisfactory effect in the form of longer and more voluminous hair is obtained. As will be clearly seen by comparing Fig. 4A with 4F, the user has by means of the device obtained both a longer and more voluminous hair, the cord 4 being hidden so well that the hair 3 and the user's own hair 9 cannot be visually distinguished. By means of the embodiment shown of a device according to the invention the same effect is obtained in a quick and easy way as the one obtained by the method described by way of introduction by the sowing on of hair at a hairdresser's. In comparison with the mounting for hours of the device sown on, the device according to the invention is very quick and easy to mount, as the user herself can carry out the mounting in less than a minute.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A device (1) for increasing the volume and/or length of a user's hair, the device (1) comprising: an arc-shaped hair band (2) with two ends (2a), the hair band (2) being adapted to be disposed over the head of the user and to be fastened thereto, and a number of artificial and/or natural strands of hair (3), characterized in that

- moreover, the device comprises a string (4) with two ends (4a), one end of the strands of hair (3) being fastened to and along the string (4) between its two ends (4a), whereby the other end of the strands of hair (3) extends in a direction away from the string (4),

- the ends (4a) of the string (4) are fastened substantially to each their respective end of the hair band (2), and - apart from that, the string (4) is not fastened to the hair band

(2), such that when the hair band (2) is disposed on the user's head, the string (4) can be brought in position at the back head (10) of the user, the strands of hair (3) thus increasing the volume and/or the length of the user's hair (9).

2. A device according to claim 1, ch a ra cte ri zed in that the string (4) is secured to the hair band (2) by means of fastening means (6b), which are fastened to the ends (4a) of the string, said fastening means being detachably secured to corresponding fastening means (6b) fastened to the ends (2a) of the hair band (2), wherein said mutually corresponding fastening means (6a, 6b) preferably is in the form of buttons, hook and loop tape or the like.

3. A device according to claim 2, ch a racte ri zed in that the string (4) and/or the hair band (2) has at least two fastening means (6a, 6b) secured to each of their respective ends (4a, 2a), such that the position of the string (4) on the user's head is adjustable relative to the hair band (2).

4. A device according to claims 1, 2 or 3, ch a racte ri zed in that the string (4) is made from a flexible material, preferably a cord, a ribbon or the like, and that it is longer than the shortest distance between the ends (2a) of the hair band (2).

5. A device according to one of the claims 1 to 4, cha racte r i z e d in that the strands of hair (3) are tied, knitted, sown, woven onto the string (4) or attached to the string (4) in a similar way.

6. A hair band for use in the device according to claims 1 to 5, in which the hair band (2) is arc-shaped with two ends (2a) and is adapted to be disposed over the head of the user and to be fastened thereto, c h a ra cte r i z e d in that the hair band (2) comprises at least one fastening means (6a) secured to each of its respective ends (2a), preferably in the form of buttons, hook and loop tape or the like.

7. A hair band according to claim 6, c h a ra cte ri zed in that the hair band (2) is sufficiently rigid and wide to be capable of retaining the string (4) including hair (3) at the back head (10) of the user and that at the same time the hair band (2) is sufficiently resilient to be disposed over and secured to the user's head by use of a spring action.

8. A set, which can be assembled to form a device (1) for increasing the volume and/or the length of a user's hair (9), the set comprising: an arc-shaped hair band (2) with two ends (2a), the hair band

(2) being adapted to be disposed onto the head of the user and to be fastened thereto, and a number of artificial and/or natural strands of hair (3), characterized in that - moreover, the set comprises a string and (4) with two ends

(4a), one end of the strands of hair (3) being adapted to be fastened to and along the string (4) between its two ends (4a), whereby the other end of the strands of hair (3) extends in a direction away from the string (4), - the ends (4a) of the string (4) are fastened substantially to each their respective end (2a) of the hair band (2), and

- apart from that, the string (4) is not adapted to be fastened to the hair band (2), such that when the hair band (2) is positioned on the user's head, the string (4) can be brought in position at the back head (10) of the user, the strands of hair (3) thus increasing the volume and/or the length of the user's hair (9).

9. A set according to claim 7, c h a ra ct e r i z e d in that it comprises several hair bands (2) and/or several strings (4) with attached strands of hair (3).