Toilet – Hair device – Hair structures
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-03
2004-12-21
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Hair device
Hair structures
C132S201000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06832614
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for adding supplemental hair to the natural or native hair of a wearer, and more specifically to a series of embodiments of a wefted hair extension, each having a series of attachment strands extending therefrom. The attachment strands of the wefted extensions are braided integrally into the wearer's hair to secure the extension to the natural hair of the wearer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The addition of natural or artificial hair to the native hair of a person, is a technique which has been known for a very long time. Wigs and toupees of natural or artificial hair have been manufactured and used for centuries for various reasons, e.g., to enhance the appearance of the wearer, to cover flaws or imperfections in the natural or native hair of the wearer, to indicate profession, rank, or social status, etc. Most such additions to the natural hair of the wearer result in an artificial appearance, or at least are unsatisfactory in some manner. More recently, the application of relatively smaller hairpieces and extensions has been developed. Such smaller hair extensions are often more satisfactory for the wearer, as they can be more permanently attached to the scalp or native hair of the wearer, and in many cases can be treated and cared for in the same manner as the natural or native hair of the wearer of the hair extension.
A number of different types of hair extensions and application or attachment techniques have been developed over the years, but the basic types of hair extensions may be broadly divided into two categories, i.e., loose hair strands which are not attached to one another, and wefted hair extensions in which the hair strands are bound or wefted together along a common line or edge, with the hair extending from this weft or binding. These two different types of hair extensions may be further divided by their method of attachment to the native hair of the wearer. A large number of different attachment or application principles or techniques have been developed over the years, ranging from mechanical attachment (clamps, clips, etc.) to adhesives (chemical or heat setting, etc.) to braiding, weaving, sewing, tying, and/or knotting the hair extension into the hair of the wearer.
Each of the above types of hair extensions and methods of attachment to the head or hair of the wearer, have various disadvantages. In the case of loose, unwefted hair, the attachment process is extremely tedious and time consuming, and is thus relatively costly to perform. The result can be a beautiful and natural appearing hairdo if the hairdresser is talented, with the supplemental hair extension capable of being treated as natural hair and remaining in place for days or perhaps weeks.
The manufacture of bound or wefted hair was developed to facilitate the application of hair extensions to the head of the wearer, with the bound hair greatly shortening the time required for such an operation or application. However, the various means of attaching such wefts to the hair or scalp of the wearer all leave something to be desired. In the case of adhesives, the chemicals and/or heat applied to bond the adhesive can be injurious to the scalp and/or native hair of the wearer. Mechanical attachments, e.g., small clips and clamps, etc., tend to interfere with hair care, as they can loosen during combing, brushing, or normal hair care procedures and fall from the hair unexpectedly. Where wefted hair extensions are sewn into the native hair braids of the wearer, the process is quite time consuming and requires professional care in removal of the hair extension at a later date, when removal is desired.
The present invention responds to these various deficiencies in the prior art by providing various embodiments of wefted hair extensions, each of which includes a series of spaced apart attachment strands extending from the weft or binding thereof. In one embodiment, the strands extend opposite the natural direction of the hair from the weft, i.e., to the opposite side of the weft from the hair attached thereto. This embodiment is used primarily over the central portions of the area to be covered. Another embodiment secures the attachment strands so that their natural lie is in the same direction as the hair, i.e., attachment strands and hair extend to the same side of the weft. This embodiment is used primarily along the hairline of the scalp and/or along parts where the hair is combed back over the weft and its attachment to the underlying braid to conceal the weft and further conceal the braid. In each case, the attachment strands are braided integrally into the flat, low lying braids which are formed adjacent the wearer's scalp, thus precluding any requirement for additional materials such as needle and thread to sew the weft binding to the underlying braids, or glue, adhesive, and/or mechanical attachment means (rings, clips, clamps, etc.) for attaching the hair wefts to the native hair of the wearer. The present invention also facilitates the removal of the wefted hair from the scalp, as one need only release the secured end of the braid to allow the braid to become unbraided, thereby releasing the hair weft attachment strands from the braid as well.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
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 method of attaching loose, unwefted hair to the native hair of the wearer, using a series of strands or fibers which are interwoven with the native and supplemental hair. One end of each strand is attached to a support stand, with the opposite ends of the strands being woven into the wearer's hair. The Jenkins method is not used with wefted hair, nor is there any disclosure of any provision of single or multiple laminations of hair wefts with attachment strands extending therefrom, as in the case of the present invention. The Jenkins method is extremely time consuming and tedious, as a relatively small number of supplemental hairs must be interwoven with the three strands of native hair, with the operation being repeated innumerable times to complete the operation. Moreover, the Jenkins method requires the wearer to use a professional to remove the supplemental hair, as the attachment strands must be cut, and the wearer cannot safely cut the attachment strands herself without the near certainty that at least some of her native hair will also be cut. There is no such risk using the present hair wefts and methods of attachment, as the braided attachment need only be unraveled to release the hair wefts therefrom.
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 wherein a series of French plaits (French braids) are formed transversely about the sides, back, and upper portion of the wearer's scalp, to lie closely adjacent to the scalp in the manner of cornrow type braids. After the braids or plaits are formed, a corresponding series of wefted hair extensions are sewn thereto. This process can take up to twice as long as the present method (attaching hair wefts to native hair by braiding the weft attachment strands into the braids simultaneously with braid formation), as the Mitchell method requires that the braids or plaits be completed first, and then that the extensions be sewn in place along the braids in a separate, subsequent operation. Moreover, the Mitchell method cannot be readily reversed by the wearer, due to the difficulty in cutting the attachment threads without cutting the native hair of the wearer. The Mitchell method is essentially that described as “weaving with braid track” in the His Or Her Hair website, noted further below.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,280,826, issued on Oct. 25, 1966 to Christina M. Jenkins, ti
Doan Robyn
Litman Richard C.
Wilson John J.
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