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[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/452,638 entitled Hair Highlight Device filed on Mar. 7, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/476,019 entitled Hair Highlight Device filed on Jun. 5, 2003, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety.
[0002] The invention relates generally to hairpieces and is particularly directed to hairpieces that provide additional hair to enhance existing hair and provide hair styling alternatives.
[0003] Individuals often find it desirable to highlight or enhance their existing hair by introducing hair of a different color within their existing hair. This is generally achieved by dying or bleaching strands of the existing hair to a different color whereby the strands of hair run through the individual's existing hair to highlight the individual's existing, or natural hair.
[0004] A common method used to dye or bleach strands of hair without changing the color of all of the existing hair includes placing a rubberized swimming-type cap containing numerous small openings or holes, over the head. Clumps of the existing hair are drawn through the small openings with a small hook or other similar instrument and then dyed or bleached individually such that the dye or bleach does not contact the bulk of the existing hair.
[0005] There are several problems with this method. One problem is that the pulling of the hair through the small openings in the cap is quite painful and requires a great deal of time. An additional problem is that the harsh chemicals used to bleach or dye hair can cause severe reactions and irritation to the scalp. Individuals who have strong reactions to the bleaches and dyes are not able to highlight their hair and alter their hairstyle using this method. Furthermore, the bleaching or dyeing of particular clumps of hair is only temporary and to maintain this highlighting effect, the method must be repeated every few months. Of course, it is particularly difficult and time consuming to isolate and bleach or dye all of the particular clumps of hair that were previously treated. Moreover, this time consuming method is not easily reversible or alterable. If the individual desires to have his or her original hair color restored, it requires a great deal of time for the natural hair color to grow out. Similarly, if an individual desires to change the color of the bleached or dyed hair it would entail another time-consuming process.
[0006] In general, current methods for highlighting an individual's hair by coloring or bleaching portions of the individual's own hair are painful, time-consuming process that are not readily reversible or alterable.
[0007] In addition to bleaching or dyeing their existing hair, individuals may also find it desirable to highlight or enhance their existing hair by introducing additional hair of a different length or texture within their existing hair.
[0008] Various hairpieces and caps have been produced in the industry to enhance the look of an individual's existing hair by providing additional hair to supplement the individual's existing hair. There are various shortcomings associated with the various hairpieces and caps available in the industry, however, and a more natural look with styling flexibility is needed. It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved device that highlights or enhances a wearer's existing hair, provides a head of hair that can be easily styled, produces various different enhancement effects, and provides an enhanced hairstyle that is easily reversible or alterable.
[0009] To address these and other objects and in view of its purposes, the invention provides a hairstyle enhancement apparatus comprising a peripheral flexible wire frame, a grid of filaments coupled to and supported by the frame and forming a double-crown pattern and a plurality of clumps of hair attached to filaments of the grid of filaments at a plurality of locations.
[0010] In another embodiment, the invention provides a hair support structure for use in fashioning and maintaining a hairstyle on a wearer's head while the support structure is in place on the user's head. The hair support structure includes a peripheral flexible wire loop frame and a grid of filaments coupled to and supported by the frame and forming a double crown pattern, the grid of filaments adapted to receive hair attached thereto.
[0011] In another embodiment, the invention provides a hairstyle enhancement apparatus to be worn on a wearer's head. The apparatus includes a peripheral frame and a grid of filaments disposed within and supported by the frame. A plurality of clumps of hair are attached to the grid of filaments in a random pattern at a plurality of non-ordered locations and include clumps of hair of different volumes, different colors, and/or different lengths.
[0012] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a hairstyle enhancement apparatus to be worn on a wearer's head. The apparatus includes a peripheral frame and a plurality of filaments joined to the frame. A plurality of clumps of hair are rotatably attached to the plurality of filaments.
[0013] The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction of the accompanying drawing. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawing are not necessarily to scale. The dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Like numerals denote like features throughout the specification and drawing. Included in the drawing are the following figures:
[0014]
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[0022] The invention provides a hairstyle enhancement apparatus to be worn on the head of a wearer. The apparatus may highlight the wearer's existing hair, that is, give the impression that some of the wearer's hair is of a different color, texture and/or length, or it may clearly supplement the wearer's existing or natural hair.
[0023]
[0024] A grid of filaments
[0025] The grid of filaments
[0026] In the exemplary embodiment, hairstyle enhancement apparatus
[0027] At a plurality of locations on filaments
[0028] Although the exemplary hair enhancement apparatus shown in
[0029]
[0030] Referring again to
[0031] Although described in terms of a peripheral wire frame and a grid of filaments, hairstyle enhancement apparatus
[0032] Hairstyle enhancement apparatus
[0033] Another exemplary hairstyle enhancement apparatus is shown in
[0034]
[0035]
[0036]
[0037]
[0038]
[0039] The preceding merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. For example, a feature described in conjunction with one hairstyle enhancement apparatus may be used in conjunction with other of the hairstyle enhancement apparatus embodiments. Furthermore, all examples and conditional language recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes and to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventors to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents and equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.
[0040] This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the figures of the accompanying drawing, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.
[0041] Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.