Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
HAIR INCREASING TOOL AND METHOD FOR ATTACHING THE SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present
invention relates to a hair increasing
tool for increasing hairs with using user's own hairs which
remains on the head, and a method for attaching the hair
increasing tool.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] If a
bald head tends to stand out by losing hairs from
the head, a hairpiece is generally used in order to cover it.
However, in the case that the status that hairs come out is under
the beginning stage, a bald portion is relatively small, or a
person having a bald head feels resistance to wear the hairpiece,
there is a method to use user's own hairs which remain on the
head, so called "increasing hairs".
[0003] For
example, Patent document 1 disclosed a hair
increasing tool in which hair-thickening hairs to be configured
by human natural hairs or artificial hairs are directly knotted
to a single own hair on the head, and a method for attaching
such hair increasing tool. Further, as a method that a user
can realize increase of hairs more than that of Patent document
1, Patent document 2 discloses a method to fix a line member
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to a user's head. In such line member, hairs are fixed to the
member having many hollow rings.
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED
[0004] However, in
the method described in Patent document
1, since the hair-thickening hairs are knotted to each of the
single own hair on the head, there is a case that camouflage
of the bald portion is insufficient or feeling of increase of
hairs to satisfactory level cannot be obtained according to the
remaining condition of own hairs on the head.
Further, there is a case that it takes a long time because
many hair-thickening hairs need to be knotted to own hairs in
order to obtain camouflage of the bald portion or feeling of
increase of hairs to a desired level. Otherwise, it can be
considered to increase the number of hairs knotted to a single
own hair. However, this case has a problem such that the
knotted portions of the hair-thickening hairs become so large
that it stands out, and the hair-thickening hairs are easily
removed because knotted strength becomes weak between the
hair-thickening hairs and the own hairs.
[0005] In
Patent document 2, feeling of increase of hairs
can be obtained in a short time without considering remaining
condition of the own hairs such as Patent document 1. However,
there is a difficulty in the method to fix the member for
increasing hairs to the head. Specifically, Patent document
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2 discloses the method to fix by using an adhesive agent such
as an instant adhesive agent for medical use. In the case of
using the adhesive agent, although fixing strength of the member
for increasing hairs can be enhanced, removing work using an
organic solvent is required for removing the member, and
therefore an adverse impact to user's head skin is seriously
concerned.
[0006] Accordingly, as a method to fix without using an
adhesive agent, Patent document 3 discloses a hair increasing
member and a method thereof where a loop is placed at a
predetermined position of a filament made of a synthetic resin
to which hair-thickening hairs are fixed, and own hairs on the
head are inserted into the loop and fixed by knotting the own
hairs together. Further, Patent document 4 discloses a method
to insert a plurality of own hairs into a fixing member and fix
them as pinching the fixing tool by the own hairs.
[0007] In both Patent documents 3 and 4, while high safety
can be obtained because no adhesive agent is used to fix the
member for increasing hairs, there is a problem that the member
for increasing hairs is removed for a short time only by fixing
with using the own hairs because the member is exposed under
severe conditions caused by movement of the head, sebum,
shampooing, brushing or the like.
Further, since the fixing member is used in Patent
document 4, there is a problem such that uncomfortable feeling
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of the head or sticking at brushing hairs tend to occur easily,
thereby facilitating removal of the member for increasing
hairs.
[0008] Patent document 1: JP H09-268414A
Patent document 2: JP H05-230705A
Patent document 3: JP H11-131313A
Patent document 4: JP H07-118907A
SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is made for solving the above
mentioned problems of the related arts. The purpose thereof
is to provide a hair increasing tool using user's own hairs,
which can be fixed to the user's head with sufficient strength
and safety without using an adhesive agent, and a method for
attaching the hair increasing tool.
[0010] In a hair increasing tool according to the present
invention, two large-diameter portions are provided on a
line-member having a predetermined length with a certain
distance, thereby defining a line-member portion between said
two large-diameter portions as a plant-area and defining
line-member portions located outside said large-diameter
portions as assist-areas. And, first false hairs are fixed to
a plurality of positions of said plant-area with predetermined
interval (s) , and tube-members which can be plastically deformed
95 are fixed to the near location of said large-diameter portions
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on the line-member.
[0011] While said two
large-diameter portions define the
plant-area which exists between said two large-diameter
portions, and prevent the false hairs from being sliding off,
said large-diameter portions can be omitted and the function
of said large-diameter portions can be performed by said
tube-members as well as the original function of said
tube-members.
[0012] According to the
present invention, there is provided
a method for attaching said hair increasing tool as mentioned
above to the head.
In said method, at first, own hairs remaining on the head
are inserted into one of the tube-members, and then said
tube-member is collapsed to fix said tube-member to the own
hairs.
Next, the line-member portion which configures the
plant-area is placed along the surface of the head, the own hairs
located at both sides of said line-member portion are knotted
together to fix said line-member portion such as pinching said
line-member portion by the own hairs, and such knotting work
is performed at a plurality of positions with predetermined
distance(s).
Next, the remaining own hairs are inserted into another
one of the tube-members, and then said tube-member is collapsed
to fix said tube-member to the own hairs.
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And then, the assist-areas which are located outside said
two tube-members are cut off.
EFFECT OF INVENTION
[0013] In the hair
increasing tool according to the present
invention having the above mentioned configuration, the own
hairs are inserted into the tube-members which locate at the
both sides of the line-member, and then the tube-members are
collapsed to fix the tube-members to the own hairs, thereby
fixing the hair increasing tool to the head. Accordingly, a
strong and safe fixing strength can be obtained.
[0014]
Further, in the line-member portion (plant-area)
which extends between the two tube-members, the line-member is
fixed to the own hairs by knotting the own hairs together at
the plurality of positions with the predetermined interval ( s)
Accordingly, it can effectively prevent the hair increasing
tool configured by the line-member from leaving upward from the
head, thereby obtaining a comfortable wearing feel.
[0015]
Further, in the case of using second false hairs to
be combined with the first false hairs, a volume of increasing
hairs can be increased even if using the hair increasing tool
made of a short line member. Further, it can provide a gradation
effect that a volume of increasing hairs is changed according
to the position of the line-member in the length.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Fig. 1
is an explanatory view for describing a hair
increasing tool according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig. 2 is an explanatory view for describing a hair
increasing tool according to the second embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 3 is an explanatory view for describing a hair
increasing tool according to the third embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig. 4 is an explanatory view for describing a method for
attaching a hair increasing tool of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is an explanatory view for exemplifying a method to
plant false hairs 20 to a plant-area 15.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0017]
Embodiments of the present invention are described
in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Fig.
1 shows a hair increasing tool 1 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0018]
<<First Embodiment>>
As shown in fig 1(a), firstly, there is provided one
line-member 10 of a predetermined length, and on which two of
large-diameter portions 11, 12 are provided with a certain
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interval. The area between two of the large-diameter portions
11, 12 is used as a plant-area 15, where false hairs are to be
fixed, as explained later. Further, the extended portion
outside the large-diameter portion 11 is used as an assist-area
16, and the extended portion outside the large-diameter portion
12 is used as an assist-area 17. The assist-areas 16, 17 are
portions which an operator or user grasps when he/she attaches
the hair increasing tool to the head (that is, they assist the
attaching operation), and afterwards they are to be cut away.
[0019] It may be enough
if diameters of the large-diameter
portions 11, 12 are larger than those of the remaining portion
of the line-member 10. For
example, for making the
large-diameter portions 11, 12, the line-member 10 can be simply
knotted, melted resin can be set on the line-member 10, or
otherwise, some separate members can be fixed to the line-member
10.
[0020] As shown
in fig 1(b), in the plant-area 15, the false
hairs 20 (artificial or natural hairs) are to be fixed with
predetermined interval(s). The interval can be appropriately
determined, according to the remaining condition of user's own
hairs. For example, the intervals can be a regular interval
of 1-3mm, or can be random intervals.
As to the specific manner for fixing the false hairs 20,
it is not limited to a particular one. For example, the false
hairs 20 can be knotted (planted), welded, or adhered to the
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line-member 10. Some examples for knotting the false hairs 20
will be explained later in the second embodiment (refer to Fig.
5).
[0021] At the
"near location" of the large-diameter portions
11, 12, tube-members 18, 19 are fixed, for example, by knotting
or the like with using the line-member 10 itself. According
to the illustrated preferred embodiment, the tube-members 18,
19 are located outside of the large-diameter portions 11, 12.
This is because the tube-members 18, 19 prevent the false hairs
20 fixed to the plant-area 15 from sliding out. However, the
tube-members 18, 19 can be located inside the large-diameter
portions 11, 12.
Relating to the "near location", it is preferable that the
distance between the large-diameter portion and the tube-member
is at least the same as, or smaller than the distance between
each of the false hairs 20.
[0022] The tube-
members 18, 19 are used for attaching the
hair increasing tool 1 to user's head, for example, by
collapsing the tube-members 18, 19 by a plier on the condition
that the user's own hairs are inserted into the tube-members
18, 19. Relating to a material of the tube-members 18, 19, it
may be enough if it can be plastically deformed and fixed on
the user's own hairs, and therefore, for example, a metallic
material can be used.
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[0023] Relating to an example of the tube-members 18, 19 of
metal, in a Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-63502 filed
by the applicant, there is disclosed a short metal tube of
three-layered, which is shown in Fig. 1(b) in enlarged scale.
This short metal tube is configured such that an "adhesive
layer" is provided inside an "outer metal tube", and a
"net-material" is placed at an innermost circumferential
surface thereof. This short metal tube can be used as the
tube-members 18, 19 in the present invention. However, even
if the short metal tube is not three-layered and is
single-layered, a sufficient fixing would be obtained.
The size of the tube-members 18, 19 used in the present
invention can be exemplified such as 3.5 mm of outer diameter,
3.0 mm of inner diameter, and 2.5 mm of height.
[0024] It is noted that the tube-members 18, 19 and the false
hairs 20 can be attached to the line-member 10 in any orders
when making the hair increasing tool 1.
[0025]
<<Modified Example>>
In the first embodiment, it may be enough if the
large-diameter portions 11, 12 define the implant-area 15
existing located between them, prevent the false hairs 20 from
sliding out, and their diameters are larger than that of the
remaining line-member 10. Accordingly, it is possible that the
large-diameter portions 18, 19 are omitted and the function of
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the large-diameter portions 11, 12 is performed by the
tube-members 18, 19 as well as the original function of the
tube-members 18, 19.
[0026]
<<Sizes of Each Part or the like>>
In the hair increasing tool of the present invention, the
size of each part (length, diameter, or the like) is not limited
to a particular one, and can be determined arbitrarily depending
on the user's head size, the remaining condition of user's own
hairs or others.
For example, the length of the implant-area 15 can be 12
cm or 8 cm, and the length of the assist-areas 16, 17 can be
10 cm. The line-member 10 can be made of any appropriate
material such as a nylon string, and the diameter thereof can,
for example, be 0.1 mm.
The diameter of the first false hairs 20 (and second false
hairs 30 as described later) can, for example, be 0.06 mm.
[0027]
Second Embodiment>>
Fig. 2 illustrates a hair increasing tool according to the
second embodiment of the present invention. The difference
from the first embodiment is that additional false hairs 30 are
fixed to the false hairs 20. In order to distinguish the both
of the false hairs, the false hairs 20 are hereinafter called
"first false hairs 20" and the false hairs 30 are hereinafter
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called "second false hairs 30". For the first and second false
hairs, hairs of the same material can be used, or otherwise hairs
of different materials can also be used.
[0028] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, each of the first
false hairs 20 is fixed to the line-member (plant-area 15) in
the form of a V-character having two pieces 20a, 20b. Then a
single second false hair 30 is fixed to each of the pieces 20a,
20b respectively.
However, regarding the volume (number) of the second hairs
30 fixed to the first false hairs 20, it can be flexibly
determined. The same number of the second hairs 30 can be fixed
to all of the first false hairs 20, or otherwise, the
distribution of the second hairs 30 fixed to the first false
hairs 20 can be non-uniform distribution. They can be
determined depending on the remaining condition of user's own
hair, required hairstyle or the like.
[0029]
<<Form and Number of False Hairs>>
In the embodiments shown in the attached drawings, all of
the first and second false hairs 20, 30 are shown in the form
of a V-character, which are folded at midpoint. This is
intended for simplifying the illustration, and the form of the
false hairs is not limited to particular one in the present
invention.
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Further, as to the number of the first false hairs 20 fixed
to the plant-area 15, and the number of the second false hairs
30 fixed to the first false hairs 20, they are not limited to
particular ones in the present invention, and can be determined
arbitrarily depending on the required volume of the false hairs,
the required hairstyle or the like.
[0030]
<<Method for Fixing False Hairs>>
Relating to the method for fixing the first false hairs
20 to plant-area 15, and for fixing the second false hairs 30
to the first false hairs 20, it is not limited to particular
one in the present invention. The false hairs can be fixed,
for example, by knotting (planting), welding or adhering.
In an international patent application filed by the
applicant, PCT/JP2006/318959 (WO 2007/037200), there are
explained some methods for fixing false hairs such as "single
planting", "half-knot planting" and "split-knot planting,
which have been publically known. For reference, Fig. 5
shows the case that these methods for fixing false hairs are
applied to the present invention. Since these methods are
publicly known, the explanation is only limited to illustrating
the methods for fixing false hairs in the drawing, and the
detailed description is omitted.
While Fig. 5 shows the case that the first false hair 20
is fixed to the plant-area 15, the same methods can be applied
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in the case that the second false hair 30 is fixed to the second
false hair 20.
[0031]
<<Third Embodiment>>
The third embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is one embodiment
where the second false hairs 30 are non-uniformly distributed.
In this hair increasing tool 3, first false hairs 20 placed on
a line-member (plant-area 15) are divided into five areas, that
is, one "few" located at the center, two "middle" at the both
sides of the "few", and two "many" at the both sides of the
"middle".
[0032]
Literally, in the "few" region, the degree of increasing
hairs is the fewest, and only the first false hairs 20 are fixed
therein. In the "many" region, the degree of increasing hair
is the most, and four of the second false hairs 30 are fixed
to each peace 20a, 20b of one first hair 20. In the "middle"
region, the degree of increasing hair is intermediate between
the "few" region and the "many" region, and two of the second
false hairs 30 are fixed to each peace 20a, 20b of one first
hair 20.
The "few", "many", and "middle" in this embodiment mean
only a relative relationship, regarding the degree of
increasing hair. Thus, the total amount of false hairs in each
region can be flexibly changed.
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[0033]
Further, regarding the order (location) of the "few", the
"many", and the "middle" regions, it can be flexibly changed,
and thus in this invention, the non-uniform distribution of the
false hairs is not limited to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3.
[0034]
Accordingly, in the embodiment of gradation-type where the
degree of increasing hair is varied along the length of the
plant-area 15, an amount of increased hairs which matches the
user's own hair well can be realized by, for example, making
fewer the amount of the false hairs at a hair-parting-region,
and making gradually more the amount of the false hairs at
adjacent region around the hair-parting-region.
[0035]
<<Method for Attaching Hair Increasing Tool>>
Next, with referring to Fig. 4, a method for attaching the
hair increasing tool is explained.
In the upper part of Fig.4, a user's head is schematically
shown from the above, and two lines respectively represent hair
increasing tools (for simplicity, each hair increasing tool is
represented by a straight line). In Fig. 4, while a remaining
amount of the user's own hairs on the head is shown being very
small, there is actually many cases that a certain amount of
the own hairs remains on the head. One, two or more hair
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increasing tools can be placed and fixed arbitrarily according
to the remaining condition of the user's own hairs.
[0036] (1)
At first, at the position as indicated by "A" in Fig.4,
adequate numbers of the own hairs are inserted into the
tube-members 18 which is one of the tube-members of the hair
increasing tool, and the tube-member 18 is placed near the roots
of hairs. Under this condition, the tube-members 18 is
collapsed by using a plier or the like, thereby achieving
plastic deformation of the tube-members 18 to fix the
tube-members 18 to the own hairs.
[0037] (2)
Next, the line-member portion which configures the
plant-area 15 is placed along the surface of the head, and then
the own hairs X and Y which are located at the both sides of
the line-member portion are knotted together to fix the
line-member portion to the own hairs. While the method of
knotting is not specifically limited thereto and any methods
can be applied, one example is shown in Fig.4. In this example,
a secured fixing can be achieved by a "first knotted portion"
and a "second knotted portion".
[0038] <<First Knotted portion>>
After interposing the line member (plant area 15) between
the own hair X and the own hair Y, the own hairs X and Y which
95 are located at the both sides of the line member are knotted
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together such as knotting the shoe straps. The "first knotted
portion" may also be formed by repeating this knotting works
several times.
<<Second Knotted portion>>
After performing the "first knotting work", the own hairs
X, Y are lined up and knotted together by the knotting in a bun.
The "second knotted portion" may also be formed by repeating
this knotting works several times.
[0039] While
Fig. 4 shows such that a certain distance exists
between the "first knotted portion" and the "second knotted
portion", it is only for simplifying the illustration, and it
is preferable to configure such that the "first knotted portion"
and the "second knotted portion" are located closely. While
Fig. 4 shows such that the own hair X or hair Y is only a single
hair respectively, the own hairs X, Y can be a bundle of a
plurality of hairs respectively.
[0040] The
above mentioned knotting works are performs at
a plurality of positions with predetermined interval(s) (for
example, 1 cm interval), (Fig.4 shows the knotting works at two
positions). Accordingly, it can effectively prevent the
line-member from leaving upward from the surface of the head.
[0041] (3)
Next, at the position as indicated by "B" in Fig.4, the own
hairs are inserted into the tube-member 19 which is another one
of the tube-members of the hair increasing tool, thereby fixing
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the line-member portion to the user's own hairs by the same
procedures as those as mentioned above.
[0042] Finally, the lime-members (the assist-areas 16, 17)
which are located outside the both tube-members 18, 19 are cut
off. If necessary, the false hairs or the own hairs are cut
accordingly.
<<Description of reference numbers>>
[0043]
1, 2, 3 Hair Increasing Tool
10 Line-Member
11, 12 Large-diameter Portion
Plant-Area
16, 17 Assist-Area
15 18, 19 Tube-Member
First False Hair
Second False Hair
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