Low Stress Attachment of Hair Extensions

Abstract

A cosmetic hair extension for low stress attachment to existing scalp hair has a strand of extension hair with an upper end gathered and bound together with an adhesive, a crimpable or otherwise collapsible attachment tube for receiving and retaining strands of existing scalp hair in a collapsed condition of the tube, and a low stiffness, pliable link such as a short length of thin thread connecting the gathered upper end of the extension strand to the attachment tube. The pliable link at least partly isolates the attachment tube and scalp hair from swinging, twisting and other movement of the suspended extension hair thereby reducing stress on and damage to the scalp hair when the extension is worn.

1 . A hair extension for attachment to existing scalp hair, comprising:
 a lock of extension hair gathered at a extension lock end;   a crimpable tube having an interior tube opening between opposite tube ends for receiving strands of said existing scalp hair and retaining said scalp hair in a crimped condition of said tube; and   a link of relatively thin readily flexible material thread having one link end fastened to said extension lock end and an opposite link end attached to said tube, said link being operative as a strain relief to substantially dampen transmission of relatively small bending and twisting movement between said extension lock and said tube.   
   
   
       2 . The hair extension of  claim 1  wherein said link is much thinner than said extension lock end 
   
   
       3 . The hair extension of  claim 1  wherein said link comprises a length of relatively thin thread. 
   
   
       4 . The hair extension of  claim 3  wherein said thread is cotton thread. 
   
   
       5 . The hair extension of  claim 1  wherein said extension hair is bound together with an adhesive at said extension lock end. 
   
   
       6 . The hair extension of  claim 4  wherein said adhesive is a flexible adhesive. 
   
   
       7 . The hair extension of  claim 1  wherein said opposite thread end is wrapped and tied about a side wall of said tube. 
   
   
       8 . The hair extension of  claim 1  wherein said link is selected and sized such that relatively small lateral displacement of said extension hair strand end transverse to a longitudinal dimension of said tube is not substantially transmitted by said link to said tube such that said link serves as a strain relief between said extension hair strand and said tube. 
   
   
       9 . The hair extension of  claim 1  wherein said link is selected and configured to substantially interrupt transmission of lateral mechanical force between said extension lock and said tube. 
   
   
       10 . The hair extension of  claim 1  wherein said link is colored similarly to said extension hair. 
   
   
       11 . The hair extension of  claim 1  wherein said link and said tube are colored similarly to said extension hair. 
   
   
       12 . A hair extension for attachment to existing scalp hair, comprising:
 a lock of extension hair gathered together at an extension lock end;   a crimpable tube having an interior opening between opposite tube ends for receiving strands of said existing scalp hair and retaining said scalp hair in a crimped condition of said tube; and   a relatively thin thread adhesively secured to said extension lock end and tied to said tube for attaching said extension hair strand to said crimpable tube, said thread providing a readily pliable link between said extension hair and said tube to reduce transmission of movement of said extension hair to said tube.   
   
   
       13 . The hair extension of  claim 12  wherein said thread and said tube are colored similarly to said extension hair. 
   
   
       14 . In a hair extension for attachment to existing scalp hair of the type having a lock of extension hair gathered at a extension lock end attached to a strand of existing scalp hair, the improvement wherein said extension lock is attached to said existing scalp hair by means comprising a low stiffness readily pliable link, said link being operative as a strain relief between said extension lock and said scalp hair.