Hairclip for securing hair extensions and a method therefor

Abstract

 A clip (10) for attachment to the hair of a wearer comprising a longitudinal member; a securing member extending from a first end of the longitudinal member and pivotable relative to the longitudinal member, the securing member having a hair securing portion arranged to receive the hair of a wearer therein; and a receiving means located at a second end of the longitudinal member and pivotable relative to the longitudinal member, said receiving means arranged to receive the securing member therein, wherein the securing member has a length greater than that of the longitudinal member such that in a closed configuration of the clip, the securing member extends beyond the second end of the longitudinal member and is received within the receiving means. Also provided is a method of use of such a clip alone and in combination with a further closure clip.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair clip, particularly but not exclusively for securing hair extensions to the hair of a wearer and method of using such a clip.

[0002] In the hairdressing industry, many different techniques are used for attachment of articles, such as hairpieces, hair extensions or decorative adornments, to hair. For example, additional hair in the form of a hair extension or weave may be secured to the head of a wearer by forming selected strands of the wearer's natural hair into a plurality of canerows, otherwise known as corn rows, and then stitching weaves or strands of additional hair to the prepared strands. However, such a process for the attachment of a set of such hair extensions to the head of a wearer is time-consuming and expensive and, if carried out by a professional hairdresser, expensive.

[0003] US 4,830,029 describes an improved method of securing hair extensions to the head of a wearer. A weave (or weft) of false hair is stitched to a length of tape such that the strands of the weave depend from the tape in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the tape. A pocket is provided at one end of the tape by folding the end of the tape back over itself and stitching the adjacent sides. A plastic coated wire is stitched to the other end of the tape. The wire is in the form of a loop and is bent into the shape of a diamond for receiving selected strands of the wearer's natural hair. The ends of the loop are flattened, at one end for attachment to the tape and at the other end for manipulation by the user. In use selected strands of a head or hair are guided through the loop. The loop is then flattened so as to engage the strands. The loop is moved away from the scalp to a location adjacent the ends of the strands and then rotated about its longitudinal axis such that the strands are wound around the wires of the loop and are rolled up against the scalp. The end portions of the wire are then bent towards each other such that the tape lies flat against the loop portion. The end of the wire furthest from the tape is then inserted into the pocket to hold the weave against the wearer's scalp. As the wearer's natural hair grows the tape and wire can be opened and one or more additional turns applied to the loop to wind the new hair onto the wire.

[0004] The apparatus and method disclosed in US 4,830,029 provide many useful advantages, however there is a requirement for an improved hair clip. The utility of the clip described in this document relies on the skill of the hairdresser to bend the wire at the correct position along its length when bending the tape portion over the wire loop to ensure that the end of the wire is correctly located in the pocket provided on the tape. It will be understood that if hairdresser bends the wire incorrectly, that is at the wrong position along its length, the end of the wire will not accurately and securely locate within the pocket. This can lead to the wire falling out of the pocket in use or, in extreme cases, prevent insertion.

[0005] Another drawback of the clip disclosed in US 4,830,029 is that there is a tendency for the wearer's natural hair to become trapped between the wires of the loop if the clip is over-tightened by the hairdresser. Over-tightening can occur as a result of the hairdresser using the tape portion carrying the false hair to wind the clip onto the wearer's natural hair, leading to the wires twisting upon themselves and trapping the wearer's hair in between. This is a particular problem when removing clips of the aforementioned type from the wearer's head. For example, it can take a skilled hairdresser six hours or more to remove a set of hair extensions from a head of hair if the wearer's hair has become entangled with the wires of clips due to poor fitting and over-tightening.

[0006] Another drawback with the clip of US 4,830,029 is that the region of the tape containing the pocket is not secured to the scalp when the clip is closed. The length of the pocket may be say 20cm and the length of the tape 70cm. Thus 25 percent or more of the length of the clip may be unsecured when the clip is closed. The clip is therefore only secured to the head of the wearer along part of its length due to the presence of the pocket within which the end of the clip is received, thereby compromising the security of the clip to the head of the wearer.

[0007] There is therefore a need for an improved means for attaching hair extensions, hairpieces, hair ornamentation or the like to the head of a wearer.

[0008] The present invention addresses the aforementioned problems of the prior art by providing a clip for attachment to the hair of a wearer which is secure and which may be easily applied to and removed from the hair of a wearer.

[0009] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair clip for attachment to the hair of a wearer; the said hair clip comprising a first component adapted for combining with selected strands of a head of hair to form the selected strands into a wound formation, and a second component carrying strands of additional hair to be styled and means for effecting the co-operation of the first and second component securing the selected strands in the wound formation such that the additional strands are attached to the head of hair; characterised in that the first component is in the form of an elongate member having an outer surface adapted to engage the selected strands of hair for rolling of the selected strands around the said elongate member into the wound formation.

[0010] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair clip for attachment to the hair of a wearer; the said hair clip comprising a first component adapted for combining with selected strands of a head of hair to form the selected strands into a wound formation, and a second component carrying strands of additional hair to be styled and means for effecting the co-operation of the first and second component securing the selected strands in the wound formation such that the additional strands are attached to the head of hair; characterised in that the said first and second components are pivotally connected together for opening and closing the clip between an open configuration in which the first and second components are arranged in an end to end configuration and a closed configuration in which the first and second components extend substantially parallel with respect to each other.

[0011] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of styling hair comprising the steps of attaching a hair clip supporting additional hair to be styled to selected strands of a head of hair by engaging the surface of selected strands of the head of hair on an elongate support, rotating the support at least one complete turn such that frictional engagement of the selected strands with the surface of the elongate support causes the selected strands to form into a wound formation of hair completely around the support and securing the additional hair to the wound formation.

[0012] Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides a clip for attachment to the hair of a wearer comprising a longitudinal member; a securing member extending from a first end of the longitudinal member and pivotable relative to the longitudinal member, the securing member having a hair securing portion arranged to receive the hair of a wearer therein; and a receiving means located at a second end of the longitudinal member and pivotable relative to the longitudinal member, said receiving means arranged to receive an end portion of the securing member therein, wherein the securing member has a length greater than that of the longitudinal member such that in a closed configuration of the clip, the securing member extends beyond the second end of the longitudinal member and is received within the receiving means.

[0013] By threading the strands of hair of a wearer through a hair securing portion of the securing member, the securing member may be rotated so as to trap the strands of hair of the wearer around the securing member, usually, although not necessarily, continuing the rotation of the securing member until the strands of hair of the head of the wearer make contact with the wearer's head. At this point, the longitudinal member and securing member are pivoted relative to one another in order to bring the longitudinal member and securing member together so that they lie adjacent one another such that a portion of the strands of the hair of the wearer which are wrapped around the securing member are located between the securing member and the longitudinal member. The end of the securing member is then received within the receiving means and the receiving means and portion of securing member received therein are pivoted relative to the end of the longitudinal member so as to locate the strands of hair of the head of the wearer wrapped around the securing member between the longitudinal member and the receiving means.

[0014] The clip may comprise strands of material such as natural human hair or synthetic hair secured to the longitudinal member such that the clip constitutes part of a hair piece, such as a hair extension. Alternatively, the clip may remain unadorned and be used merely to hold hair in a particular position or the clip may be provided with decorative adornment or ornamentation for wearing on the head of the wearer.

[0015] The longitudinal member may be made of any appropriate material, such as a polyester tape, to which strands of hair or hair like material or the like or any other ornamentation or decoration may be attached. However, any suitable material known to the skilled person may be used, for example, the longitudinal member could comprise wire encased in plastic and one possibility would be to set the ends of strands of hair or hair like material or the like or the ends of any other desired ornamentation or decoration in the plastic encasing the wire.

[0016] Preferably, the longitudinal member is adapted to be manipulated to conform substantially with the contour of the scalp of the wearer. For example, the longitudinal member may be provided with a malleable wire reinforcement or an alternative malleable support provided as part of the longitudinal member such that the longitudinal member may be bent to conform to the counters of the head of the wearer and remain in said contoured configuration until further manipulation.

[0017] Preferably, the securing member is flat welded at least at the portion of the securing member adjacent the longitudinal member. By flat welding the portion of the securing member adjacent the longitudinal member the hair strands of the head of a wearer will not become trapped within the portion between the longitudinal member and securing member, thus any pain to the head of the wearer is avoided due to hairs becoming trapped at the securing member pivot point when the longitudinal member and securing member are brought together.

[0018] Preferably, the securing.member is provided with a grip portion. The grip portion may be provided at the end of the securing member. The grip portion may comprise any suitable structure for gripping by the user of the clip. For example, the grip may comprise a wire loop, or grip pad, or any other suitable arrangement known to the skilled person.

[0019] The grip portion provides the further advantage that it may be received wholly or partly within the receiving means, thereby filling the receiving means and helping the receiving means to remain in a flat configuration once folded against the longitudinal member when secured in place to the hair of the head of a wearer.

[0020] A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of securing a clip to the hair of a wearer comprising the steps of

i) providing a clip comprising a longitudinal member, a securing member extending from a first end of the longitudinal member, the securing means having a hair securing portion arranged to receive the hair of a wearer therein, and a receiving means located at a second end of the longitudinal member, said receiving means arranged to receive at least part of the securing member therein;

ii) inserting selected strands of the hair of a wearer through the hair securing portion of the clip;

iii) rotating the clip at least one full turn so as to wind the selected strands of hair of the wearer around the securing member; and

iv) pivoting the securing member about the longitudinal member and inserting a portion of the securing member into the receiving means and pivoting the receiving means about the longitudinal member.

[0021] In this way, the clip may be secured to the hair of the head of a wearer, in a secure and simple manner.

[0022] Preferably, step iv) comprises the step of pivoting the receiving means about the longitudinal member so as to locate the receiving means between the longitudinal member and the head of the wearer. This allows the clip to be held securely in place as the clip cannot be removed without pivoting the receiving means relative to the longitudinal means in the reverse manner to that described above so that the second end of the securing member may be removed from the receiving means. Thus by pivoting the receiving means about the longitudinal member, the end of the securing member cannot be removed from the receiving means and the clip will remain securely in place attached to the hair of the head of the wearer.

[0023] Preferably, step iii) comprising rotating the clip a sufficient number of times to roll the selected strands of hair of the head of the wearer up against the head of the wearer. This allows the clip to be held securely close to the scalp of the head of the wearer. However, it will be appreciated that the clip is capable of being secured in place to the hair of a wearer even if the clip is not rotated so as to located the clip firmly against the head of the wearer.

[0024] The method may further comprise a step of manipulating the longitudinal member so as to conform substantially with the contour of the head of the wearer. In this way, the longitudinal member may assume a similar contour to that of the head of the wearer, thereby allowing the clip to lie neatly and securely against the head of the wearer, thereby minimising any bulk resulting from the longitudinal member at the head of the wearer and allowing the clip to be virtually, if not completely, unnoticeable to an observer. By contrast, any hair or hair like strands or decoration or ornamentation attached to the clip will be held securely on the head of the wearer by means of attachment to the hair of the head of the wearer and will be visible to an observer.

[0025] A further aspect of the present invention provides a clip system for attachment to the hair of a wearer comprising:

i) A clip according to a first aspect of the invention; and

ii) A closure clip comprising a base member and hair receiving means arranged to receive the hair of a wearer therethrough.

[0026] The closure clip may be provided with hair or hair-like strands so as to constitute a hairpiece or hair extension for addition to the hair of the head of a wearer. Alternatively, the closure clip may be provided with any desired ornamentation or decoration. Alternative, the closure clip may be used without any additional applied decoration if the appearance of the closure clip is preferred by the wearer.

[0027] Preferably, the hair-receiving means of the closure clip comprises one or more openings through which hair of a wearer is received. The openings in the closure clip may comprise any suitable opening, such as one or more slots, gaps, or any other suitable opening known to the skilled person which would be suitable for receiving strands of the hair of a wearer therethrough. For example, the opening(s) may comprise a wire loop extending from the side(s) of the base member.

[0028] Preferably, in a clip system according to the present invention, the clips and closure clips are used in a ratio of two clips : one closure clip that is to say the closure clip is held in place by two adjacent hair clips of the first aspect of the invention. For example, the closure clip may be provided with a clip located on opposing sides of the closure clip in order to securely hold the closure clip to the head of a wearer.

[0029] A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of attachment of a closure clip to the hair of a wearer comprising the steps of:

i) providing a closure clip comprising a base member and hair-receiving means arranged to receive the hair of a wearer therethrough;

ii) providing a clip comprising a longitudinal member, a securing member extending from a first end of the longitudinal member, the securing means having a hair securing portion arranged to receive the hair of a wearer therein, and a receiving means located at a second end of the longitudinal member, said receiving means arranged to receive at least part of the securing member therein;

iii) inserting selected strands of hair of a wearer through the hair-receiving means of the closure clip;

iv) then inserting said selected strands through the hair securing portion of the clip;

v) rotating the clip at least one full turn so as to wind the selected strands of hair of the wearer around the securing member; and

vi) pivoting the securing member about the longitudinal member and inserting a portion of the securing member into the receiving means and pivoting the receiving means with respect to the longitudinal means.

[0030] Preferably, step (vi) comprises pivoting the receiving means with respect to the longitudinal means so as to locate the receiving means between the longitudinal member and the head of the wearer.

[0031] Preferably, step (v) comprises rotating the clip a sufficient number of times to roll the selected strands up against the head of a wearer.

[0032] The method may further comprise the step of manipulating the longitudinal member of the clip and/or the base member of the closure clip, so as to conform substantially with the contour of the head of a wearer, thereby adding to the comfort of the wearer when wearing the clip, and minimising the visual impact of the clip system on an observer.

[0033] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figures 1a to 1g show the step-by-step construction of an embodiment of a clip according to the present invention;

Figures 2a and 2b are front and rear views, respectively of the clip of Figure 1;

Figures 2c and 2d are front and rear views, respectively, of a further embodiment of a clip according to the present invention;

Figures 3a to 3g show a method of fitting of the clip of Figure 1 to the hair of the head of a wearer;

Figures 4a and 4b show a clip according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 5a to 5h show the step by step construction of an embodiment of a closure clip for use with a clip according to the present invention; and

Figures 6a to 6d show a method of fitting of the closure clip of Figure 4.

[0034] Throughout the figures, the same reference numerals have been used to identify the same features in each embodiment.

[0035] Figures 1a to 1g show the step-by-step construction of an embodiment of a hair clip 10 according to the present invention. In this embodiment the clip constitutes a clip for securing hair extensions to the head of a wearer.

[0036] The clip 10 is similar to the clip described above with reference to the prior art in that it comprises a metal wire frame 12 secured to a tape 14 which has a weft of false hair 16 attached thereto. As can be seen in Figure 1a, the wire metal frame 12, which may be constructed from a single piece of wire, comprises a pair of rectangular shape loops 18 and 20 on one side of the frame and a diamond shape loop 22 and a smaller rectangular loop 24 on the other side thereof. The lengths of wire in the regions between adjacent loops are flat welded to provide flat welded regions 19, 21 and 23 between respective wire loops 18 and 20, 20 and 22, and 22 and 24. In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 1a to 1g, the rectangular loops 18 and 20 are the same shape and size, having a length of 30mm and a width of 5mm. The diamond shape loop has a length dimension of 50mm and has a maximum width dimension of 10mm at its midpoint 26. The smaller rectangular loop has a length of 20mm and a width of 5mm. The flat welded sections 19, 21 and 23 each have a length dimension of 10mm. The wire frame therefore has an overall length dimension of 160mm. The loops 18 and 20 and welded joint portion 19 together define a first elongate component 25 of the clip for reinforcing the tape 14. The loops 22 and 24 and welded joint portion 19 define a second elongate component 27 for securing the clip to the wearer's scalp. It is to be understood that the terms 'first elongate component' and 'longitudinal member', and the terms 'second elongate component' and 'securing member' are used to refer to the same physical elements of the hair clip construction throughout this description. Similarly the term 'receiving means' is used interchangeably with the term 'pocket' throughout, when referring to the hair clip construction of the embodiments described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

[0037] As previously mentioned, the metal frame may be constructed from a single piece of wire. In traditional methods of construction, the two free ends of the wire would typically be joined at the end of the first component furthest from the second component by providing a plastic coating at the two free ends to hold them together. Although this method of construction is still possible in the manufacture of a clip according to the present invention, a preferred method of joining the two free ends of wire is to position the joint between the loops 18 and 20 then flat weld the two ends securely together. This provides a potentially stronger joint and avoids the risk of the wire ends gradually protruding beyond the plastic coating. Thus the ends of the wire will remain in place and the resultant clip is more durable.

[0038] Referring now to Figure 1b, there is shown a hair weft 26 cut from a continuous length of weft material. The weft 26 has a length of 70mm and comprises a plurality of strands of hair 28 stitched together along the length of the weft by stitching 30. A small length (10mm) of 10mm width polyester tape 32 is sewn around the respective ends of the cut weft in the region of the stitching 30 to prevent loose hairs shedding from the weft. Figure 1c shows a further length (90mm) of 10mm width polyester tape 33 which, as shown in Figure 1d, is sewn at 34 to the hair weft 26 along the edge of the weft comprising the stitching 32. The polyester tape overlies the stitching 32 and extends beyond the respective ends of the weft to define end tabs 36 and 38.

[0039] The metal wire frame 12 is then placed on the tape and weft construction, as shown in Figure 1e, that is to say on the reverse side of the tape and weft construction shown in Figure 1d, with tape extending from one end of the wire reinforcement (first elongate component) to the other. The first elongate component 25 is positioned directly onto the tape. The tab 36 is then folded around the end of the loop 18 to cover that end of the wire reinforcement. The other tab 38 is folded under the end of the loop 20 adjacent to the welded portion 21.

[0040] A backing tape 40, shown in Figure 1f, is then applied, by stitching or other means (not shown), to the partially constructed clip of Figure 1e. One end of the backing tape 40 is folded over itself and stitched along its sides to define a pocket 42 for receiving the end loop 24 for fastening together the two parts of the clip. In this respect the pocket 42 may be considered to define a receiving means for receiving at least part of the second elongate component.

[0041] Figure 1g shows the finished clip 10, with the backing strip applied, before the metal wire frame is pre-bent at the flat weld portion 21, for use by the hairdresser.

[0042] Figure 2a is a front view of the clip 10 in its finished pre-bent configuration ready for use. Figure 2b is a rear view of the finished clip 10 with the first and second elongate parts of the wire frame bent over each other. The pre-bent configuration of the clip and weft construction shown in Figures 2a and 2b enables the clip to be readily handled, transported and stored prior to use and also has the advantage that when opened, by bending the two parts 25 and 27 apart to the open configuration of Figure 1g, the wire frame will subsequently close about the bend in the metal previously formed.

[0043] The clip 10 shown in Figures 2c and 2d shows ornamentation or decoration attached to the metal frame 12, instead of a hair weft 16. Figure 2c shows the front of the clip 10 and Figure 2d shows the rear of the clip 10. The clip 10 is attached to the hair of the head of a wearer in the same way as the clip of Figures 2a and 2b.

[0044] Figures 3a to 3e show a method of fitting the clip 10 of Figures 2a and 2b to the head of a wearer. The natural hair 50 of the wearer of the clip and weft construction is first combed away from the wearer's scalp 52 by the hairdresser and selected strands of the hair 50 are guided through the wire loop 22 as shown in Figure 3a. As shown in Figure 3b, once the selected strands of hair are passed through the wire loop 22 the diamond shape loop is flattened so that the wires on both sides of the loop engage the stands of hair therebetween. The loop is then moved away from the scalp to a location adjacent the outer end portions of the strands of hair furthest from the scalp. The flattened loop is then rotated, as indicated by arrow 54, thereby rotating the whole clip and weft arrangement about the longitudinal axis of the flattened loop so that the strands of hair are rolled up around the wire elements of the loop as shown in Figure 3c. The wire frame 12 is then bent so that it is returned to its closed configuration. The loop 24 is inserted in the pocket 42 by bending the wire frame at a position on the welded portion 23 such that the loop 24 is bent away from the wearer's scalp to enable the loop to be inserted in the pocket as shown in figure 3d. The wire loop 24 and pocket 42 are then bent though 180 degrees or so with the pocket being positioned between the flattened loop 22 and the wearer's scalp as shown in Figures 3e and 3f, the later showing the front of the clip and weft which is visible in use when looking at the wearer's scalp. Finally the whole wire frame is manipulated so as to conform substantially with the contours of the scalp adjacent the rolled up hair.

[0045] It is intended that attachment of clips 10 to the head of a wearer is continued up the head by fitting clips 10 along horse-shoe shaped partings in the hair of the wearer as shown in Figure 3g as is well known in the art.

[0046] A hair clip according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 4a to 4b. The hair clip 10' of the second embodiment is similar to that of the hair clip of the first embodiment but instead of being constructed from a single piece of wire the metal frame is constructed from two separate pieces of wire, generally indicated by loops 60 and 62 in the drawing of Figure 4a. The first loop 60 is formed into a first elongate component 25' substantially the same as the first elongate component 25 in the first embodiment. However, the second loop 62 is formed into a second elongate component 27' which is different to the second elongate component 27 in the first component. In the second embodiment the flat welded section 21 of the first embodiment is replaced by a stainless steel hinge 64, shown in detail in Figure 4a at 66, which pivotally connects the first and second elongate components 25' and 27' together. The hinge comprises a base plate 67 which has attached thereto a pair of parallel and spaced apart tubes 68 each of which has an internal diameter similar to the diameter, or gauge, of the wire from which the metal frame is constructed so that each tube receives a co-operating hinge part of respective first and second elongate components 25' and 27'. In the case of the first component 27 this may be the limb 69 of the rectangular loop 20 adjacent to the hinge 64. The second wire loop 62 is flat welded substantially along its entire length to provide a relatively rigid member which includes a loop of wire 70 at its end adjacent the hinge 64 for location in the hinge tube 68. At its other end, that is the end furthest from the hinge 64, the elongate component is provided with one cooperating part 72 of a press-stud or other type of releasable fastener. In the region between the press-stud and the hinge 64 the flat welded section of the second elongate component is provided with a sleeve 74 of rubber or other elastomeric material. The sleeve is slit along its length so that it can be readily attached to the flat welded wire between the press-stud and the hinge. In the drawing of Figure 4a the sleeve is shown separately, detached from the flat welded elongate member.

[0047] The first elongate component 25' is attached to the weft as previously described with reference to the first embodiment. As can be seen in Figure 4b, the other cooperating part of the press-stud, in this case the male part 76, is attached to the tape running along the top of the weft and enclosing the wire frame of the first elongate component 25' at the end furthest from the hinge. In use the clip of the second embodiment is secured to the hair of the wearer by rolling the wearer's natural hair around the elastomeric covered portion of the second elongate component 27' in the same way that hair is wound around a conventional hairdresser's hair roller. The elastomeric material of the sleeve provides good frictional contact with the wearer's hair to enable the hairdresser to roll up the weaver's hair on the sleeve 74 without the hair slipping during rotation of the clip 105. When the hair is wound down to the wearer's scalp the first and second elongate components are pivoted together about the hinge 64 and brought together and fastened by engagement of the respective cooperating parts of the press-stud fastener securely fastening the clip and weft to the wearer's scalp.

[0048] Referring now to Figures 5a to 5h which show the construction of a closure clip 100, intended for use with a set of clips 10 or 10' of the present invention. The closure clip 100 comprises a base member 101 and hair-receiving means 103 through which the hair of a wearer is received in use.

[0049] Figures 5a to 5h show the step-by-step construction of closure clip 100. Figure 5a shows two pieces 104, 106 of pre-shaped wire. The pieces of wire 104, 106 are identical and are generally U-shape with one of the limbs of the U also being in the form of a U, perpendicular to the general U shape of the wire and opening into the U of the wire. The wires are flat welded along the sides of the U where respective potions of the two wires overlap to form a single piece wire frame having a main rectangular loop 108 and a pair of smaller wire frame loops 110 extending along the major sides thereof. The main loop has a width of 20mm and a length of 70mm, whereas the smaller side loops have a width of 3mm and a length of 50mm, extending symmetrically outwards from the sides of the main loop, 10mm from each end thereof.

[0050] The main loop of the wire frame is covered by a hand knotted nylon netting 112, Figures 5c and 5d. The nylon netting 112 is provided with a silk panel 114 sewn over the netting 112, as indicated by broken lines 113. Human hairs 116 are hand knotted through the silk panel 114 to the nylon netting 112. Once the whole of the silk panel 114 has been hand knotted with human hair it is possible to part the hair on the silk panel, such that the silk panel becomes visible on parting the hair. The silk panel has the appearance and colour of human skin, the colour being matched to that of the individual wearer's skin. It will be appreciated, that although human hair has been used in the example shown, artificial hair or any other suitable decoration or adornment may be applied to the silk panel attached to the nylon netting in preference. Once the false hair has been hand knotted to the silk panel the nylon base member is turned over and the corners of the nylon netting are cut off in order to make slits to fit around the main loop of the wire frame but not the smaller side loops 110 (see Figure 5e). The wire frame is then laid on the silk panel and nylon netting and glued in place (see Figure 5f). Once the edges of the nylon netting have been glued down around the wire frame as shown in Figure 5g, the underside of the frame and netting is covered with a further silk panel 116, as shown in Figure 5g. The closure clip 100 is now ready for use. In the construction of the closure clip described with reference to Figures 5a to 5g, the covered area of the main rectangular loop 108 defines the base member 101 of the closure clip and the two adjacent uncovered areas of the smaller wire loops 110 define the hair receiving means 103 of the closure clip.

[0051] In order to fit the closure clip 100 to the scalp of the wearer, the wearer's hair is parted as shown in Figure 6a, the parting is shown by arrow 120. The wearer's hair is then passed through the smaller un-covered rectangular loops 110, before being passed through the diamond shape loop 22 of a clip 10, as shown in Figure 6b. The clip 10 is then secured to the wearer's hair in the manner previously described, by rotating the clip 10 towards the wearer's scalp, followed by securing the clip 10 in place by folding the metal wire frame of the clip 10 over and on itself, inserting the loop 24 into the pocket and subsequently folding the pocket and loop 24 behind the longitudinal flattened wire so as to secure the clip 10 in place. It will be appreciated that the clip 10' of the second embodiment could also be used with the closure clip 100, replacing the clip 10.

[0052] Figure 6c shows a closure clip 100 with false natural or synthetic human hairs (not shown) hand knotted to the closure clip. The closure clip 100 is held firmly in place by means of two clips 10, the presence of which is not visible to an observer as the hair weft 26 of each clip 10 obscures the presence of the remainder of the clip 10. Once the closure clip 100 is secured in place, the human hairs attached to the closure clip 100 may be parted, and the parted human hairs combed over the adjacent clips 10, so as to reveal the artificial skin parting provided by the silk panel, which to an observer will look like the skin of the wearer 130.

[0053] Although aspects of the invention have been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be effected without further inventive skill and effort.

Claims

1. A hair clip for attachment to the hair of a wearer; the said hair clip comprising a first component (27, 27') adapted for combining with selected strands of a head of hair to form the selected strands into a wound formation, and a second component (25, 25') carrying strands of additional hair to be styled and means for effecting the co-operation of the first and second component securing the selected strands in the wound formation such that the additional strands are attached to the head of hair; characterised in that the first component is in the form of an elongate member having an outer surface adapted to engage the selected strands of hair for rolling of the selected strands around the said elongate member into the wound formation.

2. A hair clip as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the said outer surface of the elongate member comprises a material or surface finish adapted to frictionally engage the said selected strands of hair.

3. A hair clip as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the said elongate member is provided with an elastomeric outer sleeve for frictional engagement with the said selected strands of hair.

4. A hair clip as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the means for affecting co-operation of the first and second components releasably couples the first and second components together in a closed configuration of the hair clip with the first and second components extending substantially parallel with respect to each other.

5. A hair clip as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the said means for effecting co-operation comprises a releasable fastening means, a first part of which is carried by the said first component and a second co-operating part of which is carried by the said first component.

6. A hair clip as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the said first part of the said fastening means is located at the end of the said first component furthest from the second component and the said second part is located at the end of the said second component furthest from the first component in the open configuration of the clip.

7. A hair clip as claimed in and preceding claims wherein the first and second components are pivotally connected together, whereby to provide relative pivotal movement of the first and second components for opening and closing the clip.

8. A hair clip as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the said first and second components are pivotally connected by means of a hinge at the respective adjoining ends of the first and second components.

9. A hair clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and second components are malleable so that they are capable of being manipulated so as to conform to the scalp underlying the hair to be styled and adjacent the wound formation of the selected strands.

10. A hair clip as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the first and second components comprise a metal wire reinforcement frame.

11. A hair clip as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the first component is integral with the second component, and wherein the part of the metal wire frame extending between the first and second components is pre-bent at a pre-determined location such that subsequent opening and closing of the hair clip occurs about the said pre-determined location.

12. A hair clip for attachment to the hair of a wearer; the said hair clip comprising a first component (27, 27') adapted for combining with selected strands of a head of hair to form the selected strands into a wound formation, and a second component (25, 25') carrying strands of additional hair to be styled and means for effecting the co-operation of the first and second component securing the selected strands in the wound formation such that the additional strands are attached to the head of hair; characterised in that the said first and second components are pivotally connected together for opening and closing the clip between an open configuration in which the first and second components are arranged in an end to end configuration and a closed configuration in which the first and second components extend substantially parallel with respect to each other.

13. A method of styling hair comprising the steps of attaching a hair clip supporting additional hair to be styled to selected strands of a head of hair by engaging the surface of selected strands of the head of hair on an elongate support, rotating the support at least one complete turn such that frictional engagement of the selected strands with the surface of the elongate support causes the selected strands to form into a wound formation of hair completely around the support and securing the additional hair to the wound formation.

14. A clip for attachment to the hair of a wearer comprising

a longitudinal member (25, 25');

a securing member (27, 27') extending from a first end of the longitudinal member and pivotable relative to the longitudinal member, the securing member having a hair securing portion (22) arranged to receive the hair of a wearer therethrough; and

a receiving means (42) located at a second end of the longitudinal member and pivotable relative to the longitudinal member, said receiving means arranged to receive at least part of the securing member therein,

wherein the securing member has a length greater than that of the longitudinal member such that in a closed configuration of the clip, the securing member extends beyond the second end of the longitudinal member and is received within the receiving means.

15. A clip according to Claim 14 wherein the clip further comprises strands of material secured to the longitudinal member.

16. A clip according to Claim 15 wherein the strands are hair-like material.

17. A clip according to any one of Claims 14 to 16 wherein the clip further comprises ornamentation secured to the longitudinal member.

18. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal member comprises a polyester material.

19. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal member is adapted to be manipulated to conform substantially with the contour of a scalp of a wearer.

20. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein the securing member is flat welded at least at the portion of the securing member adjacent the longitudinal member.

21. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein the securing member is further provided with a grip portion.

22. A clip according to Claim 20 wherein the grip portion is provided at that portion of the securing member that is received within the receiving means when the clip is in the closed configuration.

23. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal member and securing member each comprise a wire metal frame.

24. A method of attachment of a clip to the hair of a wearer comprising the steps of:

i) providing a clip comprising a longitudinal member, a securing member extending from a first end of the longitudinal member, the securing means having a hair securing portion arranged to receive the hair of a wearer therein, and a receiving means located at a second end of the longitudinal member, said receiving means arranged to receive the securing member therein;

ii) inserting selected strands of the hair of a wearer through the hair securing portion of the clip;

iii) rotating the clip at least one full turn so as to wind the selected strands of hair of the wearer around the securing member; and

iv) pivoting the securing member about the longitudinal member and inserting a portion of the securing member into the receiving means and pivoting the receiving means about the longitudinal means.

25. A method according to Claim 22 wherein step (iv) comprises the receiving means pivoting about the longitudinal means so as to locate the receiving means between the longitudinal member and the head of the wearer.

26. A method according to Claim 22 or Claim 24 wherein step iii) comprises rotating the clip a sufficient number of times to roll the selected strands up against the head of a wearer.

27. A method according to Claim 25 further comprising the step of manipulating the longitudinal member so as to conform substantially with the contour of the head of a wearer.

28. A clip system for attachment to the hair of a wearer comprising:

i) a clip according to any one of Claims 14 to 21; and

ii) a closure clip comprising a base member and hair-receiving means arranged to receive the hair of a wearer therethrough.

29. A clip system according to Claim 27 wherein the hair-receiving means of the closure clip comprises one or more openings through which hair of a wearer is received.

30. A clip system according to Claim 28 wherein at least one opening in the closure clip comprises a slot provided in the base member.

31. A clip system according to any one of Claims 27 to 29 comprising a ratio of two clips : one closure clip.

32. A method of attachment of a closure clip to the hair of a wearer comprising the steps of:

i) providing a closure clip comprising a base member and hair receiving means arranged to receive the hair of a wearer therethrough;

ii) providing a clip comprising a longitudinal member, a securing member extending from a first end of the longitudinal member, the securing means having a hair securing portion arranged to receive the hair of a wearer therein, and a receiving means located at a second end of the longitudinal member, said receiving means arranged to receive the securing member therein;

iii) inserting selected strands of hair of a wearer through the hair receiving means of the closure clip;

iv) then inserting said selected strands through the hair securing portion of the clip;

v) rotating the clip at least one full turn so as to wind the selected strands of hair of the wearer around the securing member; and

vi) pivoting the securing member about the longitudinal member and inserting a portion of the securing member into the receiving means and pivoting the receiving means about the longitudinal means.

33. A method according to Claim 32 wherein step (vi) comprises pivoting receiving means about the longitudinal means so as to locate the receiving means between the longitudinal member and the head of the wearer.

34. A method according to Claim 32 or Claim 33 wherein step (v) comprises rotating the clip a sufficient number of times to roll the selected strands up against the head of a wearer.

35. A method according to Claim 33 further comprising the step of manipulating the longitudinal member of the clip so as to conform substantially with the contour of the head of a wearer.

36. A method according to Claim 33 or Claim 34 further comprising the step of manipulating the base member of the closure clip so as to conform substantially with the contour of the head of a wearer.

37. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

38. A method substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawing