Lighted hair extension

Abstract

A lighted hair extension that includes at least one hair portion and at least one light source coupled to the hair portion for emitting light. The lighted hair extension may also include an attachment device for attaching the lighted hair extension to a user.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A lighted hair extension comprising at least one hair portion, at least one light source coupled to the hair portion for emitting light, and an attachment device for attaching the lighted hair extension to a user.  
     
     
         2 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 1 , wherein the hair portion comprises a material adapted to resemble mammalian hair.  
     
     
         3 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 2 , wherein the hair portion comprises a rubber material.  
     
     
         4 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 1 , wherein the hair portion comprises genuine mammalian hair.  
     
     
         5 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 1 , wherein the hair portion comprises a braid portion.  
     
     
         6 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 1 , wherein the lighted hair extension comprises a plurality of light sources.  
     
     
         7 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one conductive lead disposed within the hair portion and interconnecting the light sources.  
     
     
         8 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 6 , further comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the light sources such that the light sources emit light intermittently.  
     
     
         9 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is at least partially positioned within the hair portion.  
     
     
         10 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 9 , wherein the light source is positioned substantially entirely within the hair portion.  
     
     
         11 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of hair strands disposed at a distal end portion of the hair portion.  
     
     
         12 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 1 , wherein the hair portion comprises a light-altering portion positioned relative to the light source for receiving and altering light from the light source such that the altered light illuminates at least one of a portion of the hair portion and a portion of a user when the lighted hair extension is attached to the user.  
     
     
         13 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 12 , wherein the light-altering portion alters the light by at least one of refracting, reflecting, diffracting, and dispersing.  
     
     
         14 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source container coupled to the hair portion, the power source container including: 
 a chamber adapted to receive at least one power source therein; and    a removable cap for allowing access to the chamber and for switchably connecting the light source to the power source.    
     
     
         15 . A lighted hair extension comprising a hair portion, a plurality of LEDs positioned within the hair portion, and an attachment device for attaching the lighted hair extension to a user.  
     
     
         16 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 15 , wherein the hair portion comprises a braid portion.  
     
     
         17 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 15 , wherein the hair portion comprises a light-altering portion positioned relative to the LEDs for receiving and altering light from the LEDs by at least one of refracting, reflecting, diffracting, and dispersing such that the altered light illuminates at least one of a portion of the hair portion and a portion of a user when the lighted hair extension is attached to the user.  
     
     
         18 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one conductive lead disposed within the hair portion and interconnecting the LEDs.  
     
     
         19 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 15 , further comprising a power source container coupled to the hair portion, the power source container including: 
 a chamber adapted to receive at least one power source therein; and    a removable cap for allowing access to the chamber and for switchably connecting the LEDs to the power source.    
     
     
         20 . A lighted hair extension comprising at least one light source for emitting light, an attachment device for attaching the lighted hair extension to a user, and a hair braid portion including a light-altering portion positioned relative to the light source for receiving and altering light from the light source by at least one of refracting, reflecting, diffracting,.and dispersing such that the altered light illuminates at least one of a portion of the hair braid portion and a portion of a user when the lighted hair extension is attached to the user.  
     
     
         21 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 20 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs positioned within the hair braid portion.  
     
     
         22 . The lighted hair extension of  claim 20 , further comprising a power source container coupled to the hair braid portion, the power source container including: 
 a chamber adapted to receive at least one power source therein; and    a removable cap for allowing access to the chamber and for switchably connecting the light source to the power source.    
     
     
         23 . A method comprising: 
 providing a lighted hair extension including at least one hair portion and at least one light source coupled to the hair portion for emitting light; and    attaching the lighted hair extension to a user.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising activating the light source to illuminate at least one of a portion of the hair portion and a portion of the user.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the lighted hair extension further comprises an attachment device, and wherein attaching includes using the attachment device to attach the lighted hair extension to the user.