US20090241973A1

US20090241973A1 - Instant wig liners

Info

Publication number: US20090241973A1
Application number: US12/079,291
Authority: US
Inventors: Alice Hampton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-03-26
Filing date: 2008-03-26
Publication date: 2009-10-01

Abstract

A natural, synthetic resinous or rubber cap or base is provided for a wig in which the frontal portion comprising a skin toned or transparent material intended to be indistinguishable from the wearer's actual skin; weaved with individual strands of hair to compose a natural looking hair line. With time the base deteriorates with use, thus a replaceable liner is adhered to the base. Thus most wear and tear will occur onto the liner. The wig is manufactured by implanting hairs or groups of hairs in elongated strips which comprise the wig base. These elongated strips may be part of a monolithic structure in which they are connected together by bridges to form a cap or the hairs or groups of hairs may be supported on elongated members which are attached to strips by adhesive agents or by high-frequency heating or the like. The elongated members bearing the hair may also be attached to strips or lace belts by means of hooks.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for the manufacture of hair supporting elements and synthetic resinous caps or bases for the making of wigs, and to methods and apparatus for the manufacture of regular and/or weftless wigs.

BACKGROUND

It is a general aspect of the prior art that the human or synthetic hair be cut to a predetermined length and that bundles of the thusly cut hair tress be moved by hand to a double-needle sewing machine which is used to form a series of hair laces. The thread line resulting from the double-needle sewing machine is folded, to be sewed again along the previously sewed line by an ordinary one-needle sewing machine, whereafter the root of the folded part is sewed by the single-needle sewing machine to form a belt-shaped hair lace, commonly known as “weft,” for the manufacture of a machine-made wig. This belt-shaped hair lace is sewed by a sewing machine onto the framed strips of a cap or base, or is used in a cap less wig.
In processes of the past, there are many defects. For example, many different types of specific sewing machines, enormous amounts of equipment, large numbers of persons and much time are required. The products must, furthermore pass through complicated manufacturing steps. Further, the hair will generally fall out rather easily when the wigs are combed. Moreover, the sewed lines can easily come loose. Additionally, the thickness of the hair belt is uneven because the root of the hair lace may be folded doubly or triply during the sewing in the forming of the hair belt. Still further, the direction of the hair in the wigs cannot be changed at will because thick knots which appear on the hair belt are fixed to lay in one particular direction when the hair belt is sewed onto a cap or base. Additionally the wig base will wear after consistent use. Additionally, adhesives utilized to affix hair may also deteriorate the wig base.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The type of wig likely to give a user most satisfaction is that in which the hair is transplanted as though it were actually rooted on the scalp. The appearance must be as if the hair were distributed densely and individually on the scalp. It must permit the hair style to be changed directionwise as demanded by the user's pleasure. The wig must give an impression from all views as though it was not artificial but rather that it was a natural head of hair.
A wig cap or base for a wig may comprise a net woven from silk or cotton yarn or synthetic fiber and such a net may be coated with a resin. It is also known that, to make a stretch net, the fibre may be covered with latex or spandex.
It is also known that after a net is folded or crumpled in a certain way, it can be cut to form a semicircular cap or base and that a ribbon tape or elastic band can be attached along the edge of the resulting semicircle to enable putting the wig on the user's head.
In the preferred embodiment the woven net is limited to the frontal portion of the wig, whereas the rest is a synthetic resin or synthetic rubber structure produced through a compression or pressure process by a molding operation. This structure is a frame having no crumpling nor undesirable angles and, with it, it is possible to work out the standardizations and mass production of caps or bases comprising rows of the framed strips and bridge connection forms, the spacing between the rows of strips and the bridge connection forms being readily accomplished. Human or synthetic hair is transplanted onto the rows of strips.
Generally, in achieving the various objects of the invention, namely the provision of new and improved methods of preparing wigs and the products of such methods, there is contemplated the manufacture of a wig comprising a plurality of spaced elongated supports with hair being attached along these supports. The wig manufactured in accordance with the invention may comprise a base profiled as a cap in conforming to at least part of the human head and including the aforesaid elongated supports with bridges connecting and extending between these supports. The supports and bridges may be connected together in a monolithic structure of flat cross-section, the supports and bridges cooperatively defining ventilation openings there between. In further accordance with the invention, at least one elastic band may be peripherally provided on an inside of the aforementioned cap. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the structure may be of synthetic resin or rubber or other similar plastic.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned supports may be tubes and, in accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, the aforesaid support may be belt-plates.
In the latter embodiments, hooks may be provided detachably connecting the elongated supports to elongated elements which extend perpendicularly thereof.
According to further features of the invention, adhesive agents may connect the hair to the supports or the hair may be implanted in the supports. The implanting may be effected by means of high-frequency heating or other types of heating or the like.
In accordance with still further objects and features of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a wig comprising molding a monolithic cap of spaced strips connected by bridges of synthetic resin or rubber and connecting hair to the strips.
The above and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be found hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further a more detailed explanation of the invention follows below and is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is the side view of person wearing wig with interchangeable frontal portion style 1.

FIG. 2 is the side view of person wearing wig with interchangeable frontal portion style 2.

FIG. 3 is the side view of person wearing wig with interchangeable frontal portion style 3.

FIG. 4 is the side view of person wearing wig with interchangeable frontal portion style 4.

FIG. 5 is the front view of person wearing wig with a natural looking hair line.

FIG. 6 is the front view of person wearing wig with interchangeable frontal portion style 5.

FIG. 7 is the front view of person wearing wig with interchangeable frontal portion style 6.

FIG. 8 is the front view of person wearing wig with interchangeable frontal portion style 7.

FIG. 9 is the side view of wig with hairs weaved into a base portion which is extended; intended to be unnoticeable from the person's actual skin and can be trimmed by said person.

FIG. 10 is view of the underside of the wig as worn by the person.

FIG. 11 is underside view of wig with a view of the wig base and clips for attaching the liner.

FIG. 12 is top view of wig liner.

FIG. 13 is top view of wig liner with attachment means such as clips or snaps.

FIG. 14 is frontal view of a bald person.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the preferred embodiment, a wig cap or base 10 for a wig may comprise a net woven from silk or cotton yarn or synthetic fiber and such a net may be coated with a resin. It is also known that, to make a stretch net, the fibre may be covered with latex or spandex.
It is also known that after a net is folded or crumpled in a certain way, it can be cut to form a semicircular cap or base 10 and that a ribbon tape or elastic band can be attached along the edge of the resulting semicircle to enable putting the wig on the user's head.
Said frontal portion 2 or entire portion of the wig base 4 may be comprised out of a material such as a silk with similar color tone as the person's skin. Ideally, the materials utilized to form the frontal base are intended to be visually unnoticeable compared to the person's skin tone. The hair strands rooted to the frontal portion of the wig must resemble a person's natural hair line. The base may be trimmed as a person desires their hair line. The frontal portion 2 may or may not be removable depending on the specific embodiment. Alternatively, the wig is one piece with only replaceable liners 12.
Additionally, the frontal portion 2 of the wig may be removed and replaced with an alternate frontal portion to form a new hair style. A person may desire bangs one week and no bangs the other.
In the preferred embodiment, the liner is utilized to sustain most of the wear and tear. The liner 12 may be removably attached to the base with mechanical means 8 such as but not limited to clips, hooks, or fasteners. Alternatively, the liner 12 maybe attached with chemical means such as but not limited to glues and paste. The liner 12 is intended to be unnoticeable, which can be made from similar materials as the base. The liner is intended to absorb any moisture. Additionally, the liner 12 is intended to limit the wear of adhesives on the base. The person is to use common wig adhesive or any other method to secure the liner to the head.
The construction of attaching the hair to wig base can be accomplished in any method that is known to persons skilled in the art.
In a preferred embodiment, the formation of a generally monolithic synthetic resinous or rubber cap or base with which it is possible to change the hair style according to the user's pleasure, a semicircular cap or base profiled to the human head comprises spaced rows of frame strips linked by bridge connection forms to form the spaces.
The perforated wig cap manufactured in accordance with the above does not compress the user's own hair and provides for a good ventilation effect as well as hygienic cleanliness. Further, the new wig cap permits removing perspiration and can be washed because the synthetic resinous or rubber cap or base will maintain its original state, even in water, without any relaxation. The single process required to produce this new cap or base provides for mass production techniques and reduces prices.
It is even possible to implant human or artificial hair in an optional direction onto this cap or base by known methods. When a piercing transplantation or implanting of hair through the rows of the frame strips is effected, the resulting wig has no thick belt-type weft as seen in machine-made wigs or in cap less wigs. Furthermore, the new wig has no binding knot as seen in hand-made wigs. Accordingly, this new wig gives an appearance as if the hair were a growth of the user's own hair. Its structure makes it possible to change easily the direction of hair with a comb at the user's pleasure and to make optional hair styles which are impossible with known wigs such as machine-made wigs, cap less wigs or hand-made wigs, or the like.
In the new wig, the rows of the frame strips can be changed to a whirl or spiral type. An elastic gum band B can be attached along the semicircular edge of this cap or base or the edge can be cut at spaced positions to attach separate elastic bands onto it to enable adjusting the size of the wig.
The structure of this invention can also be utilized by those who are partially or completely bald. The wig is suitable for those whose forehead is bald.
In further accordance with this invention, the frame strips of the cap or base can be replaced with a synthetic resin or rubber tube or belt-plate. Specifically, the human or artificial hair is transplanted directly onto the above-mentioned tubes or belt-plates and the tubes or belt-plates are sewed or otherwise attached onto the cap or base or onto the laces for the cap less type.
According to this invention, the human or artificial hair is transplanted directly by a single process onto the synthetic resin or synthetic rubber tube or belt-plate to form the hair strip group. The hair cannot fall out because it is transplanted tightly into the flexible synthetic resin or synthetic rubber tube or belt-plate.
Specifically, the hair strip group can also be stuck with adhesive agents or by heat-treatment onto or into the tube or belt-plate. The adherence can also be effected by high-frequency or supersonic wave treatment. In any event, a clean hair strip group can be obtained without the appearance of adherence.
After the formation of hair strip groups as mentioned above, the length of hair is cut to a length which can form any optional hair style and the hair strip groups are attached or sewed onto the associated cap or base which conforms to the shape of a human head and in order to form optional hair styles.
The hair strip groups can also be attached with adhesive agents onto caps or bases for wigs or onto laces for cap less types. When the hair strip groups are attached by heat treatment onto caps or bases or onto laces for the cap less types, the hair strip groups can be attached without there appearing any vestige of adherence by the use of high-frequency or by the supersonic wave adhesive treatments.
Furthermore, if the hair is transplanted onto a tube to form the tube-type hair strip group which is hung onto the lace for the cap less type, the direction of hair strip groups can be changed optionally at the user's pleasure because the hair strip groups hung on the hooks placed on the lace belt for the cap less type can be moved to an optional direction.
As mentioned above, this invention is characterized in that the hair strip groups can be produced by a single machine process and thus the mass production of hair strip groups is possible by a single mechanical process. The resulting transplantation of hair is uniform and dense and the hair cannot fall out. The new wig constituted by the hair strip groups of this invention appears as if the hair were to be rooted actually on the human scalp. The direction of hair or the hair style is optional at the user's pleasure. The hair strip groups when hung on hooks can readily be moved or replaced. Change of color in whole or in part is also possible by the attachment or removal of specific hair strip groups which are hung on the hooks of the strip or lace.
While the above invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. One skilled in the art may find variations of these preferred embodiments which, nevertheless, fall within the spirit of the present invention, whose scope is defined by the claims set forth below

Claims

1. A wig comprising:

a. a wig base having an outer convex surface, and formed at least in part of a fine material such as silk comprising a color which blends into a user's skin tone;

b. a plurality of hairs planted to said outer convex surface of said wig base, wherein said hair line is similar to the natural growth of human hair; and

c. a replaceable liner removably attached to the wig base whereas user may utilized adhesion techniques to adhere said wig to the user's scalp in which wear is reduced upon said wig base.

2. A wig as in claim 1, whereas said wig base is composed of a silk colored similarly to the user's skin tone.

3. A wig as in claim 1, whereas said wig base is composed of a fine polymer mesh colored similarly to the user's skin tone.

4. A wig as in claim 1, whereas said wig base is composed of a fine see through polymer mesh.

5. A wig as in claim 1, whereas said replaceable liner is attached to the base with snaps.

6. A wig as in claim 1, whereas said replaceable liner is attached to the base with clips.

7. A wig as in claim 1, whereas said replaceable liner is attached to the base with mounting mechanism.

8. A wig as in claim 1, whereas said replaceable liner is attached to the base with Velcro.

9. A wig as in claim 1, whereas said replaceable liner is attached to the base with a fastener.

10. A wig as in claim 1, whereas the frontal weft portion of the wig maybe removed and replaced to represent a different hair style such as bangs.