CA2055728A1 - Hairpiece retainer - Google Patents
Hairpiece retainerInfo
- Publication number
- CA2055728A1 CA2055728A1 CA 2055728 CA2055728A CA2055728A1 CA 2055728 A1 CA2055728 A1 CA 2055728A1 CA 2055728 CA2055728 CA 2055728 CA 2055728 A CA2055728 A CA 2055728A CA 2055728 A1 CA2055728 A1 CA 2055728A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- thread
- hair
- retainer
- baldness
- area
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
A method is provided for forming a retainer for attachment thereto of a covering for an area of baldness, such as a hairpiece. The retainer defines a contour running through hair situated around the area of baldness, and is secured to the hair. The retainer is formed by disposing a first thread along the contour and securing the first thread near the base of each of a plurality of tufts of hair spaced along the contour by knotting a second thread around said base and the first thread. A method of attaching the covering to the retainer is also provided.
A method is provided for forming a retainer for attachment thereto of a covering for an area of baldness, such as a hairpiece. The retainer defines a contour running through hair situated around the area of baldness, and is secured to the hair. The retainer is formed by disposing a first thread along the contour and securing the first thread near the base of each of a plurality of tufts of hair spaced along the contour by knotting a second thread around said base and the first thread. A method of attaching the covering to the retainer is also provided.
Description
2~5728 ~AIRPIE~CE RE?AXNER
The present invention generally relates to methods of attaching a covering over an area of baldness.
Typically, the covering is a hairpiece and the area of baldness is on a subject's skin. For example, the area of baldness may be on a individual's scalp.
Prior methods are known for attaching a covering over a area of baldness on an individual'æ scalp. One such method includes the use double sided adhesive tape to attach a hairpiece directly to a bald area. However, hairpieces so attached are not very secure and may be inadvertently removed in addition to causing discomfort to some individual~.
Other pxior methods include hair braiding or weaving techniques. In methods such as those described in U.S.
Patents 3,871,389 (Bauer) and 4,771,798 ( Candino~, natural hair surrounding an area of baldness is braided or intertwined with several or more threads or filaments to form a retainer around the periphery of the area of baldness. The hairpiece is then attached to the retainer, generally by use of another thread or filaments sewn through both the retainer and the hairpiece. The method described in U.S. Patent 4,372,330 (Nelson) involves first twisting a pair of filaments to define a winding with a series of eyes and then locking a series of tufts of hair through the eyes of the winding. The end of the filament pair may be anchored by knotting the filaments to a tuft of hair and then applying a suitable non-allergenic adhesive.
The methods described in the preceding paragraph may provide a more secure attachment than two sided tape but have certain disadvantages. Firstly, the techniques re~uire intricate, time consuming and relatively complicated intertwining of hair and threads or filaments. Second, secure attachment of the retainer in 20~5728 each case requires extensive braiding or weaving of the hair with the threads or filaments of the retainer such that multiple points of contact are provided between the threads and a particular length of hair. For example, S Nelson prefers that each tuft of hair be braided through a series of eyes in the winding. This requirement makes it difficult to ensure secure attachment of the retainer on short hair styles. Furthermore, the braid or weaving creates a protuberance which may be visible or is otherwise detectable by touch and, prevents the attachment of the covering close to the scalp in the area of the retainer.
In the prior method described in European Patent application No. 224,8~ uller) published June 10, 1987, a hairpiece is attached to the natural hair of the wearer by knotting individual hairs to a thread which is a part of the hair covering. This method may not suffer from some of the disadvantages described above in respect of techniques involving the creation of a braid or a weaving. However, the technique will be time consuming and complicated as it requires knotting of individual hairs. Furthermore~ since a knot must be tied in each hair, the h~irpiece will inevitably be attached some distance ~rom the scalp.
It is desirable to provide a simple and efficient method which will permit the secure attachment of a covering to an area of baldness in such a way that the covering will more closely resemble natural hair and will be more difficult to detect, even by the touch of a hand run through the hai.r.
The present invention provides a method of forming a retainer for attachment thereto of a covering for an area of baldness wherein the retainer defines a contour 205~72~
running through hair situated around all or part of the area of baldness and it is secured to said hair, the method including:
(i) disposing a first thread along the contour;
and (ii) securing the first thread near the base of each of a plurality of tufts of hair spaced along the contour by knotting a second thread around said base and the first thread.
The mèthod of this invention i~ suitable for forming a retainer for attachment of a variety of coverings over an area of baldness. Such coverings include hairpieces.
The area of baldness which may be covered is any bald surface which is at least partially surrounded by hair or hair-like material attached to the surface which includes an area of baldness on the scalp of an individual.
The retainer which is formed by the method of this invention is the structure to which a covering for an area of baldness is attached. The retainer defines a contour running through hair situated around all or part of an area of baldness. Typically, the contour will be close to and will generally parallel the hairline or perimeter of an area of baldness. However, it is not necessary that the contour exactly follow or parallel the perimeter of the area of baldness and in ~ome cases it may be convenient that the contour be situated some distance from the area of baldness.
A component of the retainer formed by the method of this invention is the first or anchor thread which is disposed along the contour. The anchor thread is secured near the base of each of a plurality of tufts of hair adjacent the anchor thread and spaced along the contour.
Preferably, the anchor thread will be tautly disposed 2~728 along the contour between each tuft o~ hair to which the anchor thread is attached.
The anchor thread is secured near the base of a tuft of hair by means of a knot tied in a second or knotting thread around the anchor thread and the tuft of hair.
The plurality of knots provides some security of attachment of the anchor thread to the hair without weaving or otherwise intertwining the hair with the threads of the retainer. Preferably, a suitable adhesive is applied to some or all of the plurality of knots providing a more secure attachment of the anchor thread to the hair.
Since the anchor thread is securely attached at a single point near the base of each of a plurality of tufts of hair, the anchor thread will be disposed immediately adjacent the skin. This feature, combined with the absence of a braid or weaving, permits the formation of a retainer that is difficult to detect sinc0 the protuberances created are small knots present near the scalp.
A covering, such as a hairpiece, may be attached to a retainer formed according to this invention by sewing the hairpiece to the retainer. Typically, the hairpiece is sewn to the anchor thread.
The anchor thread may be discontinuous, and be present in the retainer as a series of segments.
Similarly, the knotting thread may be discontinuous as it is possible that separate segments are used for each knot.
In a preferred method of this invention, the anchor and the knotting threads are continuous lengths. In such 2~72~
a case, the anchor thread may first be tautly disposed along a selected contour and temporarily fixed by various means, including the application of adhesive tape. A
first tuft of hair is selected adjacent the anchor thread and a knot is tied around the base of the selected tuft and the anchor thread using the knotting thread. ~ drop of a suitable adhesive is applied to the knot thus formed. The knotting thread is then drawn to a second selected tuft of hair adjacent the anchor thread and i9 used to again tie the anchor th:read to the selected tu~t of hair. The adhesive is then applied to the second knot as in the previous step and the process is repeated around the contour.
The use of continuous lengths of knotting and anchor threads permits the method of this invention to be most efficiently carried out, particularly if the knotting technique described below, by way o~ example~ is employed.
The anchor thread may be any thread or filament known to be suitable for use in forming a hair retainer.
Preferably, the thread will have a composition and diameter which will ~acilitate handling of the thread and will provide secure attachment of the covering. For example, a medium or coarse sewing thread such as is used to prepare button holes or is used for top-sticking will be suitable. A mixed silk and nylon thread is suitable, such as SILCORA* thread (article 3306; size F) of Belding Corticelli, Italy. Preferably, the colour of the thread is selected to blend with the colour o an individual's natural hair.
The knotting thread may be any similar thread or filamen-t having a diameter and handling characteristics which will permit the forming of a small knot around the 20~728 base of a tuft of hair. Preferably, the knotting thread will be as fine as may be conveniently used since a fine thread will form a less obtrusive knot and will more efficiently bind the anchor thread to a tuft having as few as 4 - 5 hairs. A suitable knotting thread is a fine, sewing thread such as Rice's SILAMIDE* thread, waxed for hand sewing (size A; manufactured by A. H. Rice Co. Inc., Pittsfield, Mass.).
Prefexably, the selected tufts of hair will be as closely spaced as i9 convenient. A spacing of approximately 9 - 13 millimeters is usually suitable. It is preferable that the tufts of hair consist of approximately 4 to 8 thick hairs. Where possible, the fine hair often associated with an area of baldness on an individual should not be used to form the tuft but rather, the thick, adult hairs adjacent the area o~
baldness should be used.
The adhesive employed in this invention must be one which will bond the thread or filament to hair~ The adhesive should be suitable for application to living tissue, be non-allergenic and, be resistent to wetting and washin~. Cyanoacrylate adhesive has been found to be suitable for application to natural hair. Preferably, the adhesive is one which hardens quickly, enabling the method of this invention to be carried out in the stepwise fashion of the example described below, without the delay which may be the result of an excessive hardening time. A suitable cyanoacrylate adhesive with applicator is PIC PLASTI STIC*, manufactured by Penn International Chemicals of Mountainview, California.
Such an adhesive provides the advantages of rapid hardening of a bond on natural hair and is sufficient waterproof to permit wetting and washing of the hair.
* Trade-mark 20~728 Often, an area of baldness will be contiguous with a region in which there is normally no hair. An example is an area of bal~ness on a human scalp which merges with the forehead region. In such circumstances, it is possible to form a retainer which completely surrounds the area of baldness by continuing the retainer along a contour in the region where there is normally no hair.
The retainer, which will comprise at least the anchor thread, is anchored to tufts of hair or both sides of the region so that the retainer briclges the region. In some circumstances, the retainer may be further secured in the region by bonding the anchor thread directly to the skin by means of a suitable adhesive such as the aforementioned cyanoacrylate adhesive. Preferably, the anchor thread is bonded to the skin at a series of spaced apart points (for example, at 10 millimetre spacing).
The invention will be more fully described in the following description by wa~ of an e~ample o~ a preferred method of the invention, with reference to the attached drawings:
Figures la - f are side views of an individual's head illustrating the sequence of steps of a preferred method of this invention and the application of a hairpiece to a retainer formed according to the method this invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic view of a pre~erred knotting technique for securing the anchor thread to tufts of hair.
Hairpieces which are intended to cover an area of baldness on an individual's scalp are well known. Prior to forming a retainer by the method o~ this invention, it may be advantageous to make a mold of the individual's 20557~
area of baldness with a sheet of translucent plastic film. A sheet of such a film is first placed on an individual's head and then a line is drawn on the film around the periphery of the area of baldness to be coveredO The film is cut along the line resultin~ in a mold having the shape of the ha:irpiece to be manufactured. At the time that the mold is prepared, it will be convenient to obtain a sample of hair to act as a reference for the preparation oE a hairpiece that will match the individual's hair.
Typically, the forementioned mold will be used as a guide in the preparation of the hairpiece. The matrix of the hairpiece is cut to fit the shape of the mold so that the resulting hairpiece will fit the area of baldness.
Matrix materials for hairpieces are well k~own. Since a hairpiece attached to the retainex produced by this invention will remain over the area of baldness and will be styled while attached to an individual's head, the hairpiece should be designed to allow water to pass through it, to be cleaned with shampoos, and ko contain real or synthetic hair that behaves like real hair.
In a preferred method of this invention, the retainer is formed in a stepwise fashion. RPferring to Figure la, the anchor thread (10) is a continuous thread and is positioned against the scalp of an individual along a selected line (14) which represents a selected contour running through the hair (16) of the individual adjacent the area of baldness. In this case, line (14) follows the periphery of an area of baldness which exposes the scalp (12) on the top of the individual's head.
In order to facilitate the location of line (14), the mold of the area of baldness (prepared as described ~0~5728 above~, is placed on the individual's head and line (14) is drawn on the scalp around the periphery of the mold.
In this way, it is possible to ensure that the rekainex formed by the method of this invention will fit a hairpiece that has been manufactured b~ using the mold of the area of baldness.
The anchor thread is temporarily anchored by placement of pieces of adhesive tape (18) at intervals (e.g. 10 millimeters or, at points of directional change of the contour) along line (14).
Referring to Figure lb, a knotting thread (20) is optionally tied to the anchor thread (10) at a starting point (22). In this case, knotting thread (20) i6 a continuous thread. Referring to Figure lc, the attachment of knotting thread (20) to anchor thread (10) at starting point (22) is re-enforced by the application of a drop of suitable, fast drying adhesive (24) directly to the knot at starting point (22).
Once knotting thread ~20) has been attached to the anchor thread (10) at starting point (22), several strands of the individual's thick hairs adjacent the anchor thread (10) near starting point (22) are gathered into a tuft. The knotting thread (20) is drawn to the base of the tuft of hair and is used to tie the tuft of hair to the adjacent anchor thread (10) by the formation of a small knot near the base of the tuft of hair as i~
shown in Figure l(d)~ The process is repeated at other tufts of hair selected in sequence at intervals spaced (e.g. 10 milLimeters) along line (14) whereby a series of knots at tufts (26, 28, 30) etc., are formed. The knots are spaced at a distance which is convenient for their preparation and which will provide sufficient points of attachment fo:r secure retention of the retainer.
2~728 It is preferable that a suitable adhesive :s applied to the knot formed at the base of each tuft of hair.
Providing that the adhesive is fast drying, it will be convenient to apply the adhesive to each knot~ as it is formed, before attending to forming the next knot in the sequence.
Rather than positioning the anchor thread (10) along the line (14) as is shown in Figure la, it may be desirable to position the anchor thread (10) along line (14) in a stepwise fashion as each tuft of hair is selected and is tied to the anchor thread (10) with the knotting thread (22). In the latter procedure, it may not be necessary to temporarily secure the anchor thread (10) with means such as adhesive tape (18), but it will be necessary to manage or manipulate both the anchor thread (10) and the knotting thread (20) as the retainer is formed.
In Figure ld, the anchor thread (10) is shown in the region of the forehead (32) in order to illustrate how such a region may be bridged when there is no natural hair adjacent the anchor thread. In this case, the anchor thread is attached to hair at knot (26) and a corresponding knot which is located at the other side of the forehead region (32) and is not illustrated here.
The anchor thread may also be attached to forehead region (32) by bonding with a suitable adhesive (24), preferably applied in a series of spaced apart ~e.g. 10 millimetre) drops.
As shown in Figure le, a hairpiece (38) is placed over the area of baldness and is sewn to the retainer formed by anchor thread (10) along line (14) by means of sewing thread (34). At some or all of the stitches thus formed, sewing thread (34) may be knotted, such as is 20~728 shown as knot (40). Knot (40) may be secured by the application of a suitable adhesive. As is shown in Figure lf, the hairpiece (38) may be styled, for example by shaping with scissors (42) to compliment natural hair (16)-In order to facilitate handling, it may be useful to thread the leading end of the knotting thread ~20) to a sewing needle which is manipulated to perform the process of this invention.
A simple knotting procedure may be used which will permit the process of this invention to be carr'ed out with greater efficiency. Referring to Figure 2, there is illustrated a portion of line (14) with anchor thread (10) superimposed. Adjacent adhesive tape (18~ is the knot at starting point (22) which was formed when knotting thread (20) was first tied to anchor thread (10). It should be understood that it is often convenient but is not necessary to tie knotting thread (20) to anchor thread (10) at the starting point (22) since in any event the knotting thread is to be tied to the anchor thread at the first selected tuft of hair.
In Figure 2, a first selected tuft of hair (26) comprising approximately 4 to 8 thick hairs is gathered adjacent starting point (22). At the leading end of knotting thread (20) is sewing needle (44). From Figure 2, it will be appreciated that sewing needle (44) was passed under the anchor thread (10) at a point adjacent the side of tuft (26) which is opposite to starting point (22). Needle (44) was then passed around the base of tuft (26) in the direction of starting point (22); over anchor thread (10); and then under the trailing portion (46) of knotting thread (20). At this stage, a half-hitch knot has been formed and when the leading end of 2~728 knotting thread t20) at needle (44) is pulled tight, the knot will tie the base of tuft (26) to the anchor thread (10). As is shown in Figure 2, and for the purpose of additional security, of needle (44) may then be passed under trailing portion (46) of the knotting thread thereby forming loop (48) through which the needle (44) is then passed. In this way, an additional knot is formed which locks the hal-hitch. The use of the addition to the half-hitch is particularly desirable when trailing portion (46) is free (e.g. there is no knot at starting point (22)) or when additional security is desired because adhesive will not be applied to the knot~
Referring again to Fiqure 2 the leading end of the knotting thread (20) at needle (44) is drawn towards a second selected tuft ~28) and the knotting procedure is repeated. Preferably, the portion of the knotting thread (20) which will be disposed between the knots formed at selected tufts (26) and (28) will be kept taut. The procedure of selecting tufts of hair and use of knotting thread (20) to tie anchor thread (10) to each tuft is repeated along line (14) around the area of baldness.
The retainer may be completed by tying the knotting thread (20) to the anchor thread (10), for example in the same way as at starting point (22).
It is preferable that as each knot is formed ~for example at starting point (22) or at a selected tuft such as tuft (26)), a suitable, fast drying adhesive is applied to the knot. It has been found that a drop of PIC PLASTI STIC* applied to a knot will harden sufficiently in approximately 3 seconds which will not delay the procedure. However, it is also possible to apply the adhesive to selected knots once the retainer has been formed around the contour.
* Trade-mark 20~728 - ~3 -Once the retainer has been formed, a hairpiece may be attached by known means. For example, the hairpiece may be sewn to the retainer. Preferably, the thread or filament used for sewing will be colour matched to the hairpiece and will be sufficient:ly fine so as to be difficult to detect. A thread such as that used for knotting thread (20) is suitable. When practicing this invention, it may be convenient to provide knotting thread (20) in a sufficient length such that when the retainer is formed, there remains a suficient amount of the thread available at its leacling en~ to be used for sewing the hairpiece to the retainer.
The stitches ~ormed when sewing the hairpiece to the retainer should be located between each point of attachment of the anchor thread to the tufts of hair or to the skin. A preferred way of forming the stitches when sewing the hairpiece to the retainer is to employ the same knotting procedure shown in Figure 2 employing a chain of half-hitches, with or without the additional locking knot. A suitable adhesive may be applied to some or all of the knots formed when sewing the hairpiece to the retainer, in particular those half-hitches which are not locked with the additional knot. It is advantageous to secure at least the first and final knots formed in the sewing procedure with the adhesive.
It will be necessary to periodically remove a hairpiece from a retainer formed by this invention. For example, it will occasionally be necessary to re-position the hairpiece to compensate for hair growth. It may also be necessary to occasionally re attach the retainer usin~ a suitable adhesive to ~n area where there is no hair, such as region ~32) shown in Fi~ure l(d~.
20~728 In some cases where the hairpiece is to be removed entirely, it may only be necessary to cut the sewing thread (34) used to sew the haixpiece to the retainer.
In cases where the retainer must be re-formed such a~ to compensate for hair growth, it will be necessary to cut through the threads forming the retainer between each point of attachment of the anchor thread (10) to the tufts of hair. When the knots which attach the retainer to the tufts of hair have been secured by an adhesive, it will be desirable to remove the knot and adhesive by application of a suitable de-bonding compound. When PIC
PLASTI STIC* cyanoacrylate glue is used, a suitable de-bonder is PIC APART* de-bonder and cleaner, manufactured by Penn International Chemicals. After the retainer and hairpiece has been removed, the individual's hair may be trimmed, the retainer reformed and, the hairpiece re-attached. By use of the process of this invention, reforming of the r~tainer and re-attachment of the hairpiece may be quickly and easily performed.
It will be readily understood in the art that the description set out above is by way of example only. The method described may be modified and still remain within the spirit if the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practised within the scope of the appended claims.
* Trade-mark
The present invention generally relates to methods of attaching a covering over an area of baldness.
Typically, the covering is a hairpiece and the area of baldness is on a subject's skin. For example, the area of baldness may be on a individual's scalp.
Prior methods are known for attaching a covering over a area of baldness on an individual'æ scalp. One such method includes the use double sided adhesive tape to attach a hairpiece directly to a bald area. However, hairpieces so attached are not very secure and may be inadvertently removed in addition to causing discomfort to some individual~.
Other pxior methods include hair braiding or weaving techniques. In methods such as those described in U.S.
Patents 3,871,389 (Bauer) and 4,771,798 ( Candino~, natural hair surrounding an area of baldness is braided or intertwined with several or more threads or filaments to form a retainer around the periphery of the area of baldness. The hairpiece is then attached to the retainer, generally by use of another thread or filaments sewn through both the retainer and the hairpiece. The method described in U.S. Patent 4,372,330 (Nelson) involves first twisting a pair of filaments to define a winding with a series of eyes and then locking a series of tufts of hair through the eyes of the winding. The end of the filament pair may be anchored by knotting the filaments to a tuft of hair and then applying a suitable non-allergenic adhesive.
The methods described in the preceding paragraph may provide a more secure attachment than two sided tape but have certain disadvantages. Firstly, the techniques re~uire intricate, time consuming and relatively complicated intertwining of hair and threads or filaments. Second, secure attachment of the retainer in 20~5728 each case requires extensive braiding or weaving of the hair with the threads or filaments of the retainer such that multiple points of contact are provided between the threads and a particular length of hair. For example, S Nelson prefers that each tuft of hair be braided through a series of eyes in the winding. This requirement makes it difficult to ensure secure attachment of the retainer on short hair styles. Furthermore, the braid or weaving creates a protuberance which may be visible or is otherwise detectable by touch and, prevents the attachment of the covering close to the scalp in the area of the retainer.
In the prior method described in European Patent application No. 224,8~ uller) published June 10, 1987, a hairpiece is attached to the natural hair of the wearer by knotting individual hairs to a thread which is a part of the hair covering. This method may not suffer from some of the disadvantages described above in respect of techniques involving the creation of a braid or a weaving. However, the technique will be time consuming and complicated as it requires knotting of individual hairs. Furthermore~ since a knot must be tied in each hair, the h~irpiece will inevitably be attached some distance ~rom the scalp.
It is desirable to provide a simple and efficient method which will permit the secure attachment of a covering to an area of baldness in such a way that the covering will more closely resemble natural hair and will be more difficult to detect, even by the touch of a hand run through the hai.r.
The present invention provides a method of forming a retainer for attachment thereto of a covering for an area of baldness wherein the retainer defines a contour 205~72~
running through hair situated around all or part of the area of baldness and it is secured to said hair, the method including:
(i) disposing a first thread along the contour;
and (ii) securing the first thread near the base of each of a plurality of tufts of hair spaced along the contour by knotting a second thread around said base and the first thread.
The mèthod of this invention i~ suitable for forming a retainer for attachment of a variety of coverings over an area of baldness. Such coverings include hairpieces.
The area of baldness which may be covered is any bald surface which is at least partially surrounded by hair or hair-like material attached to the surface which includes an area of baldness on the scalp of an individual.
The retainer which is formed by the method of this invention is the structure to which a covering for an area of baldness is attached. The retainer defines a contour running through hair situated around all or part of an area of baldness. Typically, the contour will be close to and will generally parallel the hairline or perimeter of an area of baldness. However, it is not necessary that the contour exactly follow or parallel the perimeter of the area of baldness and in ~ome cases it may be convenient that the contour be situated some distance from the area of baldness.
A component of the retainer formed by the method of this invention is the first or anchor thread which is disposed along the contour. The anchor thread is secured near the base of each of a plurality of tufts of hair adjacent the anchor thread and spaced along the contour.
Preferably, the anchor thread will be tautly disposed 2~728 along the contour between each tuft o~ hair to which the anchor thread is attached.
The anchor thread is secured near the base of a tuft of hair by means of a knot tied in a second or knotting thread around the anchor thread and the tuft of hair.
The plurality of knots provides some security of attachment of the anchor thread to the hair without weaving or otherwise intertwining the hair with the threads of the retainer. Preferably, a suitable adhesive is applied to some or all of the plurality of knots providing a more secure attachment of the anchor thread to the hair.
Since the anchor thread is securely attached at a single point near the base of each of a plurality of tufts of hair, the anchor thread will be disposed immediately adjacent the skin. This feature, combined with the absence of a braid or weaving, permits the formation of a retainer that is difficult to detect sinc0 the protuberances created are small knots present near the scalp.
A covering, such as a hairpiece, may be attached to a retainer formed according to this invention by sewing the hairpiece to the retainer. Typically, the hairpiece is sewn to the anchor thread.
The anchor thread may be discontinuous, and be present in the retainer as a series of segments.
Similarly, the knotting thread may be discontinuous as it is possible that separate segments are used for each knot.
In a preferred method of this invention, the anchor and the knotting threads are continuous lengths. In such 2~72~
a case, the anchor thread may first be tautly disposed along a selected contour and temporarily fixed by various means, including the application of adhesive tape. A
first tuft of hair is selected adjacent the anchor thread and a knot is tied around the base of the selected tuft and the anchor thread using the knotting thread. ~ drop of a suitable adhesive is applied to the knot thus formed. The knotting thread is then drawn to a second selected tuft of hair adjacent the anchor thread and i9 used to again tie the anchor th:read to the selected tu~t of hair. The adhesive is then applied to the second knot as in the previous step and the process is repeated around the contour.
The use of continuous lengths of knotting and anchor threads permits the method of this invention to be most efficiently carried out, particularly if the knotting technique described below, by way o~ example~ is employed.
The anchor thread may be any thread or filament known to be suitable for use in forming a hair retainer.
Preferably, the thread will have a composition and diameter which will ~acilitate handling of the thread and will provide secure attachment of the covering. For example, a medium or coarse sewing thread such as is used to prepare button holes or is used for top-sticking will be suitable. A mixed silk and nylon thread is suitable, such as SILCORA* thread (article 3306; size F) of Belding Corticelli, Italy. Preferably, the colour of the thread is selected to blend with the colour o an individual's natural hair.
The knotting thread may be any similar thread or filamen-t having a diameter and handling characteristics which will permit the forming of a small knot around the 20~728 base of a tuft of hair. Preferably, the knotting thread will be as fine as may be conveniently used since a fine thread will form a less obtrusive knot and will more efficiently bind the anchor thread to a tuft having as few as 4 - 5 hairs. A suitable knotting thread is a fine, sewing thread such as Rice's SILAMIDE* thread, waxed for hand sewing (size A; manufactured by A. H. Rice Co. Inc., Pittsfield, Mass.).
Prefexably, the selected tufts of hair will be as closely spaced as i9 convenient. A spacing of approximately 9 - 13 millimeters is usually suitable. It is preferable that the tufts of hair consist of approximately 4 to 8 thick hairs. Where possible, the fine hair often associated with an area of baldness on an individual should not be used to form the tuft but rather, the thick, adult hairs adjacent the area o~
baldness should be used.
The adhesive employed in this invention must be one which will bond the thread or filament to hair~ The adhesive should be suitable for application to living tissue, be non-allergenic and, be resistent to wetting and washin~. Cyanoacrylate adhesive has been found to be suitable for application to natural hair. Preferably, the adhesive is one which hardens quickly, enabling the method of this invention to be carried out in the stepwise fashion of the example described below, without the delay which may be the result of an excessive hardening time. A suitable cyanoacrylate adhesive with applicator is PIC PLASTI STIC*, manufactured by Penn International Chemicals of Mountainview, California.
Such an adhesive provides the advantages of rapid hardening of a bond on natural hair and is sufficient waterproof to permit wetting and washing of the hair.
* Trade-mark 20~728 Often, an area of baldness will be contiguous with a region in which there is normally no hair. An example is an area of bal~ness on a human scalp which merges with the forehead region. In such circumstances, it is possible to form a retainer which completely surrounds the area of baldness by continuing the retainer along a contour in the region where there is normally no hair.
The retainer, which will comprise at least the anchor thread, is anchored to tufts of hair or both sides of the region so that the retainer briclges the region. In some circumstances, the retainer may be further secured in the region by bonding the anchor thread directly to the skin by means of a suitable adhesive such as the aforementioned cyanoacrylate adhesive. Preferably, the anchor thread is bonded to the skin at a series of spaced apart points (for example, at 10 millimetre spacing).
The invention will be more fully described in the following description by wa~ of an e~ample o~ a preferred method of the invention, with reference to the attached drawings:
Figures la - f are side views of an individual's head illustrating the sequence of steps of a preferred method of this invention and the application of a hairpiece to a retainer formed according to the method this invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic view of a pre~erred knotting technique for securing the anchor thread to tufts of hair.
Hairpieces which are intended to cover an area of baldness on an individual's scalp are well known. Prior to forming a retainer by the method o~ this invention, it may be advantageous to make a mold of the individual's 20557~
area of baldness with a sheet of translucent plastic film. A sheet of such a film is first placed on an individual's head and then a line is drawn on the film around the periphery of the area of baldness to be coveredO The film is cut along the line resultin~ in a mold having the shape of the ha:irpiece to be manufactured. At the time that the mold is prepared, it will be convenient to obtain a sample of hair to act as a reference for the preparation oE a hairpiece that will match the individual's hair.
Typically, the forementioned mold will be used as a guide in the preparation of the hairpiece. The matrix of the hairpiece is cut to fit the shape of the mold so that the resulting hairpiece will fit the area of baldness.
Matrix materials for hairpieces are well k~own. Since a hairpiece attached to the retainex produced by this invention will remain over the area of baldness and will be styled while attached to an individual's head, the hairpiece should be designed to allow water to pass through it, to be cleaned with shampoos, and ko contain real or synthetic hair that behaves like real hair.
In a preferred method of this invention, the retainer is formed in a stepwise fashion. RPferring to Figure la, the anchor thread (10) is a continuous thread and is positioned against the scalp of an individual along a selected line (14) which represents a selected contour running through the hair (16) of the individual adjacent the area of baldness. In this case, line (14) follows the periphery of an area of baldness which exposes the scalp (12) on the top of the individual's head.
In order to facilitate the location of line (14), the mold of the area of baldness (prepared as described ~0~5728 above~, is placed on the individual's head and line (14) is drawn on the scalp around the periphery of the mold.
In this way, it is possible to ensure that the rekainex formed by the method of this invention will fit a hairpiece that has been manufactured b~ using the mold of the area of baldness.
The anchor thread is temporarily anchored by placement of pieces of adhesive tape (18) at intervals (e.g. 10 millimeters or, at points of directional change of the contour) along line (14).
Referring to Figure lb, a knotting thread (20) is optionally tied to the anchor thread (10) at a starting point (22). In this case, knotting thread (20) i6 a continuous thread. Referring to Figure lc, the attachment of knotting thread (20) to anchor thread (10) at starting point (22) is re-enforced by the application of a drop of suitable, fast drying adhesive (24) directly to the knot at starting point (22).
Once knotting thread ~20) has been attached to the anchor thread (10) at starting point (22), several strands of the individual's thick hairs adjacent the anchor thread (10) near starting point (22) are gathered into a tuft. The knotting thread (20) is drawn to the base of the tuft of hair and is used to tie the tuft of hair to the adjacent anchor thread (10) by the formation of a small knot near the base of the tuft of hair as i~
shown in Figure l(d)~ The process is repeated at other tufts of hair selected in sequence at intervals spaced (e.g. 10 milLimeters) along line (14) whereby a series of knots at tufts (26, 28, 30) etc., are formed. The knots are spaced at a distance which is convenient for their preparation and which will provide sufficient points of attachment fo:r secure retention of the retainer.
2~728 It is preferable that a suitable adhesive :s applied to the knot formed at the base of each tuft of hair.
Providing that the adhesive is fast drying, it will be convenient to apply the adhesive to each knot~ as it is formed, before attending to forming the next knot in the sequence.
Rather than positioning the anchor thread (10) along the line (14) as is shown in Figure la, it may be desirable to position the anchor thread (10) along line (14) in a stepwise fashion as each tuft of hair is selected and is tied to the anchor thread (10) with the knotting thread (22). In the latter procedure, it may not be necessary to temporarily secure the anchor thread (10) with means such as adhesive tape (18), but it will be necessary to manage or manipulate both the anchor thread (10) and the knotting thread (20) as the retainer is formed.
In Figure ld, the anchor thread (10) is shown in the region of the forehead (32) in order to illustrate how such a region may be bridged when there is no natural hair adjacent the anchor thread. In this case, the anchor thread is attached to hair at knot (26) and a corresponding knot which is located at the other side of the forehead region (32) and is not illustrated here.
The anchor thread may also be attached to forehead region (32) by bonding with a suitable adhesive (24), preferably applied in a series of spaced apart ~e.g. 10 millimetre) drops.
As shown in Figure le, a hairpiece (38) is placed over the area of baldness and is sewn to the retainer formed by anchor thread (10) along line (14) by means of sewing thread (34). At some or all of the stitches thus formed, sewing thread (34) may be knotted, such as is 20~728 shown as knot (40). Knot (40) may be secured by the application of a suitable adhesive. As is shown in Figure lf, the hairpiece (38) may be styled, for example by shaping with scissors (42) to compliment natural hair (16)-In order to facilitate handling, it may be useful to thread the leading end of the knotting thread ~20) to a sewing needle which is manipulated to perform the process of this invention.
A simple knotting procedure may be used which will permit the process of this invention to be carr'ed out with greater efficiency. Referring to Figure 2, there is illustrated a portion of line (14) with anchor thread (10) superimposed. Adjacent adhesive tape (18~ is the knot at starting point (22) which was formed when knotting thread (20) was first tied to anchor thread (10). It should be understood that it is often convenient but is not necessary to tie knotting thread (20) to anchor thread (10) at the starting point (22) since in any event the knotting thread is to be tied to the anchor thread at the first selected tuft of hair.
In Figure 2, a first selected tuft of hair (26) comprising approximately 4 to 8 thick hairs is gathered adjacent starting point (22). At the leading end of knotting thread (20) is sewing needle (44). From Figure 2, it will be appreciated that sewing needle (44) was passed under the anchor thread (10) at a point adjacent the side of tuft (26) which is opposite to starting point (22). Needle (44) was then passed around the base of tuft (26) in the direction of starting point (22); over anchor thread (10); and then under the trailing portion (46) of knotting thread (20). At this stage, a half-hitch knot has been formed and when the leading end of 2~728 knotting thread t20) at needle (44) is pulled tight, the knot will tie the base of tuft (26) to the anchor thread (10). As is shown in Figure 2, and for the purpose of additional security, of needle (44) may then be passed under trailing portion (46) of the knotting thread thereby forming loop (48) through which the needle (44) is then passed. In this way, an additional knot is formed which locks the hal-hitch. The use of the addition to the half-hitch is particularly desirable when trailing portion (46) is free (e.g. there is no knot at starting point (22)) or when additional security is desired because adhesive will not be applied to the knot~
Referring again to Fiqure 2 the leading end of the knotting thread (20) at needle (44) is drawn towards a second selected tuft ~28) and the knotting procedure is repeated. Preferably, the portion of the knotting thread (20) which will be disposed between the knots formed at selected tufts (26) and (28) will be kept taut. The procedure of selecting tufts of hair and use of knotting thread (20) to tie anchor thread (10) to each tuft is repeated along line (14) around the area of baldness.
The retainer may be completed by tying the knotting thread (20) to the anchor thread (10), for example in the same way as at starting point (22).
It is preferable that as each knot is formed ~for example at starting point (22) or at a selected tuft such as tuft (26)), a suitable, fast drying adhesive is applied to the knot. It has been found that a drop of PIC PLASTI STIC* applied to a knot will harden sufficiently in approximately 3 seconds which will not delay the procedure. However, it is also possible to apply the adhesive to selected knots once the retainer has been formed around the contour.
* Trade-mark 20~728 - ~3 -Once the retainer has been formed, a hairpiece may be attached by known means. For example, the hairpiece may be sewn to the retainer. Preferably, the thread or filament used for sewing will be colour matched to the hairpiece and will be sufficient:ly fine so as to be difficult to detect. A thread such as that used for knotting thread (20) is suitable. When practicing this invention, it may be convenient to provide knotting thread (20) in a sufficient length such that when the retainer is formed, there remains a suficient amount of the thread available at its leacling en~ to be used for sewing the hairpiece to the retainer.
The stitches ~ormed when sewing the hairpiece to the retainer should be located between each point of attachment of the anchor thread to the tufts of hair or to the skin. A preferred way of forming the stitches when sewing the hairpiece to the retainer is to employ the same knotting procedure shown in Figure 2 employing a chain of half-hitches, with or without the additional locking knot. A suitable adhesive may be applied to some or all of the knots formed when sewing the hairpiece to the retainer, in particular those half-hitches which are not locked with the additional knot. It is advantageous to secure at least the first and final knots formed in the sewing procedure with the adhesive.
It will be necessary to periodically remove a hairpiece from a retainer formed by this invention. For example, it will occasionally be necessary to re-position the hairpiece to compensate for hair growth. It may also be necessary to occasionally re attach the retainer usin~ a suitable adhesive to ~n area where there is no hair, such as region ~32) shown in Fi~ure l(d~.
20~728 In some cases where the hairpiece is to be removed entirely, it may only be necessary to cut the sewing thread (34) used to sew the haixpiece to the retainer.
In cases where the retainer must be re-formed such a~ to compensate for hair growth, it will be necessary to cut through the threads forming the retainer between each point of attachment of the anchor thread (10) to the tufts of hair. When the knots which attach the retainer to the tufts of hair have been secured by an adhesive, it will be desirable to remove the knot and adhesive by application of a suitable de-bonding compound. When PIC
PLASTI STIC* cyanoacrylate glue is used, a suitable de-bonder is PIC APART* de-bonder and cleaner, manufactured by Penn International Chemicals. After the retainer and hairpiece has been removed, the individual's hair may be trimmed, the retainer reformed and, the hairpiece re-attached. By use of the process of this invention, reforming of the r~tainer and re-attachment of the hairpiece may be quickly and easily performed.
It will be readily understood in the art that the description set out above is by way of example only. The method described may be modified and still remain within the spirit if the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practised within the scope of the appended claims.
* Trade-mark
Claims (7)
1. A method of forming a retainer for attachment thereto of a covering for an area of baldness wherein the retainer defines a contour running through hair situated around all or part of the area of baldness and is secured to said hair, the method including:
(i) disposing a first thread along said contour; and (ii) securing the first thread near the case of each of a plurality of tufts of hair spaced along the contour by knotting a second thread around said base and the first thread.
(i) disposing a first thread along said contour; and (ii) securing the first thread near the case of each of a plurality of tufts of hair spaced along the contour by knotting a second thread around said base and the first thread.
2. The method of claim 1 which additionally includes the application of a suitable adhesive to one or more of the knots formed.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the adhesive is a cyanoacrylate adhesive.
4. The method of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the second thread is a fine continuous thread.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second thread is a fine continuous thread tautly disposed between each of the plurality of tufts of hair and, the knots formed include a series of half-hitches to which a cyanoacrylate adhesive is applied.
6. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, or 5 which additionally comprises the sewing of a covering to the retainer.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the second thread is a fine continuous thread and an extension of the second thread is used to sew the covering to the retainer.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2055728 CA2055728A1 (en) | 1991-11-18 | 1991-11-18 | Hairpiece retainer |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2055728 CA2055728A1 (en) | 1991-11-18 | 1991-11-18 | Hairpiece retainer |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2055728A1 true CA2055728A1 (en) | 1993-05-19 |
Family
ID=4148776
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2055728 Abandoned CA2055728A1 (en) | 1991-11-18 | 1991-11-18 | Hairpiece retainer |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2055728A1 (en) |
-
1991
- 1991-11-18 CA CA 2055728 patent/CA2055728A1/en not_active Abandoned
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| FZDE | Dead |