OA19689A - Modifiable wig and method for modifying wig. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides: a modifiable wig of which the texture has been modified by thermally treating a wig currently being used; and a method therefor.

Description

MODIFIABLE WIG AND

METHOD FOR MODIFYING WIG

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The présent invention relates to a changeable wig, and more particularly, to a changeable wig of which the form or shape can be transformed while it is worn on the head so that the user can change the wig to a new shape or 10 new form.

Description of the Related Art

A wig is a generic term referring to an object which is created in one's preferred hair style by using other 15 person's hair, not using one's own hair, and is used due to hair loss or the desire to look stylish.

Various wig products hâve been proposed according to race, âge, and gender, and are basically used by selecting a spécifie form or shape according to the purpose of use.

The wig products may be washed while using them according to a certain purpose.

That is, conventional wigs hâve been ohly premanufactured in a spécifie form or shape or customized products hâve been used by users, but they do not provide 25 any method to change their form or shape into a new style while users are using them.

Techniques are exemplified about some products that suggest transformation. In International Patent

Publication No. 2008/020552, provided are artificial hair 5 and a wig using the artificial hair having heat deformability that the hair can be expanded when heated with a hair dryer or the like which is used for hair styling. The artificial hair is produced by melting a semi-aromatic polyamide resin having a glass transition température of 60°C to 120°C together with a resin being non-expandable within the température range at a predetermined ratio. The artificial hair may hâve a sheath/core structure consisting of a core part and a sheath part covering the core part. In the suggested technique, polyethylene terephthalate or the like can be used for the resin being non-expandable within the température range above, and nylon 6 or nylon 66 can be used for the sheath. As a resuit, the artificial hair is heat-deformed by being heated in the steamed atmosphère at a glass transition température or higher or approximately 80 to 100°C, and the shape can be maintained at room température or after being washed with a shampoo as well. Accordingly, like the natural hair, the hair style can be changed at one's preference by using a hair dryer, and further, the hair style can be maintained.

Meanwhile, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1998127950, disclosed is a hair setting doll set which consists of a doll that is transplanted with a hair for a doll formed by melting and integrating a thermoplastic resin A and a thermoplastic polymer B having a spécifie glass transition température and a hair setting tool for the doll for deforming the hair held between rollers to a wavy shape for which the rollers provided with recessed and projecting parts are disposed at the inner surface opposing positions of holding pièces for holding the hair for the doll. A technique capable of easily deforming a hair style of the doll or restoring the deformed hair style to the original state is disclosed.

The proposed techniques basically hâve a feature in that a pre-formed product is partially deformed by using a deformation characteristic due to a polymer property of the fiber or the shape is partially deformed by applying mechanical molding, but any method to deform the wig into a completely different product is not proposed.

As a resuit, there are demanda for development of wig products which can be changed into a form or shape completely different from their original form or shape after using them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the présent invention is to provide a wig which can be changed into a new form or shape 5 completely different from its original spécifie form or shape after using the wig.

Another object of the présent invention is to provide a simple and easy method for transforming a wig suitable for the changeable wig.

According to an aspect of the présent invention, the présent invention provides a changeable wig of which textures can be transformed by heating the hair of the wig in use.

In an embodiment of the présent invention, the heat 15 treatment is any one or more treatment of heat treatments by hot water, hot wind, or electromagnetic wave.

In an embodiment of the présent invention, in the texture transformation, a bulky or kinky property is improved.

In an embodiment of the présent invention, the wig in use is a twisted wig or a wig with the improved bulky or kinky property is a kinky wig.

In an embodiment of the présent invention, when the heat treatment is performed by the hot water, the 25 température of hot water is 70 to 97°C or when a hair

Chemical is added together with the hot water, the température of hot water is 70 to 120°C.

In an embodiment of the présent invention, the fiber included in the wig is a fiber having shrinkage of 15 to 5 75% (under a température of 70 to 97°C) in a fiber length direction under tensionless condition.

In an embodiment of the présent invention, the changeable wig contains 10 to 100 wt% of the fiber.

In an embodiment of the présent invention, the curve generated while the wig thread is shrunk satisfies the following Equations when a curved area is defined by SIB in région Ά and région B when both ends of the wig thread are aligned on a reference line without tension based on the reference line.

(1) 128 < ZSIB < 530 (2) -350 < SIB(A-B) < 350

According to another aspect of the présent invention, the présent invention provides a method for transforming a wig of which textures are transformed by heating the hair 20 of the wig in use.

In an embodiment of the présent invention, in the texture transformation, a bulky or kinky property is improved.

In an embodiment of the présent invention, the method 25 further includes an untying step of opening the heated wig in a vertical direction of the fiber.

In an embodiment of the présent invention, the curve generated while the wig thread is shrunk satisfies the following Equations when a curved area is defined by SIB in 5 région A and région B when both ends of the wig thread are aligned on a reference line without tension based on the reference line.

(1) 128 < Σ3ΙΒ < 530 (2) -350 < SIB(A-B) < 350 10

Effects of the Invention

According to the présent invention, the changeable wig can be transformed to a wig with a new form or shape by a user while it is in use.

Further, according to the présent invention, in the changeable wig, users can transform the wig by a very simple means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are photographs illustrating examples of twist and Kinki wigs, respectively.

FIGS. 3 to 9 are examples of wig transformation according to an embodiment of the présent invention.

FIG. 10 is an example of SIB.

FIG. 11 is an example of a wig of Comparative Example

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 5

Hereinafter, the présent invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, it should be noted that the same éléments or components in the drawings will be designated by the same 10 reference numerals. In describing the présent invention, a detailed description of publicly known functions or configurations incorporated herein will be omitted so as not to make the subject matter of the présent invention unclear.

The terms representing the degree used in this spécification including approximately and substantially are used to describe the value or a meaning close to the value when unique manufacturing and material tolérances are proposed in the aforementioned meaning and used for preventing the disclosed content in which accurate or absolute figures are mentioned in order to help the understanding of the présent invention from being wrongly used by unscrupulous infringers.

A method described in this spécification, basically, 25 does not exclude a possibility to be applied to ail wigs,

but for clarifying the description, a braid type wig will be described as an example.

In a wig market, about 90% of users are black people.

The reason may be inferred to be caused by hair 5 characteristics of the black people, and most of the black people hâve very small tight curls, or kinks. The cause thereof is not accurately known, but it is presumed to be due to natural physical attributes . In the curly hair, a hair shaft is transformed and a hair root in a génération 10 région is pre-transformed. Accordingly, even when the hair shaft is corrected, the hair becomes the curly hair again following the growth of hair textures for a short period of time. Curly hair is externally transformed, and a composition of the inner cortex thereof is different from 15 that of straight hair. When observing a cross section of hair by a microscope, straight hair is closest to a round piece, and wavy hair has a bit oval shape, and as the curl of hair is tighter, the cross section becomes more fiat. Further, a growing direction of straight hair is 20 approximately perpendicular to the skull, but as the hair is curled, the hair grows more in an oblique direction. That is, it can be seen that the curling of hair has a relationship with the shape or the growing direction of hair. The hair characteristic is a feature of the African 25 black people,

Khoisans, Melanesians, Papuans, Andamans, and the like.

Due to the characteristics, the wigs for black people are proposed with various forms or shapes, and curled products for creating styles mainly with curls or waves and 5 products based on patterns of the textures for creating styles such as braiding, twisting, tying, or the like on the basis of some patterns of the textures hâve been proposed.

The reason why the most basic and popular braid 10 products pursue a variety of textures ' as compared with curled or wavy products is that the natural hair of the black people has a kinky property and the degree or the pattern of the kinky property is various for each individual, and thus sensitivity for seeking similarity 15 with original hair has a large effect on development of the products. That is, the artificial look of the wig is removed and the natural look like real hair is created through kinky and curly properties similar to the original hair.

The braid type means a hair piece in the style of weaving (braiding) hair strands or gathering and braiding several hair strands, and this type is commercialized in various forms. For a general braid, users generally use a wig processed with a predetermined texture (also referred 25 to as a jumbo braid) as illustrated in FIG. 1 or use a wig twisted or braided by themselves. Alternatively, a spécial braid is sold by twisting or braiding the wig in advance in a manufacturing process.

An unlimited example of the braid type is proposed as 5 a product which is called three-stranded ribbon braiding or two-stranded Sénégal twisting, and products named as Box Braid, Havana Twist, Faux Locs, and the like may be included therein. In this spécification, it may be described that both wigs which can be twisted or braided by 10 a user and which is previously twisted or braided in a manufacturing process are included (hereinafter, referred to as twist type).

Meanwhile, unlike the twist type, a bulky property is significantly given, and as yet another unlimited example 15 prepared by general texture processing, Marley Braid or Kinky Braid is proposed (hereinafter, referred to as a kinky type and see FIG. 2).

The présent invention provides a wig in which a twisted wig which is not textured or slightly textured can 20 be transformed to a kinky wig which is textured or highly textured by the transforming method of the présent invention.

The general twisted wig is used for 2 to 3 weeks and may be discarded as the user wants to or when a date of use expires. As an unlimited example, the twisted wig is used by attaching it to the original hair, and as the original hair grows for 2 to 3 weeks after wearing the wig, the attached part gets loosened and then the original form is not maintained or ends of the wig are frizzled or tangled, 5 and thus the wig needs to be replaced or discarded.

The présent invention provides a method and a wig for transforming the twisted wig that should be replaced or discarded to a kinky wig which can be used again by the user.

The kinky wig may be already processed for its texture, and the texture processing is performed by applying a permanent curve such as crimps, loops, coils, and the like to filament thread of synthetic fiber by a mechanical method and heat-fixing the curve by using thermoplasticity of the synthetic fiber. However, it is impossible for a general user to hâve a facility for such texture processing. Accordingly, the inventors propose the invention for transforming the discarded twisted wig.

The inventors provide the présent invention by using 20 a physical property of fiber, that is, heat shrinkage of the fiber. Generally, the heat shrinkage. of the fiber is recognized as a defect of the product and thus the product is designed in a controlled State so as not to be transformed by various conditions, particularly, hot water 25 during washing. The heat shrinkage behavior of the fiber corresponds to movement of oriented molecular chains which hâve been frozen while heating at a glass transition température or higher in the case of a stretched amorphous polymer and thus it is interpreted that the heat shrinkage occurs. In the fiber stretched at a glass transition température or lower, the heat shrinkage occurs at a spécifie température or higher even at the glass transition température or lower. As a resuit, in the above two cases, it is interpreted that the heat shrinkage behaviors are different. Meanwhile, the heat shrinkage of crystalline polymers shows a very complicated behavior when a microstructure changed by stretching or heat-treating is sensitively reflected and influenced by crystallization occurring in a heating process.

In general fibers, a crystallization région and a non-crystallization région are mixed and the distribution thereof is represented by crystallization and orientation and may be controlled by a heat treatment or stretching condition and the like. In this case, the noncrystallization région of the stretched fiber returns to a random coil state by heat and thus the shrinkage occurs and re-crystallization occurs by a condition of a température and the like. That is, in the shrinkage characteristic of the fiber by the heat, an amorphous material which has been regularly aligned by stretching, mechanical hystérésis, and the like is misaligned by heating, and thus the alignment is irregular and the réduction of the length thereof occurs in the crystallization région. The molecular chain is shrunk to a random coil type in an axial direction and non5 crystalline is melted or re-crystallization is caused by a characteristic to stabilize the reduced form as it is.

The wig according to the présent invention may be expressed by being heated at 70 to 97°C by using the behavior of the fiber, and as the heating means, heating by 10 hot water, hot wind, and electromagnetic wave may be proposed as an example. Preferably, the heating may be performed by hot water of 70 to 97°C. Meanwhile, if the wig is treated with hot water, a hair Chemical (for example, a hair conditioner and the like) may be added in the hot 15 water, and in this case, the wig may be treated at 70 to

120°C.

Meanwhile, the fiber may be a fiber having shrinkage of 15 to 75% (under a température of 70 to 97°C) in a fiber length direction under tensionless condition. More 20 preferably, the fiber may be a fiber having shrinkage of 30 to 55% (under a température of 7 0 to 97°C) in a fiber length direction under tensionless condition, at 85 to 95°C. The shrinkage range of the fiber is a range for preventing the fiber from being transformed in a product logistics 25 process in a ship container or by excessive sun exposure or preventing a property deformation due to the détérioration of fiber rétention caused by excessive heat treatment. Meanwhile, in the shrinkage, it is difficult to express the kinky wig due to a coil type or a low texture degree while the fiber is shrunk in the fiber length direction under tensionless condition, or in the shrinkage exceeding the range, fiber threads are bound due to over-shrinkage leading to entanglement with each other and thus there is a problem in implémentation of a desired texture.

Meanwhile, the changeable wig according to the présent invention may contain 10 to 100 wt% of fibers configuring the entire wig. In the range, the shrinkage is appropriately expressed and thus natural irregularity and kinky textures may be expressed.

Further, in the changeable wig according to the présent invention, the fibers may be composed offilaments, tows, or a buddle form to form the changeable wig. In the case of the filament, a monofilament may be formed of 30 to 75 D, and in the case of the tow or buddle form, they may be formed of 60 to 360 fila.

Further, in the changeable wig according to the présent invention, the fiber may be a flame-résistant fiber.

Hereinafter, a method for transforming a wig of the présent invention will be described. In the method, as an unlimited example, a twisted wig is described as a start configuration and hot water is exemplified.

First, the twisted wig is heated while being immersed in hot water at 70 to 97°C for about 20 to 60 seconds to be expressed as the kinky wig (a hot water treating step).

The wig heated by hot water may be naturally dried or dried in various ways (a drying step). In this way, the user may change the twisted wig to the kinky wig by him/herself (see FIG. 3A and based on line A).

Furthermore, optionally, the wig treated by hot water may be untied by opening the wig in a vertical direction of the fiber to improve the bulky and kinky properties. If the opening is described more easily in the perspective of the user, the aggregated state between the fibers is released by applying friction in the vertical direction of the fiber (see FIG. 3B and based on line A) . In the untying step, in order to create a desired form of the user, that is, a bulky property, time and friction force may be controlled.

Hereinafter, the présent invention will be described 20 with reference to Examples.

Examples 1 to 3

Twisted wigs (Sénégal twist type) of 100 wt%, 50 wt% (50 wt% thread (based on 93°C température) having 25 tensionless shrinkage of 4%), and 10 wt% (90 wt% thread (based on 93 C température) having tensionless shnnkage of 4%) using thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 42% were prepared, worn for 2 weeks, immersed in hot water of 90°C for 20 seconds, dried, and then untied. Thereafter, a bulky property and the like were evaluated (see FIG. 4 and Example 2).

Comparative Examples 1 and 2

Twisted wigs (Sénégal twist type) of 100 wt% and 50 wt% (50 wt% thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 4%) using thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 2% were prepared, worn for 2 weeks, immersed in hot water of 90°C for 20 seconds, dried, and then untied. Thereafter, a bulky property and the like were evaluated (see FIG. 11 and Example 2).

* Evaluation Method

In Examples and Comparative Examples, untying, shrinkage, irregularity, bulkiness, and natural look were quantified and evaluated by 10 panels, respectively (see Table 1) .

9-10: Excellent, 7-8: Good, 5-6: Normal, 3-4: Bad, 12 : Worst [Table 1]

Classifi cation	Unty ing	Shrink âge	Irregu larity	Bul kin ess	Natu ral Look	Avera ge	Changea bility
Example 1	9	7	7	8	6	7.4	OK
Example 2	8	10	10	10	10	9.6	OK
Example 3	10	6	8	8	6	7.6	OK
Comparât ive Example 1	10	1	1	3	2	3.4	NG
Comparât ive Example 2	2	8	5	6	1	4.4	NG

Examples 4 to 6

Twisted wigs (Box Braid) of 100 wt%, 50 wt% (50 wt% thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 12%), and 10 wt% (90 wt% thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 12%) using thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 42% were prepared, worn for 2 weeks, immersed in hot water of 90°C for 20 seconds, dried, and then untied. Thereafter, a bulky property and the like were evaluated (see FIG. 5 and Example 5).

Comparative Examples 3 and 4

Twisted wigs (Box Braid) of 100 wt% and 50 wt% (50 wt% thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 12%) using thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 2% were prepared, worn for

2 weeks, immersed in hot water of 90°C for 20 seconds, dried, and then untied. Thereafter, a bulky property and the like were evaluated.

[Table 2]

Classifi cation	Unty ing	Shrink âge	Irregu larity	Bul kin ess	Natu ral Look	Avera ge	Changea bility
Example 4	8	8	8	8	6	7.6	OK
Example 5	8	10	10	10	10	9.6	OK
Example 6	10	7	8	8	6	7.8	OK
Comparât ive	10	2	1	2	2	3.6	NG

Example 3
Comparât ive Example 4	10	2	2	3	2	4.4	NG

Examples 7 to 10

Twisted wigs (Havana Twist) of 100 wt%, 50 wt% (50 wt% thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 12%), and 10 wt% (90 wt% thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 12%) using thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 42% were prepared, worn for 2 weeks, immersed in hot water of 90°C for 20 seconds, dried, and then untied.

Thereafter, a bulky property and the like were evaluated (see FIGS. 6 and 7 and Examples 8 and 10).

Comparative Examples 5 and 6

Twisted wigs (Havana Twist) of 100 wt% and 50 wt% (50 wt% thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 12%) using thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 2% were prepared, worn for 2 weeks, immersed in hot water of 90°C for 20 seconds, dried, and then untied. Thereafter, a bulky property and the like were evaluated.

[Table 3]

Classifi cation	Unty ing	Shrink âge	Irregu larity	Bul kin ess	Natu ral Look	Avera ge	Changea bility
Example 7	10	5	5	7	9	7.2	OK
Example 8	10	5	8	5	9	7.4	OK
Example 9	9	5	8	4	9	7.0	OK
Example 10	9	9	10	10	8	9.2	OK
Comparât ive Example 5	10	2	1	2	6	4.2	NG
Comparât ive Example 6	10	2	2	3	6	4.6	NG

Examples 11 to 14

Twisted wigs (Faux Locs) of 100 wt%, 50 wt% (50 wt% thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 12%), and 10 wt% (90 wt% thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 12%) using thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 42%, and 50 wt% (50 wt% thread (based on 93°C 5 température) having tensionless shrinkage of 12%) using thread having tensionless shrinkage of 70% (based on 93°C température) were prepared, worn for 2 weeks, immersed in hot water of 90°C for 20 seconds, dried, and then untied. Thereafter, a bulky property and the like were evaluated 10 (see FIGS. 8 and 9 and Examples 12 and 14).

Comparative Examples 7 and 8

Twisted wigs (Faux Locs) of 100 wt% and 50 wt% (50 wt% thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless 15 shrinkage of 12%) using thread (based on 93°C température) having tensionless shrinkage of 2% were prepared, worn for 2 weeks, immersed in hot water of 90°C for 20 seconds, dried, and then untied. Thereafter, a bulky property and the like were evaluated.

[Table 4]

Classifi	Unty	Shrink	Irregu	Bul	Natu	Avera	Changea
cation	ing	âge	larity	kin	ral	ge	bility
				ess	Look
Example	6	7	7	7	8	7.0	OK

11
Example 12	7	9	8	8	6	7.6	OK
Example 13	9	6	7	5	8	7.0	OK
Example 14	9	8	10	9	9	9.0	OK
Comparât ive Example 7	10	2	2	2	6	4.4	NG
Comparât ive Example 8	10	2	3	3	6	4.8	NG

Meanwhile, in the changeable wig of the présent invention, as éléments for evaluating the changing degree, shrinkage, irregularity, bulkiness, and the like may be exemplified as described above, and they may be expressed by shrinkage-irregularity-bulkiness (SIB) as the quantifying éléments. The SIB may be defined by a curved area for a reference line in a unit length, and it may be understood that the curve generated while the wig thread is shrunk expresses the irregularity and bulkiness in région A and région B when both ends of the wig thread are aligned on the reference line without tension. FIG. 10 illustrâtes the example and one strand of the wig thread transformed in above Examples is measured based on the unit length of 100 mm. When the changeable wig according to the présent 5 invention satisfies the following conditions, it may be defined that an idéal effect is expressed.

(1) 128 < ZSIB < 530 (2) -350 < SIB(A-B) < 350

[Table 5]

Classifi cation	Région A	Région B	Classifi cation	Région A	Région B
Sample 1	66.16	150.42	Sample 18	155.48	79.93
Sample 2	87.35	117.67	Sample 19	10.14	292.83
Sample 3	189.84	78.62	Sample 20	8.44	265.49
Sample 4	243.93	283.11	Sample 21	142.32	116.98
Sample 5	112.09	297.90	Sample 22	250.23	16.09
Sample 6	11.67	319.62	Sample 23	131.79	135.42
Sample 7	43.24	318.18	Sample	36.56	129.37

			24
Sample 8	22.05	371.18	Sample 25	81.78	115.06
Sample 9	89.20	160.73	Sample 26	62.13	118.65
Sample 10	42.24	308.05	Sample 27	7049	69.72
Sample 11	314.71	44.69	Sample 28	15.61	267.92
Sample 12	390.65	41.36	Sample 29	162.72	15.88
Sample 13	77.76	50.95	Sample 30	53.40	132.67
Sample 14	181.08	26.61	Sample 31	29.36	182.98
Sample 15	115.72	83.44	Sample 32	92.64	235.77
Sample 16	80.19	91.24	Sample 33	3.00	262.56
Sample 17	26.07	250.41

The	aforementioned	présent invention is not	limited
to the	aforementioned	exemplary embodiments	and the
accompanying drawings,	and it will be obvions	to those
skilled	in the techni	cal field to which the	présent

invention pertains that various substitutions, modifications, and changes may be made within the scope without departing from the technical spirit of the présent invention.

Claims (5)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. (1) 128 < Σ3ΙΒ < 530

   15 (2) -350 < SIB(A-B) < 350

   9. A method for transforming a wig, textures of the wig being transformed by performing a heat treatment of a using wig.

   10. The method for transforming a wig of claim 9, wherein in the texture transformation, a bulky or kinky property is improved.

   11. The method for transforming a wig of claim 9, the method further comprising:

   a loosing step of opening the wig treated by the heated heat in a vertical direction of the fiber.

   1. A changeable wig, textures thereof being transformed by performing a heat treatment of a using wig.
2. 2. The changeable wig of claim 1, wherein the heat treatment is any one or more treatments of heat treatments by hot water, hot wind, or electromagnetic wave.
3. 3. The changeable wig of claim 1, wherein in the texture transformation, a bulky or kinky property is improved.
4. 4. The changeable wig of claim 1, wherein the using wig is a twisted wig or a wig with the improved bulky or kinky property is a kinky wig.

   5. The changeable wig of claim 2, wherein when the heat treatment is performed by the hot water, a hot water température is 70 to 97°C or when a hair Chemical is added together with the hot water, the hot water température is 70 to 120°C.

   6. The changeable wig of claim 1, wherein a fiber included in the wig has shrinkage of 15 to 75% (under a condition of 70 to 97°C) in a fiber length direction under tensionless.

   7. The changeable wig of claim 1, wherein the 5 changeable wig includes 10 to 100 wt% of the fiber of claim

   6.

   8. The changeable wig of claim 1, wherein a curve generated while a wig thread is shrunk satisfies the

   10 following Equations when an curved area is defined by SIB in région A and région B when both ends of the wig thread are aligned on a reference line without tension based on the reference line.
5. 5 12. The method for transforming a wig of claim 9, wherein a curve generated while a wig thread is shrunk satisfies the following Equations when an curved area is defined by SIB in région A and région B when both ends of the wig thread are aligned on a reference line without 10 tension based on the reference line.