US20080197159A1

US20080197159A1 - Inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand

Info

Publication number: US20080197159A1
Application number: US12/069,121
Authority: US
Inventors: Phyllis Ottley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-02-19
Filing date: 2008-02-07
Publication date: 2008-08-21

Abstract

An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand which is interchangeable between an inflated and a deflated position and includes a base member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size. An inflatable support member, for supporting at least one of a wig, a hairpiece, a hat and a combination thereof, is operably connected to such base member adjacent an outer periphery thereof. The inflatable support member is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size. A mechanism is in fluid communication with the inflatable support member for communicating air into and out of the inflatable support member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/890,530 filed Feb. 19, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to wig, hairpiece and hat stands and, more particularly, this invention relates to inflatable portable wig, hairpiece, and hat stands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, wig stands, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used by beauticians, salespersons, and others to support wigs.
Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: Kern, U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,871, discloses a collapsible wig stand including an inflatable wig form attached to a collapsible purse-like bag having a drawstring for closing and carrying.
Kassner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,312 discloses a portable cage device for transport, storage and styling for wigs, hairpieces and hats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand which is interchangeable between an inflated and a deflated position. Such inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand includes a base member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size. An inflatable support member for supporting at least one of a wig, a hairpiece, a hat and a combination thereof, is operably connected to such base member adjacent an outer periphery thereof. Such inflatable support member is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size. A means is in fluid communication with such inflatable support member for communicating air into and out of such inflatable support member.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an inflatable wig, hairpiece and hat stand.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a convenient device for displaying and styling wigs and hairpieces, and for displaying hats.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an easy to transport stand for wigs, hairpieces, and hats.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an automatically inflatable stand for wigs, hairpieces, and hats.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a wig stand which is inflatable, lightweight, and easy to transport.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment in which the invention could be one of being inflated and being deflated.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment in which the invention includes a carrying pouch.

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment in which the invention includes an electrical cord for providing power to inflate and deflate the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-6.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, an inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand, generally designated 10, is interchangeable between an inflated and a deflated position. Such inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand 10 includes a base member 12 manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size.
An inflatable support member 14, for supporting at least one of a wig, a hairpiece, a hat and a combination thereof, is operably connected to such base member 12 adjacent an outer periphery thereof.
The inflatable support member 14 is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size. It is presently preferred that the second predetermined material is an elastomer. It is further presently preferred that such elastomer is at least one of plastic and fabric. It is presently most preferred that such elastomer is plastic. It is further presently preferred that such plastic is latex.
It is presently preferred that such inflatable support member 14 is manufactured in the shape of a human head 16 sitting on a human neck 18. It is presently preferred that such human head includes predetermined facial features 22. It is presently preferred that such facial features include at least one of a pair of eyes, a pair of eyebrows, a nose, a mouth, a pair of cheeks, a forehead, a chin, and a combination thereof, such facial features being disposed on such head 16 at predetermined locations thereon such that the device may resemble a human being's face. It is further presently preferred that such head 16 further includes a pair of ear members 24 each of such ear members 24 being disposed on such head 16 at a predetermined location thereon.
A means 26 is in fluid communication with such inflatable support member 14 for communicating air into and out of the inflatable support member.
It is presently preferred that such means 26 in fluid communication with such inflatable support means 14 is an air pump 28.
It is presently preferred that such air pump 28 is connected to a power source 32 and operably disposed within at least one of such base member 12, such inflatable support member 14, and a combination thereof at a predetermined location therein.
It is further presently preferred that the power source 32 further includes a control means 34 operably connected thereto at a predetermined location thereon and disposed on an outer periphery of such inflatable support member 14 at a predetermined location thereon such that a user can control the communication of air into and out of such inflatable support member 14 for inflating and deflating such inflatable support member 14.
It is presently preferred that such control means 34 includes a plurality of predetermined settings for such user to choose from such that such inflatable support member 14 will be inflated with a predetermined amount of air according to which setting such user chooses to implement. Typically wigs and hats come in various sizes to accommodate different size heads, therefore it is desirable that the device may be inflated with different amounts of air to accommodate wigs, hairpieces and hats of varying size.
It is presently preferred that such power source 32 is at least one battery 36. It is presently preferred that the at least one battery 36 is rechargeable. It is further presently preferred that such inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand 10 includes a means 38 for recharging the at least one battery 36.
It is presently preferred that such inflatable support member 14 is manufactured in a plurality of predetermined colors. It is presently most preferred that the plurality of predetermined colors includes flesh tones and skin tones.
It is presently preferred that such inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat 10 stand further includes a carrying pouch 42 in which such inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand 10 fits when in the deflated position. The carrying pouch 42 being manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a third predetermined shape. It is presently preferred that the third predetermined material is at least one of fabric, leather, and plastic.
According to another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 5-6, the power source 32 may be an electrical cord 44 for communicating electricity to the air pump 28. The electrical cord 44 is operably connected to the air pump 28 at a first predetermined end thereof and removably connectable to an electrical outlet 46 at a second predetermined end thereof for receiving electricity therefrom.
Furthermore, it is to be understood, that although it is presently preferred that an air pump may be utilized with the invention, any means may be used to communicate air into and out of the inflatable support member including but not limited to such user manually blowing air into the inflatable support member through a valve resulting in the device being inflated and such user manually deflating the device by releasing air from within such inflatable support member into the atmosphere through such valve. Additionally any other air communication systems known in the art may be used.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand which is interchangeable between an inflated and a deflated position comprising:

a. a base member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size;

b. an inflatable support member for supporting at least one of a wig, a hairpiece, a hat and a combination thereof, operably connected to said base member adjacent an outer periphery thereof, said inflatable support member being manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined shape and a second predetermined size; and

c. a means in fluid communication with said inflatable support member for communicating air into and out of said inflatable support member.

2. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 1 wherein said second predetermined material is an elastomer.

3. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 2 wherein said elastomer is at least one of plastic and fabric.

4. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 3 wherein said elastomer is plastic.

5. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 4 wherein said plastic is latex.

6. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable support member is manufactured in the shape of a human head sitting on a human neck.

7. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 6 wherein said human head includes predetermined facial features.

8. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 7 wherein said facial features include at least one of a pair of eyes, a pair of eyebrows, a nose, a mouth, a pair of cheeks, a forehead, a chin, and a combination thereof.

9. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 8 wherein said head further includes a pair of ear members, each of said ear members being disposed on said head at a predetermined location thereon.

10. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand further includes a carrying pouch in which said inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand fits when in said deflated position, said carrying pouch being manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a third predetermined shape.

11. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 10 wherein said third predetermined material is at least one of fabric, leather, and plastic.

12. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 1 wherein said means in fluid communication with said inflatable support means is an air pump.

13. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 12 wherein said air pump is connected to a power source and operably disposed within at least one of said base member, said inflatable support member, and a combination thereof at a predetermined location therein.

14. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 13 wherein said power source further includes a control means operably connected thereto at a predetermined location thereon and disposed on an outer periphery of said inflatable support member at a predetermined location thereon such that a user can control said communication of air into and out of said inflatable support member for inflating and deflating said inflatable support member.

15. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 14 wherein said control means includes a plurality of predetermined settings for such user to choose from such that said inflatable support member will be inflated with a predetermined amount of air according to which setting such user chooses to implement.

16. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 13 wherein said power source is an electrical cord for communicating electricity to said air pump said electrical cord being operably connected to said air pump at a first predetermined end thereof and removably connectable to an electrical outlet at a second predetermined end thereof for receiving electricity therefrom.

17. An inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 13 wherein said power source is at least one battery.

18. A inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 17 wherein said at least one battery is rechargeable.

19. A inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand according to claim 18 wherein said inflatable portable wig, hairpiece and hat stand further includes a means for recharging said at least one battery.