US3433395A

US3433395A - Inflatable wig support

Info

Publication number: US3433395A
Application number: US593888A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanley W Ochtera
Original assignee: STANLEY W OCHTERA
Current assignee: STANLEY W OCHTERA
Priority date: 1966-11-14
Filing date: 1966-11-14
Publication date: 1969-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 1986-03-18

Description

March 18, 1969 swoon-ram INFLATABLE WIG SUPPORT Sheet Filed Nov. 14, 1966 INVENTOR Stanley M Ochtera 1 l g, I 4. 4

March 18, 1969 s. w. OCHTERA INFLATABLE WIG SUPPORT Sheet L of 2- Filed Nov. 14, 1966 United States Patent 3,433,395 INFLATABLE WIG SUPPORT Stanley W. Ochtera, 33 George St., Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 11577 Filed Nov. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 593,888 US. Cl. 223-67 Int. Cl. A41h /02; A45c 11/02 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to wigs and more particularly to new and useful improvements in devices for facilitating the support, transportation, storage and grooming of wigs and the like.

Ordinarily, wigs are handled, stored and groomed by mounting or fitting the wig on a rigid head model or form shaped to support the wig in the man-ner in which it is normally worn. Such models are costly, large, heavy, awkward and bulky and are highly inflexible.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a small shallow container that takes up but a small area with a self-contained resilient head model therein, the container serving as a support for the model when in inflated condition and as a housing for storing the model and transporting the same when in deflated condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wig stand which can be collapsed into a compact form for expediting the carrying and storing thereof and which can be easily and rapidly erected and ready for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible Wig stand of the above nature characterized by its simplicity, ruggedness, versatility and ease of operation.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a side prespective view of a wig stand embodying one form of the present invention and illustrated in an erected condition, a supported wig being shown in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the wig stand in collapsed condition, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective View of the clip for clamping the valve in supported position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the bottom end of a wig stand embodying a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a wig stand embodying another modified form of the invention, in erected condition, parts being shown broken away, and

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the wig stand in collapsed folded condition, and

3,433,395 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a still further form of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, the improved wig stand 10 includes a container 12 and a resilient wig-supporting form or head model 14, the container serving as a base.

The container 12 is formed of metal and has a shallow cylindrical body 16 with a side wall 18, a flat bottom wall 20 and is open at the top closa'ble by a flat removable flanged cover 22. Inside the body 16, there is a shallow pan-like metal member 24 having a bottom Wall 26 and side wall 28, an annular bead 30 being formed on the inner surface of side wall 28 adjacent the top edge thereof. The pan-like metal member 24 seats on the inner surface of the bottom wall 20 of the container, and is suitably fastened thereto.

The collapsible inflatable wig supporting form or head model 14 is aflixed to the upper surface of the pan-like member 24 and when the form 14 is inflated and in position for use it is directed upwardly from the pan-like member. The form 14 may be formed of a suitable pliable rubberized cloth, flexible saran, polyvinyl chloride ar the like and includes a spherically shaped head-simulating upper section 34, a constricted bottom neck section 36 and an open bottom end 3 8. An air inlet port 40 is formed in the body of the form .14, adjacent the junction. of the upper section with the neck section, and secured therearound in any suitable manner is one end of a tubular mouth piece 42 with restricted open end formed with an annular flange 46. The mouth piece 42 is formed of the same material as the body of the form 14. The open bottom end 38 of the form 3 2 is turned inwardly as indicated at 48 and sandwiched between the top surface of the bottom wall 26 of the pan-like member 24 and the peripheral bead 50 on the lower surface of a disc 52 slipped over the annular bead 30 on the side wall 28 of the pan-like member 24, and clamped in position under the bead 30 as best seen in FIG. 4. The disc 52 secures the form 14 to the pan-like member 24 and effects a hermetic seal therebetween.

In the operative position of the wig stand 10, suitable for carrying and storing purposes, the collapsed form 14 is housed in the container 12, as shown in FIG. 2, the container in turn being closed by the cover 22. The mouthpiece 42 is folded and clamped against the inner side wall 18 by means of a spring clip 54 as shown in -FIG. 5. In erecting the wig stand 10 for use, the cover 22 is removed from the container 12. The wig form 14 is now exposed convenient for manually pulling the upper section 34 outside of the container. The wig form 14 is now fully inflated through the mouthpiece 42 which is then folded in sealed condition and clamped by.clip 54. The cover 22 is then inverted and slipped over the bottom of the body 16 of the container, serving as a base for supporting the container and form 14 in an upright position, the form 14 adapted to support a wig 56 for any desired purpose. The mouthpiece 42 is oriented to normally preform 14. In order to collapse the wig stand 10, the mouthpiece 42 is withdrawn from the clip 54 and opened, the form being squeezed to express substantially all the air therefrom. The collapsed form is then housed in the container 12 which is closed by the cover 22.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention and designated generally at 10'. The Wig stand 10' includes a shallow round pan-shaped base 60 and wig-supporting form or head model 14' of similar construction, with its open bottom end clamped between the pan-shaped member 24' and disc 52. In this form, the 'wig supporting form is formed with an air port 62 in its neck section 36'. Mounted in the port there is a flanged bushing 64 with a flap 66 hinged to the inner flange thereof, the port, bushing and flap constituting a valve 68. The flap 66 is preferably formed of a natural or synthetic rubber.

The base 60 has a bottom wall 20 and side wall 16', the bottom wall having a central air port 72 therein and opposed closed vertical slots 74. Spaced feet 76 depend from the periphery of the bottom wall 20'. The air port '72 is controlled by means of a rubber flap 78 hinged at one end to the inner surface of the bottom wall and normally closing the port.

In this form of the invention, the pan-like member (24' is slidably mounted inside the base and is formed with a central opening 80 communicating with an air port 82 formed in the disc 52 and controlled by a rubber flap 84 hinged at one end to the inner surface of the disc. The pan-like member 24' is actuated by means of radial rugs 86 on the side walls 28' of the pan-like member 24, in opposed relation and extending outwardly through the slots 74 in the side walls 16 of the base. The disc 52 and bottom 'wall 20 of the base are connected by an extensible bellows 88, the top end of which is fixed to the bottom surface of the disc around the air port 82 in the disc 52', and the bottom end of which is suitably fastened to the inner surface of the bottom wall 20' around the port 72 in said bottom wall 20'.

In use, the wig stand rests on feet 76 on a supporting surface 90. The wig supporting form 14 may be inflated by blowing air through the valve '68 in the neck portion 36' thereof, or by pressing down on the lugs 86 by the fingers as shown in FIG. 7 thereby sucking air through the port 72 and forcing air upwardly through the air port 82. When pressure on the lugs 86 is released, the bellows 88 automatically retracts the ports to normal condition.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a wig stand 10" embodying still another modified form of the invention. This form of the invention involves a wallet-type wig stand preferably formed of suitable flexible plastic material. The wig stand 10" includes a V-shaped body composed of a pair of rectangular shaped panels 9*6 and 98 flexibly joined at one end. The panel 96 is formed with a central opening 100 and the panels have aligned protruding finger pieces 102 at the other ends for manipulating the wig stand. The panels are formed with aligned air inlet ports (not shown) and are connected by a bellows 88 one end of which is positioned around the port in panel 98 and the other end around the port in panel 96. The wig supporting form 14" is collapsible to a flat condition on the panel 96. A sectional wrap-around cover 104 of the same material has one section 106 secured at one end to the panel 98. Section 106 serves as a base for the stand. The other section serves as a flap 108 adapted to be swung over the collapsed form 14" covering the same and being held in covering relation thereon by complementary

snap fastener elements

110 and 112 on the

panel

96 and 98, respectively.

In FIG. 10, an inflated weight supporting form 14 is made open at the bottom and is adhered to a side wall 18' of a container bottom 12'. The form can be inflated through a mouthpiece 42 and retained by a clip 54'. When the wig support is deflated it can be folded downwardly into the container 12 and a removable cover 22 placed over the same in the manner as shown in FIG. 2.

In use, when collapsed the wig stand 10" may be carried in the pocket of the user. In order to extend the parts, it is merely necessary to mnflap the flap 108, raise the panel '96, manually pull the wig form 14" through the opening 100, move the panel 96 and bellows 88 downwardly thereby forcing air into the form 14" inflating the same. When pressure on the bellows is released, the parts are automatically restored to normal position.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wig stand comprising in combination, a base structure, an inflatable collapsible form and means of connection between the base structure and the form, said form having an upwardly convex top face and a bottom opening being hermetically sealed to the base structure, the base structure including a shallow container having a bottom wall, a sidewall and being open at the top, and a flanged cover adapted to close the open top when the form is collapsed into the container, the inflatable form being formed of pliable rubberized cloth, said form having a neck section, the neck section having an air inlet port therein, a valve controlling the entrance of air thereinto, the means of connection between the base structure and the inflatable form including a shallow panlike member fixed to the inner surface of the bottom wall of the container, said pan-like member having a bottom wall: a disc having a peripheral bead on its lower surface nested in said pan-like member, the material of the bottom open end of the form being bent inwardly between the head of the disc and the bottom wall of the pan-like member.

2. A wig stand as defined in claim 1, wherein the container has a removable cover for closing the opening in the top thereof and wherein said inflatable form is adapted to be collapsible so as to fit in said container when the cover is in closing position thereon, said removable cover adapted to fit over the bottom wall of the container and serve as a base for supporting the wig stand.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,436,330 11/1922 Wiener 22367 3,257,048 6/ 1966 Wolder 223-67 3,289,822 12/1966 Schumer et al. 2068 3,289,823 12/1966 Weiser et al. 2068 3,300,108 1/1967 Schurner 2484l5 X 3,327,842 6/1967 Meredith et al. 248--176 X 3,338,388 8/1967 Igoe et al. 2068 3,339,717 9/1967 Rakowitz 206-47 FOREIGN PATENTS 690,407 2/ 1930 France.

1,108,303 8/1955 France.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. GEO. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 206-8