US3665940A - Permanently shaped wig article - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved wig article comprising a substantially rigid backing member shaped to contain predetermined projections and depressions on at least the outer surface of the member, and hair or hair-like material secured to the outer surface of the rigid base member in conformity with the projections and depressions thereby providing a wig article of a coiffure predetermined by the shape of the projections and depressions.

Description

United States Patent Schordalides et al.

1451 May 30, 1972 [54] PERMANENTLY SHAPED WIG ARTICLE [72] Inventors: Constantios A. Schordalides, 32, Efroniou St. (Pangrati); Dimitri G. Papageorglou, 58, Spyrow Merkouri, St, T.T. 516, both of Athens, Greece [22] Filedz Oct. 1,1969

[21] Appl.N0.: 862,745

s21 u.s.c1..... ..132/53 511 ..A4lg3/00 [58] FieldoiSearch ..l32/53,54,5,9,49,60; 1 18/39 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,138,494 5/19 15 Luther ..132/54 1,464,089 8/1923 Ernest 132/53 2,352,083 6/1944 Detjen 18/39 2,531,685 11/1950 Jacoby 132/5 2,602,460 7/ l 952 Hall ..132/53 3,342,189 9/1967 Houston 1 32/53 3,420,249 1/1969 Bonham... 1 32/53 3,456,657 7/1967 Smith 1 32/53 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeil] Attorney-Kenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin ABSTRACT An improved wig article comprising a substantially rigid backing member shaped to contain predetermined projections and depressions on at least the outer surface of the member, and hair or hair-like material secured to the outer surface of the rigid base member in conformity with the projections and depressions thereby providing a wig article of a coiffure predetermined by the shape of the projections and depressons.

19 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 3,665,940

3 Sheets'Shoot l I N VENTORS Q n nmllmuass Amp/v0 Patented May 30, 1972 3 ShaecsShoet 2 1 N VEN TORS Cbvsmwmns AW/YEVS PERMANENTLY SHAPED WIG ARTICLE DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The present invention relates to hair pieces and wig articles which have a permanent coiffure as more fully described herein.

Reference in the specification-will be made to wigs" for convenience. However, it will be understood that the term wigs refers to hair pieces generally and includes such articles as falls, wiglets, bangs, braids and the like.

In known wigs, the. hair of the wig, which may be of natural or synthetic material, is attached to a backing member which normally consists of a flexible netting material. The backing member is such that when placed on the head of the wearer it assumes the contour of the head or a contour not substantially different therefrom. To shape the wig and give it an external distinctive appearance, the hair attached to the backing member is itself formed in the required arrangement of depressions and projections appropriate to the desired shape of the coiffure.

The coifi'ure of such wig articles can be modified by merely combing out the hair and rearranging it to suit the particular requirements of the wearer. It is noted that such wigs usually comprise long hair strands in order to provide sufficient body and thickness to the wig to permit such arrangement.

7 However, such wigs having flexible netting material backing members and long free-flowing hair possess certain disadvantages. Among these, are the fact that the mechanical support for the shape of the coiffure is provided by the free-flowing hair itself only after it has been set into the desired arrangement. Experience has shown that such hair arrangements are easily disturbed by touching the hair or by wind and other elements. In an attempt to prevent any such disturbances from occurring to the set hair, excessive amount of any number of commonly used compounds, setting lotions,

' and the like have been applied to such wigs. Application is made in a manner which is similar to their employment on viable human hair. Such chemical additives aid in stiffening the hair in the shape arranged for it. However, these active materials tend to render the hair unsightly, by causing it to be excessively stiff and by making it lose anylustre which it may have. They may also attack the organic structure of the hair and detrimentally afiect healthy hair. Furthermore, such additives are not generally of a permanent nature and it is necessary to periodically recomb, reshape and reset the hair of the wig.

' We have now invented a new wig article which substantially overcomes the aforementioned limitations of prior art wigs. According to the present invention there is provided a substantially rigid backing member for a wig having therein predetermined depressions and projections on at least one surface thereof. The surface having the aforementioned depressions and projections has hair or hair-like material secured thereto on the outer surface in substantial conformity to these depressions and projections.

Briefly, the present invention includes a permanently shaped wig article comprising a substantially rigid base member having at least a contoured outer surface, said contours being determinative of the coiffure of the wig article and hair or hair-like material secured to the contoured outer surface with the individual hair strands overlying and substantially conforming to the contours of the outer surface of the base member by creating the illusion of hair depth and thereby forming said coiffure.

In contrast with the flexible backing members of the prior art, the backing member of the present invention, though sufficiently spring-like to permit it to be fitted comfortably over the head and hair of the wearer, is characterized by a substantial rigidity particularly of the preformed convolutions therein such as to permanently control and shape the outward appearance of the wig article. This substantial rigidity, while permitting temporary deformation, is sufficient to restore the backing member and its convolutions, and to maintain them in use, in substantially the form I or style to which they were originally preshaped. In short, it is the preshaping of the convolutions in the substantially rigid backing member itself, rather than the hair arrangement supported on the backing member, that produces the desired outward appearance of the coiffure of our invention.

Generally, the wig may be made by initially securing strands of hair or hair-like material in the form of bands. These bands, in one embodiment, are then secured to a porous base member which is thereafter permanently shaped, on for example a mold, to define the coiffure required.

In another embodiment, a mold, having the required arrangement of depressions and projections appropriate to the desired shape of the coiffure is used to permanently shape a base member into the desired depressions and projections. The mold may be made of metal, wood, ceramic and other like materials well known in the mold making art. The sculpturing techniques used to make the mold are well known in the art. A base member material is fitted on to the mold so that it adopts the particular arrangements of depressions and projections. In a specific example this embodiment of this invention, the base member is a heat deformable Dynel*( *Dynel is the trademark of the Union Carbide Corporation for a copolymer of vinyl chloride and acrylonitrile used as a textile fiber. A modacrylic fiber.) plastic material which is heated prior to or during contact with the mold. The heated plastic backing member is readily deformed to conform to the contours of the. mold. Once the contours are formed onrthe backing member, it is cooled. The Dynel backing member material is removed from the mold after cooling leaving the arrangement of depressions and projections corresponding to that of the mold permanently formed on the substantially rigid backing member. In the case where additional rigidity is required, several layers of plastic or other deformable materials, i.e., Dynel netting material, may be used in additional layers co-extensive with the original backing member material described above. All of the base forming materials, including netting, if used, become a part of the final wig article. The hair or hair-like material bands are then secured to the shaped base member in such a manner that the hair or hair-like material conforms substantially to the arrangements of depressions and projections on the substantially rigid base member material.

The hair or hair-like material may be any of the usual products which are normally used in making wigs and may be any desired color. In addition to the use of real hair, be it human'hair, or that of other animals, imitation hair, which is usually made of plastic fibers, is presently in extensive use in less expensive wigs. Although the plastic fibers which are used for this purpose are more rigid than animal hair, and are therefor less susceptible to disarrangement, the long fibers must still be set to form the coiffure and give the appearance of body and thickness. Furthermore, the thick arrangement of plastic fibers necessary to make into the arrangement style desired results in an animated and synthetic appearance.

In the present invention, the bands may be formed by securing together the hair or hair-like material, by sewing it or adhering it with a suitable adhesive in the form of a band. In another form of this invention, the hair or hair-like material is secured directly to one of the layers of a backing material as described.

The hair or hair-like material for the wig may be of varying lengths and may be trimmed in particular areas as desired either before application to the backing member or after such application. The length of hair or hair-like material may be, for example, 1 to 5 cms. or longer. In one method the hair or hair-like material may then be cut to shape, applied over and attached to the backing member.

Several different plastic materials are presently being used in the manufacture of wigs. These materials are likewise readily usable in this invention. These materials are usually thermoplastic fibers which are softenable and deformable when heated. Upon cooling they are reset in the form of the mold with which they have come into contact. Specialized heatsetting machines are available to accomplish these process steps. Among the plastics being used are: polyolefins, including polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers thereof; polyesters including acrylic polymers; polyamides, including nylons; polyurethane spandex type materials; and polyvinyl polymers such as polyvinyl chloride.

Also permissible for this use are the natural fibers such as cottons, rayons, hemp and the like.

In either of the embodiments above described the resulting wig article provides the illusion of depth of hair as is the case with usual wigs of the prior art. However, the wig article of this invention contains hair or hair-like material of a thickness necessary only to cover the projections and depressions on the outer surface of the backing member area. In addition to providing the look of thick hair, the wig of this invention also avoids the unsightly look associated with thick plastic-type hair and/or the dull, lack-lustre appearance of lacquered hair.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood it will now be described, by way of example, in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side profile'of the wig of this invention in place on the head of a wearer.

FIG. 2 is an angular front view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial cut-out view of the wig shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric layered view showing elements of the wig.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the elements shown in FIG. 4 in constructed relationship.

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional view of a rigid base member having a band placed thereon.

FIG. 7 is a view of a braid embodiment of this invention.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 describe the sequential process steps involved in one embodiment of making the wig shown in FIGS. 1-3.

Referring to FIG. 1, the wig article of this invention, designated generally by numeral 1, is shown in place on the head 7 of wearer. Wig 1 comprises depressions 2 and projections 3 covered in contoured relationship by hair or hair-like material 4. Wig 1 is shown in the style of a rather short coiffure, however, it can obviously be made into any desired shape. It is clear that the color of the wig is merely a matter of choice and may be any desired shade without effecting the invention herein described. Wig l is made to fit onto head 7 of the wearer in a snug, yet comfortable manner, in order to prevent it from inadvertently falling off from the wearers head. In this connection, wig 1 is preferably made with a border or rim portions 5 designed to be in touching relationship with the portions of head 7 whereon it is fitted, namely, around neck 9 and up to head region 16 of the wearers head 7. This is clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 6 wherein border or rim 5 are shown to be around the entire wig l on the wearers head 7.

FIG. 2 shows an angular front profile of wig 1, having depressions 2 and projections 3 covered by hair or hair-like material 4. Border or rim portions 5 are hidden by hair or hairlike material 4 at the intersection of the wearers head 7 and wig 1.

The break-away view in FIG. 3 shows the structure of wig 1 comprising rigid and contoured base member 6 covered by hair or hair-like material 4. Base member 6 is shown snugly mounted on wearers head 7 around the head region designated numeral 16 down to and around neck portion 9. The wearer's own hair 8 is shown tucked within inner empty spaces 17 of base member 6.

FIG. 4 shows preliminary construction of one embodiment of this invention, namely, that wherein band 10 has initially been formed by stitching hair or hair-like materials 4 in relatively short strands and essentially in a single plane represented by numeral 1 1. A netted backing member 12 and a woven backing member 13 may be used in the combination shown in order to form the base member 6 as an unforrned and nonrigid backing member generally designated as numeral 14 in FIG. 5. The drawing shows only one band 4. However, it is clear that many bands are sewn to the backing members 12 and/or 13 in overlapped or adjacent relationship in order to provide the look of continuity of the hair or hair-like material 4.

FIG. 6 describes another embodiment of this invention wherein a pre-formed rigid base member generally designated by numeral 15 having depressions 2 and projections 3 thereon is shown being covered by band 10. Bands 10 are secured to rigid base member 15 in accordance with the contours of said base member. As described in connection with FIG. 5 above, bands 10 are secured to base members 15 in adjacent or overlapping relationship to provide the continuous appearance of hair or hair-like material. Stitching 11 may either be covered by other layers of hair or hair-like material 4 or may be sewn so as to blend in with the hair or hair-like material 4. In any case, the final wig product is similar to that as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The wig has the illusion of hair thickness as shown. This is a consequence of applying bands 10 in the depressions and projections in the form of the coiffure desired as created in the backing member. FIG. 6 also shows border or rim portions 5 which encircle the wearer's head 7 in snug relationship.

In addition to full wigs, hair pieces may also be provided. Thus, for example, general tubular shaped, cigar shaped, and flame shaped backing members may be provided. The tubular shapes with hair attached may be plaited or bent into other suitable shapes. Such hairpieces are used in combination with the natural hair of the wearer.

Of course, any prior art hairpiece can be used in combination with the wig article of this invention. For example, a fall can be attached to the wig article of this invention by means of a decorative clip or pin or the like. The attaching means may be flexible to provide maximum freedom with respect to the arrangement of the fall used in this example.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of this invention, name- 1y, a finished braid designated generally as numeral 21. The braid is shown as comprising depressions 22 and projections 23 covered by hair or hair-like material 24. These embodiments may be attached to the head of the wearer by any of the usual clips.

The description of the process by which base member 15 or base member 6 is prepared is hereinafter described.

The wig article of this invention can be made in any one of several ways. In one embodiment, hair or hair-like material is initially secured in the form of bands to a flexible backing member as described. The flexible backing member is preferably a thermoplastic material possessing the properties of deformation when heated and substantial rigidity in the deformed state when cooled. Alternatively, the backing member may be a fabric having resin embedded therein which acts in much the same way as described above for the thermoplastic backing member. Under heating conditions the resin softens permitting deformation of the cloth to the contoured shape as desired. Upon cooling the resin hardens in the deformed shape.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 wherein a process for making the wig article is described, there is shown in FIG. 8 an unformed backing member with hair or hair-like material secured thereto 14, held by clamps 31 in a position whereby it is heated by heating elements 32 of heater 30. In close proximity to heater 30 is vacuum machine 35 having a vacuum chamber 34 defined by a base 38 having therein a conduit 39 through which a vacuum is pulled, frame members 36 and a screen element 37 held in position 40, by said frame members 36. A mold 41 for the wig is in resting contact 44 on screen element 37. The vacuum creating mechanism is now shown and may be any conventional equipment such as a pump or asperator.

Mold 41 is shown as consisting of depressions 42 and projections 43 in the general appearance desired.

After said unforrned backing member 14 has been heated to its softening point by heating element 32 it is laid on mold 41 as shown in FIG. 9 and placed into sealed contact 45 with the comers of frame members 36.

A vacuum generally designated as V, is then created in chamber 34 as well as void spaces 48 interior of the unformed backing member 14 by causing the gaseous atmosphere therein to be withdrawn through conduit 39. The vacuum causes softened backing member 14 to be fitted around mold 41 in the depressions 42 and projections 43 thereof as shown in FIG. 10. The sheeted backing member 14 is then permitted to cool on mold 41 and in the shape of the mold. After cooling and hardening, it is removed from the mold and trimmed around border 5. The final product is a wig as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The trimming may be followed by a sewing or adhering step which acts to seal the border of the wig. The border may be advantageously sewn or have adhesive or plastic applied thereto in order to prevent frayed ends of the backing member from unravelling. This also provides a smoother area at the points of contact between the wig and the head of the wearer.

in another embodiment the backing member is preferably provided on its internal face with an elastic band or an adjustable band in order that the same wig may be used for different head sizes while providing a light, yet secure attachement to the head. The elastic band or other similar securing means is preferably applied to the inside'of the backing member, and desirably in the border region after the trimming and the above-described step to prevent unravelling have been accomplished. The securing means may be sewn or adhered or otherwise attached to the backing member by methods well known in the art.

Since certain changes may be made in the above invention without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. In the foregoing description and in the claims the term hair is intended to include both natural hair and artificial hair-like material.

We claim:

1. An improved wig article comprising:

a. a backing member having substantially rigid projections and depressions forming a continuous contoured outer 1 surface of said member corresponding to the contours of a predetermined coiffure, and b. hair material secured to said member in close conformity with said projections and depressions thereby providing a wig article with a permanent coiffure predetermined by the shape of said projections and depressions.

2. The wig article of claim 1 wherein said backing member comprises a thermoplastic material.

3. The wig article of claim 1 wherein said hair comprises plastic fibers.

4. The wig article of claim 3 wherein said fibers comprise copolymers of vinyl chloride and acrylonitrile.

5. The wig article of claim 1 wherein said member comprises a woven thermoplastic layer secured to a netted thermoplastic layer.

6. The wig article of claim 1 wherein said member comprises a layer of flexible material impregnated with thermoplastic resin for setting the substantially rigid projections and depressions in the surface of the flexible material upon the application of heat.

7. The wig article of claim 1 wherein said member contains a border portion at about the edge of said member for providing areas of touching relationship to the head of the wearer of said wig article.

8. The wig article of claim 7 wherein securing means for holding said wig article on the head of the wearer is secured to the inner portion of said border.

9. The wig article of claim 7 including means in the area of said border portion for preventing the unravelling of frayed portions of said member. 1

10. The wig article of claim 1 being a full wig.

l l. The wig article of claim 1 being a braid.

12. The wig article of claim 1 being a fall. 13. The wig article of claim 1 wherein said hair is secured to said base member in bands.

14. The wig article of claim 13 wherein the hair in said bands is from 1 to 5 centimeters long, and said bands are overlapped to give the impression of long hair arranged in said predetermined coifiure.

15. An improved wig article comprising:

a. a backing member which is deformable when heated and is shaped when cooled, said shape containing predetermined projections and depressions forming a continuous contoured outer surface of said member corresponding to the contours of a predetermined coiifure and b. hair secured to the outer surface of said backing member in close conformity with said projections and depressions thereby providing a wig article with a permanent coiffure predetermined by the shape of said projections and depressions.

16. The wig article of claim 15 wherein said backing member comprises a thermoplastic material.

17. The wig article of claim 15 wherein said backing member comprises a fabric having resin embedded therein which resin softens under heating conditions and hardens upon cooling.

18. The wig article of claim 15 wherein said hair comprises plastic fibers.

19. The wig article of claim 15 wherein said member contains a border portion at about the edge of said member useful for providing areas of touching relationship to the had of the wearer of said wig article.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENWCATE @T CORRECQN Patent NO. Dated y 3 9 Inventor(s) Constantinos A. Scordalides and Dimitri G.Papageorgiou It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Page 1, in the Heading: Change "Schordelides" to ---Scordalides--- Page 1, at [72] Inventors: Change "Constantios A.

Schordelides" to --=Constantinos A. Scordelides---5 change "Spyrow" to ---Spyrou--- Page 1 References cited: Change "7/l97' (lest reference) to ---7/ 9 9-- Column 6 line 50: change "had to ---head--- Signed and sealed this 3rd day of October 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MQFLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U4S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 0-356-334

Claims (19)

1. An improved wig article comprising: a. a backing member having substantially rigid projections and depressions forming a continuous contoured outer surface of said member corresponding to the contours of a predetermined coiffure, and b. hair maTerial secured to said member in close conformity with said projections and depressions thereby providing a wig article with a permanent coiffure predetermined by the shape of said projections and depressions.

2. The wig article of claim 1 wherein said backing member comprises a thermoplastic material.

3. The wig article of claim 1 wherein said hair comprises plastic fibers.

4. The wig article of claim 3 wherein said fibers comprise copolymers of vinyl chloride and acrylonitrile.

5. The wig article of claim 1 wherein said member comprises a woven thermoplastic layer secured to a netted thermoplastic layer.

6. The wig article of claim 1 wherein said member comprises a layer of flexible material impregnated with thermoplastic resin for setting the substantially rigid projections and depressions in the surface of the flexible material upon the application of heat.

7. The wig article of claim 1 wherein said member contains a border portion at about the edge of said member for providing areas of touching relationship to the head of the wearer of said wig article.

8. The wig article of claim 7 wherein securing means for holding said wig article on the head of the wearer is secured to the inner portion of said border.

9. The wig article of claim 7 including means in the area of said border portion for preventing the unravelling of frayed portions of said member.

10. The wig article of claim 1 being a full wig.

11. The wig article of claim 1 being a braid.

12. The wig article of claim 1 being a fall.

13. The wig article of claim 1 wherein said hair is secured to said base member in bands.

14. The wig article of claim 13 wherein the hair in said bands is from 1 to 5 centimeters long, and said bands are overlapped to give the impression of long hair arranged in said predetermined coiffure.

15. An improved wig article comprising: a. a backing member which is deformable when heated and is shaped when cooled, said shape containing predetermined projections and depressions forming a continuous contoured outer surface of said member corresponding to the contours of a predetermined coiffure and b. hair secured to the outer surface of said backing member in close conformity with said projections and depressions thereby providing a wig article with a permanent coiffure predetermined by the shape of said projections and depressions.

16. The wig article of claim 15 wherein said backing member comprises a thermoplastic material.

17. The wig article of claim 15 wherein said backing member comprises a fabric having resin embedded therein which resin softens under heating conditions and hardens upon cooling.

18. The wig article of claim 15 wherein said hair comprises plastic fibers.

19. The wig article of claim 15 wherein said member contains a border portion at about the edge of said member useful for providing areas of touching relationship to the had of the wearer of said wig article.

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