US3760818A

US3760818A - Toupet structure and method of securing the same on a human head

Info

Publication number: US3760818A
Application number: US00161788A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Schweifer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-08-01
Filing date: 1971-07-12
Publication date: 1973-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-25

Abstract

A toupet structure comprises a holding arrangement which can be placed on the head of a user, and connecting means which connects the holding arrangement with remaining hair on this head. Thereupon a toupet is placed onto the holding structure and releasable securing arrangements are used for releasably securing the toupet with the same.

Description

United States Patent [191 Schweifer [451 Sept. 25, 1973 1 TOUPET STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF SECURING THE SAME ON A HUMAN HEAD [76] Inventor: Josef Schweifer, Telgter Str. 1-4,

Munster, Germany [22] Filed: July 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 161,788

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 31, 1970 Germany P 20 38 346.4

Jan. 22, 1971 Germany P 21 03 182.3 Jan. 22, 1971 Germany G 71 02 513.3

[52] US. Cl 132/1 R [51] Int. Cl A45d 44/00 [58] Field of Search 132/1 R, 53, 54, 132/5, 9, 46, 48; 2/67, 145

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,605,761 9/1971 Margo 132/5 1,378,147 5/1921 Tapscott 132/53 2,621,663 12/1952 Jenkins 132/5 1,490,479 4/1924 Noel 132/53 1,133,196 3/1915 Teugler... 132/53 895,295 8/1908 Paris 2/67 2,865,380 12/1958 Mitchell 132/5 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeil] Att0rneyMichael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A toupet structure comprises a holding arrangement which can be placed on the head of a user, and connecting means which connects the holding arrangement with remaining hair on this head. Thereupon a toupet is placed onto the holding structure and releasable securing arrangements are used for releasably securing the toupet with the same.

19 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENIED 3,760,818

INVENTOR 5 Jos: F $5411.15; rgrz mug TOUPET STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF SECURING THE SAME ON A HUMAN HEAD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to toupets, and more particularly to a novel toupet structure and to a method of securing it on the head of a user.

Toupets, as opposed to wigs, are used by persons who have a degree of baldness which is less than total. In other words, such persons have remaining hair but have so-called bald spots" which are to be covered with a toupet, that is with a structure using human or artificial hair but which covers only a portion of the human head. Such toupets are produced by sewing through, bonding to or otherwise securing with a support, such as a net material or the like, human or artificial hair. The resulting toupet must then be secured on the head of the user, and it is desired that such securing be sufficiently strong that it can withstand light forces tending to remove it, including a relatively strong wind, that it be capable of being worn in a shower or during swimming, but at the same time that it be capable of being removed readily and without discomfort if and when desired.

l-Ieretofore such securing has involved bonding the toupet with an adhesive to the skin of the head, or else to weave the remaining natural hair of the user into some of the hair of the toupet and/or into threads or filaments provided along the margin of the toupet support. Unfortunately, both approaches are subject to certain disadvantages. In so far as the bonding by means of an adhesive is concerned, this of course requires that the toupet be located directly on the skin of the head, which is frequently found objectionable by a user. In addition, such an approach makes it difficult and sometimes even painful to remove the toupet when the latter is to be taken off, not to mention the fact that during prolonged periods of use allergic reactions and itching frequently result. Finally, the user himself has great difficulty to properly return the toupet to the desired position once it has been removed.

The other known approach, namely to weave portions of the toupet together with some of the remaining natural hair of the user, has the significant disadvantage that the user himself cannot do so. This can be carried out only by skilled specialists and the securing is therefore relatively expensive. Added to this is the fact that, over a period of time, within approximately 8 to l days, natural hair has a tendency to become disengaged from the threads or hair of the toupet with which it has been interwoven, resulting from various factors, including the growth of the natural hair, contact with water or moisture in general and also the natural oiliness of the natural hair. This means that within approximately 8 to 10 days the toupet is loose and must again be secured by. a specialist. Not only does this involve time but also it involves a constantly repeated expense. In addition relatively strong tensile forces are transmitted to the remaining natural hair because the toupet must be connected with the natural hair along its entire circumference, so that the remaining natural hair is subjected to such forces over the entire pe'ripher-y at which it surrounds the bald spot covered by the toupet. It is finally also necessary that, if the bald spot is at the forehead of the user, the toupet still be adhesively secured in the region of the forehead to the skin of the users head, with the disadvantages which have been outlined above with respect to such adhesive securing.

It is evident, therefore, that improvements in this art are highly desirable. Not only must these improvements overcome the disadvantages outlined above, but it is desirable that they make it possible for the wearer himself to apply and remove the toupet at will and without any difficulties or losing the proper positioning of the toupet. In addition the development of allergic reactions and/or itching must be avoided when the toupet is worn over a period of time and the latter must be secured in such a manner that it will be in no way deleterious to the user and/or his remaining natural hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned difficulties of the prior art, and to provide the advantages which have been indicated as desirable.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a novel toupet structure which overcomes these difficulties and has the desired advantages.

A concomitant object is to provide an improved method of securing a toupet structure to the head of a user.

In pursuance of the above objects, and of others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the novel method resides in the securing of a toupet on a human head having remaining original hair. This method involves the steps of placing toupet-securing means on the head in requisite position, connecting the toupet-securing means with the original hair, and securing a toupet to the toupet-securing means in releasable relationship.

This is accomplished, according to the present invention, by tying or otherwise securing, as by clamping, the toupet-securing means to the remaining originaly hair of the user, whereupon the toupet itself can be connected with or released from the toupet-securing means if and whenever desired. Evidently, on reconnection the toupet will be properly positioned with respect to the head of the user.

Thus, the present invention eliminates the need to establish a connection with the remaining hair via a large-. surface area, such as a layer of adhesive or the marginal .portion of the toupet support structure. Instead, individual and properly configurated toupet-securing elements are conneted with the remaining hair, and the toupet itself is then connected with these elements. I have found that it is ordinarily sufficient to utilize three of these elements which are located and connected with the original hair in the regions of the temples and of the back of the head, respectively.

I have also found that users experience the maximum freedom from discomfort if the toupet-securing members are spaced by approximately 3-4 millimeters from the skin of the head because this makes it possible for the toupet to be similar spaced and for air to circulate between the toupet and the skin, thereby avoiding discomfort from heat, perspiration and the like.

The toupet itself maybe adhesively connected with the toupet-securing members on the side of the latter which faces away from the skin of the users head. This avoids any contact of the adhesive used with the skin, and after the toupet has been removed it is a relatively simple matter to remove the adhesive from the toupetsecuring members, to remove the latter previously or subsequently thereto by disconnecting them from the remaining original hair, and to reapply the adhesive if and when desired.

It is, however, also within the concept of the present invention to provide snap action type of couplings of which one component of each two-component coupling is connected with the remaining original hair and the other is connected with the toupet so that it can be connected with the aforementioned one component by a snap action. This is a particularly simple manner of connecting and releasing the toupet and provides for a precise predetermined positioning of the toupet with reference to the head of the user. With this construction it has been found particularly advantageous that there is absolutely no indication of the juncture between the natural hair and the toupet, due to the provision of the connection means as in the prior art, and that there is sufficient space between toupet and the skin of the head to provide desirable air circulation.

It is also possible, however, to use components which are perforated in the region of their margin and provided with a self-adhesive layer. These components are then secured with the remaining original hair which is drawn or otherwise secured through the perforations, and similar components are secured to the toupet so that the latter can be connected with the components secured to the head of the user simply by bringing the self-adhesive layers in contact. This, however, makes it slightly more difficult to properly position the toupet on the head than if the snap-action-type couplings are utilized which were mentioned before. On the other hand, this measure can of course be combined with the snap-action-type couplings.

In cases where the forehead of the user is totally or substantially bald, it is advantageous to provide a ribbon, tape or the like which is secured to or extends between the toupet-securing members provided at the temples of the user. Such a tape, preferably but not necessarily a rubber band or tape, can have secured to it additional toupet-securing or -holding members which then prevent the toupet from being raised in the region of the forehead due the influence of wind, accidental tugging, or the like. In addition, if the toupet extends far forwardly on the forehead, a strip may be secured to this band which extends onto the forehead and which is provided with still another toupet-holding or -securing member for securing the toupet even more firmly in the region of the forehead.

Clamping means can also be provided for effecting securing of the toupet to the toupet-securing or holding members, and also for effecting securing of the toupetsecuring or -holding members to the remaining original hair of the user.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of use, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top-plan view of a head provided with the securing means according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the underside of a toupet which is to be secured to the securing means in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view, seen from above, of one of the toupet-securing means illustrated in FIG. 1, showing it connected with some of the remaining original hair of he user;

FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view, on an enlarged scale, showing the toupet-securing means of FIG. 3 in connected condition;

FIG. 5 illustrates a different toupet-securing means in top-plan view;

FIG. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic side-elevational view of a human head provided with toupet-securing means according to an additional embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective elevation of one of the toupetsecuring means shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 8 seen in side-elevational view and in connection condition;

FIG. 10 is a further embodiment of the invention in perspective view;

FIG. 11 is a side-elevational view of FIG. 10 showing that embodiment in connected condition; and

FIG. 12 is a side-elevational view of still an additional embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 I have shown a top-plan view of a human head 1 which is provided with remaining original hair in form of a circumferentially incomplete circle 2. It is assumed here for purposes of explanation that this hair will have a length of approximately 25 millimeters, al-

' though this will evidently vary. The head 1 has secured to it, or rather to the remaining original hair 2, three toupet-securing elements 3 according to one embodiment of the present invention. It will be seen that two of them are located in the region of the temples and the third one is in the region of the back of the head.

FIGS. 3 and 4, which show this particular embodiment in detail, identify the securing elements 3 as consisting of a circular disk of synthetic plastic material or another suitable material, with the disk being provided with several perforations or openings 4 and 5. To connect these disks with the remaining hair 2, a number of the remaining hairs 2, for instance fifteen or a larger or a smaller number, are drawn through one of the openings 4 by means of a suitable instrument, such as a needle, a gripper or the like. The openings 4 are of course not very large and the usual practice will be to draw only two or three of the hairs through the opening at a time. When the hairs are all drawn through the respective opening 4 they are formed into a strand 7 which is united by means of a loop 8--in form of one or more of the hairs themselves or of a separate thread or the likeand thereupon drawn repeatedly through the same opening 4, by being folded over the edge of the disk, being drawn through the opening, being folded over the edge again, and being drawn through the opening 4 again. This can be effected by means of an angled or curved needle 9 which is connected to the strand 7, preferably to the loop 8.

This process is repeated until strands 7 are drawn through or woven through all of the openings 4 provided in the disk, at which time the latter is located on therefrom by approximately three to four millimeters,

due to the thickness of the strands 7 themselves. The disk is thus resiliently supported on the skin of the user and the strands 7 are prevented from pulling out of the openings 4 by applying a drop or two 11 of a suitable adhesive to the strands woven through the four openings 4, to prevent them from being drawn through the latter. The adhesive 11 will of course be of the typeand many are known to those skilled in the art-- which can be dissolved by a solvent which will not cause any harm to either the skin of the user or his re maining naturalhair.

In the event that the user is predominantly or totally (as shown in FIG. 1) bald in the region of his forehead, it may be necessary or desirable to provide additional toupet-holding elements 3 in the region of the forehead in addition to those located at the temples. This can be accomplished by providing a ribbon or tape, here identified as a rubber band 12, which is connected with the members 3 secured in the region of the temples and which extends across the top of the head. Secured to this band 12 can be one or more additional holding elements 13 which correspond in the illustrated embodiment to those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and identified with reference numeral 3. Furthermore, there may be a further strip or ribbon 14 secured or of one piece with the band 12, approximately at the center of the latter, projecting forwardly onto the forehead of the user and carrying an additional holding element or member 15 which corresponds also to the

members

3 and 13.

The toupet itself is identified with reference numeral 17 in FIG. 2 and shown therein in a bottom-plan view. This toupet is to be connected with and disconnected from the holding

members

3, 13 and 15 which have been secured to the head of the user as described above with respect to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Each of the holding

members

3, 13 and 15 is provided with a counterpart identified with reference numeral 18, on the toupet 17. In the particular embodiment here under discussion the counterparts and the members3, l3 and 15 cooperate with one another in the manner of a snap-action coupling. This is for instance clearly shown in FIG. 4 where it will be seen that the members 18 are each provided with an elastically yieldable head 19which preferably is composed of four individual elastically yieldable sections and which can be pressed into the center opening of the

members

3, 13 and to establish a snap coupling. The location of the members 18 is shown in FIG. 2 with respect to the overall outline of the toupet 17. FIG. 4 shows in particular that the members 18 are sewn or otherwise secured to the support of the toupet 17 at the underside thereof, when the toupet is placed on the head of the user, each of the members 18 can be connected by a snap action with one of the cooperating

members

3, 13 and 15. Of course, the particular manner in which the members 18 are connected with the toupet 17, as well as the construction of the toupet 17 itself, have not been discussed herein in detail because they do not form part of the present invention and will be self-evident to those skilled in the art.

When the toupet 17 is to be connected in place on the head 1, then it is placed onto the head 1, and the members 18 are each connected with a corresponding

member

3, 13 or 15. The connection is the same as when conventional snaps are connected such as are provided on garments or the like. Once this is done, the

toupet has the desired and required position with reference to the head and no guesswork on the part of the user is involved. It will be retained in this position even if it becomes completely wetted during showering, swimming or the like, or if the remaining original hair 2 grows out; To remove the toupet 17 it is simply necessary to carefully disconnect the members 18 from their respectively cooperating

members

3, 13 or 15, whereupon the toupet can be removed and cleaned or placed away.

In FIG. 5 I have illustrated an embodiment which differs from that of FIGS. 3 and 4. Here, the toupetholding elements (of which only one is shown in FIG. 5) are configurated in form of a strip-shaped elongated member 20 which is provided with openings 21 in its circumferential margin, the purpose of the openings 21 being the same as that of the openings 4 in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4. Located in the middle of the member 20, within the area surrounded by the openings 21, and slightly raised above the level of the surface of the member 20, is an adhesive patch or zone 22 which is self-adhesive, utilizing well known adhesives conventionally used for such purposes. The toupet,

which is not illustrated in FIG. 5, will similarly be provided with corresponding portions so that simply by bringing it in contact with the zone 22, it will adhere thereto, but can be removed by being peeled off. The member 20 is againspaced, when connected with the remaining hair of the user, by a small distance such as three-four millimeters from the skin. A drop of adhesive may again be placed on each strand of hair which is drawn through the respective opening 21. It goes without saying, of course, that the

members

3, 13 and 15 of the first embodiment and the members 20 of the second embodiment can be utilized in one and the same application, if necessary and/or desirable.

In either case, the toupet-securing members can be removed from the strands of remaining hair 2 by disolving the respective drops 11 ofadhesive, and otherwise the adhesive will of course be so selected that it cannot be dissolved either by water or by perspiration so that under normal circumstances the toupet can be worn continuously and the toupet-securing or holding members will not come loose unless this is specifically desired.

A particular advantage of the present invention is the fact that the toupet will be reliably maintained spaced from the skin of the skull, and this includes the securing members of these preceding two embodiments, so that there is always a space through which air can circulate. Naturally additional securing elements can be provided at locations of the head other than those which have been illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1, if this should be desirable or necessary, for instance dictated by size of the toupet, the configuration of a particular head or the like.

As already pointed out previously, other embodiments of the toupet-securing or holding members beyond those shown in the preceding two embodiments, are also possible. Thus, and in particular, it is possible to provide clamping arrangements by means of which the remaining hair is clampingly connected with the toupet-securing members, thereby avoiding the necessity for providing the drops 11 of adhesive which have been discussed above.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show one such possibility. In FIG. 6 there is shown a side-elevational view of a human head provided with a plurality of toupet-securing members 33 which are secured to the remaining natural original hair 32 of the user. The toupet has not been illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 because the embodiment can be readily understood without such illustration. It is merely necessary to point out that it will again be provided-as in the preceding embodimentswith cooperating holding members which cooperate with those 32 secured in the hair of the user.

FIG. 7 shows one of the securing members 33 of FIG. 6 in detail. The securing member 33 in FIG. 7 is provided in its periphery-it is again of substantially diskshaped outline-with slots 36 which extend inwardly tangentially to the periphery and which also taper in .width in inward direction. This means that remaining original hiar strands 32 can simply be introduced into these slits 36 from the circumference of the member 33, and become clamped in these slits 36 due to the wedging action resulting from the inwardly converging configuration of the slits. In addition the member 33 is provided with a center opening 37 which has the illustrated configuration which is reminiscent for instance of the openings into which the male component of a conventional snap is inserted. The counterpart of the member 33, secured on the non-illustrated toupet, is pressed into this opening and establishes with the same a snap action, and of course it will be appreciated that the equi-angularly spaced notches in the circumference of the opening 36 are intended to provide greater elastic resiliency when the undercut head of the counterpart is pushed into the opening 33.

The embodiment in FIGS. 8 and 9 provides for a toupet-securing or -holding element 39 which is composed of two

portions

40 and 41 which overlie one another and are connected by a portion 43. The material of the member 39 is such that the resilience of the portion 43 clampingly presses the

portions

40 and 41 against one another in surface-to-surface abutment. The portion 41 projects slightly beyond one edge at least of the portion 40, or vice versa, so that they can be readily moved apart by inserting a tool between them. In the side view of FIG. 9 it is clear that the portion 41 in the illustrated embodiment is provided with openings 44 which correspond in their function for instance to the openings 4 in FIG. 3 and through which strands of residual original hair of the user can be pulled. Once these strands are pulled through and whatever tool has been used to move the

portions

40 and 41 apart is removed, the

portions

40 and 41 will hold the strands between themselves by their inherent clamping action. This eliminates the need for any adhesive securing means.

As in the preceding embodiment, the member 39 of FIGS. 8 and 9 is also provided with a center opening 45 corresponding to the opening 37 in FIG. 7 and into which a projection or head 46 of a counterpart member 47secured in suitable manner to the toupet which is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 9can be inserted with snap action.

In FIG. I have illustrated an embodiment in which the holding or securing members 50 (one shown) is provided with a separate clamping portion 51. The member 50 is of elongated annular outline as shown, having two elongated strip-shaped

portions

52 and 53 which define between one another an opening, with the clamping portion 51 being connected pivotably-for instance by being of one part with the member 50-at one end of the member which latter is of circumferentially complete configration.

FIG. 11 shows the member 50 of FIG. 10 connected with the remaining hair on the head of a user, and also with a counterpart provided on the diagrammatically illustrated toupet. As this Figure shows, some of the remaining hair is drawn through the opening defined between the

portions

52 and 53, and then the clamping portion 5lwhich may be integral with the member 50 as pointed out, or which may be connected with it by means of a small steel or other-material spring as shown in FIG. l0is pressed against and into this opening, thereby engaging and clamping the hair which passes through the opening. Reference numeral 57 is a hook provided on the portion 53 which engages in an eye on a cooperating member 57 which is secured to the toupet, for instance by sewing as illustrated.

In the embodiment of FIG. 12, finally, I have shown still another possibility. In FIG. 12 the toupet-holding or -securing member is identified with reference numeral 58 and composed of two

portions

59 and 61. The portion 59 resembles the member 3 of FIG. 3 and is connected with the diagrammatically illustrated remaining original hair of the user, being also provided with a center opening 60. A portion 61 is adapted to be snapped onto the portion 59, the drawing showing that it in effect is configurated as a cover for the portion 59 which when snapped onto the latter, engages the portion 59 over the entire circumference thereof in clamping relationship. In so doing the residual original hair which is pulled through openings provided fo this purpose in the portion 59 and resembling the openings 4 in the embodiment of FIG. 3, clampingly retains the hair against withdrawal. In order to make the portion 61 readily connectable with the portion 59, but to avoid difficulties in separating them when desired, small projections 62 are provided on the inner circumference of the portion 61 which, when the latter is connected with the portion 59, engage beneath the underside of the portion 59 and offer some resistance to separation. This prevents undesired separation of the portion 61 from the portion 59 under relatively light forces or under the invfluence of pressure exerted by the hair which is clamped between these portions.

The portion 6] is again provided with a center opening which introduces with the opening of the portion 59 when the two are connected, and a head or projection 65 on the cooperating portion (not identified with a reference numeral) which is secured to the diagrammatically illustrated toupet, is pushed through these openings to connect the toupet in snap-action coupled relationship with the member 58.

In all of the embodiments of FIGS. 6-12 it is of course not necessary to provide any adhesive means for securing the respective toupet-securing or -holding members to the original hair with which they are connected. This connection is established purely by means ofa clamping action, and requires little or no skill at all,

thus making it possible particularly with respect to these embodiments for a user to connect and remove the toupet-securing members himself after having undergone a brief period of instruction. Such removal and subsequent reconnection is necessary when the remaining original hair has grown out to a certain extent. Of course, the clamping action afforded and the subsequent handling of the hair when it is placed in clamping connection with the respective members will be so '9 chosen that damage by bending or breaking of the natural hair is avoided.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of applications differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a toupet structure, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without deparating in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential features of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the range and equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended l. A toupet structure adapted to be placed on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising a plurality of toupet-holding means adapted to be placed on the head, and each provided with a plurality of apertures through which some of the remaining hair may be pulled and secured; connecting means for clampingly connecting said toupet-holding means with the remaining hair passing thorugh said apertures; a toupet having an inner side adapted to face the head; and securing means comprising cooperating securing portions provided on said plurality of toupet-holding means and on said inner side of said toupet for releasably securing said toupet to said toupet-holding means.

2. A toupet structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said securing portions are cooperating snap coplings on said holding means and on said toupet.

3. A toupet structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said securing portionsare cooperating adhesive coating s on said holding means and toupet, respectively.

4. A toupet structure as defined in claim 1, said toupet-holding means comprising at least three discrete holding elements adapted for positioning at the temples and the back of the head, respectively.

5. A toupet structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said apertures constitute said clamping means.

6. A toupet structure as defined in claim 4; further comprising at least one band connected with said holding elements at the temples and extending on the scalp in the region of the forehead; and at least one additional holding element on said band.

7. A toupet structure as defined in claim 6; further comprising a tape connected with said band and adapted to extend in the region of one lateral side of the head for securing a portion of said toupet.

8. A toupet structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises holding elements each being composed of a first section adapted to have some of said remaining hair placed thereon, and a second section releasably and clampingly connectable with said first section for clampingly connecting the respective holding element with said remaining hair.

9. A toupet structure as defined in claim 8, wherein said second section has a peripheral marginal portion,

a center portion surrounded by said marginal portion, and at least one opening in said center portion.

10. A toupet structure as defined in claim 8, wherein said first and second sections have outer marginal portions which are juxtaposed with one another when said sections are clampingly connected.

1 l. A toupet structure as defined in claim 1, said toupet-holding means comprising a plurality of holding elements made of synthetic resin.

12. A toupet structure adapted to be placed on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising a plurality of toupet-holding means adapted to be placed on the head, said toupet-holding means including a plurality of holding elements each having a marginal portion and a center portion; connecting means comprising spiral slits extending and converging from the region of said marginal portion towards said center portion for claimpingly connecting said holding elements to the remaining hair; a toupet having an inner side adapted to face the head; and securing means comprising cooperating securing portions providedon said toupet-holding means and said inner side of said toupet for releasably securing said toupet to said toupetholding means.

13. A toupet structure adapted to be placed on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising a plurality of toupet-holding means adapted to be placed on the head, said toupet-holding means including a plurality of holding elements each composed of at least two overlying sections between which some of said remaining hair is to be placed; connecting means comprising biasing means urging said sections together for clampingly connecting said holding elements to the remaining hair; a toupet having an inner side adapted to face the head; and securing means comprising cooperating securing portions provided on said toupetholding means and said inner said of said toupet'for releasably securing said toupet to aid toupet-holding means.

14. A toupet structure adapted to be placed on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising a plurality of toupet-holding means adapted to be placed on the head, said toupet-holding means including a plurality of holding elements each composed, of a first section having a peripheral marginal portion and adapted to have some of the remaining hair placed thereon, and a second section having a peripheral mar ginal portion and being releasably and clampingly connectable with said first section; connecting means comprising projecting portions projecting inwardly from said marginal portion of said second section and adapted to embrace said marginal portion of said first section for connecting said sections with one another and clampingly connecting said holding elementsto the remaining hair; a toupet having an inner side adapted to face the head; and securing means comprising cooperating securing portions provided on said toupetholding means and said inner side of said toupet for releasably securing said toupet to said toupet-holding means.

15. A toupet structure adapted to be placed on a.

prising at least one clamping member pivotally connected to said strip-shaped element for securing the some remaining hair thereto and clampingly connecting said holding elements to the remaining hair; a toupet having an inner side adapted to face the head; and securing means comprising cooperating securing portions provided on said toupet-holding means and said inner side of said toupet for releasably securing said toupet to said toupet-holding means.

16. A toupet structure adapted to be placed on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising a plurality of toupet-holding means adapted to be placed on the head, said toupet-holding means including a plurality of holding element each having at least one elongated annular element with spaced end portions and an opening through which some of the remaining hair may be drawn; connecting means comprising at least one clamping member pivotally connected to one of said end portions for clampingly securing the some remaining hair to said annular element and clampingly connecting said holding elements to the remaining hair; a toupet having an inner side adapted to face the head; and securing means comprising cooperating securing portions provided on said toupetholding means and said inner side of said toupet for releasably securing said toupet to said toupet holding means.

17. A method of securing a toupet on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising the steps of placing a plurality of toupet-securing means comprising a plurality of securing components each having a center portion, a marginal portion and a perimeter and each provided with at least four apertures located between said center and marginal portions and spaced around said perimeter; passing some of the remaining hair at least once through each of the respective ones of said at least four apertures of all of said toupetsecuring means; moving said toupet-securing toupetsecuring with said remaining hair passing through said apertures into'the final required position in close proximity to the head; connecting the respective toupetsecuring means in their final required position to the said remaining hair passing through said apertures; placing a toupet over the head and over said toupetsecuring means in their final required position connected by said remaining hair to the head; and securing said toupet only to said jtoupet-securing means in releasable relationship.

18. A method of securing a toupet on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising the steps of placing a plurality of toupet-securing means each provided with a plurality of apertures adjacent to the head so as to cover only a fraction of the surface thereof; passing some of the remaining hair at least once through each of the respective apertures; moving said toupet-securing means with said remaining hair passing through said apertures into the final required position in close proximity to the head; connecting the respective toupet-securing means in their final required position to the said remaining hair passing through said apertures by clampingly engaging the respective toupetsecuring means with the said remaining hair; placing a toupet over the head and over said toupet-securing means in their final required position connected by said remaining hair to the head; and securing said toupet only to said toupet-securing means in releasable relationship.

19. A method of securing a toupet on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising the steps of placing a plurality of toupet-securing means comprising a plurality of securing components each having a center portion, a marginal portion and a perimeter and each provided with at least four apertures located between said center and marginal portions and spaced around said perimeter; passing some of the remaining hair at least once through each of the respective ones of said at least four apertures of all of said toupetsecuring means; moving said toupet-securing means with said remaining hair passing through said apertures into the final required position in close proximity to the head; connecting the respective toupet-securing means in their final required position to the said remaining hair passing through said apertures by clampingly engaging the respective toupet-securing means with the said remaining hair; placing a toupet over the head and over said toupet-securing means in their final required position connected by said remaining hair to the head; and securing said toupet only to said toupet-securing means in releasable relationship.

Claims

1. A toupet structure adapted to be placed on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising a plurality of toupetholding means adapted to be placed on the head, and each provided with a plurality of apertures through which some of the remaining hair may be pulled and secured; connecting means for clampingly connecting said toupet-holding means with the remaining hair passing thorugh said apertures; a toupet having an inner side adapted to face the head; and securing means comprising cooperating securing portions provided on said plurality of toupet-holding means and on said inner side of said toupet for releasably securing said toupet to said toupet-holding means.

3. A toupet structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said securing portions are cooperating adhesive coatings on said holding means and toupet, respectively.

9. A toupet structure as defined in claim 8, wherein said second section has a peripheral marginal portion, a center portion surrounded by said marginal portion, and at least one opening in said center portion.

11. A toupet structure as defined in claim 1, said toupet-holding means comprising a plurality of holding elements made of synthetic resin.

12. A toupet structure adapted to be placed on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising a plurality of toupet-holding means adapted to be placed on the head, said toupet-holding means including a plurality of holding elements each having a marginal portion and a center portion; connecting means comprising spiral slits extending and converging from the region of said marginal portion towards said center portion for claimpingly connecting said holding elements to the remaining hair; a toupet having an inner side adapted to face the head; and securing means comprising cooperating securing portions provided on said toupet-holding means and said inner side of said toupet for releasably securing said toupet to said toupet-holding means.

13. A toupet structure adapted to be placed on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising a plurality of toupet-holding means adapted to be placed on the head, said toupet-holding means including a plurality of holding elements each composed of at least two overlying sections between which some of said remaining hair is to be placed; connecting means comprising biasing means urging said sections together for clampingly connecting said holding elements to the remaining hair; a toupet having an inner side adapted to face the head; and securing means comprising cooperating securing portions provided on said toupet-holding means and said inner said of said toupet for releasably securing said toupet to aid toupet-holding means.

14. A toupet structure adapted to be placed on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising a plurality of toupet-holding means adapted to be placed on the head, said toupet-holding means including a plurality of holding elements each composed of a first section having a peripheral marginal portion and adapted to have some of the remaining hair placed thereon, and a second section having a peripheral marginal portion and being releasably and clampingly connectable with said first section; connecting means comprising projecting portions projecting inwardly from said marginal portion of said second section and adapted to embrace said marginal portion of said first section for connecting said sections with one another and clampingly connecting said holding elements to the remaining hair; a toupet having an inner side adapted to face the head; and securing means comprising cooperating securing portions provided on said toupet-holding means and said inner side of said toupet for releasably securing said toupet to said toupet-holding means.

15. A toupet structure adapted to be placed on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising a plurality of toupet-holding means adapted to be placed on the head, said toupet-holding means including a plurality of holding elements each having at least one strip-shaped element over which some of the remaining hair may be placed; connecting means comprising at least one clamping member pivotally connected to said strip-shaped element for securing the some remaining hair thereto and clampingly connecting said holding elements to the remaining hair; a toupet having an inner side adapted to face the head; and securing means comprising cooperating securing portions provided on said toupet-holding means and said inner side of said toupet for releasably securing said toupet to said toupet-holding means.

16. A toupet structure adapted to be placed on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising a plurality of toupet-holding means adapted to be placed on the head, said toupet-holding means including a plurality of holding element each having at least one elongated annular eleMent with spaced end portions and an opening through which some of the remaining hair may be drawn; connecting means comprising at least one clamping member pivotally connected to one of said end portions for clampingly securing the some remaining hair to said annular element and clampingly connecting said holding elements to the remaining hair; a toupet having an inner side adapted to face the head; and securing means comprising cooperating securing portions provided on said toupet-holding means and said inner side of said toupet for releasably securing said toupet to said toupet holding means.

17. A method of securing a toupet on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising the steps of placing a plurality of toupet-securing means comprising a plurality of securing components each having a center portion, a marginal portion and a perimeter and each provided with at least four apertures located between said center and marginal portions and spaced around said perimeter; passing some of the remaining hair at least once through each of the respective ones of said at least four apertures of all of said toupet-securing means; moving said toupet-securing toupet-securing with said remaining hair passing through said apertures into the final required position in close proximity to the head; connecting the respective toupet-securing means in their final required position to the said remaining hair passing through said apertures; placing a toupet over the head and over said toupet-securing means in their final required position connected by said remaining hair to the head; and securing said toupet only to said jtoupet-securing means in releasable relationship.

18. A method of securing a toupet on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising the steps of placing a plurality of toupet-securing means each provided with a plurality of apertures adjacent to the head so as to cover only a fraction of the surface thereof; passing some of the remaining hair at least once through each of the respective apertures; moving said toupet-securing means with said remaining hair passing through said apertures into the final required position in close proximity to the head; connecting the respective toupet-securing means in their final required position to the said remaining hair passing through said apertures by clampingly engaging the respective toupet-securing means with the said remaining hair; placing a toupet over the head and over said toupet-securing means in their final required position connected by said remaining hair to the head; and securing said toupet only to said toupet-securing means in releasable relationship.

19. A method of securing a toupet on a human head having remaining original hair, comprising the steps of placing a plurality of toupet-securing means comprising a plurality of securing components each having a center portion, a marginal portion and a perimeter and each provided with at least four apertures located between said center and marginal portions and spaced around said perimeter; passing some of the remaining hair at least once through each of the respective ones of said at least four apertures of all of said toupet-securing means; moving said toupet-securing means with said remaining hair passing through said apertures into the final required position in close proximity to the head; connecting the respective toupet-securing means in their final required position to the said remaining hair passing through said apertures by clampingly engaging the respective toupet-securing means with the said remaining hair; placing a toupet over the head and over said toupet-securing means in their final required position connected by said remaining hair to the head; and securing said toupet only to said toupet-securing means in releasable relationship.