US3830245A

US3830245A - Wig with improved front hairline construction

Info

Publication number: US3830245A
Application number: US00272827A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Abbott; G Chen
Original assignee: Abbott Tresses Inc
Current assignee: Abbott Tresses Inc
Priority date: 1971-06-23
Filing date: 1972-07-18
Publication date: 1974-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-20

Abstract

A wig with an improved front hairline construction which enables the wearer to style the wig alternatively in an ''''off-the-face'''' or in an ''''on-the-face'''' style is provided. The wig foundation has wefts of hair positioned generally perpendicularly of the front edge of the wig so as to intersect the front edge of the foundation at a generally right angle thereto. Preferably, at least a portion of the wefts which intersect the front edge of the foundation comprise a series of wefts attached to the wig foundation in a pattern of generally concentric arcs or arc-like configurations centered about a focal point adjacent the front edge of the wig.

Description

PAlimmmszozsn SIEET1U3 I N VEN TORS,

PATENTmmszmsn 3. 30.245 amt ear q FIG. 2

INVENTORS, DOMI NIC ABBOTT & GODFREY CHEN I ATTORNE).

PAHmmnuazmau SIEEI 30$ '3 INVEN7-0R5. DOMINIC ABBOTT a 5y GODFREY ATTORNEY.

WIG WITH IMPROVED FRONT HAIRLINE CONSTRUCTION This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 155,868, filed June 23, 1971 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recently the wig industry has undergone substantial change and growth largely resulting from the introduction of precut and prestyled stretch wigs. Such wigs are made by sewing wefts of precut and prestyled hair (normally made of a synthetic material such as a modacrylic fiber) to a stretch netting foundation. As aresult of the precutting and prestyling of the wig, it is ready to wear when purchased without the necessity for further cutting or styling. The stretch netting foundation makes the wig adaptable to most head sizes and a woman can select the exact hair style she desires before purchasing the wig. The cost of such wigs is relatively low thus making it possible for a woman to own several wigs and vary her hair style and/or color as she desires.

Although such wigs are precut and prestyled, it is possible to vary the exact hairstyle in which the wig is worn to some extent; however, the number of variations in hair style which are possible is to an extent limited. In particular, as a result of the front hairline constructions heretofore employed on wigs, it has not been possible to vary the front hairline styling to a great extent. For example, for an on-the-face hair style such as bangs, it has not been possible to comb the wig into an off-the-face hair style. This is a result of the fact that the wefts of hair adjacent the front edge of an onthe-face style wig are normally sewn parallel to the front edge of the wig with the hair projecting forwardly. Wefts generally tend to be planar in character and the hair projects from the binding of the weft in generally the same plane. When the weft is sewn parallel tov the front edge of the wig the hair generally lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the foundation, and as indicated above, the hair in an on-the-face style wig is directed forwardly over the front edge of the wig. If an attempt were made to comb such a wig into an off-the-face style, it would be necessary to bring the hair rearwardly, i.e. in the opposite direction from the way in which the hair is normally positioned. The construction of the weft itself would resist such an attempt since the binding of the weft tends to project the hair only in a single direction. Moreover, the front edge of the wig foundation of an on-the-face style normally has no hair sewn to it but is covered by the hair extending from the first row of wefting so that it is not exposed and visible when the wig is worn. If the hair in the first row of wefting, however, were combed rearwardly away from the face of the wearer, the front edge of the wig would be exposed which of course would create an unacceptable appearance. Consequently, it has not been feasible to style an on-the-face wig in an off-the-face style.

The same has been true in connection with off-theface style wigs. That is, it has been difficult, if at all possible, to style an off-the-face style wig in an onthe-face hair style with the wigs heretofore provided. This is, in part, due to the fact that in an olY-the-face style wig the wefts of hair are also sewn parallel to the front edge of the foundation, but in this instance the wefts are sewn so that the hair projects rearwardly away from the front edge of the wig. Thus, for the same reason as discussed above, it can be appreciated that it is difficult to brush the hair forwardly since this requires a reversal from the normal direction in which the hair is positioned and the planar character of the wefts resists this. This is particularly true if the hair at the edge of the wig is short. However, even if the hair is long at the front of the wig the brushing of the hair oppositely from its normal direction tends to expose the netting of the foundation which also produces an unacceptable appearance.

There is an additional drawback in off-the-face style wigs as they were heretofore constructed since they have a relatively high production cost in order to provide a relatively natural looking hairline. The high cost in the production of the wig is a result of the fact that it is necessary to ventilate i.e., hand sew hair to the front edge of the wig foundation. It is not possible in an off-the-face style to merely sew a weft of hair to the front edge of the wig foundation since the weft binding would be visible and would not give the appearance of a natural hairline. In an off-the-face style, therefore, it was required that a substantial amount of hand finishing be done at the front hairline. Hand finishing, of course, produces a natural front hairline but naturally, it increases the cost of the wig significantly.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a wig which can be worn either in an on-the-face or in an off-the-face style according to the desire of the wearer and can be easily changed from one style to the other. The amount of hand finishing required is greatly reduced and in some instances it is possible to eliminate hand finishing of the front edge virtually entirely which significantly reduces the cost of the wig. In addition, the front hairline of the wig is thinner, and more natural looking, and more comfortable than was previously possible.

The wig of the invention comprises a wig foundation having wefts of hair attached thereto, said foundation having a front edge to be positioned at the forehead of the wearer; at least a portion of said wefts being affixed to the foundation such that an end thereof is positioned adjacent the front edge of the foundation and is directed generally perpendicularly of the front edge of the foundation, such that the hair of said portion of said wefts defines at least a portion of the front hairline of the wig, and at least a part of said portion of said wefts being formed in a pattern of rows directed toward a focal point adjacent the front edge of the foundation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 comprises three views, FIG. la, FIG. lb, FIG. 1c, of the wig of the invention illustrating three different hair styles having three different hairlines all employing the wig of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the wig foundation illustrating the positioning of the wefts on the wig foundation.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a section of a weft.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of another embodiment of the wig foundation.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND SPECIFICATION It has been discovered in accordance with this invention that by sewing or otherwise affixing the wefts to the foundation such that the wefts, or at least the ends thereof, are positioned generally perpendicularly of the front edge of the wig it is possible for the hair of the wig to be brushed either in an off-the-face or an on-theface style. This is a result of the fact that when the wefts are positioned perpendicularly of the front edge of the wig the hair in the wefts projects from the weft binding laterally across the wig foundation rather than either forwardly toward the front edge of the wig (onto the face of the wearer), or rearwardly away from the front edge of the wig (away from the face of the wearer). As a result, in order for the hair to be brushed from an on-the-face style into an off-the-face style (or vice versa), the hair need not be moved into a different plane from the plane in which the weft itself is attached to the foundation. Since the hair projects laterally across the wig foundation it need only pivot or bend in a forward or rearward direction in the plane of the weft to be brushed either onto-the-face or offthe-face and the hair need not be moved into a different plane. Thus, the overall relative orientation of the hair does not change. Since the plane of the hair is not disturbed in brushing the wig into an off-the-face or an on-the-face style, the difficulty encountered heretofore in styling the hair in an off-the-face or an onthe-face" hair style does not occur.

It is not required that the entire length of the weft be perpendicular to the front edge. All that is required is that that portion of the weft which intersects, or closely approaches, the front edge of the foundation be perpendicular to it at the point of intersection or approach. Generally, it is preferred that the length of the weft portion which is perpendicular to the front edge of the wig be at least /2 inch long. However, a small percentage of the wefts (for example, short curved wefts, as will be described hereinafter) may only be perpendicular to the front edge of the wig for a length of about inch.

It has also been found in accordance with the invention that if at least a portion of the wefts described above are formed in a series of rows of wefting adjacent the front edge of the wig which are directed toward or center about a focal point near the front edge of the wig the appearance of a natural hairline is enhanced.

The focal point can be located at any place adjacent the front edge of the wig from the temple portion just forward of either ear to the center of the foundation which overlies the forehead of the wearer. It is also possible to have more than one focal point and to have a section of wefts directed at each focal point. The wefts which are directed toward the focal point can be formed in rows which are alligned as a series of parallel straight wefts and converge toward the focal point such that each successive row is progressively closer to the focal point, or they can be a series of generally straight rows which radiate from the focal point, or they can be a series of curved or arcuate rows which center about the focal point. Arcuate or curved rows which center about the focal point, as will be described below, are preferred.

The wefts which are directed towards the focal point can comprise all of the wefts which define the front hairline and hair style of the wig as illustrated in FIG. 4. However, this need not be the case (as illustrated in FIG. 2). If the wefts which are directed toward the focal point only comprise a portion of the wefts which define the front hairline, then there will be at least two generally distinct sections of wefting, one in which the wefts are perpendicular to the front edge (at least at the ends thereof), and one in which the wefts are directed towards a focal point and are also perpendicular to the front edge of the wig (at least at the ends thereof).

The wefts, whether directed toward the focal point or not can be either straight or curved. If the wefts are curved they need not follow any regular geometric shape such as an ellipse or a circle or a segment thereof, but can take any curvilinear configuration which may be convenient and appropriate to the style the wig is to have. Moreover, there need be no general relationship between the shape of the wefts in one section and the shape of wefts in another section. For example, if there are two sections of wefts as described above, the wefts in one section could be curved and the wefts in the other section could be straight. Similarly, both sections could have either straight or curved wefts.

As noted above, it is preferred that the wefts which are directed towards the focal point be generally arcuate and form a series of arcuate rows of wefts which center about the focal point. The arcuate rows of wefting are concentric and generally define segments of circles or ellipses which intersect the front edge of the wig and which are generally perpendicular thereto at the point of intersection. Thus, as pointed out above, all or substantially all of the wefts which intersect the front edge of the wig are perpendicular to the front edge of the wig at the point at which they intersect the front edge.

The concentric arcuate rows of wefting are preferred since they form a swirl or natural hair flow pattern near the front edge of the wig which aids producing a natural looking wig. These rows of wefts also make it possible to sweep the hair across the wig in an across-the-face style without exposing any of the netting. Thus, the arcuate wefting also provides a still third possible styling variation tothe wig.

The remainder of the wefts on the wig i.e., those wefts which do not form the front hairline can be affixed to the foundation according to the overall preselected hair style the wig is to have.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 1, it is possible for the wig 1 of the invention to be styled in an off-theface style 5 as shown in FIG. 1a, or in an on-theface" style 6, as shown in FIG. lb, or in an across-theface hair style 7 as shown in FIG. 10.

One suitable arrangement of the wefts on the foundation is shown particularly in FIG. 2, and a weft 9 is shown in FIG. 3. Each weft 9 is formed of hair 1 l which is first precut to a desired length arranged in a flat plane, and is then sewn together by a number of lines of stitching 8 which form a binding. Only the positions in which the bindings are sewn are shown in FIG. 2. These positions are illustrated as a series of strips. The hair, which can be either natural hair or synthetic hair, is then curled as required, the wefts then are cut to predetermined lengths and are then sewn or otherwise affixed to the wig foundation 10 at predetermined locations. The hair 11 projects from the binding 8 of the weft.

The foundation comprises a cap 12 formed of a stretch netting fabric 15. The cap is formed of three sections of fabric which are sewn together. Two of these sections, 13 and 14 comprise side panels which are joined by a center section 16. The

side panels

13 and 14 are generally semi-elliptical or semi-circular in shape and overlay the side'of the head of the wearer.

At the base of each side panel are two

elastic reinforcement members

18 and 20 made of a heavy elastic material. These reinforcement members serve to hold the wig tightly against the side of the head of the wearer. The reinforcement member 18 fits just forwardly of the ear of the wearer and is somewhat triangular in shape. The other member 20, fits above the ear of the wearer and extends rearwardly therefrom and is generally rectangular ortrapazoidal in shape. The two

reinforcement members

18 and 20 are joined together by a stiffener piece 22 at the point at which the rearmost portion of the reinforcement member 18 meets the forwardmost portion of the reinforcement member 20. The stiffener 22 serves to aid in keeping the wig tightly against the head of the wearer in front of the ear. An additional stiffener 23 is provided adjacent the rear edge of the elastic reinforcement member 20.

At the front edge of the wig a number of spaced straight wefts are sewn to the foundation generally perpendicularly to the front edge thereof and a series of elliptical or semi-circular arcuate rows of wefts also sewn to the foundation adjacent to the front edge of the wig. The ends of these wefts near the front edge of the wig are generally perpendicularly to the front edge of the wig. This arrangement of the wefts provides the new front hairline of the wig of the invention. The remainder of the wefts 27, which are sewn in this instance in an across-the-foundation pattern, define the remainder of the wig hair style.

The wefts on the wig are spaced at intervals of approximately /8 inch to inch apart but this to an extent depends upon the length of the hair in the wefts, and the style the wig is to have.

In all wigs having the improved front hairline of the invention the pattern in which the wefts are sewn to the foundation at the front hairline will be generally the same; that is, the front hairline has wefts e.g., those in portion 29 which are sewn sothat the ends thereof intersect or closely approach the front edge and are generally perpendicularly thereof. In addition, at least a portion of the wefts defining the front hairline e.g., those in section 30 are generally formed in rows which preferably are curvilinear or arcuate in shape e.g., semicircles or semi-ellipses or segments or sections thereof. These rows are directed toward or center about a focal point 50 adjacent the front edge of the wig. Any part of a weft 9 in the portion 30, which intersects or which closely approaches the front hairline of the wig, will be generally perpendicular to the front edge of the wig at the point of intersection or the point of approach. In this manner, the wefts in both

portions

29 and 30 are generally aligned at the front edge of the wig.

All of the wefts which are in the portion 30 of the wefting need not intersect the front hairline of the wig either at one end, or at all. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the arcuate wefts which are farthest from the focal point 50 intersect the front edge either only at one end or not at all.

The wefts in section 30 are particularly important not only in providing a natural hair flow pattern but are also important in providing a swept-across-the-face hair style without exposing the foundation.

The terms perpendicular or generally perpendicular as used herein with respect to the angle at which the wefts intersect or approach the front edge of the wig does not mean precisely 90 to the front edge. Rather, this term means generally at right angles to, or normal to, the front edge of the wig but within a rather broad range of deviation from 90. In fact, angles within the range of from about 45 to 135 to the front edge are permissable although angles within the range of from about 70 to about 110 are preferred. Moreover, the terms perpendicular or generally perpendicular as applied to wefts in different sections of the wig need not mean that the wefts in one section intersect the front edge of the wig at the same angle as the angle at which the wefts in another section of the wig intersect the front edge of the foundation despite the fact that they both could be, or are described as both perpendicular to the front edge. All that is intended by the use of the term perpendicular as used in the description and claims is that the wefts are all within the range of angles specified above. For example, the wefts in one section defining the front hairline could be at an angle of to the front edge whereas the wefts in another section defining the front hairline of the wig could be at an angle of to the front edge, yet both on the same wig are within the meaning of, and describable as, perpendicular to the front edge of the wig.

At the focal point 50 a quantity of hand sewn or hand ventilated hair 52 is provided to fill in the area of the foundation where the wefts cannot be conveniently sewn. Additionally, the front edge of the wig illustrated has a hand ventilated edge in which hair is sewn into the front hairline to give a natural appearance. However, in the wig of the invention, as a result of the improved front hairline construction the amount of hand sewing required as compared to a conventional offthe-face wig is relatively small. In fact, as will be described hereinafter, hand sewing at the front edge of the wig can be virtually eliminated entirely. This means that the front edge of the wig is thinner, more comfortable, and more natural looking than would otherwise be the case with a conventional wig. The wefts are sewn to the foundation so that the binding faces toward the focal point 50 and the hair projects outwardly away from the focal point 50. The hair in weft portion 29 is also sewn with the binding positioned so that the hair projects away from the focal point 50 as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The weft pattern described gives the wig a natural appearance and provides a natural hair flow pattern which was heretofore not achieved in the wigs known to the prior art. The hair can be swept rearwardly or forwardly as a result of the fact that the wefting is perpendicular to the front edge rather than parallel to it. Additionally, a swept-across style can also be achieved as a result of the direction in which the wefts are sewn and the flexibility with which the hair can move.

The pattern of the wefts including the number, shape, and spacing of the wefts in

sections

29 and 30 as well as on the remainder of the foundation can be varied within the confines of the general or overall requirements set out above with respect to each weft section, and to the content that such number, shape, and spacing of the wefts are varied in order to produce different hair styles. For example, the arcuate wefts in section 30 need not conform exactly to any regular geometric shape except to the extent they are in fact arcuate and that a series or pattern of such wefts are provided around a focal point adjacent to the front edge of the wig. Additionally, if a weft in section 30 intersects the front edge of the wig, the intersection will occur generally perpendicularly to the front edge as described above.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, all of the wefts defining the front hairline of the wig are directed towards a focal point 50 such that the wefts in section 30 comprise a single weft section comprising all of the wefts of the front hairline of the wig and all such wefts center about the focal point. The wefts form a widespread swirl which gives a natural appearance and provides an across-the-face hair style if desired. The wefts in section 30 gradually blend into the wefts in section 27 which are sewn to the foundation in an across the foundation pattern. The ends 35 of the wefts in section 30 in this embodiment rather than terminating at the front edge are folded under the front edge for approximately A inch and are sewn in place. By so positioning the ends of the wefts, the hair of the wefts forms a natural looking front hairline having hair projecting from beneath the foundation. This makes hand sewing of any hair to the front edge of the foundation totally unnecessary. In all other respects the embodiment of FIG. 4 is similar to that shown in FIG. 2.

Many variations of wigs falling within the concept of the invention are possible and features, such as the material of the foundation, the nature, style, and cut of the hair affixed to the foundation, or the way in which the wefts are affixed to the foundation can be varied in many respects, and all such variations are within the ambit of this invention.

Having regard to the foregoing disclosure the following is claimed as the inventive and patentable embodiments thereof:

1. A precut and preset wig capable of being combed or brushed into an on-the-face or an off-the-face hairstyle comprising, in combination, a wig foundation having wefts of hair attached thereto; said foundation having a front edge to be positioned at the forehead of the wearer; at least a portion of said wefts being affixed to the foundation such that an end thereof is positioned adjacent the front edge of the foundation and is directed generally perpendicularly of the front edge of the foundation such that the hair of said portion of said wefts defines at least a portion of the front hairline of the wig, at least part of said portion of said wefts being formed in a pattern of rows directed toward a focal point adjacent the front edge of the foundation, the

hair in the wefts defining the front hairline of the wig projecting away from the focal point; a second portion of said wefts comprising, at least in part, the remainder of the wefts of the wig; the hair in the wefts of the wig being precut and preset and said wefts thereby defining a hairstyle capable of being conveniently brushed into either an off-the-face or an on-the-face" hairstyle.

2. A wig in accordance with claim 1 in which the wig foundation is made of a stretch netting fabric.

3. A wig in accordance with claim 1 in which the wefts which are generally perpendicular to the front edge are at an angle of within the range of from about 45 to about to the front edge.

4. A wig in accordance with claim 1 in which the hair in the wefts is made of a synthetic material.

5. A wig in accordance with claim 1 in which the foundation comprises a cap of at least three sections sewn together.

6. A wig in accordance with claim 1 in which the wefts which are directed toward the focal point are arcuate and are concentrically positioned about the focal point.

7. A wig in accordance with claim 6 in which the arcuate wefts comprise a separate weft section, and in which there is a section of straight wefts the ends of which are directed perpendicularly of the front edge.

8. A wig in accordance with claim 1 in which said portion of wefts intersect the front edge of the foundation.

9. A wig in accordance with claim 1 in which the weft ends directed toward the front edge of the wig extend beyond the front edge and are folded under and are affixed to the underside of the foundation 10. A wig comprising, in combination, a stretch netting foundation having wefts of hair sewn thereto, said foundation having a front edge adapted to fit the forehead of the wearer; a first section of wefts sewn generally perpendicularly to the front edge and intersecting the front edge generally perpendicularly with respect thereto; a second section of wefts comprising a pattern of generally concentric arcuate rows centered about a focal point adjacent the front edge of the wig; a portion of the wefts of said second section being so positioned as to intersect the front edge of the wig at least one end thereof and generally perpendicularly with respect to the front edge of said wig, the hair in the first and second sections of wefts projecting away from the focal point; at least a third section of wefts comprising at least a portion of the remainder of the wefts of the wig, the hair in said three sections of wefts being precut and prestyled and together defining a hairstyle on the wig capable of being conveniently brushed into either an off-the-face or an on-the-face hairst 1e.

Claims

1. A precut and preset wig capable of being combed or brushed into an ''''on-the-face'''' or an ''''off-the-face'''' hairstyle comprising, in combination, a wig foundation having wefts of hair attached thereto; said foundation having a front edge to be positioned at the forehead of the wearer; at least a portion of said wefts being affixed to the foundation such that an end thereof is positioned adjacent the front edge of the foundation and is directed generally perpendicularly of the front edge of the foundation such that the hair of said portion of said wefts defines at least a portion of the front hairline of the wig, at least part of said portion of said wefts being formed in a pattern of rows directed toward a focal point adjacent the front edge of the foundation, the hair in the wefts defining the front hairline of the wig projecting away from the focal point; a second portion of said wefts comprising, at least in part, the remainder of the wefts of the wig; the hair in the wefts of the wig being precut and preset and said wefts thereby defining a hairstyle capable of being conveniently brushed into either an ''''off-the-face'''' or an ''''on-the-face'''' hairstyle.

3. A wig in accordance with claim 1 in which the wefts which are generally perpendicular to the front edge are at an angle of within the range of from about 45* to about 135* to the front edge.

9. A wig in accordance with claim 1 in which the weft ends directed toward the front edge of the wig extend beyond the front edge and are folded under and are affixed to the underside of the foundation

10. A wig comprising, in combination, a stretch netting foundation having wefts of hair sewn thereto, said foundation having a front edge adapted to fit the forehead of the wearer; a first section of wefts sewn generally perpendicularly to the front edge and intersecting the front edge generally perpendicularly with respect thereto; a second section of wefts comprising a pattern of generally concentric arcuate rows centered about a focal point adjacent the front edge of the wig; a portion of the wefts of said second section being so positioned as to intersect the front edge of the wig at least one end thereof and generally perpendicularly with respect to the front edge of said wig, the hair in the first and second sections of wefts projecting away from the focal point; at least a third section of wefts comprising at least a portion of the remainder of the wefts of the wig, the hair in said three sections of wefts being precut and prestyled and together defining a hairstyle on the wig capable of being conveniently brushed into either an ''''off-The-face'''' or an ''''on-the-face'''' hairstyle.