The invention relates to dome-shaped comfort liners that are used under a wig or hairpiece to cushion the user's scalp from irritating contact with knots on the underside of the wig or hairpiece.
In known wigs, strands of hair are secured to a foundational support structure or base material in the shape of the skull that is worn on a wearer's head. Some wigs are made using a cap structure chosen from a collection of preselected standard shapes and sizes for users that have head dimensions within such standard sizes. Other wigs are custom fit with a cap structure that is painstakingly assembled to match closely with the wearer's actual head dimensions.
One of the biggest issues people have with wearing wigs of standard dimensions and, to a lesser extent, custom fit wigs is discomfort from contact with the hair knots on the underside of the foundation cap structure. For example, the hair strands of a wig are pulled through the foundation and knotted on the underside. This side of the wig that will lie closest to the user's scalp so no matter how fine the knots may be tied, there still exist a plurality of knots that could become uncomfortable over time.
Wig liners or wig caps have been sold that take the form of a nylon mesh or fabric cap that would cover substantially the whole of the user's parietal bones and some portions of the frontal and occipital bones, i.e., the crown of the user's head. These caps were available as discrete products or attached to a wig band. The nylon caps usually included a doubled over perimeter edge or had an added elastic material that would grip the user's head along the perimeter to hold the wig cap in place.
One example of a prior art wig cap is found in US Published Application No. 2014/0101827. The body is dome-shaped and covers substantially the entire top of the user's head and hair from ear to ear on the sides and from the front hairline to the rear of the head at or just beyond the occipital protuberance. The body of this cap has a stretchy perimeter that is said to both retain moisture and prevent damage to the user's natural hair.
These prior art wig caps were not completely satisfactory for a number of reasons. For example, the perimeter elastic would get uncomfortable when worn over time and would also stretch and produce reduced grip and holding power. The elastic also has been known to cause headaches from being too tight. Further, the opaque materials at the perimeter are discernible through the parting line of the wig and thereby require additional steps to hide these structures.
A “topper” is a base with hair that can be put on the user's crown in one of three ways. The first is with clips that attach to existing hair. The second is with tape or glue bonded to clean scalp. The third is braiding a liner with hair into the user's existing hair, i.e., weaving which must be repeated as the user's hair grows. A topper is always connected to the wig or the user's scalp.
Toppers come in standard sizes (in inches): 2×3, 3×3, 3×4, 4×4, 5×4, 5×5, 5×6, 5×7, 6×6, 6×7, 7×7, 7×8, 8×8, and 8×10. The most common is 5×6 and is considered a normal size.
It would be desirable to have a comfort liner that was comfortable to wear, that would protect the user from contact with the knots extending through the wig foundation or other rough materials used in the base structure, and that would remain in position without irritating the skin of the user or require perimeter compression.
It is an object of the invention to provide a comfort liner that enhances comfort for the user of a wig by shielding the user's scalp from contact with knots and protrusions from the underside of the wig or hair piece.
It is also an object of the invention to provide wig users with a comfort liner that has the ability to mold to the user's head contours without irritating the scalp or causing the user to sweat.
In accordance with these and other objects of the invention that will become apparent from the description herein, a comfort liner according to the present invention is dimensioned to fit on a user's head and has a generally partial dome shape and that comprises: (a) one or more layers of a lightweight fabric having a compound perimeter shape in which a front portion has a first radius of curvature and a rear portion has a second radius of curvature that is greater than said first radius of curvature, and (b) medical grade, flexible, silicone elastomer disposed along a front edge on said front portion and a rear edge along said rear portion, wherein said elastomer penetrates into said one or more layers and, when cured, bonds together said one or more layers.
The wig cushions of the present invention provide wig users with a greater degree of freedom from irritation due to contact with the hair knots and from any protruding material on the inside of the wig or hair piece.
Itching and scalp sensitivity are not uncommon complaints from frequent users of wigs. The present comfort liner is a lightweight comfort liner that was designed to reduce user scalp contact with hair knots or rough material in a wig or topper and creates a higher level of comfort for the wearer. This liner is worn on the crown of the user's head without attachment or securement to a wig or hairpiece. If a liner is sewn to the inside of a wig, it is referred to as a “topper.” The present liner is preferably used as a liner, but it may be used as a topper.
As used herein, the term “wig” is intended to refer generally to include full wigs, wig inserts, toppers, extensions, and similar devices that are worn so as to convey an impression of a full lead of hair and which expose the user to knots and other forms of protrusions adjacent the wearer's scalp that can serve as a source of irritation.
The comfort liner of the present invention is preferably made from medical grade, nonallergenic materials that can be in contact with scalp flesh for extended periods of time without irritation. For example, the base body of the present invention is one or more stacked layers (e.g., 1-5 layers) of an integral, soft, fabric that can have a variety of colors. One or more layers (e.g., 1-5 layers) of fine lace or silk can be used in lieu of the fabric base layer or stacked on the base layer or layers to provide additional strength and durability. Preferred colors would include typical skin colors suitable for light, medium, tan, and dark skins.
The fabric of the base layer of the present invention is preferably an integral piece of continuous, smooth fabric that can be used against the skin for extended periods, provides high moisture absorption, is anti-bacterial, does not easily wrinkle, has good strength and elasticity while having a soft feel against the skin. Materials that have good thermal regulation properties are especially preferred. Preferably, the fabric and associated materials of the liner possess the ability to mold themselves to the specific shape of the user's head over a period of 1-4 weeks when in contact with the heat of the user's skin.
Suitable materials include fine lace fabrics, finely woven cotton, cellulose-based fabrics like lyocell, bamboo cotton, brushed nylon, and other breathable fabrics that do not trap moisture when worn against the skin.
An especially preferred fabric material for use in the liner of the present invention is lyocell. Lyocell is made of cellulose fibers, often from eucalyptus trees but not uncommonly from oak, bamboo, and/or birch. Lyocell is produced by dissolving pulp, heating the pulp with amine oxide, and then reconstituting the fibers by dry jet-wet spinning. Unlike rayon made by some of the more common viscose processes, lyocell production does not use carbon disulfide, which is toxic to workers and the environment.
A preferred lyocell fabric is sold commercially under the name TENCEL by Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft in Lenzing, Austria. Other trademarked names for lyocell fibers are LENZING Lyocell (Lenzing), NEWCELL (Akzo Nobel), and SEACELL (Zimmer AG). The company Birla also sells it under the brand name EXCEL.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission defines lyocell as “a fiber composed of cellulose precipitated from an organic solution in which no substitution of the hydroxyl groups takes place, and no chemical intermediates are formed.”
Lyocell shares many properties with other fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, ramie, hemp, and viscose rayon (to which it is very closely related chemically). Lyocell is 50% more absorbent than cotton and has a longer wicking distance compared to modal fabrics of a similar weave. Compared to cotton, consumers often say Lyocell fibers feel softer, and “airier”, due to their better ability to wick moisture. Lyocell fabric may be machine washed or dry cleaned. It drapes well and may be dyed many colors, needing slightly less dye than cotton to achieve the same depth of color.
Preferably, the fabric layers used in the liner fabric of the present invention includes 1-100 wt % lyocell based on the weight of the liner fabric. More preferably, the liner fabric has 50-100 wt % lyocell, and even more preferably is 85-100 wt % lyocell.
The liner of the present invention is preferably made from one or more, such as 1-5, preferably 2-5, and most preferably 2-3 layers each of an integral, continuous piece of fabric or fine lace that have been formed as a unified product having a domed shape that is shaped to fit the crown of a typical user. One or more sizes, e.g., small (4 in×5 in), medium (5 in×6 in), or large (6 in×7 in) may be used to meet the needs of more users. A preferred construction has 1-3 layers of fabric and 1-3 layers of fine silk. An even more preferred construction has 2-3 layers total of fabric and fine silk.
Around the whole or substantially the whole of the perimeter of the present liner is applied a soft, pliable polymer such as a silicone elastomer. A silicone elastomer is conveniently used to describe the characteristics and properties of suitable polymeric materials but will be understood by those in this art to refer equally to other polymeric materials having similar properties, e.g., thermoplastic elastomers, low density polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, and other polymers having a Shore A rating of 40 or less, preferably 20 or less. The preferred materials are medical grade polymers that are hypoallergenic and suitable for extended contact with human skin.
Preferably, the applied polymeric material is self-levelling and able to penetrate through one or more layers of fabric and/or lace so as to bond the structure together when set or cured. This elastomer both reinforces the perimeter edge and helps to retain the shape of the liner. The elastomer also penetrates the stacked layers of the liner material along the contact perimeter so that, when the elastomer is cured, the layers are functionally bonded together. Preferably, the silicone is free of plasticizers and can be applied as a curable liquid having self-leveling properties. Even more preferably, the silicone is a medical-grade elastomer that can be sterilized and which is hypoallergenic in contact with human skin.
The silicone elastomer liquid is preferably applied with a blade applicator of appropriate width along the desired places on the cushion where reinforcement of the fabric edges is desired. Disposable masking may be used, if desired, for crisper edges and greater control over the contact area at the expense of production speed. Alternatively, pre-shaped tapes can be applied that are subsequently heated to melt and penetrate the adjacent liner layers and bond the final structure.
Preferably, the silicone is applied in a width within a range from about 5-30 mm, more preferably a width within the range of about 5-15 mm along substantially the entire outer perimeter of the comfort liner. The silicone elastomer may also be applied in a second row that is spaced apart by 5-20 mm from the forward perimeter of the cushion for additional grip.
An orientation aid may also be formed from the applied elastomer. This aid will help the user know at a glance where the front (or rear) of the liner is and thereby avoid confusion as to proper placement.
As noted above, the liner of the present invention is made of one or more layers of a porous, breathable fabric with an optional layer of fine lace. When applied to one side of the comfort liner (e.g., the outside or uppermost later) as a curable liquid, the silicone elastomer penetrates through the weave of the lace and fabric layers to present an elastomeric surface on the opposite side (e.g., the scalp contact side). This dual presentation of the same material provides an integral product that provides enhanced reinforcement and bonding of the liner edges.
The comfort liner of the present invention is intended to be worn on the top of the user's head and extend downwardly by a predetermined distance that is less than the full height of the user's head, i.e., less then ear-to-ear. Anatomically speaking, the cushion should be centered on the user's coronal suture of the head and extend down the frontal bone, left parietal bone, and right parietal bone. The cushion would not desirably extend down so far as the user's temporal or occipital bones, or the lambdoid suture and is not intended to be as large as a traditional wig cap. The shape of the present cushion is closer to a yarmulke that closely mimics the contours of the typical human head like a liner for the crown at the top of the scalp.
The breathable fabric and fine lace of the comfort liner work with the silicone elastomer to mold the liner to the user's specific head shape after a few hours of use. The result is an exceedingly comfortable, fitted, cushion that provides enhanced comfort while wearing the wig or hairpiece. (NOTE: References herein to “wig” are also intended to encompass hairpieces of all shapes that are worn on top of the user's head.)
The molding and comfort properties suppled from the use of the materials disclosed herein can be used with a variety of liner shapes in addition to the preferred shape described above.
The present invention is conveniently described with reference to the attached figures. Similar structures will use the same reference numbers.
The figures show comfort liner 1 having a width of an applied first width of silicone elastomer 2 along the forward perimeter 3 and rear perimeter 4 of comfort liner 1. A second width of elastomer 5 can be applied as a second row 6 that follows the cushion curvature along, but spaced apart from, forward perimeter 3 to a junction 7 with rear perimeter 4. As shown, 1st elastomer 2 can be applied in a forward orientation area 8 along the forward perimeter 3 to provide a printable indicia that can help identify the front of the liner as well as an area of additionally enhanced reinforcement from the additional silicone.
Forward perimeter 3 has a first radius of curvature 9 that is not necessarily the same as the second radius of curvature 10 of rear perimeter 4. Preferably, forward perimeter 3 has a first radius of curvature 9 that is smaller than the second radius of curvature 10 for rear perimeter 4. Such a difference provides cushion 1 with a compound shape in which the forward perimeter 3 generally appears rounder than rear perimeter 4 and tends to fit better on the compound curves of the typical human head for continuous or substantially continuous contact around the entire cushion perimeter when worn under a wig.
Preferably, comfort liner 1 is made of one or more layers of a continuous, soft fabric 11 and/or fine lace 12 that is comfortable to wear. Generally, 1-5 layers each of soft fabric and fine lace are used. Preferably, the base contact layer 13 on the bottom side of comfort line 1 is a soft fabric 11 with a layer of fine mesh 12 as the outer layer 14. Users may find that fewer total layers (e.g., a base layer of soft fabric with a single layer of fine mesh) are desirable for warm weather while more layers (e.g., 1-2 layers of soft fabric and 1-3 layers of fine lace) are desirable for greater comfort under certain wigs.
The manufacturing process for the comfort liner of the present invention is conveniently described with reference to a manual layup process. It will be understood, however, that automated assembly, forming, and elastomer application are within the skill of those currently in this art.
The forming process starts with a suitably head-shaped form. Heads come in many individual sizes, shapes, and types of curved surfaces but generally fall into one of a small, medium, and large sizes. Wig makers typically use and modify such forms to make custom wigs. The first step is to stretch the base contact layer and any subsequent layers over the form at what would be the crown of the head. Each layer should be continuous and unseamed for greatest comfort. A continuous fabric reduces seams and the increased thickness that accompanies them. A continuous fabric is also easier to stretch over a head form to make the unique dome shape to fit the typical human head. The layers are then pinned to the form to hold the stretched material in position.
The preferred range of curvature radii for the forward perimeter will depend on the user's head size but will generally be within a range from about 5-13 cm and a rear perimeter radius within the range of 14-21 cm. For example, the small size comfort liner front preferably has a radius within about 6-9 cm and a rear radius within the range of 14-17 cm. The large size front radius is within the range of 8-12 cm with a rear radius within the range of 16-21 cm.
The second step is to identify the area of the stretched materials that will form the comfort liner that best fits the typical user. That area may be identified readily with a pre-formed template having a first radius of curvature for the forward perimeter and a larger, second radius of curvature for the rear perimeter.
Step 3 is the application of the elastomer to the desired perimeter of the comfort liner and allowing or causing the elastomer to penetrate through all layers. The elastomer is then cured or allowed to set in situ. The curing/setting process thus binds the various layers together into a comfort liner of a single type or different types to form a composite liner.
If desired, the liner of the present invention can be sewn into the inside of a wig. Attachment points will be located at various locations the perimeter of the liner.