Claims
- 1. In combination with a wig having a frame forming a concave underside surface, and a shallow pocket formed by the frame and opening at said surface, the pocket having cross dimensions substantially greater than its depth, an article adapted to assist in positioning and maintaining said wig on the head of a wearer having little or no natural hair, said article having the shape of a shallow pad fitting loosely in said pocket and comprising an envelope to be disposed in retaining engagement with the head of said wearer, said envelope having a first side substantially conforming to the surface of the pocket and a second side adapted to substantially conform to that portion of the head of the wearer facing the pocket, and a mass of fibrous compressible filler material within said envelope, said filler material confined by the envelope to have a pad shape, and means for locally attaching said envelope to said frame interiorly of said pocket, said mass of fibrous material causing the pad to protrude from said pocket.
- 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said envelope further comprises a locally confined releasable passageway at the envelope periphery to permit the insertion and removal of all or a portion of said filler material into or from said envelope to thereby achieve fitting of the wig and envelope to the head of the wearer.
- 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said envelope further comprises two substantially circular panels of fabric joined in facing concentric relation to each other substantially around the entire periphery of such panels to define a void therebetween adapted to accommodate said filler material.
- 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the periphery of said first side and said second side of said envelope adjacent to said passageway are joined by a releasable fastener means after said filler material is inserted into said envelope.
- 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said filler material is a compressible material having a low bulk density.
- 6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said filler material is selected from the group consisting of spun polyester fiber or cotton fiber.
- 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said envelope to the frame is a releasable fastener means.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 108,697, filed Oct. 16, 1987, now abandoned (Sept. 29, 1989).
This invention relates to wigs, and more particularly, to a wig anchor for use in positioning and maintaining a wig on the head of a user having little or no hair. Another aspect of the invention relates to a kit comprising a wig anchor and means for attaching the wig anchor to a wig support frame.
Conventional wigs are constructed by attaching strands of natural or synthetic hair to an underlying wig support frame which typically comprises loosely woven netting adapted to be stretched over the head of the wig user. Elastic material disposed around the periphery of the wig support frame then contracts around the head at or about the natural hair line. The wig user thereby achieves an outward appearance that more or less approximates a natural look, depending on the quality and styling of the wig.
Because most wig users wear wigs over their natural hair, manufacturers of conventional wigs have designed and fabricated a hair pocket into the crown of each wig support frame. This hair pocket is generally a hemispherically shaped recess or outward bulge in the wig support frame that provides a void into which the wig wearer can stuff his or her natural hair when putting on the wig. When the wig wearer's own hair is pulled up and stuffed into the hair pocket, the outward bulge in the wig support frame is largely concealed by the strands of wig hair covering the crown of the head, thereby promoting a more natural appearance. The gathering and placement of natural hair into the hair pocket of the wig also assists in maintaining the wig in the desired position on the head of the wearer during use.
Significant problems have been encountered, however, when persons having little or no natural hair attempt to wear conventional wigs. The absence of a well defined hairline and the absence of hair which can be gathered and placed into the hair pocket of the wig frame leave no means of maintaining the wig in the desired position on the head of the wearer during use. Furthermore, there is no natural hair to which the wig hair or wig support frame can be pinned to anchor the wig on the head of the wearer. Without satisfactory means for anchoring the wig on the head of the wearer, the wig frequently shifts out of position during use, causing an unnatural outward appearance and embarrassment to the user.
Some have attempted to overcome the above-mentioned problems encountered by users with little or no hair through the use of adhesives which releasably adhere the wig support frame directly to the scalp of the wearer. Others have attempted to anchor conventional wigs by first placing a scarf, stocking or skull cap over the head which will assist in keeping the wig from sliding or shifting on the scalp of the wearer. However, both of these means have proved to be unsatisfactory methods for positioning and maintaining a wig on the head of a user having little or no hair, and particularly so where the absence of natural hair is the result of chemotherapy treatments prescribed for patients diagnosed as having cancer.
When individuals undergo chemotherapy treatments which result in the loss of natural hair, the scalp tissue typically becomes very sensitive to pressure and irritation. For such patients there has heretofore been no way to wear a conventional wig without experiencing either significant discomfort or embarrassment. Because of the lack of a satisfactory device or apparatus for anchoring a conventional wig to the scalp, such patients have been forced to turn to less desirable alternatives such as hats, turbans or scarves for covering their heads. The use of such alternatives can cause the scalp of the wearer to become hot, sweaty and/or itchy.
According to the present invention, an article is provided that will enable persons having little or no natural hair to wear conventional wigs. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a wig anchor is provided that is adapted to releasably engage the hair pocket of a conventional wig, and to situate the wig on the scalp of the wearer so as to reduce slippage of the wig and resultant embarrassment.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a wig anchor is provided that is adapted to help situate a wig on the head of an individual having little or no natural hair, and to cushion the scalp under the weight of the wig.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a wig anchor is provided that is adapted to be disposed within and releasably adhere to the hair pocket of a conventional wig so as to assist in positioning and maintaining the wig in a desired position on the scalp and to cushion the scalp of the wearer.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a wig anchor is provided that can be easily moved from one wig to another, and that can be adjusted to accommodate different head sizes and/or wigs having hair pockets of differing depths.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a kit is provided that comprises the wig anchor of the invention in combination with means for releasably attaching the wig anchor to a wig.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a kit is provided that comprises the wig anchor of the invention in combination with filler material that is useful for increasing the thickness of the wig anchor.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
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108697 |
Oct 1987 |
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Patent Grant
5005594
