FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
None.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to wig bases, and particularly to an improved wig base with mechanical means for securing the wig base to the head of a wearer adjacent a cutout region through which the wearer passes a portion of the wearer's natural hair for blending with other hair attached to the wig base during formation of a hairline part.
2. Background
Many wigs are composed of a wig base of flexible material shaped to fit an individual's head, and composed, at least in part, of net material. Natural hair is attached to the wig base by a process known as weaving, in which wefts of hair are sewn to the net material. A problem with conventional wigs is that they are easily detected because they present an artificial-appearing hairline part.
The artificial-appearing hairline problem is addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,537,014 by Yoo, which describes a wig base of net material having an omega-shaped metal element to which a detachable wig portion is attached. The omega-shaped metal element defines an opening through which the wearer's natural hair, at the location of the natural part of the hair, can be pulled if the detachable wig portion is not used.
In the wig base by Yoo, the omega-shaped element can be provided either at the center of the wig base for a wearer having a center part, or to a side of the center for a wearer having a side part. However, different wig bases are needed to accommodate wearers having different part locations.
The artificial-appearing hairline problem is also addressed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 15/632,472 and 14/277,086 by Suh which describe a wig base composed of a net and other stretchable materials. A portion of the net material is disposed within a cutout region which permits the net material to be cut and removed. After removal, the wig base is applied to the wearer's head and the wearer's hair is arranged so as to present a hairline within the cutout region.
In the wig base by Suh, net material remaining after removal of a portion thereof can otherwise distort after placement onto a wearer's head. Distortions are characterized by puckering, folding, or liftoff of the net material adjacent to the cutout region, with or without a further opening or widening of the gap along the cutout region, so that portions of the wig base loosely contact and fail to properly conform to and/or align with the wearer's scalp. The cutout region may enlarge as net material to either side of the opening is pulled away from the cutout as tensile forces within the net material dissipate, which could also include relaxation or redistribution, after placement of the wig base onto the wearer's head. The end result is often a wig base with cutout region which frustrates the appearance of a natural hairline part along the wearer's hair.
For at least the reasons discussed above, the benefits and advantages of a wig base have yet to be completely realized.
Accordingly, what is required is a wig base which avoids the distortion problems inherent thereto, after placement onto a wearer's head, caused by removal of net material in part or whole from a cutout region.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a wig base which avoids the distortion problems inherent thereto, after placement onto a wearer's head, caused by removal of net material in part or whole from a cutout region.
The invention provides a wig base that enables a wig maker to form an opening through which a wearer's natural hair can be passed and blended with the hair on the wig to achieve a more natural-appearing hairline. This opening can be formed at any selected one of a plurality of locations along the border of the wig base simply by cutting away net material. Even though net material is cut away, the shape of the wig base and an opening within a cutout region is maintained by at least one pair of clips disposed about the cutout region.
The wig base in accordance with the invention comprises a sheet of material having a dome shape adapted to fit a human head. Because of its dome shape, the sheet has a peak and a bottom opening. The bottom opening is defined by a loop-shaped border of the sheet. To allow for weaving of hair to the wig base, it is preferable that nearly all of the area of the sheet of material be composed of net material. In the wig base of the invention, the sheet at material should at least include an area composed of net material that forms an anterior portion of the sheet and that is positioned to fit over an anterior part of a human head above the forehead.
Reinforcements, for openings that can be formed in areas of the net material near the border, are provided by a plurality of strips of fabric attached by sewing, adhesive, or other suitable means, to the exterior and/or interior surface(s) of the net material, and conforming to the shape of the surface of the net material. Each of these strips has a pair of opposite ends spaced from each other and located adjacent the border of the sheet, and a U-shaped intermediate portion connecting one of the ends to the other and extending from the border toward the peak of the sheet of net material. Any one of the plurality of strips of fabric can become a part of a reinforcement of a gap adjacent the bottom opening of the wig base formed by removal of net material from within its U-shaped intermediate portion.
The loop-shaped border has a front part shaped to fit the anterior part of a human head, and the wig base preferably comprises three U-shaped strips of fabric, one being located between the other two strips at a location in the middle of the front part of the loop-shaped border. The three strips are preferably disposed in uniformly spaced relation to one another, and each of the three strips has its ends adjacent the front part of the loop-shaped border. Net material can then be removed from within the strip that corresponds to the location of the natural part in the wearer's hair so that the natural part is exposed when the wearer's hair is passed through the gap formed by removal of net material.
A strip of reinforcing fabric extending along, and attached to, the loop-shaped border of the sheet of net material can include parts that span the spaces between the opposite ends of each of the U-shaped strips. Thus, the parts of the border other than the part at which net material is removed to form a gap can remain reinforced by a section of strip material extending along the loop-shaped border.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, the wig base includes a net material, at least two cutout regions, and a pair of primary clips. The net material has an exterior surface and an interior surface and further forms an anterior portion, a peak, and a bottom opening adapted to fit a human head. The bottom opening is defined by a loop-shaped border. The cutout regions are disposed along the net material adjacent to a forehead when placed onto the human head. Each cutout region is defined by net material enclosed by a lower fabric strip and an upper fabric strip. The upper fabric strip includes a U-shaped intermediate portion disposed between a pair of ends. The lower fabric strip is attached to the net material along the loop-shaped border. The upper fabric strip is attached to the net material so that the ends contact the lower fabric strip. The net material is destructively removable from the cutout region without damage to other portions of the net material. The natural hairline is formed along the cutout region after removal of the net material. The primary clips are disposed about at least two cutout regions so as to mitigate distortions along the wig base after the net material is removed from at least one cutout region and the wig base is placed onto the human head. One primary clip is attached to the net material along the interior surface adjacent to a leftmost side of the cutout regions. Another primary clip is attached to the net material along the interior surface adjacent to a rightmost side of the cutout regions. Each primary clip is attached to the net material at the loop-shaped border and extends toward the peak.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, each primary clip is mechanically secured to the wig base via a hem at the loop-shaped border.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, distortions are puckering by the net material adjacent to the cutout region with net material removed therefrom.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, distortions are folding by net material adjacent to the cutout region with net material removed therefrom.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, distortions are liftoff by net material from the human head adjacent to the cutout region with the net material removed therefrom.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the net material within each cutout region is destructively removable via cutting.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the net material within each cutout region is destructively removable via ripping.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the net material within each cutout region is destructively removable via tearing.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the wig base further includes a secondary clip disposed between two adjoining cutout regions. The secondary clip is attached to the net material at the loop-shaped border and extends toward the peak.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the secondary clip is mechanically secured to the wig base via a hem at the loop-shaped border.
Another aspect of the invention is a process for making and applying a wig using the wig base. The process comprises removal of net material from within the U-shaped intermediate portion of a selected one of the plurality of strips of fabric to form a gap. The selected strip forms a reinforcement for the gap and prevents further tearing or ripping from extending to net material outside of a cutout region. Wig hair is attached to the net material to form a wig. The wig can then be placed on a wearer's head, and a portion of a wearer's natural hair is passed through the gap, and blended with the wig hair woven to the net material.
In accordance with yet other preferred embodiments of the invention, the method for mitigating distortions along a wig base which frustrate appearance of a natural hairline includes destructively removing a net material from within at least one of at least two cutout regions along the wig base without damage to other portions of the net material outside of the at least one of the cutout regions, placing the wig base onto a human head after the destructively removing step so that the cutout regions are disposed adjacent to a forehead, securing the primary clips to the human head at opposite sides of the forehead after the placing step so that the primary clips mechanically engage a natural hair adjacent to the forehead, resisting distortions along the wig base via the primary clips after the securing step, and forming appearance of the natural hairline by blending the natural hair with a wig base hair along the cutout region after the resisting step. The net material includes an exterior surface and an interior surface. The wig base includes an anterior portion, a peak, and a bottom opening formed by the net material and adapted to fit a human head along the interior surface. The bottom opening is defined by a loop-shaped border. The wig base further includes a lower fabric strip and an upper fabric strip defining the net material within each cutout region. The upper fabric strip includes a U-shaped intermediate portion disposed between a pair of ends. The lower fabric strip is attached to the net material along the loop-shaped border. The upper fabric strip is attached to the net material so that the ends contact the lower fabric strip. The wig base further includes a pair of primary clips disposed about the cutout regions. One primary clip is attached to the net material along the interior surface adjacent to a leftmost side of the cutout regions. Another primary clip is attached to the net material along the interior surface adjacent to a rightmost side of the cutout regions. Each primary clip is attached to the net material at the loop-shaped border and extends toward the peak.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, each primary clip is mechanically secured to the wig base via a hem at the loop-shaped border.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the distortions are caused by dissipation of tensile forces along the net material.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the dissipation of tensile forces causes the net material to pucker.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the dissipation of tensile forces induces folds onto the net material.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the dissipation of tensile forces causes the net material to liftoff from the human head.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the destructively removing step is via cutting.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the destructively removing step is via ripping.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the destructively removing step is via tearing.
In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the method further includes fixing a secondary clip disposed between two adjoining cutout regions to the human head after the placing step. The secondary clip mechanically engages the natural hair adjacent to the forehead. The secondary clip is attached to the net material at the loop-shaped border and extends toward the peak.
The above and other objectives, features, and advantages of the preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same or similar elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Additional aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be understood and will become more readily apparent when the invention is considered in the light of the following description made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an improved wig base with cutout regions disposed along a front face of the wig base, a pair of clips separately disposed at the leftmost and rightmost sides about the cutout regions, and an optional intermediate clip disposed between each adjacent pair of cutout regions whereby each cutout region is defined by an area enclosed between an upper fabric strip and a lower fabric strip in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an improved wig base with adjustable strap for adjusting the size of the wig base based on dimensional properties of a wearer's head in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the wig base of FIG. 1 whereby net material within one cutout region and a portion of the lower fabric strip are removed via cutting by scissors in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 is an elevation view illustrating an interior surface of an improved wig base with primary clips and secondary clips attached to net material adjacent to cutout regions along a front face of the wig base in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating attachment of a clip to net material along a front face of a wig base whereby the clip is mechanically secured to the wig base via a hem with optional stitching in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is front elevational view illustrating arrangement of a wearer's natural hair and wig base hair along a cutout region, with net material removed therefrom, to form a hairline replicating the appearance of a natural part in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is an enlarge section view in schematic form illustrating arrangement of a clip, portion of a net material, and natural hair when wig base is secured to wearer's natural hair adjacent to wearer's forehead in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale.
While features of various embodiments are separately described herein, it is understood that such features may be combinable to form other additional embodiments.
Component parts described herein are manufactured via methods, processes, and techniques understood in the art, including, but not limited to, machining, molding, forming, three-dimensional printing, sewing, and weaving. Component parts may be composed of one or more materials suitable for the application and use.
Referring now to FIG. 1, the wig base 1 is composed of a sheet of flexible material whereby at least an anterior portion 2 of which can be a Nylon mesh having apertures of a size suitable for attachment of hair wefts by sewing. The wig base 1 is formed in a dome shape adapted to fit a human head. The dome has a peak 3, and a bottom opening 4 defined by a loop-shaped border 5 of the sheet. The loop-shaped border 5 is not necessarily planar. The loop-shaped border 5 will typically have some parts that are nearer the peak 3 than other parts.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet of flexible material is a net material 31 which can be a single continuous mesh. Alternatively, the net material 31 can be made up of two or more sections of mesh sewn to one another. A lower fabric strip 6 of reinforcing fabric extends along, and is attached to, the loop-shaped border 5 adjacent the anterior portion 2. The size of the bottom opening 4 can be adjusted by means of a strap 7 of stretchable fabric attached at one end to a side of the net material 31 adjacent the loop-shaped border 5 and having at its opposite end a metal or plastic hook 8 removably engageable with a selected one of a series of loops 17 or openings formed along the loop-shaped border 5. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the size of the bottom opening 4 of the wig base 1 can be adjusted by engaging the hook 8 on the adjusting strap 7 with a selected one of a series of loops 17 in the fabric strip 18 that forms a part of the loop-shaped border 5 at the rear of the wig base 1. A similar adjusting strap 7 can be provided on the opposite side of the wig base 1.
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, portions of the wig base 1 can be reinforced via strips of either stretchable or non-stretchable material. For example, it may be advantageous for the wig base 1 to have a front strip 35 that traverses the net material 31 so as to define or separate the anterior portion 2 from other portions of the wig base 1. Each end of the front strip 35 can be joined to a lower strip 29 at the intersection with the lower fabric strip 6. The lower strip 29 can be a fabric material attached to the net material 31 along the loop-shaped border 5 between the lower fabric strip 6 and the fabric strip 18. One or more upper strips 30 can also extend along the net material 31 so as to reinforce the sheet at the rearward end of the wig base 1. One end of each upper strip 30 may intersect the front strip 35 and another end of each upper strip 30 may intersect another upper strip 30 or the fabric strip 18. Regardless of the number, configuration and arrangement of upper strips 30 and front strip 35, it is understood that both elements are intended to reinforce the net material 31 and generally define and maintain the overall shape of the wig base 1. It is further understood that lower strip 29, upper strips 30, and front strip 35 can be secured to the exterior surface 22 of the net material 31 via stitching, adhesive, fusing or other suitable means understood in the art. In some embodiments, it may be advantageous to secure strips of reinforcing material, such as fabric, to the interior surface 23 of the net material 31 (not shown) so as to overlay the lower strip 29, upper strips 30, and/or front strip 35 thereby sandwiching the net material 31 between a strip along the exterior surface 22 and a strip along the interior surface 23.
Referring again to FIG. 1, at least two upper fabric strips 9, 10, and 11 (three shown) can be separately attached to the surface of the net material 31, preferably to the exterior surface 22, by sewing, by the application of adhesive, or by another suitable method such as fusing. Each upper fabric strip 9, 10, and 11 conforms to the surface of the sheet of net material 31. Each upper fabric strip 9, 10, and 11 has a pair of opposite ends 12 and 13, spaced from each other and located adjacent the loop-shaped border 5. The ends 12 and 13 are connected to one another by a U-shaped intermediate portion 15. The ends 12 and 13 of each upper fabric strip 9, 10, and 11 intersect, preferably separately, the lower fabric strip 6. The loop-shaped border 5 of each upper fabric strip 9, 10, and 11 extends away from the lower fabric strip 6 in the direction of the peak 3. The lower fabric strip 6 and optionally the upper fabric strips 9, 10, and 11 are composed of a stretchable material which allows the net material 31 to expand during placement of the wig cap 1 onto the wearer's head and to contract after placement of the wig cap 1 onto the wearer's head.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the lower fabric strip 6 is secured to the exterior surface 22 of the net material 31 along the loop-shaped border 5 at the anterior portion 2 of the wig base 1. The lower fabric strip 6 can be secured to the exterior surface 22 of the net material 31 via stitching, adhesive, fusing or other suitable means understood in the art. In other embodiments, it may be advantageous to secure a complementary strip of fabric material to the interior surface 23 (not shown) of the net material 31 so as to overlay the lower fabric edge 6 to form a hem 37, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In yet preferred embodiments, the lower fabric strip 6 can wrap around the edge of the loop-shaped border 5 to form the hem 37. Regardless of the construction approach, it is understood that the ends 12 and 13 of each upper fabric strip 9, 10, and 11 intersect the lower fabric strip 6 with or without overlap. The resultant arrangement encloses several portions of the net material 31 by one upper fabric strip 9, 10, or 11 and a portion of the lower fabric strip 6. The enclosed net material 31, respective upper fabric strip 9, 10, or 11, and respective portion of the lower fabric strip 6 define a cutout region 32, 33, or 34. The total number of cutout regions 32, 33, and 34 are equal to the number of upper fabric strips 9, 10, and 11.
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, various modifications can be made to the wig base 1 described herein. For example, the number and/or locations of the upper fabric strips 9, 10, and 11 can be different from embodiments depicted in the drawings. Although it is preferable that the wig base 1 be provided with three cutout regions 32, 33, and 34, in alternative embodiments, the wig base 1 can be provided with only two, or with four or more cutout regions 32, 33, and 34. The sizes and shape of the upper fabric strips 9, 10, and 11 can also be different from the sizes and shapes depicted in various drawings. Furthermore, the sizes and shapes of the upper fabric strips 9, 10, and 11 on a given wig base 1 can be different from one another.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the upper fabric strips 9, 10, and 11 are positioned on the front part of the sheet of net material 31, i.e., the part that fits the anterior part of the wearer's head, and are preferably spaced uniformly, with the upper fabric strip 10 located in the middle of the front part of the loop-shaped border 5, and with the upper fabric strips 9 and 11 located respectively where a right-side and left-side natural hairline part in the wearer's hair would meet the forehead. Preferably, parts of the lower fabric strip 6 span the spaces between the opposite ends 12 and 13 of each of the upper fabric strips 9, 10, and 11.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the net material 31 bounded by the upper fabric strip 9 and a portion of the lower fabric strip 6 or by the upper fabric strip 10 and another portion of the lower fabric strip 6 or by the upper fabric strip 11 and yet another portion of the lower fabric strip 6 are destructively removable and thereby separable from other portions of the net material 31 comprising the wig base 1 to form a gap 16. The term destructively removable as used herein is understood to mean removing a portion of the net material 31 comprising the wig base 1 such that the net material 31 remaining along the wig base 1 is not restorable to its original condition. In some embodiments, it may be advantageous for the portion of the net material 31 within the cutout region 32, 33, or 34 to be destructively removable in part of whole from the wig base 1 via tearing or ripping. Tearing and ripping may be performed via the wearer's hands or a mechanical device. In other embodiments, it may be advantageous for the portion of the net material 31 within the cutout region 32, 33, or 34 to be destructively removable in part of whole from the wig base 1 via cutting. In preferred embodiments, cutting may be performed via scissors 14 or other mechanical device capable of shearing.
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3, the destructive removing step may remove some or all of the net material 31 from the cutout region 32, 33, or 34 bound by the respective upper fabric strip 9, 10, or 11 and the respective portion of the lower fabric strip 6 to form a gap 16 between the ends 12 and 13. Regardless of the method for destructive removal, it is understood that the upper fabric strip 9, 10, or 11 is intended to prevent damage to other portions of the net material 31 outside of the cutout region(s) 32, 33 or 34 for which removal is performed. For example, the upper fabric strip 9, 10, or 11 may provide a visual queue which guides the wearer to remove only portions of the net material 31 bounded by the upper fabric strip 9, 10, or 11. In another example, the upper fabric strip 9, 10, or 11 may prevent tearing, ripping, or cutting of the net material 31 to extend or propagate beyond the U-shaped intermediate portion 15 of the respective cutout region(s) 32, 33, or 34.
Referring again to FIG. 3, the destructively removable step employed to remove the required portion of net material 31 from the wig base 1 may optionally also remove some or all of the portion of the lower fabric strip 6 between the ends 12 and 13. Although the potion of lower fabric strip 6 that spans the distance between the ends 12 and 13 of the upper fabric strip 9 is shown removed in FIG. 3, in some instances it may be desired to remove only the net material 31, leaving the lower fabric strip 6 intact between the ends 12 and 13. However, when the objective is to expose a natural hairline part in the user's own hair, the spanning portion of the lower fabric strip 6 will ordinarily be removed. The U-shape intermediate portion 15 then serves as a reinforcement of the gap 16 formed by removal of the net material 31 and the lower fabric strip 6 spanning the ends 12 and 13, may at least in part assist in maintaining the shape of the wig base 1.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a pair of primary clips 24 and 27 is attached to the wig base 1 along the interior surface 23 about the cutout regions 32, 33, and 34. One primary clip 24 can be positioned immediately adjacent the left side end 13 along the leftmost cutout region 34. The other primary clip 27 can be positioned immediately adjacent the right side end 12 along the rightmost cutout region 32. This arrangement fixes the first primary clip 24 to the leftmost side 40 of the cutout regions 32, 33, and 34 and the second primary clip 27 to the rightmost side 41 of the cutout regions 32, 33, and 34 so that the cutout regions 32, 33, and 34 are bounded by the primary clips 24 and 27.
Referring again to FIG. 4, it may be advantageous in some embodiments for a pair of optional secondary clips 25 and 26 to be attached to the wig base 1 along the interior surface 23 and between one or more adjoining pairs of cutout regions 32 and 33 or 33 and 34. One optional secondary clip 25 can be positioned immediately adjacent the end 12 along one cutout region 34 and the end 13 along another cutout region 33. Another optional secondary clip 26 can be positioned immediately adjacent the end 12 of one cutout region 33 and the end 13 of another cutout region 32. This arrangement allows the outermost cutout regions 34 and 32 to be bounded by one primary clip 24 and one secondary clip 25 and by one secondary clip 26 and one primary clip 27, respectively. The embodiment in FIG. 4 also ensures that the innermost cutout region 33 is bounded by a pair of secondary clips 25 and 26. Although FIG. 4 describes an embodiment with three cutout regions 32, 33, and 34, it is understood that each additional cutout region (not shown) more than three could likewise be bounded by a pair of secondary clips 25 and 26.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the primary clip 24 or 27 is shown to include a plurality of teeth 28. Each tooth 28 can be formed to the desired shape, length, and configuration from metal, plastic, or other suitable material whereby two or more teeth 28 extend to form an arrangement similar to the teeth along a comb. The teeth 28 may be flexible or rigid yet otherwise capable of accepting hair. The fastening end 43 of the primary clip 24 or 27 is positioned immediately adjacent the loop-shaped border 5. The teeth 28 extend away from the loop-shaped border 5 so that the hair receiving end 42 is oriented in the direction of and therefore toward the peak 3. The fastening end 43 is secured to the wig base 1 at the loop-shaped border 5 via stitching, adhesive, fusing or other suitable means. As illustrated by the embodiment in FIG. 5, the fastening end 43 can be enclosed within a hem 37 formed around the edge of the loop-shaped border 5 whereby the hem 37 and primary fastener 24 or 27 are secured to the net material 31 via stitching 38 or other means, including without limitation, adhesive or fusing. The fastener 24, 25, 26, or 27 may or may not directly contact the net material 31, the latter illustrated in FIG. 7 whereby a portion of strip material or spacer separates the fastener 24, 25, 26, or 27 from the net material 31. The hem 37 can be formed by fabric along the lower fabric strip 6 or other material attached to the wig base 1 immediately adjacent to both the loop-shaped border 5 and at least one cutout region 32, 33, or 34. It is preferred that the primary clips 24 or 27 be fastened to the net material 31 within the anterior portion 2 of the wig base 1. The secondary clips 25 and 26 can be likewise constructed and securable to the wig base 1 as described for the primary clips 24 and 27. The dimensions, design and number of teeth 28 of the secondary clips 25 and 26 could be the same as or different than the primary clips 24 and 27 dependent in part on the spacing between adjoining cutout regions 32 and 33 or 33 and 34.
While reference is made to a specific clip design, it is understood that the term clip as used herein can include other devices, and therefore clip is broadly understood to include a variety of elements capable of either mechanically fastening hair to limit the movement thereof or mechanically securing an element to hair. For example, the primary clips 24 and 27 and the secondary clips 25 and 26 may include clipping devices without or with mechanical toggling or clapping means, several non-limiting examples illustrated in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/267,486 entitled Wig Clip Assembly, Ser. No. 15/267,515 entitled Wig Clip, and Ser. No. 15/360,267 entitled Wig Clip and Wig Base having attached Wig Clip by Suh which are incorporated in their entirety by reference thereto.
Referring now to FIGS. 4-7, the wig base 1 is secured to the wearer's head about the scalp by inserting the primary clips 24 and 27 and optional secondary clips 25 and 26 into the wearer's natural hair 19. The primary clips 24 and 27 and the secondary clips 25 and 26 mechanically engage the wearer's natural hair 19 thereby resisting relative motion between the net material 31 and the wearer's scalp. The securing means of the primary clips 24 and 27 with or without the secondary clips 25 and 26 further resist movement which would otherwise detract from the natural appearance of a hairline part 21 formed by blending both a wearer's natural hair 19 and wig base hair 20.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, the wearer's natural hair 19 in the vicinity of the gap 16 can be pulled through the gap 16 and blended with wig base hair 20 woven to the wig base 1. The wearer's natural hairline part 21 is illustrated by way of example only as a right-side part extending rearward from the forehead 36 along a human head 39, and is exposed through the gap 16 in the wig base 1, affording the wearer a more natural-appearing hairline.
Referring again to FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, the stretchability of at least the net material 31 and the lower fabric strip 6 within the anterior portion 2 allow portions of the net material 31 adjacent to a gap 16 within one or more cutout regions 32, 33, and 34 to widen after placement onto a wearer's head. The end result is often puckering or folding along portions of the net material 31 or liftoff by the net material 31 from the wearer's head, each characterized by at least one space or separation between the net material 31 and the wearer's scalp. Misalignment between the wig base 1 and a wearer's scalp and bulge(s) along the wig base 1 compromise the natural appearance of a hairline part 21 by frustrating proper arrangement and blending of the wearer's natural hair 19 and wig base hair 20 within and about the cutout region 32, 33, or 34 along which the hairline part 21 is formed.
Tensile stresses are communicated into the materials comprising the wig base 1 as the wig base 1 is stretched during placement onto the wearer's head. The stretched portions of the wig base 1 are inclined to return to their original, pre-stretched shapes due to the elastic properties of the various materials. Puckering, folds, and liftoff are introduced along the net material 31 and other portions of the wig base 1 as tensile forces within the wig base 1 are dissipated via movement, relaxation, or redistribution of wig material adjacent to the wearer's scalp. Another manifestation of stress dissipation is a further opening or widening of the gap 16 formed along the cutout region(s) 32, 33, or 34. The end result is a gap 16 that does not exactly match the shape and size of the net material 31 removed from the cutout region 32, 33, or 34 of the wig base 1.
Referring again to FIG. 4, the primary clips 24 and 27 and optional secondary clips 25 and 26 resist distortions to the gap 16, namely, puckering, folding and liftoff, caused at least in part by placement-induced, tensile stresses, by fixing the wig base 1 to the wearer's scalp. The securing means achieved by the primary clips 24 and 27 and optional secondary clips 25 and 26 therefore resist dissipation of tensile forces within the wig base 1, either in part or whole, after placement of the wig base 1 onto a human head. It is therefore understood that the primary clips 24 and 27 and optional secondary clips 25 and 26 prevent dissipation of tensile forces by fixing the wig base 1 to a human wearer's head so that the size and shape of the gap 16 is not alter to facilitate the natural dissipative or relaxation tendencies by at least the net material 31 and the lower fabric strip 6.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-7, the wig base 1 is adapted via the primary clips 24 and 27 and the secondary clips 25 and 26 to mitigate distortions which otherwise frustrate appearance of a natural hairline. The cutout regions 32, 33, and 34 are adapted so as to permit destructive removal of net material 31 therefrom without damage to other portions of the net material 31 outside of the altered cutout region 32, 33, or 34. The wig base 1 is adapted to facilitate placement onto a human head after alteration of a cutout region 32, 33, or 34 by destructive removal of the net material 31. The primary clips 24 and 27 are adapted to facilitate mechanical securement of the wig base 1 to a wearer's natural hair 19 at opposite sides of the forehead along a human head. The secondary clips 25 and 26 are likewise adapted to facilitate mechanical fixation of the net material 31, between adjoining cutout regions 32, 33, and 34, to a human head. The primary clips 24 and 27 and the secondary clips 25 and 26 are further adapted to resist distortions along the wig base 1 by mechanically attaching or anchoring the net material 31 adjacent to the cutout regions 32, 33, and 34 to the wearer's natural hair 19. The mechanical attaching or anchoring functionality ensures that the gap 16 and other portions of the wig base 1 substantially maintain their original shapes after alteration of the wig base 1, thereby maintaining the distribution of stresses within materials of the wig base 1 induced during placement onto the wearer's head. The wig base 1 is adapted to allow a wearer to construct a natural hairline part 21 via the wearer's natural hair 19 and wig base hair 20 by minimizing separation between portions of the wig base 1 and the wearer's scalp adjacent to the parting region.
The description above indicates that a great degree of flexibility is offered in terms of the present invention. Although various embodiments have been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.
Patent Application
20180014593
