Patent Application
20200281374
The present disclosure relates to a wig storage system. More specifically, the present disclosure presents a portable, protective storage system for wigs through the use of a specialized wig clip hanger and a corresponding protective storage case and methods of use.
Wigs are a popular and relatively easy way for someone to change his/her look. Many people wear wigs out of necessity due to health reasons or simply due to aesthetic and vanity reasons. Wigs can be made from human hair or synthetic hair, and high quality wigs can last more than one year. High quality wigs made from human hair can cost thousands of dollars. Therefore, the care and storage of such wigs is important for getting the most use out of the wig.
Traditionally, wigs are stored in either a box, a collapsible hanger, or on a model head and placed on a shelf. None of these storage options will adequately protect the wig during travel. There are some wig travel storage boxes available with a dome insert and wig mounts, but such boxes and inserts do not hold the wig in place to prevent tangling. Wig travel boxes are also large and bulky which can be problematic when the person traveling has limited allotment for luggage.
Special care needs to be taken to preserve the delicate construction that makes the best wigs look the most natural. For example, the underside of a wig that rests along the scalp is called a cap. The cap can be constructed in various ways. Standard and cap-less wigs are priced lower and look the least natural. The cap will have strips of hair sewn with alternating openings to allow for breathability. The hair strips are delicate and can easily be damaged or tangled. Wigs with a monofilament construction are higher quality and contain a thin nylon mesh fabric base that blends in with the scalp's natural color. Hand knotted wigs provide a natural scalp and hair strand look around the cap edges and at the crown where hair is parted. Lace front wigs are the most sophisticated and delicate where each strand of hair is sewn to a nylon lace cap. The nylon blends around the hairline, providing the most natural look.
Due to the delicate caps that many wigs have, it is essential to store the wigs to protect the shape and prevent tangles, avoid dust and moisture, and to prevent the caps from ripping.
What is needed is the wig storage system of the disclosure. The wig storage system comprises a wig clip hanger and a storage case. The wig clip hanger has a hook end, a neck, a sigmoidal portion, a clip portion, a linear cross bar, and a flared end with a flat bottom portion. A wig is placed on the wig clip hanger by separating the linear cross bar up and away from the flat bottom portion, sliding the front of the wig onto the flat bottom portion and sliding the wig toward the back of the flared end so the linear cross bar will lie along the wig center part line. The hanger and wig are placed in a storage case having a hook hole, a window pocket, at least one interior pocket, and at least one interior loop for storage of accessories and brushes. The storage case is opened and closed with fasteners. An exterior loop can be looped over the hook protruding from the hook hole. The wig storage system securely holds delicate lace-front wigs.
The accompanying drawings that are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification illustrate several embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
The present disclosure provides generally for a wig storage system that allows a wig owner to protect each wig from the elements, tangles, and cap rips while preserving the quality and value of the wig. The wig storage system can be used for stationary storage or on-the-go storage. The wig storage system comprises a specially shaped wig clip hanger. The wig clip hanger can be used with a protective storage case. The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for protecting wigs, especially wigs with delicate caps such as lace caps.
In the following sections, detailed descriptions of examples and methods of the disclosure will be given. The description of both preferred and alternative examples are exemplary only, and it is understood that to those skilled in the art that variations, modifications, and alterations may be apparent. It is therefore to be understood that the examples do not limit the broadness of the aspects of the underlying disclosure as defined by the claims.
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the wig clip hanger may be constructed from a single, continuous piece or multiple pieces. The hook portion may or may not have swivel capabilities. In some embodiments, the wig clip hanger may be constructed from a rigid but somewhat flexible metal such as aluminum or tin. The weight of a wig should not cause the wig clip hanger to bend, and the wig hanger clip should have sufficient strength to hold a wig weighing at least 3 kilograms without bending or buckling. The bottom portion of the wig clip hanger should be substantially flat to provide a base for the wig cap interior to lay on and be supported.
In some embodiments, the wig clip hanger may have a polymer coating to either increase or decrease friction or both. For example, the tapered end may be coated with a texture to help frictionally secure the wig cap and prevent it from coming loose from the wig clip hanger. However, other parts such as at the bottom portion may have a slick coating to promote sliding the wig securely toward the back of the flared end.
The overall sigmoid shape of the wig clip hanger not only serves to hold the wig securely in place while minimizing damage but also serves to balance the weight, so the hanger and wig will be held substantially straight rather than lopsided. A wig clip hanger may have a height of about 7 inches, a width of about 8 inches, and a depth at the bottom portion from about 0.8 inches to about 1.7 inches. The hanger itself may have a diameter of approximately 0.12 inches.
Referring now to
The flared end of the base may have beveled, straight, or rounded edges. The edges may be contoured to aid in keeping the wig in place and minimizing damage. In embodiments where the base is flexible or semi-rigid, the base may be bent or molded to a different shape or angle to accommodate wigs that may be more or less voluminous than average. The flared end may have at least one or a plurality of grip portions. The grip portions may be polygonal or linear. The grip portions along with the sigmoidal end of the hanger portion may serve to aid in wig storage or improve grip onto the underside or lace portion of the wig. Grip portions may be made out of rubber, plastic, sticky tack, or other polymer to help hold the wig in place. The grip portion may be an integrated or add-on material.
Referring now to
A storage case has an exemplary measurement of 28 inches long by 11 inches wide and is substantially flat when empty. On the front exterior, there is the opening which may run longitudinally and a window pocket. The window pocket could be left alone to provide a preview of the wig being stored inside or may be used to place an identification or wig detail card. Inside the exemplary storage case, there may be a plurality of interior pockets. The pockets may serve to hold wig accessories such as spray, tape, brush, comb, and other accessories such as scarves, hairpins, elastics, and shower caps. In some embodiments, a series or plurality of interior loops may be present for additional storage options.
Turning now to
A number of embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any disclosures or of what may be claimed but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of the present disclosure.
Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in combination in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.
Thus, particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/813,248, entitled Wig Storage System and having a filing date of Mar. 4, 2019, in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62813248 | Mar 2019 | US |
