Wig

Abstract

A wig having hair affixed to an upper surface of a mesh. Around a perimeter edge of the mesh is a drawstring. A first tie crosses from a front right quadrant of the perimeter edge, under a bun woven into the wearer and is affixed to an anchor on a rear left of the perimeter edge. A second tie crosses the first tie between a left front quadrant of the perimeter edge and an anchor on the rear right perimeter edge. The drawstring is cinched around the bun. Excess drawstring, first tie and second tie is tucked under the wig.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to wigs, and more particularly, to a wig that securely attaches to a bun formed into underlying hair.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] Several designs for wigs have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a means to quickly and securely attach a wig to a bun formed into natural hair. Other wigs have a variety of clips and pins that fail to securely attach the wig to the wearer's head without risk of the wig becoming detached.

[0003] Other prior art describes related subject matter that provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.

[0004] A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification and title are provided as well for the purposes of complying with 37 CFR 1.72 and are not intended to be used for interpreting or limiting the scope of the claims.

[0005] Without limiting the scope of the invention, a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the detailed description of the invention below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a wig that securely attaches to the hair of the wearer.

[0007] It is another object of this invention to provide a wig that can survive athletic activities without shifting position on the wearer.

[0008] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wig that can be styled away from the wearer and simply installed in a few minutes with perfect results.

[0009] It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device and method of use that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.

[0010] Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

[0011] These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference can be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described various embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an underside of a wig.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of a wig being installed on a person.

[0015] FIG. 3 shows a cross section plan view of an installed wig.

[0016] FIG. 4 is shows threading tool optionally used for installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplary of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated and described.

[0018] For the purpose of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated or is obvious by context.

[0019] The subject device and method of use is sometimes referred to as the device, the invention, the wig, the pony, the hair, the hairpiece or other similar terms. These terms may be used interchangeably as context requires and from use the intent becomes apparent. The masculine can sometimes refer to the feminine and neuter and vice versa. The plural may include the singular and singular the plural as appropriate from a fair and reasonable interpretation in the situation.

[0020] Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral 10, it can be observed that it basically includes a main loop 12, a drawstring 14, a clasp 16, an anchor 18, a tie 20, an anchor 22, a tie 24, a loop 26, a clip 28, a mesh 30, a hair 32, a centerline 34, a bun 36, a base 38, an eye 40 and a tip 42.

[0021] Generally, the main loop 12 encircles the mesh 30. The mesh 30 is circular or oval and completely fills the interior of the main loop 12. The edges of the mesh 30 are affixed to the circumference of the main loop 12. The mesh 30 is preferably breathable and may be made of a loosely woven material, netting, fabric, lace, sheet-material or other suitable substrate onto which hair 32 is affixed to generally form the primary basic structure of a wig to hold the hair in place onto the wig.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows an example of a wig from the underside that lies on the head of the wearer. The top of FIG. 1 corresponds to the back of the head and the bottom towards the forehead of the wearer. The centerline 34 lays over about the middle of the sagittal anatomical plane when the wig is worn normally.

[0023] Threaded into the main loop 12 is a drawstring 14. The drawstring 14 may be a flexible cord, like a string, and may also be elastic to allow some degree of stretch-ability. The drawstring 14 may emerge from the main loop 12 at about a rear end of the centerline 34. A clasp 16 is optionally provided to easily fix the drawstring 14 into a cinched position when installing the wig and to release the tension in the main loop 12 when removing the wig.

[0024] Still referring to FIG. 1, an anchor 18 is affixed to the main loop 12 in the upper left quadrant of the wig. A corresponding tie 20 is opposed in a lower right quadrant and affixed to the main loop 12. The anchor 18 and tie 20 are substantially at opposite edges of the main loop. In a particularly effective embodiment referenced in FIG. 1, the anchor 18 is at about an eleven o'clock position and the tie is at about the five o'clock position. However, the anchor 18 and tie 20 may be located anywhere in the edge of the main loop 12 in the respective quadrants.

[0025] Similarly, an anchor 22 is affixed to the main loop 12 in the upper right quadrant of the wig. A corresponding tie 24 is opposed in a lower left quadrant and affixed to the main loop 12. The anchor 22 and tie 24 are substantially at opposite edges of the main loop. In a particularly effective embodiment referenced in FIG. 1, the anchor 22 is at about a one o'clock position and the tie is at about the seven o'clock position. However, the anchor 18 and tie 20 may be located anywhere in the edge of the main loop 12 in the respective quadrants and remain effective.

[0026] The ties 20 and 24 are generally fabricated from a flexible material such as cord, string, lacing, elastic or other such material. The length of the ties 20 and 24 are generally sufficient when capable of reaching the corresponding, respective anchor 18 and 22 with sufficient excess to tie into a knot or other similar securing means.

[0027] A clip 28 is affixed to the front edge at about the centerline 34, shown in FIG. 1 at about the six o'clock position. The clip 28 has a snap or other openable means to affix a loop 26 without sewing or the use of other tools. The loop 26 is preferably made of an elastic material and is smaller in diameter than the main loop 12. The clip 28 is openable to replace the loop 26 in case it breaks or otherwise needs repair or replacement to lengthen the life of the wig.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a portion of the mesh 30 merely as an example. The wig will typically have mesh 30 (or other material as noted above) completely spanning the area inside the main loop 12. Hair 32 is affixed to a top side of the mesh 30. FIG. 1 shows the bottom side of the wig with the hair 32 visible flowing over the edge. The hair 32 may be human or synthetic. The hair 32 may take the form similar other commercially available wigs or wefts of hair.

[0029] Now referring to FIG. 2 where a side profile view of a person is shown during a typical installation of the wig onto that person. The first preparatory step during installation of the wig for the wearer is to form a bun 36 into the natural hair of the wearer. The bun 36 is preferably wound tight and results in a base 38 about the bottom of the bun 36 nearest the scalp of the wearer.

[0030] Looking at FIGS. 2 and 3 in combination a typical installation procedure can be seen. Before the wig is placed on the wearer a bun 36 is created with the natural hair of the wearer. The bun 36 can be formed with any customary method such as braiding, clipping, wrapping, pinning or other such means. The tighter the bun 36, the more secure the wig will be attached to the wearer. Typically, the bun 36 should be centered on the crown of the head.

[0031] Once the bun 36 is secure the loop 26 is stretched over the bun and allowed to retract around the base of the bun 36. The loop 26 helps hold the wig in place during the other steps of the installation. The wig is then rotated over so that the mesh 30 underside is contacting the hair of the wearer and is generally centered over the bun 36. At this stage the hair 32 will be on top and the ties 20 and 24 will be dangling below the wig, ready for the next step.

[0032] Then, optionally with the aid of a threading tool, such as that shown in FIG. 4, the tie 20 is laced past the base 38 between the bun 36 and the wearer's scalp. The tie 20 crosses the imaginary centerline 34 and through the anchor 18. The tie 24 similarly is laced past the base 38 between the other side of the bun 36 and the scalp, crossing the centerline 34 and though the anchor 22.

[0033] The ties 20 and 24 may then be secured by tying to each other after tightening or may be tied to the respective anchor 18 and 22. The ties 20 and 24 provide substantial holding power to keep the wig attached to the bun 36 preventing any unwanted and untimely dissociation of the wig from the wearer.

[0034] The tag ends of the ties 20 and 24 may then be tucked and hidden under the wig against the hair of the wearer. The drawstring 14 is pulled through the clasp 16 to tighten the main loop 12 around the wearer's bun. The tag ends of the drawstring 14 are pushed with a finger under the rear end of the wig to complete the installation without any of the ties 20 and 24, drawstring 14 and clasp 16 visible.

[0035] Removal of the wig is generally performed by reversing the steps for the installation. First untucking the drawstring 14 and releasing the clasp 16 to expand the main loop 12. The ties 20 and 24 are removed from the respective anchors 18 and 22. The wig is then flipped forward to allow stretching the loop 26 away from the base 38 and over the bun 36 where it is removed from the wearer.

[0036] An advantage of this system is that the hair 32 can be styled before it is installed onto the wearer. This means that a stylist can complete their work without the wearer being present and ahead of the time the wig is needed for wearing. This can cut the time required for a quality installation from more than an hour and a half to just a few minutes.

[0037] The hair 32 can be any type, color, texture or style. The hair 32 is generally fused to the mesh 30 and/or main loop 12 with traditional hairpiece making techniques such as sewing, lacing, threading, adhesive bonding, heat bonding or other methods.

[0038] Any of the drawstring 14, main loop 12, ties 20 and 24 and loop 26 may be fabricated from stretchy or non-stretchy material. Each of these is preferably flexible to allow the wig and its several components to fit snugly and comfortably on the head of the wearer and also to be easy to install on the wearer.

[0039] An important version of the invention can be fairly described as a wig comprising a mesh (or other suitable substrate) that has as top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter edge. The perimeter edge has a front towards the wearer's forehead and a rear towards that back of the head. Hair is affixed to the top surface of the mesh. Around the perimeter edge is an operable drawstring. The drawstring is cinched with clasp at the rear of the perimeter edge so that the drawstring can be cinched and released as needed. A first anchor is affixed to a right rear quadrant (approximately five o'clock position) of the perimeter edge and corresponds to a first tie affixed to a left front quadrant (at about an eleven o'clock position) of the perimeter edge. A second anchor is affixed to a left rear quadrant (at about the seven o'clock position) of the perimeter edge and corresponds to a second tie affixed to a right front quadrant (at about a one o'clock position) of the perimeter edge. An elastic loop is clipped to the front of the perimeter edge so that it is replaceable. The elastic loop is adapted to stretch and fit around a base of a bun formed into a natural hair of a wearer. The first tie is threaded adjacent to or through the base of the bun and is affixed to the first anchor. The second tie is threaded adjacent to or through the base of the bun and crosses the first tie and is affixed to the second anchor. The drawstring draws the perimeter edge around the bun securing the wig to the natural hair.

[0040] A process for affixing the wig as described herein to the wearer can be fairly described as first forming the bun into the natural hair of the wearer. Next, place the elastic loop around the base of the bun. Then place the bottom surface of the mesh against the natural hair. Next, thread the first tie adjacent to the base of the bun and affix the first tie to the first anchor. Then thread the second tie adjacent to the base of the bun and cross the first tie and affix the second tie to the second anchor. Next, draw the drawstring around the bun and cinch the drawstring with the clasp. And finally, tuck any excess of the drawstring, first tie and second tie against the bottom surface of the mesh to hide them.

[0041] The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A wig comprising a mesh having as top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter edge; the perimeter edge has a front and a rear; hair is affixed to the top surface of the mesh; around the perimeter edge is a drawstring; the drawstring is cinched with clasp at the rear of the perimeter edge; a first anchor is affixed to a right rear quadrant of the perimeter edge and corresponds to a first tie affixed to a left front quadrant of the perimeter edge; a second anchor is affixed to a left rear quadrant of the perimeter edge and corresponds to a second tie affixed to a right front quadrant of the perimeter edge; an elastic loop is clipped to the front of the perimeter edge; the elastic loop is adapted to stretch and fit around a base of a bun formed into a natural hair of a wearer; the first tie is threaded adjacent to the base of the bun and is affixed to the first anchor; the second tie is threaded adjacent to the base of the bun and crosses the first tie and is affixed to the second anchor; the drawstring draws the perimeter edge around the bun securing the wig to the natural hair.

2. A process for affixing the wig in claim 1 to the wearer comprised of forming the bun into the natural hair of the wearer; placing the elastic loop around the base of the bun; placing the bottom surface of the mesh against the natural hair; threading the first tie adjacent to the base of the bun and affixing the first tie to the first anchor; threading the second tie adjacent to the base of the bun and crossing the first tie and affixing the second tie to the second anchor; drawing the drawstring around the bun and cinching the drawstring with the clasp; tucking any excess of the drawstring, first tie and second tie against the bottom surface of the mesh.