Adjustable wig
A wig including a base portion is disclosed. The base portion includes an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defining a concave cavity and the outside surface having a plurality of elongate fibers projecting outwardly therefrom, and the base portion further includes an attachment area that may be substantially concealed. The wig further includes an auxiliary portion having a body. A plurality of elongate fibers project outwardly from the body. The auxiliary portion is adapted to be removably affixed to the attachment area of the base portion.
The manufacture of wigs can be a timely and costly procedure. A painstaking process must be undertaken in order to make wigs that have an acceptably realistic appearance. This process is often carried out by hand and involves hand-tying either a few strands of hair or even a single hair into the foundation of the wig. For a complete wig, the step of hand-tying hairs to the wig foundation may be carried out on the order of 30,000 to 40,000 times. Furthermore, wigs are often made of human hair or special synthetic fibers designed to simulate the appearance of real hair. Both of these options can be costly, with human hair being more expensive. In addition, when human hair is used to make a wig, the individual hairs must be matched and placed according to length and color in order to achieve the most realistic appearance, a process which can add significant time and cost to the manufacture of a wig.
The cost of wig ownership is further increased by the fact that many desire to have the ability to present a variety of appearances with respect to their hair. Whereas naturally growing hair can be cut or grown out to present different appearances, neither of these options is available for a wig. Generally, the only way that wig-wearers can vary the appearance of their hair is to own a variety of different wigs. For example, many wish to vary the length of the hair of their wig. This typically means having to own a variety of wigs, each having hair of different overall lengths. Given the cost of an individual wig, the ownership of multiple wigs is often very expensive, especially for those who are concerned with the quality and realistic appearance of a wig.
Therefore, it is desired to provide a wig for those who wish to have variation in appearance, without the increased cost of owning multiple wigs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a wig. The wig includes a base including a cap and a plurality of first elongate fibers. The cap includes an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defining a cavity, and the plurality of first elongate fibers projecting from the outside surface of the cap. The cap further includes an attachment area. The wig further includes an auxiliary portion including a body and a plurality of second elongate fibers. The plurality of second elongate fibers project from the body. The auxiliary portion is adapted to be removably affixed to the attachment area of the cap. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment area is substantially concealed. The attachment area may be concealed by at least some of the plurality of first elongate fibers, which project from the outside surface of the cap so as to overlie the attachment area during use of the wig. Alternatively, the attachment area may be concealed by locating the attachment area on the inside surface of the cap. Preferably, the cavity is shaped to substantially cover the scalp of a wearer.
The cap may further include a rear portion, and the attachment area may be disposed on the outside surface of the rear portion of the cap. The body of the auxiliary portion may be in the form of a strip of material including an edge and having a long axis and a short axis, the edge of the body being substantially parallel to the long axis, the auxiliary portion being adapted to be removably affixed to the attachment area along the edge of the body. Further, the cap may include an outside edge, the elongate fibers of the base portion extending generally below the outside edge of the cap at a first distance, the elongate fibers of the auxiliary portion extending generally below the outside edge of the cap at a second distance that is greater than the first distance when the auxiliary portion is removably attached to the attachment area.
Alternatively, the cap may include a front edge, the attachment portion being disposed along the front edge of the cap. Preferably, the front portion of the cap is disposed along the forehead of a wearer of the wig. In such an embodiment, the elongate fibers of the base portion have a first length, and the elongate fibers of the auxiliary portion have a second length that is shorter than the first length. The body of the auxiliary portion may be formed by a weft having the elongate fibers projecting therefrom. Preferably, the elongate fibers of the base portion at least partially overlap the elongate fibers of the auxiliary portion.
In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary portion includes a fastener. The fastener is adapted to attach to the attachment portion of the base to removably affix the auxiliary portion to the base. Alternatively, the attachment portion of the base may include a fastener such that the fastener connects to the auxiliary portion to removably affix the auxiliary portion to the base portion. The fastener, whether on the base or auxiliary portion, may be adapted to connect to a mating fastener.
A further aspect of the present invention is directed toward a kit. The kit includes a base wig portion having a cap and a plurality of first elongate fibers. The cap includes an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defining a cavity. The plurality of first elongate fibers project from the outside surface of the cap. The cap further includes an attachment area. The kit further includes a first auxiliary wig portion including a body and a plurality of second elongate fibers. The plurality of second elongate fibers project outwardly from the body of the first auxiliary portion. The kit also includes a second auxiliary wig portion including a body and a plurality of third elongate fibers. The plurality of third elongate fibers project outwardly from the body of the second auxiliary portion. The first and second auxiliary wig portions are adapted to be removably affixed to the attachment area of the cap. Preferably, the elongate fibers of the first auxiliary wig portion have a first length and the elongate fibers of the second auxiliary wig portion have a second length that is greater than the first length.
The cap of the wig base portion is preferably adapted to substantially cover the scalp of a wearer. In such an embodiment, the cap may include a rear portion, the first attachment area being disposed along the rear portion of the cap. Further, the first and second auxiliary wig portions may be adapted to be removably affixed to the attachment area of the base wig portion so as to be interchangeable with each other. Alternatively, the attachment area may include a first attachment area and a second attachment area. The first auxiliary portion is preferably adapted to be removably affixed to the first attachment area and the second auxiliary wig portion is preferably adapted to be removably affixed to the second attachment area. The second attachment area is preferably disposed along a front edge of the cap of the base wig portion.
A further aspect of the present invention is directed toward a device for use with a wig. The wig includes a base portion having an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defining a cavity and the outside surface having a plurality of elongate fibers projecting therefrom. The base portion further includes an attachment area. The device includes a body, a plurality of elongate fibers projecting from the body, and at least one fastener attached to the body. The device is adapted to be removably attached to the attachment area of the base portion of the wig using the fastener. The fastener may connect to a mating fastener disposed along the attachment area of the body of the wig.
A still further aspect of the present invention relates to a wig. The wig includes a cap having an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defining a cavity. The cap further includes an attachment area. The wig further includes a plurality of elongate fibers that project from the outside surface of the cap. The attachment portion is adapted to receive an auxiliary element such that the auxiliary element is removably affixed to the wig. The attachment area is preferably substantially concealed. The attachment area may be concealed by at least some of the plurality of first elongate fibers, which project from the outside surface of the cap so as to overlie the attachment area during use of the wig. Alternatively, the attachment area may be concealed by locating the attachment area on the inside surface of the cap.
Referring to the drawings, where like reference numerals are used to indicate like features, wig 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in
In general, cap 14 of wig 10 can be made according to any one of several variations. The most basic structure is a standard cap, which is in the form of a solid piece (or assembled pieces) of material, including woven or unwoven fabric, mesh, etc., which acts as an artificial scalp, covering the scalp, and any hair that may be present, of the wearer. Fibers 20 which make up the “hair” of the wig are affixed to cap 14 so as to project from outside surface 18 of cap 14. Preferably, fibers 20 are attached to cap 18, which is accomplished, for example, by tying one or a group of hairs around one of the fibers that make up the material of cap 14. This can be done in a random fashion, or in a predetermined pattern.
An alternative structure is generally referred to as “capless.” Such a structure is made of a set of wefts 40 (illustrated in
Auxiliary portion 30 is adapted to be affixed to base portion 12 along attachment area 15 formed on cap 14. Attachment area 15 is preferably formed on cap 14 such that it is substantially concealed during use of wig 10. The use of the term “concealed” is not meant to require that it is not possible to see or locate attachment area 15, but rather that attachment area 15 is obstructed from view by the casual observer when wig 10 is in use. This can include when wig 10 is worn in the form of base portion 12 alone or with auxiliary portion 30 affixed thereto.
Preferably, auxiliary portion 30 includes auxiliary fibers 34 which are added to wig 10 by the attachment of auxiliary portion 30 to base portion 12. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
Preferably, auxiliary portion 30 includes a body 32 with auxiliary fibers 34 affixed thereto and projecting generally away from body 32. As discussed above, auxiliary portion 30 may be used to give the appearance of longer hair than base 12 alone. This may be accomplished by structuring wig 10 such that when auxiliary portion 30 is assembled to base 12, auxiliary fibers 34, which are affixed to body 32 extend below the base fibers 20 affixed to cap 14 at a distance sufficient to give the desired lengthening effect. An example of such structure is shown in
In such an arrangement, for purposes of aesthetics, it is preferred that body 32 does not extend substantially below the edge 26 on the rear portion of cap 14 to which auxiliary portion 30 attaches. Thus, body 32 preferably has a height H that is no greater than necessary to carry the desired number of auxiliary fibers 34. In general, the number of fibers contained on any given area of a wig depends on the desired density of the hair per surface area of the wig, which preferably substantially matches the density of hairs on a human head. The density of hair on the surface of a wig may vary according to the specific location of the fibers. For example, the area of the wig located on the top of the wearer's head may contain fibers at a greater density than the area near the nape of the neck. The desired density for auxiliary fibers 34 at the location of auxiliary portion 30 will, accordingly, affect the size of body 32, from which auxiliary fibers 34 project. For example, given a desired density for the hairs projecting from body 32 over a given length of the wig (for example, the width of the nape of the neck), the height H of body 32 will vary with the number of fibers desired. That is, the more fibers that are to be affixed to body 32, the greater height H will have to be in order to carry the desired number of auxiliary fibers 34.
The number of auxiliary fibers 34 affixed to body 32 will also vary with the length difference D between base fibers 20 and auxiliary fibers 34. As previously stated, the length difference D is not necessarily due to the actual length of the individual fibers, but may rather be due to the relative position of the ends of the auxiliary fibers 34 with respect to the base fibers 20. This length difference D may affect the number of auxiliary fibers 34 included in auxiliary portion 30 in that a greater difference D may require that more auxiliary fibers 34 be included in auxiliary portion 30. The number of auxiliary fibers 34 to be included in auxiliary portion 30 may also depend on the arrangement of the auxiliary fibers 34 with respect to base fibers 20 included in base portion 12. For example, auxiliary fibers 34 may be designed to appear flush with base fibers 20. In this arrangement, it may be desirable to have the density of auxiliary fibers 34 closely match the density of base fibers 20, and the height H of body 32 will vary accordingly, as discussed above. Alternatively, auxiliary fibers 34 can be arranged as an additional layer or layers that extend below the base fibers 14. In this arrangement, it may be desirable to have the density of auxiliary fibers 34 sufficient to adequately form the layer or layers to match the density of the remainder of the fibers, and in particular, base fibers 20.
The structure of auxiliary portion 30 can be any that is adequate to carry auxiliary fibers 34 and to be affixable to base portion 12. Preferably, the structure of auxiliary portion 30 is similar to the structure of base portion 12, as discussed above. In particular, body 32 of auxiliary portion 30 may be similar in general structure to the various structures for cap 14, as discussed above. For example, body 32 can be a unitary piece of material, similar to that of a standard cap, to which auxiliary fibers 34 are attached in a similar fashion. Further, as shown in
As shown in
In this embodiment, Auxiliary portion 30 is adapted to affix to attachment area 15 of cap 14 such that auxiliary fibers 34 extend between adjacent rows 60a, 60b of base fibers 20 and extend beyond ends 28 of base fibers 20. Auxiliary portion 30 may be formed such that a single row 64 of auxiliary fibers 34 project from body 32, as shown in
Many suitable structures exist for facilitating the attachment of auxiliary portion 30 to base portion 12. For example, buttons, snaps, hooks, ties, hook-and-loop fasteners, zippers, or adhesives including glue or tape, can be used for such attachment. As shown in
In an alternative embodiment (Shown in
Attachment mechanisms similar to those discussed above with respect to auxiliary portion 30 may be used in connection with auxiliary portion 130, including buttons, snaps, hooks, hook-and-loop, ties, zippers, adhesives including glue and tape, and the like. Preferably, however, cap 114 and body 132 are structured such that the attachment mechanism is not visible when wig 110 is being worn. For example, if hooks (similar to those shown in
In a further variation, a wig according to various embodiments of the present invention can include auxiliary portions on both the front and rear of the base portion. In such an embodiment, multiple interchangeable components according to various forms of auxiliary portion 30 and 130, discussed above, or having fibers of varying lengths, can be provided to be used in connection with either the front or rear of the base portion such that the wearer of the wig can customize the appearance of the wig according to a number of different permutations.
Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A wig comprising:
- a base including a cap and a plurality of first elongate fibers, the cap including an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defining a cavity, and the plurality of first elongate fibers projecting from the outside surface of the cap, the cap further including an attachment area that is substantially concealed by a portion of the base; and
- an auxiliary portion including a body and a plurality of second elongate fibers, the plurality of second elongate fibers projecting from the body;
- wherein the auxiliary portion is adapted to be removably affixed to the attachment area of the cap.
2. The wig of claim 1, wherein the attachment area is concealed by at least some of the plurality of first elongate fibers, which project from the outside surface of the cap so as to overlie the attachment area during use of the wig.
3. The wig of claim 1, wherein the attachment area is concealed by locating the attachment area on the inside surface of the cap.
4. The wig of claim 1, wherein the cavity is shaped to substantially cover the scalp of a wearer.
5. The wig of claim 1, wherein the the cap further includes a rear portion, and wherein the attachment area is disposed on the outside surface of the rear portion of the cap.
6. The wig of claim 1, wherein the body of the auxiliary portion is in the form of a strip of material including an edge and having a long axis and a short axis, the edge of the body being substantially parallel to the long axis, the auxiliary portion being adapted to be removably affixed to the attachment area near the edge of the body.
7. The wig of claim 1, wherein the cap includes an outside edge, and wherein the elongate fibers of the base portion extend generally below the outside edge of the cap at a first distance, and wherein the elongate fibers of the auxiliary portion extend generally below the outside edge of the cap at a second distance that is greater than the first distance.
8. The wig of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a front edge, and wherein the attachment portion is disposed along the front edge of the cap.
9. The wig of claim 8, wherein the front portion of the cap is disposed along the forehead of a wearer of the wig.
10. The wig of claim 8, wherein the elongate fibers of the base portion have a first length, and wherein the elongate fibers of the auxiliary portion have a second length that is less than the first length.
11. The wig of claim 10, wherein the body of the auxiliary portion is formed by a weft having the elongate fibers projecting therefrom.
12. The wig of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary portion includes a fastener connected thereto, wherein the fastener attaches to the attachment portion to removably affix the auxiliary portion to the base.
13. The wig of claim 1, wherein the attachment portion includes a fastener affixed thereon, wherein the fastener connects to the auxiliary portion to removably affix the auxiliary portion to the base portion.
14. The wig of claim 1, wherein the elongate fibers of the base portion overlap at least a portion of the elongate fibers of the auxiliary portion.
15. The wig of claim 1, wherein the attachment area is disposed substantially along a back edge of the cap.
16. The wig of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first elongate fibers are affixed to the cap in a plurality of rows. the rows being spaced apart from each other so as to form a plurality of gaps therebetween, and wherein the attachment area is disposed substantially in at least one of the plurality of gaps.
17. A kit comprising:
- a base wig portion including a cap and a plurality of first elongate fibers, the cap including an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defining a cavity, the plurality of first elongate fibers projecting from the outside surface of the cap, the cap further including an attachment area;
- a first auxiliary wig portion including a body and a plurality of second elongate fibers, the plurality of second elongate fibers projecting outwardly from the body; and
- a second auxiliary wig portion including a body and a plurality of third elongate fibers, the plurality of third elongate fibers projecting outwardly from the body;
- wherein the first and second auxiliary wig portions are adapted to be removably affixed to the attachment area of the cap.
18. The kit of claim 17, wherein the elongate fibers of the first auxiliary wig portion have a first length and the elongate fibers of the second auxiliary wig portion have a second length that is greater than the first length.
19. The kit of claim 17, wherein the cap of the wig base portion is adapted to substantially cover the scalp of a wearer, and wherein the cap includes a rear portion, the attachment area being disposed along the rear portion of the cap.
20. The kit of claim 17, wherein the first and second auxiliary wig portions are adapted to be removably affixed to the attachment area of the base wig portion so as to be interchangeable with each other.
21. The kit of claim 17, wherein the attachment area includes a first attachment area and a second attachment area, the first auxiliary portion being adapted to be removably affixed to the first attachment area and the second auxiliary wig portion being adapted to be removably affixed to the second attachment area.
22. The kit of claim 21, wherein the second attachment area is disposed along a front edge of the cap of the base wig portion.
23. The kit of claim 17, wherein the attachment area is substantially concealed by a portion of the base wig portion.
24. The kit of claim 17, wherein the attachment area includes at least one fastener element affixed thereto.
25. A device for use with a wig, the wig including a base portion having an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defining a cavity and the outside surface having a plurality of first elongate fibers projecting therefrom, the base portion further including an attachment area, the device comprising:
- a body;
- a plurality of second elongate fibers projection from the body; and
- at least one fastener attached to the body;
- wherein the device is adapted to be removably attached to the attachment area of the base portion of the wig using the at least one fastener.
26. The device of claim 25, wherein the fastener connects to a mating fastener disposed along the attachment area of the body of the wig.
27. A wig comprising:
- a cap including an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defining a cavity, the cap further including an attachment area; and
- a plurality of elongate fibers;
- wherein the plurality of elongate fibers project from the outside surface of the cap, and wherein the attachment area is substantially concealed and is adapted to receive an auxiliary element such that the auxiliary element is removably affixed to the wig.
28. The wig of claim 27, wherein the attachment area is concealed by at least some of the plurality of first elongate fibers, which project from the outside surface of the cap so as to overlie the attachment area during use of the wig.
29. The wig of claim 27, wherein the attachment area is concealed by locating the attachment area on the inside surface of the cap.
30. The wig of claim 27, wherein the attachment area includes at least one fastener element affixed thereto.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 26, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 30, 2008
Inventor: Freeda Kugel (Brooklyn, NY)
Application Number: 11/796,137
International Classification: A41G 3/00 (20060101); A41G 5/00 (20060101); B65D 69/00 (20060101);