WIG CAP

Abstract

In a wig cap of flexible netting fabric formed in the shape of a human cranium, a strip of elastomeric material attached to the interior surface of the netting fabric adjacent the anterior portion of its border, resists slippage of the wig cap by frictional engagement with the wearer's forehead. In an alternative embodiment comb-shaped clips attached to the interior surface of the netting fabric adjacent the anterior portion of its border engage the wearer's natural hair to resist slippage.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wig caps, and particularly to an improved wig cap having a feature for resisting slippage relative to a wearer's head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical wig cap is an article composed of a flexible fabric or net-like material shaped to be worn on the head underneath a wig to hold the wig in place so that the wig is resistant to displacement by gravity, inertia, or a direct pulling or pushing. In the case of a wig user who is bald, either naturally or due to chemotherapy or other medical treatment, the wig cap is used primarily to hold the wig in place. In the case of a wig user having natural hair, the wig cap can also be used to ensure that the natural hair is hidden from exposure. A typical wig cap either includes a stretchable border to hold it in place, or one or more adjustable straps that enable the border to be adjusted to fit the wearer's head.

A problem with conventional wig caps is that in order to resist displacement on the wearer's head reliably, either the stretchable border must have a high elastic modulus, or the straps must be adjusted to a high level of tightness. In either case, the tight fit of the wig cap can cause some discomfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a wig cap that is more comfortable to the wearer, and at the same time capable of resisting displacement reliably.

In a first embodiment, the anterior portion of the interior of the wig cap is provided with an elastomeric strip that holds the wig cap in place by frictional engagement with the wearer's forehead. In a second embodiment, used where the wearer has natural hair, one or more comb-like clips hold the wig cap in place by engagement with the wearer's natural hair.

The wig cap in accordance with the invention comprises a sheet of flexible netting fabric formed in the shape of a human cranium. The sheet of fabric has a border shaped to surround a human head about the caudal axis and is formed with a recess shaped and positioned in relation to the border to receive and fit snugly onto the superior portion of the head. The sheet of flexible netting fabric is shaped to be substantially symmetrical with respect to a sagittal plane when worn on the head. The border has an anterior portion positioned to extend laterally across a wearer's forehead and a posterior portion positioned to extend laterally across the posterior part of the wearer's head. The sheet of flexible netting fabric has an interior surface, and means, attached to the interior surface adjacent the anterior portion of the border, for resisting slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head.

In one embodiment of the wig cap, the means for resisting slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head comprises a strip of elastomeric material fastened to the interior surface of the sheet of netting fabric adjacent the anterior portion of the border. The elastomeric material is engageable with the wearer's forehead and has a coefficient of friction greater than that of the netting material so that friction between the strip of elastomeric material and the wearer's forehead resists slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head.

In another embodiment, the means for resisting slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head comprises a comb-shaped clip having a base portion fastened to the interior surface of the sheet of netting fabric adjacent the anterior portion of its border. The comb-shaped clip has plural teeth protruding from its base portion for engagement with the wearer's hair on the anterior portion of the wearer's head. The means for resisting slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head can comprise at least two comb-shaped clips, each having a base portion fastened to the interior surface of the sheet netting fabric adjacent the anterior portion of its border. In this case, each of the comb-shaped clips has plural teeth protruding from its base portion for engagement with the wearer's hair on the anterior portion of the wearer's head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wig cap in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, as seen from location to the left, to the rear, and above the wig cap;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wig cap of FIG. 1 as seen from a location to the rear, and below the wig cap;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view showing the wig cap of the first embodiment in use, the wig cap being partly broken away to show the relationship between the elastomeric band and the wearer's forehead;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a wig cap in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, as seen from location to the rear, and below the wig cap; and

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view showing the wig cap of the second embodiment in use, The wig cap being partly broken away to show the relationship between one of the comb-shaped clips and the wearer's natural hair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The wig cap 10, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is composed of a sheet of flexible netting fabric which can be formed of any of a wide variety of natural and synthetic materials. A preferred material is nylon. In the case of nylon or other meltable synthetic materials, the yarns can be fused to one another at their intersections. The netting fabric can also be formed of woven or knitted yarns of various materials.

The principal components of the wig cap are a central panel 12, and two side panels 14 (FIGS. 2) and 16. The central panel is shaped to extend from a posterior portion 18 (FIG. 1) of a border to an anterior portion 20 (FIG. 2). The side panels, which are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the central panel, are joined to the central panel 12 at seams 22 and 24 in the embodiment shown, but can be unitary with the central panel in other embodiments.

A border of the sheet of netting fabric is composed of the posterior and anterior portions 18 and 20, and the edge portions of the side panels that extend from the posterior portion to the anterior portions. As shown in FIG. 1, The edge portion of side panel 16 has a stepped configuration, being composed of generally horizontal parts 26 and 28, connected to each other by a vertical part 30. Part 26 meets the central panel 12 at a location slightly above border portion 18, forming a small step having a vertical portion 32. The opposite side panel 14, being symmetrical with panel 16, has a similar configuration and relationship to the central panel 12.

The wig cap 10 is formed in the shape of a human cranium by forming the netting fabric with a recess shaped and positioned in relation to the border to receive and fit snugly onto the superior portion of a wearer's head in such a way that the sheet of flexible netting fabric is substantially symmetrical with respect to a sagittal plane.

Adjusting straps 34 and 36 are sewn to the respective side panels and extend respectively along border part 26 of side panel 16 and its counterpart, border part 36, of side panel 14. Strap 34 cooperates with a buckle 38 fastened to panel 12, and strap 36 cooperates with a buckle 40, also fastened to panel 12, to allow the wearer to adjust the fit of the wig cap by lengthening or reducing the border.

As shown in FIG. 2, an elastomeric strip 40 is disposed on, and fastened to, the interior surface of the wig cap and extends parallel to border portion 26 of the central panel 12, parallel to border portion 28 of side panel 16, and parallel to border portion 42 (FIG. 2) of side panel 14. The strip may be sewn to the netting material, or fastened by other means, e.g., by an adhesive, or by fusing.

Strip 40 is preferably composed of rubber or a rubber-like material that has a higher coefficient of friction than that of the netting material, in relation to the skin of an individual's forehead. The strip 40 preferably extends continuously across the inner surface of the anterior part of the central panel 12 and past seams 22 and 24 onto the inner surfaces of the side panels 14 and 16. Alternatively, the strip can be disposed only on the inner surface of central panel 12, or can be composed of plural discrete parts, disposed on the inner surface of panel 12 or on the inner surfaces of panels 12, 14 and 16. In any case, the strip is preferably positioned a short distance, e.g., 1 cm, above the borders 20, 28 and 42.

As shown in FIG. 2, reinforcing strips, which can be composed of the same netting material from which the panels are made, extend from points adjacent the ends of the strip 40 to points adjacent the ends of border portions 42 and 28.

FIG. 3 shows the wig cap of FIGS. 1 and 2, worn by an individual who is bald. The stepped configuration of the border of the wig cap provides clearance for the wearer's ears, while allowing the anterior portion of the netting material to extend downward over the forehead so that the strip can contact the individual's forehead at a location (considering the cranium to approximate a sphere) nearly diametrically opposed to the location of the adjusting straps 34 and 36. When the strip is diametrically opposite the locations of the adjusting straps, friction between strip 40 and the individual's forehead can most effectively prevent displacement of the wig cap without excessive tightening of the adjusting straps.

Although the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 is especially suitable for use by an individual having no hair, it can also be used by individuals having hair. In the latter case, the hair may need to be trimmed or pulled back to ensure that the elastomeric strip 40 can contact the forehead directly without significant amounts of interposed natural hair interposed between the strip 40 and the forehead.

The wig cap of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 has a configuration similar to that of the wig cap of the previously described embodiment, and corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers followed by the prime (′) symbol. The principal difference between the two embodiments is that in the latter, the elastomeric strip 40 is not present, and instead, two comb-shaped toothed clips 48 and 50 are utilized to secure the wig cap against displacement by engaging the wearer's natural hair.

The comb-shaped clips are secured to the inner surface of the anterior part of the netting material near the border 20′, with their teeth 52 and 54 extending upward, i.e., away from base portions 56 and 58 positioned adjacent border 20′. The clips can be secured to the netting material by any of various means. For example, base portions of the clips may be provided with through holes 60 and 62, through which threads may be passed for sewing the clips to the netting fabric. Each clip has a plurality of, e.g., eight, teeth with bulbous ends that preferably contact one another in order to resist movement of hair outward from between the teeth of the clip. Although in a preferred embodiment two such clips are provided, similar results can be achieved with one, or more than two, comb-shaped clips.

As shown in FIG. 5, the clip 50 is engaged with the wearer's natural hair 64. Clip 48 (not shown in FIG. 5) is similarly engaged with the wearer's natural hair. As in the first embodiment, the clips are preferably positioned so that, assuming the wearer's cranium is in the shape of a sphere, the clips are approximately diametrically opposite locations on an imaginary line aligned with the adjusting straps 34′ and 36′.

In the first embodiment, the elastomeric strip frictionally engages the wearer's forehead, thereby resisting slippage of the wig cap. In the second embodiment, a similar result is achieved by engagement of one or more comb-like clips with the wearer's natural hair. In both cases, the position of the slippage-resisting means on the anterior portion of the sheet of netting material opposite the adjusting straps on the posterior side enables the wig cap to be held securely in place without excessive tightening of the adjusting straps and without discomfort to the wearer.

Claims

1. A wig cap comprising a sheet of flexible netting fabric formed in the shape of a human cranium, said fabric having a border shaped to surround a human head about the caudal axis and being formed with a recess shaped and positioned in relation to said border to receive and fit snugly onto the superior portion of the head, said sheet of flexible netting fabric being shaped to be substantially symmetrical with respect to a sagittal plane when worn on the head, and said border having an anterior portion positioned to extend laterally across a wearer's forehead and a posterior portion positioned to extend laterally across the posterior part of the wearer's head, said sheet of flexible netting fabric having an interior surface and means, attached to said interior surface adjacent the anterior portion of said border, for resisting slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head.

2. A wig cap according to claim 1, wherein said means for resisting slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head comprises a strip of elastomeric material fastened to said interior surface adjacent the anterior portion of said border, said elastomeric material being engageable with the wearer's forehead and having a coefficient of friction greater than that of the netting material, whereby friction between said strip of elastomeric material and the wearer's forehead resists slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head.

3. A wig cap according to claim 1, wherein said means for resisting slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head comprises a comb-shaped clip having a base portion fastened to said interior surface adjacent the anterior portion of said border, said comb-shaped clip having plural teeth protruding from said base portion for engagement with the wearer's hair on the anterior portion of the wearer's head.

4. A wig cap according to claim 1, wherein said means for resisting slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head comprises at least two comb-shaped clips each having a base portion fastened to said interior surface adjacent the anterior portion of said border, each of said comb-shaped clips having plural teeth protruding from its said base portion for engagement with the wearer's hair on the anterior portion of the wearer's head.

5. A wig cap comprising a sheet of flexible netting fabric formed in the shape of a human cranium, said fabric having a border shaped to surround a human head about the caudal axis and being formed with a recess shaped and positioned in relation to said border to receive and fit snugly onto the superior portion of the head, said sheet of flexible netting fabric being shaped to be substantially symmetrical with respect to a sagittal plane when worn on the head, and said border having an anterior portion positioned to extend laterally across a wearer's forehead and a posterior portion positioned to extend laterally across the posterior part of the wearer's head, said sheet of flexible netting fabric having an interior surface, and having a strip of elastomeric material fastened to said interior surface adjacent the anterior portion of said border, said elastomeric material being engageable with the wearer's forehead and having a coefficient of friction greater than that of the netting material, whereby friction between said strip of elastomeric material and the wearer's forehead resists slippage of the wig cap relative to the wearer's head.