US20190125019A1

US20190125019A1 - Wigs and Wig Elements and Related Methods

Info

Publication number: US20190125019A1
Application number: US16/178,524
Authority: US
Inventors: Melinda N. LeBeau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-11-01
Filing date: 2018-11-01
Publication date: 2019-05-02

Abstract

Wigs include a cloth member, having hairs attached thereto and shaped into a dome for receiving a user's head, and a polymer flexible member adhered to an underside of the cloth member using an adhesive which extends upwards through the cloth member to a topside of the cloth member to form a realistic scalp-like appearance at the topside of the cloth member and to more securely secure the hairs of the wig. Methods of wig modification include adhering a flexible polymer member to an underside of a cloth member of a wig with a flesh-toned adhesive which extends upwards through the cloth member and covers a portion of the topside of the cloth member. Methods of wig construction include providing a cloth member, forming at least one flexible polymer member and coupling hairs thereto, and coupling the flexible polymer member to the cloth member using a flesh-toned adhesive.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This document claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Utility Application Ser. No. 62/580,205, entitled “Wigs and Related Methods,” naming as first inventor Melinda LeBeau, which was filed on Nov. 1, 2017, now pending, and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Utility Application Ser. No. 62/704,013, entitled “Wigs and Wig Elements and Associated Methods,” naming as first inventor Melinda LeBeau, which was filed on Jun. 21, 2018, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Aspects of this document relate generally to wigs.

2. Background Art

Wigs are used for a variety of purposes and by both genders to conceal hair loss. Some wigs are used by those who suffer with alopecia or chemotherapy-related hair loss. Others have natural or genetic hair loss. Some who wear wigs are bald, while others have some remaining natural hair.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of wigs may include: a cloth member having hairs attached thereto, the cloth member shaped into a dome-like shape for receiving a user's head, and; a polymer flexible member adhered to an underside of the cloth member using an adhesive; wherein the adhesive extends upwards through the cloth member to a topside of the cloth member to form a realistic scalp-like appearance at the topside of the cloth member and to more securely secure the hairs of the wig.
Embodiments of wigs may include one or more or all of the following:
At least a portion of the topside of the cloth member may be covered with the adhesive so that the topside of the cloth member is not visible.
An adjustable strap may be coupled with the cloth member allowing a size adjustment of the wig.
The polymer flexible member may include silicone.
The polymer flexible member may be sized to cover less than half of the underside of the cloth member.
The adhesive may include silicone.
The polymer flexible member and the adhesive may be formed of the same material.
The cloth member may include lace.
The adhesive may be flesh-toned.
Loops may be coupled with the cloth member for receiving hair extensions.
Embodiments of methods of wig modification may include: providing a wig, the wig including a cloth member having hairs attached thereto, the cloth member shaped into a dome-like shape for receiving a user's head; providing a polymer flexible member shaped and sized to cover less than half of an underside of the cloth member; adhering the polymer flexible member to the underside of the cloth member using an adhesive, and; causing the adhesive to extend upwards through the cloth member to a topside of the cloth member so that at least a portion of the topside of the cloth member is covered with the adhesive and is not visible; wherein the adhesive is flesh-toned and creates a realistic, scalp-like appearance at the topside of the cloth member.
Embodiments of methods of wig modification may include one or more or all of the following:
Providing the polymer flexible member may include pouring and shaping a liquid polymer and allowing the liquid polymer to solidify.
The polymer flexible member may include silicone and the adhesive may also include silicone.
The polymer flexible member may be shaped and sized to cover less than one-third of the underside of the cloth member.
The polymer flexible member may be shaped and sized to cover less than one-quarter of the underside of the cloth member.
Embodiments of methods of wig construction may include: providing a cloth member having a dome-like shape for receiving a user's head; forming at least one polymer flexible member; coupling hairs with the at least one polymer flexible member so that a majority of each hair extends outwards from a first surface of the at least one polymer flexible member, and; coupling a second surface of the at least one polymer flexible member with a topside of the cloth member using an adhesive, forming a wig.
Embodiments of methods of wig construction may include one or more or all of the following:
The adhesive may be applied at an underside of the cloth member and seep through to the topside of the cloth member to couple the at least one polymer flexible member with the cloth member.
Coupling the hairs with the at least one polymer flexible member may include punching the hairs through the at least one polymer flexible member, wherein the hairs are not secured to the wig using knots, and wherein the hairs are not angled to form return hairs.
The at least one polymer flexible member may include a plurality of polymer flexible members, the plurality of polymer flexible members together covering more than 50% of the topside of the cloth member.
Gaps may be formed between the polymer flexible members for breathability through the cloth member.
General details of the above-described embodiments, and other embodiments, are given below in the DESCRIPTION, the DRAWINGS, and the CLAIMS.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be discussed hereafter using reference to the included drawings, briefly described below, wherein like designations refer to like elements:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of an implementation of a wig;

FIG. 2 is a bottom close-up view of another implementation of a wig;

FIG. 3 is a top close-up view of the wig of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top close-up view of a prior art wig;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of another implementation of a wig in an unfinished state;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of another implementation of a wig;

FIG. 7 is a side inside-out view of the wig of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a close-up view of an implementation of a flexible member;

FIG. 9 shows a top view of an implementation of a wig during an adhesion process;

FIG. 10 shows a top close-up view of another implementation of a wig;

FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of another implementation of a wig (with hair excluded for ease of viewing);

FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of another implementation of a wig (with hair excluded for ease of viewing);

FIG. 13 shows a top view of the wig of FIG. 11 (with hair excluded for ease of viewing);

FIG. 14 shows a top view of the wig of FIG. 12 (with hair excluded for ease of viewing);

FIG. 15 shows a top view of an implementation of a wig;

FIG. 16 shows a top view of the wig of FIG. 15 with a cap insert added;

FIG. 17 is a top view of a plurality of cap inserts being formed;

FIG. 18 shows a bottom view of an implementation of a wig without a cap insert;

FIG. 19 shows a bottom view of the wig of FIG. 18 with a cap insert;

FIG. 20 shows a top view of elements used to make an adjustable strap;

FIG. 21 shows a top perspective view of a wig with a cap insert worn by a user;

FIG. 22 shows a front view of a wig with a cap insert worn by a user;

FIG. 23 shows a side view of a prior art injected skin wig, flipped inside out;

FIG. 24 shows a side view of another implementation of a prior art injected skin wig, flipped inside out;

FIG. 25 shows a top view of a silk top wig;

FIG. 26 shows a side view of the wig of FIG. 25 inside out;

FIG. 27 shows a front view of the wig of FIG. 25 with the hair styled with bangs in front to hide a line of demarcation;

FIG. 28 shows a front inside-out view of another implementation of a wig;

FIG. 29 shows a bottom close-up view of another implementation of a wig;

FIG. 30 shows a top view of an implementation of a cap member used in the formation of a wig;

FIG. 31 shows a side view of the cap member of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 shows a top view of an implementation of a top flexible member used in the formation of a wig;

FIG. 33 shows a top view of an implementation of a bottom flexible member used in the formation of a wig;

FIG. 34 shows a top view of an implementation of a middle flexible member used in the formation of a wig;

FIG. 35 shows a top view of the bottom flexible member of FIG. 33 with hair added;

FIG. 36 shows a top view of the middle flexible member of FIG. 34 with hair added;

FIG. 37 shows a top view of the top flexible member of FIG. 32 with hair added;

FIG. 38 shows a top view of the cap member of FIG. 30 with the bottom flexible member of FIG. 35 coupled thereto;

FIG. 39 shows a top view of the cap member of FIG. 30 with the bottom flexible member of FIG. 35 and the middle flexible member of FIG. 36 coupled thereto;

FIG. 40 shows a top view of the cap member of FIG. 30 with the bottom flexible member of FIG. 35, the middle flexible member of FIG. 36, and the top flexible member of FIG. 37 coupled thereto, forming a wig;

FIG. 41 shows another implementation of a wig;

FIG. 42 shows another implementation of a wig;

FIG. 43 shows an implementation of a wig insert;

FIG. 44 shows an implementation of a dome mold with a flexible member and a lattice member, and;

FIG. 45 shows an implementation of a loop for extensions.

DESCRIPTION

Implementations/embodiments disclosed herein (including those not expressly discussed in detail) are not limited to the particular components or procedures described herein. Additional or alternative components, assembly procedures, and/or methods of use consistent with the intended wigs and wig elements and related methods may be utilized in any implementation. This may include any materials, components, sub-components, methods, sub-methods, steps, and so forth.
One common wig problem is getting the wig to remain secured, so that the wig does not move or fall off, whether the user is active or non-active. Naturally the more active the wig user is (such as during sports or increased motion) the more difficult this is. Some existing wigs/wig systems use bands, glue, and/or tape, but these can annoy or irritate a user and can be uncomfortable, inconvenient and time consuming. Another common wig problem is having the wig stay put without it being easily detectable that it is a wig (or without the straps or other coupling mechanisms being visible). By non-limiting example, for full lace wigs users often complain that the wigs do not stay put, the knots are visible (especially if it is a dark-hair wig), and the grid lines of the lace are visible (on light or dark-haired wigs). It is also common for conventional wig coupling mechanisms to stretch out (and lose their secure coupling) or to break, shred or rip.
Some conventional wigs, such as monofilament wigs and injected wigs, have a more realistic look (lacking large knots and the like) but are very expensive (sometimes ranging from $1,200-$4,000 USD) and are uncomfortable. Conventional full lace wigs tend to shed hairs (which will be shown in further detail below) and have knots which are visible, and full lace wigs are difficult to adhere to the head of a user. They are also relatively expensive and some currently range in price from $300-$3,000 depending on the length and quality of the hairs.
Accordingly, there are many issues with conventional wigs now existing in the art, and implementations of wigs disclosed herein address these problems.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a first implementation of a new wig 100 is shown. The hairs 102 of the wig can be easily seen, though only a few of the hairs are shown so that the remainder of the wig can be easily viewed. This view is the underside of the wig that couples with the head of the user. The hairs of the wig are coupled with a lace underside 104, as is conventional in existing wigs. The new wig disclosed herein includes both a flexible member 106 covering about half, or in some cases (as is seen in FIG. 1) less than half, of the underside of the wig, and an adjustable band 108 which is coupled proximate an outer perimeter of the lace underside of the wig. In some cases the flexible member may cover less than one third, less then one quarter, and/or less than one fifth (less than 20%) of the underside of the wig (or in other words the underside of the cloth member or lace element to which the hairs are attached).
The flexible member shown in FIG. 1 is formed of silicone which is medical grade and hypo-allergenic. Other materials may be used for the flexible member, including other flexible polymers, though silicone is useful because of its friction relative to the head of the wearer as well as its lack of irritation when contacting the skin of the user. The flexible member conforms to the head of the user due to its flexibility, and its friction relative to the head of the user discourages the wig from sliding, moving, or falling off.
In the implementation shown in FIG. 1 the flexible member is secured to the lace using thread in areas near the ear tabs (not shown) of the wig, however the remainder of the flexible member is secured to the lace using only a liquid silicone or silicone adhesive which solidifies and adheres the flexible member to the inside of the wig, encapsulating the knots on the top of the wig. In implementations at least 90% of the top surface of the flexible member (i.e., the surface facing the wig) is adhered to the lace using silicone adhesive. The silicone adhesive and thread are both used at the ear tabs, which is where the user pulls most of the time to take the wig on and off.
The silicone adhesive has other benefits, in that it can help to secure the hairs of the wig to the lace. By non-limiting example, FIG. 3 shows an example of the topside of wig 100 which has the flexible member adhered to its underside, and FIG. 4 shows an example of the topside of a wig 400 which does not have a flexible member coupled to its underside. FIG. 4 shows a marked increase of hairs becoming dissociated with the lace, so that a noticeable lace bald spot 402 is showing atop the wig of FIG. 4, whereas for the wig of FIG. 3 the adhesive coupling the flexible member to the underside of the wig has the benefit of holding the hairs more securely in place so that they do not fall out of the lace even with continued use of the wig.
The wig shown in FIG. 1 is only a representative example and is a wig which includes a full lace underside. The flesh toned silicone adhesive used to adhere the flexible member to the lace encapsulates the knots and grid lines of the lace and creates a scalp-like look. The flexible member adheres to the user's scalp or hair with no residue, eliminates shedding of the hairs of the wig and removes the need for temporary glue or tape to secure the wig to the head or scalp of the user.
The wig of FIG. 1 also includes an adjustable band at the sides and back of the underside of the wig, coupled proximate a perimeter of the lace. In the implementation shown the adjustable band is formed of a 1-inch polyurethane band. Other materials could be used, but the flexibility of polyurethane is useful to allow some give so that a user can adjust the band to a desired tightness level. By adjusting the adjustable band to a desired length, the user can have a fit that is tighter, or less tight, as is appropriate for the user's activity level and so forth. Sizes other than 1 inch may be used for the adjustable band in other implementations, though sizes of 1 inch have been found in testing to work effectively. These also are similar to silicone in the sense that they adhere to skin and hair well, as opposed to the common fabric elastic band.
The adjustable band is coupled to the lace on the back portion of the underside of the wig and then coated in the silicone adhesive as well to provide comfort and extra security, as can be seen in FIG. 1.
Some wigs do not have a full lace underside but only lace on the front of the underside (lace front wigs). The flexible member shown in FIG. 1 could, because of its size and shape, also be used with a wig that only has lace on the front of the underside of the wig.
In another implementation of a new wig, not shown in the drawings, a similar flexible portion covering only a portion of the underside of the wig, such as half or less than half of the underside, and only towards the front of the underside, is used in conjunction with a flexible perimeter extending along the place where the polyurethane band is shown in FIG. 1 (in other words, the flexible perimeter is used and is lined with polyurethane material for added strength). The flexible perimeter is not adjustable, although its flexibility allows it some give to achieve a desired fit. The flexible perimeter would be sized according to the specific head size of the user, and due to this an adjustable band would not be needed.
The flexible perimeter could be formed, by non-limiting example, of the same type of material as the flexible member. Accordingly, in one implementation the flexible perimeter could be formed of silicone. In some implementations the flexible perimeter could be formed together with the flexible member (such as through a melting, molding, and/or curing process so that they are integrally joined. In other implementations the flexible perimeter could be a separate element. In either case, the flexible member will be coupled proximate a perimeter of the underside of the wig. In the case of a full lace wig the flexible member may be adhered with the same silicone material and/or stitched or otherwise coupled with the lace. In the case of a front lace wig there may not be lace to which the flexible perimeter may be adhered but the flexible perimeter may be joined to the flexible member using adhesive, stitching, and/or other coupling mechanisms, and may also be attached to the back/bottom half of the non-lace underside using clips, stitching, or other coupling mechanisms.
In another implementation of a new wig, not shown in the drawings, the wig is a full lace wig (having lace covering the entire underside of the wig) and the flexible member instead of being half-sized is sized to cover substantially the entire lace underside (defined herein as at least 90% of the lace underside), so that it covers the front and back (or top and bottom) of the underside of the wig. In this implementation the flexible member may be made of silicone as described above (though other materials may be used in other implementations) and is sized specifically to fit the head of the user. Having a customized size and/or shape, which fits the size and/or contour of the head of the user, no adjustable band or flexible perimeter band is needed, and so neither are used in this implementation. This variation would be custom sized to the user and there would be sections of one-inch ventilation areas from the crown to nape.
Nevertheless, in another implementation a full scalp flexible member could be used together with an adjustable band, the adjustable band coupled to the flexible member (between the flexible member and the head of the user) using any coupling mechanisms described herein, so that this version is adjustable. In this case the flexible member may not be specifically sized to the user, but the full scalp flexible member, covering the front and back (top and bottom) of the underside of the wig allows for the wig to have a real scalp appearance and for all the hairs of the wig to be more securely attached, so that the visual appearance of the wig is improved, while the adjustability of the adjustable band allows for the wig to be sized in situ. In this implementation the flexible member covers substantially all the lace (defined herein as covering at least 90% of the lace) of the underside of the wig.
Another implementation of a new wig may include a top half flexible member, covering only the top half or less than the full top/front half of the underside of the wig and being adhered or otherwise coupled with the lace (using silicone adhesive creates the advantageous scalp-like appearance and reduces or removes hair loss of the wig, as described above), and additionally including a flexible perimeter (as described above with respect to another implementation), but also including an adjustable band as previously described, which may be adjacent to the flexible perimeter or, alternatively, located on the inner surface of the flexible perimeter between the flexible perimeter and the user's head. This implementation would not need to be custom-sized to the user since the adjustable band would be included, and the adjustable band and flexible perimeter may be coupled with the wig and/or with one another (in implementations where the two are coupled with one another) using any of the coupling mechanisms described herein.
FIG. 2 shows an underside of a wig 200 that has an alternate flexible member 202, which is similar in some respects to flexible member 106 but having some differences, showing that the flexible member may be shaped in any convenient way. The flexible member of FIG. 2 is also seen to have ridges 204. Ridges may or may not be present on various implementations of new wigs. In implementations in which they are included they may further reduce slipping or movement of the wig relative to the user's head. An adhesive 206, which is used to glue the flexible member to the lace underside 208, is also shown.
The new wigs described above have been described to some extent in completed format. The wigs, for example, may be sold as completed wigs, with the flexible member, adjustable strap, flexible perimeter, etc., attached and secured prior to selling/shipping to the end consumer. In other implementations, however, wig kits or wig flexible member/strap systems may be sold for a user to modify his/her own lace wig. In cases in which a user's wig is a front only lace wig (having only lace on the front underside of the wig) a kit having a half or relatively half sized flexible member, as shown in FIG. 1, along with an adjustable strap and/or flexible perimeter, may be purchased by the user and attached to the wig using silicone adhesive, stitching, and/or other elements which are included in the kit, for the user to make his/her own modification to his/her own existing lace wig.
In cases in which a user has a full lace wig (having lace along the full underside of the wig) kits having half or full scalp flexible members, custom sized or not, and/or using flexible perimeters and/or adjustable straps, and including silicone adhesive, thread for stitching or other coupling mechanisms, etc., may be purchased by a user with instructions for a do-it-yourself (DIY) modification to the existing full-lace wig so that the conventional wig may be improved. The kit may come with flexible members that may be cut to size, flexible perimeters that may be cut to size, etc., so that a one-sized kit may be used to modify various wig sizes and shapes.
The new wigs and wig kits described herein are lightweight, less expensive than existing wigs, and easier to use and couple to the head of a user in a snug and secure fashion without being temporarily glued or taped to the head of the user. Because of the ability of the elements to have good friction with the head of the user even if the user has some existing hair, the new wigs disclosed herein couple securely to the heads of persons having some hair or no hair. This is useful as a user may then use the same wig during all stages of hair loss or regrowth.
Methods of creating a new wig may accordingly include utilizing the described kits on an existing conventional lace wig, as described above. Other methods may involve a person doing the installation of the new wig materials to an existing lace wig. FIG. 5 shows the underside of a wig 500 in which two-thirds of the installation is done. FIG. 6 shows another wig 600 from a first view which shows the aforementioned adjustable band 108, which is seen to be adjustable, and FIG. 7 shows the same wig from another view which shows the flexible member 602 adhered to the lace underside 606 of the wig and reveals the adjustable band 108 adhered to the flexible member as well using the liquid silicone. FIG. 7 also shows an ear tab 604 which is formed of fabric with a wire inside to allow bending of the tab towards the user's head, attached to the silicone flexible member with thread and covered with a light layer of silicone for security.
FIG. 8 shows a close-up of an implementation of a flexible member 800. In implementations there is a thin layer of lace 804 cured inside the silicone for extra shore. Liquid silicone may also be applied to existing lace in the front underside of the wig to ease the transition between wig and flexible member (in other words to ensure greater adhesion). The flexible member 800 is seen to have ridges 802 as described previously with respect to other flexible members.
FIG. 9 shows a top of a wig 900 having rubber bands 902 holding the hairs up. This illustrates a step during the adhesion process of the flexible member during which all hairs on the outside of the wig are held up to avoid any liquid silicone landing on or seeping onto the outer hair to avoid negatively affecting the outer appearance of the wig. In other implementations something other than rubber bands may be used to hold the hairs up, such as a clip, a bobby pin, a tie, a scrunchie, and so forth.
During some installations all knots of the hair of the wig will be brushed lightly with liquid silicone to lessen shedding in all other areas where the flexible member is not present. This reduces shedding but still leaves the wig open for airflow through the lace grid.
Some implementations of new wigs, wig kits or systems, and methods of creating new wigs may include thin flexible ear tabs, which are made of fabric lined with a thin, yet sturdy wire that is bendable. It is attached with thread and then covered with silicone. This is a great option for people who wear glasses and also for people who wear their hair up. The ear tabs serve as a way to make the hair around the ears lay flat without the use of tape or glue.
FIG. 10 shows a top close-up view of a wig 1000 being treated as described herein with a silicone flexible member and flesh-colored liquid silicone, showing a treated portion 1002 and an untreated portion 1004. The treated portion has a scalp-like appearance (and may be colored to a color matching the flesh of the user), while the untreated portion shows some portions of the lace grid visible, thus not having a scalp-like appearance. The methods and devices herein thus allow a user to have a more realistic-looking wig.
Although the liquid silicone in places above is referred to as a silicone adhesive, the silicone in some cases may be formed using a resin so long as the resulting solid is relatively flexible as depicted in the images.
In implementations, as in the implementations of wigs and wig elements shown in FIGS. 11-14, the wig and the cap or other wig elements may have no ridges.
Referring now to FIGS. 11-14, other implementations of wigs are shown. The hair of the wigs of FIGS. 11-14 is not shown for ease of viewing the other elements. The prior art includes existing skin wigs and other types of injected hair wigs. The wigs shown in FIGS. 11-14 include a standalone silicone cap insert element that is coupled with an existing wig to provide a more realistic scalp-like appearance of a wig and/or to increase the hair retention of the wig, and other advantages as described above for other wig elements. In implementations this silicone cap insert element (similar to the above “flexible silicone members,” and indeed it may itself be properly called a flexible silicone member) is called a taute cap, a stick cap, or a sticky cap. The cap may be placed anywhere on the inside of either a partial lace or a full lace wig.
Referring to FIG. 11, an inside of a full lace wig is shown. The gridlines of the lace grid 1102 are shown larger than actual size, for ease of illustration (and additionally the lace grid may not be a rectangular/square grid as shown, but may have any other configuration). The cap insert (cap) 1104, which in the implementation shown is made of a thin sheet of silicone, has been placed towards the front of the inside of the wig and is coupled with the lace grid using liquid silicone (the same material from which the cap itself was formed) which then solidifies so that the cap is fully adhered to the inside of the wig. A polyurethane adjustable band 1106 is connected near the ear areas to be worn at the nape, where a comb attached to the wig can be tucked under the band to keep the bottom of the wig close to the hairline in the event the customer wears the wig in a ponytail. In implementations the band may, alternatively or additionally, allow the user to adjust a size or fit of the wig.
Referring to FIG. 12, an inside of a partial lace wig 1200 is shown (again with the hair excluded for ease of viewing). This wig has a lace grid 1202 only towards the front of the wig. The cap insert (cap) 1204, which in the implementations is a thin sheet of silicone, has been placed towards the front of the inside of the wig so that it is coupled only with the lace grid, using liquid silicone (the same material from which the silicone cap insert itself was formed) which then solidifies so that the cap is fully adhered to the inside of the wig. A polyurethane adjustable band 1206 is attached to the underside of the wig at the ear areas to extend around the nape inside of the wig (i.e., between the wig and the user) so that the user may adjust a size or fit of the wig and/or to hold some of the hair close to the hairline as described above. The horizontal lines of this wig represent an area of weft hair 1208.
Referring now to FIG. 13, a top of the wig 1100 is shown (but, again, not showing the hair for ease of illustration). The polyurethane adjustable band is not shown. A mesh area 1108 that is common in full lace wigs is shown, and a number of reinforcement loops (loops) 1110 are shown on the exterior of the wig, beginning at the crown and ending towards a nape area of the top of the wig. These loops may be used for the wearer to attach clip-on extensions. The loops may be made of the same silicone material as the cap insert, though in the implementations shown they are made of polyurethane beading wire, which is a clear material used to make necklaces. In experiments this material seems to work well for the clip to attach to. In some implementations loops made of polyurethane beading line are configured so that the loops can slide for size adjustment and adjustment while attaching extensions. In other implementations they could be made of other materials such as cloth or fabric. The loops may be attached to the wig using the same liquid silicone which then solidifies to form a strong bond with the lace (in some implementations the loops are attached to the outside of the wig but the bond is made by placing liquid silicone through the lace from the inside of the wig so that the loops are bonded to the silicone through the lace) (this bond is made stronger when the loops themselves are formed from the same silicone material). The loops may also be threaded through and/or tied and/or stitched to the lace element. These loops allow a user to add their own clip-in extensions for special events or for added bulk and length as needed.
FIG. 14 shows the top or outside of wig 1200, but again without the hair shown for ease of illustration. In this implementation the reinforcement loops (loops) 1210 are seen to be placed on the outside of the wig in the weft hair 1208 area of the wig, from the crown of the wig down to the back/neck of the wig, similar to the wig of FIG. 13, and the attachment may be similar as described for that version, with liquid silicone being used to adhere the loops to the outside of the wig with silicone that passes through the weft hair area from an inside of the wig, or stitching, or tying, etc.
In some implementations the loops may be replaced with felt pieces to facilitate the use of tape-in instead of clip-in extensions. The loops and the felt pieces may be sized to receive universally-sized clips and tape elements of the most commonly used types of extensions and/or to fit average clip/tape sizes. Felt pieces may be attached using any of the aforementioned methods for the loops.
In any implementations using loops for extensions the configuration shown in FIG. 45 may be used, in which it is seen that a cap member (cloth member) 4500 (which may be the lace or other grid member of the wig) includes horizontal lines 4502 of beading wire sewn into the cap member so that some portions of the horizontal lines are exposed on an outside of the wig (the same side from which the hairs extend—though the hairs are not shown in FIG. 45 for ease of viewing), and hair extensions or the like may be coupled to the horizontal lines and adjusted vertically (such as by using a longer or shorter coupling element to adjust the extension to the horizontal line) and horizontally (such as by sliding side to side on the horizontal line 4502), as desired.
In implementations materials other than polyurethane may be used for the adjustable band, but in implementations the polyurethane may achieve a desirable amount of friction with the neck/nape skin of the user to keep the wig in place and/or a desirable amount of stretchiness.
One or more of the elements described above may be sold as an after-market kit to modify an existing wig. For example, the silicone cap, a liquid silicone for bonding, the polyurethane adjustable strap, and/or the loops or felt pieces may be sold as a kit for a user to modify their own existing wig. In other implementations the methods of modifying an existing wig may be offered as a service.
In some implementations the thin silicone cap inserts are formed by smoothing a thin layer of liquid silicone on plastic wrap and cutting it out once it is cured. After the insert is cured, another thin layer of liquid silicone is applied, and the insert is placed inside the wig and placed on a half dome foam member so that gravity keeps the silicone from extending any further than the knots of the wig. The wig itself is pulled tight and kept on the half dome foam member with T-pins. Once it has cured, the plastic wrap is removed (the plastic wrap that the original mold was made on) and the edges of the silicone cap insert are secured using STITCH WITCHERY fusible bonding tape to secure any loose points and make the appearance a little better on the inside. This also makes the appearance better near the front hairline when the fusible bonding tape is cut into a lattice like pattern to avoid any lines of demarcation. The fusible bonding tape and/or the silicone insert can also be customized to a widow's peak, or any shape that the customer requests, including a horizontal line of demarcation if desired.
The methods and wig elements disclosed herein allow a user to modify a wig in such a way that a scalp area looks much more realistic and so that the hairs are better retained (and including other advantages described above). FIG. 15 shows a before image and FIG. 16 shows an after image a wig which has received a cap insert. The before image of FIG. 15 shows a wig 1500 which does not have the silicone cap insert added to the underside or inside of the wig. The lace grid 1502 is shown and the scalp area 1504 is shown to reveal some of the lace grid through the top of the wig. The after image of FIG. 16 shows the same wig after the silicone cap insert has been added such as with the liquid silicone attachment mechanism described above. As can be seen, the wig 1600 of FIG. 16 has a much more realistic-looking scalp area 1604 where the hair part exists. It can be seen that the liquid silicone is allowed to seep upward through the lace grid 1602 so that the scalp area looks more like skin. It should be pointed out that the lace grid extending from the front of the wig may be modified/cut as desired when finishing the wig.
FIG. 17 shows a number of silicone caps or cap inserts that have been formed using a shown method. Liquid silicone is placed between two sheets of clear polymer sheeting 1702 (or on a single flat surface underneath one sheet of clear polymer sheeting) and a rolling element or bowl or the like may be used to shape the silicone cap to a desired shape and thickness, and the silicone cap 1704 is then allowed to solidify. It is seen that several caps can be made in one sitting, such as the seven caps shown in FIG. 17. Once the caps are solidified they may then be attached to a wig using more liquid silicone (though the cap inserts may also be cut to a proper size/shape after curing). In some implementations a kit may be sold to users to create their own custom silicone cap inserts with instructions as to how to form the silicone cap and how to couple it with an existing wig using more liquid silicone. In other implementations the kit may come with one or more pre-made silicone caps having thicknesses desired or ordered by the user.
FIG. 18 shows a bottom view of a full lace wig 1800 without a silicone cap insert therein. The lace grid 1802, a mesh area 1804, and some hair 1806 is seen. FIG. 19 shows a wig 1900 that is identical to wig 1800 except that a thin version of a silicone cap 1902 has been coupled with the inside of the wig. In some implementations even thinner versions may be utilized, which may be fully or partially translucent.
FIG. 20 shows elements which are used to make an adjustable strap, including a polyurethane strap member 2002 itself, felt or cloth end members 2004 which are sewn on to the ends of the strap 2002 using felt 2010 or cloth 2008 that is attached with thread 2012 using a curved needle 2014. The strap ends may then be sewed or otherwise attached to the inside or the sides of a wig. The adjustment mechanism 2006 of the strap can be seen as well.
FIGS. 21-22 show a wig with a silicone cap insert, the wig being worn by a user, to show the realistic-looking scalp of the wig.
FIG. 23 shows an example of a prior art “injected skin” wig (flipped inside out). FIG. 24 shows another example of a prior art “injected skin” wig (also flipped inside out). These are different from the customizable silicone cap inserts disclosed herein because the silicone cap inserts may be placed only in the location of the parting space of the hair to allow for more airflow and so that the wig does not overly trap heat and increase the temperature of the user.
FIG. 25 shows a silk top wig without a cap insert, and FIG. 26 shows the same wig inside out. Silk top wigs are similar in appearance to lace wigs but are generally worn with bangs to hide an obvious line of demarcation in the front (such as in FIG. 27). Silicone cap inserts and flexible silicone members disclosed herein may be used with silk top wigs in a similar manner as described above for lace wigs.
In implementations wigs and wig elements/add-ons described herein may be distinguished from prior art wig elements. For example one difference between hand-tied alopecia skin wigs and the wigs/wig elements disclosed herein is the aftermarket modification of the wig. Prior art wigs use a variety of materials, and some have polymer portions on the inside, or in different spots, and in different shapes, and the function of these polymer portions is to help the wig stay on the user's head. These polymer portions of prior art wigs are placed in the cap portion prior to finalized construction of the wig and are made stock, and hair is then ventilated, crocheted, or injected into the cap and polymer (which in some implementations of prior art wigs may be silicone). This, however, is not a customizable solution and does not allow for aftermarket modification of an existing wig to make the scalp look more realistic. In contrast, the silicone cap inserts disclosed herein, which may come in a variety of molded shapes and sizes, can be inserted anywhere inside (front or back, and/or to one side or the other or in the center) of the inside of a wig after the wig is fully fabricated. Accordingly, in implementations kits for modifying a wig may include a silicone cap insert and an adjustable strap, but not the wig itself, and the user may use the kit to modify an existing wig. There are prior art silicone stickers that can be placed inside a wig, but the wig elements disclosed herein allow for permanent coupling of a silicone cap insert using liquid silicone that adheres to the lace or other material of the wig and makes the hairline and hair parting resemble a realistic scalp.
In implementations the silicone cap inserts are formed using one or more molds and are formed of liquid medical grade prosthetic silicone material which is allowed to solidify, and then attached to the inside of a wig using the same (liquid) medical grade prosthetic silicone material.
FIG. 28 shows another implementation of a silk top wig. A lattice pattern 2802 is placed at the front of the inside of the wig to avoid a line of demarcation being visible on the outside of the wig. This is added after the silicone cap insert has cured and is made by cutting out pieces of STITCH WITCHERY fusible bonding tape, coated with a light layer of liquid silicone and placed in a way that it becomes one, or fuses, with the silicone cap insert. The silicone cap insert itself is not shown, though in practice it is visible through the semi-transparent lattice pattern. The line or area where the fusible bonding tape is used to secure the edges of the silicone cap insert is outlined by line 2804. The silicone cap insert in turn is joined with the silk grid/lattice 2806. Hair is shown at the bottom of the image (the wig in FIG. 28 is turned inside out).
The polyurethane adjustable strap 2808 ends are also shown in FIG. 28. In implementations these are housed in silicone cured with pressed felt and then are sewn to the silk grid/lattice with approximately 14 stitches to avoid pulling or ripping at any specific point on the silk grid/lattice.
The fusible bonding tape may be used to secure the edges of the silicone cap insert to the inside of the wig, instead of any thread or sewing. In implementations the fusible bonding tape and liquid silicone combination may be used all around the perimeter of the silicone cap insert, as shown in FIG. 28. In implementations it could also be used around the inside perimeter of the wig as a whole, or a flexible perimeter may be included around the inside perimeter of the wig as a whole, as is described above for other wigs (such as for improving a fit or secure attachment of the wig to the head of a user).
FIG. 29 shows an inside of another wig which having a silicone cap insert 2902 at the front of the wig (where the part of the wig at the front of the wig is located). There is also a knot encapsulation area 2904 on a bottom portion of the inside of the wig solely to prevent shedding—this is an area where some silicone has been placed to prevent shedding. A half perimeter stick add-on 2906 at the nape is included, which in the implementation shown is a STITCH WITCHERY fusible bonding tape coated with silicone and placed where the customer requests. It may also be seen that a logo element (showing the mark LUXINSPO) is included at the nape portion.
FIG. 30 shows an example of a cap member (cloth member) 3000 that may be used in the formation of a wig 4000 (shown in FIG. 40). The cap member includes a substrate 3002 which may be formed entirely of a lace or silk grid, as with above-described wigs, and so may be formed of a pattern of material that is semi-permeable. The cap member of FIG. 30 is seen to have a mesh area 3004 as well in the top center of the cap member. FIG. 31 shows a side view of the cap member. The cap member is seen to have no hair coupled with it yet in FIGS. 30-31, but it forms a base for the formation of a wig. In order to complete the formation of the wig, flexible members are sized and shaped to be coupled with different portions of the substrate. For example, FIG. 32 shows a top flexible member 3200, FIG. 33 shows a bottom flexible member 3300, and FIG. 34 shows a middle flexible member 3400. The flexible members may be formed of the same silicone as previously described and may be formed using the same processes described above in terms of pouring liquid silicone, flattening the liquid silicone between layers of transparent polymer sheeting, and/or conforming the sheets of silicone to one or more head-shaped items or bowls in order to give the flexible members a curvature so that it more easily conforms to the substrate and to the shape of a head.
Although the example being described at present includes three flexible members, any number of flexible members could be used. The user may form the flexible member into any shape desired for a specific wig. In implementations the flexible members may be formed with ECOFLEX silicone. Once the flexible members are solidified, hair may be implanted into each flexible member using a punch needle or tambour hook (similar to how hair is added to dolls). When hair is injected into the flexible member, due to the texture/viscosity of the flexible member and/or other mechanisms the hair may be held in place without the need for a knot and without the need for any “return hair” sticking out in a different (or the same) direction (return hairs are common with traditional injected wigs with return hairs being in a different direction than the original hair). In some implementations after the hair is punched through the flexible member it is trimmed short where it has punched through and then additional silicone is used on the trimmed side to seal and secure the hairs in place, though in some implementations this step may be unnecessary. FIG. 35 shows the bottom flexible member after hairs have been coupled thereto, FIG. 36 shows the middle flexible member after hairs have been coupled thereto, and FIG. 37 shows the top flexible member after hairs have been coupled thereto. It is noted that hair of any type and variety may be coupled with the flexible members in this manner—hair all of the same color, hair of differing colors, hair of varying or consistent length, and so forth. Each “punch” of the needle may be used to place a single hair or several hairs in the flexible member. The hair may be punched into the flexible members in such a way that all cuticles run in the same direction within and among the flexible members (though in implementations cuticles may be made to run in differing directions if desired).
One the hairs have been coupled with the flexible members, the flexible members may be coupled with the substrate. This may be done by placing a flexible member on the top or outside of the cloth member and then placing liquid silicone on the inside (underside) of the cloth member so that the liquid silicone seeps through the openings in the substrate (such as lace grid or the like) and combines with the silicone of the flexible member. In other implementations the adhesive may be applied at the topside of the cloth member—but applying it at the underside of the cloth member ensures a more uniform solidified surface at the underside, once the liquid silicone dries, to provide friction on the user's head so the wig does not undesirably shift/move during use. Once the liquid silicone is solidified the flexible member is permanently coupled with the substrate of the cap member. Materials other than silicone could be used, but silicone is useful for the reasons already set forth above. FIG. 38 shows the cap member (cloth member) 3000 with the bottom flexible member coupled with the substrate using the above-identified method. In FIG. 39 the middle flexible member is attached in the same way, and in FIG. 40 the top flexible member is attached in the same way. Once all flexible members are coupled with the substrate of the cap member, the wig 4000 is formed.
In implementations the flexible members cover all, or more than 90%, or more than 75%, or more than 50%, or less than 50% of the topside of the cloth member.
In some implementations the methods of forming wigs may also include adhering a flexible member to the underside of the cloth member using the adhesive.
The flexible members may be made to fit different parts of the cap member as desired, and may be made any size (small, medium, large, extra large, etc.) to fit an existing cap member. The cap member substrate may be a full lace substrate or may be made of some other material.
The method described immediately above allows for the creation of a very natural-looking wig. It also allows the user to select whatever hair is desired for the wig, so that it can be ensured that the hair is of a type and quality desired by the user. This allows an end user to eliminate the middleman or vendor of a wig who may create wigs using sub-par hair.
The methods described immediately above also allow a user to create different-sized and shaped flexible members as desired in such a way as to increase ventilation, as desired. For example, FIG. 41 shows a wig 4100 that is formed by coupling several flexible members to a substrate 4104 of a cap member (cloth member) 4102, but the flexible members include a top flexible member 4106, a first middle flexible member 4108, a second middle flexible member 4110, and a bottom flexible member 4112. This allows for the user to have ventilation through the substrate (for example, the substrate being formed of a lace or silk grid or the like) between the areas where the flexible members are present.
FIG. 42 shows a wig 4200 that is formed using flexible members of different shapes/sizes, so that there is a top flexible member 4206 coupled with the substrate 4204 of the cap member (cloth member) 4202, and several small flexible members 4208 are coupled to the substrate below the top flexible member, so that there is even more breathable space between flexible members. This allows the wigs to breathe as much as desired by a user. FIG. 42 (as with the other drawings herein) does not show the hairs as long and as plentiful as they would be in practice, so that the other elements may be easily seen—obviously in practice the hairs would be as long and as plentiful as needed to form a natural-looking wig for the user. The flexible members of wigs 4100 and 4200 may receive hair and may be coupled with the substrates in the same manner as described above for wig 4000.
Allowing a user to custom-fabricate a wig allows hair to be incorporated wherever desired so as to blend a natural hairline. Some hair can also be coupled directly into the substrate in some areas, such as hand tied, for further blending. For example, in areas where there is ventilation between the flexible members, hair can directly be hand tied, or these areas can be left without hair. In the front of the wig, such as at the front hairline, hair may be hand-tied directly to the substrate so that there is a natural blending into the hair of the front-most flexible member. The user may also hand-tie hair of a different color than the hair of the flexible members, wherever desired, to create contrast.
The substrates may, in implementations, be formed of Swiss lace or French lace standard wig caps and flexible member molds. After all flexible members have been glued/adhered to the substrate, the substrate (lace or silk grid, for example) may then be trimmed to a desired size and may be glued or taped for added security or left as-is.
In implementations a mannequin head or a head cast (such as a head cast of the end user) may be used for adhering a flexible member to a wig, so that the flexible member achieves proper curvature. In other implementations a dome-shaped item, such as a STYROFOAM dome, may be used instead of a mannequin head. FIG. 44, for example, shows a flexible member 4404 coupled with a dome mold 4402 to shape the flexible member. The same dome mold may be used during attachment of the flexible member to a wig, for example by placing liquid silicone on the flexible member and/or inside of the wig and then putting the wig over the flexible member and over the dome mold and adding pressure or simply letting gravity hold the two together. Cellophane or the like may be placed between the flexible member and the dome mold so that the flexible member may be easily removed from the dome mold thereafter. Additionally, the dome mold may be used to form the flexible member to begin with, such as by placing a layer of cellophane on the dome mold, placing liquid silicone over the cellophane, placing a second layer of cellophane over the silicone, and shaping the silicone into a desired shape (which may be cut later if necessary). A lattice member 4406 is also shown, similar to the lattice pattern 2802 of FIG. 28 and having a shape and size relatively matching the flexible member, and this may be added after the flexible member and wig are coupled together, as described previously.
In implementations silicone or polyurethane gel may be placed directly on the head of a user (in some implementations only towards the front of the wig) and then a wig attached directly to the wet silicone so that, as the silicone dries, a temporary bond is formed both adhering the wig to the user's head and also creating a realistic scalp-like look for the front of the wig.
FIG. 43 shows a representative example of a wig insert that may be used with a pre-constructed wig. The wig insert 4300 includes a cap member (cloth member) 4302 having a first portion 4304 and a second portion 4306. These may be made of different materials, for example the first portion could be of a more flexible material to couple with the head of a user while the second portion is a lace grid or the like. A flexible member 4308 is coupled with the cap member (in this case both with the first portion and second portion). The wig insert may be coupled inside a wig using silicone or the like to couple the flexible member and/or cap member with the wig. The flexible member is seen to have a unique shape, this is in part to show that a flexible member may take on any shape, and may be located anywhere on the cloth member, as desired by the user. In this case there are openings in the flexible member which allow for breathing.
In implementations of wigs described herein, the liquid silicone coupling the flexible member with the wig (and/or coupling other elements with the wig) seeps through the cap member or lace member/grid member to form a more realistic-looking scalp for the wig and to more securely hold the hairs of the wig.
In places where the phrase “one of A and B” is used herein, including in the claims, wherein A and B are elements, the phrase shall have the meaning “A or B.” This shall be extrapolated to as many elements as are recited in this manner, for example the phrase “one of A, B, and C” shall mean “A, B, or C,” and so forth.
As used herein, the term “cloth” is defined as a woven or felted fabric made from wool, cotton, or similar natural or artificial fiber. The lace elements and cap members disclosed herein are made of cloth, such as in some implementations a woven into a lace (an open, web-like pattern)
In places where the description above refers to specific embodiments of wigs and related methods, one or more or many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Details of any specific embodiment/implementation described herein may, wherever possible, be applied to any other specific implementation/embodiment described herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A wig, comprising:

a cloth member having hairs attached thereto, the cloth member shaped into a dome-like shape for receiving a user's head, and;

a polymer flexible member adhered to an underside of the cloth member using an adhesive;

wherein the adhesive extends upwards through the cloth member to a topside of the cloth member to form a realistic scalp-like appearance at the topside of the cloth member and to more securely secure the hairs of the wig.

2. The wig of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the topside of the cloth member is covered with the adhesive so that the topside of the cloth member is not visible.

3. The wig of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable strap coupled with the cloth member and allowing a size adjustment of the wig.

4. The wig of claim 1, wherein the polymer flexible member comprises silicone.

5. The wig of claim 1, wherein the polymer flexible member is sized to cover less than half of the underside of the cloth member.

6. The wig of claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises silicone.

7. The wig of claim 1, wherein the polymer flexible member and the adhesive are formed of a same material.

8. The wig of claim 1, wherein the cloth member comprises a lace.

9. The wig of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is flesh-toned.

10. The wig of claim 1, further comprising loops couple with the cloth member for receiving hair extensions.

11. A method of wig modification, comprising:

providing a wig, the wig comprising a cloth member having hairs attached thereto, the cloth member shaped into a dome-like shape for receiving a user's head;

providing a polymer flexible member shaped and sized to cover less than half of an underside of the cloth member;

adhering the polymer flexible member to the underside of the cloth member using an adhesive, and;

causing the adhesive to extend upwards through the cloth member to a topside of the cloth member so that at least a portion of the topside of the cloth member is covered with the adhesive and is not visible;

wherein the adhesive is flesh-toned and creates a realistic, scalp-like appearance at the topside of the cloth member.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the polymer flexible member comprises pouring and shaping a liquid polymer and allowing the liquid polymer to solidify.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the polymer flexible member comprises silicone and wherein the adhesive also comprises silicone.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the polymer flexible member is shaped and sized to cover less than one-third of the underside of the cloth member.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the polymer flexible member is shaped and sized to cover less than one-quarter of the underside of the cloth member.

16. A method of wig construction, comprising:

providing a cloth member having a dome-like shape for receiving a user's head;

forming at least one polymer flexible member;

coupling hairs with the at least one polymer flexible member so that a majority of each hair extends outwards from a first surface of the at least one polymer flexible member, and;

coupling a second surface of the at least one polymer flexible member with a topside of the cloth member using an adhesive, forming a wig.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the adhesive is applied at an underside of the cloth member and seeps through to the topside of the cloth member to couple the at least one polymer flexible member with the cloth member.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein coupling the hairs with the at least one polymer flexible member comprises punching the hairs through the at least one polymer flexible member, wherein the hairs are not secured to the wig using knots, and wherein the hairs are not angled to form return hairs.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one polymer flexible member comprises a plurality of polymer flexible members, the plurality of polymer flexible members together covering more than 50% of the topside of the cloth member.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein gaps are formed between the polymer flexible members for breathability through the cloth member.