Low profile wig handling system
12279687 ยท 2025-04-22
Inventors
Cpc classification
A45D44/14
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
Abstract
A low profile wig handling system to store, transport and prepare a plurality of wigs. A low profile wig assembly includes one or more low profile wig heads which are adjustable between a plurality of adjustable wig head configurations. A wig retainer on each low profile wig head retains a wig thereon. A frame assembly includes a central frame member and a support assembly has a support member operable with the central frame member to maintain the low profile wig head and a wig retained thereon in an operative upright orientation. A wig head adjustment assembly has one or more adjustment members to permit adjustment of a low profile wig head between a plurality of adjustable wig head configurations. A transport assembly includes a transport cover to receive a plurality of wigs retained on a corresponding low profile wig head therein.
Claims
1. A low profile wig handling system allows a user to securely store, transport and prepare at least one wig having a predefined internal configuration, said system comprising: a low profile wig assembly having at least one low profile wig head which is adjustable between a plurality of adjustable wig head configurations; a wig retainer disposed on an upper portion of said at least one low profile wig head, said wig retainer constructed of a low durometer silicone material to provide friction forces to engage and retain the at least one wig thereon; said at least one low profile wig head comprising a frame assembly including a central frame member having a support member interconnect; said at least one low profile wig head further comprising a wig head adjustment assembly having at least one adjustment member constructed of a resilient medium density polyurethane foam to permit adjustment of said at least one low profile wig head between said plurality of adjustable wig head configurations; a support assembly having at least one support member operable with said central frame member to maintain said at least one low profile wig head, and the at least one wig retained thereon, in an operative upright orientation; and a transport assembly comprising a transport cover dimensioned and configured to receive the at least one wig securely retained on said at least one low profile wig head therein.
2. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one low profile wig head has a front portion and a rear portion.
3. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one low profile wig head includes a face member mounted on said front portion thereof.
4. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said wig retainer comprises a plurality of wig retention members.
5. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 4, wherein said plurality of wig retention members are arranged on said wig retainer in a wig retention array.
6. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said frame assembly further comprises at least one side frame member mounted to said central frame member.
7. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said frame assembly further comprises a plurality of side frame members mounted to said central frame member.
8. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 7, wherein said plurality of side frame members include at least one inner side frame member and at least one outer side frame member.
9. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one low profile wig head comprises a head encasement dimensioned and configured to be disposed over said frame assembly in a surrounding relation thereto.
10. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 8, wherein said at least one low profile wig head comprises a head encasement dimensioned and configured to be disposed over said frame assembly in a surrounding relation thereto.
11. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said wig head adjustment assembly comprises at least one adjustable wig head compartment attached adjacent one side of said frame assembly, said at least one adjustable wig head compartment dimensioned and configured to receive said at least one adjustment member therein to permit adjustment of said at least one low profile wig head to one of said plurality of adjustable wig head configurations which approximates the predefined internal configuration of the at least one wig retained thereon.
12. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said wig head adjustment assembly comprises a plurality of adjustment members.
13. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said wig head adjustment assembly comprises a plurality of adjustable wig head compartments each attached adjacent an opposite side of said frame assembly, each of said plurality of adjustable wig head compartments dimensioned and configured to receive said at least one adjustment member therein to permit adjustment of said at least one low profile wig head to one of said plurality of adjustable wig head configurations which approximates the predefined internal configuration of the at least one wig retained thereon.
14. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 12, wherein said wig head adjustment assembly comprises a plurality of adjustable wig head compartments each attached adjacent an opposite side of said frame assembly, each of said plurality of adjustable wig head compartments dimensioned and configured to receive at least some of said plurality of adjustment members therein to permit adjustment of said at least one low profile wig head to one of said plurality of adjustable wig head configurations which approximates the predefined internal configuration of the at least one wig retained thereon.
15. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said support member comprises a hanger member having a hook to facilitate supporting said at least one low profile wig head having the at least one wig retained thereon from an elevated member.
16. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said support member comprises a stand member having a base to facilitate supporting said at least one low profile wig head having the at least one wig retained thereon on an underlying surface.
17. A low profile wig handling system allows a user to store, transport and prepare a plurality of wigs each having one of a plurality of predefined internal configurations, said system comprising: a low profile wig assembly having a plurality of low profile wig heads each adjustable between a plurality of adjustable wig head configurations; a wig retainer disposed on an upper portion of each of said plurality of low profile wig heads, each said wig retainer constructed of a low durometer silicone material to provide friction forces to engage and retain at least one of the plurality of wigs thereon; each of said plurality of low profile wig heads comprising a frame assembly including a central frame member having a support member interconnect; each of said plurality of low profile wig heads further comprising a wig head adjustment assembly having a plurality of adjustment members each constructed of a resilient medium density polyurethane foam and a plurality of adjustable wig head compartments each attached adjacent opposite sides of said frame assembly, each of said plurality of adjustable wig head compartments dimensioned and configured to receive at least some of said plurality of adjustment members therein to permit adjustment of each of said plurality of low profile wig heads to one of said plurality of adjustable wig head configurations which approximates the predefined internal configuration of a corresponding one of the plurality of wigs retained thereon; a support assembly having at least one support member operable with said central frame member to maintain said at least one low profile wig head, and the at least one wig retained thereon, in an operative upright orientation; and a transport assembly comprising a transport cover dimensioned and configured to receive the plurality of wigs each securely retained on a corresponding one of said plurality of low profile wig heads therein.
18. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 17, wherein said support member comprises a hanger member having a hook to facilitate supporting each of said plurality of low profile wig heads each having a corresponding one of the plurality of wigs retained thereon from an elevated member.
19. The low profile wig handling system as recited in claim 17, wherein said support member comprises a stand member having a base to facilitate supporting at least one of said plurality of low profile wig heads having a corresponding one of the plurality of wigs retained thereon on an underlying surface.
20. A low profile wig handling system allows a user to store, transport and prepare a plurality of wigs each having one of a plurality of predefined internal configurations, said system comprising: a low profile wig assembly having a plurality of low profile wig heads each adjustable between a plurality of adjustable wig head configurations; a wig retainer disposed on an upper portion of each of said plurality of low profile wig heads, each said wig retainer constructed of a low durometer silicone material to provide friction forces to engage and retain at least one of the plurality of wigs thereon; each of said plurality of low profile wig heads comprising a frame assembly including a central frame member having a support member interconnect; each said frame assembly further comprising a plurality of side frame members mounted to said central frame member; each of said plurality of low profile wig heads further comprising a wig head adjustment assembly having a plurality of adjustment members each constructed of a resilient medium density polyurethane foam and including at least a primary adjustment member, a secondary adjustment member and a tertiary adjustment member, and a plurality of adjustable wig head compartments each attached adjacent opposite sides of said frame assembly, each of said plurality of adjustable wig head compartments dimensioned and configured to receive at least some of said plurality of adjustment members therein to permit adjustment of each of said plurality of low profile wig heads to one of said plurality of adjustable wig head configurations which approximates the predefined internal configuration of a corresponding one of the plurality of wigs retained thereon; a support assembly having at least one support member operable with said central frame member to maintain said at least one low profile wig head, and the at least one wig retained thereon, in an operative upright orientation; and a transport assembly comprising a transport cover dimensioned and configured to receive the plurality of wigs each securely retained on a corresponding one of said plurality of low profile wig heads therein.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:
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(7) Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(8) The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word exemplary or illustrative means serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any implementation described herein as exemplary or illustrative is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms upper, lower. left, rear, right. front, vertical, horizontal, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
(9) Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed toward a low profile wig handling system allows a user to securely store, transport and prepare at least one wig, as shown as at 100 throughout the figures.
(10) Referring initially to
(11) A low profile wig head 111 is at least partially defined by an upper portion 112 generally configured like a human head but having a low profile. As used herein, low profile shall mean having a dimension from side to side which is generally much narrower or thinner than a typical human head, the importance of which will be appreciated more from the following disclosure. In at least one embodiment, a low profile wig head 111 comprises a width ranging from about 50 millimeters to about 150 millimeters. A low profile wig head 111 is also at least partially defined by a lower portion 113 generally configured as a human neck, but again, having a lower. i.e., thinner, profile. In at least one embodiment, a low profile wig head 111 is further defined by a front portion 114, such as is shown by way of example in
(12) A low profile wig head 111 in accordance with the present invention further comprises a face member 117 such as is shown best in
(13) Each low profile wig head 111 of the low profile wig head assembly 110 in accordance with the present invention further comprises a wig retainer 118 which is disposed over and along an upper portion 112 of each lower profile wig head 111. A wig retainer 118 is configured to engage each of the different ones of the wide variety of wigs having different shapes and sizes and, therefore, different predefined internal configurations, one at a time. More in particular, in at least one embodiment, the wig retainer 118 is constructed of a low durometer silicone material to provide adequate friction force or grip to engage the cap or net of a wig to be retained thereon. In one further embodiment, a wig retainer 118 includes a plurality of wig retention members 118 to further facilitate engaging the cap or net of a wig to be retained thereon. Similar to a wig retainer 118 itself, one or more of a plurality of wig retention members 118 may be constructed of a low durometer silicone material, once again, to provide adequate friction force or grip to engage the cap or net of a wig to be retained thereon. As may be seen best in
(14) A low profile wig head 111 in accordance with the present invention is formed around a frame assembly 120. A frame assembly 120 includes a central frame member 121 which is constructed of a rigid material such as by way of example wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass, etc. In at least one embodiment, a central frame number 121 is constructed of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic polymer, more commonly known as ABS.
(15) A central frame member 121 of a frame assembly 120 further comprises a support member interconnect 126. With reference once again to
(16) A frame assembly 120 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention includes at least one side frame member mounted to one side 124 of the central frame member 121. In another embodiment, a frame assembly 120 includes at least one side frame member mounted to each opposite side 124 of the central frame member 121. With reference once again to
(17) A low profile wig head 111 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention further comprises a head encasement 116 which is dimensioned and configured to be disposed over the frame assembly 120 in a surrounding relation. More in the particular, after each of inner side frame members 127 and/or outer side frame members 128 are mounted to a central frame member 121, and, if included, a face member 117 is secured to the central frame member 121, a head encasement 116 is dimensioned and configured to be disposed over the frame assembly 120 in a tight fitting surrounding relation thereto, such as is shown best in the illustrative embodiments of
(18) A frame assembly 120 in at least one embodiment includes at least one interconnect loop 129 attached thereto. More in particular, an interconnect loop 129 is provided to allow a plurality of low profile wig heads 111 of a low profile wig head assembly 110 to be temporarily interconnected to one another to facilitate storage and/or transport thereof. With reference once again to
(19) A low profile wig handling system 100 in accordance with the present invention further comprises a wig head adjustment assembly 130. A wig head adjustment assembly 130 permits adjustment of a low profile wig head 111 between a plurality of adjustable wig head configurations 131. More in particular, a low profile wig head 111 in accordance with the present invention is adjustable between a plurality of adjustable wig head configurations 131 wherein each of the plurality of adjustable wig head configurations 131 of a low profile wig head 111 includes a different width and/or a different girth. As stated above, in at least one embodiment, a low profile wig head 111 comprises a width ranging from about 50 millimeters to about 150 millimeters. As will be appreciated, such a width is considerably less than that of a traditional static STYROFOAM or plastic wig head, such that the present low profile wig handling system 100 provides considerable convenience and requires less space to store and/or transport a plurality of wigs having any of a number of wig configurations. Stated otherwise, by providing a low profile wig head 111 which is adjustable between a plurality of adjustable wig head configurations 131, the present low profile wig handling system 100 allows a user to store and/or transport a greater number of wigs more efficiently and in considerably less space.
(20) A wig head adjustment assembly 130 includes at least one adjustable wig head compartment 132 attached proximate at least one side of a frame assembly 120. In at least one embodiment, a wig head adjustment assembly 130 includes a plurality of adjustable wig head compartments 132 each attached proximate opposite sides of a frame assembly 120, such as is shown best in
(21) An adjustable wig head compartment 132 in accordance with the present invention includes an inner compartment 133 dimensioned and configured to receive at least one adjustment member therein. An adjustable wig head compartment 132 in at least one embodiment includes a compartment closure 134 which may be opened or closed to insert or remove one or more adjustment members from the inner compartment 133 thereof, respectively. In at least one further embodiment, a compartment closure 134 includes a hidden zipper configuration so as to prevent the zipper mechanism from becoming entangled with a wig retained on a low profile wig head 111 in accordance with the present invention.
(22) An adjustable wig head compartment 132 in accordance with the present invention may be constructed from any of a number of materials including cloth, rubber, vinyl, etc. In at least one embodiment, the material of construction of an adjustable wig head compartment 132 provides at least some resilience in order to accommodate the insertion or removal of one or more adjustment members therefrom. In at least one further embodiment, an adjustable wig head compartment 132 is constructed of a polyether-polyurea copolymer which is more commonly known as elastine or spandex, such as is manufactured and sold under the brand name LYCRA by The Lycra Company of Wilmington, Delaware.
(23) A wig head adjustment assembly 130 in at least one embodiment includes a plurality of adjustment members. More in particular, a wig head adjustment assembly 130 may include a primary adjustment member 135, a secondary adjustment member 136, a tertiary adjustment member 137, and so on.
(24) As disclosed above, in at least one embodiment, a low profile wig handling system 100 in accordance with the present invention includes a support assembly 140. More in particular, a support assembly 140 includes at least one support member 141 to facilitate supporting a low profile wig head 111 having a wig retained thereon from an elevated member, such as by hanging for storage and/or transport, or upon an underlying surface so as to facilitate access to the wig for preparation thereof prior to being worn by a person.
(25) A support member 141 of a support assembly in at least one embodiment comprises a hanger member 142, such as is shown best in
(26) As shown throughout the figures, a hanger member 142 in accordance with the present invention further comprises a hanger support arm 144 connected between a hanger-frame interconnect 143 on one end and a hook 145 on the opposite end thereof. The hook 145 is dimensioned and configured to permit a low profile wig head 111 having a wig retained thereon to be supported in an upright orientation from an elevated member such as a closet rod, a shower curtain rod, a travel hook in a car or van, etc., just to name a few. In at least one embodiment, a hook 145 of a hanger member 142 permits a plurality of low profile wig heads 111, each having a wig retained thereon, to be interconnected to one another via an interconnect loop 129, such as is shown best, once again, in
(27) A support member 141 of a support assembly in at least one further embodiment comprises a stand member 146. Similar to a hanger member 142, a stand member 146 includes a stand-frame interconnect 147 dimensioned and configured to be received and retained within a support member interconnect 126 of a central frame member 121 of a frame assembly 120. Also similar to a hanger member 142, a stand-frame interconnect 147 may include one or more tabs (not shown) dimensioned and configured to be received in a corresponding detent 126 in a support member interconnect 126 of a central frame member 121 so as to releasably secure a low profile wig head 111 to a stand member 146 to facilitate preparation of the wig prior to being worn by a person. More in particular, a stand member 146 includes a stand support arm 148 attached between a stand-frame interconnect 147 and a base 149, as shown best in
(28) A low profile wig handling system 100 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention further comprises a transport assembly 150. With reference to
(29) A transport cover 152 in one embodiment includes at least one hanger aperture 156 formed through one end thereof to permit a hook 145 of a hanger member 142 to pass therethrough so as to facilitate hanging a plurality of low profile wig heads 111, each having a wig retained thereon, in an upright orientation from an elevated member while remaining secured in the interior of the transport cover 152. In one further embodiment, a transport cover 152 includes a plurality of hanger apertures 156 disposed through oppositely disposed ends thereof, thereby allowing the transport cover 152 to be utilized in either orientation.
(30) Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it is understood that any of the features presented in the embodiments may be integrated into any of the other embodiments unless explicitly stated otherwise. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.