U.S. patent application number 12/091061 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-03 for wig and method of manufacturing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to ADERANS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yasuhiro Kondo, Shin-Ichi Maruyama, Yoshie Ogawa, Takashi Sato, Hiroko Sugai.
Application Number | 20090217936 12/091061 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37962524 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090217936 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sato; Takashi ; et
al. |
September 3, 2009 |
WIG AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
Abstract
In a wig 1, comprising wig bases 1a and 1b, and hair 12 attached
to the wig base, the wig base is constituted with a front portion
made of an artificial skin 10 of which a front edge is provided to
a wig wearer's forehead, and a rear portion connected to the front
portion, composed with a cap member having a shape similar to a wig
wearer's head shape, the front portion has an artificial skin
material 11 and an adhesive layer 30, wherein the adhesive layer 30
has a function to fix a stitch portion of hair by unpeelably
adhering to a reverse side of the artificial skin material, and a
function of a repeated bonding and peelable pressure-bonding to a
scalp.
Inventors: |
Sato; Takashi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Maruyama; Shin-Ichi; (Tokyo, JP) ;
Kondo; Yasuhiro; (Tokyo, JP) ; Ogawa; Yoshie;
(Tokyo, JP) ; Sugai; Hiroko; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MASAO YOSHIMURA, CHEN YOSHIMURA LLP
333 W. El Camino Real, Suite 380
Sunnyvale
CA
94087
US
|
Assignee: |
ADERANS CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
37962524 |
Appl. No.: |
12/091061 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
October 18, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2006/320764 |
371 Date: |
February 10, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/201 ;
132/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41G 3/0075 20130101;
A41G 3/0041 20130101; A41G 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/201 ;
132/54 |
International
Class: |
A41G 3/00 20060101
A41G003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 21, 2005 |
JP |
2005-306851 |
Claims
1. A wig, comprising a wig base, and hair attached to the wig base,
the wig base is constituted with a front portion made of an
artificial skin of which a front edge is provided to a wig wearer's
forehead, and a rear portion connected to the front portion,
composed with a cap member having a shape similar to a wig wearer's
head shape, the front portion has an artificial skin material and
an adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive layer has a function to fix
a stitch portion of hair to a reverse side of the artificial skin
material, and a function of a repeated bonding and peelable
pressure-bonding to a scalp, and said adhesive layer is made of a
single layer.
2. The wig according to claim 1, wherein said stitch portion fixing
of hair is realized by gelation of said adhesive layer, a repeated
bondability and a peelability of the adhesive layer is realized
after completion of gelation reaction of the adhesive layer.
3. The wig according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is made
of urethane gel.
4. The wig according to claim 3, wherein the urethane gel made of
an urethane resin pressure-sensitive adhesive of a two liquid
mixture type comprising a main agent and a solidifying agent, and
the main agent being the polyol with urethane resin as a main
component, and the solidifying agent with polyisothyanate as a main
component.
5. The wig according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the
artificial skin is deglossed.
6. The wig according to claim 5, wherein a deglossed surface is
formed by mixing a deglossing agent to the artificial skin, and
further by forming a fine concave and convex portion on the surface
of the artificial skin.
7. The wig according to claim 6, wherein the deglossing agent is
composed of inorganic particles.
8. The wig according to claim 6, wherein the fine concave and
convex portion is formed by copying with fine meshes.
9. The wig according to claim 1, wherein the front edge of the
artificial skin is formed wave-shaped.
10. The wig according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the
artificial skin is in a range of 0.08 mm to 0.12 mm.
11. A method of manufacturing a wig comprising: a first step for
preparing an artificial skin to be a front portion by coating and
drying a thermoplastic elastomer on a male pattern of a head shape,
as well as a net pattern to be a rear portion connected with the
artificial skin by making a pattern of a net member similar to a
wearer's head shape; a second step for forming a connecting portion
by overlapping the net pattern on upper or lower side of the
artificial skin, and sewing or bonding a portion to be a rear edge
of the artificial skin and a portion to be a front edge of the net
pattern to be connected therewith; a third step for attaching hair
to the artificial skin to be the front portion, the net pattern to
be the rear portion and the connecting portion; a fourth step for
forming an adhesive layer on a reverse side of the artificial skin
to be the front portion; and a fifth step for cutting and removing
an unnecessary net member at the front portion and an unnecessary
artificial skin at the rear portion, respectively.
12. The method of manufacturing a wig according to claim 11,
wherein an order of working steps may be arbitrarily changed for
the third hair attaching step, the fourth adhesive layer forming
step, and the fifth step of cutting and removing the unnecessary
parts.
13. The method of manufacturing a wig according to claim 11 or 12,
wherein the fourth step is mixing and stirring a solution
containing a main agent, a solidifying agent, and an organic
solvent, leaving for a predetermined time at room temperature to
make a reaction proceed, coating and heating the solution to a
reverse side of the artificial skin to bond it to the reverse side
of the artificial skin, and cooling after heating to form the
adhesive layer on the reverse side of said artificial skin.
14. The method of manufacturing a wig according to claim 11,
wherein a surface of the artificial skin is deglossed.
15. The method of manufacturing a wig according to claim 14,
wherein the deglossing is conducted by mixing a deglossing agent to
the artificial skin, and further forming a fine concave and convex
portion on the surface of the artificial skin.
16. The method of manufacturing a wig according to claim 15,
wherein the deglossing agent is composed of inorganic
particles.
17. The method of manufacturing a wig according to claim 15,
wherein the fine concave and convex portion is formed by copying
with fine meshes.
18. The method of manufacturing a wig according to claim 11,
wherein a front edge of the artificial skin is formed
wave-shaped.
19. The method of manufacturing a wig according to claim 11,
wherein a thickness of the artificial skin is in a range of 0.08 mm
to 0.12 mm.
20. The method of manufacturing a wig according to claim 11 or 12,
wherein said fourth step is applying and gelling a mixed solution
of polyol and polyisocyanate to the reverse side of said artificial
skin to form said adhesive layer on the reverse side of said
artificial skin.
21. The wig according to claim 1, wherein said stitch portion of
hair is adhered and fixed unpeelably on the reverse side of the
artificial skin material.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a wig to cover at least a
part of a head from a hairline to a back of the head and a method
of manufacturing the same, and especially to the wig wherein the
camouflage effect is improved on the front edge of the wig
corresponding to the hairline of the wig wearer's forehead portion,
and a method of manufacturing the same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A wig to wear when head hair becomes thin is heretofore
provided with a wig base made of an artificial skin which is made
of synthetic resin, a mesh-like net, or combination of the
artificial skin and the net, and is manufactured by forming the wig
base to a wearer's head shape as far as possible, and attaching
human or artificial hair thereon.
[0003] Incidentally, hair losing is generally known to proceed by
retreating of the hairline of the forehead. Therefore, in case to
wear a wig, the front edge of the wig must be exactly fitted to the
position corresponding to the wearer's ordinary or general
hairline. As one of the problems in the case of wearing a
conventional wig, the border between the front edge of the worn wig
and the wearer's skin of a forehead is easily visible in some cases
by bystanders, making it apparent to the people around that a wig
is being worn.
[0004] Therefore, recently, several methods have been developed by
which the border between the skin at the hairline of the forehead
and a wig is made less visible thereby concealing the existence of
the wig. First, Patent Document 1 discloses a method to prevent
exposure by attaching hair to a reverse side of the front edge of
the wig base, and pulling it upward via the outer side of the front
edge to hide the front edge.
[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses a method to prevent exposure of
the peripheral portion of the wig base by fixing a hair-attaching
net made of a doubly bent belt-shaped net along the periphery of
the wig base, attaching hair to the hair-attaching net, and mixing
it with the wearer's own hair.
[0006] On the other hand, Patent Document 3 discloses the method of
direct bonding of the wig having hair attached to the ultra-thin
artificial skin with an adhesive at the corresponding hairline
position of the wearer's forehead, thereby to make the border
between the head and the wig appear natural so as to make the
hairline less visible.
[0007] Also, Patent Document 4 discloses a method to use ultra-thin
artificial skin on the hairline to make the border between the head
and the wig appear natural so as to make the hairline less
visible.
[0008] Patent Document 5 discloses a method to make the hairline
appear natural by attaching a wire-like frame line formed in a wave
shape to the forehead portion of the wig, and attaching soft hair,
similar to that of a baby's hair to said frame line. [0009] [Patent
Document 1] JP H8-199412 A, Laid-open (1996) [0010] [Patent
Document 2] Japan Utility Model Gazette H04-31222 (1992) [0011]
[Patent Document 3] JP 2001-89921 A, Laid-open (2001) [0012]
[Patent Document 4] JP H11-107023 A, Laid-open (1999) [0013]
[Patent Document 5] JP S61-231204 A, Laid-open (1986)
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved
[0014] First of all, the wig of Patent Document 1 has the covering
hair attached on both surface and reverse sides of the wig base on
the front edge, so the periphery becomes thick, and the wig base
becomes wavy. As the result, the pattern of the pre-determined head
shape is deformed, thereby a natural feeling can not be brought
about.
[0015] In the wig of Patent Document 2, an everted portion may in
some cases be caused in the hair-attaching net part with hair
attached thereon. Also, the fixed portion between the attaching net
and the wig base becomes thickened, and the periphery of the wig
base can not provide a natural feeling.
[0016] In any case, by the methods of Patent Documents 1 and 2,
since the thickness of the wig base itself is not changed,
considerable thickness is caused in the wig base, especially, at
the hairline of the forehead when the wig is worn. Therefore, a
bump is caused between the wig base and the skin of the forehead,
and hence the edge of the wig base tends to be visible.
[0017] As for Patent Document 3, since ultra-thin artificial skin
is too soft to form a curved head pattern when a curved wig
covering the whole head is manufactured with ultra-thin artificial
skin, the wig can not be manufactured which fits the wearer's head
shape. By the method described in Patent Document 3 to make a
bonding layer over the whole reverse side of the wig base and to
bond directly to the head, there may be cases where bonding is not
successful due to the mismatching of the bonding positions, or
wrinkles being caused, and in such cases bonding can not be
attempted again. Further, in such cases, the bonding layer of the
wig base of Patent Document 3 comprises a first bonding layer to
fix a root portion of the attached hair to the wig base and a
second bonding layer to bond the wig to the head over said first
bonding layer. In this case, a defect exists in that the wig base
becomes thick because the bonding layer is composed of two
layers.
[0018] The method of Patent Document 4 to prevent exposure of the
hairline provides ultra-thin artificial skin only to a
hair-dividing part, and no device is provided that would enable the
head and the wig to become indistinguishable at the hairline in the
horizontal direction of the forehead.
[0019] As for the wig of Patent Document 5, if the wave shape of
the frame line at the hairline has a big protrusion or sharp angle
at the tip portion, the height of the frame line floating from the
head becomes higher than the original design, and hair is wound and
tied to the frame line when the hair is attached to the frame line,
so that the frame line is more easily visible, and the hairline of
the wig becomes possibly unnatural. Also, though attaching soft
hair similar to that of a baby's hair is indispensable to prevent
exposure of the frame line, the hair must be separately prepared
for attaching to said frame line, and thus the process of preparing
the hairs is time-consuming and labor-intensive to be excessively
troublesome.
[0020] The present invention was created taking into consideration
the above-mentioned aspects, and has a first object to offer a wig
which fits to the wearer's head, and makes the wearer's hairline
and the wig indistinguishable by providing artificial skin at the
hairline of the forehead portion of the wig base. A second object
of the present invention is to offer a method of manufacturing the
wig mentioned above.
Means to Solve Problems
[0021] In order to achieve the above-mentioned first object, the
present invention is characterized in that a wig comprising a wig
base and hair attached to the wig base has said wig base composed
of a front portion made of artificial skin the front edge of which
is positioned on the wig wearer's forehead and a rear portion
connected to said front portion and composed with the cap member
having a shape similar to the wig wearer's head shape, said front
portion is provided with said artificial skin and a bonding layer
having a function to be bonded undetachably to fix a stitch portion
of hair to the reverse side of said artificial skin, and to be
repeatedly pressure-bonded repeelably to the scalp.
[0022] The wig of the present invention realizes said repeated
bonding and the repeelability (to be referred to as the repeelable
function) of the bonding layer after completion of gelation
reaction of the bonding layer. Said bonding layer is preferably
composed of urethane gel. The urethane gel preferably consists of
an urethane resin pressure-sensitive adhesive of a two liquid
mixture type comprising a main and a solidifying agent. The main
agent may be a polyol with an urethane resin as the major
component, and the solidifying agent has polyisocyanate as the
major component. Deglossing agent is preferably mixed into the
artificial skin, and its surface is further deglossed by forming a
fine concave and convex portion. Said deglossing agent is composed
of inorganic particles, and the fine concave and convex portion can
be formed by copying with fine meshes. Also preferably, the front
edge of the artificial skin is formed into a wave shape, and its
thickness is, for example, 0.08 to 0.12 mm.
[0023] In order to further achieve the above-mentioned second
object, the method of manufacturing a wig in accordance with the
present invention is characterized to include a first step for
preparing an artificial skin to be the front portion by coating and
drying a thermoplastic elastomer on the male pattern of the head
shape, as well as a net pattern to be the rear portion connected
with the artificial skin by making the pattern of a net member
similar to the wearer's head shape; a second step for forming a
connecting portion by overlapping net patterns on upper and lower
sides of the artificial skin, and sewing or bonding the portion to
be the rear edge of the artificial skin and the portion to be the
front edge of the net pattern to be connected therewith; a third
step for attaching hair to the artificial skin to be the front
portion, the net pattern to be the rear portion and the connecting
portion; a fourth step for forming an adhesive layer on the reverse
side of the artificial skin to be the front portion with the hair
attached thereto; and a fifth step for cutting the net member at
the front portion and the artificial skin at the rear portion,
respectively.
[0024] For said third hair attaching step, fourth adhesive layer
forming step, and fifth cut and remove step of unnecessary parts,
the order of respective working steps may be arbitrarily changed.
For example, after unnecessary parts are cut and removed, a hair
material may be attached or the adhesive layer may be formed, or
after the adhesive layer is formed, unnecessary parts may be cut
and removed or a hair material may be attached.
[0025] In the present invention, the step to form the bonding layer
on the reverse side of the ultra-thin artificial skin is preferably
by mixing and stirring the solution containing a main and a
solidifying agents and an organic solvent, making the reaction
proceed by leaving for the pre-determined time at room temperature,
coating the solution on the reverse side of the ultra-thin
artificial skin, bonding on the reverse side of the ultra-thin
artificial skin by heating at the pre-determined temperature higher
than room temperature, and cooling to room temperature after
heating for the pre-determined time. Said bonding layer has both
the hair fixing function to fix the stitch portion of the hair
attached by inserting to the reverse side of the ultra-thin
artificial skin, and the repeelable function from the head.
[0026] Here, the adhesive for a wig in accordance with the present
invention is provided with an adhesive layer bonded unpeelably to
the reverse side of the ultra-thin artificial skin. One side of the
adhesive layer is bonded to the reverse side of said artificial
skin by chemical gelation reaction of the adhesive solution coated
on the reverse side of the ultra-thin artificial skin, and has a
hair-fixing function to fix a stitch portion of the hair penetrated
and attached to the reverse side of the ultra-thin artificial skin,
and the other side is pressure-bonded to the head, and has a
repeelable function from the head. Here, the repeelable function
from a head is realized after completion of the gelation reaction
of the adhesive layer.
Effect of the Invention
[0027] According to a wig and a method of manufacturing the same in
accordance with the present invention, a wig base is constituted by
combining and connecting the artificial skin the front edge of
which is located at the position in the front portion of the wig
base corresponding to the hairline of the wearer's forehead and the
cap member formed to a net type similar to the wearer's head in the
rear portion positioned behind said front portion. Therefore, the
wig can be provided, wherein the wig base fits well the wearer's
head, and the ultra-thin artificial skin of high camouflaging
effect at the hairline of the forehead can be repeatedly bonded and
repeeled.
[0028] The surface side of the ultra-thin artificial skin provided
at the hairline of the wig wearer's forehead is deglossed, and
further the front edge of the ultra-thin artificial skin is
wave-shaped, thereby the exposure of the wig can be further
prevented. Also, after hair is attached to the wig base, an
adhesive is coated on to the whole reverse side or at least a part
of the end region including the front edge of said artificial skin
for bonding the ultra-thin artificial skin to the head, thereby the
wig can be provided which can further enhance the camouflaging
effect at the hairline of the forehead.
[0029] One side of said adhesive layer is given a hair-fixing
function to fix a stitch portion of the hair attached by
penetrating to the reverse side of the artificial skin, and the
other side of the adhesive layer to be attached to the scalp is
given a repeelable function from the scalp. Since the adhesive is
constituted of a single layer providing a hair-fixing function and
a repeelable function from the scalp, the wig is made thin and
light.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a wig in accordance with
the embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the reverse side of the wig in
accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view diagrammatically
illustrating the makeup of the artificial skin of the front portion
in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view diagrammatically
illustrating another makeup of the artificial skin of the front
portion in accordance with the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0034] FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 4.
[0035] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical view of shaping treatment of the
front edge of the ultra-thin artificial skin.
[0036] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatical view to compare the wave shape
illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0037] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatical view to compare the wave shape
illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0038] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatical view to compare the wave shape
illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0039] FIG. 10 is a diagrammatical view to compare the wave shape
illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0040] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatical view to compare the wave shape
illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0041] FIG. 12 is a diagrammatical view to compare the wave shape
illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0042] FIG. 13 is a diagrammatical view to show the state with a
different wave shape at the predetermined position of the wig
periphery for the shape of notches provided to the front edge of
the wig front portion.
[0043] FIG. 14 is a diagrammatical view with notches provided to
the front portion, and the front edge of the rear portion such as
the side and the back head portions.
[0044] FIG. 15 is a side view to show the state to cover a net on
the plaster pattern of a head shape and to fix using a fixing
needle.
[0045] FIG. 16 is a diagrammatical view to show the state to
overlap a net on the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin on the
plaster pattern and to fix using a fixing needle.
[0046] FIG. 17 is a view to explain the integrating process of the
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin and a net.
[0047] FIG. 18 is a view to explain the integrating process of the
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin and a net.
[0048] FIG. 19 is a view to explain the integrating process of the
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin and a net.
[0049] FIG. 20 is a view to explain the integrating process of the
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin and a net.
[0050] FIG. 21 is a diagrammatical view to show the net
corresponding to the portion where the deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin is provided in the wig front portion being cut and
removed.
[0051] FIG. 22 is a side view of FIG. 21, and a diagrammatical view
to show the net corresponding to the portion where the deglossed
ultra-thin artificial skin is provided in the wig front portion
being cut and removed.
[0052] FIG. 23 is a view to explain another integrating process of
the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin and a net.
[0053] FIG. 24 is a diagrammatical view to show the net
corresponding to the portion where the deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin is provided in the wig front portion being cut and
removed.
[0054] FIG. 25 is a side view of FIG. 24, and a diagrammatical view
to show the net corresponding to the portion where the deglossed
ultra-thin artificial skin is provided in the wig front portion
being cut and removed.
[0055] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view diagrammatically
illustrating the other makeup of the artificial skin in accordance
with the embodiment of the present invention.
[0056] FIG. 27 is a diagrammatical view from the side of the
manufactured wig.
[0057] FIG. 28 is a diagrammatical view from the reverse side of
the manufactured wig.
[0058] FIG. 29 is a diagrammatical view from the side of the wig
manufactured with the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin
overlapped and integrated on the net.
EXPLANATION OF MARKS AND SYMBOLS
[0059] 1: Wig [0060] 1a, 1b: Wig base [0061] 10: Ultra-thin
artificial skin [0062] 11: Ultra-thin artificial skin material
[0063] 12: Hair [0064] 12A: Stitch portion [0065] 15: Deglossed
ultra-thin artificial skin material [0066] 15B: Concave portion
[0067] 15C: Convex portion [0068] 15D: Concave and convex portion
[0069] 16: Deglossing agent [0070] 20: Net [0071] 30: Adhesive
layer [0072] 40: Peelable sheet [0073] 50: Urethane solution for
hair fixing [0074] 51, 51a, 51b, 51a', 51b': Top [0075] 52: Valley
[0076] 61: Plaster pattern [0077] 62: Metal part for fixing [0078]
73: Connecting portion [0079] 74, 75, 76: Masking tape [0080] D:
Hair-dividing portion
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0081] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained with
reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures.
[0082] FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) are the plan views illustrating a wig 1
in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. The wig
bases la and lb of the wig 1 comprise two parts, namely, a front
portion corresponding to a wig wearer's forehead and a rear portion
extending from said front portion to the top and the back head
portions, an ultra-thin artificial skin 10 being provided to the
front portion, a net pattern 20 being provided to the rear portion,
and they are mutually combined and integrated in a connecting
portion 73.
[0083] Here, the wig base 1a of FIG. 1(A) is provided with an
ultra-thin artificial skin 10 not only on the region corresponding
to the wearer's forehead but also at the position corresponding to
the hair-dividing portion D so as to accommodate the particular
style of combing chosen upon hair attaching. On the other hand, the
wig base 1b of FIG. 1(B) is provided with an ultra-thin artificial
skin 10 only in the region corresponding to the wearer's forehead,
assuming the hair style to be the so-called all back style.
[0084] The ultra-thin artificial skin 10, in accordance with the
embodiment of the present invention, is firmly attached to the wig
wearer's forehead, and formed curving, for example, in the
horizontal direction so as to fit the shape of the wig wearer's
forehead. The net pattern 20 is also formed to the convex curving
so as to fit the shape of the wig wearer's head. The front edge of
the artificial skin 10 is firmly attached on the wig wearer's
forehead to the adjusted position corresponding to the imaginary
hairline presumably present above said forehead. An adhesive layer
30 (Refer to FIG. 2.) is provided on the whole reverse side of the
artificial skin 10 or at least a part of the end region including
the front edge. As described later, the stitch portion of hair is
bonded and fixed unpeelably to the artificial skin 10, but the
adhesive layer 30 is provided by pressure bonding so as to be
repeatedly attached to and peeled from the scalp. The net pattern
20 of the rear portion is formed in the dense lattice-like shape
with the synthetic fiber such as polyamide and polyester, or in
such a large network that the wearer's own hair can be pulled out
through it, and is constituted as a cap member with the surface
swelling in the shallow dish shape. The front and the rear portions
are integrated with the connecting portion 73 bonded or sewn with
the linearly overlapped rear edge of the artificial skin 10 of the
front portion and the front edge of the net pattern 20 of the rear
portion, and formed, as a whole, so as to have a shape similar as
closely as possible to the wearer's head shape.
[0085] FIG. 2(A) illustrates the reverse side of a wig base 1b of
FIG. 1(B). Along the front edge of the ultra-thin artificial skin
10 of the front portion, an adhesive layer for a wig 30
(hereinafter, to be properly called an adhesive layer) as a single
layer is coated linearly to the predetermined width. Here, as shown
in FIG. 2(B), a plurality of adhesive layers 30 may be coated
spot-like at the predetermined intervals along the front edge
outline of the ultra-thin artificial skin 10. Otherwise, the
adhesive layer 30 may be coated over the whole reverse side of the
ultra-thin artificial skin 10. Here in FIGS. 1 and 2, numerous hair
is attached to the surface side of the wig bases 1a and 1b,
illustration of the attached hair is omitted.
[0086] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view diagrammatically
illustrating the constitution of the ultra-thin artificial skin 10
in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. The
ultra-thin artificial skin 10 constituting the front portion of the
wig base has an approximately arc-shaped outline extending in the
predetermined width to the front edge provided to the position
corresponding to the imaginary hairline presumably present on the
wig wearer's forehead and to the back side of the head, and is
constituted with a ultra-thin artificial skin material 11, the hair
12 planted to said ultra-thin artificial skin material 11, and the
adhesive layer 30.
[0087] The ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 in accordance
with the embodiment of the present invention is formed extremely
thin due to the use of a soft synthetic resin, for example, an
urethane resin, and its thickness is designed as, for example, 0.08
mm to 0.12 mm. Further, the wig bases 1a and 1b of FIGS. 1(A) and
1(B) have the front edge of the front portion formed wave-shaped,
though its details will be explained later.
[0088] The hair 12 attached to the ultra-thin artificial skin
material 11 is either artificial or natural hair. As shown in FIG.
3, the hair 12 is attached V- or U-shaped by penetrating and
attaching from the surface side to the reverse side of the
ultra-thin artificial skin material 11, and again pulling to the
surface side of the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11. The
hair portion penetrates to and is exposed on the reverse side of
said ultra-thin artificial skin material 11, and is to be called a
stitch portion 12A. Further, such a method of attaching is
generally called V-attaching.
[0089] In the embodiment of the present invention, explanation is
next made of the adhesive layer 30 coated on the ultra-thin
artificial skin material 11. The adhesive layer 30 consists of a
single layer. The adhesive layer for a wig 30 consisting of a
single layer has a novel structure having a property that one side
is bonded unpeelably to the reverse side of the ultra-thin
artificial skin 10, while the other side can be pressure-bonded
repeelably to the wig-wearer's scalp. One side of the adhesive
layer 30 has a hair-fixing function to fix the stitch portion 12A
of the hair penetrated and attached to the reverse side of the
ultra-thin artificial skin material 11, and is bonded unpeelably to
the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11. The adhesive layer 30
may be formed over the whole reverse side of the artificial skin
material 11, or linearly or spot-like in a part of the end portion
including the front edge of the reverse side of the artificial skin
material 11.
[0090] The front portion of the wig base in accordance with the
present invention is, as mentioned above, constituted with a two
layer structure with the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 and
the adhesive layer 30 consisting of a single layer for the
ultra-thin artificial skin material 11.
[0091] Explanation is made of the adhesive layer 30 more
concretely. One side of the adhesive layer 30 is bonded by chemical
bonding to the reverse side of the ultra-thin artificial skin
material 11 by a gelation reaction of an adhesive solution coated
on the reverse side of the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11.
Therefore, the stitch portion 12A of the hair 12 is bound between
the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 and the adhesive layer
30 when the adhesive layer 30 is bonded to the ultra-thin
artificial skin material 11, and is fixed at the same time to the
reverse side of the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11.
[0092] On the other hand, the side of the adhesive layer 30 in
contact with the scalp is capable of repeated repeelable bonding,
that is, repeelable pressure-bonding to the scalp. The repeelable
function of the adhesive layer 30 to the scalp is realized after
the gelation reaction of the adhesive. Therefore, the adhesive
layer 30, after the completion of the gelation reaction, can be
bonded to the head by applying a slight force at room temperature
for short time. That is, it has the property of a pressure-bondable
pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (the so-called tackifying layer).
Further, the adhesive layer 30, after the completion of the
gelation reaction, can be repeatedly bonded to the head by wiping
its surface with a trace amount of water or organic solvents. In
the present invention, this repeated bondability is called a
repeelable function or merely a peelable function. Here, as shown
in FIG. 3, such peelable sheet 40 as a vinyl chloride sheet may
preferably provided which can be easily peeled by the wearer's hand
to the surface of the adhesive layer 30 to be bonded to the
scalp.
[0093] Explanation is next made of the material of the adhesive
layer for a wig 30 of the present invention.
[0094] The adhesives for a wig used to form the adhesive layer 30
can be roughly classified as urethane resins, acrylic resins, and
rubbers.
[0095] The adhesives of urethane resins have good adhesivity, as
described later, enabling a stitch portion 12A of hair 12 to be
fixed to the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11, and the
property capable of firmly bonding unpeelably the adhesive layer 30
to the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11. Their repeelable
property for the case of bonding to the head is good, and has low
skin irritation. Therefore, the adhesive of urethane resins can be
properly used as an adhesive for forming the adhesive layer 30 of
the present invention.
[0096] On the other hand, the adhesive of acrylic resins excels in
tackiness, but has weak repeelable property and strong skin
irritation in some cases. Rubber resins excel in initial tackiness,
but suffers from a marked deterioration in repeelable property as
time elapses.
[0097] Further, if said adhesive layer for a wig 30 is formed with
the adhesive of acrylic resins and rubber, it is not suitable for
use because it can not follow the movement of skin when bonded to a
scalp and is easily peeled by deterioration of adhesivity to the
head skin, adhesivity is weak to fix the stitch portion 12A of the
hair 12 to wig bases 1a and 1b, and adhesivity is weak between the
adhesive layer 30 and wig bases 1a and 1b readily causing peeling,
all due to the hardness of the resins themselves.
[0098] Explanation is next made in detail of the case to form the
adhesive layer 30 using an adhesive of urethane resins.
[0099] As an adhesive of urethane resins, the adhesive of a two
liquid mixture type consisting of a main and a solidifying agent
can be properly used. The main agent may be a polyol with an
urethane resin as a main component and the solidifying agent may be
a polyisothyanate as a main component. Those forming a gel after
mixing these two liquids, gelation reacting, and completion of the
gelation reaction are suitable. Said gelation can be accelerated by
heating. Thereby, not only physical bonding such as surface tension
but also chemical bonding is applied during the gelation by the
function of isothyanate contained in the solidifying agent. As a
result, adhesion between the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11
and the adhesive layer 30 and the fixing force of the ultra-thin
artificial skin material 11 and the stitch portion 12A of the hair
12 attached thereto are markedly improved, and the fixing force at
the same level as the conventional hair-fixing process with an
adhesive can be obtained. Here, the fixing force is defined for the
adhesive layer 30 of the present invention as the adhesivity of the
ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 and the stitch portion 12A
of the hair 12 attached thereto, in order to distinguish it from
the adhesivity of ordinary thermally activated adhesives.
[0100] Further, since the adhesive of the two liquid mixture type
urethane resins forms an adhesive layer of gel structure after
reaction, that is, a tackifying layer, it shows an excellent
reaction that follows the movement of the head upon wearing the
ultra-thin artificial skin 10 on a forehead portion, realizing
sufficient wig adhesion without deteriorating close adhesiveness to
the scalp.
[0101] Explanation is next made of the method to give fixing force
of the stitch portion 12A of the attached hair 12 to the ultra-thin
artificial skin material 11. Said method can be performed by mixing
the adhesive consisting of monomers of two liquid mixing type
urethane resins, coating and drying the adhesive containing a small
amount of the organic solvent for the material of the deglossed wig
bases 1a and 1b added into said two liquids to the ultra-thin
artificial skin material 11. As such organic solvents, dimethyl
formamide (DMF), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and others can be used
when the material of the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 is
an urethane elastomer.
[0102] The fixing force of the adhesive layer 30 to the stitch
portion 12A of the hair 12 and its tackiness to the head can be
adjusted by alteration of the mixing ratio of the main and the
solidifying agents of the adhesive of the two liquid mixing type
urethane resins; adjustment of the coating viscosity; and
adjustment of the settling time after two liquid mixing till
coating on to the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 with the
hair 12 attached thereto.
[0103] Explanation is next made of a modified version of the
ultra-thin artificial skin 10 in accordance with the embodiment of
the present invention, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0104] In the front portion of the wig base, an ultra-thin
artificial skin 10A has a double layer structure comprising a
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 and the adhesive
layer 30 as a single layer provided to its reverse side, the
adhesive layer 30 as a single layer is bonded unpeelably to the
predetermined width or a part of the end region including the front
edge of the reverse side of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial
skin material 15, having a fixing function of the stitch portion
12A of the hair 12 and a repeelable function from the scalp.
[0105] As is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the difference of the
ultra-thin artificial skin 10A from the above-mentioned ultra-thin
artificial skin 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 above is that fine
concave and convex portions 15D are formed on the surface of the
ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 for deglossing, and a
deglossing agent is incorporated. Said fine concave and convex
portions 15D consist of a concave portion 15B and a convex portion
15C. Also in case of the illustration, the deglossing agent 16 is
incorporated from the surface side to the predetermined region 15A,
but the deglossing agent 16 may be incorporated in arbitrary
regions of the wig base. Other structures are the same as for the
above-mentioned ultra-thin artificial skin 10.
[0106] In case to make thinner the wig bases 1a and 1b in order to
make lighter in weight, it is preferable to incorporate the
deglossing agent 16 as shallow as possible on the surface side of
the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15, taking into
consideration the deglossing effect and the capability to follow
the movement of skin when bonded to a head. As one example, in case
to make the thickness of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin
material 15 about 0.08 mm to 0.12 mm, it is preferable to
incorporate the deglossing agent 16 to a depth of about 0.03 to
0.035 mm from the surface side of the deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin material 15. If shallower than 0.03 mm, then the
deglossing effect is not sufficient, and if thicker than 0.035 mm,
then it is not preferable because the deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin material 15 hardens, and can no longer follow the
movement of the scalp.
[0107] As the deglossing agents 16, various inorganic particles can
be used. As the materials of said inorganic particles, any of
silica, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, aluminum hydroxide,
magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, zeolite, and glass can be
used. Especially, powdery silica with a particle diameter of 1 to
10 .mu.m is preferred. In this case, powdery silica is preferably 5
to 25% in weight of a thermoplastic elastomer dissolved in an
organic solvent suited to coating. If powdery silica, for example,
is used as the deglossing agent 16, then since the color of the
wearer's scalp is visible through it, the borderline of the
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 and the head is
not easily visible, resulting in improved concealment of the
wig.
[0108] The fine concave and convex portion 15D can be formed, as
described below, by copying using such fine meshes as net-like
textile or the like. By said copying, fine concavity and convexity
are formed in the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15.
These concave and convex portions provide a shape similar to real
skin.
[0109] The thickness of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin
material 15 is preferably about 0.08 to 0.12 mm. If the deglossed
ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 is thinner than 0.08 mm,
then the shape stability of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial
skin material 15 deteriorates, and the deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin material 15 does not fit the wearer's head shape
while being worn. If the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin
material 15 is thicker than 0.12 mm, then a bump occurs at the
position of the borderline of the scalp and the wig base while
being worn, the cross section of the wig base is apparent due to
thickness. The fact that a wig is being worn becomes easily
visible, and further, the wig base can not follow the movement of
the scalp.
[0110] Thus, by the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material
15 of the present invention, a combined deglossing effect is
attained by the diffuse reflection from the deglossing agent 16 and
the fine concave and convex portion 15D. Since powdery silica is
transparent, and the color of the wearer's head is visible through
it, the borderline of the ultra-thin artificial skin 10A of the
forehead portion and the head is not easily visible, resulting in
improved concealment of the wig.
[0111] Further, the incorporation of inorganics only caused
heretofore hardening of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin
material 15, or even when the desired gloss is obtained, the color
of the deglossed wig bases 1a and 1b widely changed due to the
action of the incorporated inorganics, thereby making an
approximation of the color of the wearer's head color was
difficult. However, such defects can be solved with the structure
of the present invention.
[0112] According to the above-mentioned modified version, a
repeelable deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin 10A on the forehead
portion can be realized by using the deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin material 15 which can easily follow the movement of
the scalp, and is extremely high in the deglossing effect.
[0113] Explanation is next made of the wave shape formed in the
front edge of the forehead portion of the wig.
[0114] In order to further enhance the camouflaging effect of the
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 provided to the
front portion, wave-shaped notches are made, as shown in FIGS. 1(A)
and 1(B), at least in a part of the front edge of the front
portion.
[0115] The wave shape of the front edge is formed by cutting off
the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15. That is, upon
cutting off, the front edge of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial
skin material 15 is processed. FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of the
shape processing conducted to the front edge of the deglossed
ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 in accordance with the
embodiment of the present invention. As for the wave shape in the
drawing, the top of the convex portion with regard to the
longitudinal direction is described as a top 51, and the bottom
portion of the valley between the hills at both sides is described
as a valley 52.
[0116] Here, FIGS. 7 to 12 are the schematic drawings for
comparison with the wave shape shown in FIG. 6. The reason behind
making the notches wave shaped is that, if the shape of the front
edge of the front portion is made polygonal such as triangular and
rectangular pattern in FIGS. 7 and 8, the protruding portion 53 of
the front edge of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material
15 is everted when the wig is worn on the head, possibly resulting
in the exposure of the wig. Therefore, the shape of the notches is
preferably a wave shape with a round tip portion.
[0117] As for the size of the wave shape, the length of the
vertical direction from the top 51 to the valley 52 of FIG. 6, that
is, the depth A is preferably 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm. If the depth A is
longer than 3.0 mm as shown in FIG. 9, the protruded portion
including the top 51 is everted upon wearing, resulting in possible
exposure. If also the depth A is shorter than 1.0 mm as shown in
FIG. 10, there is almost no difference in the wave-shaped front
edge from the front edge treated linearly, resulting in
insufficient camouflaging effect.
[0118] The length B of the longitudinal direction from the top 51a
to the neighboring top 51b in FIG. 6 is preferably designed as 7.0
mm to 30.0 mm. If the length B of the wave shape in the
longitudinal direction is longer than 30.0 mm, there is no
difference from that which has no notch and is treated linearly, as
shown in FIG. 11, resulting in no camouflaging effect. Also, if the
length B of the wave shape in the longitudinal direction is shorter
than 7.0 mm, the shape of the front edge becomes saw tooth-like as
shown in FIG. 12, and forms the protruding shape of the hill type
portion including the top 51, resulting in possible everting upon
wearing.
[0119] Here, the wave shape formed in the front edge of the
artificial skin may not be all identical, and specific parts may
differ in depth and pitch. For example, in FIG. 13, the length B1
in the longitudinal direction from the top 51a to its neighboring
top 51b in the range from the borderline C1 to C2 of the front
portion and the length B2 in the longitudinal direction from the
top 51a' of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 to
the top 51b' outside of said range are of different lengths. As for
the shape of the notches given to the front edge of the front
portion, if the wave shape with the size within the above-mentioned
range is used, then it is possible to form a different wave shape
at the predetermined position of the front edge of the front
portion.
[0120] As for the portion where wave shape notches are made, wave
shape notches are made in the front edge of the ultra-thin
artificial skin material 11 and 15 provided on the hairline of the
front portion in Example, but it is also possible to make notches
in the peripheries other than the front portion such as the side or
the back head portion to provide a camouflaging effect. For
example, if wave shapes are formed in the side or the back head
portion of the net 20 of the wig base shown in FIG. 14, the similar
camouflaging effect can be obtained.
[0121] Explanation is next made of a method of manufacturing the
wig in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
[0122] First of all, explanation is made of a method of
manufacturing an ultra-thin artificial skin material 11.
[0123] As a first step, a thermoplastic elastomer pellets made of
soft synthetic resin is dissolved into an organic solvent, and this
solution (hereinafter to be called a thermoplastic elastomer
solution) is coated on the male pattern (for example, a plaster
pattern or others) of the wig wearer's head shape prepared in
advance, or the male pattern most similar to the wearer's head
shape selected from several typical head shape. An ultra-thin
artificial skin material 11 similar to the head can be obtained by
drying the male pattern and forming. Various thermoplastic
elastomers are applicable, but, for example, the urethane elastomer
is preferred. Antifungal agent or else may be incorporated whenever
necessary. Thus, an ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 can be
manufactured.
[0124] Explanation is next made of deglossing treatment on the
ultra-thin artificial skin material 11.
[0125] As a second step, the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11
formed in the first step is deglossed in the following step to give
natural gloss on the wig surface.
[0126] Concretely, the solution with inorganic particles as the
deglossing agent 16 added into the thermoplastic elastomer solution
used for manufacturing the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11
is prepared, and said solution is coated on to the surface of the
ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 and dried. If the thickness
of the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 is about 0.08 to 0.12
mm, the depth of the region 15A containing the deglossing agent 16
after said solution is coated and dried is preferably about 0.03 to
0.035 mm. The viscosity of the thermoplastic elastomer to be coated
may be adjusted for it. Various inorganic particles are applicable,
but powdery silica of the particle diameter 1 to 10 .mu.m is
preferred, and its amount to be added is preferably 5 to 25% in
weight of the thermoplastic elastomer dissolved in the solution to
be coated. Also whenever necessary, an ultraviolet light absorber
and an antioxidant for yellowing prevention may be added together
with the deglossing agent 16.
[0127] As a third step, a fine mesh-like net is covered on the
ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 with the deglossing agent 16
incorporated in the surface in the second step, the solvent of the
ultra-thin artificial skin material is coated, the fine mesh-like
net is removed after drying, and fine concave and convex portion
15D is formed with fine meshes on the surface of the ultra-thin
artificial skin material 11. Any material insoluble to the solvent
to be coated on to said ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 may
be used as the fine mesh-like net used in this step. For example,
if the wig base 1a and 1b is formed with an urethane resin, nylon
may be used. The fine mesh-like net is preferably knitted with
thread of 0.03 to 0.1 mm diameter, and has a size of about 30 to
100 meshes (strand/inch).
[0128] The ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 formed in the
first step is deglossed in said second and third steps, thereby a
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 having natural
gloss can be formed. (See FIG. 4.) The deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin material 15 is deglossed in combined treatment by
forming the deglossing agent-incorporated region 15A where
inorganic particles are added and a fine concave and convex portion
15D.
[0129] Next as a fourth step, a net 20 made of a synthetic resin is
prepared, and a net pattern 20 is obtained by forming the pattern
fitting to the wearer's head shape. Though the details will be
described later, it is formed from a flat net 20 made of a
synthetic resin by resin processing using a pattern fitting to the
wearer's head shape. Here, needless to mention that the forming
step of the net pattern 20 may be the first step, and the
artificial skin material may be prepared at the second step and
thereafter.
[0130] Next as a fifth step, the net pattern 20 having a pattern
fitting in advance to the wearer's head shape is overlapped on to
the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 formed as
described above, the ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 and the
net pattern 20 are connected and integrated at the connecting
portion 73 by sewing or bonding at the predetermined position by
the predetermined width to prepare wig bases 1a and 1b. The shape
and size of the prepared wig base have preferably excellent fit
feeling if formed as similarly as possible to the wearer's head
shape.
[0131] Next as a sixth step, human or artificial hair to be the
hair 12 is attached to the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin
material 15 and the net pattern 20 made of a synthetic resin by the
respective predetermined methods.
[0132] In a seventh step, the adhesive layer 30 is formed to the
reverse side of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material
15 where the hair 12 is attached. The adhesive layer 30 can be
formed by coating and drying the adhesive having both a function to
fix the stitch portion 12A of the hair 12 on the reverse side of
the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 to the
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 and a function to
bond to the head. As a method of coating of the adhesive, the
methods using spray or a brush can be used.
[0133] Explanation is made here of the concrete forming step of the
adhesive layer for a wig 30.
[0134] First of all, the wig base 1a or 1b where the hair 12 is
attached is turned inside out, and fixed on to the male pattern of
the wig wearer's head shape. Said male pattern of the head shape is
formed from, for example, a thermosetting epoxy resin. An adhesive
monomer for a wig and an organic solvent are next mixed and
stirred. As said adhesive monomer for a wig, two types can be used
one of which has isothyanate as a main component and the other
having polyol as a main component. Further, whenever necessary, the
solvent of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 may
be added.
[0135] The reaction is made proceeding by settling this solution at
room temperature for the predetermined time to prepare the adhesive
solution for a wig. Here, settling for the predetermined time is
conducted for the bridging reaction to proceed to a certain extent
between the molecules in said mixed and stirred solution. Next,
said adhesive solution settled for the predetermined time is coated
with a brush to the desired thickness to the reverse side of the
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15, dried for the
predetermined time at the heating temperature higher than room
temperature, and cooled to room temperature after drying, resulting
in the formation of the adhesive layer 30. In order to obtain the
adhesive layer 30 of the desired thickness, coating of said
adhesive solution and drying by heating may be repeated.
[0136] Here, the adhesivity between the deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin material 15 and the adhesive layer 30 and the
adhesivity between the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin
material 15 and the stitch portion 12A of the hair 12 attached
thereto are realized in the gelling process by drying at the
temperature higher than room temperature for the predetermined
time.
[0137] By the above-mentioned seventh step, the adhesive layer for
a wig 30 of the present invention is formed, and the ultra-thin
artificial skin material 15 of the front portion can be
manufactured. Further, on the adhesive layer for a wig 30, a
peelable sheet 40 may be provided for protection before the wig is
worn.
[0138] Next, as an eighth step, the unnecessary protruding portions
of the ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 and the net 20 are
cut and removed. Upon this removal, the front edge of the deglossed
ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 is processed to a wave
shape. By said steps, a wig 1 has been completed.
[0139] Here, it is not necessary to proceed with the steps in said
order, namely, the sixth step to attach hair to said wig base, the
seventh step to form the adhesive layer 30 on the reverse side of
artificial skin, and the eighth step to cut and remove the
unnecessary protruding portions of the artificial skin and the net
pattern, and it is obvious that any step may come first. For
example, the eighth cut and remove step may come right after the
fifth connecting portion forming step. Otherwise, the hair
attaching or the adhesive layer forming steps may come last.
[0140] Thus, the wig 1 in accordance with the embodiment of the
present invention is characterized to use the adhesive layer 30
consisting of a single layer. Therefore, the adhesive layer 30
consisting of a single layer can realize the functions of the first
adhesive layer having a fixing function of a stitch portion of hair
and the second adhesive layer having a bonding function to a head
in the conventional wig with the adhesive layers of a double layer
structure. Thereby, the front portion can be constituted in a
simple structure of the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11, 15,
and the adhesive layer 30 consisting of a single layer.
[0141] The thickness of the adhesive layer 30 consisting of a
single layer may be that capable of fixing the stitch portion 12A
of hair 12, and it may be about 0.05 mm, for example, if the
diameter of the attached hair 12 is 0.08 to 0.09 mm, resulting in
light weight of the front portion.
[0142] The adhesive layer 30 to be bonded to a scalp is repeelable,
and can be used repeatedly with the recovered tackiness by only
washing the adhesive layer 30 with water or organic solvents.
Therefore, the wearer's cost is reduced.
EXAMPLE
[0143] Explanation is made of the example of the method of
manufacturing the wig in accordance with the embodiment of the
present invention.
[0144] As a first step, the solution in which an urethane elastomer
was dissolved in DMF and MEK and an antifungal agent was
incorporated was coated on to a plaster pattern of a wig wearer's
head shape prepared in advance, and dried at heating temperature
60.degree. C. for one hour. Further on said plaster pattern, the
urethane elastomer solution of the concentration lower than the
previous urethane elastomer solution was coated, dried for 30
minutes at heating temperature 60.degree. C. to form the ultra-thin
artificial skin material 11 of about 0.07 mm thickness.
[0145] As a second step, into the solution in which an urethane
elastomer was dissolved in DMF and MEK and an antifungal agent was
incorporated, powdery silica (average particle diameter 3.1 .mu.m
to 4.1 .mu.m) as a deglossing agent 6, an ultraviolet absorber, and
an antioxidant were further incorporated to prepare a deglossing
solution. The weight of silica was about 8% of the weight of the
urethane elastomer. Said deglossing solution was coated to the
ultra-thin artificial skin material 11, and dried at heating
temperature 60.degree. C. for 2 to 4 hours.
[0146] As a third step, a net for commercially available stockings
made of nylon as a fine mesh net was covered on to the side of the
ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 on the surface of which the
deglossing agent 16 was incorporated in the above-mentioned second
step, the mixture of MEK and DMF as the solvent for the ultra-thin
artificial skin material 11 in the predetermined ratio was coated,
and dried at 100.degree. C. for 4 hours. The net for stockings was
removed after drying, and a fine concave and convex portion 21D was
formed on the surface of the ultra-thin artificial skin material
11. The thread diameter of the net for stockings was 0.05 mm, and
the mesh was about 50 meshes (strand/inch).
[0147] Thus, the region 15A containing the deglossing agent 16 and
the concave and convex portion 15D were formed on the surface of
the ultra-thin artificial skin material 11 made of an urethane
resin, and the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 was
prepared. Thereby, the whole thickness of the deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin material 15 was about 0.09 to 0.11 mm with the
thickness of the region 15A containing the deglossing agent 16
increased by about 0.03 to 0.035 mm.
[0148] As a fourth step, in order to make the net member before
forming the net pattern 20 to the wearer's head shape, the net
member was covered on the plaster pattern 61 of the head shape and
processed with a resin. FIG. 15 is a side view of the fixed state
using a fixing needle 62 after the net member was covered on the
plaster pattern 61 of the head shape.
[0149] The processing with a resin was conducted, as in FIG. 15, by
coating a thermosetting urethane resin solution on to said net
member after the net member made of nylon was covered and fixed on
the prepared plaster pattern 61 of the wig wearer's head shape, and
by drying at the heating temperature 100.degree. C. for 8 hours to
obtain a net pattern 20.
[0150] Next was ultrasonic processing conducted to the net pattern
20 peeled from the plaster pattern 61. The ultrasonic processing is
the process to melt-bond the crossing portions of the threads
constituting the net pattern 20 with ultrasonic wave and pressure
to fix the crossing portions. If the shape of the formed net
pattern 20 was distorted upon the ultrasonic processing, a trouble
would be caused in the fifth step mentioned below. Thus, the net
pattern 20 processed by ultrasonic wave on the plaster pattern 61
was covered and fixed according to the positions of a forehead, a
back head, and both side heads, a thermosetting urethane resin
solution was coated thereover, and dried at the heating temperature
100.degree. C. for 4 hours.
[0151] In the present example, since a nylon net was used as the
net member, ultrasonic processing and reshaping were conducted
after the resin processing with the thermosetting urethane resin
solution. This is because, since the water absorbance of nylon is
high, the size stability is poor, and the shape formed to the head
shape tends to deform, and the object is to prevent it. In case of
nets other than nylon, since the water absorbance is high and the
size stability is good, only the resin processing with the
thermosetting urethane resin solution may well do.
[0152] Here, the thread diameter of the net member used for shaping
was 220D, and the mesh was about 25 meshes (strand/inch). The net
member to use for shaping may be of any material that can be shaped
to the head shape, and the values of the thread diameter and meshes
can be properly changed.
[0153] As a fifth step, the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin
material 15 prepared in said first to third steps and the shaped
net pattern 20 prepared in the fourth step were overlapped with the
former beneath and the latter above. FIG. 16 is a side view
illustrating the overlapped state of the net pattern 20 prepared in
the fourth step on the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin
material 15 set on the plaster pattern 61 in said first to third
steps. The overlapped deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material
15 and the net pattern 20 were bonded and integrated at the
predetermined position with the predetermined width.
[0154] Explanation is made here of the integrating treatment of the
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 and the net
pattern 20.
[0155] First of all, as shown in FIG. 17, a masking tape 74 of 3 mm
width was bonded along the borderline as the connecting portion 73
of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 at its
front side. Next, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, the net pattern 20
was overlapped on the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material
15, and set at the predetermined position, and, as shown in FIG.
19, masking tapes 75 and 76 were bonded on the net pattern 20 so as
to bind the connecting portion 73 along the borderline of the
connecting portion 73. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view along the
line A-A' of FIG. 19. The reason why the masking tape 74 was bonded
in advance along the borderline of the forehead portion is to
prevent the integrating solvent from adhering to the deglossed
ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 and the fine appearance of
the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 from
deteriorating.
[0156] In order to integrate the deglossed ultra-thin artificial
skin material 15 and the net pattern 20, the integrating solution
prepared by dissolving the urethane elastomer into DMF and MEK and
by incorporating an antifungal agent was coated to the connecting
portion 73, and dried at the heating temperature 60.degree. C. for
30 minutes. Next, the deglossing solution which was the solution
with the urethane elastomer dissolved into DMF and MEK and the
incorporated antifungal agent, and further with powdery silica
(average particle diameter 3.1 .mu.m to 4.1 .mu.m) as a deglossing
agent 16, an ultraviolet absorber, and an antioxidant incorporated
therein was coated at the position where the integrating solution
was coated, and dried at the heating temperature 60.degree. C. for
2 hours. The weight of silica was about 21% of the urethane
elastomer weight. After integration, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22,
the unnecessary net member 20a (See FIG. 19.) located in the
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 was cut and
removed.
[0157] The connecting portion 73 between the deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin material 15 and the net member 20 can be formed by
sewing. First of all, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 23, the net pattern
20 is overlapped on the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin
material 15 and set to the predetermined position. Next, tentative
sewing is conducted by hand with nylon filament thread along the
connecting portion 73' shown in FIG. 23, and the deglossed
ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 and the net pattern 20 are
removed from the plaster pattern 61.
[0158] The final sewing is conducted by a sewing machine using
nylon filament thread along the tentatively sewn connecting portion
73'. After the final sewing, the nylon filament thread left over in
the portion initially tentatively sewn is pulled and removed.
[0159] Here, the nylon filament thread of the thread diameter 50 dx
was used. As the nylon filament thread for the final sewing by a
sewing machine, an unexposable color is preferably selected
depending upon the color of the net pattern 20, and the thread in
which gloss is not caused is preferably used in order to prevent
the exposure of the connecting portion. Since there is a process to
remove the nylon filament thread used for tentative sewing after
the sewing by a sewing machine, it is preferable to use the thread
with the color which can distinguish the deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin material 15 and the net pattern 20. After
integration, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the unnecessary net part
20a (See FIG. 23.) located in the deglossed ultra-thin artificial
skin material 15 is cut and removed.
[0160] As a sixth step, the wig base prepared in the first to the
fifth steps was fixed on the male pattern of the wig wearer's head
shape, one strand or several strands of artificial hair 12 made of
nylon were bent altogether, and attached by V-planting to the
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15, and by knotting
the hair 12 and the thread constituting the net pattern 20. The
V-planting is to attach in V-letter or U-letter shape, as is shown
in FIG. 3, by penetrating and attaching the hair 12 from the
surface side to the reverse side of the ultra-thin artificial skin
material 11, and pulling again to the surface side of the
ultra-thin artificial skin material 11. As a method to attach hair
to the net pattern 20 and the connecting portion 73, cow hitch and
clove hitch as the known knotting methods for string or others are
used.
[0161] As a seventh step, the adhesive layer 30 is formed on the
reverse side of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material
15 with the hair 12 attached thereto. More concretely, the wig base
1a or 1b with the hair attached thereto is reversed, and set to the
male pattern of the wig wearer's head shape.
[0162] In case to form the adhesive layer 30 to the predetermined
width .alpha. of the front edge of artificial skin or to a part of
the front edge .beta., as shown in FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B), the
urethane solution for hair fixing to fix the stitch portion 12A of
the hair attached to the portion where the adhesive layer 30 was
not formed to the reverse side of the deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin material 15 was coated by the predetermined times,
and dried at the heating temperature 60.degree. C. for the
predetermined time. Thereafter, the adhesive layer 30 was formed to
the predetermined width .alpha. of the front edge of artificial
skin or to a part of the front edge .beta.. The width to form the
adhesive layer 30 may be 1.0 cm or more. The cross section of the
ultra-thin artificial skin 10B in such a case is as is shown in
FIG. 26. The stitch portion 12A of the hair 12 is fixed with the
urethane solution 50 to the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin
material 15, and the adhesive layer 30 is coated on said urethane
solution 50.
[0163] In case to form the adhesive layer 30 on the whole reverse
side of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15, as is
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the adhesive layer 30 is formed without
coating the urethane solution for hair fixing 50. The reason for
not coating the urethane solution for hair fixing 50 is that the
adhesive layer 30 has the function to fix the stitch portion 12A of
hair, and since all the stitch portion 12A of the hair attached to
the whole reverse side of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin
material 15 is fixed by forming the adhesive layer 30.
[0164] As the adhesive to form the adhesive layer 30, the mixture
of a two liquid mixture type urethane resin adhesive monomer
consisting of a main and a solidifying agents and DMF as the
solvent for the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15
was used. Polyol with an urethane resin as a main component was
used as the main agent and a polyisothyanate was a main component
as the solidifying agent. The main and the solidifying agents of
said two liquid mixture type urethane resin adhesive and DMF as the
solvent were mixed and stirred. This solution was settled for about
1 to 2 hours at room temperature for the reaction to proceed. The
proper viscosity of the solution after settling was about 2000 to
3000 cps. Said solution of the adhesive was coated with a brush to
the reverse side of the deglossed wig bases 1a and 1b, dried at
80.degree. C. for 10 to 15 hours, and cooled to room temperature
after drying. Thus, the adhesive layer 30 of about 0.05 to 0.2 mm
was formed.
[0165] As a eighth step, the unnecessary part of the net pattern 20
is cut and removed. The protruding part of the deglossed ultra-thin
artificial skin material 15 is also cut and removed along the
periphery 72 forming the outline of the wig. Upon cut and removing,
the front edge of the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material
15 is shaped. As for the size of the shape, the length A in the
vertical direction to the longitudinal direction from the top 51 to
the neighboring valley 52 of FIG. 6 was about 2.0 mm, the length B
in the longitudinal direction from the top 51a to the other
neighboring top 51b was about 10.0 mm to form a wave shape.
[0166] FIGS. 27 and 28 are schematic views of the wig 1
manufactured by the above-mentioned steps. FIG. 27 is a schematic
view from the side of the manufactured wig 1, and FIG. 28 is a
schematic view from the reverse side of the manufactured wig 1. The
direction D is that of the forehead portion of the wig, and the
deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 is provided to the
front portion, the net pattern 20 is provided to the rear portion,
and the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 and the
net pattern 20 are connected in the connecting portion 73. Also,
the adhesive layer 30 is formed in the front edge of the artificial
skin material 15, and is wave-shape processed.
[0167] Here in the present example, since the net pattern 20 is
overlapped and integrated on the deglossed ultra-thin artificial
skin material 15, the net pattern 20 is overlapped and integrated
on the deglossed ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 in the
connecting portion 73, as shown in FIG. 27, but it is also
possible, as shown in FIG. 29, to integrate with the deglossed
ultra-thin artificial skin material 15 above and the net pattern 20
below.
[0168] The fixing force of the wig bases 1a and 1b and the stitch
portion 12A of the hair 12 to the adhesive layer 30 of the wig 10
in the above-mentioned example was measured. The adhesivity of the
wig bases 1a and 1b to the adhesive layer 30 was about 180
gf/mm.sup.2, and the adhesivity of the stitch portion 12A of the
hair 12 to the adhesive layer 30 was about 10 gf/mm.sup.2.
[0169] Also, the adhesivity of the adhesive layer 30 to the wig
bases 1a and 1b was measured by a method of peeling by hand, then
the adhesive layer 30 was not easily peeled off from the wig bases
1a and 1b, and it turned out to be adhered unpeelably. Further the
fixing force of the stitch portion 12A of the hair 12 and the wig
bases 1a and 1b was measured by a method of pulling off the hair 12
by hand. The adhesivity of the stitch portion 12A of the hair 12 to
the wig bases 1a and 1b turned out to be weaker than the adhesivity
of the wig bases 1a and 1b and the adhesive layer 30, but it has
such enough fixing force that the hair 12 does not drop off by
brushing.
[0170] The tackiness and repeelability of the adhesive layer 30 to
the head was also excellent. Bonding again was possible by wiping
the adhesive layer 30 with water, and such attaching and detaching
were possible continuously over several tens of times. Thus,
repeelability of the adhesive layer 30 was confirmed. Therefore,
since this wig can be attached and detached everyday or properly as
necessary not wearing continuously, it is hygienic as well as
practically quite advantageous.
[0171] Next, this wig 1 of the present invention was worn by a
tester, and the outlook appearance was observed. The light
reflection from around the adhesive layer 30 was not observed.
Further, when another tester not wearing the wig 1 observed, it
turned out that the wig 1 was not recognized as being worn by using
the deglossed adhesive layer 30, resulting in good appearance.
[0172] The proper embodiment of the present invention was
explained, but the present invention is not limited only to the
embodiment, but appropriate modification is possible within the
range of the present invention.
[0173] For example, an urethane gel was explained as the adhesive
layer 30 consisting of a single layer, but if having the adhesivity
of the wig bases 1a and 1b and the stitch portion 12A of the hair
12 attached thereto and repeelability from a scalp, the adhesive
for a wig for its manufacture can be appropriately selected. Also,
the deglossing agent may be not only silica but also other
deglossing agents. Further, the concrete values explained in said
embodiment can be properly modified whenever necessary.
[0174] In the present example, the wig base provided with a net of
synthetic resin except at the hairline of the periphery of the
forehead portion, but, instead of a net, the artificial skin made
of a synthetic resin capable of making a pattern of a head shape
can be used as a cap member.
* * * * *