U.S. patent application number 15/360267 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-24 for wig clip and wig base having attached wig clip.
This patent application is currently assigned to Annie International, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Annie International, Inc.. Invention is credited to John Suh.
Application Number | 20180140032 15/360267 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62144439 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180140032 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Suh; John |
May 24, 2018 |
WIG CLIP AND WIG BASE HAVING ATTACHED WIG CLIP
Abstract
A wig clip having a set of comb teeth movable into and out of
engagement with a clamping member on a frame is provided with a
layer of fusible solid material on the frame in a quantity
sufficient to enable the wig clip to be secured to the net material
of a wig base by the application of heat to the layer of solid
material. The application of heat causes the solid material to melt
so that, when the wig clip is brought into contact with the net
material, the fusible material flows through apertures of the net
material, and then resolidifies, the wig clip is securely attached
to the net material. The preferred fusible solid material is
ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
Inventors: |
Suh; John; (North Wales,
PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Annie International, Inc. |
North Wales |
PA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Annie International, Inc.
North Wales
PA
|
Family ID: |
62144439 |
Appl. No.: |
15/360267 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41G 3/005 20130101;
A41G 3/0033 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41G 3/00 20060101
A41G003/00 |
Claims
1. A wig clip comprising a frame, a set of comb teeth connected to
said frame and movable into and out of engagement with a clamping
member on said frame, said clamping member having a clamping
surface facing in a first direction, and a layer of solid material
attached to said frame, said layer of solid material being fusible
upon the application of heat, and located on a side of said frame
facing in a direction opposite said first direction, said solid
material being present on said frame in a quantity sufficient to
enable the wig clip to be secured to the net material of a wig base
by the application of heat to said layer of solid material to cause
the solid fusible material to melt, discontinuing the application
of heat, bringing the wig clip into contact with the net material
of the wig base, and allowing a portion of said solid material to
flow through apertures of said net material, and allowing said
fusible material to resolidify, thereby securely attaching said wig
clip to said net material.
2. A wig clip according to claim 1, wherein said layer of solid
material is an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
3. A wig clip comprising a frame having a cross-member, a pair of
legs spaced from each other and extending in a first direction from
the cross-member, a clamping member connected to said legs and
extending from one of said legs to the other and spaced from said
cross-member, and a set of comb teeth connected to the cross-member
of the frame and extending past the clamping member, said comb
teeth being movable into and out of engagement with the clamping
member of said frame on one side of the frame, wherein said frame
includes an area on each of said legs to which a layer of solid
material is attached, said layer of solid material being fusible
upon the application of heat, and located on a side of said frame
opposite said one side of frame, and in a quantity sufficient to
enable the wig clip to be secured to the net material of a wig base
by the application of heat to said layer of solid material to cause
the solid fusible material to melt, discontinuing the application
of heat, bringing the wig clip into contact with the net material
of the wig base, and allowing a portion of said solid material to
flow through apertures of said net material, and allowing said
fusible material to resolidify, thereby securely attaching said wig
clip to said net material.
4. A wig clip according to claim 3, wherein said layer of solid
material is an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
5. A wig base comprising a net material adapted to fit over the
cranial portion of a human head and having an inside surface and an
outside surface, said wig base including at least one wig clip,
each said wig clip comprising a frame located on the inside surface
of the wig base, said frame having a cross-member, a pair of legs
spaced from each other and extending in a first direction from the
cross-member, a clamping member connected to said legs and
extending from one of said legs to the other and spaced from said
cross-member, and a set of comb teeth connected to the cross-member
of the frame and extending past the clamping member, said comb
teeth being movable into and out of engagement with the clamping
member of said frame on one side of the frame, wherein said frame
includes an area on each of said legs to which a layer of fusible
solid material is attached, said areas being located on a side of
said frame opposite said one side of the frame, said layer of solid
material including first and second portions respectively on the
inside and outside surfaces of the wig base, and connecting
portions extending through apertures of the net material and
connecting said first and second portions to each other, thereby
securely attaching said wig clip to said net material.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to wig clips, i.e., clips used to
secure a wig base to a wearer's natural hair, and more specifically
to improvements in the attachment of a wig clip to the wig
base.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A typical wig clip is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,804,
granted on Jan. 21, 2014, and the disclosure of that patent is
incorporated by reference. The wig clip is composed of a U-shaped
frame member having legs extending from opposite ends of an
intermediate portion of the frame, a set of comb teeth disposed
between the legs and also extending from the intermediate portion,
and a connecting portion secured to the legs by rivets and
extending from one leg to the other. The connecting portion is
overlapped by the comb teeth.
[0003] The frame has a spring property and is made from a metal, a
synthetic resin, or another material having a spring property, and,
when the frame member and the connecting portion are apart from
each other and in a relaxed condition, the distance between the
rivet holes of the connecting portion is either greater than, or
less than, the distance between the rivet holes in the legs of the
U-shaped frame member. Consequently, when the connecting portion is
riveted to the frame, the wig clip tends to bend out of a planar
configuration, and can be manually shifted from one stable
condition to another by a toggle action. In a first stable
condition, the comb teeth are spaced by a short distance from the
connecting portion, and in a second stable condition, the comb
teeth are in contact with the connecting portion.
[0004] Usually, several of these wig clips are attached to a wig
base. The wig base is a flexible net-like structure to which wig
hair is attached by a process known as "weaving." The wig clips are
used to attach the wig base to a wearer's natural hair. When the
wig clip is in its first stable condition, i.e., with the comb
teeth spaced from the connecting portion, the comb teeth can be
engaged with a lock of the wearer's natural hair close to the
scalp. Then, by manual bending, the wig clip can be toggled to its
second stable condition, and the wearer's natural hair is clamped
between the comb teeth and the connecting portion so that the wig
base is secured in place.
[0005] Other wig clips, such as the wig clip described in U.S. Pat.
No. 8,689,807, granted on Apr. 8, 2014, utilize a spring-urged,
pivoted comb to secure the wearer's natural hair to a frame. The
comb teeth are formed with an array of projections to ensure that
the wig clip is securely attached to the wearer's natural hair.
[0006] A wig clip is typically sewn to a wig base by passing yarns
through holes formed in the frame of the wig clip. Sewing is
effective in making a secure connection between the wig clip and
the wig base, but the sewing process is time-consuming. As an
alternative, wig clips have been secured to the net material of the
wig base by the use of barbs formed on the frame or on extensions
of the frame structure. The barbs also connect the wig clip to the
wig base securely, but, if not properly positioned, they can cause
some discomfort to the wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An object of this invention is to provide a simpler, yet
effective, means for securing a wig clip to a wig base.
[0008] A wig clip in accordance with the invention comprises a
frame, and a set of comb teeth connected to the frame and movable
into and out of engagement with a clamping member on the frame. The
clamping member has a clamping surface facing in a first direction,
and a layer of solid material, fusible upon the application of heat
is attached to the frame on a side of thereof facing in a direction
opposite the direction in which the clamping surface faces. The
solid material is present on the frame in a quantity sufficient to
enable the wig clip to be secured to the net material of a wig base
by the application of heat to the layer of solid material to cause
the solid fusible material to melt, discontinuing the application
of heat, bringing the wig clip into contact with the net material
of the wig base, and allowing the melted fusible material to flow
through apertures of the net material and to resolidify, thereby
securely attaching the wig clip to the net material. The preferred
fusible solid material is ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
[0009] The preferred form of wig clip is one comprising a frame
having a cross-member, and a pair of legs spaced from each other
and extending in a first direction from the cross-member. The
clamping member is connected to the legs, spaced from the
cross-member, and extends from one of the legs to the other. The
comb teeth are connected to the cross-member and extend past the
clamping member. The frame includes an area on each of the legs to
which a layer of the fusible solid material is attached.
[0010] A wig base can have a plurality of wig clips as described
above secured to its inner side by the fusible material at suitable
locations for attachment of the wig base to a wearer's natural
hair.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a wig clip according to the
invention, as seen from the side that engages the surface of a wig
base;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic bottom plan view showing the wig clip
of FIG. 1 and a heating appliance used to melt the fusible solid
material;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view showing the wig clip secured to
the wig base; and
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing two wig clips secured
to a wig base.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the wig clip 10 in accordance with the
invention comprises a frame having a cross-member 12 and a pair of
legs 14 and 16 spaced from each other and extending in a first
direct (downward in FIG. 1) from the cross-member. A clamping
member 18, connected the legs, extends from one leg to the other at
a location spaced from the cross-member. Comb teeth 20, which are
preferably formed as a unit with the cross-member 12, extend past
the clamping member 18.
[0016] The frame, including the legs, and the cross member is
preferably composed of a metal, a synthetic resin, or another
material having spring properties. The clamping member 18 is
connected to the legs 16 and 18 in such a way that the clamping
member is under tension while the cross-member is under
longitudinal compression, or, alternatively, so that the clamping
member is under longitudinal compression while the cross-member is
under tension. As a result, the wig clip can be manually toggled
between two stable conditions, one in which the comb teeth 20 are
in contact with the clamping member 18 and pressing against the
clamping member, and the other, in which the comb teeth are spaced
from the clamping member. The comb teeth can be moved to spaced
relationship with the clamping member before the wig clip engaged
with a wearer's natural hair, and then toggled into the other
stable condition, thereby clamping the wearer's natural hair
between the comb teeth and the clamping member. The tension and
compression in the cross-member and the clamping member can be
achieved by applying tension or compression to the cross-member or
to the clamping member when securing the clamping member to the
legs by means of rivets. If the clamping member and cross member
are unitary, a similar result can be achieved by applying tension
or compression in the process of forming the unit.
[0017] The clamping member 18 is preferably covered by an
elastomeric sleeve of natural or synthetic rubber, to improve
frictional contact between the wig clip and the wearer's natural
hair.
[0018] The clamping surface of the clamping member 18 engageable by
the comb teeth faces the comb teeth in a first direction. As shown
in FIG. 1, a layer 22 of solid fusible material is attached to leg
14 of the wig clip frame, and a similar layer 24 is attached to leg
16. These layers 22 and 24 are located on the side of the frame
that faces in a direction opposite to the first direction.
[0019] The fusible solid material can be selected from a variety of
"hot-melt" adhesives, including EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate
copolymers), acrylic, polyolefin, polyurethane, polyamide, and
natural rubber. For this application EVA is preferred, and suitable
EVA hot-melt adhesives include ELVAX.RTM. 150 ethylene-vinyl
acetate copolymer, available from E. I. duPont de Nemours and
Company, Inc., Chestnut Run Plaza, Bldg. 730, 974 Centre Road,
Wilmington, Del., 19805 USA, and RELENE EVA ethylene-vinyl acetate
copolymer, available from Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance
corporate Park, Block 8A, Thane Belapur Road, Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai
400701, India. EVA typically melts at a temperature of about
63.degree. C.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, a heater 28 is used to apply heat to the
fusible layers 22 and 24, thereby melting the layers. Upon
discontinuance of the application of heat, the fusible material
retains heat and remains in a Plowable condition for a sufficient
time to allow the side of the wig clip frame on which the fusible
layers are located to be brought into contact with the net material
of a wig base, and to allow a part of the fusible material to flow
through the apertures of the net material.
[0021] The heating element can be in the form of an electrically
heated element that is brought into direct contact with the fusible
material, or alternatively a heat gun or similar device that
directs a stream of hot air toward the fusible layers.
[0022] After the side of the wig clip frame on which the fusible
layers 22 and 24 are located is brought into contact with the net
material of a wig base, and a part of the fusible material is
allowed to flow through the apertures of the net material, the
fusible material resolidifies and portions of the fusible material
on both sides of the net are connected to each other by elements of
fusible material extending through the apertures of the net. As
shown in FIG. 3, the resolidified layers 22 and 24 of fusible
material include portions on both sides of the net material 26 as
well as connecting portions extending through the apertures of the
net material. These resolidified layers firmly secure the wig clip
to the net material of the wig base.
[0023] A typical wig base net material melts at a temperature of
approximately 82.degree. C., not far above the melting temperature
of the EVA hot melt adhesive. For this reason, the step of
discontinuing the application of heat, is preferably carried out
and discontinued before bringing the wig clip into contact with the
net material of the wig base. However, in the case of a higher
melting wig base material, the heating device can be operated while
the wig clip is in contact with the base material.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows a wig base 30 having an inner surface 32 to
which two wig clips 34 and 36 are attached by fusible layers in the
manner depicted in FIG. 3. The wig clips are typically located
adjacent the perimeter of the wig base on the inner surface, and
are spaced from one other. Any desired number of wig clips can be
attached to a given wig base at locations such that the wig clips
can engage the wearer's natural hair to hold the wig base, and the
wig hair (not shown) can be woven to the wig base, in place.
[0025] One of the advantages of the use of fusible material to
attach wig clips to the wig base is that no sewing or other
time-consuming steps are required to attach the clips to the wig
base. The attachment can be carried out in a very short time,
making it possible to customize the number, arrangement and
positions of the wig clips to accommodate the needs of a particular
individual wearer.
* * * * *