Wig Tote

Abstract

A device for holding a hairpiece such as a wig is disclosed. A half-crown styrofoam member is provided to hold the hairpiece. The crown member is supported by a tubular arm which is in turn supported by a unique bracket which permits the wig tote to be transported in an automobile, mounted on a piece of furniture, or readily attached to a wall member and the like.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that many women wear wigs and various other forms of hairpieces which may be made of human hair or synthetic fibers. Many reasons may be given for the popularity of hairpieces among women including the convenience offered thereby during days of travel and rushed schedules.

It is necessary to periodically condition such hairpieces by washing and styling them. This conditioning may be provided by beauty parlors and wig shops. It is desirable to be able to carry the hairpieces from the business establishment to the home without disturbing the styling or otherwise deteriorating the appearance of the hairpiece. Often, the hairpiece is stored on a styrofoam head-shaped structure; these, however, are easily tipped over and can not be transported in an automobile with a high degree of security for the hairpiece. Devices for transporting men's hats in an automobile are shown in the U. S. Pat. No. 2,643,773 issued to Nicholson; Switzer, U.S. Pat. No. 1,953,373; Searles, U.S. Pat. No. 2,659,489; and Burgin, U.S. Pat. No. 2,939,585.

When the hairpiece is not in use, some means for storing it easily and conveniently is desirable. As heretofore indicated, styrofoam head-shaped structures are in general use. These structures require shelf or counter top space and as indicated, they are subject to being upset with consequent disruption of the hairpiece styling. It is thus desirable to provide a wig tote which may also be used for storage in the home. Rather complex wall mountable devices have been provided for men's hats such as disclosed in Kraft, U.S. Pat. No. 2,182,924; and Hickey, U.S. Pat. No. 3,108,723.

Hairpieces are often used during travel and one may find it difficult to find a convenient means of storing a hairpiece in a motel or hotel. One device directed to travel is found in Kovener, U.S. Pat. No. 3,501,072; and a support stand for use with furniture member is found in Eickhoff, U.S. Pat. No. 3,288,415. While Kovener solves some of the problems, it is subject to many of the above-enumerated shortcomings. Bickhoff is limited in the versatility of mounting modes and transportability that is desirable in a wig tote.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a wig tote not subject to the problems and shortcomings of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wig tote that may be readily transported in an automobile.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wig tote that may be readily mounted on selected furniture members such as a chair back, drawer face, a mirror, and the like.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wig tote that may be mounted on a wall or display unit for holding one or more hairpieces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A versatile wig tote which includes any convenient support element for the retention of a hairpiece which is held by an arm member spaced from a mounting device or bracket. The bracket is characterized by a shape that is permissive of mounting between the window pane and door structure of an automobile and is further characterized by a shape and clamp members permissive of mounting on a piece of furniture or a display unit. Means for fastening the bracket to a wall is provided.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a wig tote constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the wig tote of FIG. 1 showing an alternative embodiment of attachment pivots.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The drawing shows a wig tote 10 which includes a support element 11, an arm member 12 and a mounting device or bracket 13. The support element 11 is preferably crown shaped, that is to say, substantially conforming to the top of the human head. Styrofoam is a suitable material, however, many other materials would be satisfactory; the selection of the material is largely one of choice to satisfy conditions of cost, weight, replaceability and so forth.

The arm member 12 serves to hold the support element 11 at a convenient distance from the bracket 13 and any structure to which the bracket may be mounted. Any of several means may be used to attach the arm 12 and support element 11 to one another. In a styrofoam support element, it is convenient to provide a socket through the bottom surface to receive the outer end of the arm member 12 in sliding engagement therewith. In this example, the support element may be easily and simply removed from the arm member 12. In this example and preferred embodiment, the arm member 12 is curved and shaped to locate the top of the support element 11 at approximately the same level as the top of the bracket 13 and to further elevate the support element 11 above the horizontal portions of the arm member 12 so that a hairpiece, when affixed to the support element, is free to hang naturally as if worn on the head. To further enhance the versatility of the wig tote, the arm member 12 may be made from or include portions of flexible tubing 14 thereby providing the capability of adjusting both or either the elevation or lateral extension of the support element 11.

The mounting device or bracket 13 is such that a great deal of versatility is imparted to the wig tote. The bracket 13 includes a first plate portion 15 which further includes mounting means for pivotable attachment of the arm member 12 to the bracket 13.

To this end, a pivotal socket 16 is attached to the first plate 15. The pivotal socket 16 is shaped to receive one end of the arm member 12 therein. The inner end of the arm 12 may be stepped-down to a smaller diameter corresponding to the socket diameter and thereby limit the length of the arm member that may be inserted into the socket 16.

The bracket 13 further includes a second flat plate portion 18 in parallel relationship to the first plate portion 15. These two plate portions 15, 18, are joined along adjacent edges by a third plate portion 19. The separation of the parallel plates 15, 18 may be selected to permit the insertion of the second plate portion 18 between the window mechanism and door frame of an automobile and also permissive of mounting on a chair back, and the like.

For purposes of mounting the bracket 13 on a chair back, and the like, the bracket 13 includes one or more clamps 20a, 20b that may be moved to a first position as shown by clamp 20a, or to a second position 20b. In the second position, the clamps cooperate with the second plate portion 18 and the third plate portion 19 to form a U-shaped structure that will retain the bracket 13 over the top edge of a chair back, the top edge of a display board, or any other substantially planar selected portion of a piece of furniture, and the like. Preferably, the clamps are of a resilient material such as spring steel to thereby provide a gripping or biasing action. Also, the free end of the clamps 20a, 20b may be provided with rubber tips 23 for the protection of furniture.

The second plate portion 18 of bracket 13 further includes means for fastening the bracket 13 to a wall like member such as a display rack or a closet wall. By way of example, elongated screw holes 21 may be formed in the second plate portion. Thus, if screws, such as indicated by numeral 25, are placed in the wall member, the bracket may be conveniently secured to and removed from the wall.

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the bracket 13 showing a plurality of pivotal attachment means for removably mounting the arm 12 on the bracket 13. One pivotal attachment means is a duplicate of that shown in FIG. 1 and is identified by numeral 16. An alternative pivotal attachment means is represented by an L-shaped element 22 affixed to the first plate portion 15. The arm member 12 may be tubular thereby permitting the arm member 12 to be placed onto or within the upturned leg 23 of the element 22, thus the arm member 12 and support element 11 may be swung to one of many positions.

It should be apparent that the subject matter of this invention may be produced with the substitution of materials such as plastic for metal and the specific means to provide for a particular function may have several equivalents. Yet, there has been disclosed a specific combination of parts that cooperate one with another to provide a particularly versatile wig tote.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A wig tote and support device comprising:

a mounting bracket having first and second planar off-set sections substantially parallel to one another and joined along adjacent edges by a third planar section in step-like fashion; said second section having a thickness permissive of insertion between an automobile door frame and its glass windows, and said third section providing sufficient off-set to limit said insertion to said first section;

attachment means associated with said first plane for mounting a support element on said bracket;

at least one clamp member connected to said first plate and extending outwardly over said second plate and spaced therefrom a distance to retainably restrain said bracket on the edge of a substantially planar object;

an elongated arm having one portion retained by said attachment means, an intermediate portion extending outwardly from said first section of said bracket, and another end portion extending upwardly from the intermediate portion; and

a support element affixed to said other end of said elongated arm and having a crown-shape upper surface thereto.

2. The wig tote and support device of claim 1 further comprises:

said elongated arm and further includes flex-section disposed in said intermediate portion, said flex section permissive of adjusting the elevation of said support element.

3. The wig tote and support device of Claim 1 further comprising:

means associated with said bracket for removably fastening said bracket to a wall.

4. The wig tote and support device of Claim 1 further comprising:

pivot means intermediate said clamp member and said first bracket section, said pivot means providing movement of said clamp member for a first position over said second bracket section to a section position engaging the surface of said first bracket section.