Inflatable wig tote

Abstract

An inflatable wig tote includes an inflatable wig support and an inflatable carrying case. The wig tote can be inflated when it is to be used and deflated for storing and carrying in a compact space. The carrying case surrounds the wig support when the tote is carried and can press against a wig on the support to hold the wig and to maintain the wig and the wig support erect. The wig support and the carrying case can be formed so that they can be inflated simultaneously or independently.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

This invention relates to a wig tote, and more particularly, to a wig tote which can be inflated for use and deflated for storing.

The use of wigs and hairpieces is becoming increasingly common. A wig is especially convenient for a woman when travelling since it eliminates the need for setting her hair or visiting a hairdresser. However, conventional wig totes or carrying cases are relatively bulky and cannot always be carried on a trip.

Inflatable wig supports have been suggested in the past, but these have not been entirely satisfactory. An inflatable support is usually not as sturdy as a permanent support, and an inflatable support might be floppy or might not hold the wig in the desired position. Further, it is often desirable to carry the wig when it is on the support, but this is difficult without placing the wig and the support in a separate carrying case.

The invention provides a combination inflatable wig support and inflatable carrying case. When the support and the carrying case are inflated, the case surrounds the wig and resiliently presses against the wig to hold the wig and the support erect. The pressure exerted by the carrying case on the wig can be varied as desired by varying the inflated pressure of the carrying case. The case is equipped with a cover, which is also inflatable, and the cover can completely enclose the wig and the wig support so that the wig can be safely carried. When the wig is being worn, the tote can be deflated and folded so that it can be stored or carried in a small space.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inflated wig tote formed in accordance with the invention with the cover open;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the top of the wig support showing the holder for hair care items.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates generally a wig tote which includes a wig support portion 11 and a case portion 12. The case portion is generally cylindrical and provides an enclosure 13 for the wig support which can be closed by a cover 14 hingedly secured to the cylindrical side wall of the case.

The case includes spaced-apart inner and outer side walls 15 and 16, respectively, and a base portion 17 provided by spaced-apart upper and lower walls 18 and 19. The upper wall 18 of the base is joined to the inner side wall 15, and the lower wall 19 is joined to the outer side wall 16 so that the air chambers 20 and 21 between the side walls and the upper and lower walls, respectively, communicate.

The wig support portion extends upwardly from the upper wall 18 and comprises an inflatable bladder having a cylindrical neck portion 22 and a somewhat spherically shaped head portion 23. The air chamber 24 of the bladder communicates with the air chambers 20 and 21.

The cover 14 includes spaced-apart top and bottom walls 25 and 26 which provide an air chamber 27. The cover and the side walls of the case are hexagonally shaped in the embodiment illustrated, and the bottom and top walls of the cover are joined to the inner and outer side walls, respectively, of the case along one of the sides of the hexagon so that the air chambers 27 and 20 communicate through the passage 28. The bottom wall of the cover extends upwardly around the periphery of the cover and is joined to the top wall except for that portion of the bottom wall that is secured to the inner wall of the case. The inner wall of the case extends outwardly and is joined to the top of the outer side wall around the periphery thereof except for the portion which is joined to the bottom wall of the cover.

A locking strap 30 extends outwardly from the cover and is provided with an opening 31 which is adapted to receive a locking button 32 mounted on a strip 33 secured to the outer side wall. A carrying handle 34 is pivotally secured to the outer side wall on opposite sides of the case.

The wig tote is inflated by means of an air valve 35 which is secured to an upwardly embossed portion 36 of the lower wall 19 of the case. The particular valve illustrated is of the type commonly used on inflatable toys and the like and includes a tube 37 secured to the wall 19 and a stopper 38 which provides an air tight seal for the tube. The stopper is attached to a flexible strip 39 which is secured to the lower wall 19 to prevent the stopper from becoming misplaced when it is removed from the tube.

The tote can be inflated merely by blowing through the tube 37. Since the air chambers of the bladder, base, side walls, and cover are interconnected, all of the air chambers are inflated at the same time. When the tote is inflated as desired, the wig W, indicated in phantom in FIG. 2, can be placed over the head portion of the wig support. The inner side wall of the case surrounds the head portion, and the tote can be inflated so that the side walls expand into contact with the wig. The air chambers 20 and 24 provide a resilient air cushion for the wig so that the wig is firmly yet safely held in the desired position. The side walls also maintain the wig and the wig support in an erect position. The air pressure within the chambers can be varied as desired after the wig is positioned.

After the wig is positioned, the cover can be moved to close the top opening of the case, and the locking strap 30 can be inserted over the button 32. The material of the cover and case is advantageously flexible enough so that the cover is hingedly secured to the case merely by the material which joins these two parts. When the cover is closed, the bottom wall thereof advantageously resiliently presses against the top of the wig to prevent the wig from moving up and down within the case and to provide further resistance against lateral movement. The carrying handle 34 can then be used to carry the wig tote without fear of the wig becoming mussed or damaged.

Even though the inner side wall of the case contacts the wig, the wig can be removed merely by pushing the wall outwardly with both hands as the hands are moved downwardly around the wig and then lifting the wig from the support. In some instances it might be desirable to deflate the tote slightly before the wig is removed. After the wig is removed, the tote can be deflated by opening the valve 35, and the deflated tote can be folded for carrying or storing in a small space such as a purse or pocket.

Referring to FIG. 3, a rectangular patch 40 of sheet material is secured to the top of the bladder 11 by a strip 41 of adhesive along one side of the patch and by two spots 42 and 43 of adhesive at the other corners of the patch. The edge portions of the patch between the adhesive are held against the bladder but can be separated from the bladder sufficiently to permit hair care items such as hair pins 44 and comb 45 to be inserted and held between the patch and the bladder. These items can be inserted before the wig is positioned in the bladder and will be carried with the wig so that the user will always have the desired equipment when donning the wig.

The tote is advantageously formed of flexible material such as polyethylene or other plastic or cloth that is rendered air-impermeable.

Although I have described the various air chambers as communicating, one or more of the chambers can be formed separately with its own inflating means. This would permit, for example, the case to be inflated separately from the wig support if the case were to be used for some other purpose. Further, the wig support and the sides of the case could be inflatable, while the base of the case was non-inflatable. The base could either be relatively rigid and therefore not foldable or could be formed of flexible sheet material.

As used herein the term "wig" is not meant to be limited to women's hair pieces and is meant to include both men's and women's hair pieces of various sizes and styles.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention was set forth for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that many of the details herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. An inflatable wig support and carrying case comprising an inflatable bladder adapted to be inserted to form a support for a wig and a case portion, the case portion including spaced-apart inner and outer side walls forming a side air chamber and a base having upper and lower spaced-apart walls forming a bottom air chamber, the bladder being secured to the upper wall of the base and the interior of the bladder communicating with the bottom air chamber so that inflation of the bladder inflates the bottom air chamber, and valve means for inflating the bladder and the side air chamber.

2. The structure of claim 1 including patch means secured to the bladder means at portions of the periphery of the patch means whereby hair care aids can be releasably retained between the patch means and the bladder means.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which the upper wall of the base is secured to the inner side wall and the lower wall of the base is secured to the outer side wall so that the bottom air chamber communicates with the side air chamber.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which the case portion includes a cover having spaced-apart upper and lower walls, a portion of the periphery of the upper wall of the cover being hingedly secured to a portion of the outer side wall of the case portion and a portion of the periphery of the lower wall of the cover being hingedly secured to a portion of the inner side wall of the case portion, the remainder of the peripheries of the upper and lower walls of the cover being joined to provide a top air chamber between the upper and lower walls of the cover which communicates with the side air chamber whereby the bladder, the bottom air chamber, the side air chamber, and the top air chamber are inflated simultaneously.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which the space between the bladder and the inner side walls when the bladder and the side air chamber are inflated varies with the air pressure therein so that the inner side wall can contact a wig supported on the bladder.