US2789567A - Toupee construction - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1957 M. JACOBY TOUPEE CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 29, 1955 l I v w 2" A n T J 25 Z5 INVEN TOR.

MfYER JACOBY A T7'ORNEY.

' IIIBY 2,789,567 TOUl'EE CONSTRUCTION Meyer Jacoby, Forest Hills, N. Y. Application August 29, 1955, Serial No. 530397 3 Claims. (Cl. 132-53) This invention relates to improvements in the construction of wigs and toupees.

The particular embodiment of the present invention, which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, comprises generally inner and outer layers of hairlike filaments, the former being a reserve supply adapted to be selectively drawn outwards into the outer layer.

While the construction of the present invention has been primarily developed and employed for human cosmetic usage, it is appreciated that the invention is equally well adapted for use with dolls, mannequins, and wherever it is intended to simulate natural hair. Further, while the illustrated embodiment is that of a toupee or partial hairpiece, it is understood that the inventive structure may also be employed in wigs or hairpieces adapted U to cover the entire head; and, it is, therefore, intended that the term toupee as used hereinafter, comprehend all such uses.

As is well known to those versed in the art, wigs and toupees become worn through combing, cleaning and other normal usage, wherein hairs or hair simulating filaments are removed and leave relatively thin or bare areas likely to expose the foundation piece of the wig. Heretofore, the entire wig became useless in this condition to the average user, and was necessarily discarded or returned to a wig maker for replacement of the filaments.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a toupee construction of the type described wherein thin or bare areas may be quickly and easily replenished with hairlike filaments by the user, without the exercise of unusual skill and without the use of special tools.

Another common occurrence which serves to reduce the useful life of conventional wigs and toupees is that of the gradual graying of the wearers natural hair. Obviously, this reveals the existence of a toupee, and necessitates the frequent changing of the toupee hair or purchase of a new toupee.

Accordingly, it is another object 'of the present invention to provide a toupee construction of the type described wherein hairlike filaments of the lower layer may be of different color than those of the upper layer, and drawn outwards, as required, to blend with the filaments of the outer layer in the manner of naturally graying hair.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the foregoing paragraph, which is extremely simple and durable, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction 2 hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing a partially bald man.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing the man of Fig. 1 wearing a toupee of the present invention.

Pig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the man of Fig. 2 with the lower layer of filaments partially drawn outwards to simulate a gray streak.

Pig. 4 is a top plan view of the instant toupee showing the lower layer of filaments carried on an inner foundation sheet, with the outer layer of filaments and its foundation sheet removed.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing the outer layer of filaments and its outer foundation sheet, with some of the outer filaments removed for clarity of understanding.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the toupee of the present invention, illustrated with parts broken away to show the outer and inner layers of filaments, and their respective foundation sheets.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 4, but illustratlng a slightly modified form of the present invention.

Fig. 8 illustrates an initial step in preparing the hairlike filaments of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 9--9 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an initial step in withdrawal of filaments from the inner layer to the outer layer.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 11 and illustrating an intermediate 'step in the withdrawal operation.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view similarto Figs. 11 and 12, showing a final stage in the withdrawal procedure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to Figs. l-3 thereof, a mans head, generally designated 20 is shown partially bald, as at 21 in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, the bald head portion has been covered by a toupee 22, while Fig. 3 illustrates a gray streak 23 in the toupee, as formed by withdrawing filaments from the inner filament layer to the outer filament layer.

More particularly, the toupee 22, as seen in Fig. 6, includes an inner foundation sheet 25, having its underside adapted for attachment to a wearers head, inner, hairlike filaments 26 secured overlying the inner sheet, an outer foundation sheet 27 overlying the inner filaments and secured to the inner sheet, and hairlike outer filaments 28 secured overlying the outer foundation sheet. The toupee 22 and hence the foundation sheets 25 and 27 are illustrated as being of generally ovaloid configuration, but, of course, may be of any desired shape.

The inner foundation sheet 25 is preferably formed of flexible, textile material or cloth, and advantageously of a loose or open character for coolness and comfort to the wearer. For purposes of concealment,'the peripheral edge 25 0f the sheet '25 is advantageously pinked. The inner filaments 26 include a forward cluster of filaments or hank 30 and a rearward cluster of filaments or hank 31. Each hank consists of a group of filaments stitched, as at 32 in Fig- 8, or otherwise secured. together along a line extending transversely of the V individual filaments intermediate the ends thereof to form a relatively fiat bundleor layer. The "filaments of the hank 31 are then folded at 34, as in Fig. 9, along a line transverse of the filamets, substantially coincident with the stitching 32; and, in this folded condition the rearward hank 31 is arranged overlying upper surface of the inner foundation sheet with its fold extending laterally across the sheet at a point spaced between the forward and rearward ends thereof. The free ends of the filaments of the hank 31 thus extend rearwards, and the intermediate folded region 3 4 of the rear-hank is secured to the inner sheet 25 by stitching 33, or other suitable means extending laterally acrossjthe'inner sheet. The filaments of the forwardhank .are similarly secured along and folded about a region extending" trans-' versely of the filaments intermediate the ends thereof, as at 36 in Fig, 4. The front hank 30 is arranged overlying the upper surface of the inner foundation sheet 25 forwards of the rear hank 31, with its intermediate folded region 36 extending generally along the front contour of the inner sheet and secured to the latter by stitching 37. The free'end portions of the filaments of the front hank '30 extend rearwards into close proximity with the secured, folded region 39 of the rear hank 31, as best seen' in Fig. 9. Obviously, the filaments of the hanks 30 and 31 are necessarily of varying length, in order to enable the secured forward region of the front hank 30 and the rearward free end portions of the rear hank 31 to approximately conform to the outline or shape of the inner sheet 25.

While the hanks 30 and 31 of the lower layer of filaments 26 have been illustrated and described as formed with an intermediate fold and secured to the lower or inner sheet 25 along their fold, it is appreciated that the banks need not be folded and may have one end of their filaments secured to the foundation sheet.

The outer foundation sheet 27 is of generally the same size and shape as the inner foundation sheet 25, and also is preferably formed with a pinked marginal edge, as at 40, to render the sheet less visible when worn. The filaments 28 are arranged overlying the upper surface of the outer foundation sheet 27 and secured to the latter by any suitable means, such as the stitches 41. For ventilation and other reasons appearing presently, the outer foundation sheet 27 is preferablyfabricated of flexible, reticulated material, such as mesh cloth or the like. In assembled relation, the outer foundation sheet is arranged overlying the inner layer of filaments 26, and is secured to the innersheet 25 by stitching or other suitable means (not shown). Additional hairlike filaments 43 have one region secured to the undersurface of the inner sheet 25 along the margin of the latter, and extend outwards and upwards about the pinked edges 29 and of the foundation sheets to lie in the upper or outer layer of filaments. The additional filaments 43thus serve to cover and further obscure the edges of the foundation sheets.

In use, if it be desired to draw the inner filaments 26 of either the front hank 30 or the rear hank 31, outwards, as to replace filaments lost from the outer layer or comingle filaments of different colors in the outer filament layer, it is only necessary to engage a hooked element, as at in Fig. 11, through the reticulations of the outer foundation sheet 27. The hooked element, which may be a conventional crocheting needle, or the like, is extended inwards to hook under filaments 26 of the inner layer (the position of Fig. 12), and then retracted upwards to withdraw the hooked filaments, as at 46, in Fig. 13, outwards through the outer foundation sheet for comingling with the filaments 28 of the outer layer.

Obviously, this can be accomplished without skill or training to achieve any desired coloring efiect, such as the gray streak 23 of Fig. 3, or a spare graying eflect, and also to replenish a worn or bare spot on the exterior of the outer foundation sheet 27.

While the preferred embodiment is that of Fig. 4, wherein both the forward and rearward hanks of filaments 3% and 31 are secured forwards and have their free ends extending rearwards, it is fully appreciated that other constructions may serve satisfactorily. For example, in Figs. 7 and 10, the forward hank 30a has its intermediate, folded region 36 arranged contiguous to the folded, intermediate region 32a of the rearward hank 31a and has its free ends extending forwards. The operation described above for drawing filaments from the inner layer to the outer layer is substantially the same with the modification of Figs. 7 and 8.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a toupee construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and'example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A toupee construction comprising an inner sheet adapted to have its underside attached to the head of a wearer, a first layer of hairlike inner filaments arranged overlying the upper side of said inner sheet and secured to the latter, an outer reticulated sheet arranged overlying all of said layer of inner filaments and secured to said inner sheet, and a second layer of hairlike outer filaments arranged overlying the entire upper side of said outer sheet and secured to the latter, whereby said inner filaments may be selectively drawn outwards through said outer sheet to overlie and augment said second layer of outer filaments.

2. A toupee construction according to claim 1, in combination with additional hairlike filaments secured to the underside of said inner sheet along the margins thereof and extending upwards therefrom to obscure the edges of said sheets.

3. A toupee construction comprising an inner founda tion sheet fabricated of flexible material and having its underside adapted for attachment to the head of a wearer, a first hank of hairlike inner filaments folded in an intermediate region and arranged overlying a portion of the upper side of said inner foundation sheet with its folded region secured to said inner foundation sheet, a second hank of hairlike inner filaments folded in an intermediate region and arranged overlying the remainder of the upper side of said inner foundation sheet with its folded region secured to said inner foundation sheet, an outer foundation sheet of flexible reticulated material arranged overlying all said inner filaments and secured to said inner foundation sheet, and a layer of hairlike outer filaments arranged overlying the entire upper side of said outer foundation sheet and secured to the latter, whereby the filaments of said first and second hanks may be selectively drawn outwards through said outer foundation sheet to overlie the latter for replacing or blending with said outer filaments. v

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,000,525 Kubelka Aug. 15, 1911 1,148,539 Samuel Aug. 3, 1915 2,073,869 Jacoby Mar. 16, 1937 2,736,325 Dvorzsak Feb. 28, 1956

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