US2907334A - Hairpiece and method of making - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1959 G. M. LE MOLE 2,907,334

HAIRPIECE AND METHOD OF MAKING Filed March 14, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill v INVENTOR 1=:.E GERALD M. LE MOLE ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1959 e. M. LE MOLE HAIRPIECE AND METHOD OF MAKING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1957 IL=L INVENTOR GERALD M LE MOLE ATTORNEYS United States Patent HAIRPIECE AND METnon on MAKING Gerald M. Le Mole, Staten Island, N.Y. Application March 14, 1957, Serial No. 646,017 '6 Claims. (11. 271--'s This invention relates to the art of concealing baldness in human beings and more particularly to a hairpiece and method of making the same which will provide an artificial and natural appearing substitute for human hair which has been lost, due to advancing age or other rea- The art of making toupees or hairpieces has been practiced for many years, but during this time there has been little advancement in the art and the present tedious, time consuming and costly method of making hairpieces has been utilized with only minor variations for a relatively long period of time.

Hairpieces are now manufactured by providing a Wooden manikin having a contour corresponding to the contour of the scalp of the person who is to utilize the hairpiece and an outline of the area to be covered by thehairpiece is determined and marked on the manikin. 'A piece of net material, referred to in the trade as an atamine, is tacked down to the wooden manikin and a piece of silk cloth of the desired color is tacked down over the atamine. The silk cloth is marked with the outline of the area to be covered by hair and hair is applied thereto by pulling a strand of the atamine through the silk cloth to form a loop and thereafter weaving strands of hair through the loop and knotting the same to secure the hair to the loop. Since the'thread of the atamine in forming the loop is somewhat resilient upon release thereof, the loop and knot are retracted through the silk cloth with the result that the knot lies substantially in the plane of the atamine. In this procedure, the knot must be made in the proper manner since the direction in which the hair will lie depends upon the way in which the knot is tied. The knot commonly employed for this purpose is known as a weavers knot.

Upon completion of the hair weaving operating, a second piece of silk cloth is placed in contact with the inner surface of the atamine and the atamine, as well as the two pieces of silk cloth are sewn together along the edge, together with a binding strip of silk ribbon which serves to provide a complete hairpiece. The completed hairpiece may then be applied to the scalp and held thereon by means of adhesive tape, but it is to be noted that the knots in the atamine will provide a relatively uneven sur-' face which is not particularly comfortable and furthermore, it is sometimes quite ditficult to provide *a suitable fit on the scalp of the user. 3

These prior art hairpieces have many disadvantages, among which are the fact that they cannot be Washed in soap and water but mustbe cleaned in benzine or other suitable cleaning fluid and due to the fact that the knots are not set or fixed in any. way, considerable hair is lost when the same is combed. Furthermore, combing of the hair is very diificult, since if the loss of hair is to be held at a minimum, the knots must be held in place by the fingers while the combing operation proceeds, but even in following this procedure, considerable hair is still lost. The cost of making a hairpiece in the above described ,Y 2,907,334 l atente d Oct. 6, 195,9

of is relatively short being from six months to a year depending upon how carefully the same is handled. Furthermore, the hair cannot be combed in any desired direction, but must be combed in accordance with the placement of the knots securing the hair in place.

The present invention is designed to provide a hairpiece substantially devoid of the above mentioned disadvantages and to provide a method of making a hairpiece which materially simplifies such work and thereby reduces the cost and at the same time, produces a hairpiece of superior quality.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a hairpiece which may be conveniently applied to the entire scalp or any part thereof, without the use of adhesive tape and which permits washing in soap and water while applied to the scalp, as well as normal combing of the same in any desired direction. I

A further object of the invention is the provision of a hairpiece which may be secured to the scalp by a waterproof adhesive and one to which commercial hair dressings or other solutions'may be applied inorderto present the same groomed appearance as with natural hair.

A still further object of the invention is theprovision of a hairpiece which is materially lighter in weight than. conventional hairpieces produced by prior art methods. A further object of the invention is the provision of a hairpiece having a smooth inner surface which materially contributes to comfort and to providing a firm bond be: tween the hairpiece and the scalp of the user.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a method of making a hairpiece which is relatively showing the step :of applying a plastic'to the net material manner is relatively high and furthermore, the life there simple as compared to prior art methods thereby materi-- ally reducing the cost of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method of making a hairpiece which involves setting of the knots by means of a plastic which serves to retain the knots in position thereby precluding the loss of hair and at the same time, provides a smooth inner surface for the hairpiece.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a simplified method of making a hairpiece which may be conveniently utilized to form a hairpiece of any desired size or configuration and one which may be washed in soap and water and combed in the same manner as normal hair without danger of pulling the hair loose from the hairpiece. i

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a method of making a hairpiece which involves the use of a net material which is impregnated with a suitable plastic, such plastic being cured prior to weaving of the hair therein and thereafter the inner surface of the hairpiece is coated with the same plastic which is cured to set the hair knots in place and to provide a smooth inner surface. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in' conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

' Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation with parts broken away and in section for greater clarity and-showing, a metallic mol-d,'together with the first step in the making of a hairpiece in accordance with the method of this invention;

'Fig. 2 a side elevational view similar to Fig. 1 and forming the atamine to impregnate the same and provide a base for receiving the hair;

Fig. 3 a side ele'vational view showing the head of the user and the manner of indicating on the atamine, the area to be covered by hair; f

"Fig. 4 a fragmentary sectional view with parts in eleva V 3 tion for greater clarity and showing the first step in weaving hair into the atamine;

Fig. 5 a fragmentary sectional view with parts in eleva tion for greater clarity andshowing the formation of the knot to hold the strand of hair in place on a loop of the atamine;

Fig. 6 a fragmentary sectional view with parts inelevation for greater clarity and showing 'a strand of hair secured in place and with the knot withdrawn into the atamine;

Fig. 7 a view in perspective showing the step of applying a plastic to the inner surface of the atamine after completion of the hair weaving operation;

Fig. 8 a fragmentary sectional view showing the structure of the hairpiece after completion of the hair weaving and plastic curing operation on the inner surface of the atamine;

Fig. 9 a view in elevation showing the atamine applied to the mold for final curing of the coating of plastic on the inner surface of the atamine;

Fig. 10 a view in perspective showing: the step of trimthing the hairpiece to final form; and

Fig. 11 an elevational view of the head of the user and showing the manner of applying and securing the hairpiece to the scalp.

With continued reference to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. l a mold it which may be formed of any suitable metallic material, such as aluminum or copper and the upper portion 11 of the mold it is provided with a contour conforming to the contour of the head to which the hairpiece is to be applied. This contour may be obtained from a wooden manikin in the same manner as heretofore used for constructing hairpieces. v T he mold 10 may also be provided with a base flange 12 which serves to support the same during making of the hairpiece and may also serve as a convenient means forsupporting the mold over a suitable heat source to be utilized during the curing operation which will be explained below.

The first step in the method of making a hairpiece in accordance with this invention involves the provision of apiece of net material 13 which may be composed of cotton or nylon or any other desired fabric material and this piece of net material is commonly termed an atamine and is of a size somewhat larger than the area of the scalp to be covered by the hairpiece. For convenience and description, the net material 13 will hereinafter be referred to as the atamine and such atamine 13 is applied to the appropriate portion of the outer surface of the mold 10 and is secured in place in intimate contact with such surface by a suitable adhesive tape 14. It has been found that ordinary masking tape is suitable for this purpose.

As shown in Fig. 2, the atamine 13 may then be painted or otherwise covered with a suitable plastic to impregmate the atamine and at the same time, build up a layer of plastic of the desired thickness on the outer surface of the atamine 13. With reference to Fig. 4, the atamine 13 is shown to an enlarged scale and the layer of plastic 15 is shown on the outer surface thereof. As shown in Fig. 2, the brush 16 may be utilized to apply the plastic to the atamine 13, but if desired, the plastic may be applied by spraying or by any other suitable operation. The plastic employed is a commercially available product and will be of the desired color or sufficiently transparent or translucent to permit the scalp of the user to be visible therethrough which results in the hairpiece having the appearance of a natural scalp.

After a sufficient amount of plastic has been applied to the atamine 13 to impregnate the sameand build up a layer 15 thereon of the desired thickness, the mold 1i] and atamine 13 secured thereto is subjected to heat at the required temperature and for the: required time to cure the plastic and such heat may be applied in any desired manner, such as by placing the entire mold and ataminein an o ten or by applying heat only to the in- 4 terior of the hollow mold 10. The conductivity of the mold 10 is, of course, sufficient to transmit heat to the plastic impregnated atamine and to cure such plastic.

After curing of the plastic, the atamine 13 is removed from the mold 1i and the same may be applied to the head 17 of the user, in order to mark the desired area to receive hair, as by a pencil 13 or in any other desired manner, or if desired, the area to be covered by hair may be obtained from a paper pattern or template previously prepared from the users scalp.

After the area to receive hair has been marked, the hair weaving operation is commenced and such operation is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawing.

The hair weaving operation is accomplished by utilizing a needle 19 commonly termed a ventilating needle and such needle 19 may be provided with an elongated shank 2t) terminating at one end in a point 21 and having a hook 22 spaced inwardly from the point 21. The needle 19 is utilized by inserting the pointed end through the plastic layer 15 on the atamine 13 and picking up one of the threads 23 forming the atamine and withdrawing the same through the plastic layer 15 to form a loop 24 outwardly of the plastic layer 15. A strand or strands of hair 25 may be inserted through an eye in the end 26 of the needle 19 and drawn through the loop 24 or the strand of hair 25 may be drawn through the loop 24 by the hook 22, much in the same manner as utilized in the art of crocheting. After the strand of hair 25 has been drawn through the loop 24, as shown in Fig. 5, a knot 27 is formed therein to secure the strand of hair 25 to the loop 2-4 and this knot 27 is conventional in form and is commonly known as a weavers knot. Upon completion of the knot tying operation, the strand of hair 25 is released and the resiliency of the thread 23 will serve to draw the loop 24 and knot 27 through the plastic layer 15 and into the atamine 13, in such a manner that the knot is entirely concealed from the outer surf-ace of the atamine and only the strand of hair 25 projects through a small puncture in the plastic layer 15. This hair weaving process is continued until the entire area to receive hair is covered to the desired thickness and it is to be noted, that in this process it is immaterial on which side of the loop 24 the knot 27 is formed, since this does not determine the direction in which the hair must be combed, as was the case in the prior art method of making hairpieces.

Upon completion of the hair weaving operation, the inner surface of the atamine 13 is coated with the same plastic as was previously applied to the outer surface thereof and, as shown in Fig. 7, this coating process may be carried out by a brush 28 or the plastic may be applied by spraying or in any other desired manner. This plastic is applied to the inner surface of the atamine 13 in a sufiicient quantity to completely cover any projections caused by the knots 27 within the atamine and to provide a smooth inner surface thereto. The structure of the atamine 13, together with the plastic layer 15 and plastic inner layer 29 is shown in Fig. 8 and it will be seen that a completely smooth inner surface is provided and that the strand of hair 25 of which there are many, merely projects through a puncture in the outer plastic layer 15.

The atamine 13 with the plastic coating 29 on the inner surface thereof is again applied to the metallic mold 10 and the same is subjected to heat at the required temperatureand for the required time to cure the plastic inner coating which results in providing a unitary article with the plastic inner and outer layers 29 and 15 firmly bonded to the plastic impregnated'atamine 13 and in which the cured inner plastic layer 29 serves to securely set the knots 2'7 in position to prevent movement of the same and to prevent withdrawal of the hair 25 during combing operation and the inner layer 29 further provides a smooth inner surface for intimate contact with the scalp of the user.

Upon completion of the final curing operation, the atas mine 13 and cured plastic is removed from the mold and as shown in Fig. 10, the pair of scissors 30or other cutting means may be utilized to trim the completed hairpiece to the desired shape and size and also if desired, the hair 25 may be trimmed to any desired style.

Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 11, it is only necessary tQapply the completed hairpiece to the scalp 31 of the wearer and the hairpiece may be conveniently secured to the scalp by a suitable waterproof adhesive which may be contained in a collapsible tube 32 or may be applied in any other desired manner and in this manner, the hairpiece is retained in place on the scalp for any desired length of time.

As stated above, the hairpiece of this invention may of the wearer and furthermore, the hair may be combed in any desired direction without loss of the same and without utilizing any special combing technique and in view of the fact, that only a single layer of fabric is utilized, an extremely thin and light hairpiece may be provided with the result of effectively simulating natural hair and scalp and also in preventing discomfort to the wearer. Since the hairpiece of this invention is relatively thin, use of the same does not result in undue perspiration which, of course, materially contributes to the comfort of the wearer.

It will be seen that by the above described invention there has been provided an improved hairpiece and method of making the same which materially reduces the cost thereof by simplifying the manufacturing procedure and also provides a hairpiece more closely simulating natural hair and resulting in a minimum of discomfort to the user.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making a hairpiece comprising forming a hollow metallic mold with the outer surface thereof having a contour conforming to the contour of the scalp to which the hairpiece is to be applied, applying an atamine of net material to the appropriate portion of the surface of said mold, securing the edges of said atamine to said mold with adhesive tape, painting said atamine with a plastic to impregnate the atamine and provide a plastic outer surface thereon of the desired thickness, subjecting said mold to heat at the required temperature and for the required time to cure said plastic, removing said atamine from said mold, successively pulling loops of the threads forming said atamine to the plastic outer surface, weaving strands of hair through said loops and knotting said strands to said loops, permitting said knots and loops to retract into the atamine below the outer surface, coating the inner surface of said atamine with a plastic to set the knots and provide a smooth inner surface, applying the plastic coated atamine to said mold, subjecting said mold to heat at the required temperature and for the required time to cure the plastic on said inner surface, removing the hairpiece from said mold and trimming the same to the desired shape and size to provide a complete hairpiece.

2. A method of making a hairpiece comprising forming a metallic mold with the outer surface thereof having a contour of the scalp to which the hairpiece is to be applied, applying an atamine of net material to the appropriate portion of the surface of said mold, securing the edges of said atamine to said mold, painting said atamine with a plastic to impregnate the atamine and provide a plastic outer surface thereon of the desired thickness, subjecting said mold to heat at the required temperature and for the required time to cure said plastic, removing Said atamine from said mold, successively pulling loops of the threads forming said atamine through the plastic outer surface, weaving strands of hair through said loops and knotting said strands to said loops, permitting said knots and loops to' retract into the atamine' below the outer surface, coating the inner surface of said atamine with a plastic to set the knots and provide a smooth inner surface, applying the plastic coated atamine to said mold, subjecting said mold to heat atthe-reqnired temperatureand for the required time to cure the plastic on said inner surface, removing .the'hairpiece from said moldand trimming the same to the desired shape and size to provide a complete hairpiece.

3. A method of making a hairpiece comprising forming a metallic mold with the outer surface thereof having a contour conforming'to the contour of the scalp to which the hairpiece is to be applied, applying an atamine of net material to the appropriate portion of the surface of said mold, securing the edges of said atamine to said mold, applying a plastic to said atamine to impregnate the atamine and provide a plastic outer surface thereon of the desired thickness, subjecting said mold to heat at the required temperature and for the required time to cure said plastic, removing said atamine from said mold, successively pulling loops of the threads forming said atamine through the plastic outer surface, weaving strands of hair through said loops and knotting said strands to said loops, permitting said knots and loops to retract into the atamine below the outer surface, coating the inner surface of said atamine with a plastic to set the knots and provide a smooth inner surface, applying the plastic coated atamine to said mold, subjecting said mold to heat at the required temperature and for the required time to cure the plastic on said inner surface, removing the hairpiece from said mold and trimming the same to the desired shape and size to provide a complete hairpiece.

4. A method of making a hairpiece comprising forming a mold with the outer surface thereof having a contour conforming to the contour of the scalp to which the hairpiece is to be applied, applying an atamine of net material to the appropriate portion of the surface of the mold, securing the edges of said atamine to said mold, applying a plastic to said atamine to impregnate the atamine and provide a plastic outer surface thereon of the desired thickness, subjecting said atamine to heat at the required temperature and for the required time to cure said plastic, removing said atamine from said mold, successively pulling loops of the threads forming said atamine through the plastic outer surface, weaving strands of hair through said loops and knotting said strands to said loops, permitting said knots and loops to retract into the atamine below the outer surface, coating the inner surface of said atamine with a plastic to set the knots and provide a smooth inner surface, applying the plastic coated atamine to said mold, subjecting said atamine to heat at the required temperature and for the required time to cure the plastic on said inner surface, removing the hairpiece from said mold and trimming the same to the desired shape and size to provide a complete hairpiece.

5. A method of making a hairpiece comprising forming a mold with the outer surface thereof having a contour conforming to the contour of the scalp to which the hairpiece is to be applied, applying an atamine of net material to the appropriate portion of the surface of said mold, securing the edges of said atamine to said mold, applying a plastic to said atamine to impregnate the atamine and provide a plastic outer surface thereon of the desired thickness, subjecting said atamine to heat at the required temperature and for the required time to cure said plastic, removing said atamine from said mold, successively pulling loops of the threads forming said atamine through the plastic outer surface, weaving strands of hair through said loops and knotting said strands to said loops, permitting said knots and loops to retract into the atamine below the outer surface, coating the inner surface of said atamine with a plastic to set the knots and provide a smooth inner surface, applying the plastic coated atamine to said mold, subjecting said atarnine to heat at therequired temperature and for the required time to cure the plastic on said inner surface and removing the hairpiece from said mold to provide a complete hairpiece.

6. A hairpiece comprising an atamine of net material impregnated and coated on the outer surface with plastic, strands of hair knotted to loops of the threads forming said atarnine with the knots disposed Wholly within said atamin'e below the outer plastic surface and above the inner surface of said atamine and a plastic coating on the inner; surface of said atamine to set said knots and provide a smooth inner surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,464,089 Ernest Aug. 7, 1923 1,490,466 Hupka Apr. 15, 1924 1,845,380 Westmore Feb. 16, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,074,386 France Mar. 31, 1954

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