US3077891A - Toupee and method of manufacture - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1963 s. 5. LANE 3,077,891

TOUPEE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE I Filed March 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 32 INVENTOR. 572 /1 45) S. Zfl/VE Feb. 19, 1963 s. s. LANE ND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE TOUPEE A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1961 Unite 3 077,891 TOUPEE AND ME'lliflD OF MANUFACTURE Stanley S. Lane, Toronto, Qntario, Canada, assignor to Lord & Lady Windsor, inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 96,207 9 Claims. (Cl. 132-5) The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of hairpieces, and in particular to a method of manufacturing a toupee to cover the bald area of a persons head, and to toupees having improved esthetic and functional characteristics.

Extensive efforts have gone into the manufacture of toupees or hairpieces which have a natural appearance when worn, are relatively easy to apply, and are reasonably comfortable. For one reason or another, commercially available hairpieces fall far short of the necessary requirements for their widespread acceptance and use. Often, the construction of the toupee is such that there is tell-tale evidence to even the most casual observer that an artificial hairpiece is being worn. One of the critical areas for such toupee is the front hairline at which it is a relatively easy matter to detect that a toupee is bein worn. This may be due to a number of factors, including improper fit of the toupee along the front hairline, the provision of a relatively sharp and unnatural looking outcrop of hair along the front hairline, the exposure of the underlying scalp piece for the hair incident to normal combing, or combinations thereof.

Although a natural and realistic appearance of the toupee probably is the most important characteristic, it will be appreciated that it is also desirable that the toupee be easy to apply, yet present minimum risk of inadvertant loosening or removal with the attendant embarrassment to the wearer. Further when once applied, the toupee should be able to Withstand normal abuse incident to the usual physical activities of the wearer. Still further, the toupee should not cause the wearer any physical discom ort, such as being unduly heavy, cause excessive perspiration, or interfere with normal daily activities such as bathing, combing the hair, scratching the scalp, and the like.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved toupee and method for its manufacture which obviates one or more of the aforesaid diificulties. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide an improved toupee or hairpiece which has an exceptional life-like and natural appearance when worn, may be readily secured in place, gives the wearer a hi h order of security against detection and the attendant embarrassment, and does not interfere with the normal day to day activities of the wearer or cause physical discomfort.

In accordance with article aspects of the present invention, there is provided a toupee for covering a bald area which comprises superposed flexible and foraminous inner and outer scalp pieces each conforming to the bald area and complementary thereto and bounded by a front edge defining a front hairline and a rear edge. A main body of hair is knotted into the outer scalp piece, while an auxiliary body of hair is knotted into the inner scalp piece along the front edge and curved thereabout to blend and merge into the main body such as to impart a natural appearance to the front hairline. A relatively rigid front insert is interposed between the inner and outer scalp pieces and is arranged to be coextensive with at least a portion of the front edges and to conform with the underlying front portion of the bald area. A relatively rigid rear insert is interposed between the inner 3,97 Zddl Patented Feb. 19, 1963 and outer scalp pieces and arranged to be coextensive with at least a portion of the rear edge and to conform to the underlying rear portion of the bald area. Provision is made for securing the front and rear inserts to one of the scalp pieces and for marginally joining the inner and outer scalp pieces to each other. The respective inserts impart the necessary rigidity to the hairpiece along the front and rear edges thereof and provide convenient locations for the releasable attachment of the hairpiece to the bald area of the wearer, with the major portion of the toupee being provided by the foraminous inner and outer scalp pieces which are porous, lightweight, and conform closely to the bald area such that the overall effect is an exceptional looking head of hair for the wearer.

In accordance with method aspects of the present invention, the inner and outer scalp pieces are formed of a fabric netting which is conformed to and is complementary to the bald area and are bounded by a front edge defining a front hairline and a rear edge. Hair is knotted into the outer scalp-pieceto provide a main body or mass thereof projecting from the upper surface of the outer scalp-piece, and in similar fashion, hair is knotted into the inner scalp-piece along its front edge to provide at least a part of an auxiliary body of hair which projects from the under surface of the inner scalp piece and extends generally forwardly of the front edge thereof. Relatively rigid front and rear inserts are formed of shapes to be coextensive with at least a portion of the adjacent front and rear edges of the toupee and the underlying portions of the wearers bald area. The inner andouter scalp pieces are assembled in superposed relation, with the respective front and rear edges in coextensive relation and partially secured together with the front and rear inserts then being sandwiched therebetween and positioned along the front and rear edges respectively. The coextensive front and rear edges are then completely joined together, as by stitching, and the front and rear inserts are secured to at least one of the scalp pieces. A binding may be used in securing the marginal edges of the scalp pieces together and some of said auxiliary body of hair may be ventilated in the binding. The auxiliary body of hair is combed about the front hairline and blended and merged into the main body of hair to impart a natural appearance to the front hairline. In many instances, it is advantageous to cut some of the hairs of the auxiliary body at the under suurface of the inner scalp piece and along the front edge thereof to a relatively short length which simulates natural hair along the front hairline and thereby contributes to the life-like appearance of the toupee.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment of a toupee in accordance with the present invention and method for its manufacture, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the head of a person having a bald area which may be covered with a life-like toupee in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the bald region covered with plaster incident to preparing an impression or female of the bald region;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a male mold prepared from the female mold and having thereon the outline for the respective marginal edges of the configuration for the final shape of the toupee;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the conforming of inner and outer scalp pieces of fabric netting to the 3 male mold during processing in accordance with the invention;

PEG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the two identical inner and outer scalp pieces which are conformed to the bald area;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the outer scalp-piece after a main body of hair is knotted into the same in accordance with well understood techniques;

FIG. 7 is a perspective of the inner scalp-piece after an auxiliary body of hair is knotted into the same along the front edge thereof;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view'sho'wing the male mold during the formation of relatively'rigidfront and rear inserts which are to beincorporat'ed into the hairpiece;

FIG. 9 is a'perspective view-of the relatively rigid front and rear inserts after their formation and trimming;

FIG. 10 is a plan view taken from the under side of a hair'piece constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-41 of FIG. l0 and looking in the direction of the arrows; i

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 12"12 of FIG. 10 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing thehead of the wearerafter a toupee constructed'in accordance with the present invention is releasably secured in place. i

Referringfirst to FIGS; 10 to 13 inclusive of the drawings, there is shown a toupee constructed 'inaccordance with the present invention, which is generally designated "by the referenc'e'numeral20' and includes superposed flexible and forar'ninou-s inner and outer scalp pieces 22, 24

each conforming in contour and outline to the bald area to be covered "by the toupee 20. The inner and outer scalp pieces 22, 24 maybe fabricated of any appropriate 1 fabric netting, such as of' cotton or of synthetic materials including nylon, Dacron and Dynel, *or' combinations thereof. The superposed inner and outer scalp pieces22,

24 include coextensive front edges 22a, 24a, of a curvature and extent appropriate to define a front hairline H. Further the inner and outer scalp pieces 22, 24include coextensive rear edges 2215,24 1: of a curvature and to an extent to define the rear margins or boundaries of the toupee20. l

A main body of hair 26 is knotted or ventilated into the outer scalp piece 24 to protect" upwardly therefrom. An auxiliary body of hair 28 is kn'otted or ventilated into the inner scalp piece 22 along the front edge 22a thereof. The hair of the auxiliary body 28 projects fro-'m'the under surface of the inner scalp piece 22, 'is curved about the front hairline H and is blended and merged into the main body 26 to impart a natural appearance to the front hairline H when the toupee'20 is mounted in position. It is to be noted that some "of the hairs, designated by the reference character-28a, are cutj'short to simulate'thecharac- 'teristics of the hairlineof a typical'personwho is not'bald.

' To further enhance realism, the hairsin this region may I be lighter in coloras compared to the main body, which cases in a natural head of hair.

condition exists in many inner andouter scalppieces 22,

interposed between the "24 and coextensive with the superposed ifrontedg'es 22a,

24a thereof is a relatively rigid front insert 30* which is of a curvature and contour to conform to the underlying front portion of the bald area of the wearer of the toupee. Similarly, a relatively rigid rear insert 32 is interposed between the inner and outer scalp pieces 22, 24- along a relatively short segment of the coextensive rear edges 22b, 24b of the scalp pieces at the rearmost extremity of the toupee 2d. The rear insert is similarly curved and con- 7 toured to conformto the underlying rear portion. of the baldarea or region of the toupee wearer.

tive front and rear inserts 39, 32 occupy but a relatively small portion of the total area of the superposed scalp pieces 22, 24 and are dimensioned to impart the requisite rigidity to the toupee adjacent to front and rear ends thereof and at the locations where the toupee is to be adhered to the bald area or region of the wearer.

Provision is made for securing the front and rear inserts 30, 32 to the inner scalp piece 22 and for marginally joiningthe inner and outer scalp pieces 22, 24 to each other. In this illustrative embodiment the front and rear inserts 3t 32 are joined to the inner scalp piece 22 by applying front and rear coatings 34, 35 of an appropriate hinder or adhesive through the forim-ana or meshwork of the scalp pieces 22, 24. A typical binder may be of polyester resin and is available from Berton Plastic, Inc. of New York, N.Y. under formulation Nos. 5214 and 5119. When the respective coatings 34, 36

' harden'they'provide corresponding front and rear scalpengaging surfaces which are relatively rigid and separated from each other by the major extent of the flexible scalppieces 22, 24. The front and rear coatings or scalpengaging surfaces 34, 36 provide convenient locations for the releasable securement of the toupee 20 to the bald area of the wearer, as by the provision of the adhesive strips 38, 40, 42.' The adhesive strips 38, 4d are seen to be arranged in divergent relationship along the front in- 1 sert 30, while the adhesive strip 42 is arranged transverselyof the toupee 20 and secured to the rear insert 32.

' posed inner and outer scalp pieces 22,

The adhesive strips 33, 40, 42 have tacky or adhesive surfaces 'onboth faces thereof such that one set of adhesive faces may be adhered to the underlying bald area or re- 'gion of the toupee wearer; The assembly of the super- 24 is completed by an appropriate marginalbinding-or piping 44 which is secured, as by stitching, along the coextensive and superposed frontand rear' edges of the scalp pieces 22, 24.

In actual'rnanufacture, it is found to be most'convenient to leave the margins of the superposed scalp'pieces 22, 24 free of hair during the knotting of the main and auxiliary i bodies 26, 28. After stitching of the piping or binding 44 about the margins, the knotting of the main and anxiliary bodies ofhair are completed by the insertion or ventilation of hair into the margins, and through thebinding or piping 44, as seen best in FIG. 12 and designated by the reference numerals 26b, 28b.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 to 9 inclusive for. a description of the method aspects of the invention for constructing the toupee 20 illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 13." Referring'successively to the figures, there is shown inFIG. l the head of aperson having a typical, but nonetheless illustrative, bald area-A which merges with natural hair N along an irregular line L. As a first step, a thin, transparent membrane of latex-like material is pulled snugly .over the bald area A of the persons head.

I Since the membrane is transparent, the bald area A may be traced onto the membrane, with-a crayon or the like. The bald area A will be defined by the line L between the bald area and the natural hair end which ultimately define the rear edges 22b, 24b for the toupee 20 and the hairline H which is drawn at the location for the front edges 22a, 24a for the toupee or hairpiece 20.

Thereupon, as is illustrated in FIG. 2, plaster of Paris or other appropriate molding material is placed over the membrane stretched over the bald area A and molded to a reasonable distance beyond the lines L, H which T delineate the ultimate shape of the toupee 20. After the The respec- H molding material is hardened to form a negative impression of the bald area A, the hardened female mold F is removed. Incident to the molding operation, the female mold will pick up internally thereof the lines L, H drawn on the membrane which outline the ultimate shape for the toupee 20.

Thereupon and in accordance with techniques which are very well understood, the female or negative mold F is employed to provide a mole or positive mold M which has marked thereon the lines L, H outlining the ultimate shape for the toupee. By this technique, or others which are generally understood by workers skilled in this art, it is possible to prepare an exact copy of the ultimate bald area A which is to be covered by the toupee 20.

Thereupon and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the inner and outer scalp pieces 22, 24 of fabric netting or the like are prepared. if the scalp pieces 22, 24 are to be of an organic fabric, such as cotton, the same is stretched over the male mold M and a suitable sizing is applied thereto and allowed to dry which will exactly conform the cotton fabric to the male mold M. For convenience in handling an excess or selvage of material is provided so that the same may be clenched or secured about the male mold M which selvages outwardly of the lines L, H are subsequently trimmed away. Although cotton fabrics are Well suited for use in accordance with the present invention, I have found that fabric nettings of polyester fibers are excellent, both for processing in accordance with the present invention and for subsequent use in the toupee. A typical polyester netting for use herein is described in a Technical information Bulletin D-l06 of September 1959 published by the Technical Service Section of The Textile Fibers Department of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. Inc. of Wilmington, Delaware which bulletin d scribes Duponts Dacron polyester fiber. Using fabrics of such fibers, it is possible to heat the fabric to its heatsetting temperature, as by placing the same in an oven, then shaping the same over the male mold M as illustrated in FIG. 4-, and securing the same about the mold such that the fabric sets in the shape and configuration of me male mold M. During cooling, there is a residual thermal shrinkage of the fabric which assures exact confirmation of the fabric to the contours of the male mold M. By the above described techniques, it is possible to prepare the two scalp pieces 22, 24 which are identical in shape and contour, as shown in FIG. 5. Although the illustrative showings of FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate the scalp pieces as being trimmed to their final contours, it will be appreciated that it may be more convenient to work with the respective scalp pieces with selvages outwardly of the delineated areas still attached thereto. At a later stage of the processing the selvages may be trimmed such that the respective scalp pieces 22, 2 are brought to their desired final shape.

In either eventuality, the outer scalp piece 24 is provided with the main body 26 of hair, as shown in FIG. 6. The knotting or ventilating of the outer scalp piece 2 is exceptionally well understood in this art and accordingly requires no further description. It wil be appreciated however that location of the hair and the fullness of the various regions thereof may be readily controlled in accordance with final appearance which is to be imparted to the toupee. During this knotting or ventilating of the outer or main scalp piece 2%, the margins thereof are left free of hair to facilitate binding, as previously described.

The inner or auxiliary scalp piece 22 is provided with the auxiliary body 28 of hair along the front edge 122a thereof, which hair is inserted from the underside of the inner scalp piece 22 and directed so that it extends generally outwardly and forwardly of the front edge 22a for ultimate shaping and blending into the main body of hair 26.

Thereupon the respective front and rear inserts are formed by once again employing the male mold M, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Conveniently, the relatively rigid inserts 3G, 32 may be fabricated by stretching fiber glass over the male mold M and impregnating the same with an appropriate plastic binder which is allowed to harden and thereby provide the rigid inserts 30, 32 which conform to the underlying front and rear portions of the bald area A. The final shape of typical front and rear inserts is illustrated in FIG. 9.

Various methods may be conveniently employed for assembling the inner and outer scalp pieces 22, 24 in superposed relation with their respective front and rear edges in coextensive relation and with the front and rear inserts 3t), 3-2 sandwiched therebetween and positioned along the coextensive front and rear edges. One very convenient method for achieving this assembly is by stitching the superposed scalp pieces 22, 24 together with the binding 44 after having trimmed the scalp pieces 22, 24 to their final shapes. During the stitching of the binding 44, small gaps or openings are provided in the stitching at locations convenient for the insertion between the scalp pieces 22, 2d of the respective front and rear inserts 3d, 3 2. After the stitching and preliminary to insertion of the inserts 3t), 32, the further hair 26b, 28b may be knotted into the margins of the virtually completed toupee. The respective inserts 3t 32 may be slipped through the gap and positioned respectively at the front and rear end of the toupee. Thereupon, the inserts 30, 32 are brought into their final position snugly seated against the adjacent front and rear edges of the assembly and are permanently fixed in place by applying the front and rear coatlugs 3 36 of the plastic binder through the foramina of the inner scalp piece and on to the adjacent faces of the front and rear inserts 3d, 32. Any suitable vinyl-type resin may be employed which when hardened virtually closes up the foramina of the inner scalp piece 22 in the areas underlying the inserts 30, 32 to provide smooth front and rear scalp-engaging surfaces which are adapted to receive the adhesive strips 38, 40/ and 42 employed to secure the toupee 29 to the bald area A. During the application of the vinyl-type resin binder, hair from the auxiliary body 28 extending forwardly at the front hair line H is kept free of the binder, but a certain portion of the hair is coated with the binder, except for the extremities thereof such that an exceptionally rigid and durable mounting is provided for this hair which emanates from the underside of the toupee along the front hairline H. By this coating along the front hairline H of the toupee 2d, a high order of strength is imparted thereto and it is possible to comb the same over prolonged periods of use without the attendant risk of fraying the front hairline H a-nd/ or causing the hair along the front hairline to be pulled out with the exposure of the underlying foundation for the toupee and the attendant tell-tale evidence of the presence of a false hairpiece on the head of the wearer. Obviously, the binding of the coextensive edges must be completed, and this may be achieved by stitching the gaps through which the inserts 3t), 32 are inserted, either before or after the bonding of such inserts to the inner scalp piece 222 as described above. Finally, the main and auxiliary bodies of hair 26, 28 are shaped, merged, cut and trimmed to provide an overall natural appearance for the toupee.

It is but a relatively simple matter to secure the toupee 21} over the bald area A, as illustrated in FIG. 13. This is achieved by merely mounting the adhesive strips 33, 4d and 42 in place then properly positioning the toupee 2% over the bald area, and finally applying pressure at the locations of the respective adhesive strips. When once secured in position, the toupee will have an exceptional natural appearance along the front hairline H and may be appropriately blended into the general shape and contour and outline of the natural hair of the person. The rigidificd front and rear edges of the toupee contribute materially to the assurance that the toupee will not be accidentally disengaged during the normal physical activity in the daily and nocturnal routine of the wearer. The necessary rigidity and reliability in attachment is realized, without generally interfering with the porosity or breathing of the toupee. There is virtually nothing to interfere with normal circulation of air directly to the scalp of the wearer through the meshwork of the inner and outer scalp pieces 22, 24. At the same time, there is no contact of the hair 26 directly to the scalp in that the inner scalp piece 22 serves as a protective layer in direct contact with the scalp.

What I claim is: 1. A toupee for covering a bald area comprising inner scalp piece and extending generally forwardly of the front edge thereof, a relatively rigid curved front insert of a shape to be coextensive with at least a portion of the front edges of said inner and outer scalp pieces, said inner and outer scalp pieces being in superposed relation with their respective front, rear and side edges in coextensive relation, said front insert being disposed between said inner and outer scalp pieces and along said coextere sive front edges, said front insert being dimensioned and arranged to extend between said coextensive side edges, means for marginally joining said inner and outer scalp pieces to each other along said coextensive front, rear and side edges, said front insert being joined to said inner scalp piece by a front coating of a plastic binder formed on and through said inner scalp piece which binds said front insert to said inner scalp piece and provides a front scalp engaging surface adapted to receive adhesive strips for securing said toupee to said bald area.

'2. A toupee according to claim 1 including adhesive means on said front-scalp engaging surface for releasably securing said toupee to said bald area in covering re ation thereto.

3. A toupee for covering a bald area comprising inner and outer scalp pieces of a polyester fabric netting each of which conforms to and is complementary to said bald area and is bounded by a front edge defining a front hairline, a rear edge and oppositely disposed side edges, a

main body of hair knotted into said outer scalp piece and projecting from the upper surface thereof, an auxiliary body of hair knotted into said inner scalp piece along its front edge and projecting from the under surface of said inner scalp piece and extending generally forwardly of the front-edge thereof, a relatively rigid curved front insert fabricated of fiberglass impregnated with a polyester binder and of a shape to be coextensive with at least a portion of pieces, said inner and outer scalp'pieces being in superposed relation with their respective front, rear and side edges in coextensive relation, said front insert being disposed between said inner and outer scalp pieces and along said coextensive front edges, said front insert being dimensioned and arranged to extend between said coextensive side edges, means for marginally joining said inner and outer scalp pieces to each other along said coexten sive front, rear and side edges, and a plastic coating I formed on and through said inner scalp piece for securing said front insert to said inner scalp piece.

4, A toupee for covering a bald area comprising inner and outer scalp pieces of a polyester fabric netting each of which conforms to and is complementary to said bald area and is bounded by a front edge defining a front hairline, a rear edge and oppositely disposed side edges, a main body of hair knotted into said outer scalp piece and projecting from the upper surface thereof, an auxiliary body of hair knotted into said inner scalp piece along its front edge and projecting from the under surface of said inner scalp piece and extending generally forwardly of the front edge thereof, a relatively rigid curved front insert fabricated of fiberglass impregnated with a polyester binder and of a shape to be coextensive with at least a portion of the front edges of said inner and outer scalppieces, a relatively rigid curved rear insert fabricated of fiberglass impregnated with a polyester binder and of a shape to be coextensive \m'th at least a portion of the rear edges of said inner and outer scalp pieces, said inner and outer scalp pieces being in superposed relation with their respective front, rear and side edges in coextensive relathe front edges of said inner and outer scalpgamer tion, said front and rear insert s b eing disposed between said inncrand outer scalp pieces and along said coextensive front and rear edges respectively, said front and rear inserts being dimensioned and arranged to extend between said coextensive sidee-dges, means for marginally joining saidinner and outer scalp pieces to each other along said coextensive front, rear and side edges, and respective plastic coatings formed on and through said inner scalp piece for securing said front and rear inserts to said inner scalp piece. 4

5. A method for manufacturing a toupee for covering a bald area comprising the steps of forming inner and outer scalp pieces of a fabric netting each of which conforms to and is complementary to said bald area and is bounded by a front edge defining a front hairline, a rear edge and oppositely disposed side edges, lrnotting hair into said outer scalp piece to provide a main body of hair projecting from the upper surface thereof, knotting hair into said inner scalp piece along its front edge to provide at least part of an auxiliary body of hair projecting from the under surface of said inner scalp piece, forming a relatively rigid front insert of a shape to be coextensive with at least a portion of the front edges of said inner and outer scalp pieces, assembling said inner and outer scalp pieces in superposed relation with their respective front, rear and side edges in coextensive relation, partially joining said inner and outer scalp pieces together along said coextensive front, rear and side edges, positioning said front insert between said partially secured inner and outer scalp pieces and along said coextensive front edge, said front insert being dimensioned and arranged to extend between said coextensive side edges, completing the joinder of said coextensive front, rear and side edges together and securing said front insert to at least one of said scalp pieces, and blending at least part of said auxiliary body of hair about said front hairline to merge said auxiliary body of hair into said main body of hair to impart a natural appearance to said front hairline.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said front insert is joined to said inner scalp piece by applying a front coating of a plastic binder into and through said inner scalp piece which binds saidfront insert to said inner scalp piece and hardens to provide a front-scalp engaging surface adapted to receive adhesive strips for securing said toupeeto said bald area.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein some of the hairs of said auxiliary body of hair along said front hairline are cut short to further enhance the natural appearance of said toupee.

S. A method for manufacturing a toupee for covering a bald area comprising the steps of forming inner and outer scalp pieces of a fabric netting each of which conforms to and is complementary to said bald area and is bounded by a front edge defining a front hairline, a rear edge and oppositely disposed side edges, knotting hair into said outer scalp piece to provide a main body of hair projecting from the upper surface thereof, knotting hair into said inner scalp piece along its front edge to provide at least part of an auxiliary body of hair projecting from the under surface of said inner scalp piece and extending generally forwardly of the front edge thereof, forming a relatively rigid curved front insert of a shape to be coextensive with at least a portion of the front edges of said inner and outer scalp pieces, forming a relatively rigid curved rear insert of a shape to be coextensive with at least a portion of the rear edges of said inner and outer scalp pieces, assembling said inner and outer scalp pieces in superposed relation with their respective front, rear and side edges in coextensive relation, partially joining said inner and outer scalp pieces together along said coextensive front, rear and side edges, positioning said front and rear inserts between said partially secured inner and outer scalp pieces and along said front and rear edges respectively, said front and rear inserts being dimensioned and arranged to extend from one of said side edges to the other of said side edges, and completing the joinder of said coextensive front, rear and side edges together and securing said front and rear inserts to at least one of said scalp pieces.

9. A method for manufacturing a toupee for covering a bald area comprising the steps of forming inner and outer scalp pieces of a fabric netting each of which conforms to and in complementary to said bald area and is bounded by a front edge defining a front hairline, a rear edge and oppositely disposed side edges, knotting hair into said outer scalp piece to provide a main body of hair projecting from the upper surface thereof, knotting hair into said inner scalp piece along its front edge to provide at least part of an auxiliary body of hair projecting from the under surface of said inner scalp piece and extending generally forwardly of the front edge thereof, forming a relatively rigid curved front insert of a shape to be coextensive with at least a portion of the front edges of said inner and outer scalp pieces, forming a relatively rigid curved rear insert of a shape to be coextensive with at least a portion of the rear edges of said inner and outer scalp pieces, assembling said inner and outer scalp pieces in superposed relation with their respective front, rear and side edges in coextensive relation, partially joining said inner and outer scalp pieces together along said coextensive front, rear and side edges, positioning said front and rear inserts between said partially secured inner and outer scalp pieces and along said front and rear edges respectively, said front and rear inserts being dimensioned and arranged to extend from one of said side edges to the other of said side edges, completing the joinder of said coextensive front, rear and side edges together and securing said front and rear inserts to at least one of said scalp pieces, and blending and merging at least a part of said auxiliary body of hair into said main body of hair to impart a natural appearance to said front hairline.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 187,198 Thompson Feb. 6, 1877 221,069 Hull Oct. 28, 1879 513,579 Kinzly Jan. 30, 1894 833,092 Sleicher Oct. 9, 1906 1,583,778 Conley May 11, 1926 2,604,104 Perlin July 22, 1952 2,661,749 Corsillo Dec. 8, 1953 2,736,325 Dvorzsak Feb. 28, 1956 2,789,567 Jacoby Apr. 23, 1957 2,907,334 Le Mole Oct. 6,1959

Claims (1)

1. A TOUPEE FOR COVERING A BALD AREA COMPRISING INNER AND OUTER SCALP PIECES OF A FABRIC NETTING EACH OF WHICH CONFORMS TO AND IS COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID BALD AREA AND IS BOUNDED BY A FRONT EDGE DEFINING A FRONT HAIRLINE, A REAR EDGE AND OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SIDE EDGES, A MAIN BODY OF HAIR KNOTTED INTO SAID OUTER SCALP PIECE AND PROJECTING FROM THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF, AN AUXILIARY BODY OF HAIR KNOTTED INTO SAID INNER SCALP PIECE ALONG ITS FRONT EDGE AND PROJECTING FROM THE UNDER SURFACE OF SAID INNER SCALP PIECE AND EXTENDING GENERALLY FORWARDLY OF THE FRONT EDGE THEREOF, A RELATIVELY RIGID CURVED FRONT INSERT OF A SHAPE TO BE COEXTENSIVE WITH AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE FRONT EDGES OF SAID INNER AND OUTER SCALP PIECES, SAID INNER AND OUTER SCALP PIECES BEING IN SUPERPOSED RELATION WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE FRONT, REAR AND SIDE EDGES IN COEXTENSIVE RELATION, SAID FRONT INSERT BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER SCALP PIECES AND ALONG SAID COEXTENSIVE FRONT EDGES, SAID FRONT INSERT BEING DIMENSIONED AND ARRANGED TO EXTEND BETWEEN SAID COEXTENSIVE SIDE EDGES, MEANS FOR MARGINALLY JOINING SAID INNER AND OUTER SCALP PIECES TO EACH OTHER ALONG SAID COEXTENSIVE FRONT, REAR AND SIDE EDGES, SAID FRONT INSERT BEING JOINED TO SAID INNER SCALP PIECE BY A FRONT COATING OF A PLASTIC BINDER FORMED ON AND THROUGH SAID INNER SCALP PIECE WHICH BINDS SAID FRONT INSERT TO SAID INNER SCALP PIECE AND PROVIDES A FRONT SCALP ENGAGING SURFACE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE ADHESIVE STRIPS FOR SECURING SAID TOUPEE TO SAID BALD AREA.

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