US3421521A - Method of forming a hairpiece - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 14,- 1969 w. RICH, JR 3,421,521

' METHOD OF FORMING A HAIRPIECE Filed May 24, 1966 Sheet of 2 PA TTER/V-ZO- FOUNDATION-28 WARREN 1.. RICH, JR.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 14, 1969 w. 1.. RICH, JR 3,421,521

METHOD OF FORMING A HAIRPIECE Filed May 24, 1966 I Sheet .2 of 2 WARREN L. R/CH, JR. 64 32 8 MENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An expandable transparent wrapping plastic is pulled into conformity with the head of the person and the extent of the desired hairpiece is traced thereon. This area is stiffened with tape crossings thus fixing the contour. This serves as a pattern for casting a plaster mold. A plastic material web made by coating the mold interior becomes the foundation in which the hair is set. This is petformed on a foam plastic head block, individual hairs being inserted, doubled back, with a needle tool so that a small loop is left extending into the foam on the far side. The foundation is then hemmed and removed from the head block and the loops flattened and secured with cement.

This invention relates generally to hair structures, and more particularly it pertains to improvements in toupee fitting and construction.

In the past, toupees have been rather short-lived and troublesome. They could not be wet or shampooed. Oil would loosen the hairs and the baseswould shrink, harden and crack. They also tended to disclose a bluntness or obviousness when worn by men and it was very difficult to comb thern and get a good part and natural hair line. There also was no good method for fitting to the individual head and the linings would soon become frayed and exposed at the edges.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved toupee which can be wetted with water or oilsand can be combed without danger of loosening the hairs.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a base andlining for a toupee which is better fitting, more nat-ural looking, and lasting than heretofore.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a method of forming a toupee to a templet-derived form for individual fit.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention. will become more readily apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are perspective views illustrating succes'sive steps in marking, forming, and shaping of a temp let or pattern in preparation for the formation of a foundation for a toupee according to the features of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the forming of the improved foundation;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view depicting the implanting of hair to a hemmed foundation using a soft head-block form and a special needle;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an under-side view of the toupee showing the liner construction;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary crosssectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view, partially in side view and partially in cross section, illustrating the implant-ing needle.

Referring now to the details of the invention, a pattern 20 is first made by placing a piece of conforming base Patented Jan. 14, 1969 "ice 12 such as Gladwrap or Saran, tightly against the head of the person and tracing the outline 16 with a grease penoil 14 about one-quarter of an inch from the growing hair.

Next, short pieces of cellulose tape 18 are laid across this outlined area in a cross-hatch pattern to rfix the contour. The pattern 20 is now completed by trimming with scissors 22 around the outline 16.

A mold 24 is then prepared by casting plaster around the inverted pattern 20. When this mold 24 hardens, the pattern 20 is removed and the resulting cavity 26 is coated with a plastic material comprising Plastersol and vinyl plastic and allowed to set to a thin tough web.

This material is obtained colored skin-like and has the same feeling and texture as skin when treated as above. The resulting plastic foundation 28 is then removed from the mold 24, and a vegetable net binding 30 is next secured all around the edge with stitching 32.

A head block 34 of Styrofoam is hand sanded to conform to the inner surface of the foundation 28 which is then mounted thereupon as shown in FIG. 5.

Individual strands of hairs 36 are now inserted through the foundation 28 extending into the head block 34 as best shown in FIG. 6. A needle 38 such as shown in FIG. 9, mounted in a pin vise 40 is used to force a loop 42 from each strand of hair to the interior where it remains after the needle is withdrawn.

The foundation 28, now hemmed and haired, is easily removed from the head block 34 without pulling the hairs. The hair loops 44 are flattened down and secured with a cement layer 44 of the rubber-based contact type as best shown'in FIG. 8.

A lining 46 is next prepared by securing a silk gauze central panel 48 to the doubled rear edge 54 of a plastic front panel 50 with stitching 56 as best shown in FIG. 7. A rear panel 52 is also stitched to the central panel 48 using a reinforcing strip 58 of silk ribbon. Another strip of ribbon 58 is stitched down upon the longitudinal centerline of the lining 46.

An edge binding 60 of silk ribbon is secured with stitching 62 all around the periphery of the lining 46. After being coated with a border of cement 64, as shown in FIG. 8, the lining 46 is thereby secured to the prepared foundation 28 thus completing the hairpiece or toupee 10.

The plastic front panel 50 provides a cementing area for firmly securing the hairpiece 10 to the head of the wearer.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended'claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. A method for making a hairpiece comprising, fitting a piece of conforming transparent plastic material to a portion of the head of a person, tracing a pattern on the plastic material, taping over the pattern with cellulose tape to fix the contour within the pattern, trimming the pattern by cutting through the said transparent plastic material and tape along the said tracing, mold forming a thin tough plastic foundation from said pattern, said foundation corresponding to the said contour, placing the plastic foundation on a block of cellular polystyrene pie-shaped to the said contour, inserting individual strands of hair through said plastic foundation by forcing looped ends of hair through the plastic and into the cellular polystyrene block, removing the plastic foundation from the said block, securing said looped ends of said strands of hair to the interior surface of said plastic foundation in the pattern of the natural hair groove, and atfixing a lining to said interior surface of said plastic foundation to form said hairpiece.

2. A method for making a hairpiece, comprising, placing a piece of conforming base material against the upper portion of the head of a person, tracing an outline ofa pattern to be made spaced from the growing hair of said person, laying pieces of tape across the outlined area in a cross-hatch arrangement to fix the contour of said pattern, preparing a mold of the inverted pattern, removing said pattern from said mold, coating the resulting cavity in said mold With a plastic material and allowing said plastic material to set to form a thin tough plastic foundation, removing said plastic foundation from said mold, securing a net binding around the edge of said plastic foundation, mounting the interior of said plastic foundation upon a head block, then inserting individual. strands to hairs through said plastic foundation to extend into the head block and force a loop from each strand of hair to the interior of said block, removing said plastic foundation from said head block with the looped ends of said hair strands, securing said looped ends of said hair strands to the interior of said pl astic foundation, and then securing a lining to the interior surface of said plastic foundation to cover said looped ends of said hair strands.

I 6 V, References .Cited UNI ED STA ES PATENTS 8/1911 Kubelka 132-5 LOUIS G. 'MANCENE, Pririt' aryExaminer. I I. MITCHELL, Assistant Examiner..

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