Abstract:
An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes an form which holds a hair extension and maintains the order and curl of the strands of hair. The form provides optimum display of the wig or hair extension evaluation by the prospective user. In addition, after purchase, the form provides a means for convenient space-saving storage of the hair extension which maintains the appearance of the hair extension.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX 
       [0004]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    This application relates to apparatus and methods for storage of wigs or hair pieces. 
       BACKGROUND 
     Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98. 
       [0006]    Embodiments include forms which are used to hold wigs and hair pieces, including hair extensions, for display in a retail environment, and for storage by the user after purchasing. Embodiments have provisions to preserve the original order and curve of the strands of hair, of particular importance when human hair is used in hair extensions. 
         [0007]    Embodiments of the present disclosure are a form for wigs, hair pieces or hair extensions in two parts, a form body and a form plug. Embodiment forms are used to hold and display wigs, hair pieces or hair extensions before retail sale, and after sale, to store such hair enhancements under conditions which maintain the order and curl of the hair strands. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,240,104 discloses a cone shaped yarn mass support with a circular protector on the tip. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,483,490 discloses a cone shaped yarn frusto-conical package support with a convexed bottom surface. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,158,335 discloses a conical winding core for textile yarn with end grooves. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,757 discloses a polystyrene foam molded hat support. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,407 discloses a wig form which includes a cone base which extends into the hollow neck portion of the housing. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,566 discloses a wig stand which collapses without an attached wig. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,992 discloses a wig stand made of compressible, open cell foam, which has channels used to ventilate the area under a wig. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,921 discloses a core used to wind strip material with a removable flange at one end. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. D226,246 discloses a wig drier with an apparent rim about a hemispheric top. 
         [0017]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/154,037, filed May 20, 2008, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/456,301, filed Jun. 15, 2009, each incorporated herein by reference, disclose a wig or hair piece box and form. The form has the general shape of a user&#39;s head. 
         [0018]    None of the discovered prior art provide the advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, the advantages of an inexpensive form which is functional in storing and preserving the desirable characteristics of a wig, hair piece, or hair extension. 
         [0019]    The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0020]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tool and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. 
         [0021]    Embodiments include a form for holding and storing wigs, hair pieces, and hair extensions comprising a body comprising: a disk-shaped body top, a neck, a jar-shaped body bolus, the neck connected to bottom of the top at one end and the neck connected to the top of the bolus at the other end, the bolus having a cone-shaped cavity in the bottom of the bolus. Also included is a plug having the shape of a truncated cone, the plug sized to fit into the cavity with an annulus between the sides of the plug and the surface of the cavity. 
         [0022]    Embodiments include the process of placing a wig, hair piece or hair extension having curved parallel weft strands attached to a weft track on a form comprising the steps, obtaining a form comprising a body comprising a disk-shaped body top, a neck, a jar-shaped body bolus, the neck connected to bottom of the top at one end and the neck connected to the top of the bolus at the other end, the bolus having a cone-shaped cavity in the bottom of the bolus, and a plug having the shape of a truncated cone, the plug sized to fit into the cavity with an annulus between the sides of the plug and the surface of the cavity, attaching the wig, hair piece or hair extension weft track to the neck, wrapping the weft track about the neck so that the curved parallel weft strands cover the surface of the bolus, inserting the free ends of the weft strands into the cavity, inserting the plug into the cavity and enclosing the form and wig, hair piece or hair extension with a hairnet. 
         [0023]    In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment form holding a hair extension showing a plug and covering hairnet. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of an embodiment form of  FIG. 1  taken at line  2 - 2 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment form body. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment form plug. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a portion of an embodiment hair extension. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    In this disclosure the term “wig” means an easily detachable manufactured covering of natural or synthetic hair for the head. The term “hair piece” means natural or synthetic hair which is either woven to a user&#39;s natural hair for long term use or detachable attachment for short term use, commonly termed a weave or hair extension. The term “weft” means a collection of multiple strands of natural or synthetic hair, attached together by intricate stitched work with a sewing machine or fused together by glue and woven material, which is treated as a unit in the manufacture and styling or making of a wig or hair piece. The term “weft track” means a flexible, elongated strip, stitched or fused in section, to which wefts or strands of hair are attached. The term “root end” means the end of hair which is stitched or fused together to the weft track, which is to be attached to the wig supporting fabric or base cap, or to the user&#39;s natural hair in the case of a hair piece. The term “tip end” means the opposite ends of the strands of hair or weft which is not attached to the wig or hair piece supporting fabric or base cap or to user&#39;s natural hair. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment form holding a hair extension extending over the form body with a form plug and a covering hairnet. Visible in  FIG. 1  is a form  10  comprised of a form body  13  and a form plug  20 . Visible in  FIG. 1  is the disk-shaped body top  11  and the form body bolus  24 . The form in  FIG. 1  supports and is covered by a wig, hair piece or hair extension  16 . Visible in  FIG. 1 . is a weft track  41  wrapped about the body neck (not visible in  FIG. 1 ) the weft track with attached wefts or strands  42  of hair which extend over and cover the jar-shaped bolus  24 , the wefts or strands  42  curve over the curved bottom  17  of the bolus  24 , and the wefts or strands  42  extend into a cavity  14  at the bottom  17  of the bolus  24 . The wefts or strands  42  of hair are retained in the cavity by a cone-shaped plug  20  whose base  21  is visible in  FIG. 1 . A removable hairnet  18  covers the entire form and retains the hair extension  16  and plug  20  in place. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of an embodiment form of  FIG. 1  taken at line  2 - 2 . The form  10  is comprised of the form body  13  and form plug  20 . Visible in  FIG. 2  is the disk-shaped body top  11  with flange  15 , which is attached to the body neck  12 , which is attached to the body jar-shaped bolus  24 . Also visible is the curved bottom  17  of the bolus  24 , and cone-shaped cavity  14  in the bottom of the bolus. A truncated cone-shaped plug  20  is shown inserted in the cavity  14 . An annulus  23  is formed between the sides  22  of the plug and the interior wall  19  of the cavity  14 . 
         [0032]    A hair extension  16  is shown attached to the form. The weft track  41  of the hair extension  16  is shown wrapped about the neck  12 . Some 6 layers of a single wrapped hair extension weft track  41  are shown. The end of the weft track is removably secured to the neck by a fastener, in this example, a straight pin. Pins are used to secure the wrapped track as necessary as it is wrapped about the neck. The weft or strands  42  of hair attached to the weft track  41  are visible. For purposes of clarity, in  FIG. 2  only one hair strand is shown which represents the 10-50 strands in a typical weft  42 . The weft or hair strands  42  are attached to the weft track  41  at the root tip  43 . The curve of the curved weft shaft  45  conforms to the curved bottom  17  of the bolus  24 . The free tip  44  of the weft or hair strand  42  extends into the cavity  14  of the bolus  24  and is retained in the annulus  23  between the inner surface  19  of the cavity  14  and the plug sides  22  of the cone-shaped plug  20 . The weft or strands  42  are arrayed substantially parallel to each other and extend centrifugally away from the neck with the wefts overlapping each other and extending over the bolus with the curled shafts  45  of the wefts substantially curled around the curved bottom surface  17  of the bolus  24 , preserving the one directional curl of the wig or hair piece. The wefts are retained in the cavity by the plug base  21  which bears against the curved bottom  17  of the bolus  24 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment form body. Visible in  FIG. 3  is form body  13 , the disk-shaped body top  11 , the flange  15  on the side of the top, the body neck  12  connecting the top and the jar-shaped body bolus  24 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment form plug. Visible in  FIG. 4  is a form plug  20  with plug base  21 , and plug side  22 . Embodiment plugs have the shape of a truncated cone. Embodiment plugs are sized to allow an annulus ( 23  in  FIG. 2 ) between the plug side  22  and the internal side of the cavity of the form base. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a portion of an embodiment wig or hair piece  16 . Visible in  FIG. 5  is a weft track  41 , weft or strands of hair  42 , the wefts comprised of a root end  43  which is attached to the weft track  41 , and free tip end  44 , and a curved weft shaft  45 . 
         [0036]    Visible in  FIG. 5  is a portion of a wig or hair piece  16 . This wig comprises an elongated band or weft track  41  and wefts or strands of hair  42  are fixedly attached to the band or weft track by the root end  43 . In embodiments the band is about 10-12 feet in length. In embodiments the band is 12 to 24 inches in length. In embodiments there are about 18 wefts per inch of band. In embodiments there are about 12-24 wefts per inch of band. In embodiments wefts of hair consist of 10 to 50 strands of hair. In embodiments the length of hair is about 8 inches. In embodiments the length of hair is about 3 to 12 inches long. In embodiments the shafts  45  of the wefts, are parallel and are curled, with the curl of all hair strands substantially parallel to each other, termed a “one directional curl.” The free ends of the wefts are tip  44  ends. 
         [0037]    Embodiment forms are manufactured of any suitable strong, resilient material. Suitable materials include wood, foamed plastics, some examples of which are polystyrene, polybutadiene, polyurethane, and polyethylene. Other embodiments include forms manufactured of cardboard or papier-mache. Other embodiment forms are manufactured of flexible plastic or rubber, are bag-like in structure, and are filled with a fluid such as air or water. 
         [0038]    Although the example embodiment disclosed here has a form body manufactured in a single piece combining the top, neck and bolus, it is specifically contemplated that other embodiments in which the components of the form body are manufactured in two or more pieces and then combined are included in this disclosure. 
         [0039]    In embodiment forms the height of the form body is about 4% inches, the height of the top flange is about ⅜ inch and the width of the top is about 2⅞ inch, the height of the neck is about ¾ inch and the width of the neck is about 1½ inch. The height of the bolus is about 3¾ inches and the width of the bolus is about 4½ inches. The cavity in the bottom of the bolus has a width of about 2½ inches and a height of about 3 inches. 
         [0040]    In embodiment forms the height of the plug is about 2⅝ inches and the width of the plug base is about 2⅜ inches. 
         [0041]    The dimensions of embodiments vary accordingly to the size and type of wigs, hairpieces, and hair extensions they are designed to hold and protect. Embodiment form body heights range from about 3 inches to about 8 inches, with other form body dimensions varied in proportion. 
         [0042]    Although in  FIG. 2  the position of the weft track is shown as wrapped about the neck with overlap of the layers of weft tract, other orientations of the weft track on the neck are specifically contemplated. In embodiments the weft tracks of hair extensions are wrapped about the entire surface of the neck, with little or no overlap of one weft track with another. In embodiments multiple hair extensions with lengths of about 2 fee are secured to the form, with the weft track of each individual extension overlapping itself only. In embodiments the entire surface of the neck is covered with weft tracks. 
         [0043]    Although embodiment wigs and hair pieces have wefts of hair comprised of human hair, the use of wigs and hair pieces with wefts of hair comprised of synthetic hair or animal hair is specifically contemplated. It should be noted that this form is especially useful for human hair wigs and hair pieces because human hairs has a tendency to lose its curl in the absence of suitable storage, such as is provided by embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         [0044]    The process of placing a wig, hair piece or hair extension having curved parallel weft strands attached to a weft track on a form comprises the steps: 
         [0045]    a. obtaining a form comprising a body comprising a disk-shaped body top, a neck, a jar-shaped body bolus, the neck connected to bottom of the top at one end and the neck connected to the top of the bolus at the other end, the bolus having a cone-shaped cavity in the bottom of the bolus, and a plug having the shape of a truncated cone, the plug sized to fit into the cavity with an annulus between the sides of the plug and the surface of the cavity, 
         [0046]    b. attaching the wig, hair piece or hair extension weft track to the neck, 
         [0047]    c. wrapping the weft track about the neck so that the curved parallel weft strands cover the surface of the bolus, 
         [0048]    d. inserting the free ends of the weft strands into the cavity, and 
         [0049]    e. inserting the plug into the cavity. 
         [0050]    The process further comprises the optional step after inserting the plug into the cavity, enclosing the form and wig, hair piece or hair extension with a hairnet. 
         [0051]    Embodiment processes attach the weft track to the neck using a straight pin, although other embodiments are contemplated using other conventional methods of fastening, such as staples, glue, or clips. 
         [0052]    Although embodiments of the form are described in this application in connection with a wig comprised of an elongated band or weft track with attached wefts, it is specifically contemplated that other types of wigs also can be used in connection with the disclosed forms with preservation of the original style and order and one directional curl. 
         [0053]    Embodiments of the disclosed forms are used both for the packaging and display of wigs and hair pieces for sale by manufacturers, as well as for use by consumers to conveniently store and preserve the order, style and condition of wigs and hair pieces when not in use, especially for preservation of the curl on the strands of hair. Embodiment forms allow convenient and inexpensive storing and displaying wigs or hair pieces while requiring a minimal amount of space. 
         [0054]    While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and subcombinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. The applicant or applicants have attempted to disclose all the embodiments of the invention that could be reasonably foreseen. There may be unforeseeable insubstantial modifications that remain as equivalents.