Abstract:
The present application provides a wig for a doll head. The wig has a concave or cup-shaped wig cap and a plurality of hair fibers extending from the exterior convex surface of the wig cap. The wig cap has a skull cap made of a flexible material which covers at least part of the head and a rigid projection which extends from the interior concave surface of the wig cap so as to be received by an aperture in the doll head when the wig is in place on the head.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present application relates to a wig for a doll head. More specifically, the present application relates to a wig bearing a rigid projection which is receivable by an opening in a doll head. 
         [0002]    Many children enjoy playing with dolls and action figures, and their enjoyment is enhanced when they can change the clothing, accessories, and hair colour and style of a doll. Wigs provide a convenient way of updating the look of a doll, in addition to being a vehicle whereby a child can learn about fashion and hair care and styling while engaging in play. 
         [0003]    A doll wig can be prepared from a wig cap which is designed to fit closely on the doll head, and to which artificial or natural hair fibers have been attached. However, such doll wigs suffer from certain drawbacks and disadvantages. For example, the wig must fit snugly enough on the doll head so as not to become too easily detached, and perhaps lost, during normal play. However, such a close-fitting wig cap may be difficult to remove and replace, thereby frustrating a child, and also his or her parents, who may be frequently asked to change the wig for the child who has trouble doing so him- or herself. As the wig is removed and replaced on the doll&#39;s head numerous times, the cap may stretch or become damaged, increasing the risk of the wig falling off the doll&#39;s head and being lost during play. Furthermore, the wig may slide so as to be displaced on the doll&#39;s head, causing further frustration. 
         [0004]    One way of addressing such disadvantages is to provide a projection on the inside of the wig cap which is designed to be received by an aperture in the doll&#39;s head, thus fixing the wig in a desired position on the head and allowing for a secure fit that is less dependent on the snugness of fit of the wig cap on the doll&#39;s head. It is convenient to fabricate such a projection from the material comprising the wig cap, such that the cap and projection can be molded as a single unit. However, the wig cap is best made from a relatively soft, flexible material so that the hair fibers can be easily attached to the cap and the finished wig can be readily fitted to the doll&#39;s head during use. Because the aperture receiving the projection is generally designed to be hidden by the wig when in place, a user cannot easily put the wig in place by sight but must rely on touch. A projection made of the same soft flexible material as the wig cap can flex and bend during the process of attaching the wig, making it more difficult to locate the aperture and insert the projection into it. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is a need for a new way of attaching a wig to the head of a doll that overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    One aspect of the present invention provides a wig for a doll head. The wig is formed from a wig cap having an interior concave surface, which contacts the head, and an exterior convex surface. A plurality of hair fibers is attached to the wig cap so that they extend from the exterior convex surface. The wig cap has a skull cap which covers at least part of the head and a rigid projection extending from the interior concave surface, which is inserted with a mating fit into an aperture in the doll head when the wig is in place on the head. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a wig cap which covers at least part of a doll head and which has an interior concave surface from which extends a rigid projection, for insertion with a mating fit into an aperture in the doll head. 
         [0008]    Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a doll head with an aperture adapted to receive a rigid projection extending from the interior concave surface of a wig as described herein. 
         [0009]    A further aspect of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a wig as described herein, including positioning a sheath having a first end and a second end in a concave mold having an interior cavity and shaped for production of a skull cap having a concave interior surface, such that the first end of the sheath contacts the interior cavity of the mold and the second end protrudes from the concave interior surface; injecting a first material into the interior cavity of the mold such that the first end of the sheath is embedded in the first material; allowing the first material to solidify so as to form a skull cap; and attaching a plurality of hair fibers to the skull cap. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Further features of the present invention will become apparent from analysis of the following written description and the accompanying drawings and the appended claims in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a cutaway view of one embodiment of the present wig. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross section view of one embodiment of the present wig cap, where the sheath has been attached by gluing. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross section view of the embodiment of the present wig cap shown in 
           [0014]      FIG. 2 , placed on the head of a doll. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross section view of another embodiment of the present wig cap, where the sheath has been attached by insert molding. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5   a  is a side perspective view of the sheath illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5   b  is a bottom perspective view of the sheath illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The present wig is prepared from a wig cap which is generally concave or cup-shaped so as to readily fit over the head of a doll. In at least one embodiment, the wig cap has a skull cap which is generally hemispherical, although in other embodiments, it can have a more complex contoured shape to closely fit the doll&#39;s head. In at least one embodiment, the perimeter of the skull cap can be circular in profile, or, in at least one other embodiment, the perimeter can be contoured to complement the shape of the face of the doll. 
         [0019]    In at least one embodiment, the skull cap is made from a material which is flexible enough to adapt to the shape of the head. Suitable materials for the skull cap material include but are not limited to polyvinyl chloride, but any polymeric material or other material can be used which would be flexible and allow for the rooting, flocking, sewing or gluing of hair fibers, yet allow the wig cap to remain in place on the head. Such materials are well known in the art. 
         [0020]    The wig cap has a rigid projection on its inner, concave surface which can be inserted snugly into a corresponding aperture on the doll&#39;s head, so as to position the wig cap appropriately and aid in holding it securely on the head. The projection is made at least partly of material which is more rigid than the material which makes up the skull cap so that a child or other user of the doll can readily position the projection in the aperture. If the projection is too flexible, it will bend as the user is attempting to insert it into the aperture, making it difficult and frustrating to position the wig cap properly on the head. In at least one embodiment, the projection is made at least partly from ABS (acetylene butadiene styrene) polymer, however, as will be appreciated by the skilled person, any polymeric material or other material can be used which will be more rigid than the skull cap material. Such materials include but are not limited to polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and K-Resin® (styrene-butadiene copolymer). 
         [0021]    In at least one embodiment, the projection contains an inner core made from the skull cap material upon which an outer sheath of the more rigid material is placed so as to surround the core. In at least one embodiment, the outer sheath contains a central bore which can receive the core. The wig cap can be conveniently manufactured by injection molding or other means well known in the art, so that the core is formed simultaneously and unitarily with the wig cap. The sheath can then be placed around the core and attached to the wig cap by any means known in the art, including but not limited to gluing, tight fitting, screwing and insert molding. Alternatively, the wig cap can be molded with the sheath in place so that the core material is formed within the bore of the sheath. The use of the core can allow the projection to be positioned precisely on mass-produced wig caps, thereby producing wigs that reproducibly and reliably fit mass-produced doll heads. 
         [0022]    Hair fibers can be attached to the wig cap by methods well known in the art, so as to prepare the finished wig. For example, in various embodiments, hair fibers can be embedded, woven, flocked, rooted, sewn, braided or inserted into perforations in the skull cap, and secured such that the hair fibers project from the exterior, convex surface of the wig cap, so as to be accessible and visible when the wig is in place on the doll head. The hair fibers can be secured in a pattern on the wig cap so as to provide the desired hairstyle of the wig. For example, in at least one embodiment, the hair fibers can be rooted in concentric circles in the skull cap, and other patterns will be apparent to the skilled person. The hair fibers can be of any desired colour known in the art, and the wig can contain hair fibers of a single colour or of a plurality of colours in any desired arrangement. Suitable hair fibers are well known in the art and can be natural hair fibers obtained from human or animal sources, artificial hair fibers, or synthetic hair fibers, including but not limited to nylon, polypropylene (PP) (for example, nylon and polypropylene fibers available from Da-Fil/FiloPlastic), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rayon, acetate, acrylic, Saran™ (vinylidene chloride copolymer, AsahiKasei), Kanekalon™ modacrylic fiber (a polymer of acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride) and Toyokalon™ fiber (polyvinyl chloride fiber). 
         [0023]    Specific embodiments of the present wig are described with reference to the drawings. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present wig has a wig cap  10  to which are attached hair fibers  12 . Wig cap  10  is generally hemispherical in shape and has a skull cap  15  and a projection  20  positioned centrally on skull cap  15 , as shown in further detail in  FIG. 2 . Projection  20  has a sheath  25  surrounding core  30 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , sheath  25  is glued to core  30 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , wig cap  10  fits closely on doll head  40  so that projection  20  is inserted into aperture  45 . 
         [0024]    An alternate embodiment of the present wig cap is shown in  FIG. 4 . Wig cap  50  is similar in shape and composition to the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , but has a central projection  55  formed by attaching sheath  60  to skull cap  65  by insert molding. As shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , sheath  60  has a hollow shaft  70  with a bore  75  and a crown  80  which has a series of apertures  85 . During manufacture of skull cap  65 , the crown  80  of sheath  60  is positioned in an injection molding cavity shaped for the production of the skull cap. As the skull cap material is injected into the cavity to form the skull cap, it flows into apertures  85  and bore  75  of sheath  60 . Thus, when the molding process is complete, crown  80  is embedded in wig cap  50 , as seen in  FIG. 4 , and the skull cap material occupies apertures  85 , providing for a very secure attachment of crown  80  to skull cap  65 . Furthermore, the skull cap material occupies bore  75  in hollow shaft  70  to form core  90  in projection  55 . 
         [0025]    The embodiments of the present invention described herein are intended to be illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications which are readily apparent to the person of skill in the art are intended to be within the scope of the invention, the only limitations to which are set forth in the appended claims.