Patent Publication Number: US-9427066-B2

Title: Stand for wigs

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a varying height device for holding wigs which can be disassembled and the pieces stored in a compact, transportable configuration. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Styrofoam wig heads are commonly used to hold wigs. These styrofoam heads, however, are very light and are prone to toppling. When the styrofoam heads fall, the wigs may fall onto the floor or into items that are normally kept in the vicinity of wigs, such as make-up, creams, clothing, or grooming implements. In such an event, the wig may become damaged or the style disheveled. It is thus desirable to anchor the wig head into place for the protection and preservation of the wig. 
     The prior art discloses a number of different devices to hold and store wigs to protect them and keep them neat and styled for the next time they are used. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,312 to Kassner for a “Portable-Travel-Storage-Styling Wig Case” discloses a cage structure with a pivoting neck lever connected to a head form. The lever enables the user to pivot the head outside the cage for styling, and pivot back into the cage for storage. The device can accommodate only one wig and is unwieldy, unattractive, and requires that the user pivot the head form into an upside-down position and then invert the entire device so that the head form is upright and able to receive and hold a wig in place. 
     A wig/hairpiece block stand is currently available commercially from MHRW International. This product consists of a thin flat base having an elongated peg extending therefrom and configured to hold a styrofoam wig head. Although it is advertised as a “non-topple” product, the base is of only a relatively small area. Because the center of gravity of the device, while it is holding a wig, is quite high, the stability of these devices is limited. The entire assembly, including the wig, will topple and become subject to damage when entirely predictable minor forces are applied to them, for example, being hit by an elbow 
     BaronUnlimited.com sells a styrofoam wig head with a detachable suction stand to hold it to the table. The wig cannot be turned or manipulated while it is on this product, thus eliminating this stand for styling purposes. 
     People also use clamps to attach a wig head to a wall, shelf, or countertop. Clamping the wig head will also limit the amount of manipulation that can be used to style the wig. 
     Many people who use wigs own two or even more. None of the prior art devices disclose a storage and holding system for multiple wigs. 
     The present invention addresses and corrects the disadvantages of prior art devices. Moreover, the present invention discloses an apparatus that may be easily disassembled and reassembled for traveling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a stand for holding and storing one or more wigs. The stable base and dowels elevate the wig to isolate and protect it, while leaving it open to ventilation and easily manipulated for two-handed styling. The stand is easily disassembled and reassembled and all parts fit together for easy and compact transport. 
     The wig stand of the present invention consists of a base, a number of stacking, interlocking dowels, and a dome. A first dowel is fit onto the base and additional identical dowels may be stacked thereon to increase the height of the stand to accommodate longer length wigs. The dome is then fit on the end of the topmost dowel to receive a wig for display, storage, or styling. The wig stand can be easily disassembled and the dowels and dome fit compactly into the base for travel or storage. 
     Wig owners who own more than one wig have had to purchase multiple individual styrofoam wig heads. This creates opportunity for clutter and contributes to the disorganization that might result in the toppling of a stored wig. In contrast, the invention of the present application may be configured to provide storage capacity for multiple wigs, appropriately spaced apart, so that each wig is protected from tangling with another wig and also allows room between the stored wigs so that the owner may easily style and maintain her wigs. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a uni-head embodiment of the present invention as assembled. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a disassembled unihead, with the dowels and dome of the device stored in the base. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a base of a uni-head embodiment. 
         FIG. 4A  is a top side perspective view of the dome. 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the dome, taken across line  4 ′- 4 ′. 
         FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional view of the dome, taken across line  4 ″- 4 ″ 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a dowel. 
         FIG. 5B  is an elevation view of same. 
         FIG. 5C  is a bottom plan view of same. 
         FIG. 5D  is a top plan view of same. 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a bi-head embodiment of the present invention, as assembled. 
         FIG. 6B  is a bottom view of same, with domes and dowels in storage position. 
         FIG. 6C  is a top perspective view of the base of same. 
         FIG. 7A  is a top perspective view of the base of a tri-head embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7B  is a plan view of the bottom of same, with domes and dowels stored therein. 
         FIG. 7C  is a top plan view of same, as assembled. 
         FIG. 7D  is a side elevation view of same, as assembled. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the inventive device  10 , shown assembled in  FIG. 1 , consists of a base  11  having indentations  12  therein. Connected to base  11  is at least one dowel  13 . Dowels  13  can be stacked to increase the height of the stand so as to accommodate wigs of longer length hair. Attached to the uppermost dowel  13  is a dome  14  on which a wig (not shown) is placed where it can be styled, displayed, or stored. 
     Device  10  can be disassembled for storage or transport, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Dowels  13  are nested into indentations  12  and dome  14  is secured to base  11 , partly covering and thus maintaining dowels  13  in place. 
       FIG. 3  shows that base  11  has a anchoring stud  30  secured to its center which serves to hold dome  14  when the device is disassembled and which serves to hold the bottom-most dowel when assembled. Stud  30  is inserted into channel  40  which is located in the central portion of the underside of dome  14  as shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4C . 
     Dowel  13  is shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  and consists of a collar  51  with an opening  53  at one end (shown in  FIG. 5C ) and a t-section  52  at the other (shown in  FIG. 5D ). Opening  53  is configured to receive t-section  52  of another dowel  13  or anchoring stud  30 . 
     Device  10  is assembled by attaching dowel  13  to base  11  by fitting opening  53  over stud  30 . Additional dowels  13  are stacked sequentially onto previous installed dowels  13  by fitting opening  53  over t-section  52  until the desired height is reached, either sufficient to accommodate the length of the wig or for display purposes. Dome  14  is then attached to the topmost dowel. Disassembly is accomplished in the reverse order. Dowels  13  can be stored in indentations  12  and dome  14  is secured over dowels by inserting stud  30  into channel  40 , thus maintaining dowels  13  in position in indentations  12 . 
     The inventive device may be configured to accommodate one or more wigs.  FIGS. 6A, 7C, and 7D  show embodiments of the assembled inventive device capable of holding two or three wigs. In these embodiments, indentations for holding dowels and cavities for holding domes are configured on the bottom of bases  61  or  71  and dowels and domes can be stored therein, as shown in  FIGS. 6D and 7E . Domes  64  and  74  are retained in place while in storage, e.g., by fitting channels  40  onto a stud  30  extending out of bases  61  and  71   
     Holes  60  and  70 , as shown in  FIGS. 6C and 7A , are configured to receive dowels  13 . Holes  60  and  70  contain structures  68  and  78 , respectively, capable of engaging with opening  53  and securing dowel  13 . 
     Storeable domes  14  and  64  may be replaced when desired by a standard styrofoam head. The unihead embodiment will be lighter than the duohead or trihead embodiment, and thus will be more appropriate in many cases for traveling.