Patent Publication Number: US-2006005849-A1

Title: Securing clip for track-mounted hairpieces

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is preceded by and claims the benefit of provisional patent 60/478,618 which embodies the basic design. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
      Not Applicable  
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX  
      Not Applicable  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention is related to devices that provide attachment of track-mounted hairpieces to the human head. Track-mounted hairpieces, commonly referred to as “tracks”, consist of strands of human or synthetic hair that are bonded onto flexible strips of webbing. Past inventions have demonstrated a variety of clips that hold wigs and other hairpieces onto the wearer&#39;s scalp. Typically these devices must be permanently attached to a hairpiece and feature of a single set of teeth that grip the scalp hair. Kageyama et al. D414,002 discloses a wig clip that must be sewn into a hairpiece. Mochizuki U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,037 shows anchoring member that requires a mating mechanical fastener that is permanently mounted onto a hairpiece. Overmyer et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,107 discloses a hairpiece with visible barrette-style attachment clip. Reagan U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,693 shows a hair arranging band that can also serve as base for mounting a hairpiece. None of these references show a device designed specifically to allow rapid attachment and removal of track-mounted hairpieces in a concealed fashion.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention disclosed herein provides an attachment means that allows track-mounted hairpieces to be quickly and securely affixed onto the human scalp. This device provides a more convenient alternative to the typical practice of sewing or gluing track-mounted hairpieces to scalp hair and does not require permanent attachment to the track-mounted hairpiece. Track-mounted hairpieces can be easily repositioned or removed, thereby adding a new dimension of convenience and comfort for the wearer. In conclusion, this device provides the following advantages not claimed in prior art: 
          Converts track-mounted hairpieces from a permanent to a temporary mounting means that can be easily affixed, repositioned or removed;     Provides a universal attachment means that can be used with any track-mounted hairpiece;     Provides virtually invisible attachment of hairpieces; and     Eliminates the use of tools or adhesives.       

    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG. 1  depicts a frontal view of the device&#39;s reverse face.  
       FIG. 2  depicts a frontal view of the device&#39;s obverse face.  
       FIG. 3  depicts a frontal view of the device&#39;s obverse face with a track-mounted hairpiece track interwoven between its upwardly projecting teeth.  
       FIG. 4  depicts a frontal view of the device&#39;s obverse face with a track-mounted hairpiece secured behind its upwardly projecting teeth and retaining band installed.  
       FIG. 5  depicts a side view of the device in convex or “open” position.  
       FIG. 6  depicts a side view of the device in use on the wearer&#39;s head and with a track-mounted hairpiece installed.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The description presented herein and illustrated by  FIGS. 1 through 6  pertains to the invention currently referred to as a Securing Clip for Track-Mounted Hairpeices. This device consists of primary frame  2  (resembling an inverted letter “U”) that is permanently attached to secondary frame  4  in such fashion as to mildly distort primary frame  2  across its longitudinal plane. As a result, horizontal member of primary frame  2  can be selectively pressed into a convex or concave shape relative to secondary frame  4  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). A plurality of upwardly projecting teeth  4  extend from the obverse face of secondary frame  4  and feature unmounted pointed tips that terminate slightly above primary frame  2  ( FIG. 2 ). A plurality of downwardly projecting teeth  8  extend from the reverse face of primary frame  2  and feature unmounted rounded tips which terminate slightly below secondary frame  4  ( FIG. 1 ). Retainer band  10  consists of an elastic loop of sufficient inner diameter to be placed around the upwardly projecting teeth  6 .  
       FIG. 6  shows a side view of this device while in use. To apply this device, the user presses track-mounted hairpiece  12  either behind or over upwardly projecting teeth  6  of outer frame  2 . Retainer band  10  can be placed around said teeth as an additional securing means ( FIG. 4 ). Primary frame  2  is then pressed into to convex or “open” position, which lifts downwardly projecting teeth  8  away from secondary frame  4 . Downwardly projecting teeth  8  of secondary frame  2  are then inserted into scalp hair  8  closely against the head  14 . Secondary frame  2  is then pressed into its concave or “closed” position. This closes downwardly projecting teeth  8  against secondary frame  4 , which causes scalp hair to be grasped securely between said teeth and frame ( FIG. 6 ).