Patent Abstract:
An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes wig or hair piece boxes for both the efficient storage and display of wigs or hair pieces before sell, as well as providing simple, efficient and effective storage facilities for wigs or hair pieces for use of the consumer. The wig or hair piece boxes include a form which holds the wig or hair piece and preserves the curl, style, and one directional curl of the hair tip end on the wig or hair piece. This avoids the common problem of loss of original curl and style of the wig or hair piece which plagues conventional wig and hair piece boxes.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 12/154,037, filed May 20, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,439,237. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Embodiments include containers and forms for preserving, storing, and displaying wigs and hair pieces. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 37 CFR 1.98 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,289,823 discloses a wig container with a hinged support for a display head. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,327,842 discloses a wig box and styling stand with a collapsible styling stand. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,388 discloses a collapsible wig case which accommodates a upright head form with wig and is compact for storage when in the collapsed position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,438,480 discloses a wig carrying case which supports a shaped manikin head in a convenient position for dressing a wig. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,587,836 discloses a prestyled wig carrier constructed primarily of a single piece which supports a styrofoam head with styled wig. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,621,988 discloses a rectangular case which contains one or more shaped manikin heads attached to the walls of the case. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,174 discloses a wig form support which fits securely in a rectangular case. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,114 discloses convertible case which accommodates a wig form in the horizontal position for transport. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,082 discloses an inflatable wig tote with inflatable wig form. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D209,952, a design patent, discloses the ornamental design for a doll wig package. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D318,174, a design patent, discloses the ornamental design for a box for containing a cap. 
     None of the prior art wig or hair piece boxes deal with the problem of loss of style and curl or deals with the preservation of one directional curl and style of stored wigs and hair pieces. Embodiments of the present disclosure solve this long-recognized problem. 
     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. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure meet the need for a compact wig and hair piece box which allows efficient transport, storage and display of the contained wig or hair piece before it is sold to a consumer, and thereafter allows convenient compact storage of the wig or hair piece by the consumer. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Embodiments include a wig or hair piece box comprising: a rectangular enclosure having a bottom wall, two side walls, two end walls, and a hinged front wall. The bottom, front, and side walls having the same length. The bottom and front walls having a greater width than the side walls. One side wall having a slit, the front wall having a window, a flap hinged to the front wall, the flap having a tab for insertion into the side wall slot, and an upper spacer at one end wall and a lower spacer at the other end wall. 
     Other embodiments include a wig or hair piece form for holding a wig or hair piece which comprises a body having a top end and a lower end, a shoulder attached to the top end and extending around the edges of the top end, the top end and the body oval in cross section with a major axis and a minor axis, the major and minor axes throughout the body parallel and gradually increasing from the top end to the lower end, and the lower end having a hemi-ovoid shape. 
     Embodiments include a wig and hair piece box with a form which holds the wig or hair piece and preserves the original style and one directional tip end curl. 
     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 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment closed wig or hair piece box  100  containing a wig or hair piece on a form. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of an embodiment wig or hair piece box containing a wig or hair piece on a form with the front wall opened. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the inside of an embodiment wig or hair piece box before the box is folded. 
         FIG. 4  is side view of an embodiment form. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an embodiment form. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an embodiment form with wig or hair piece attached. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of an embodiment form with wig or hair piece attached. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of an embodiment form with wig or hair piece attached and covered by a hair net. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of an embodiment form with wig or hair piece attached and covered by a hair net and by a sleeve. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of an embodiment form. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross section view of an embodiment form taken at line  11 - 11 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an embodiment U-shaped retainer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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. 
     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 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 (making) of a wig or hair piece. The term “weft track” means a strip (stitched or fused section) to which wefts (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. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment closed wig or hair piece box containing a wig or hairpiece on a form. Visible in  FIG. 1  is the hanger  120  with hole  120 , front wall  112 , window  114  with transparent pane  116 , and enclosed form  150  with attached wig or hair piece  160 . Retainer  126  is also visible in  FIG. 1 . Descriptive indicia  171  may be located on the box. 
       FIG. 2  is a view of an embodiment wig or hair piece box containing a wig or hair piece on a form with the front wall opened. Visible in  FIG. 2  is the form  150  with form top  152  having an attached wig or hair piece  160 , hairnet  170 , and sleeve  172 . The form was placed in an enclosure comprised of bottom wall  131 , left wall  129 , right wall  132 , upper spacer  122 , and lower spacer  124 . Hanger  120  with a hole  121  extended from the upper spacer  122 . A U-shaped retainer  126  secured the form in the enclosure. The front wall  112  (also referred to herein as top wall  112 ) was attached at fold  113  to left wall  129 . A window  114  in front wall  112  was covered by transparent pane  116 . A flap  112   a  was attached at fold  134  to front wall  112 . A tab  136  was attached to flap  112   a  at fold  138 . 
       FIG. 3  is a view of the inside of an embodiment wig or hair piece box before the box is folded and assembled. The box is constructed from a single piece of material, with the exception of the transparent window pane. Fold lines are indicated by dashed lines. Visible in  FIG. 3  is the bottom wall  131 , the top wall  112 , the left side wall  129 , and the right side wall  132 . The right side wall  132  has a flap  133  which is folded up on fold line  145  and adhesively attached to the right side wall  132 . The bottom wall, top wall and left and right side walls have the same length. The widths of the bottom wall and top wall are equal and greater than the widths of the side walls. A slit  142  is at the junction between the bottom wall  131  and the right side wall  132 . The top wall  112  has a window  114  which is covered by a transparent pane  116 . A flap  112   a  is attached to the front wall  112 . A tab  136  is attached to the flap  112   a.    
     Left upper assembly tab  115  and left lower assembly tab  111  are attached to left wall  129 . Right upper assembly tab  135  and right lower assembly tab  134  are attached to right wall  132 . V-shaped notches and cuts  125 ,  123 ,  141 , and  140  are cut into the assembly tabs  115 ,  111 ,  135  and  134 , respectively. 
     An upper spacer  122  is comprised of an upper end wall  136 , upper wedge  182 , upper flap  137 , and upper flange  183  and is attached to one end of the bottom wall  131 . A slit  143  is cut between the upper end wall  136  and the bottom wall  131 . A lower spacer  124  is comprised of a lower end wall  138 , lower wedge  181 , lower flap  139 , lower flange  180  and is attached to the other end of the bottom wall  131 . Upper wedge  182  has flaps  184  and  185  attached at the edges of the wedge. Lower wedge  181  has flaps  186  and  187  attached at the edges of the wedge. 
     The first step in assembling the box was to fold the flap  133  at fold  145  through about 180.degree. until it was flat against right side wall  132 . Flap  133  was adhesively fixed to the right side wall  132 . 
     Assembly tabs  115  and  111  were bent upward along fold lines  119  and  117 , respectively, at about right angles to left side wall  129 . Assembly tabs  135  and  134  were bent upward along fold lines  147  and  146 , respectively, at about right angles to right side wall  132 . 
     Left side wall  129  was bent upward at fold  131  at about a right angle to bottom wall  131 . Right side wall  132  was bend upward at fold  144  at about a right angle to bottom wall  131 . 
     V-shaped notches and cuts  123  and  140  of assembly tabs  111  and  134 , respectively, were engaged to connect assembly tab  111  with assembly tab  134 . V-shaped notches and cuts  125  and  141  of assembly tabs  115  and  135 , respectively, were engaged to connect assembly tab  115  with assembly tab  135 . 
     Upper end wall  136  was bent upward at fold  148  at about a right angle to bottom wall  131 . Flaps  184  and  185  were bend upward at about a right angle to upper wedge  182 . Upper wedge  182  and upper flap  137  were bent against flaps  184  and  185  so that the flaps  184 ,  185  were enclosed by upper end wall  136  and upper flap  137 . In addition, the interlocked upper assembly tabs  115  and  135  were enclosed between upper end wall  136  and upper flap  137 . Finally, flange  183  was bent at about a right angle to upper flap  137  and hanger  120  was inserted through slit  143 . Flange  183  was adhesively secured to bottom wall  131 . 
     Lower end wall  138  was bent upward at fold  149  at about a right angle to bottom wall  131 . Flaps  186  and  187  were bend upward at about a right angle to lower wedge  181 . Lower wedge  181  and lower flap  139  were bent against flaps  186  and  187  so that the flaps  186 ,  187  were enclosed by lower end wall  138  and lower flap  139 . In addition, the interlocked lower assembly tabs  111  and  134  were enclosed between lower end wall  138  and lower flap  139 . Finally, flange  180  was bent at about a right angle to lower flap  139 . Flange  180  was adhesively secured to bottom wall  131 . 
     The above foldings and securings resulted in a rectangular enclosure with bottom wall  131 , left side wall  129 , right side wall  132 , upper spacer  122  (shown on  FIG. 2 ) and lower spacer  124  (shown on  FIG. 2 ). At this point a form with an attached wig or hair piece was inserted in the rectangular enclosure. Front wall  112  was bent at fold  113  at about a right angle to cover the open top of the rectangular enclosure with inserted form with a wig and flap  112   a  was bent at fold  134  at about right angles to extend over the outside of right wall  132 . Flap  112   a  was secured by insertion of tab  136  into slit  142 , providing a wig box which can be reversibly closed and secured. 
     Embodiments of wig or hair piece boxes were manufactured by any suitable thin, flexible, durable material, such as cardboard or plastic strips. The transparent pane was manufactured any suitable transparent material such as plastic, glass, or cellophane. It is anticipated that the outer surfaces of the boxes will have indicia relating to the box contents. Embodiments include wig or hair piece boxes with front wall 7 inches in length, 4 inches in width, and with side walls 3 inches in height. 
       FIG. 4  is side view of an embodiment form  150  which comprises a form top  152  and a form body  154 . The form body  154  has an upper end  157 , a lower end  159 , and the bottom  158  of the body. The top  152  has a shoulder  151  which extends about the circumference of the top. The body  154  has the shape of an oval which gradually increases in both major and minor axes to the lower end  159  of the body. A major axis is longer than a minor axis. The bottom  158  of the body has a hemi-ovoid shape, that is, approximating the shape of an egg which has been sliced along its length. In  FIG. 4  the minor axes of the body is approximately parallel to the surface of the figure. 
     Embodiment forms have the major axis equal to the minor axis, that is, are cylindrical in shape with any cross section taken along the length of the form having the shape of a circle. Such embodiments have a bottom of the body with a hemispheric shape. 
     Embodiment forms are manufactured of any suitable strong, resilient material. Suitable materials include 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. 
     Embodiment forms have a top with minor axis of 2¼ inches and major axis of 3¼ inches. Embodiments have a body length of 7 inches. It is specifically contemplated that the dimensions of embodiments will vary according to the dimensions of the wigs used with the forms. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of an embodiment form  150 . The features and descriptions of  FIG. 4  also apply to  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 5  the major axes of the body is approximately parallel to the surface of the figure. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of an embodiment form with wig attached. In  FIG. 6  the minor axis of the top and form body is parallel to the surface of the figure. Visible in  FIG. 6  is the form  150 , the top  152  of the form, the upper end  157  of the form, and the form bottom  158 . The top  152  has a shoulder which extends from the circumference of the top. 
     Also visible in  FIG. 6  is a wig or hair piece  160 . This wig comprises an elongated band or weft track  162 . Weft strands of hair  164  are fixedly attached to the band or weft track  162 . In embodiments the band is 10 to 12 feet in length. In embodiments wefts of hair consist of 10 to 50 strands of hair. In embodiments the length of hair is about 7 inches. In embodiments the terminal ends of the wefts, termed “tip end” are curled, with the curl of all hair strands substantially parallel to each other, termed a “one directional tip end curl”. 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. 
     In use, in embodiments, a first end of the elongated band or weft track  162  is removably attached to the form  150  at the upper end  157  of the form using a pin. The elongated band or weft track with attached hair strands is wrapped about the form and the second end of the elongated band or weft track is attached to the form body with another pin. The hair strands  164  are arrayed substantially parallel to each other about the outside of the form body with the wefts overlapping each other and extending down the form with the curled ends  166  of the hair strands substantially curled around the bottom  158  of the form body, preserving the one directional tip end curl of the wig or hair piece. 
     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 wig boxes and forms. 
     Although embodiments of the form are described in this application in connection with a wig or hair piece, it is specifically contemplated that forms can be used to hold hair pieces with the associated preservation of the original style and one directional tip end curl. 
     Embodiments of the disclosed wig boxes and 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 condition of wigs and hair pieces when not in use. Embodiment boxes and forms allow convenient storing and displaying wigs or hair pieces while requiring a minimal amount of space. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of an embodiment form with wig or hair piece attached. In  FIG. 7  the major axis of the top and form body is parallel to the surface of the figure. Visible in  FIG. 7  is the form  150 , the form top  152 , the upper end  157  of the form, and the form bottom  158 . Also visible in  FIG. 7  is a wig  160  comprising an elongated band or weft track  162 , wefts  164 , and curls  166  at the end of the hair strands as described in connection with  FIG. 6  with the one directional tip end curl preserved and with the tips of the strands of hair substantially covering the bottom of the form. 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of an embodiment form with wig or hair piece attached and covered by a hair net. Visible in  FIG. 8  is the form  150 , attached wig or hair piece  160 , and hair net  170 . The hair net is pulled over the form with attached wig or hair piece from the top  152  and serves to secure the wefts of hair  164  of the wig to the form, and helps to maintain the orientation of the wefts, and helps to maintain the one directional tip end curl  166  of the hair strands about the bottom  158  of the form  150  with the tips of the strands of hair  166  substantially covering the bottom  158  of the form  150 . 
       FIG. 9  is a front view of an embodiment form with wig attached and covered by a hair net and by a sleeve. Visible in  FIG. 9  is the form  150 , the attached wig or hair piece  160 , and a hair net  170  which has been pulled over the entire form with attached wig or hair piece, and a conical sleeve  172  which covers the hair net. The conical sleeve  172  may contain descriptive indicia  171  which identify the type of wig or hair piece. 
       FIG. 10  is a view of the top of an embodiment form. The top  152  has the shape of an oval with a major axis  193  which is longer than the minor axis  191 . 
       FIG. 11  is a cross section view of an embodiment form taken at line  11 - 11  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The cross section of the form has the shape of an oval with a major axis  195  which is longer than the minor axis  196 . 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an embodiment U-shaped retainer  126 . Visible in  FIG. 12  is the left arm  127 , right arm  128 , and retainer base  130 . The retainer  126  prevents displacement of the form with attached wig or hair piece in the enclosure. 
     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 sub-combinations 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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0