Wearer's own hair utilizing type wig and method for manufacturing the same

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig in which the hair growing on the wearer's head is pulled up through the wig and blended with false hairs attached to the wig, and more particularly to a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig in which a plurality of wearer's own hairs can be pulled up evenly and easily.

RELATED ART

Conventional wigs, in general, are formed by attaching a number of false hairs to a wig base which defines an overall configuration, i.e., outline of the wig. Among them, the so-called wearer's own hair utilizing type wigs are of the type in which a plurality of holes or meshes are formed in a wig base and the wearer's own hair is pulled up and out through those holes or meshes and blended with the false hair of the wig. A typical example of a conventional wig of this type is shown in FIG.

35

.

A wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

70

in

FIG. 35

employs a net base

71

composed of a coarse net member. The wig

70

is known to employ a net shape of cross meshes such as a diamond shape, a rectangular shape and the like. Such a vertical and horizontal cross arranged net base

71

has a number of false hairs

72

(

FIG. 35

shows only a part of the false hairs) preliminarily attached thereto. As a material of the false hair, human hair, or artificial hair composed of synthetic fiber is used in general. In this specification, hair materials composed of humans' hairs or synthetic fibers attached to a wig are referred to as “false hairs”.

In the case where the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig is attached to a wearer's head, the wearer's own hair H is pulled up through a space of the net base

71

using a hairdressing brush, then the wearer's own hair H thus pulled up and out are blended with the false hairs

72

. By doing so, the wig can be attached to the wearer's head utilizing the wearer's own hairs.

However, when the above wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

70

is attempted to be attached to the wearer's head, much of the wearer's hair is pressed against the net base with the underside of the vertical and horizontal net base

71

and therefore, much of the wearer's own hair H pressed downward is kept secured by the net base

71

. Even if the hairs H are tried to be pulled up and out using the hairdressing brush, they are not easily pulled up and out of the net meshes with the result that much of the wearer's own hair H is left non-utilized. Moreover, when the tips of the teeth of the comb enter the mesh, they are readily caught by the mesh. The result is that the net base

71

is torn off or broken by undue force required for withdrawing the brush.

Furthermore, in the case of the conventional wig base in

FIG. 35

, the net member must be vertically and horizontally disposed in order to maintain the curved state. Accordingly, it is essentially required for the conventional wig base to be equipped with a peripheral edge framed member

73

. That is, the peripheral edge of the wig base must be reinforced by the peripheral edge framed member

73

which defines the configuration and size of the wig. This peripheral edge framed member

73

is normally trimmed, in order to prevent the shape from being deformed, such that its peripheral edge portion is comparatively thick and rigid, by means of a wide cloth tape, polyurethane resin coating or the like. As a result, the wig

70

must be attached to the wearer's head with the wearer's own hair H being pressed with the net member and the peripheral edge framed member

73

. The peripheral edge framed member

73

acts very adversely when the downwardly pressed wearer's own hair H is pulled upward. Moreover, since the wearer's head is somewhat compressed tightly by the peripheral edge framed member, the perspiration from the scalp is prevented.

A more vital disadvantage of the peripheral edge framed member which is an essential component part of the conventional wearer's own hair utilizing type wig is that the peripheral edge framed member is readily discovered by a third party. In the case where the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig is designed as a partial wig or hairpiece in

FIG. 35

, this partial wig exhibits a shallow bowl-like configuration. Therefore, when such a partial wig is placed on the wearer's head, the peripheral edge framed member

73

is laterally arranged, particularly at the forehead portion of the wearer's head, along the hairline. Since the peripheral edge framed member

73

is arranged in a laterally crossing direction at the forehead portion of the wearer's head, generally over a half length of the full circumference of the wearer's head, it is very easy to be discovered. In addition, since the wearer's own hair H grown at the forehead region is pressed by the underside of the peripheral edge framed member

73

, the hairline does not mix evenly with the wig

70

, thus the front edge of the wig

70

is floated, providing an unnatural look. This further enhances the easy discovery of the peripheral edge of the wig. Moreover, since the false hairs

72

attached to the peripheral edge framed member

73

are greatly different in hair flow direction from that of the wearer's own hair H depending on hair style, it is difficult to blend the false hair

72

with the wearer's own hair H. As a result, the false hair

72

and the wearer's own hair H must be blended by proving a curl thereto using a permanent instrument such as an iron, a drier or the like. Therefore, it requires much time and labor to obtain a desired hairstyle.

The presence of the peripheral edge framed member can also create a problem with the wearer's rear head portion. Because the wearer's hair in the rear head region is pressed by the peripheral edge framed member

73

, the peripheral edge

74

of the wig

70

is floated. This causes the generation of a step between the false hairs

72

of the wig and the wearer's own hair H, and the border appears as a step-like stripe along the peripheral edge

74

. Hence, the fact of wearing a wig is visually recognized.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig, in which much of the wearer's own hair can easily be pulled up and out in which the hair volume can be increased, as a whole, by blending the wearer's own hair with the false hairs of the wig and evenly effectively utilizing the wearer's own hair.

The second object of the present invention is to provide a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig, in which the peripheral edge of the wig is not easily visually recognized by eliminating the peripheral edge framed member and the bowl- or cap-like wig base such as a net or artificial skin.

The third object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned wearer's own hair utilizing type wig.

The fourth object of the present invention is to provide a rib comprised of a core material composed of an elastic rigid material and a thermally-contracting tube covering the core material which is designed such that false hairs can easily be attached thereto.

The fifth object of the present invention is to provide a wearer's own hair utilizing type wigO which is equipped, as a part thereof, with a rib comprising the core material and the tube.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the objects, a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to the present invention comprises a hair-secured frame having no perimeter, the hair-secured frame including a skeleton-like framework and a plurality of false hairs fixed to the skeleton-like framework, the skeleton-like framework including at least one rib curved in such a manner as not to form an outline of the wig, for attachment, the wearer's own hair being pulled up through a space of the hair-secured frame and blended with the false hairs secured to the skeleton-like framework.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig comprises a hair-secured frame having no perimeter, the hair-secured frame including a skeleton-like framework and a plurality of false hairs secured to the skeleton-like framework, the skeleton-like framework including a plurality of ribs combined together in such a manner as not to form an outline of the wig, for attachment, the wearer's own hair being pulled up through a space of the hair-secured frame and blended with the false hairs secured to the skeleton-like framework.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig comprises a hair-secured frame having no perimeter, the hair-secured frame including a skeleton-like framework and a plurality of false hairs attached to the skeleton-like framework, the skeleton-like framework including a combination of a plurality of ribs extending forward and/or backward in correspondence with at least a forehead portion and/or a rear head portion for the wearer, for attachment, the wearer's own hairs being pulled up through a space of the hair-secured frame and blended with the false hairs attached to the skeleton-like framework.

According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig comprises a hair-secured frame having no perimeter, the hair-secured frame including a skeleton-like framework and a plurality of false hairs secured to the skeleton-like framework, the skeleton-like framework including a plurality of ribs extending forward and/or backward and at least one connecting rib crossing for connection with each of the plurality of ribs at least at one point, for attachment, the wearer's own hair being pulled up through a space of the hair-secured frame and blended with the false hairs attached to the skeleton-like framework.

According to a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig of the present invention, it comprises a U- or V-shaped hair-secured frame unit having no perimeter, the U- or V-shaped hair-secured frame including a skeleton-like framework and a plurality of false hairs secured to the skeleton-like framework, the skeleton-like framework including a rib curved in a U- or V-shape in such a manner as not to form an outline of the wig, for attachment, the U- or V-shaped hair-secured frame unit being inserted towards the wearer's head portion first with a free end side thereof and the wearer's own hair being blended with the false hairs.

In the alternative, a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig may comprise a hair-secured frame including a plurality of U- or V-shaped hair-secured frame units having no perimeter and arranged in parallel such that the hair-secured frame exhibits a comb-like configuration as a whole, each of the U- or V-shaped hair-secured frame units including a skeleton-like framework and a plurality of false hairs secured to the skeleton-like framework, the skeleton-like framework including a rib curved into a U- or V-shape, for attachment, the comb-like hair-secured frame being inserted towards the wearer's head portion first with a free end side thereof and the wearer's own hair is blended with the false hairs.

Moreover, a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to the present invention comprises an annular hair-secured frame unit which includes an annular framework and a plurality of false hairs secured to said annular framework, for attachment, the said annular hair-secured frame unit is placed on the wearer's head, and the wearer's own hair is pulled up through an opening thereof and blended with the false hairs.

In the alternative, a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig may comprise a hair-secured frame, the hair-secured frame including at least two hair-secured annular frame units connected together in parallel, each of the hair-secured annular frame units including an annular framework and false hairs secured thereto, for attachment, the hair-secured frame being placed on the wearer's head and the wearer's own hair being pulled up and out of an opening of each of the hair-secured frame units and blended with the false hairs.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig comprises an annular peripheral edge framed member and a plurality of ribs, the ribs each comprising a core material which is composed of an elastic rigid material and a thermally-contracting tube covering the core material, the peripheral edge framed member having a plurality of support holes formed in an inner peripheral edge corresponding to the wearer's forehead portion or rear head portion, the support holes being adapted to support the ribs, opposite end portions of the ribs being inserted into the support holes and supported by the peripheral edge framed member, the peripheral edge framed member and the ribs having false hairs attached thereto, for attachment, wearer's own hair being pulled up through a space between the ribs and blended with the false hairs.

In the alternative, the present invention may comprise an annular peripheral edge framed member and a plurality of ribs, the ribs each comprising a core material which is composed of an elastic rigid material and a thermally-contracting tube covering the core material, the ribs being attached to the peripheral edge framed member such that the ribs extend back and forth in a region surrounded with an inner peripheral edge of the peripheral edge framed member, a guide thin wire being arranged at each opposite side of the peripheral edge framed member, a movable slide rib being disposed along the guide thin wire, the peripheral edge framed member, the ribs and the slide rib being secured with false hairs, for attachment, the wearer's own hair being pulled up through a space between the ribs and blended with the false hairs.

Furthermore, the present invention may comprises an annular peripheral edge framed member and a plurality of ribs, the ribs each comprised of a core material which is composed of an elastic rigid material and a thermally-contracting tube covering the core material, the ribs being arranged in a mutually crossing relation within a region surrounded with an inner peripheral edge of the peripheral edge framed member, the ribs being attached to the peripheral edge framed member without being connected at crossing points thereof so that the ribs can freely exhibit elasticity thereof without being interfered within in their mutual actions, the peripheral edge framed portion and the ribs being attached with false hairs, for attachment, wearer's own hair being pulled up through a space between the ribs and blended with the false hairs.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig comprises a net member or a wig base composed of an artificial skin and a plurality of false hairs secured in the wig base, the wig base being formed at a portion thereof with a cutout portion, a rib, which comprises a core material composed of an elastic rigid material and a thermally-contracting tube covering the core material, being disposed over the cutout portion, the rib being secured with false hairs, for attachment, the wearer's own hair being pulled up through the cutout portion and blended with the false hairs secured to the rib and the wig base.

On the other hand, according to one embodiment of a method for manufacturing a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of forming a planar skeleton-like framework having no outline by connecting together a plurality of ribs and at least one connecting rib by proper means such as bonding, knotting, welding and the like along a predetermined framework pattern; placing the skeleton-like framework on a given head mold having a predetermined configuration and at the same time retain the same curve along the configuration of the head mold; molding a curved framework, which is curved along the configuration of a given head mold, by heating, for a predetermined time, the ribs at a temperature for the material forming the ribs to be thermally changed; and forming a hair-secured frame by attaching a plurality of false hairs to the curved framework.

It is also accepted that a groove is formed in the head mold along the predetermined. framework pattern, and the planar skeleton-like framework is securely set in the groove.

According to a further embodiment of a method for manufacturing a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of forming a groove in a head mold having a predetermined configuration along a predetermined framework pattern; pouring molten material forming a rib into the groove and hardening the same, thereby forming a curved framework along the head mold; and forming a hair-secured frame by attaching a plurality of false hairs to the curved framework.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments of this invention. It should be noted, however, that the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings are not intended to specify nor limit the present invention but they are used only for facilitating the explanation and easy understanding of the present invention.

In the drawings;

FIG. 1

is a perspective view showing a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which false hairs are mostly omitted for the sake of clarity of the construction of a framework, although a number of false hairs are actually densely attached to the framework;

FIG. 2

is a top plan view of the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig shown in

FIG. 1

, in which the false hairs are likewise, mostly omitted;

FIG. 3

is a perspective view showing a state in which the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig of

FIG. 1

is attached to the wearer's head (it should be noted that actually, a number of false hairs attached to the framework are blended with the wearer's own hair);

FIG. 4

is a schematic top plan view showing a constitution of a first modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to the present invention;

FIG. 5

is a perspective view showing the state in which the wig of

FIG. 4

is attached to the wearer's head;

FIG. 6

is a perspective view showing one example of a method for manufacturing a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to the present invention as well as a process for molding the framework;

FIG. 7

is a cross sectional view showing the state in which the rib material is set on a gypsum head mold of

FIG. 6

;

FIG. 8

is a perspective view showing a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to a second modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG.

8

(A) is a perspective view and FIG.

8

(B) is a side view of a rib used in the wig of FIG.

8

(A);

FIG. 9

is a top plan view showing a constitution of a skeleton-like framework according to another modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10

is a top plan view showing a constitution of a skeleton-like framework according to a further modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11

is a top plan view showing a constitution of a skeleton-like framework according to a still further modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12

is a top plan view showing a constitution of a skeleton-like framework according to a yet further modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13

is a top plan view showing a constitution of a skeleton-like framework according to an additional modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14

is a top plan view showing a constitution of a skeleton-like framework according to another modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15

is a top plan view showing a constitution of a skeleton-like framework according to a further modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS.

16

(A)-(B) show one example of a rib used for the present invention and are partly enlarged perspective views showing states in which false hairs are attached to a loop formed on a distal end of the rib;

FIGS.

17

(A)-(C) show one example of a rib used for the present invention, FIG.

17

(A) is a partly enlarged side view of a rib formed by coating a core material with a thermally-contracting tube, FIG.

17

(B) is a sectional view taken on line A—A of FIG.

17

(A) and FIG.

17

(C) is a sectional view taken on line B—B of FIG.

17

(A);

FIGS.

18

(A)-(C) are perspective views showing the process for manufacturing the: rib of

FIG. 17

;

FIG. 19

is a perspective view showing a comb-like hair-secured frame of a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20

is a top plan view showing a U-shaped framework used for the hair-secured frame according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 21

is a perspective view showing a state a state in which the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to the second embodiment is attached to a wearer's head;

FIG. 22

is a perspective view showing another example of a constitution of the hair-secured frame according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 23

is a perspective view showing a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS.

24

(A) is a top plan view of a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to a third embodiment and FIG.

24

(B) is a top plan view in which the wig is expanded from the state shown in FIG.

24

(A);

FIG. 25

is a top plan view showing an annular framework used for the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 26

is a perspective view showing a constitution of two ribs connected at distal end portions thereof, of the annular framework of

FIG. 25

;

FIG. 27

is a top plan view showing a connecting constitution of the adjacent annular frameworks of the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28

is a perspective view showing a state in which the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to the third embodiment of the present invention is attached to the wearer's head;

FIG. 29

is a schematic top plan view showing a constitution of another embodiment of a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to the present invention, in which false hairs are omitted;

FIG. 30

is a perspective view for explaining the attachment of the rib to a peripheral framed member in the embodiment shown in

FIG. 29

;

FIG.

31

(A) is a perspective view showing one example of a constitution of a peripheral framed member in a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to a further embodiment of the present invention and FIG.

31

(B) is a partly enlarged perspective view showing an inlet opening for attaching a rib to an inner end edge of the peripheral framed member of FIG.

31

(A);

FIG. 32

is a perspective view of a wig base equipped with an auxiliary member in the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig of

FIG. 31

;

FIG. 33

is a schematic perspective view showing one example in which the rib according to the present invention is applied to a full wig;

FIG. 34

is a perspective view showing a state in which the full wig of

FIG. 33

is attached to a wearer's head; and

FIG. 35

is a perspective view showing a state in which the conventional wearer's own hair utilizing type wig is attached to wearer's head.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Several embodiments of the present invention will be described specifically hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1

to

3

are, respectively, a perspective view and a top plan view which show a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

1

according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a perspective view showing a state in which the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

1

is attached to the wearer's head. For attachment, this wearer's own hair utilizing type wig (hereinafter occasionally referred to simply as the “wig”) is placed at a desired location of the wearer's head and false hairs

15

attached to a hair-secured frame

10

are blended with growing hair H of the wearer. By virtue of this arrangement, the wearer's own hair H can easily pulled up through a space of the hair-secured frame

10

and sufficiently blended with the false hairs

15

at the time of attachment.

In

FIGS. 1 and 2

, only a few of the false hairs

15

attached to the hair-secured frame

10

are illustrated and most of the false hairs

15

are omitted for the sake of clarity of the construction of a hair-secured frame

10

, but actually, the number of the false hairs

15

are densely attached to the framework over an entire area thereof in such a manner as to project the total hair volume upward. For attachment, the wig

1

is placed on the wearer's head such that the upper side of

FIG. 2

is located on the forehead portion of the wearer's head and the lower portion, on the rear head portion, respectively (see FIG.

3

). The wig

1

is designed and dimensioned in such a way that the entire wig

1

covers, for example, a hair-reduced portion of the wearer's head. As shown in

FIG. 1

, the hair-secured frame

10

is extended downward at the top portion thereof so as to enable the hair flow to be curved along the configuration of the wearer's head.

FIG. 3

shows a state in which the wig

1

is placed at the most common location of the wearer's head. It should be noted that although only a few of the wearer's own hair H project from the hair-secured frame

10

in this illustration, actually, much of the wearer's own hair H can be evenly pulled up through the wig

1

attached to the wearer's head.

As clearly shown in

FIGS. 1

to

3

, the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

1

of the present invention comprises only the hair-secured frame

10

which is basically formed by attaching a number of false hairs

15

to a plurality of ribs

13

.. A combination of the plurality of ribs

13

exhibits a skeleton-like framework, similar to the human rib cage, the bone pattern of a fish, or the vein pattern found in a leaf. This framework is constituted by combining thin bone-like extensions. In the example shown, six ribs

13

a

through

13

f

are arranged in a parallel position in a front to back direction of the wearer's head. These ribs

13

a

to

13

f

are dimensioned to be different in length such that the distal ends of the respective ribs are irregular at those areas in the vicinity of the forehead portion and the rear head portion, particularly in the vicinity of the forehead, the inner two ribs

13

c

,

13

d

being the longest and the length of the ribs being gradually reduced towards the outer ribs

13

a

,

13

f.

In the case where the center ribs

13

c

,

13

d

are designed to be projected the most at their distal ends and those ribs

13

a

,

13

b

,

13

e

,

13

f

, which are located on the left and right sides of the center ribs

13

c

,

13

d

, to be gradually reduced in length as described above, the distal ends of the ribs

13

a

to

13

f

are arranged along the general hairline L (see FIG.

3

). The number of the ribs

13

can be properly increased or decreased depending on how thick or thin the wearer's own hair H is. Also, the ribs may take a wide variety of patterns as will be later described in detail.

In order not to allow ribs

13

a

to

13

f

to become loosened or scattered, a connecting rib

14

is employed in this embodiment. As shown, for example, in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the connecting rib

14

is formed in a generally linear configuration from the same material. The connecting rib

14

is disposed laterally across the lengthwise center of the ribs

13

a

to

13

f

which are mutually arranged parallel to each other and fixedly connected thereto. In this way, the skeleton of the hair-secured frame

10

is formed by properly combining the ribs

13

a

to

13

f

with the connecting rib

14

into a predetermined shape and connecting their crossing points by bonding, knotting, sewing, welding, or the like.

The pattern of the skeleton-like framework constituting the hair-secured frame

10

according to the first embodiment looks similar to that of a midrib and has veins branching like that of a leaf. The veins-like ribs

13

a

to

13

f

are connected to the midrib-like connecting rib

14

with an interval of about 1 to 2 cm between the adjacent ribs. As apparent from

FIG. 2

, the intervals between the adjacent ribs

13

are widthwise gradually enlarged towards the distal ends of the ribs

13

. The weight of the skeleton-like framework constituting the hair-secured frame

10

ranges from 1 to 5 g at the most, depending on what material the framework is made of. In the case where the framework is made of a thin string of nylon having a diameter of about 1 mm similar to the gut of a tennis racket, for example, the weight of the framework ranges from 1 to 3 g. Even in a state in which the framework has the false hairs

15

densely attached thereto, the total weight of the framework is so light ranging from 5 to 10 g.

The skeleton-like framework is designed in such a way that there is no line defining an outline of a wig, as in the wig base which is an essential component part of the conventional wig. That is, the framework of the present invention does not include a peripheral edge frame or a perimeter whose external contour defines the outer configuration of the wig. Only the distal ends of the ribs are arranged in the area in the vicinity of the distal ends. The hair-secured frame

10

is formed by attaching the false hairs

15

to such a framework and it does not include the peripheral edge framed member

73

of the conventional wig

70

.

The material of the ribs

13

a

to

13

f

and the connecting rib

14

is selected from those which do not have any risk of injuring the wearer's scalp or are hardly adversely affected by drier heat or the like. Preferred examples of material may include nylon (polyamide-based synthetic fiber) and a synthetic resin material such as polyester. In addition, other materials such as metal, hard paper, hard rubber, wood, bamboo, glass fiber, carbon fiber and the like which all have elasticity and rigidity can be used for this purpose. For example, in the case where the ribs and the connecting rib are composed of a twisted strand wire of nylon fibers having a diameter of about 0.1 to 3.0 mm, there can be obtained ribs having the desired rigidity and elasticity. Since a number of false hairs

15

are attached to such ribs

13

, it is required for the material to have enough rigidity and elasticity to maintain the curved state along the configuration of the wearer's head against the total weight. It is more preferred if the ribs are formed from, for example, a shape memory resin which can be curved along the configuration of the wearer's scalp and is excellent in shape recoverability.

As shown in

FIG. 2

, the ribs

13

,

14

are preferably formed at the distal ends each with a larger/thicker swollen part

13

g

. By forming the swollen part

13

g

in a generally ball-like configuration, the false hairs

15

attached to the ribs

13

can be prevented from escaping and the ribs themselves can also contact the wearer's scalp softly so as not to irritate it.

False hair fixed to the ribs

13

,

14

implies either human hair or artificial hair having a diameter of about 0.05 to 0.2 mm, composed of nylon, polyester or the like, for example, is desirable. A number of such false hairs are attached to the ribs by knotting, sewing or winding in such a way that the false hairs project in a predetermined direction. The false hairs

15

may be the same color as the wearer's own hair H. If a more fashionable look is desired, a different color from that of the wearer's own hair H may be applied to the false hair

15

. By doing so, the wig can be used as a fashionable wig.

Since the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

1

according to the present invention is constituted in the manner as mentioned above, for attachment, as shown in

FIG. 3

, first, the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

1

is placed on, the wearer's head and correctly positioned. The wig

1

is placed on the wearer's head in such a way that the distal ends of the ribs are offset a few centimeters towards the top side of the wig

1

away from the hairline L. Subsequently, the wearer's own hair H is pulled up and out. At the time when the blending operation is to occur, the hairs of the wig are brushed in a lengthwise direction of the ribs

13

using a brush or a comb, while pressing the wig

1

from above the wearer's head with one hand. By brushing the hairs on the front side forward and on the rear side backward with respect to the connecting rib

14

, the wearer can pull up his or her own hair H, which is pressed by the wig

1

, upward through the spaces between the ribs

13

. Since the ribs

13

extend parallel to the brushing direction, the brush or the comb is never caught by the ribs

13

during brushing and the wearer's own hair H is never entangled with the ribs

13

. Therefore, almost 100% of the wearer's own hair H can easily be pulled up through the space between the ribs

13

. Moreover, by brushing the hairs towards the distal ends of the ribs

13

, the ribs

13

are press-contacted with the wearer's scalp. This prevents the ribs

13

from floating upward. Even in the event the ribs

13

are floated upward by inadvertently brushing the hairs towards the basal ends from the distal ends, the ribs

13

can easily recover to the original shape rapidly along the configuration of the wearer's head because the ribs

13

have excellent elasticity and shape recoverability.

Then, the wearer's own hair H, as previously mentioned, is pulled up and out onto the outer surface of the hair-secured frame

10

of the wig

1

and lightly brushed with a hairdressing brush or the like, thereby dressing the hairs into a desired hairstyle while blending the wearer's own hair H with the false hairs

15

. By doing so, the attachment of the wig to the wearer's head is completed. For the purpose of securing of the wig to the wearer's head, a known wig stopper may be employed. In that case, the stopper is fixed to the backside of the wig beforehand. Owing to a provision of the wig stopper, the wearer's own hair H can easily be fixed and held by the stopper.

Since the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig of the present invention is comprised of only the ribs

13

extending parallel to each other in a forth and back direction of the wearer's head at sufficient intervals and the connecting rib

14

is used for connecting the ribs

13

, there is no lateral line, as is used by the conventional wig including the peripheral edge, formed along-periphery of the frame at the hairline or rear head portion of the wearer's head when the wig is attached. Accordingly, the fact of wearing a wig is not detected. Moreover, no division of hair occurs between the wearer's own hair H and the false hairs

72

particularly in the hairline region.

Furthermore, since the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

1

according to the first embodiment does not include a peripheral edge framed member which defines the outer configuration of the conventional wig base, the wearer's own hair H can fully be pulled up through a space of the wig. The wearer's own hair H and the false hairs

15

get favorably intimate with each other by being well blended. By this, the hair-secured frame

10

is prevented from floating upward from the wearer's head particularly at the forehead portion or rear head portion of the wearer. Since the ribs

13

directly face particularly toward the wearer's forehead portion and the length of the ribs

13

are in fact irregular in that region, the growing edge or hairline of the wearer's head looks totally natural.

As mentioned above, since the wearer's own hair H can easily be pulled up in the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

1

according to the first embodiment, the wearer's own hair H can fully be utilized and the hair H can easily blend in desired amounts with the false hairs

15

. Since a natural look is established in the area in the vicinity of the peripheral edge without providing any feeling of disorder, the idea of wearing a wig is visually much less recognized. Moreover, since the skeleton of the hair-secured frame

10

is comprised of only a framework which is composed of a combination of ribs

13

,

14

, the wig has favorable breathability and the wig can be designed very light in weight.

The above wig

1

can be used by both men and women. In addition, it can be used as a nice accenting fashionable wig. In any case, since the wearer's own hair can easily be pulled up and out, the wearer's own hair can fully be utilized. Accordingly, there can be obtained a natural-looking hairstyle in which the false hairs can easily blend with the wearer's own hair and further provides no feeling of disorder at the growing edge or hairline along the perimeter edge of the wig.

Next, a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

2

according to a first modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to

FIGS. 4 and 5

.

A hair-secured frame

11

of

FIG. 4

comprises a plurality of ribs

13

(seven ribs in the illustrated modification) extending generally parallel to each other at intervals in the upper and lower direction in

FIG. 4

, i.e., the front and back direction of the wearer's head and an annular connecting rib

14

crossing each of the ribs

13

at two points located inward from the opposite ends of the ribs

13

. Owing to the feature that each rib

13

is connected at two points through the annular connecting rib

14

, the framework can more firmly be retained in shape.

This framework further includes two auxiliary connecting ribs

16

curbed outward. Owing to this arrangement, the shape of the framework is more firmly retained and the framework is more intimately contacted with, particularly, the opposite left and right sides of the wearer's head. Moreover, as indicated by chain lines of

FIG. 4

, stoppers

17

to affix and retain a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

2

on the wearer's head can be attached to the wig

2

utilizing the auxiliary connecting ribs

16

. The ribs

13

, annular connecting rib

14

, and the auxiliary connecting ribs

16

are all composed of the same fine wire rod and have excellent rigidity and elasticity.

Since the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

2

is constituted in the manner as mentioned above, for attachment, as shown in

FIG. 5

, first, the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

2

is placed on the wearer's head and correctly positioned and the wearer's own hair H is fully pulled up and out by brushing. Thereafter, the wig

2

is restrained to the wearer's own hair through the stoppers

17

mounted in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the hair-secured frame

11

. As for the stoppers

17

, for example, a nipping tool comprising a reversely rotatable base and a number of comb teeth as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. S54-16785 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 1,536,630) can desirably be used. Alternatively, the wig

2

may be secured to the wearer's head using a double faced adhesive tape, a liquefied medical instantaneous adhesive agent or the like.

A method for manufacturing the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

1

will now be described using the wig

2

of

FIG. 4

as an example.

First, as indicated by reference numeral

19

of

FIG. 6

, a gypsum head mold is made copying the head configuration so that it is preferably in conformity with the wearer's head configuration as much as possible. A desired framework pattern is written on this gypsum head mold

19

. The ribs

13

and the annular connecting rib

14

are cut into a predetermined length and arranged along this pattern. Then, the crossing points are marked, respectively.

Then, the ribs

13

and the connecting rib

14

are connected together at the marked crossing points by an ultrasonic welding machine. In that state, a planar framework is formed.

Such an obtained planar framework is curved so as to be in conformity with the pattern drawn on the gypsum head mold

19

and fixed. Then, by heating the framework at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time, the framework is curved along the wearer's head configuration.

Lastly, the false hairs

15

are attached to the curved skeleton-like framework. By doing so, the hair-secured frame

11

, namely, the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig according to the present invention is accomplished.

In the case where a fine wire rod made of a polyamide resin is used as the ribs

13

,

14

, the ribs

13

,

14

are heated at about 150 degrees C. to 170 degrees C. ranging from 30 minutes to 4 hours. By doing so, the curved shape of the ribs is stabilized. The ribs

13

,

14

are preferably transparent or translucent and colored in a skin tone or the same color as the false hairs

15

. Moreover, the ribs are preferably subjected to surface roughening treatment using sandpaper or the like. By doing so, the surface gloss can be restrained and the attached false hairs

15

can be prevented from escaping.

In the case where a raindrop-like ball body (swollen part

13

g

) is formed on each opposite distal end of the ribs

13

,

14

, the distal ends of the ribs are dipped, for example, in a liquid resin, cooled and hardened.

It is also accepted that at the time of setting the planar framework on the gypsum head mold

19

, a groove

19

a

is formed on the surface of the gypsum head mold

19

along the pattern of the curved skeleton-like pattern to be made, and the ribs

13

,

14

are fitted in and securely fixed and retained by the grooves

19

a

. When the ribs

13

,

14

received in the groove

19

a

are subjected to heat treatment, there can be obtained a framework which is not deformed at the time of heating and which has a stable predetermined configuration.

In the case where the hair-secured frame

11

is molded and made in this way, there can easily be manufactured the hair-secured frame

11

which is correctly in conformity with the configuration of the wearer's head and which hardly floats in an upward motion.

As another method for manufacture, the curved skeleton-like framework can be formed integrally by pouring, for example, a molten synthetic resin material into the groove

19

a

of the gypsum head mold

19

followed by a cooling and hardening process at the same time. Therefore, there is no need for connecting work at the crossing points.

A second modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to

FIG. 8. A

wearer's own hair utilizing type wig shown in FIG.

8

(A) has a framework which is constituted, as in the wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

1

of

FIGS. 1

to

3

, by combining a plurality of ribs

13

and connecting ribs

14

. The ribs

13

, which are vertically arranged parallel to each other, are bent outward and floated upward, as shown in FIG.

8

(B), at their lengthwise midway parts

13

h

. The ribs

13

are curved towards the distal ends from the bent parts

13

h

along the configuration of the wearer's head so that the distal ends can contact the wearer's scalp. As apparent from the illustration, the ribs

13

are partly floated upward and separated from the wearer's scalp.

In the case where such a wearer's own hair utilizing type wig

3

is attached to the wearer's head, there can be provided a voluminous feeling because the ribs

13

are partly floated upward. For example, the false hairs

15

attached to the bent parts

13

h

are, as shown in FIG.

8

(B), projected upward and then allowed to flow backward at the midway parts. This causes the hairs to be raised, thus enabling to provide a voluminous feeling. This wig

3

is would be most desirable when the wearer prefers to have an all-back hairstyle.

In

FIG. 8

, reference symbol F indicates a forehead portion and R, a rear head portion, respectively. In

FIG. 8

, two connecting ribs

14

are arranged on the forehead portion and a net member is stretched therebetween in order to thereby provide a hair-implanting region N. Owing to a provision of the hair-implanting region N, more false hairs

15

can be densely attached to this region.

As the framework, besides those of

FIGS. 1

,

4

and

8

, the framework may be formed in a variety of patterns as shown in

FIGS. 9

to

15

. For example, the framework, which can be used in the present invention, can be formed in a wide variety of forms in accordance with the wearer's taste, such as a hair-dividing type which can cope with any style of hair division, a volume-enhancing type which is designed to increase hair volume, a hair flowing type which is suited for providing wide variety of hairstyles, a mixture type of all or some of them and the like.

FIGS. 9

to

15

are top plan views showing a state in which the respective wigs are attached to the wearer's head. In these Figures, the false hairs

15

of the wigs and the wearer's own hair H is simplified.

First, the wig shown in

FIG. 9

is of the type in which the wearer's own hair growing at the hair-dividing section formed in a generally central area of the wearer's head can be utilized and the hair in the rear head portion is to be increased. For this purpose, as shown in

FIG. 9

, those two ribs

13

c

,

13

d

sandwiching a hair-dividing portion P (indicated by a two-dotted chain line in

FIG. 9

) of the wearer are arranged at a larger interval than the remaining ribs in order to facilitate the easy pull-out or usage of the wearer's own hair growing at the hair-dividing part P.

The ribs

13

are arranged generally parallel to each other in the front to and back direction. This wig is suited for a hairstyle in which the hair flow moves in a leftward and rightward cascade from the hair-dividing part. Moreover, in this framework, two connecting ribs

14

are disposed parallel to each other at the rear head portion and a net member is stretched at that region to provide a hair-implanting region N in order that false hairs can be densely attached thereto.

The framework shown in

FIG. 10

has a hair-dividing part P which is composed of the wearer's own hair and which is formed in a central section of the wearer's head as in FIG.

9

. This arrangement is suited for the hairstyle in which all the hair on the wearer's head flows backward. For this purpose, the framework comprises, as shown in

FIG. 10

, a U-shaped rib

13

-

1

which is formed to have a width sufficient for sandwiching the hair-dividing part and a plurality of ribs

13

-

2

which are branched from the U-shaped rib

13

-

1

, curved forward, leftward and rightward.

The framework shown in

FIG. 11

is suited for the hairstyle in which the wearer's own hair has become too thin at the hair-dividing part P of the wearer is to be increased in number and the hair-dividing part P is located at the left side of the wearer's head, unlike those of

FIGS. 9 and 10

. This framework comprises a U-shaped rib

13

-

1

which is formed to have a width sufficient for sandwiching the hair-dividing part and a plurality of ribs

13

-

2

which are branched from the U-shaped rib

13

-

1

. A net member is stretched along the hair-dividing part P to provide a hair-implanting region N. The false hairs

15

are secured to the hair-implanting region N so as to form the hair-dividing part P.

FIGS. 12

to

15

chiefly show volume-enhancing type wigs. The wig shown in

FIG. 12

is constituted by connecting a plurality of ribs

13

which are bent in a V-shape. Since an interval between the adjacent ribs

13

is reduced, false hairs

15

can densely be attached. In the framework shown in

FIG. 12

, since the ribs

13

are arranged over the entire head of the wearer, this framework is suited for the hairstyle in which the hair left on the wearer's head is very thinned out thus looking more for a fuller look.

The wig shown in

FIG. 13

is intended to volume enhance the hair on the forehead portion. This framework is constituted by combining the ribs

13

,

14

such that an interval between the adjacent ribs

13

is reduced at the forehead portion. This framework is suited for an all back style in which hair flows backward.

The wig shown in

FIG. 14

is designed such that the ribs

13

located at the top are densely arranged so as to enhance the hair-increasing effect. This framework comprises an annular connecting rib

14

surrounding the whirl of hair on the wearer's head, a semi-annular connecting rib

14

-

1

arranged outside the annular connecting rib

14

and a plurality of ribs

13

radially extending from the annular connecting rib

14

. It further comprises a net member stretched within the annular connecting rib

14

so as to provide a hair-implanting region N. False hairs

15

are attached to this hair-implanting region N in such a manner as to define the whirl. The wig shown in

FIG. 14

is suited for a person whose remaining hairs are less at the top of the head, particularly at the whirl area and whose hair is also thinning in the area around the whirl.

The wig shown in

FIG. 15

is of the type which is suited for the hairstyle in which hair remaining on the top of the wearer's head is less and the hairstyle flows from the side towards the back. In this framework, a plurality of ribs

13

bent in the hair flowing direction are connected to a connecting rib

14

and a proximate distance between the ribs

13

and the connecting rib

14

is reduced at the rear head part so that hair amount density is increased at the rear head portion.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the curved skeleton-like framework can be arranged in a variety of patterns. In any of them, the wearer's own hair can easily be pulled up and out by brushing the hair in the hair flow direction and the brush or comb is not caught by the ribs

13

,

14

at the time of brushing.

The hair-implanting region N may be composed of artificial skin instead of a net member.

Needless to say, the framework can be designed in a wide variety of patterns other than those mentioned above. Moreover, the framework may be constituted by bending a long rib into a desired configuration without having a peripheral edge frame or a perimeter of the wig.

Several examples of a construction of the ribs constituting the frame member will now be described with reference to

FIGS. 16

to

18

.

The examples shown in FIGS.

16

(A) and

16

(B) are designed so as not to make conspicuous the distal end of the rib

13

. Those Figures are partly enlarged perspective views showing a state in which the false hairs

15

are attached to a loop

13

i.

This loop

13

i

is formed by attaching one end of a wire rod to the distal end of the rib

13

, projecting an intermediate section of the wire rod to form a ring and then, the other end is wound around the distal end of the rib

13

and fixing the same by an adhesive agent.

The loop

13

i

can be composed, for example, of the same material as the rib

13

. The material of the loop

13

i

may be, for example, a synthetic resin material such as nylon and polyester which has both elasticity and rigidity and which is hardly adversely affected by a drier, etc., a metal wire rod and carbon fiber which has both elasticity and rigidity. Preferably, the wire rod composing the loop

13

i

is smaller in diameter than the rib

13

.

The above loop

13

i

can be arranged in a horizontal position in relation to the wearer's scalp as shown in FIG.

16

(A), or it can be arranged in vertical position in relation to the scalp as shown in FIG.

16

(B). By attaching the false hairs

15

to the loop

13

i

in the manner as just described above, the distal end of the rib

13

can be hidden.

Next, a preferred rib, in which the false hairs

15

can be attached to its distal end without the need of a provision of the loop, will be described with reference to FIG.

17

. This rib

18

is composed of a core material

18

a

and a thermally-contracting tube

18

b

. The rib

18

is constituted by serving the above rib

13

(

14

,

15

) as the core material

18

a

and covering its entire periphery with the thermally-contracting tube

18

b

. FIG.

17

(A) is a partly enlarged side sectional view showing a constitution of the rib

18

covered with the thermally-contacting tube

18

b

, FIG.

17

(B) is a sectional view taken from line A—A of FIG.

17

(A) and FIG.

17

(C) is a sectional view taken from line B—B of FIG.

17

(A).

Such a rib

18

covered with the thermally-contracting tube

18

b

(hereinafter occasionally simply referred to as the “tube”) fully covers the distal end of the core material

18

a

and the remaining part of the rib

18

serves as a protrusion

18

c.

In that state, the false hairs

15

are implanted in the overall thermally-contracting tube

18

b

including the protrusion

18

c

. By this, since the distal end of the rib

18

is covered with false hairs

15

, the rib

18

is more difficult to be visually recognized. The thermally-contacting tube

18

b

is preferably colored in a milk white color or in a similar color to the wearer's scalp or hair. By doing so, the rib

18

, which is hidden by the wearer's own hair H and the false hairs, is more difficult to be visually recognized.

This thermally-contracting tube

18

b

is preferably composed of polyolefine, polyethylene or ethylene-propylene-rubber (E.P.R.). Moreover, the tube

18

b

preferably has a thermally-contacting property of at least 40% in the radial direction and 15% at the most in the axial direction at 100 degrees C. to 105 degrees C. The core material

18

a

preferably has a higher deforming temperature than the thermally-contracting tube

18

b

. In the case where the thermally-contracting tube

18

c

is used as an outer jacket of the rib

18

, the false hairs

15

can be attached easily and reliably. For example, at the time of attaching the false hairs

15

to the thermally-contracting tube

18

b

, the false hairs

15

can easily be sewn thereto using a hair implanting needle. Even in the case where the false hairs

15

are attached to the thermally-contacting tube

18

b

by being wound therearound, they can be attached to the tube

18

b

reliably and without slipping because the tube

18

b

is abundant in elasticity.

FIGS.

18

(A)-(C) are side views for explaining one example for manufacturing the rib

18

covered with the thermally-contracting tube

18

b.

As shown in FIG.

18

(A), the thermally-contacting tube

18

b

has a larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of the core material

18

a

. By inserting the core material

18

a

into the tube

18

b

before it is thermally contracted and heating the same at temperatures ranging from 100 degrees C. to 105 degrees C. for about ten minutes (for example, 5 minutes to 30 minutes), the tube

18

b

is thermally contracted and securely contacted with the core material

18

a

. At that time, since the tube

18