CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.

62/436,601 filed on December 20, 2016, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to artificial hair wigs, and more particularly, to a wig apparatus including a variably positionable parting area.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0003] Wigs are used by people to enhance their appearance and to conceal their natural hair. Wigs generally include multiple strands of hair attached to a cap to form a unit that can be secured to a user's scalp. Hair weaves and hair extensions are also used by people to either conceal or supplement their natural hair. In some cases, people use wigs when they are experiencing baldness or thinning of their natural hair. For those experiencing baldness or thinning of natural hair, use of wigs provides an alternative to use of potentially dangerous hair growth drugs or chemicals, or uncomfortable hair plugs. In other cases, people use wigs for temporary purposes when they are undergoing medical treatments that result in loss of their hair, such as chemotherapy. [0004] Wigs are also used to provide a user with an alternative hair color in order to improve their appearance. Furthermore, wigs can be used by people to present an alternative texture to their own hair, such as changing their hair from straight to curly. Just as many people enjoy accessorizing their wardrobe, people who wear wigs enjoy changing and enhancing their appearance.

[0005] Conventional wigs include parting areas that are disposed on one or more of the left, right and center positions of the wig. That is, the position of the parting area is predetermined and cannot be modified, by for example, adjusting the position of the wig on the user's head. For example, where a conventional wig includes a parting area in the center of the wig, a user cannot shift the wig on the top of their head to move the parting area to be a left-side part or a right-side part. The user is therefore inconvenienced by the wig having only one parting position in that they must purchase additional wigs where a different parting position is desired.

[0006] Certain multiple-part wigs have attempted to overcome this limitation by including multiple parting areas on one wig. For example, wigs may include three parting areas on the wig, each parting area corresponding to a left-side part, center part and right-side part on the user's head. These multiple-part wigs provide the user with the option of multiple parts, however, multiple-part wigs can also result in an unnatural appearance when worn by the user. For example, when the user styles the wig with a center part and thereafter makes a casual adjustment to the artificial hair or a gust of wind blows the artificial hair, the left-side part or the right-side part may show. Furthermore, each of the multiple-parting areas can render styling of the artificial more difficult since the artificial hair tends to divide along each of the parting areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention provides a wig apparatus. The wig apparatus includes: a mesh cap comprising a front region, a rear region and a circumferential edge region, wherein the front region corresponds to the front of a user's head, the rear region corresponds to the rear of the user's head, and the circumferential edge region corresponds to a location adjacent to the user's hairline, when the wig apparatus is worn by the user; a first portion of artificial hair comprising multiple separate strands of artificial hair attached to an outer surface of the front region and an outer surface of the rear region; and a parting area disposed in the front region and configured to provide a natural appearing hair part.

[0008] According to further embodiments: the first portion of artificial hair is not attached to the parting area; the circumferential edge region comprises a second portion of artificial hair attached to an inner surface thereof; the second portion of artificial hair is attached to the circumferential edge region such that the second portion of artificial hair is biased towards the rear region; the inner surface of the circumferential edge region is disposed facing opposite to the outer surface of the front region and the outer surface of the rear region; the circumferential edge region is adjacent to at least a portion of each of the front region and the rear region; the circumferential edge region comprises an elastic band attached to an inner surface thereof; the elastic band is attached to the circumferential edge region in locations corresponding to the rear region; the elastic band is attached to the circumferential edge region on approximately two thirds of a length thereof, and is configured to extend from about the user's left temple, around the back of the user's neck, to the user's right temple, when the wig apparatus is worn by the user; the second portion of artificial hair is not attached to the circumferential edge region at locations overlapping with the elastic band; the second portion of artificial hair comprises multiple separate hair bundle members; the hair bundle members are distributed in a series of individual bundles of artificial hair along the circumferential edge region; the hair bundle members are attached to the circumferential edge region such that the artificial hair is biased towards the rear region; when the wig apparatus is shifted from side to side to modify the position of the parting area when worn by the user, the hair bundle members are configured to conceal the user's natural hair on one side and be tucked behind the user's ear on the opposite side; the hair bundle members are attached to the circumferential edge region on each of the right and left sides of the wig apparatus at locations approximately corresponding to from the user's temple to the back of the user's ear when the wig apparatus is worn by the user; the parting area is disposed substantially in the center of the front region and extends longitudinally through the front region; at least a portion of the parting area is curved; and front hair combs are attached to at least one of an inner surface of the front region and an inner surface the rear region at positions adjacent to the second portion of artificial hair. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain

embodiments will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an adjustable wig apparatus when worn by a mannequin;

[001 1] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the wig apparatus;

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the wig apparatus;

[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the wig apparatus; and

[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the wig apparatus including an anterior lace mesh region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0015] The following detailed description of certain embodiments will be made in reference to the accompanying drawings. In the detailed description, explanation about related functions or constructions known in the art are omitted for the sake of clearness in understanding the concept of the invention, to avoid obscuring the invention with

unnecessary detail.

[0016] Conventional single-part wigs are limited in that the position of the part is predetermined to one of the left-side, the right-side or the center. Multiple-part wigs provide a left-side part, center part, and right-side part, but can lead to unnatural appearing styles and difficult to style artificial hair. For example, when a user styles the artificial hair along the center part, the artificial hair still tends to divide along the left-side part and the right-side part, leading to an unnatural appearance and frustration for the user.

[0017] Embodiments of the invention described herein provide a wig apparatus configured to include a parting area that can be variably positioned. The wig apparatus includes several advantages that enable the parting area to be modified in terms of the location of the part, e.g., left-side part, right-side part and center part, according to the user's preference. The wig apparatus also includes several advantages that enable the trajectory of the parting area to be modified according to the user's preference. According to the embodiments described herein, a wig apparatus is provided that includes a single, variably positionable parting area that eliminates the need for user's to have multiple separate wigs that serve similar purposes.

[0018] In certain embodiments, the wig apparatus includes multiple hair bundles attached to an inner surface thereof. The hair bundles are attached to each side of the wig apparatus, i.e., the left side and the right side. For example, when the position of the parting area is shifted to the right side of the user's head, the hair bundles on the left side of the wig apparatus are sufficient to cover the user's natural hair on the left side. Moreover, the hair bundles on the right side of the wig apparatus may be tucked behind the user's ear. With the parting area in the right-side position, the wig apparatus has shifted towards the user's right ear. A conventional wig would typically include an ear flap or other configuration to align with the contour of the user's natural hair line. Such a configuration does not allow for shifting the parting area, and therefore wig, from side to side because one of the ear flaps would overlap with the user's ear, looking unnatural and unappealing. Embodiments of the invention described herein include hair bundles disposed along the inner surface of the wig apparatus in order to eliminate the need for an ear flap or other element that is required to align with the contour of the user's natural hair line.

[0019] The phrase "artificial hair," as used herein, refers to synthetic hair products as well as human hair or animal hair and combinations thereof. The artificial hair may be embodied in various traditional hair colors, such as black, brown, blonde, and red, as well as non-traditional hair colors, such as blue, green, and purple, and combinations thereof, including individual strands of hair having two or more colors.

[0020] The term "user," as used herein, refers to any purchaser of the wig configured according to any of the embodiments disclosed herein, including, but not limited to, individual members of the public, wholesale distributors, retail merchants, manufacturers, importers and exporters of the wig and related components of the wig.

[0021] Reference to individual embodiments, whether by number of embodiment or relevant feature of the embodiment, is used for convenience in describing such

embodiments. Moreover, reference to individual embodiments does not indicate that any of such embodiments are preferred over any other embodiments. Furthermore, each individual embodiment may be combined with any other individual embodiment whether or not expressly stated.

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a wig apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wig apparatus 100 includes artificial hair 105 and a parting area 1 10. As further described herein, the wig apparatus 100 is configured such that the position of the parting area 1 10 can be adjusted from side to side. The wig apparatus 100 is also configured such that the trajectory of the parting area 1 10 can be adjusted. This configuration of the wig apparatus 100 offers several advantages over conventional wigs, since conventional wigs that include a parting area typically cannot be adjusted such that the position of the parting area can be moved from side to side or that the trajectory of the parting area can be adjusted.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a wig apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that the wig apparatus 200, as shown in FIG. 2, is folded inside out for illustration purposes. The wig apparatus 200 includes a mesh cap 205, front hair combs 210, and a parting area 215. The mesh cap 205 includes a front region 220, a rear region 225 and a circumferential edge region 230. The front region 220 corresponds to the front of the user's head, i.e., adjacent to the user's forehead, when the wig apparatus 200 is worn by the user. The rear region 225 corresponds to the rear of the user's head, i.e., adjacent to the user's spine, when the wig apparatus 200 is worn by the user. The circumferential edge region 230 corresponds to a location adjacent to the user's hairline when the wig apparatus 200 is worn by the user. In certain embodiments, the mesh cap 205 is a flexible and elastic material, constructed of a mesh of cotton, nylon, lace, or other suitable material(s) and combinations thereof.

[0024] The front hair combs 210 are attached to an inner surface of the mesh cap

205. In certain embodiments, the front hair combs 210 are attached to the front region 220. In certain embodiments, the front hair combs 210 are attached to at least a portion of each of the front region 220 and the rear region 225. The front hair combs 210 may be constructed of metal, plastic, or other suitable material. The front hair combs 210 include tines that insert into the user's natural hair, securing the wig apparatus 200 to the user's head.

[0025] The parting area 215 is disposed substantially in the center of the front region 220. The parting area 215 extends longitudinally through the front region 220. The parting area 215 extends in a substantially straight line through the front region 220. In certain embodiments, the parting area 215 includes one or more curved regions (not shown) in which the parting area 215 is curved towards the left and/or right side of the user's head. The parting area 215 is constructed of hand-tied nylon, silk, or cotton lace, or other suitable materials and blends thereof. In certain embodiments, the parting area 215 includes artificial hair sewn onto an outer surface thereof. In certain embodiments, the parting area 215 does not include artificial hair sewn onto the outer surface thereof. The parting area 215 is configured such that when the artificial hair disposed on the outer surface of the remainder of the wig apparatus 200 is parted along the parting area 215, the parting area 215 provides a natural appearing hair part.

[0026] The circumferential edge region 230 extends around the entire

circumference of the wig apparatus 200. The circumferential edge region 230 is adjacent to at least a portion of each of the front region 220 and the rear region 225. The circumferential edge region 230 is constructed of materials including cotton, nylon, elastic or suitable materials and combinations thereof. The circumferential edge region 230 includes an elastic band attached to an inner surface thereof. It is noted that the inner surface of the

circumferential edge region 230 is disposed facing the opposite direction of the outer surface of the front region 220 and the outer surface of the rear region 225. The elastic band is about 10 to 40 mm, or about 25 mm, wide. The elastic band is attached to the circumferential edge region 230 in locations corresponding to the rear region 225. In certain embodiments, the elastic band is attached to the circumferential edge region 230 on approximately two thirds of a length thereof, and is configured to extend from about the user's left temple, around the back of the user's neck, to the user's right temple, when the wig apparatus is worn by the user.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the circumferential edge region 230 includes a wire support member (not shown) disposed on an inner surface thereof. The wire support member extends from approximately the user's temple to approximately the back of the user's ear. The wire support member molds the temple area of the circumferential edge region 230 to the user's head, providing a secure and comfortable fit for the wig apparatus 200.

[0028] The front region 220 includes multiple front region filaments 235 attached to an outer surface of the mesh cap 205. Artificial hair is attached to the front region filaments 235. The artificial hair is sewn, glued, stapled, or other suitable attachment method, to the front region filaments 235. The front region filaments 235 are disposed in a semi-circle configuration around the parting area 215. The front region filaments 235 include a first end

240, a second end 245, and an apex region 250. The first end 240 is attached to the mesh cap

205 on or adjacent to the circumferential edge region 230. The second end 245 is attached to the mesh cap 205 on or adjacent to the circumferential edge region 230 opposite to the first end 240. That is, the first end 240 and the second end 245 of the front region filaments 235 are disposed on opposite sides of the parting area 215. The apex region 250 of each of the front region filaments 235 is disposed in a position corresponding to the top of the user's head between the parting area 215 and the rear region 225.

[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the wig apparatus 200. The rear region 225 includes multiple rear region filaments 255 attached to an outer surface of the mesh cap 205. Artificial hair is attached to the rear region filaments 255. The artificial hair is sewn, glued, stapled, or other suitable attachment method, to the rear region filaments 255. The rear region filaments 255 include a first end 260 and a second end 265. The first end 260 is attached to the mesh cap 205 on or adjacent to the circumferential edge region 230. The second end 265 is attached to the mesh cap 205 on or adjacent to the circumferential edge region 230. The rear region filaments 255 are disposed in a transverse orientation on the mesh cap 205, i.e., extending from ear to ear, with the first end 260 and the second end 265 being disposed on opposite sides of the mesh cap 205.

[0030] The circumferential edge region 230 includes a rear comb member 270, an adjustment member 275, and multiple hook loops 280. The rear comb member 270 is disposed substantially centered to the rear region 225 in a location corresponding to the user's spine. The rear comb member 270 is attached to an inner surface of the circumferential edge region 230. The rear comb member 270 may be constructed of metal, plastic, or other suitable material. The rear comb member 270 includes tines that insert into the user's natural hair, securing the wig apparatus 200 to the user's head.

[0031] The adjustment member 275 includes a hook member 276 and an elastic band 277. The elastic band 277 includes a first end 278 and a second end 279. The hook member 276 is attached to the first end 278 of the elastic band 277. The second end 279 of the elastic band 277 is attached to an inner surface of the circumferential edge region 230 at a position approximately corresponding to the user's ear. The elastic band 277 extends around an inner surface of the circumferential edge region 230. The hook member 276 is configured to be inserted into one of the hook loops 280. Using the hook member 276, the user is able to tighten or loosen the wig apparatus to their head by pulling the hook member 276 to one of the appropriate hook loops 280. Thus, the adjustment member 275 to secures the wig apparatus 200 to the user's head.

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the wig apparatus 200. The circumferential edge region 230 includes artificial hair attached to an inner surface thereof. In certain embodiments, the artificial hair attached to the inner surface includes multiple separate hair bundle members 285. The hair bundle members 285 include a bundle of artificial hair, with each individual strand of artificial hair in the bundle being attached together with the other artificial hair by, for example, sewing or glue. The hair bundle members 285 are distributed in a series of individual bundles of artificial hair along the circumferential edge region 230. In certain embodiments, the hair bundle members 285 are disposed between the second end 279 of the elastic band 277 and the front region 220. In certain embodiments, the hair bundle members 285 are disposed between the second end 279 of the elastic band 277 and the front region 220 such that the point where the hair bundle members 285 are attached to the circumferential edge region 230 does not overlap the elastic band 277 and the front region 220. In certain embodiments, the artificial hair attached the circumferential edge region 230 is adjacent to the front hair combs 210. [0033] The hair bundle members 285 are attached to the circumferential edge region 230 such that the artificial hair is biased towards the rear region 225, i.e., towards the user's back and not towards the user's chest. With the artificial hair biased towards the rear region 225, the user is able to obtain a desired style. In certain embodiments, the hair bundle members 285 may be attached to the circumferential edge region such that the artificial hair is biased towards the front region 220, which will allow the user to obtain a different style. When the wig apparatus 200 is shifted from side to side to modify the position of the parting area 215, the hair bundle members 285 are used to conceal the user's natural hair on one side and be tucked behind the user's ear on the opposite side. For example, when the wig apparatus 200 is shifted to the left on the user's head, the right side of the wig apparatus 200 is lifted higher on the user's head. Thus, the hair bundle members 285 on the right side are used to conceal the user's natural hair, while on the left side, the hair bundle members 285 are conveniently tucked behind the user's ear. When the wig apparatus 200 is shifted to the right side such that the parting area 215 corresponds to a right-side part, the hair bundle members 285 on the left side are used to conceal the user's natural hair.

[0034] In certain embodiments, there are at least two hair bundle members 285, from two to ten hair bundle members 285, or from four to seven hair bundle members 285. In certain embodiments, each of the hair bundle members 285 are about one to ten centimeters apart. The hair bundle members 285 are attached to the circumferential edge region 230 on each of the right and left sides of the wig apparatus 200 at locations approximately corresponding to from the user's temple to the back of the user's ear. [0035] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the wig apparatus 200 including an anterior lace mesh region 290. The anterior lace mesh region 290 is constructed of hand-tied nylon, silk, or cotton lace, or other suitable materials and blends thereof. The anterior lace mesh region 290 is constructed of a material that can be modified to correspond to the contour of the user's hairline. That is, the user can cut the anterior lace mesh region 290 with scissors to correspond to their hairline. The user can also hand-sew artificial hair to the anterior lace mesh region 290 according to their preference. The anterior lace mesh region 290 can be glued to the user's forehead, securing the wig apparatus 200 to the user's head. Thus, the anterior lace mesh region 290 provides a natural-appearing and customizable boundary between the wig apparatus 200 and the user's forehead.

[0036] The anterior lace mesh region 290 is attached to the circumferential edge region 230 in a position corresponding to the user's forehead. The anterior lace mesh region 290 extends along the length of the front region 220. In certain embodiments, the anterior lace mesh region 290 extends up to each of the front hair combs 210. In certain

embodiments, the anterior lace mesh region 290 extends beyond each of the front hair combs 210. In certain embodiments, the anterior lace mesh region 290 extends up to at least the first one of the hair bundle members 285 on each side of the wig apparatus 200. In certain embodiments, the anterior lace mesh region 290 extends beyond the first of the hair bundle members 285 on each side of the wig apparatus 200. In certain embodiments, the anterior lace mesh region 290 extends up to at least a position corresponding to the user's ears on each side of the wig apparatus 200. [0037] Embodiments of the invention described herein provide advantages over conventional wigs in that the position of a single parting area can be modified from the leftside part, to the right-side part, and to a center part. Furthermore the trajectory of the parting area can be modified. Multiple hair bundles disposed along an inner surface of the circumferential edge region of the wig apparatus allow the parting area to be modified from each position by covering the user's natural hair on one side while also easily tucking behind the user's ear on the opposite side. User's no longer need to purchase multiple separate wigs for each hair parting configuration that they prefer to wear, since the wig apparatus described herein provides a wig with a single parting area that serves similar purposes. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention described herein provide users with a more versatile wig that includes a variably positionable parting area.

[0038] While embodiments of the invention have been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and equivalents thereof.