Wig Maintenance Device

The present invention relates to hairpiece maintenance, and, more particularly, to a wig maintenance device.

Wigs and other hairpieces require care and upkeep, such as washing, like natural human hair. Traditionally, wigs are washed in a sink, tub, or basin of water and then hung to dry, with or without blow drying. Drying in this manner is disadvantageous because fluid can drip from the wig and puddle on the surface below the wig, causing a slipping hazard. Furthermore, maintenance of wigs mounted to a mannequin head, such as cutting and styling, can leave trimmings and other material to collect on the surface below the wig, causing an undesirable mess.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device that prevents wet and/or messy surfaces otherwise produced during wig maintenance.

In one aspect of the present invention, a wig maintenance device comprises a water resistant, elongated hood having a concave inner surface, a convex outer surface, and a fold formed along at least one edge thereof, a pocket formed on the convex outer surface at a first end of the water resistant, elongated hood; a flexible reinforcement strip contained within the fold; and an absorbent installed within the pocket for mess-free maintenance of hair pieces. The device may be formed of water repellant material, such as polyester, and may include a flexible reinforcement strip enclosed in a sealable flap for securing the apparatus to a structure. The pocket can capture fluids and materials used during maintenance of synthetic hair. The absorbent can include an absorbing liner, an absorbing cover, and an absorbing material disposed within the absorbing cover. The absorbent captures and retains fluids associated with wig maintenance for a safe, clean workspace.

The wig maintenance device is water resistant and can be used to prevent any mess. For example, it helps prevent leaks and spills of water and chemicals, e.g., haircare chemicals. The device can be used in every workstation. For example, the device can be used to cut, blow dry, and style hair in a hairpiece and it can be used for a rest station when the hair is wet.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, one embodiment of the present invention is a wig maintenance device that can prevent messes associated with wig care and maintenance.

The wig maintenance device is sometimes called the “Wig Dripper” herein.

The wig maintenance device comprises a hood manufactured of a water repellant material. The hood may have a pocket at the rear, configured to receive water dripping from a wig placed on top of the hood, and a reinforcement insert at the top front, operative to retain the wig maintenance device suspended from a doorknob, banister, towel hook, etc. The pocket generally contains a water absorbent pad and a water absorbent sock containing a water absorbent material.

The materials of manufacture are not particularly limited. For example, the hood may be made of polyester and the reinforcement insert may be a flexible strip of plastic.

To use the wig dripper, the user may place the wig dripper on a doorknob. The user may wash the hair and drape the wig over the wig dripper, then transfer the wig dripper onto a mannequin head, and start the process of hair cutting or blow drying. Any water dripping from the wig may drip directly into the insulated pocket containing absorbent material.

To make the wig dripper, the manufacturer may cut fabric to predetermined dimensions and sew the fabric to form the hood, body, and pocket. For example, the head piece or hood of The Wig Dripper may be about 12 in.×about 8½ in. The body of The Wig Dripper may be about 18 in. long. The insulated pocket may be about 10 in. deep. A flexible plastic strip may be inserted in a flap on the front of the hood. Absorbent padding and an absorbent sock may be placed in the pocket.

Referring to,illustrates a wig maintenance deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, shown with a hair piece, such as a wig, weave, etc. thereon. For simplicity, the hair piece will be referred to as a wig. The wig maintenance device comprises a hoodwith a pocketA formed at one end of a water resistant material. The pocket may contain an absorbent padB.

As shown in, the pocketA may be held in an open position to receive water or trimmingsA from the wigby way of an absorbent cover, sleeve, or sockcontaining an absorbent material, shown in more detail in. The padB may be folded, with the sockfolded between the ends of the padB.

The devicemay be placed on a mannequin headwith the pocketA positioned at a rear of the mannequin head.

illustrates the presence of a flexible plastic stripinstalled inside of a flap of the hoodcomprising a water repellant fabric, which retains the shape of the hoodand keeps the devicein place on a substrate such as a doorknob.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.