Wig Fitting-Dressing-Cleaning Template-Shield and Method

Abstract

A wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield made of a see-through flexible shrinkable barrier sheet material in hood form that is placed over the head of a person to be fitted for a wig in its expanded state as a hood, is shrunk to a shape-conforming envelope retaining the shape of the person's head and hair profile by hot air not causing injury to the person, and is then marked with the location of the person's hairline, creating a template to be sent to and used by a wig maker to make a proper fitting wig. During the making of the wig and during use of the wig, the template-shield protects a wig block from damage and staining during dressing and cleaning of the wig.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield, comprising:
 an unshrunken hood made from a see-through flexible shrinkable barrier sheet material having the properties of exhibiting bidirectional shrinkage upon the application of a moderate and safe level of heated air, an approximate 2:1 shrink ratio, a moderate and safe shrink force, and shape memory sufficient to return to shrunken shape after being slightly stretched during removal and replacement;   where said unshrunken hood has the general configuration of a sack or bag closed at one end and open at an opposite end;   where said unshrunken hood has dimensions adapted to fit over a large person's head; where said unshrunken hood is adapted to be cut or torn to create a breathing opening for a person;   where said unshrunken hood is adapted to be placed over the head of a person to be fitted for a wig, after said breathing opening is created, and subsequently shrunken by application of heated air, shrinking said unshrunken hood into a shape-conforming envelope retaining the shape of the person's head and hair profile;   where said shape-conforming envelope made from said see-through material is adapted to allow visual location of a person's hairline and marking of the hairline upon said shape-conforming envelope;   where said unshrunken hood is further adapted to be placed over a wig block and subsequently shrunken by application of heated air, shrinking said unshrunken hood into a shape-conforming envelope protecting the wig block from damage and staining by water and substances and solvents used in wig making, dressing, and cleaning;   where said wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield is adapted to retain and transmit to a wig maker the dimensions and relative locations of the head shape, hair profile, and hairline of a person to be fitted for a wig, in the form of said shape-conforming envelope, and to protect the wig block from damage and staining.   
     
     
         2 . The wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield of  claim 1 , where said see-through flexible shrinkable barrier sheet material is a thermoplastic material selected from a group comprising polyolefins, polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, fluoropolymers, neoprene, and silicone elastomer. 
     
     
         3 . The wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield of  claim 1 , where said dimensions adapted to fit over a large person's head of said unshrunken hood further comprise generally oval approximate dimensions of 8 inches to accommodate the head horizontally from ear to ear, 10 inches to accommodate the head horizontally from nose to back, and 12 inches vertically from the top of head toward the neck and shoulders, corresponding to a US hat size of 9. 
     
     
         4 . The wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield of  claim 1 , where said application of heated air further comprises application of heated air from a standard hair-styling blow dryer. 
     
     
         5 . The wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield of  claim 1 , where said bidirectional shrinkage upon the application of a moderate and safe level of heated air further comprises application of air below the temperature of 140 degrees F. 
     
     
         6 . The wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield of  claim 1 , where said approximate 2:1 shrink ratio further comprises a shrink ratio adapted to provide sufficient potential shrinkage of said unshrunken hood of a size appropriate for a very large head down to said shape-conforming envelope of a size conforming to a very small head; 
     
     
         7 . The wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield of  claim 1 , where said moderate and safe shrink force further comprises a shrink force that is not strong enough to cause damage to the head of a person being fitted for a wig. 
     
     
         8 . A method for fitting of wigs, comprising:
 providing a wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield, comprising:   an unshrunken hood made from a see-through flexible shrinkable barrier sheet material having the properties of exhibiting bidirectional shrinkage upon the application of a moderate and safe level of heated air, an approximate 2:1 shrink ratio, a moderate and safe shrink force, and shape memory sufficient to return to shrunken shape after being slightly stretched during removal and replacement;   where said unshrunken hood has the general configuration of a sack or bag closed at one end and open at an opposite end;   where said unshrunken hood has dimensions adapted to fit over a large person's head; where said unshrunken hood is adapted to be cut or torn to create a breathing opening for a person;   where said unshrunken hood is adapted to be placed over the head of a person to be fitted for a wig, after said breathing opening is created, and subsequently shrunken by application of heated air, shrinking said unshrunken hood into a shape-conforming envelope retaining the shape of the person's head and hair profile;   where said shape-conforming envelope made from said see-through material is adapted to allow visual location of a person's hairline and marking of the hairline upon said shape-conforming envelope;   where said unshrunken hood is further adapted to be placed over a wig block and subsequently shrunken by application of heated air, shrinking said unshrunken hood into a shape-conforming envelope protecting the wig block from damage and staining by water and substances and solvents used in wig making, dressing, and cleaning;   where said wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield is adapted to retain and transmit to a wig maker the dimensions and relative locations of the head shape, hair profile, and hairline of a person to be fitted for a wig, in the form of said shape-conforming envelope, and to protect the wig block from damage and staining.   preparing a person to be fitted for a wig by arranging the person's hair into whatever configuration and under whatever wrap or binding will be used under the wig;   preparing said unshrunken hood for wig fitting on the person by cutting or tearing said breathing opening in said unshrunken hood;   placing said unshrunken hood on the head of the person with the breathing opening properly positioned;   applying air heated to a moderate and safe temperature to said unshrunken hood for the purpose of shrinking it down to a shape-conforming envelope;   marking the person's hairline on said shape-conforming envelope by tracing the hairline through said see-through material;   removing said shape-conforming envelope from the person's head by gently stretching said shape-conforming envelope if necessary; and   delivering said shape-conforming envelope to the wig maker as a template for making the wig.   
     
     
         9 . A method for protecting a wig block during dressing and cleaning of wigs, comprising:
 providing a wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield, comprising:
 an unshrunken hood made from a see-through flexible shrinkable barrier sheet material having the properties of exhibiting bidirectional shrinkage upon the application of a moderate and safe level of heated air, an approximate 2:1 shrink ratio, a moderate and safe shrink force, and shape memory sufficient to return to shrunken shape after being slightly stretched during removal and replacement; 
 where said unshrunken hood has the general configuration of a sack or bag closed at one end and open at an opposite end; 
 where said unshrunken hood has dimensions adapted to fit over a large person's head; where said unshrunken hood is adapted to be cut or torn to create a breathing opening for a person; 
 where said unshrunken hood is adapted to be placed over the head of a person to be fitted for a wig, after said breathing opening is created, and subsequently shrunken by application of heated air, shrinking said unshrunken hood into a shape-conforming envelope retaining the shape of the person's head and hair profile; 
 where said shape-conforming envelope made from said see-through material is adapted to allow visual location of a person's hairline and marking of the hairline upon said shape-conforming envelope; 
 where said unshrunken hood is further adapted to be placed over a wig block and subsequently shrunken by application of heated air, shrinking said unshrunken hood into a shape-conforming envelope protecting the wig block from damage and staining by water and substances and solvents used in wig making, dressing, and cleaning; 
 where said wig fitting-dressing-cleaning template-shield is adapted to retain and transmit to a wig maker the dimensions and relative locations of the head shape, hair profile, and hairline of a person to be fitted for a wig, in the form of said shape-conforming envelope, and to protect the wig block from damage and staining; 
 placing said unshrunken hood on the wig block; 
 applying heated air to said unshrunken hood for the purpose of shrinking it down to a shape-conforming envelope; 
 making or transferring any needed markings onto said shape-conforming envelope; and leaving said shape-conforming envelope on the wig block for the purpose of protecting it from damage and staining.