Wig-management template-shield system and method

Abstract

A wig-management template-shield system and method that can be used from the initial measuring and fitting for a wig, as a template, through the wig making and the wig styling processes as both a template and a protective shield for the wig block or wig blocks, and through the use of the wig, including washings and re-stylings, as a protective shield for the wig block or wig blocks, 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 and other markings, 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 wig blocks from damage and staining during dressing and cleaning of the wig.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A wig-management template-shield for use by a wig maker in making and subsequent cleaning, re-styling, and handling, using a wig block, of a wig for a person fitted or being fitted for the wig, said person having shoulders, a neck, and a head with a specific shape, hairline, and hair profile, the wig-management template-shield comprising:
 (i) a heat-shrinkable hood made from a see-through flexible shrinkable barrier sheet material having properties of bidirectional shrinkage at an approximate 2:1 ratio upon application of heated air, of inverted sack form having a closed, rounded top portion and an open bottom end with a nominal front edge, having seamless construction, and having dimensions adapted to fit over a large person's head and neck, able to cover same, to the large person's shoulders, adapted to be placed over the head of the person being fitted for the wig and subsequently shrunken by application of heated air to smoothly conform to said person's head, its shape and the hair profile of the head of said person, adapted to allow subsequent visual locating and marking of the hairline of the person being fitted for the wig, and adapted for subsequent placement on the wig block for use as a template and as a protective shield;   (ii) a hood slit at the front edge of the open bottom end of said heat-shrinkable hood adapted to prevent constriction of the open bottom end upon shrinkage, and to provide the start of a subsequent larger torn separation along said heat-shrinkable hood for the hood removal off the person being fitted for the wig; and   (iii) a plurality of hood holes arrayed upon said heat-shrinkable hood above said hood slit, adapted to provide passage of air for the person being fitted for the wig while retaining enough structure to support shrinkage of said heat-shrinkable hood; and   where, in use, the wig-management template-shield, once shrunken, marked, removed, and placed onto the wig block, provides the wig maker with the template for wig making by having the shape, the hairline, and the hair profile of the person being fitted for the wig, and provides the wig maker with the protective shield for the wig block in the subsequent cleaning, re-styling, and handling of the wig.   
     
     
         2 . The wig-management template-shield of  claim 1 , where the see-through flexible shrinkable barrier sheet material of said heat-shrinkable hood is a thermoplastic material selected from a group comprising polyolefins, polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, fluoropolymers, neoprene, and silicone elastomer. 
     
     
         3 . The wig-management template-shield of  claim 1 , where said heat-shrinkable hood is approximately 9 inches front-to-back, 8 inches side-to-side, 12 inches top-to-bottom, and 26.7 inches in circumference. 
     
     
         4 . The wig-management template-shield of  claim 1 , where the heated air applied to said heat-shrinkable hood is approximately 115-125° F. 
     
     
         5 - 8 . (canceled)