US-20260123702-A1 - TOPPER HAIRPEICE INTERFACE APPARATUS

US20260123702A1US 20260123702 A1US20260123702 A1US 20260123702A1US-20260123702-A1

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary topper hairpiece interface apparatuses for facilitating securement of a topper hairpiece to the head of a wearer. The apparatus may include a hairpiece engagement element and a retention band. The hairpiece engagement element is flexible and has opposing lateral sides, an outboard face and an inboard face. The retention band may be configured to be connected between the lateral sides, is preferably transparent, and may include one or more length-adjustment buckles. The hairpiece engagement element may include one or more fastener engagement members configured to be engaged by a comb-type or clip-type hairpiece fastener of a topper hairpiece. For example, a medial fastener engagement member may be configured to be fasteningly engaged by a medial hairpiece fastener of a topper hairpiece, and a pair of lateral fastener engagement members may each be configured to be fasteningly engaged by a respective lateral hairpiece fastener of the topper hairpiece.

Inventors

Yehudis Geisinsky

Assignees

NG Imports, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260105

Claims (20)

1 . A topper hairpiece interface apparatus for facilitating securement of a topper hairpiece to the head of a wearer, the apparatus comprising: a hairpiece engagement element being flexible and having a first lateral side, a second lateral side opposite thereof, an outboard face and an inboard face; and a retention band element configured to be connected to the first and second lateral sides.
2 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the retention band is comprised of a transparent material.
3 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein the retention band element is a polymer filament.
4 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein the retention band element is elastic.
5 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein the retention band element includes a length-adjustment buckle configured to enable a user to adjust the length of the retention band element.
6 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the retention band element is connected to the first and second lateral sides by way of a respective pair of band connectors non-destructively removable from the first and second lateral sides.
7 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the band connectors are comprised of a metal.
8 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hairpiece engagement element is comprised of a fabric.
9 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hairpiece engagement element is comprised of a velvet or velour.
10 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hairpiece engagement element includes a forward edge, a rearward edge opposite thereof and a width defined between the forward edge and the rearward edge, the width being greater toward the center of hairpiece engagement element than toward the first and second lateral sides.
11 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hairpiece engagement element includes at least one fastener engagement member configured to be fasteningly engaged by a hairpiece fastener of a topper hairpiece.
12 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 11 , wherein the hairpiece fastener is a comb-type fastener or a clip-type fastener.
13 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hairpiece engagement element includes (a) a medial fastener engagement member configured to be fasteningly engaged by a medial hairpiece fastener of a topper hairpiece; and (b) a pair of lateral fastener engagement members, each being configured to be fasteningly engaged by a respective lateral hairpiece fastener of the topper hairpiece.
14 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the medial fastener engagement member and the lateral fastener engagement members are disposed on the outboard face.
15 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein (a) the hairpiece engagement element includes a forward edge and a rearward edge opposite thereof; (b) the medial fastener engagement member is proximate the forward edge; and (c) the lateral fastener engagement members are proximate respective said lateral sides.
16 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein (a) the medial fastener engagement member defines a medial fastener engagement axis along which a said medial hairpiece fastener is movable into and out of said fastening engagement with the medial fastener engagement member; (b) each of the lateral fastener engagement members defines a respective lateral fastener engagement axis along which a corresponding said lateral hairpiece fastener is movable into and out of said fastening engagement with the lateral fastener engagement member; and (c) the lateral fastener engagement axes are each perpendicular to the medial fastener engagement axis.
17 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hairpiece engagement element includes at least one fastener engagement slit configured to be fasteningly engaged by a hairpiece fastener of a topper hairpiece.
18 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hairpiece engagement element includes a mesh portion, the mesh portion being transparent.
19 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 18 , wherein (a) the hairpiece engagement element includes a forward edge, a rearward edge opposite thereof; and (b) the mesh portion extends from the forward edge to the rearward edge.
20 . The topper hairpiece interface apparatus as defined in claim 18 , wherein the mesh portion is T-shaped.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/129,553 filed Dec. 22, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference in its entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure herein relates generally to wigs and hairpieces. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to devices for facilitating the stable attachment of topper hairpieces to the head of a wearer. BACKGROUND Topper hairpieces are designed to blend with the existing hair of the wearer to add localized hair volume, and thus have foundations that generally do not envelope enough of the head of the wearer to adequately secure the topper hairpiece to the head of the wearer. Rather, conventional topper hairpieces typically include other attachment mechanisms such as combs and/or clips for anchoring the hairpiece foundation to portions of the wearer's surrounding or underlying natural hair. Additionally, or in the alternative, conventional topper hairpieces may include a thin plastic material on the underside of the foundation to facilitate gluing or taping the hairpiece directly to the scalp of the wearer at the location where additional hair volume is desired. These conventional approaches to securing the topper hairpiece to the head can cause damage to existing natural hair, or irritation of the scalp. Conventional wig grip bands are deficient for use as an interface between a topper hairpiece and the head of the wearer, in part because portions of these bands present bulk and unsightliness at the rear of the wearer's head where no hairpiece foundation is present to cover up the rear portions of the conventional wig grip band. SUMMARY One or more deficiencies of the prior art are solved by way of embodiments of the topper hairpiece interface apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further advantages of the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art with the benefit of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one example hairpiece engagement element for a topper hairpiece interface apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the example hairpiece engagement element in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic bottom plan view of the example hairpiece engagement element in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an example topper hairpiece interface apparatus comprising the example hairpiece engagement element of FIG. 1, but wherein the apparatus is shown secured to the head of a wearer; FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus and wearer of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic top view of the apparatus and wearer of FIG. 4; FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7 in FIG. 6, showing a first method of affixing the topper hairpiece to the hairpiece engagement element, wherein a comb of the hairpiece foundation extends between the medial fastener engagement member and the outboard face of the hairpiece engagement element; FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 7, but showing a second method of affixing the topper hairpiece to the hairpiece engagement element, wherein a comb of the hairpiece foundation extends under the hairpiece engagement element; FIG. 8A is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 8, but showing a third method of affixing the topper hairpiece to the hairpiece engagement element, wherein a comb or clip of the hairpiece foundation extends through a corresponding slit in the hairpiece engagement element; FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken along lines 9-9 in FIG. 6, showing one method of affixing the topper hairpiece to the hairpiece engagement element, wherein a pair of clips of the hairpiece foundation extend between the lateral fastener engagement members and the outboard face of the hairpiece engagement element; FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a second example hairpiece engagement element for a topper hairpiece interface apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure; FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the example hairpiece engagement element in FIG. 10; FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic bottom plan view of the example hairpiece engagement element in FIG. 10; FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an example topper hairpiece interface apparatus comprising the example hairpiece engagement element of FIG. 10, but wherein the apparatus is shown secured to the head of a wearer; FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus and wearer of FIG. 13; FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic top view of the apparatus and wearer of FIG. 13; FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a third example hairpiece engagement element for a topper hairpiece interface apparatus in