Wig base, wig, wig base production method

Abstract

Provided are a wig base having a texture superior to a related-art wig base and high shape stability, a wig using the wig base, and a method of producing the wig base. The wig base of the present invention includes a foundation portion. The foundation portion is formed of a covered yarn in which an outer periphery of a core material is covered with a covering material, and a hot-melt yarn is used as the core material. The wig of the present invention includes human hair or / and synthetic hair which are implanted into the wig base of the present invention. The method of producing a wig base of the present invention includes: placing a tubular net formed of a covered yarn in which an outer periphery of a hot-melt yarn is covered with a covering material or / and a covered yarn in which an outer periphery of a core material is covered with a hot-melt yarn, over a head model; and shaping the tubular net so as to conform to a shape of the head model by heating the tubular net.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wig base, a wig, and a method of producing a wig base.Background Art

[0002] For hair loss from an entire head due to chemical treatment, alopecia, or the like, a wig is used as a substitute for the lost hair. A wig for full head is formed by implanting hair of humans (hereinafter referred to as "human hair") or artificially-made hair (hereinafter referred to as "synthetic hair") in a wig base.

[0003] Hitherto, there has been known a wig base using an artificial skin made of a synthetic resin for a hair parting area for the purpose of achieving a natural appearance or preventing slippage of the wig.

[0004] For a related-art wig base, however, pieces of fabric are sewn together so that the wig base conforms to the head. Thus, the related-art wig base has problems such as a poor fit, a risk of slippage or coming off, poor breathability, and lack of lightness.

[0005] As countermeasures against the above-mentioned problems, there has hitherto been proposed a wig formed by implanting hair into a wig base made of a net-like elastic material (Patent Literature 1).Citation ListPatent Literature

[0006] [PTL 1] JP 2007-217850 ASummary of InventionTechnical Problem

[0007] In the wig base made of a net-like elastic material, however, tightness around the head with an elastic force, rollup of the wig base, or the like may occur. Thus, the wig base still has room for improvement in terms of texture and shape stability.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its object to be achieved is to provide a wig base and a wig that have a texture superior to those of related-art wig bases and high shape stability, and a method of producing the wig base.Solution to Problem[Wig Base]

[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided a wig base including a foundation portion. The foundation portion is formed of a covered yarn in which an outer periphery of a core material is covered with a covering material. The core material or / and the covering material are hot-melt yarns.[Wig]

[0010] According to the present invention, there is provided a wig including human hair or / and synthetic hair implanted into the wig base of the present invention.[Method of Producing Wig Base]

[0011] According to the present invention, there is provided a method of producing a wig base, the method including: placing a tubular net formed of a covered yarn in which an outer periphery of a hot-melt yarn is covered with a covering material or / and a covered yarn in which an outer periphery of a core material is covered with a hot-melt yarn, over a head model; and shaping the tubular net so as to conform to a shape of the head model by heating the tubular net.Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide the wig base and the wig that have a texture superior to those of related-art wig bases and wigs and high shape stability, and the method of producing a wig base.Brief Description of Drawings

[0013] [FIG. 1] (a) is a view for illustrating one example of a wig, and [FIG. 1] (b) is a view for illustrating one example of a wig base. [FIG. 2] (a) is a view for illustrating one example of a single covered yarn, and [FIG. 2] (b) is a view for illustrating one example of a double covered yarn. [FIG. 3] (a), [FIG. 3] (b), [FIG. 3] (c), and [FIG. 3] (d) are views each for illustrating one example of a front part. [FIG. 4] (a), [FIG. 4] (b), [FIG. 4] (c), and [FIG. 4] (d) are views each for illustrating one example of a back part. [FIG. 5] (a), [FIG. 5] (b), [FIG. 5] (c), and [FIG. 5] (d) are views each for illustrating one example of a mesh-like front part. [FIG. 6] (a), [FIG. 6] (b), [FIG. 6] (c), and [FIG. 6] (d) are views each for illustrating one example of a mesh-like back part. [FIG. 7] (a) is a view for illustrating one example of a front part having a grid shape, [FIG. 7] (b) is a view for illustrating one example of a back part having a grid shape, [FIG. 7] (c) is a view for illustrating an inner part designed to match a shape of the front part of [FIG. 7] (a), and [FIG. 7] (d) is a view for illustrating an inner part designed to match a shape of the back part of [FIG. 7] (b). [FIG. 8] is an explanatory view of a modification example of a wig. [FIG. 9] is an explanatory view for illustrating one example of a main body part of the wig of [FIG. 8]. [FIG. 10] is an explanatory view for illustrating one example of a base part of the wig of [FIG. 8]. [FIG. 11] is an explanatory view for illustrating another example of the base part. [FIG. 12] (a), [FIG. 12] (b), and [FIG. 12] (c) are explanatory views for illustrating one example of a procedure of wearing the wig of [FIG. 8]. [FIG. 13] (a) and [FIG. 13] (b) are explanatory views for illustrating one example of a procedure of applying a sideburn patch. [FIG. 14] (a) and [FIG. 14] (b) are explanatory views for illustrating one example of a procedure of applying a nape patch. [FIG. 15] is an explanatory view for illustrating another example of the main body part of the wig. [FIG. 16] is an explanatory view for illustrating still another example of the main body part of the wig. [FIG. 17] is an explanatory view for illustrating another example of the base part of the wig. [FIG. 18] is an explanatory view for illustrating a further example of the main body part of the wig. [FIG. 19] is an explanatory view for illustrating a further example of the main body part of the wig. [FIG. 20] is a flowchart for illustrating one example of a process of making a wig. [FIG. 21] is a flowchart for illustrating one example of a process of making a head model. [FIG. 22] (a) and [FIG. 22] (b) are views for illustrating one example of a head image obtained by measurement with a coordinate measuring machine. [FIG. 23] (a) and [FIG. 23] (b) are views for illustrating one example of a head model made with a three-dimensional modeling device. [FIG. 24] is a sectional view of one example of a hollow head model having through holes. [FIG. 25] is a view for illustrating one example of a head model including a head base and a model part. [FIG. 26] is a view for illustrating one example of a tubular net formed of a covered yarn. [FIG. 27] is a flowchart for illustrating one example of steps of making a wig. [FIG. 28] (a), [FIG. 28] (b), and [FIG. 28] (c) are views for illustrating one example of steps of shaping the tubular net and implanting hair. [FIG. 29] (a), [FIG. 29] (b), and [FIG. 29] (c) are views for illustrating one example of steps of producing a slippage prevention part when the front part, the back part, and a ring-shaped part are used. [FIG. 30] is a view for illustrating one example in which the front part and the back part, each made of a shape memory polymer, are heated using a dryer. Description of Embodiments(Embodiment)

[0014] An example of an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings. As one example, a wig 30 illustrated in FIG. 1(a) includes a wig base 10 and hair 20.<Wig Base>

[0015] As illustrated in FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b), the wig base 10 of this embodiment includes a foundation portion 11, a hair whorl part 12, and a slippage prevention part 13.-Foundation Portion-

[0016] The foundation portion 11 serves as a foundation of the wig base 10. The foundation portion 11 of this embodiment is a net-like member that has been shaped to match a shape of a wearer's head, and is preferably seamless. When the foundation portion is seamless, the head is not irritated by a sewing thread, providing desirable wearing comfort. The foundation portion 11 has a net-like shape and thus is excellent in lightness and breathability. The foundation portion 11 can be produced not only by using various machines, for example, a seamless knitting machine, a flat knitting machine, and a plain knitting machine but also by hand knitting.

[0017] More specifically, the foundation portion 11 can be made by knitting in knitting patterns such as plain stitch (jersey stitch and stocking stitch), fraise stitch (rib stitch, ribbing, cardigan stitch), purl stitch (garter stitch, links stitch, links-and-links stitch), thermal stitch (waffle stitch, honeycomb stitch), seed stitch, reversible seed stitch (reversible mesh stitch), smooth stitch (interlock stitch), French terry stitch (loopback, fleece), jacquard stitch, and intarsia stitch.

[0018] The foundation portion 11 of this embodiment is formed of a covered yarn 14. The covered yarn as used herein includes, for example, a thread material 14 in which a covering material (a sheath yarn) 14b is wound around an outer periphery of a core material 14a into a coil-like pattern as illustrated in FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b).

[0019] As the covered yarn 14, a covered yarn including the covering material 14b that is single-wrapped (wound in a single layer) (a single covered yarn) as illustrated in FIG. 2(a) or a covered yarn including the covering material 14b that is doublewrapped (wound in two layers) (a double covered yarn) as illustrated in FIG. 2(b) may be used.

[0020] A hot-melt yarn may be used as the core material 14a. The hot-melt yarn has a property of melting through heating and becoming hard (hardening) through cooling. Examples of the hot-melt yarn include yarns made of various synthetic fiber materials such as nylon (polyamide) and polyester, which have melting points lower than typical melting points. The covered yarn 14 including the hot-melt yarn as the core material is formed into a predetermined shape with application of heat and is then hardened, allowing the covered yarn 14 to keep its shape.

[0021] The hot-melt yarn is made of, for example, low-melting-point nylon / polyamide fibers or low-melting-point polyester fibers. Besides, various thermoplastic polymers, thermoplastic elastomers, each having an adjusted melting point, and the like may be used.

[0022] For the hot-melt yarn, two or more different fiber materials may be used. For example, the hot-melt yarn may have a double structure. A synthetic fiber material having a typical melting point is used as a center and is covered with a synthetic fiber material having a melting point lower than typical melting points, to achieve a core-sheath structure. As a result, the material on the outer side, which has a lower melting point, melts by heat and exhibits functions as the hot-melt yarn. Meanwhile, the central portion can maintain a predetermined shape, elasticity, and the like without melting by heat. The hot-melt yarn is not limited to those described above and may be made of a composite material of two or more materials having different melting points.

[0023] The hot-melt yarn is made of, for example, nylon fibers and melts with hot water at about 71°C and dry heat at about 118°C (from 105°C to 125°C) or melts with hot water at about 62°C and dry heat at about 105°C (from 95°C to 115°C).

[0024] The hot-melt yarn includes, for example, a plurality of core-sheath composite filaments (hot-melt polyester fibers) each including a core portion made of a high-viscosity polyester resin having a melting point of about 250°C, and a sheath portion made of a crystalline polyester resin having a melting point of about 180°C (low melting point), which is lower than the melting point of the core portion.

[0025] The hot-melt yarn is made of, for example, low-melting-point polyamide fibers and has a melting point of from 98°C to 130°C.

[0026] As the hot-melt yarn, for example, a hot-melt yarn having a multi-filament structure including a plurality of filaments, which easily fuses integrally when melted, may be used.

[0027] As the hot-melt yarn, for example, a composite filament including a plurality of filaments, each including the sheath portion arranged on an outer side of the core portion, may be used.

[0028] The hot-melt yarn described here is one example, and various hot-melt yarns may be used. A hot-melt yarn with a hot water melting point of from about 60°C to about 130°C, preferably, a hot water melting point of from about 60°C to about 90°C, and a dry heat melting point of from 90°C to 150°C, preferably, a dry heat melting point of from about 100°C to about 135°C as physical properties may be used.

[0029] The melting point of the hot-melt yarn may be evaluated not only based on the hot water melting point and the dry heat melting point but also by various methods, for example, a melting point measurement defined in JIS L1013:2010. As the hot-melt yarn to be used as the core material 14a, a hot-melt yarn having a melting point of from 90°C to 140°C when evaluated by the method described above may be suitably used.

[0030] The covering material 14b covers an outer periphery of the core material 14a. A shaped article formed by using the hot-melt yarn typically becomes hard when the fusible yarn solidifies after melting. Thus, the use of the hot-melt yarn as it is may cause discomfort when the hot-melt yarn comes into contact with skin.

[0031] In this regard, skin comfort is improved by providing the covering material 14b around the outer periphery of the hot-melt yarn, alleviating discomfort that may be caused when the hot-melt yarn comes into contact with skin. The covering material 14b also has an effect to increase strength of the core material 14a, and in turn, strength of the wig base 10 and thus can reduce a risk of damaging the wig base 10 at the time of hair implantation.

[0032] The covering material 14b may be formed of various materials, such as nylon, polyester, rayon, polyurethane, acryl, polypropylene, polyethylene, synthesized protein, a thermoplastic elastomer, cotton, silk, hemp, paper, and wool. When thermoplastic or thermosetting chemical fibers are used for the covering material 14b, it is desirable that their melting point be higher than the melting point of the hot-melt yarn used as the core material, preferably higher by 10°C or more, more preferably higher by 20°C or more than the melting point of the hot-melt yarn. It is preferred that a covering material of the same color as or a color close to a color of a wearer's skin (scalp) or the same color as or a color close to a color of hair be used as the covering material 14b.

[0033] Besides the materials described above, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, and the like, which have various functions including, for example, a sweat-absorption property, a quick-dry property, an antibacterial property, an odorresistant property, a deodorant property, and a cool touch property may be used. When the synthetic fibers, the natural fibers, and the like with the functions as described above (functional fibers) are used, the wig base 10 can be provided with various functions of the covering material 14b.

[0034] When, for example, functional fibers having a function of controlling pH of a sweaty area to be weakly acidic are used, a function of suppressing the proliferation of harmful bacteria by controlling pH of a sweaty area to be weakly acidic can be provided.

[0035] Fibers each having an appropriate thickness may be used for the hot-melt yarn and the covering material 14b in consideration of strength and a thickness of the wig base 10, and the like. For example, fibers of preferably from 10 denier to 200 denier, more preferably from 20 denier to 100 denier may be used. The term "denier" as used herein refers to a unit of measurement of fiber fineness (a fiber thickness).

[0036] The hot-melt yarn is generally used to be firmly fixed or bonded to another member through melting. When the covering material 14b is provided around the outer periphery, there is a risk that fixing strength or bonding strength to another member may be reduced. Thus, in general, the outer periphery of the hot-melt yarn is not covered with the covering material 14b.

[0037] In the wig base 10 of this embodiment, a principal function expected of the hot-melt yarn is shape stability (ability to maintain a fitting state to a head shape). In this regard, as described later for Examples, even when the covered yarn 14 including the covering material 14b provided around the outer periphery of the hot-melt yarn is used, the shape stability of the wig base 10 of the present invention is not impaired, enabling sufficient shape stability to be ensured.

[0038] When the wig base 10 is formed of woven fabric as in the related-art cases, fabric scraps are left after cutting. However, when the covered yarn 14 is used to form the foundation portion 11, fabric scraps are not left, enabling reduction of an environmental load. The foundation portion 11 that is knitted with one covered yarn 14 is seamless and thus offers a comfortable feel to the skin, also enabling reduction in weight of the entirety.

[0039] This embodiment described above is merely one embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the wig base of the present invention has various other modification examples. For example, when the covered yarn 14 is used for the wig base 10, both of the core material 14a and the covering material 14b may be formed of the hot-melt yarn described above.

[0040] In this case, for example, different materials are used for the core material 14a and the covering material 14b. The hot-melt yarn excellent in shape stability is used for the core material 14a, and the hot-melt yarn with a smooth texture is used for the covering material 14b. In this manner, a wig base with more excellent shape stability while maintaining its texture can be achieved.

[0041] Further, when the texture is not a primary concern, the hot-melt yarn may be used for the covering material 14b, and typical synthetic fibers or natural fibers may be used for the core material 14a, conversely to this embodiment. When the hot-melt yarn is used for the covering material 14b, and typical synthetic fibers or natural fibers are used for the core material 14a, the covered yarn 14 more easily melts by heating from its surface than the covered yarn 14 including the hot-melt yarn as the core material 14a, thus making various shaping methods available.

[0042] Further, when a double covered yarn is used, it is conceivable to perform covering with two different materials. For example, typical natural fibers or synthetic fibers of two different materials or hot-melt yarns of two different materials may be used. The hot-melt yarn may be used for one of the materials, and a typical fiber material may be used for another one of the materials.

[0043] In short, materials to be used for the core material 14a and the covering material 14b and materials to be used for two covering materials 14b when a double covered yarn is used can be appropriately changed by those skilled in the art in light of the disclosure given herein so as to achieve desired texture, shape stability, and ease of shaping.-Hair Whorl Part-

[0044] The hair whorl part 12 is a member provided in the vicinity of a head top area of the wig base 10. The hair whorl part 12 includes hair (hereinafter referred to as "hair whorl area hair") 12b that is implanted into a base portion 12a formed of an artificial skin, a knitted fabric, a woven fabric, a lace material, or the like. It is preferred that the base portion 12a have a color that is the same as or close to the color of the foundation portion 11, in other words, a color that is the same as or close to the color of the wearer's skin. The artificial skin is used so that a hair parting area looks as natural as a real scalp.

[0045] The hair whorl area hair 12b can be formed of human hair, synthetic hair, or the like. The hair whorl area hair 12b can be formed of a combination of a plurality of strands of human hair, synthetic hair, or the like, which have the same length or different lengths. The hair whorl area hair 12b is implanted so as to pass from an outer surface side of the wig base 10 to an inner surface side thereof and then pass again to the outer surface side. The hair whorl area hair 12b is implanted so as to look like a natural hair whorl.

[0046] The hair whorl part 12 is formed separately from the foundation portion 11. When the hair whorl part 12 is formed as a separate body from the foundation portion 11, the hair whorl part 12, which is subjected to heavy wear, alone can be replaced. The hair whorl part 12 may be attached to the foundation portion 11 by pressure-bonding, sewing, or other methods. The hair whorl part 12 may include not only a hair whorl area but also a hair parting area. When an artificial skin is used, the hair parting area can be caused to look as natural as a real scalp.-Slippage Prevention Part-

[0047] The slippage prevention part 13 is a member that prevents the wig base 10 from causing slippage or coming off. The slippage prevention part 13 is provided to a hairline area (an area to be in contact with the wearer's skin or scalp) of an inner surface of the foundation portion 11. The slippage prevention part 13 can also be expected to have an effect to reinforce the wig base 10 and prevent fraying thereof.

[0048] The slippage prevention part 13 can be attached to the foundation portion 11 by pressure-bonding, sewing, or other methods. The slippage prevention part 13 has a ring shape (hair band-like shape) extending over a left temporal region, a frontal region, a right temporal region, and an occipital region. Both ear portions are cut out from the slippage prevention part 13 so that both ears are exposed.

[0049] The slippage prevention part 13 may be formed of, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer, a silicone rubber, a natural rubber (NR), a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), a chloroprene rubber (CR), an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), a urethane rubber (U), or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). It is preferred that the slippage prevention part 13 be formed of a material having a frictional resistance larger than that of a material for the covered yarn 14.

[0050] A size adjusting member (adjuster) 15 may be provided to the slippage prevention part 13. As the adjuster 15, for example, a member including a thin plate member having two holes, a cord member to be inserted through the holes, and a cordmember holder for holding the cord member (a so-called lockable cord stopper), a hook-and-loop fastener, or the like may be used. Other members may also be used as the adjuster 15.

[0051] Besides, the slippage prevention part 13 may also be formed of a shape memory polymer that is printable with a three-dimensional (3D) printer. The term "shape memory polymer" as used herein refers to a polymer having a property of being able to restore its original shape by heating to a predetermined temperature or higher even when being deformed after modeling. The shape memory polymer may be a shape memory polymer filament or the like.

[0052] After the slippage prevention part 13, which is formed of a shape memory polymer, is heated to a predetermined temperature with a dryer or the like with the wig on the head so as to restore its original shape, the wig is fitted to the head of the wearer and is cooled again. In this manner, a better fit of the wig to the head can be achieved.

[0053] The predetermined temperature is a so-called glass transition temperature (Tg), and is approximately about 50°C to about 70°C, preferably about 55°C. When a material that restores its shape at 55°C or higher, in other words, a material that does not restore its shape at a temperature below 55°C is used, undesirable deformation can be prevented even during a hightemperature period such as mid-summer.

[0054] When a shape memory polymer is printed with a 3D printer, the shape thereof may be either planar (for example, a sheet-like shape) or three-dimensional. Further, the shape may be a shape conforming to the head of a specific person (head model M) or a versatile shape.

[0055] As one example, when a part having a versatile shape (hereinafter referred to as "versatile part") is formed by printing, it is suitable that the versatile part be shaped with a dryer or the like so as to fit each head for use. It is preferred that versatile parts of a plurality of sizes (for example, small size, medium size, and large size) be prepared in advance.

[0056] The slippage prevention part 13 may be not only made up of one part (for example, a ring-shaped part) but also made up of a plurality of parts. For example, when the slippage prevention part 13 is formed of a shape memory polymer, a front part 13a and a back part 13b are prepared, which can be connected into a ring shape with use of a hook-and-loop fastener, a tape, a rubber band, an adjuster, or the like.

[0057] The front part 13a and the back part 13b may have various shapes. Examples of the shape of the front part 13a are illustrated in FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 3(d), and examples of the shape of the back part 13b are illustrated in FIG. 4(a) to FIG. 4(d). The front part 13a and the back part 13b may have a mesh-like shape as illustrated in FIG. 5(a) to FIG. 5(d) and FIG. 6(a) to FIG. 6(d).

[0058] Besides, the front part 13a and the back part 13b may each have a grid shape with a plurality of inner members 13e inside a peripheral frame 13d, as illustrated in FIG. 7(a)and FIG. 7(b). The inner members 13e may be provided in a regular or irregular pattern in a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, or a diagonal direction. In some cases, the peripheral frame 13d may be omitted, and each of the front part 13a and the back part 13b may be made up only of the plurality of inner members 13e, which are connected integrally.

[0059] When a shape memory polymer is used, the slippage prevention part 13 may be formed of the shape memory polymer alone. However, it is preferred that an inner part 13f of a soft material that is less liable to damage skin (for example, a thermoplastic elastomer or silicon) be provided on a surface to be in contact with the wearer's skin or scalp.

[0060] A shape of the inner part 13f may be not only a ring shape conforming to the head shape but also be similar to the shape of one of the parts (the front part 13a and the back part 13b) formed of a shape memory polymer.

[0061] For example, when a front part having a grid shape as illustrated in FIG. 7(a)is used as the front part 13a, it is preferred that the inner part 13f having the same shape as the grid shape, as illustrated in FIG. 7(c), be applied to the surface to be in contact with the wearer's skin or scalp. Similarly, when a back part having a grid shape as illustrated in FIG. 7(b) is used as the back part 13b, it is preferred that the inner part 13f having the same shape as the grid shape, as illustrated in FIG. 7(d), be applied to the surface to be in contact with the wearer's skin or scalp.<Hair>

[0062] The hair 20 is a part that forms hair of the wig 30. Similarly to the hair whorl area hair 12b, the hair 20 may be formed of human hair, synthetic hair, or the like. The hair 20 may be formed of a combination of a plurality of strands of human hair, synthetic hair, and the like, which have the same length or different lengths.

[0063] The hair 20 is implanted so as to pass from the outer surface side to the inner surface side of the wig base 10 (specifically, the foundation portion 11 and the slippage prevention part 13) and then pass again to the outer surface side. In this embodiment, the wig base 10 is formed of the covered yarn 14 in which the outer periphery of the core material 14a is covered with the covering material 14b and thus has strength superior to related-art wig bases, enabling reduction of a risk of damage to the wig base 10 at the time of hair implantation.

[0064] When the hair 20 is implanted into the wig base 10, knots are formed on the inner surface side of the wig base 10 and may be in contact with the skin to cause itching. In order to prevent itching, a back base fabric piece or the like may be provided on the inner surface side of the wig base 10 after the implantation of the hair 20 so that the knots are not in direct contact with the skin.

[0065] The wig base 10 and the wig 30 that are described herein are mere examples, and configurations of the wig base 10 and the wig 30 of the present invention are not limited to those of this embodiment. Changes such as addition, omission, and switching of components are possible in the wig base 10 and the wig 30 of the present invention as long as an intended purpose can be achieved. For example, in a modification example, the wig base 10 of the present invention may be devoid of any one or both of the hair whorl part 12 and the slippage prevention part 13.

[0066] Alternatively, in a further modification example, a wig with an excellent texture and an excellent fit to the head is provided by using typical natural fibers or synthetic fibers (see the paragraph

[0033] and the like), which can be used for the covering material 14b in place of the hot-melt yarn, as the material for the wig base 10 of the present invention and by using a shape memory polymer for the slippage prevention part 13 instead. This modification example also falls within the scope of the present invention.

[0067] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the wig 30 including the foundation portion 11, the hair whorl part 12, the slippage prevention part 13, and the hair 20, which are formed integrally, has been described as one example. However, as a modification example, the wig 30 may be made up of two or more separate parts.

[0068] One example of the wig 30 made up of two or more separate parts, which is illustrated in FIG. 8, includes the foundation portion 11, the hair whorl part 12, the hair 20 that are formed as one integrated part, and the slippage prevention part 13 formed as a separate part. The latter part serves as a base part to be worn around the head, and the former part serves as a main body part to be attached to the base part (the slippage prevention part 13) worn around the head.

[0069] Basic configurations of the foundation portion 11, the hair whorl part 12, and the hair 20 of this modification example are the same as those in the embodiment described above. A difference lies in that fixing members 16 and sideburn patch application portions 17 are provided to the foundation portion 11. The difference from the above-mentioned embodiment is mainly described below, and description of parts and portions similar to those of the above-mentioned embodiment is appropriately omitted.

[0070] Similarly to the above-mentioned embodiment, the foundation portion 11 of this modification example is a seamless (whole garment) member having a shape that fits the head. As illustrated in FIG. 9, projecting portions that project further downward with respect to other portions of a peripheral edge of an opening portion on a lower end side of the foundation portion 11 are formed at positions corresponding to sideburns and a position corresponding to a nape on the peripheral edge of the opening portion. The projecting portions formed at the positions corresponding to the sideburns are hereinafter referred to as "first projecting portion 11a" and "second projecting portion 11b", and the projecting portion formed at the position corresponding to the nape is hereinafter referred to as "third projecting portion 11c". Recessed portions 11d, each being recessed upward so that an ear is received therein, are formed in portions corresponding to areas around the ears.

[0071] Shapes of the first projecting portion 11a and the second projecting portion 11b illustrated in FIG. 9 are substantially trapezoidal. However, the first projecting portion 11a and the second projecting portion 11b may have various shapes such as a shape with an arc-like distal end. Similarly, a shape of the third projecting portion 11c is substantially trapezoidal. However, the third projecting portion 11c may have various shapes such as a shape with an arc-like distal end.

[0072] The sideburn patch application portion 17 for application of a sideburn patch S1 (FIG. 13(a), FIG. 13(b)) is provided on a lower end side of each of the first projecting portion 11a and the second projecting portion 11b. The sideburn patch S1 is a patch with a surface printed with (bearing) an illustration or a photograph of a sideburn. The sideburn patch S1 is used by applying part thereof onto the sideburn patch application portion 17 and other part onto the vicinity of a front side of an ear of the wearer.

[0073] The sideburn patch application portion 17 may be formed of a material different from the material for the foundation portion 11, for example, polyurethane, a polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer, or an elastomer, which allows easy application of the sideburn patch S1. The sideburn patch application portion 17 can be attached to the foundation portion 11 with various bonding means such as an adhesive or an adhesive tape.

[0074] Further, the sideburn patch application portions 17 may have a color that is the same as or close to the color of the wearer's skin or may be colorless and transparent. The shape, the material, and the color of the sideburn patch application portion 17 may be other than those described above. It is preferred that the sideburn patch application portions 17 be provided at positions hidden behind the hair 20 (inside the hair 20) under a state in which the hair 20 is down.

[0075] The fixing members 16 are members for fixing the foundation portion 11, the hair whorl part 12, and the hair 20, which are formed integrally (the main body part), to the slippage prevention part 13 (the base part). As the fixing member 16, for example, a comb-shaped locking member or a clip having a holding portion at both ends in a longitudinal direction, as illustrated in FIG. 9, may be used. A fixing member having a shape and a structure other than those described above may also be used as the fixing member 16.

[0076] The number of fixing members 16 may be either one or two or more. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, one fixing member 16 is provided in the vicinity of a center of the occipital region, and one fixing member 16 is provided on each of outer sides thereof (a total of three fixing members 16 are provided). Among the three fixing members 16, the fixing member 16 at the center is locked to a band member 13k of a nape part 13g, and the fixing members 16 on both outer sides are used to be fixed to a nape-part foundation portion 13i.

[0077] Not only lifting of the main body part in the vicinity of the center of the occipital region but also lifting on both sides of the main body part can be prevented by providing the fixing members 16 at the positions as described above. When two or more fixing members 16 are provided, either the same fixing members or different fixing members may be used. Further, the positions and the number of the fixing members 16 illustrated in FIG. 9 are mere examples, and the positions and the number of the fixing members 16 may be other than those described above.

[0078] Next, the slippage prevention part 13 (the base part) of this modification example is described. The slippage prevention part 13 is a part to be worn around the head, and serves as a base for fixing the foundation portion 11, the hair whorl part 12, and the hair 20, which are formed as an integrated body (the main body part).

[0079] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the slippage prevention part 13 of this modification example includes the front part 13a, the nape part 13g, and a connecting member 13h. The front part 13a and the nape part 13g are connected into a continuous ring shape with the connecting member 13h such as a loop-and-hook fastener, a tape, a rubber piece, a hook, or an adjuster.

[0080] The front part 13a has a double-layer structure including: a shape memory material with a shape memory property and temperature dependence; and a mesh material with durability, which are bonded together. The shape memory material is positioned on the skin side and the mesh material is positioned on the outer side.

[0081] The shape memory material used in this modification example has a characteristic of flexibly changing in response to a body temperature. This material, which does not have significantly high tensile strength, ensures durability with the mesh material bonded thereto. Further, this material, which does not have significantly high breathability, ensures breathability by forming micropores therein. The micropores can be formed by laser processing or the like.

[0082] The configuration and the material of the front part 13a, which are described here, are mere examples, and the front part 13a may use a configuration and a material which are different from those described above. As the front part 13a, the same front part as the front part 13a of the above-mentioned embodiment may also be used.

[0083] The nape part 13g of this modification example is a part to be applied at a position corresponding to the nape of the head, and includes: the nape-part foundation portion 13i having a mesh-like (net-like) shape, serving as a base; and hair (hereinafter referred to as "rear-side hair") 13j provided to the nape-part foundation portion 13i. Human hair or / and synthetic hair may be used for the rear-side hair 13j, and the rear-side hair 13j may be formed of a combination of a plurality of strands of human hair, synthetic hair, and the like, which have the same length or different lengths.

[0084] The rear-side hair 13j may not only be implanted in the same manner as the implantation of the hair 20 in the hair whorl area hair 12b and the foundation portion 11 but also be attached by a method such as sewing or bonding onto a surface of the nape-part foundation portion 13i.

[0085] A backing member is provided on an inner surface (skin-side surface) of the nape-part foundation portion 13i. The backing member is a member that is to be in direct contact with the skin, and may be formed of a thermoplastic elastomer, a silicone rubber, a natural rubber (NR), a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), a chloroprene rubber (CR), an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), a urethane rubber (U), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or the like.

[0086] A nape patch application portion 18 for application of a nape patch S2 (FIG. 14(a), FIG. 14(b)) described later is provided on a lower end side of the nape part 13g of this modification example. The nape patch S2 is a patch printed with (bearing) an illustration or a photograph of the nape, and is used by applying part thereof onto the nape patch application portion 18 and other part onto an area around the wearer's neck.

[0087] The nape patch application portion 18 is a separate member from the nape part 13g. The nape patch application portion 18 is attached to the nape part 13g (the nape-part foundation portion 13i) with various bonding means such as an adhesive or an adhesive tape.

[0088] In this modification example, a thin-piece member having a horizontally elongated trapezoidal shape that is provided to protrude downward beyond a lower end of the nape part 13g is used as the nape patch application portion 18. The nape patch application portion 18 may be formed of a material (such as polyurethane, a polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer, or an elastomer) which allows easy application of the nape patch S2.

[0089] Further, the nape patch application portion 18 may have a color that is the same as or close to the color of the wearer's skin or may be colorless and transparent. The shape, the material, and the color of the nape patch application portion 18 may be other than those described above. It is preferred that the nape patch application portion 18 be provided at a position hidden behind the rear-side hair 13j (inside the rear-side hair 13j) under a state in which the hair 20 is down.

[0090] The front part 13a and the nape part 13g are connected to each other with the connecting member 13h. The connecting member 13h illustrated in FIG. 10 includes: the band member 13k provided on one end side of the front part 13a; a loop surface 13m provided on part of an outer surface of the band member 13k; a hook surface 13n provided on other part of the outer surface of the band member 13k; and a fold-back member 13p provided on another end side of the front part 13a. The nape part 13g is fixed on an inner side of the band member 13k.

[0091] When this connecting member 13h is used, the band member 13k is inserted through the fold-back member 13p and is folded back under a state in which the front part 13a and the nape part 13g are placed in contact with the head. Then, the hook surface 13n of a folded-back part of the band member 13k is pressed against the loop surface 13m to thereby enable achieving the connection between the front part 13a and the nape part 13g.

[0092] As illustrated in FIG. 11, a slip prevention band 13r that has a skin-contact surface formed of a slip prevention member may be provided on an inner side of the nape-part foundation portion 13i. The slip prevention band 13r may be made of the same material as or a different material from that for the front part 13a. Further, the slip prevention band 13r may be formed integrally with or separately from the front part 13a. The slip prevention band 13r is provided so as to extend in a width direction of the inner surface of the nape part 13g and is a member that serves to prevent the nape part 13g from shifting from a predetermined position on the head.

[0093] When the slip prevention band 13r is provided on the inner side of the nape-part foundation portion 13i, for example, the nape part 13g is fixed on an outer side of the slip prevention band 13r provided on one end side of the front part 13a. The band member 13k having the loop surface 13m and the hook surface 13n on the outer surface is fixed to an outer surface of the nape part 13g.

[0094] When this connecting member 13h is used, the band member 13k is inserted through the fold-back member 13p and is folded back under a state in which the front part 13a and the nape part 13g are placed in contact with the head. Then, the hook surface 13n of a folded-back part of the band member 13k is pressed against the loop surface 13m to thereby enable achieving the connection between the front part 13a and the nape part 13g. The nape part 13g is placed in contact with the head so that the slip prevention band 13r is in contact with the skin.

[0095] As illustrated in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, when the nape part 13g is provided so that its upper part protrudes above an upper end of the connecting member 13h (more specifically, the band member 13k), a good fit is achieved because the band member 13k is not in contact with the head with no level difference. The nape part 13g may be provided so that its upper end is flush with an upper end of the band member 13k or is positioned below the upper end of the band member 13k.

[0096] The wig 30 of this modification example can be worn, for example, in the following procedure. (1) The slippage prevention part 13 is worn around the head (FIG. 12(a)). (2) After the slippage prevention part 13 is worn around the head, the fixing members 16 provided to the foundation portion 11 are fixed at predetermined positions on the slippage prevention part 13 (FIG. 12(b)). (3) After the fixing members 16 are fixed at the predetermined positions on the slippage prevention part 13, the foundation portion 11 is placed on the head so as to cover the entirety thereof and is fixed to the slippage prevention part 13 (FIG. 12(c)). At this time, a front part and side parts of the foundation portion 11 can be fixed with a double-sided adhesive tape, an adhesive, or the like.

[0097] The sideburn patches S1 and the nape patch S2 may be applied at any appropriate timing during the wearing steps described above (FIG. 13(a), FIG. 13(b), FIG. 14(a), FIG. 14(b)). There is no particular limitation on the application timing. For example, the sideburn patches S1 may be applied after the foundation portion 11 is placed on the head so as to cover the entirety thereof and is fixed to the slippage prevention part 13 in the above-mentioned step (3), and the nape patch S2 may be applied after the slippage prevention part 13 is worn around the head in the above-mentioned step (1), or the like.

[0098] Part of the sideburn patches S1 may be applied in advance onto the sideburn patch application portions 17. Similarly, part of the nape patch S2 may be applied in advance onto the nape patch application portion 18.

[0099] When the wig 30 is made up of the main body part and the base part, which are separate members, as in this modification example, the parts can be individually washed or replaced, providing ease of use.

[0100] With the wig 30 including the sideburn patch application portions 17 and the nape patch application portion 18 as in this modification example, a natural connection between sideburn portions and a nape portion can be achieved. As a result, for example, updo hairstyles, which expose the nape side, become possible, and thus an effect of improving the degree of freedom in hairstyling can be expected.(Other Modification Examples)

[0101] In the modification example described above, the case in which the fixing members 16 are provided to the foundation portion 11 has been given as one example. However, the fixing members 16 may be provided to the slippage prevention part 13 or may be provided to both the foundation portion 11 and the slippage prevention part 13.

[0102] In the modification example described above, the case in which the sideburn patch application portions 17 are provided to the foundation portion 11 and the nape patch application portion 18 is provided to the slippage prevention part 13 has been given as one example. However, the sideburn patch application portions 17 and the nape patch application portion 18 may be provided at positions other than those described above.

[0103] For example, both the sideburn patch application portions 17 and the nape patch application portion 18 may be provided to the slippage prevention part 13. Alternatively, both the sideburn patch application portions 17 and the nape patch application portion 18 may be provided to the foundation portion 11. A set of the sideburn patch application portions 17 and the nape patch application portion 18 may be provided to each of the foundation portion 11 and the slippage prevention part 13.

[0104] Further, the sideburn patch application portions 17 may be plain without any printing or patterns thereon. However, the sideburn patch application portions 17 may be each printed with (may bear) an illustration or a photograph of the sideburn similar to that on the sideburn patch S1. Similarly, the nape patch application portion 18 may be plain without any printing or patterns thereon. However, the nape patch application portion 18 may be printed with (may bear) an illustration or a photograph of the nape similar to that on the nape patch S2.

[0105] The sideburn patch application portions 17 and the nape patch application portion 18 are only required to be provided as needed and may be omitted when not needed.

[0106] Further, a front hairline patch application portion 19 for application of a front hairline patch (not shown) may be provided at a position corresponding to a front hairline of the foundation portion 11, as illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 15. The front hairline patch is a patch having a surface printed with (bearing) an illustration or a photograph of a front hairline, and is used by applying part thereof onto the front hairline patch application portion 19 and other part onto an area in the vicinity of the wearer's forehead.

[0107] A shape of the front hairline patch application portion 19 is not limited to a particular shape, and may be a shape that naturally conforms to the front hairline portion, such as a quadrilateral shape or a curved shape. Similarly to the sideburn patch application portions 17 and the nape patch application portion 18, the front hairline patch application portion 19 may be formed of a material that allows easy application of the front hairline patch, such as polyurethane, a polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer, or an elastomer. The front hairline patch application portion 19 can be attached to the foundation portion 11 with various bonding means such as an adhesive or an adhesive tape.

[0108] Further, the front hairline patch application portion 19 may have a color that is the same as or close to the color of the wearer's skin or scalp or may be colorless and transparent. The shape, the material, and the color of the front hairline patch application portion 19 may be other than those described above. It is preferred that the front hairline patch application portion 19 be provided at a position hidden behind the hair 20 (inside the hair 20).

[0109] The front hairline patch application portion 19 may be plain without any printing or patterns thereon. However, the front hairline patch application portion 19 may be printed with (may bear) an illustration or a photograph of the front hairline similar to that on the front hairline patch. The front hairline patch application portion 19 is only required to be provided as needed and may be omitted when not needed.

[0110] In the modification example described above, the case in which the nape part 13g provided at the position corresponding to the nape is provided to the slippage prevention part 13 has been given as one example. However, the nape part 13g may be provided to the main body part (for example, the foundation portion 11), in other words, may be formed as part of the foundation portion 11.

[0111] When the nape part 13g is provided to the main body part, for example, the third projecting portion 11c of the foundation portion 11 is increased in size so as to substantially correspond to the nape-part foundation portion 13i as illustrated in FIG. 16 so that the hair 20 corresponding to the rear-side hair 13j can be provided to the second projecting portion 11b. Human hair or / and synthetic hair may be used as the hair 20, and the hair 20 may be formed of a combination of a plurality of strands of human hair, synthetic hair, and the like, which have the same length or different lengths.

[0112] When the nape part 13g is provided to the foundation portion 11, the nape part 13g of the slip prevention part 13 may be omitted as illustrated in FIG. 17. When the nape part 13g is provided to the foundation portion 11, the nape patch application portion 18 that is similar to the nape patch application portion 18 provided to the nape part 13g may be provided on a lower end side of the third projecting portion 11c.

[0113] Besides the modification examples described above, the wig base 10 may also have configurations illustrated in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19. Each of the wig bases 10 illustrated in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 has the first projecting portion 11a and the second projecting portion 11b, each with an arc-shaped distal end.

[0114] A plate member 11e (for example, a metal plate), which is bendable, is provided on an inner side of each of the first projecting portion 11a and the second projecting portion 11b. A high degree of fit is achieved by bending the plate member 11e such that the plate member 11e conforms to the shape of the wearer's head.

[0115] A first enclosure part 11f having a band-like shape is provided at a position on a lower end side of an inner surface of the foundation portion 11 so as to extend from the first projecting portion 11a to one end of the third projecting portion 11c. Similarly, a second enclosure part 11g having a band-like shape is attached at a position on the lower end side of the inner surface of the foundation portion 11 so as to extend from the second projecting portion 11b to another end of the third projecting portion 11c. The first enclosure part 11f and the second enclosure part 11g may be formed of a material different from or the same material as the material for the foundation portion 11.

[0116] A first connecting band 11h having a tape-like shape, which is connected to the first projecting portion 11a, is placed inside the first enclosure part 11f. A first hook 11j is provided to a distal end portion of the first connecting band 11h, which has passed through the first enclosure part 11f and is exposed therefrom. Similarly, a second connecting band 11i having a tape-like shape, which is connected to the second projecting portion 11b, is placed inside the second enclosure part 11g. A second hook 11k is provided to a distal end portion of the second connecting band 11i, which has passed through the second enclosure part 11g and is exposed therefrom.

[0117] A hook-engagement band member 11m, to which the first hook 11j and the second hook 11k can be locked, is fixed to a lower end side of an outer surface of the third projecting portion 11c. A plurality of hook engagement portions 11n are provided to the hook-engagement band member 11m. A circumference of the wig base 10 can be adjusted depending on positions at which the first hook 11j and the second hook 11k are engaged.

[0118] When those parts are provided on the inner surface of the foundation portion 11, advantages such as less noticeability of the parts can be expected. When the parts are provided on the inner surface of the foundation portion 11, however, the parts are in direct contact with the skin. Thus, it is preferred that the parts be covered with a cover with a comfortable feel to the skin as needed.

[0119] Here, the case in which the first enclosure part 11f, the second enclosure part 11g, the first connecting band 11h, the second connecting band 11i, and the hook-engagement band member 11m are provided on the inner surface of the foundation portion 11 has been given as one example. However, some or all of the above-mentioned parts may be provided on an outer surface of the foundation portion 11.

[0120] The wig base 10 illustrated in FIG. 18 includes the hair whorl part 12 provided over an entire region of the head in the width direction. The hair whorl part 12 may be formed of artificial skin, lace, or the like. The hair whorl part 12 may be narrower in the width direction than the hair whorl part 12 of FIG. 18, as illustrated in FIG. 19. The hair whorl part 12 may include a hair parting other than a hair whorl, and a front hairline.

[0121] When this type of wig base 10 is used, the fixing members 16 may be omitted. When the fixing members 16 are omitted, a portion to be placed in contact with a rear side (a nape side or an occipital side) of the head is not fixed to the slip prevention part 13 worn around the head but may be directly fixed to the head with the connecting bands 11h and 11i. Meanwhile, a portion to be placed in contact with a front side of the head is placed over the slip prevention part 13 and can be fixed to the slip prevention part 13 by bonding means such as an adhesive or a double-sided adhesive tape.

[0122] The configurations illustrated in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 are applicable not only in a case in which the slippage prevention part 13 is formed as a separate body but also in a case in which the foundation portion 11, the hair whorl part 12, the slippage prevention part 13, and the hair 20 are formed integrally (the case of the embodiment described above).

[0123] Besides the various configurations described above, the foundation portion 11 may be formed of a combination of a seamless mesh material formed using a hot-melt yarn and a different material such as lace. For example, a front portion may be formed of a lace material, and a back portion may be formed of a seamless mesh material formed with a hot-melt yarn. In this case, a member made of silicon, or the like may be provided between the lace material and the seamless mesh material and on the nape portion. Those materials can be connected by sewing or with an adhesive or the like.

[0124] A size adjusting member may be provided to the foundation portion 11 having the configuration as described above, as needed. Examples of the size adjusting member include: a member using the first enclosure part 11f, the second enclosure part 11g, the first connecting band 11h, the second connecting band 11i, the first hook 11j, the second hook 11k, or the hook-engagement band member 11m, which are illustrated in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19; and a member using an elastic cord and the lockable cord stopper described above.

[0125] The foundation portion 11 in the above-mentioned embodiment and modification examples, and other modification examples can be produced with, for example, a seamless tubular net N with elasticity. The tubular net N can be formed by knitting in one of the various patterns described above, such as plain stitch.

[0126] The tubular net N may be formed of any one of the covered yarn 14 including the hot-melt yarn as the core material 14a, the covered yarn 14 including the hot-melt yarn as the covering material 14b, or the hot-melt yarn without the covering material 14b, but may also be formed of a combination of two or more kinds of the above-mentioned yarns.

[0127] The yarns have different characteristics, for example, the covered yarn 14 including the hot-melt yarn as the core material 14a has a good texture, and the covered yarn 14 including the hot-melt yarn as the covering material 14b melts easily and is easy to shape. Thus, the yarn suitable for an intended purpose can be appropriately selected and used.

[0128] For example, it is conceivable to form a hairline area, which is required to achieve a comfortable fit, of the covered yarn 14 excellent in formability (specifically, the covered yarn 14 including the hot-melt yarn as the covering material 14b or the hot-melt yarn without the covering material 14b) and to form other areas such as the head top area of another kind of covered yarn 14 or the like.

[0129] It is preferred that the tubular net N have such a size that allows the entirety of the head model M to be fully covered. As one example, the size may be appropriately set such that a length falls within a range of from about 20 cm to about 80 cm, preferably from about 30 cm to about 50 cm and a circumference (half-circumference) falls within a range of from 10 cm to 30 cm, preferably from about 15 cm to about 20 cm.

[0130] Both ends of the tubular net N in its longitudinal direction are closed. For the production of the wig base 10, the tubular net N is used after one end thereof is cut. A color of the tubular net N is not limited, and may have the same color throughout or may have different colors in parts. In the latter case, for example, a front-side area may be beige, and a rear-side area may be black. An area set to have a different color or a color to be used may be appropriately determined for each wearer.

[0131] The configurations of the parts described in the above-mentioned embodiment and modification examples, and other modification examples are mere examples. The shape, the material, the size (such as a yarn thickness, a length, or a thickness), the position at which the part is provided, and the like are not limited to those explicitly described in the present application. Not only the items explicitly described in the present application but also all design changes that can be conceived of by those skilled in the art from the items explicitly described in the present application fall within the technical scope of the invention of the present application.

[0132] Next, a method of producing a wig base of the present invention is described. Here, a case in which the wig base 10 and the wig 30 of the embodiment described above (FIG. 1(a), FIG. 1(b)) are produced is given as one example.

[0133] The wig base 10 and the wig 30 of this embodiment can be produced through, for example, Step S100 of making the head model M, Step S200 of making the tubular net N, and Step S300 of making the wig 30, as illustrated in FIG. 20. Any of Step S100 of making the head model M or Step S200 of making the tubular net N may be first performed, or Step S100 and Step S200 may be performed in parallel.<Step S100 of Making Head Model>

[0134] As illustrated in FIG. 21, the head model M can be made through Step S101 of measuring a shape of the wearer's head with use of a coordinate measuring machine (a so-called 3D scanner) and Step S102 of making the head model M with a three-dimensional modeling device (a so-called 3D printer) based on the measured shape of the wearer's head.-Step S101 of Measuring Head Shape-

[0135] In Step S101 of measuring the head shape, a three-dimensional shape of a part of the wearer above the neck (hereinafter referred to as "head") is measured using a coordinate measuring machine. An existing 3D scanner or the like may be used as the coordinate measuring machine. The coordinate measuring machine may be either of contact type or of non-contact type. One example of a head image obtained by the measurement with the coordinate measuring machine is illustrated in FIG. 22(a) and FIG. 22(b).

[0136] So far, for making a wig, it has been required to visit a salon operated by a wig manufacturer, or the like, in order that a head shape is measured. However, salons of this type are often concentrated in urban areas. Thus, visiting a salon has been a significant burden for residents living outside urban areas. In this regard, when the coordinate measuring machine is used to measure the head shape, a remote measurement is possible. Thus, orders from residents living outside urban areas and overseas residents can be easily accepted via Web sites and the like.-Step S102 of Making Head Model-

[0137] In Step S102 of making the head model, the three-dimensional head model M is made with use of the three-dimensional modeling device from head image data that has been obtained by the measurement with the coordinate measuring machine. It is preferred that the head image data that has been subjected to processing with software, such as shape recovery, removal of an unnecessary portion (noise), and conversion into mesh data be used.

[0138] As the three-dimensional modeling device, an existing 3D printer or the like may be used. As the 3D printer, an existing 3D printer employing one of various methods such as a powder sintering additive manufacturing method, a stereolithography method, an inkjet method, and an inkjet powder lamination method may be used. One example of the head model M made with use of the three-dimensional modeling device is illustrated in FIG. 23(a) and FIG. 23(b).

[0139] The head model M, which is hollow and has through holes H as illustrated in FIG. 24, may also be used. The through holes H are holes for allowing easy passage of air and heat. The number, a size, arrangement, and the like of the through holes H may be appropriately set.

[0140] The head model M may be made not only by using the three-dimensional modeling device but also by using a three-dimensional cutting machine. When the three-dimensional cutting machine is used to make the head model M, a material for the head model M is subjected to cutting based on the head image data that has been obtained by the measurement with the coordinate measuring machine, to thereby make a three-dimensional solid head model M (Step S102a).

[0141] The head model M, which is solid, may be directly used. However, when the head model M, which is hollow and has the through holes H, is used, the solid head model M is hollowed out and the through holes H are formed in its head portion (Step S103).

[0142] In this embodiment, the case in which the head model M of the entire head including the face is made with the three-dimensional modeling device or the three-dimensional cutting machine has been given as one example. However, the head model M may be formed in the following manner. As illustrated in FIG. 25, only a part (hereinafter referred to as "model part") M2 of the head model M is made with use of the three-dimensional modeling device or the three-dimensional cutting machine. The model part M2 is placed over a head base M1 serving as a foundation to form the head model M.

[0143] The head model M may be made, for example, in the following manner. The head base M1 having a shape of the head (the entire head including the face) is made. At the same time, the model part M2 of the head except for the face is made with use of the three-dimensional modeling device. Then, the model part M2 is placed over the head base M1 to form the head model M. In such a case, the head base M1 can be formed of a material less expensive than a material to be used with the three-dimensional modeling device, and thus production costs can be reduced.

[0144] As in the case in which the head model is made with use of the three-dimensional modeling device, the head base M1 may be hollow and have the through holes H also in the case in which the head model M is made up of the head base M1 and the model part M2.

[0145] Further, similar through holes H may also be formed in the model part M2. In this case, it is preferred that the through holes H of the head base M1 and the through holes H of the model part M2 be positionally aligned in advance so as to allow communication among all or some of the through holes H.<Step S200 of Making Tubular Net>

[0146] Next, a step of producing the tubular net N is described. In this step, the tubular net N, which has such a size that allows coverage of the entirety of the head, is made using the covered yarn 14 in which the outer periphery of the core material 14a is covered with the covering material 14b. As the covered yarn 14, one of those described above may be used.

[0147] The tubular net N can be made by knitting in knitting patterns such as plain stitch, fraise stitch, purl stitch, thermal stitch, seed stitch, reversible seed stitch, smooth stitch, French terry stitch, jacquard stitch, and intarsia stitch. For making the tubular net N, a seamless knitting machine or the like may be used.

[0148] One example of the tubular net N that has been completed is illustrated in FIG. 26. An upper part of the tubular net N has a shape that allows close contact with the head so as to fit the head. Further, an opening portion N1 is formed at a lower portion of the tubular net N so that the tubular net N can be placed over the head model M through the opening portion N1.<Step S300 of Making Wig>

[0149] Next, a step of making the wig 30 is described. As illustrated in FIG. 27, the wig 30 can be produced through Step S301 of shaping the tubular net N, Step S302 of providing the slippage prevention part 13, Step S303 of cutting the tubular net N, Step S304 of providing the hair whorl part, Step S305 of implanting the hair 20, and Step S306 of providing the adjuster 15.-Step S301 of Shaping Tubular Net-

[0150] In Step S301 of shaping the tubular net N, the tubular net N is placed over the head model M from the head top area side so as to cover the entirety of the head model M, and is then heated to be shaped so as to conform to the head model M.

[0151] The tubular net N can be heated by various methods. For example, a heated liquid may be used. The liquid may be, for example, water (at a water temperature of, for example, from about 70°C to about 180°C, preferably, from about 80°C to about 100°C). Besides, liquids of various compositions, which do not degrade the material of the tubular net N through reaction therewith, may be used. In this case, the liquid is only required to be in liquid form when a heating treatment is performed. Further, heating may be performed by a method such as a method using vapor (including superheated steam), heating with an iron, microwave irradiation, or ultrasonic irradiation. A temperature and heating time vary depending on the material of the covered yarn 14. A temperature (temperature required for melting) and time (time required for melting) that are required to melt the core material 14a of the covered yarn 14 are set as the temperature and the heating time.

[0152] In this embodiment, the head model M, which is hollow and has the through holes H, is used. Liquid or air (including vapor) that has been heated passes through the through holes H. Thus, the temperature is easily transferred also from an inside of the tubular net N, and hence the entirety of the tubular net N can be thoroughly and uniformly heated.

[0153] Further, in a case in which the head model M wrapped with the tubular net N is immersed into a heated liquid, the use of the head model M having the through holes H makes the head model M, which is wrapped with the tubular net N, less liable to be lifted up. Thus, the entirety of the tubular net N can be reliably heated.

[0154] In a case in which the tubular net N is heated with water being boiled, the head model M is liable to be lifted up due to bubbles (water vapor) formed at the time of boiling. When the head model M having the through holes H is used, however, the head model M is less liable to be lifted up because the water vapor escapes through the through holes H. The entirety of the tubular net N can be reliably heated while maintaining the tubular net N placed over the head model M in an immersed state.

[0155] Further, in the case of the head model M having the through holes H, heat is less liable to be trapped in the head model M itself than in the head model M being solid. Thus, a risk of cracking the head model M, a risk of damage thereto, and the like due to the application of heat can also be reduced.

[0156] When the tubular net N is heated with a liquid, heating may be achieved not only by a method of heating a liquid stored in a container and immersing the tubular net N therein but also by a method of pouring a heated liquid onto the tubular net N, a method of placing the tubular net N in a boiled liquid, or the like.-Step S302 of Providing Slippage Prevention Part-

[0157] In Step S302 of providing the slippage prevention part 13, the slippage prevention part 13 that has been formed in a ring shape is bonded to an outer periphery (an inner periphery when the tubular net N is worn) of the tubular net N. The slippage prevention part described above may be used as the slippage prevention part 13. The slippage prevention part 13 can be attached to the tubular net N by pressure-bonding, sewing, or other methods.-Step S303 of Cutting Tubular Net-

[0158] In Step S303 of cutting the tubular net N, a surplus portion of the tubular net N to which the slippage prevention part 13 is provided is cut away, and the tubular net N is formed into a cap-like shape (the foundation portion 11 having a cap-like shape is obtained).

[0159] Specifically, a portion of the tubular net N other than part for covering the frontal region, a parietal region, both temporal regions, and the occipital region is cut away. At this time, the areas around the ears are cut out so that both ears are exposed. The portion to be cut away can be determined after an optimal position is carefully selected for each wearer.

[0160] Preferably, after the tubular net N is cut, a process such as bending back a cut portion and stitching the bent-back portion is performed. In a case in which the first enclosure part 11f, the second enclosure part 11g, the first connecting band 11h, the second connecting band 11i, the first hook 11j, and the like, which are illustrated in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, are attached, the above-mentioned parts may be attached at the time of the process described above.-Step S304 of Providing Hair Whorl Part-

[0161] In Step S304 of providing the hair whorl part 12, the hair whorl part 12 is provided on the head top area of the foundation portion 11 having a cap-like shape. As the hair whorl part 12, the hair whorl part described above may be used. The hair whorl part 12 can be attached to the foundation portion 11 by pressure-bonding, sewing, or other methods. The hair whorl part 12 may be provided at timing other than that described above. The hair whorl part 12 may be implanted at timing, for example, before the slippage prevention part 13 is provided.-Step S305 of Implanting Hair-

[0162] In Step S305 of implanting the hair 20, the hair 20 is implanted into the foundation portion 11, which has been obtained by cutting into a cap-like shape. The hair 20 can be implanted by the method described above. Timing at which hair is implanted may be other than that described above. Hair may be implanted at timing, for example, before the slippage prevention part 13 is provided.-Step S306 of Providing Adjuster-

[0163] In Step S306 of providing the adjuster 15 to the slippage prevention part 13, cuts are formed in the slippage prevention part 13 at positions corresponding to the backs of the ears so that the adjuster 15 is attached to the cut portions. A combination of the lockable cord stopper described above and a cord member, or other members may be used as the slippage adjuster 15.

[0164] The method of producing the wig base 10 and the wig 30, which has been described here, is one example, and the method of producing the wig base 10 and the wig 30 of the present invention is not limited to the method of this embodiment. Changes such as addition, omission, and switching of steps are possible in the method of producing the wig base 10 and the wig 30 of the present invention as long as an intended purpose can be achieved.

[0165] For example, in the above-mentioned example, Step S305 of implanting the hair 20 is performed after Step S304 of providing the hair whorl part 12. However, Step S304 of providing the hair whorl part 12 may be performed after Step S305 of implanting the hair 20. Further, Step S306 of providing the adjuster 15 may be performed before or after Step 302 of providing the slippage prevention part 13.

[0166] Further, in the above-mentioned example, Step S305 of implanting the hair 20 is performed after Step S303 of cutting the tubular net N. However, Step S305 of implanting the hair 20 may be performed prior to Step S302 of providing the slippage prevention part 13, Step S303 of cutting the tubular net N, and Step S304 of providing the hair whorl part 12, in other words, subsequent to Step S301 of shaping the tubular net N.

[0167] For example, in the above-mentioned example, the case in which Step S305 of implanting the hair 20 is performed after Step S304 of providing the hair whorl part 12 has been given as one example. Conversely, Step S304 of providing the hair whorl part 12 may be performed after Step S305 of implanting the hair 20. The order of the production steps described here is one example, and the steps may be appropriately switched.

[0168] Further, when parts (for example, the front part 13a, the back part 13b, and the like) that have been produced by printing a shape memory polymer through a 3D printer are used for the slippage prevention part 13, the wig base 10 and the wig 30 can be produced in the following procedure.

[0169] First, the tubular net N is placed over the head model M from the head top area side so as to cover the entirety of the head model M. The tubular net N is heated so as to be formed into a shape conforming to the head model M (FIG. 28(a)). Next, the hair 20 is implanted into the tubular net N (FIG. 28(b)). After the implantation, the tubular net N is reversed and placed over the head model M (FIG. 28(c)).

[0170] The front part 13a and the back part 13b, which have been preheated and softened, are provided on the tubular net N that has been reversed (FIG. 29(a)). A ring-shaped part 13c is placed over an exposed side (side to be in contact with the wearer's skin) of the front part 13a and the back part 13b (FIG. 29(b)).

[0171] After that, the tubular net N, to which the front part 13a, the back part 13b, and the ring-shaped part 13c have been provided, and the head model M are placed inside a case Y to which a high-temperature steam generator X has been connected. Under this state, the case Y is evacuated by a suction device Z while a high-temperature steam is being supplied from the high-temperature steam generator X into the case Y so that the front part 13a, the back part 13b, and the ring-shaped part 13c are brought into close contact with the tubular net N (FIG. 29(c)).

[0172] After that, steps such as the cutting and removal of a surplus portion of the tubular net N, the attachment of the hair whorl part 12, and the attachment of the adjuster 15 are performed to thereby complete the wig 30.

[0173] The front part 13a and the back part 13b have shapes conforming to the head model M as a result of the evacuation under a high-temperature steam environment followed by cooling. When a sense of discomfort in wearing (in fitting) is experienced, the front part 13a and the back part 13b may be heated with a dryer or the like to be formed into shapes conforming to the head model M (FIG. 30).

[0174] Further, as a modification example, the wig 30 illustrated in FIG. 8 can be produced through, for example, a step of producing the part (main body part) including the foundation portion 11, the hair whorl part 12, and the hair 20 and a step of producing the slippage prevention part 13 (base part).-Step of Producing Part Including Foundation Portion, Hair Whorl Part, and Hair-

[0175] The part including the foundation portion 11, the hair whorl part 12, and the hair 20 can be produced through, for example, Step S301 of shaping the tubular net N, Step S303 of cutting the tubular net N, Step S304 of providing the hair whorl part 12, and Step S305 of implanting the hair 20. The steps have already been described, and thus description thereof is omitted.

[0176] In the step of producing the part including the foundation portion 11, the hair whorl part 12, and the hair 20, the sideburn patch application portions 17 and the fixing members 16, which have been described above, are provided to the foundation portion 11 as needed.

[0177] Similarly to Step S300 of making the wig 30, Step S305 of implanting the hair 20 may be performed prior to Step S303 of cutting the tubular net N and Step S304 of providing the hair whorl part 12, in other words, subsequent to Step S301 of shaping the tubular net N. In the step S304 of providing the hair whorl part 12, attachment of a hairline lace part, or the like may be performed.-Step of Producing Slippage Prevention Part-

[0178] In the step of producing the slippage prevention part 13, the connecting member 13h is attached to the front part 13a and the nape part 13g, which have been prepared in advance. The rear-side hair 13j and the nape patch application portion 18 are provided to the nape part 13g during or after the production. The rear-side hair 13j may be provided to the nape-part foundation portion 13i not only through implantation but also by a method such as sewing or bonding to the surface of the nape-part foundation portion 13i.

[0179] The embodiment, the modification examples, the production methods, and the production steps, which have been described so far, are mere examples. The wig base 10, the wig 30, and the method of producing a wig base of the present invention are not limited to the configurations of the embodiment and the like described above. Appropriate changes such as addition, switching, and omission of components are possible in the wig base 10, the wig 30, and the method of producing a wig base of the present invention as long as an intended purpose can be achieved.

[0180] The components may be subjected to addition or switching between the embodiment and the modification examples. For example, the sideburn patch application portions 17, which have been described in the modification example, may be provided to the foundation portion 11 of the wig base 10 of the embodiment described above, or the nape patch application portion 18, which has been described in the modification example, may be provided to the slippage prevention part 13 of the embodiment described above.

[0181] The embodiment, the modification examples, and the production methods, which have been disclosed in the present application, are all exemplary and do not provide a basis for a restrictive interpretation of the technical scope of the present invention. The technical scope of the present invention is specified based on the recitation of the claims. Further, the technical scope of the present invention encompasses a scope equivalent to the claims.-Experiment 1-

[0182] The applicant of the present application conducted the following experiment (hereinafter referred to as "Experiment 1") so as to examine a texture, shape stability, and ease of shaping for different materials. An overview and results of Experiment 1 are as follows.[Overview of Experiment 1]

[0183] In Experiment 1, wig bases made of four kinds of seamless knit fabrics of Examples 1 to 4 listed in Table 1 below were prepared so that "Texture", "Shape stability", and "Ease of shaping" were evaluated for each of the wig bases. The evaluation was based on a five-level rating scale.

[0184] The "Texture" was evaluated by an experienced worker engaged in the development of wigs, or the like after a shaping process. The wig bases were compared for the degree of visible fuzziness, fraying, smoothness, and softness based on a five-level rating scale. A rating of "5" was assigned to a wig base having a texture equivalent to that of typical nylon fibers themselves, and a rating of "1" was assigned to a wig base having a texture being considerably unsuitable for sale after heating and shaping.

[0185] The "Shape stability" was evaluated by an experienced worker engaged in the development of wigs, or the like through visual comparisons of the wig bases that had been washed based on JIS L1930 C4N and then dried after the shaping process for visual smoothness, shape retention, and a dimensional change rate based on a five-level rating scale. A rating of "5" was assigned to a wig base that successfully maintained substantially the same shape as the shape of the wig base before washing, and a rating of "1" was assigned to a wig base that failed to maintain the shape of the wig base before washing as in a case of a wig base made of typical nylon fibers.

[0186] The evaluation for "Ease of shaping" was evaluation relating to the shaping step in the production of wig bases. Shaping steps for the wig bases of Examples 1 to 4 were each conducted manually by heating a seamless knit fabric secured to the head model with an iron. The shaping process was evaluated based on a five-level rating scale by an experienced worker engaged in the development of wigs, or the like through comparison for ease of ironing, deformability, and ease of hardening. A rating of "5" was assigned to a seamless knit fabric with ease of shaping equivalent to that of the hot-melt yarn itself, and a rating of "1" was assigned to a seamless knit fabric for which shaping was unsuccessful.

[0187] As Table 1, a comparison table of covered yarns used for the wig bases of Examples 1 to 4 is shown. [Table 1]Core materialCovering material (sheath yarn)Example 1Flor 100dNylon 70d (DCY)Example 2Joiner 50dNylon 70d (DCY)Example 3Nylon 70d (plied)Joiner 50d (SCY)Example 4Polyurethane 40dNylon 70d+Joiner 50d (SCY)*"(SCY)" represents a single covered yarn, and "(DCY)" represents a double covered yarn *The letter "d" following each number represents denier, which is a unit for measuring fineness *As the covering material of Example 4, Nylon 70d was used for second twist, and Joiner 50d was used for first twist *Flor (trademark) M: hot-melt yarn (low-melting-point nylon fibers) manufactured by UNITIKA Trading Co., Ltd. *Joiner (trademark): hot-melt yarn (low-melting-point polyamide fibers) manufactured by FUJIBO Holdings, Inc.

[0188] The covered yarn used for the wig base of Example 1 is a double covered yarn including 100 denier Flor (trademark) as the core material and 70 denier nylon as the covering material. In Table 1 and Table 2, denier, which is a unit for measuring fineness (a thickness of fibers), is represented by "d".

[0189] The covered yarn used for the wig base of Example 2 is a double covered yarn including 50 denier Joiner (trademark) as the core material and 70 denier nylon as the covering material.

[0190] The covered yarn used for the wig base of Example 3 is a single covered yarn including plied 70 denier nylon as the core material and 50 denier Joiner as the covering material.

[0191] The covered yarn used for the wig base of Example 4 is a single covered yarn including polyurethane as the core material, and 70 denier nylon and 50 denier Joiner as the covering material. Out of the two kinds of covering materials, the former one was used for second twist, and the latter one was used for first twist.[Results of Experiment 1]

[0192] In Table 2, the results of evaluation of the wig bases for "Texture", "Shape stability", and "Ease of shaping" are shown. [Table 2]Example 1Example 2Example 3Example 4Covered yarnCore materialFlor 100dJoiner 50dNylon 70d (plied)Polyurethane 40dCovering material (sheath yarn)Nylon 70dNylon 70dJoiner 50dNylon 70d (second twist) Joiner 50d (first twist)TypeDCYDCYSCYSCYTexture5432Shape stability4332Ease of shaping4332"DCY" represents a double covered yarn, and "SCY" represents a single covered yarn.

[0193] As shown in Table 2, regarding "Texture", Example 1 was evaluated as "5" and Example 2 was evaluated as "4". Meanwhile, Example 3 and Example 4 were evaluated as "3" and "2", respectively. For Example 1 and Example 2, the covered yarn in which the outer periphery of the hot-melt yarn is covered with the covering material was used. From the results described above, it was confirmed that a texture (comfortable feel to the skin) was improved by covering the outer periphery of the hot-melt yarn with the covering material as in Example 1 and Example 2.

[0194] Regarding "Shape stability", Example 1 was evaluated as "4", Example 2 and Example 3 were evaluated as "3", and Example 4 was evaluated as "2".

[0195] Also regarding "Ease of shaping", Example 1 was evaluated as "4", Example 2 and Example 3 were evaluated as "3", and Example 4 was evaluated as "2". As is understood from those Examples, when the hot-melt yarn is used for the core material and is covered with the covering material, a texture can be improved while shape stability and ease of shaping, which are achieved with the hot-melt yarn, are ensured. Meanwhile, although differences are not large in this experiment because heating at a high temperature was conducted with an iron, shaping can easily be achieved without heat transfer to a center of the core material when a fusible yarn is used not for the core material but for the covering material as in Example 3 and Example 4.

[0196] When the hot-melt yarn is not used, it is natural that a shape memory property is not obtained even after the shaping process. Thus, when, for example, Nylon 70d is used for both the core material and the covering material, it is considered that a rating is "1" for "Shape stability" and also for "Ease of shaping". A combination of nylon fibers, which are typical synthetic fibers, and the hot-melt yarn was used for each of Example 1 to Example 4. Thus, a wig base with both a certain level of texture and a certain level of shape stability can be provided.-Experiment 2-

[0197] The applicant of the present application conducted an experiment (hereinafter referred to as "Experiment 2") so as to check shaping performed with heated water. An overview and results of Experiment 2 are as follows.[Overview of Experiment 2]

[0198] A wig base was made using a double covered yarn including 100 denier Flor as the core material and 70 denier nylon as the covering material. The wig base was placed over a head model (an alternative was used as the head model in Experiment 2 in place of a head model created with a 3D printer) and was then heated through immersion into hot water at a temperature (water temperature) of 80°C. Immersion time was set to 20 minutes. After the immersion, the wig base was removed from the head model and was checked whether or not its shape was retained.

[0199] As a result, it was confirmed that the shape of the wig base was stable even after the removal from the head model and the shape was retained after natural cooling.Industrial Applicability

[0200] The present invention is particularly suitably applicable for the wig base 10 for full head, the wig 30 for full head, and the method of producing the wig base 10 for full head.Reference Signs List

[0201] 10wig base 11foundation portion 11afirst projecting portion 11bsecond projecting portion 11cthird projecting portion 11drecessed portion 11eplate member 11ffirst enclosure part 11gsecond enclosure part 11hfirst connecting band 11isecond connecting band 11jfirst hook 11ksecond hook 11mhook-engagement band member 11nhook engagement portion 12hair whorl part 12abase portion 12bhair whorl area hair 13slippage prevention part 13afront part 13bback part 13cring-shaped part 13dperipheral frame 13einner member 13finner part 13gnape part 13hconnecting member 13inape-part foundation portion 13jrear-side hair 13kband member 13mloop surface 13nhook surface 13pfold-back member 13rslip prevention band 14thread material (covered yarn) 14acore material 14bcovering material (sheath yarn) 15size adjusting member (adjuster) 16fixing member 17sideburn patch application portion 18nape patch application portion 19front hairline patch application portion 20hair 30wig Hthrough hole Mhead model M1head base M2model part Ntubular net N1opening portion S1sideburn patch S2nape patch Xhigh-temperature steam generator Ycase Zsuction device

Claims

1. A wig base, comprising a foundation portion, wherein the foundation portion is formed of a covered yarn in which an outer periphery of a core material is covered with a covering material, and wherein the core material or / and the covering material are hot-melt yarns.

2. The wig base according to claim 1, wherein the core material is the hot-melt yarn, and the covering material provided around the outer periphery of the core material is a material other than the hot-melt yarn.

3. The wig base according to claim 1, wherein the core material is a material other than the hot-melt yarn, and the covering material provided around the outer periphery of the core material is the hot-melt yarn.

4. The wig base according to claim 1, further comprising a hair whorl part, which is formed by implanting human hair or / and synthetic hair into a base portion, and which is provided on a head top area of the foundation portion.

5. The wig base according to claim 1, further comprising a slippage prevention part provided to a hairline area of the foundation portion.

6. The wig base according to claim 5, wherein entirety or part of the slippage prevention part is formed of a shape memory polymer.

7. A wig, comprising human hair or / and synthetic hair implanted into the wig base of any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A wig, comprising: the wig base of any one of claims 1 to 4; human hair or / and synthetic hair which are implanted into the wig base; and a slip prevention part to be worn around a head, wherein a fixing member configured to fix the wig base and the slip prevention part to each other is provided to both or any one of the wig base and the slip prevention part.

9. The wig according to claim 8, wherein any one or two or more of: a set of sideburn patch application portions to which sideburn patches are to be applied; a nape patch application portion to which a nape patch is to be applied; and a front hairline patch application portion to which a front hairline patch is to be applied, are provided to both or any one of the wig base and the slip prevention part.

10. The wig according to claim 8, further comprising a nape part including hair, which is provided to both or any one of the wig base and the slip prevention part.

11. A method of producing a wig base, the method comprising: placing a tubular net formed of a covered yarn in which an outer periphery of a hot-melt yarn is covered with a covering material or / and a covered yarn in which an outer periphery of a core material is covered with a hot-melt yarn, over a head model; and shaping the tubular net so as to conform to a shape of the head model by heating the tubular net.

12. The method of producing a wig base according to claim 11, wherein the covered yarn includes the core material which is the hot-melt yarn, and the covering material provided around the outer periphery of the core material, which is a material other than the hot-melt yarn.

13. The method of producing a wig base according to claim 11, wherein the covered yarn includes the core material which is a material other than the hot-melt yarn, and the covering material provided around the outer periphery of the core material, which is the hot-melt yarn.

14. The method of producing a wig base according to claim 11, wherein the head model is hollow and has through holes.

15. The method of producing a wig base according to claim 11, wherein the tubular net is heated through immersion into heated water.

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