WIG CLEANING DEVICE
United States Patent 3828588
A wig treatment machine including a wig treatment chamber. A pair of wig holding shelves is disposed within the chamber. Each shelf includes plural wig holding forms mounted thereon. A plurality of rotatable spray heads is provided in the chamber adjacent the wig forms. The machine also includes means for providing shampoo, water and a conditioning mist to the spray heads. The machine also includes means for drying the wigs within the chamber.
US Patent References:
Method of dyeing knitted textile products
Kronsbein et al. - May 1961 - 2985502
Textile treating apparatus
Berger et al. - May 1964 - 3131840
Apparatus for drying articles
Friedman - January 1967 - 3298113
DRYING APPARATUS
Melega et al. - March 1970 - 3501846
WIG WASHER AND SETTER
Groat - May 1972 - 3662574
Method of dyeing knitted textile products
Kronsbein et al. - May 1961 - 2985502
Textile treating apparatus
Berger et al. - May 1964 - 3131840
Apparatus for drying articles
Friedman - January 1967 - 3298113
DRYING APPARATUS
Melega et al. - March 1970 - 3501846
WIG WASHER AND SETTER
Groat - May 1972 - 3662574
Application Number:
05/305628
Publication Date:
08/13/1974
Filing Date:
11/10/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
68/20, 34/103, 34/211, 34/215, 68/205R, 118/64, 8/150
International Classes:
A45D44/14; B05B13/02; B05B13/04; A45D44/00; B05B13/04
Field of Search:
68/3R,5R,5C,13R,13A,20,184,25R,213 8/150 34/21,103,104,211,215,230,232,233,239 223/66 269/321WW 134/72,167R,168R,170,176,179 118/64,326
Primary Examiner:
Hornsby, Harvey C.
Assistant Examiner:
Coe, Philip R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein & Cohen
Claims:
What is claimed as the invention is
1. A wig treatment machine comprising a housing having an opening, a door positioned at said opening, said housing forming a wig treating chamber, at least one shelf slideably mounted within said chamber, a plurality of wig forms mounted on said shelf, each of said forms having its major axis vertically disposed, and being adapted for supporting thereon a wig, a plurality of fluid spraying means disposed adjacent to said forms in said chamber for providing fluid to wigs disposed on said forms and fluid supply means for supplying fluids to said spraying means, said spraying means comprising at least one spray head mounted adjacent said wig forms and including a pair of fluid-emitting nozzles, said nozzles being spaced apart from each other and adapted to rotate about an axis which is at an acute angle to the major axis of the wig form, to create spinning jets of fluid which impact the wig disposed on the form to effect the lifting and agitation of the wig filaments and thereby clean the wig.
2. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 1 wherein said shelf may be slid through said opening to insert or remove wigs from said machine.
3. The wig treatment machine of claim 1 and additionally including drying means for directing heated air to the wigs on said forms.
4. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 1 wherein said fluid supply means includes first means for providing shampoo to said spraying means and second means for providing water to said spraying means.
5. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 4 wherein said fluid supply means includes third means for providing a conditioning mist to said spraying means.
6. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 5 wherein each of said spraying means is adapted to direct a high velocity spinning stream of water onto wigs disposed on adjacent wig forms during one cycle of operation of said machine to agitate the wig filaments and thereby clean the wig.
7. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 6 and additionally including drying means for directing heated air to the wigs disposed on said forms, said spraying means providing shampoo onto wigs disposed on adjacent forms prior to said one cycle of operation of said machine, said spraying means providing a conditioning mist onto said wigs subsequent to said one cycle and said drying means thereafter providing drying air to said wigs.
8. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 4 wherein each of said spraying means is adapted to direct a high velocity spinning stream of water onto wigs disposed on adjacent wig forms during one cycle of operation of said machine to agitate the wig filaments and thereby clean the wig.
9. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 8 wherein each of said spraying means is adapted to direct shampoo onto wigs disposed on adjacent forms prior to said one cycle of operation of said machine.
10. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 1 wherein said nozzles are rotated by fluid pressure.
1. A wig treatment machine comprising a housing having an opening, a door positioned at said opening, said housing forming a wig treating chamber, at least one shelf slideably mounted within said chamber, a plurality of wig forms mounted on said shelf, each of said forms having its major axis vertically disposed, and being adapted for supporting thereon a wig, a plurality of fluid spraying means disposed adjacent to said forms in said chamber for providing fluid to wigs disposed on said forms and fluid supply means for supplying fluids to said spraying means, said spraying means comprising at least one spray head mounted adjacent said wig forms and including a pair of fluid-emitting nozzles, said nozzles being spaced apart from each other and adapted to rotate about an axis which is at an acute angle to the major axis of the wig form, to create spinning jets of fluid which impact the wig disposed on the form to effect the lifting and agitation of the wig filaments and thereby clean the wig.
2. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 1 wherein said shelf may be slid through said opening to insert or remove wigs from said machine.
3. The wig treatment machine of claim 1 and additionally including drying means for directing heated air to the wigs on said forms.
4. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 1 wherein said fluid supply means includes first means for providing shampoo to said spraying means and second means for providing water to said spraying means.
5. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 4 wherein said fluid supply means includes third means for providing a conditioning mist to said spraying means.
6. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 5 wherein each of said spraying means is adapted to direct a high velocity spinning stream of water onto wigs disposed on adjacent wig forms during one cycle of operation of said machine to agitate the wig filaments and thereby clean the wig.
7. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 6 and additionally including drying means for directing heated air to the wigs disposed on said forms, said spraying means providing shampoo onto wigs disposed on adjacent forms prior to said one cycle of operation of said machine, said spraying means providing a conditioning mist onto said wigs subsequent to said one cycle and said drying means thereafter providing drying air to said wigs.
8. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 4 wherein each of said spraying means is adapted to direct a high velocity spinning stream of water onto wigs disposed on adjacent wig forms during one cycle of operation of said machine to agitate the wig filaments and thereby clean the wig.
9. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 8 wherein each of said spraying means is adapted to direct shampoo onto wigs disposed on adjacent forms prior to said one cycle of operation of said machine.
10. The wig treatment machine as specified in claim 1 wherein said nozzles are rotated by fluid pressure.
Description:
The invention relates generally to cosmetological equipment and more particularly to wig treatment machines.
In the past few years, the wearing of wigs, either human hair or synthetic filament, has increased substantially.
A wig, like a human head of hair, requires cleaning, conditioning and styling to maintain an acceptable appearance. Accordingly, a whole new cosmetological business of wig maintenance has developed as a result of the widespread use of wigs.
Heretofore, the shampooing, rinsing and conditioning of wigs has of necessity, been carried out manually by a beauty operator, one wig at a time. Such action is necessarily wasteful and results in large expenditures of time, which if available to the beauty operator, could be used more profitably. Furthermore, as a result of the large expenditures of time, charges for cleaning, conditioning and setting of wigs are comparable to those for cleaning, conditioning and setting a human head of hair.
In view of the above, there presently exists a strong need for equipment capable of cleaning and conditioning human hair and synthetic filament wigs quickly and safely.
It is a general object of this invention to provide a wig treatment machine to answer that need.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a wig treatment machine capable of cleaning and conditioning a number of wigs at one time.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a wig treatment machine capable of cleaning and conditioning a number of wigs in less time that it would take a person to manually clean and condition a single wig.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a wig treatment machine which, after cleaning a plurality of wigs therein, treats them with a beautifying mist to condition the wig and render it easier to style.
These and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing a wig treatment machine comprising a housing having a door therein and forming a wig treatment chamber. At least one shelf is slideably mounted in the chamber. A plurality of wig forms is mounted on the shelf and each form is adapted for supporting a wig thereon. Plural, fluid-spraying means are disposed adjacent to the forms in the chamber. The spraying means are adapted for directing fluids to wigs disposed on the forms. Fluid supply means are provided to supply fluids to the spraying means.
Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wig treatment machine in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view, partially in section, of a typical spraying device which is mounted in the machine shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5; and
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6.
Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, a wig treating machine embodying the present invention is generally shown at 20 in FIG. 1. Machine 20 basically comprises an enclosed housing 22 having a plurality of doors 24, 26, 28 and 30 in the front wall 32 thereof.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, housing 22 also includes a pair of sidewalls 34 and 36, a top wall 38, a bottom wall 40 and a back wall 42. A floor 44 is provided within housing 22 intermediate the top and bottom walls and is generally parallel to those walls. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the floor 44 includes a depressed portion which has an opening 46 at its low point serving as a drain.
The floor 44 divides the interior of the housing into two chambers. The upper chamber, 48, is the larger of the two chambers and is hereinafter denoted as the wig treatment chamber. It is in the wig treatment chamber that plural wigs are washed, rinsed, conditioned and dried in accordance with this invention. The lower chamber serves to house the fluid supply and control components of the machine 20.
As can be seen, two narrow shelves 52 and 54 are disposed within the wig treatment chamber 48. A plurality of wig forms are mounted on each shelf. For example, five wig forms 56 are mounted on the top surface of shelf 52 via respective wing nuts 58. In a similar manner, five wig forms 60 are mounted on the top surface of shelf 54 by respective wing nuts 62.
Each of the wig forms 56 and 58 is adapted for supporting a wig for treatment in the wig treatment chamber 48.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, shelf 52 is disposed adjacent to door 24 and shelf 54 is disposed adjacent to door 26. Each of the shelves is adapted to be slid out of or into the housing via the associated door to expedite the insertion or removal of wigs from the machine 20. To that end, each of the shelves includes transversely extending end portions which are supported for sliding movement within a pair of horizontal tracks disposed along the opposed sidewalls 34 and 36 of the housing. For example, elongated tubular member 64 is disposed along wall 36 and is connected thereto (by means not shown) and a similar member 66 is disposed along wall 34 and is connected thereto (by means not shown). Member 64 includes a slot in its side face extending along the length of the member. The slot forms a track 68 for supporting one end of shelf 52. In a similar manner, a slot forming a track 70 is provided in the side face of member 66. Track 70 is adapted for supporting the other end of shelf 52 therein.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, the transversely extending ends of shelf 52 include enlarged lip portions 72 and 74. The lip portions are adapted to be disposed within the hollow interior of the tubular members to facilitate the sliding of the shelf within the track by precluding misalignment thereof.
A second pair of elongated tubular members 76 and 78 are disposed along sidewalls 36 and 34, respectively, parallel to and below members 64 and 66. The members 76 and 78 include slot-forming-tracks 80 and 82, respectively. Like tracks 68 and 70, tracks 80 and 82 are adapted for supporting the transversely extending ends of shelf 54. Furthermore, like shelf 52, the transversely extending ends of shelf 54 include enlarged lip portions 84 and 86 for facilitating the sliding of the shelf within the tracks.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, each shelf includes a handle portion 88 extending out of the front edge of the shelf but in the plane thereof. The handles 88 are adapted to be gripped in one's hand to slide the shelf along its associated track to enable the shelf to be removed from the chamber such that wigs to be treated can be placed on the wig forms connected to the shelf. The shelf is then slid, via the associated tracks, into the housing and treatment is begun. When treatment is completed, the shelf can be slid out of the housing and the treated wigs removed.
Doors 24 and 26 are disposed within respective openings in the front wall 32 of housing 22 and are hinged at their respective top edges. Each of the doors includes a handle 89 along its bottom edge. The handle is provided to enable the door to be swung up and out of the way to thereby provide access to the interior of the wig treating chamber so that a shelf with wigs thereon may be either inserted (prior to treatment) or extracted (after treatment).
In FIG. 3, the phantom line depicts the condition wherein door 24 is hinged open so as to permit access to the upper portion of the wig treating chamber.
In the sectional view of FIG. 4 there is shown the position of shelf 54 within the cavity. The phantom lines in FIG. 4 depict the condition wherein shelf 54 is disposed outside of the cavity to enable wigs to be either put on or taken off the wig forms 60.
As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of spraying devices are mounted within the wig treatment chamber. The devices are adapted for spraying cleaning, rinsing and conditioning fluids to the wigs mounted within the chamber to effect the cleaning and conditioning thereof. For example, as can be seen in FIG. 3, six spraying devices are mounted on the inside surface of top wall 38 of the housing. One device 90 is mounted in the corner where the top wall meets the sidewall and includes a rotatable spray head 92 which is directed generally to one side of one of the end wig form 56. Another similar single-head device is mounted in the opposite corner where the top wall meets the sidewall and also includes a rotatable spray head 94 which is directed generally to one side of the outer end wig form 56. A third spray device 94 is mounted on the inside face of the top wall intermediate one end wig form and the next adjacent or second wig form. The spray device 94 is a dual-head device and includes a pair of rotatable spray heads 96 and 98, spray head 96 being directed generally at the other side of the end wig form and spray head 98 is directed generally at one side of the second wig form. A fourth spray device 94 is mounted on the inside face of the top wall intermediate the second and third wig forms. The spray device 94 also includes a pair of rotatable spray heads 96 and 98, head 96 being directed generally at the other side of the second wig form and spray head 98 being directed generally at one side of the next adjacent or third wig form 56. A fifth spray device 94 is mounted on the inside face of the top wall intermediate the third and the next adjacent or fourth wig form 56. The spray device 94 also includes a pair of rotatable spray heads 96 and 98, head 96 being directed generally at the other side of the third wig form and head 98 being directed generally at one side of the next successive or fourth wig form 56. A sixth spray device 94 is mounted on the inside face of the top wall intermediate the fourth wig from and the other end wig form. The spray device 94 includes a pair of rotatable spray heads 96 and 98, head 96 being directed generally at another side of the fourth wig form and head 98 being directed generally at the other side of the end wig form.
A second group of six spray devices is mounted on a bar 100. Bar 100 is mounted between opposed sidewalls 34 and 36 of the housing 22 and is disposed in the middle of the wig treating chamber above wig forms 60 on shelf 54.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, one spray device 102 is mounted in the corner formed by bar 100 meeting sidewall 34 and includes a rotatable spray head 104 which is directed at one side of the end wig form. Another single-head spray device 102 is mounted in the opposed corner formed by the meeting of bar 100 and sidewall 34 and includes a rotatable spray head 104 which is directed at one side of the other end wig form 60. A third spray device 106 is mounted on the bottom face of bar 100 intermediate the end wig form and the next adjacent or second wig form. The spray device 106 is a dual-head device and includes a pair of rotatable spray heads 108 and 110, head 108 being directed generally at the other side of the end wig form and head 110 being directed generally at one side of the second wig form. A fourth spray device 106 is mounted on the bottom face of the bar 100 intermediate the second wig form and the next adjacent or third wig form. The spray device 106 also includes a pair of rotatable spray heads 108 and 110, head 108 being directed generally at the other side of the second wig form and head 110 being directed generally at one side of the next adjacent or third wig form. A fifth spray head 106 is mounted on the bottom face of the bar 100 intermediate the third wig form and the next adjacent or fourth wig form. The spray device 106 also includes a pair of rotatable heads 108 and 110. Head 108 being directed generally at the other side of the third wig form and head 110 being directed generally at one side of the next adjacent or fourth wig form. A sixth spray device 106 is mounted on the bottom face of the bar 100 intermediate the fourth wig form and the next adjacent or end wig form. The spray device 106 also includes a pair of rotatable heads 108 and 110, head 108 being directed at the other side of the fourth wig form and head 110 being directed at the other side of the end wig form.
The single-head spray devices 90 and 102 are of identical construction to one another and are of identical construction to the dual-head devices 94 and 106 except for the fact that the single head devices include only one rotatable spray head.
In FIG. 5 there is shown a perspective view of a typical dual-head spray device 94. As can be seen, device 94 includes a hollow casing 112 defining a mixing chamber 114 therein. Three input lines or pipes are connected to chamber 114. A first pipe, 116, serves to carry water to the mixing chamber, a second pipe, 118, serves to carry shampoo to the mixing chamber and a third pipe, 120, serves to carry a wig conditioning mist to the mixing chamber.
Pipes 116, 118 and 120 are connected between each of the spraying heads and fluid supply means disposed within chamber 50.
All of the spraying heads 92, 96, 98, 104, 108 and 110 are of identical construction.
As can be seen in FIG. 5, rotatable head 98 includes an elongated tubular shaft 122 connected at an angle to the bottom wall of casing 112. The interior of shaft 122 is in communication with the mixing chamber 114 via opening 124. The free end of elongated tubular member 122 is connected to a yoke assembly 126 in a manner to be described hereinafter.
As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the yoke assembly 126 is of generally tubular shape and includes two hollow ends 128. One end of a right angle tube 130 is disposed within one hollow end 128 of the yoke and one end of another right angle tube 130 is disposed within the outer end 128 of the yoke. A spray nozzle 131 including plural holes (not shown) is connected to the free end of each of the right angle tubes 130.
The mid-portion of the yoke assembly is bulbous in shape and defines an enlarged internal cavity 132 therein. The cavity is contiguous with the hollow ends 128 of the yoke assembly. A plurality of vanes 134 project inwardly into the cavity 132 from the inner wall of the yoke at an acute angle to the radial direction. A hollow coupling member is connected to the mid-portion of the yoke assembly above the cavity 132 and is in direct communication therewith. The coupling serves as the means for connecting the yoke assembly to shaft 122 to enable the assembly to rotate thereabout. To that end, the free end of shaft 122 is disposed within coupling 136 and connected thereto via a ball bearing 138. The ball bearing is disposed within a seat 140 in the inside surface of coupling 136. A sealing gasket 142 abuts ball bearing 138 and is interposed between the end of tubular member 122 and coupling 136.
The free end of shaft 122 terminates in a necked down portion having an opening 144 therein. When a fluid is provided under pressure into the mixing chamber 114, it passes through tubular shaft 122, through opening 144 therein into cavity 132 where it is directed against vanes 134. The force of the fluid impacting the vanes causes the yoke to rotate on the shaft 122. Furthermore, the fluid bouncing off the vanes 134 passes through hollow ends 128 of the yoke assembly and into the associated right angle tubes 130 and out of the plural holes in the associated nozzles, whereupon plural fluid streams are directed at the adjacent wig forms.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a floor board 146 is disposed on top of floor 44 within the wig treating chamber 48. The floor board 146 includes a plurality of openings 148 therein to enable used cleaning, rinsing and conditioning fluids to pass therethrough and onto floor 44 and from there into drain opening 46.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, one end of a drain pipe 150 is connected to opening 46 in floor 44 via a coupling 152. The other end of the drain pipe 150 is connected to the drainage system (not shown) in the building in which the wig cleaning unit 20 is disposed so as to carry away used fluids.
The lower chamber 50 of the wig treatment machine houses the means for supplying the treatment fluids to the spray devices within the wig treatment cavity. For example, water is supplied to the spray devices via water pipe 116 from a water pump 154 disposed within cavity 50 and connected to the water pipe.
The pump 154 is a heavy duty electrically operated pump including a motor 156 connected to control means (not shown) via wires 157. The control means may be manually operated or automatic (e.g., include a timer). The water input to pump 154 is provided by water pipe 158 which is connected to a manually controllable thermostatic mixing valve 160. One input to the valve 160 is provided by the cold water pipe 161 (see FIG. 1) in the building in which the wig treatment machine is located and another input to the valve is provided by the hot water line 163 in the building. The valve 160 is controlled in a conventional manner to provide water of a predetermined temperature (e.g., hot, cold, luke-warm, etc.) to pump 154.
The output of the mixing valve 160 also serves as the input to a second heavy duty electrical water pump 164, via line 162, including an electric motor 166 connected to the control means via wires 167. Pump 164 is disposed within chamber 50. The output of pump 164 is provided via pipe 168 into a pressurized tank or boiler 170 which is disposed within chamber 50 and serves as a means for producing wet steam. The steam is used by itself or mixed with a conditioning agent to produce a conditioning mist. To that end, tank 170 includes an electrical heating coil 172 disposed therein and connected to the control means via wires 173. Tank 170 includes an outlet port 174 which is connected to one end of a pipe 175. The other end of the pipe 175 is provided as an input to a normally closed solenoid 176. The solenoid is connected to the control means via wires 177. When the solenoid is closed, the water heated by the electric heating coil results in the production of steam under pressure in the tank. When the solenoid is opened, it releases the pressure in the tank thereby enabling some of the steam to condense into water droplets. The mixture of water droplets and steam forms a wet steam or mist. A mixing chamber (not shown) may be provided in solenoid 176 for enabling a conditioning agent to be mixed with the wet steam to form a conditioning mist.
The outlet of the solenoid is connected to the mist line 120. As previously noted, the mist line 120 is connected to the mixing chambers of all of the spraying devices. Accordingly, when solenoid 176 is operated, a conditioning mist is supplied, via lines 120, to the spray heads and from there to the wigs disposed with the treatment cavity.
Shampoo supply means are also provided within chamber 50. The shampoo supply means comprises a small electrical pump 178 connected to the control means via wires 179. The pump is coupled to a shampoo reservoir 180 and when operated carries liquid shampoo from the reservoir and forces it into the shampoo pipes 118 and from there to all of the mixing chambers of the spray devices. An adjustable flow meter 181 is connected between the pump and the shampoo lines and establishes the rate of shampoo flow into lines 118. A trough 182 is provided to funnel shampoo into the shampoo reservoir 180.
Doors 28 and 30 are provided in the front wall 32 of the housing contiguous with the lower chamber 50. The doors 28 and 30 enable access to the mist tank, the pumps, the solenoid, the motors, the fluid lines and the control means (not shown) which are disposed within chamber 50.
The wig treating machine 20 also includes means for drying wigs within the wig treating chamber.
To that end, as can be seen in FIG. 2, a baffle-like member 184 is connected via flanges 186 to the sidewall 36 of housing 22. The baffle 184 is disposed over a pair of openings 188 and 190 in sidewall 34. Opening 188 is disposed laterally of the wig forms 56 on shelf 52 and opening 190 is disposed laterally of the wig forms 60 on shelf 54. An electrical heater 192 is mounted within baffle 184 and on sidewall 36. The electrical heater 192 includes a pair of resistance heating elements 194 which are disposed over holes 188 and 190. The heater 192 is connected to the control means via wires 195. A pair of electrical fans 196 are mounted within baffle 184 and opposite resistance heating elements 194. Each fan is connected to the control means by wires (not shown). The baffle includes plural air intake holes 198 therein.
In a similar manner, a baffle 200 is connected via flanges 202 to sidewall 34 over a hole 204 which is disposed adjacent wig forms 56 and over hole 206 which is disposed adjacent wig forms 60. An electric heater 208 is mounted on sidewall 34 and includes a pair of resistance heating elements 210 disposed over holes 204 and 206. The heater 208 is connected to the control means via wires 211. A pair of electric fans 212 are mounted within baffle 200 and opposite resistance heating elements 210. Each fan is connected to the control means by wires (not shown). The baffle 200 includes a plurality of air intake holes 214 therein.
A housing 216 is mounted via flanges 218 onto top wall 38 over a pair of holes 220 and 222 disposed therein. An electrical recirculating fan 224 is mounted within baffle 216 and above hole 220 and is connected to the control means by wires (not shown).
When the control means turns the fans and heaters on, air is drawn into baffle 184 through holes 198 by the action of fans 196, whereupon the air is heated by the resistance heating elements 194 and carried to wigs disposed on the adjacent wig forms 56 and 60. In a similar manner, air is drawn through holes 214 in baffle 200 by the action of fans 212 whereupon the air is heated by the heating elements 210 and carried to wigs disposed on adjacent wig forms 56 and 60.
The fan 224 disposed over hole 220 within baffle 216 effectuates the circulation of air from one side of the treatment chamber to the other. The direction of air flown through the chamber is shown by the arrows in FIG. 3.
Operation of the wig treating machine 20 is as follows:
Doors 24 and 26 are swung up via their handles 91 to provide access to the shelves 52 and 54, respectively, within chamber 48. The handles 88 of the shelves are then grasped to slide the shelves out of the chamber and through the associated open door. Wigs are then placed on the wig forms 56 and 60. When the wigs are secured to the wig forms, the shelves 52 and 54 are slid back into the wig treatment chamber 48 and the doors 24 and 26, respectively, are closed. The wig treating machine 20 is now ready for operation.
Upon the depression of a start button (not shown), the control means energizes the shampoo pump 178 via wires 179.
Pump 178 operates to force shampoo from shampoo reservoir 180 through the meter 181 and into shampoo pipes 118 and thus to the spray devices within the wig treatment chamber. The liquid shampoo passes through the mixing chambers of the spray devices and impacts the vanes 134 in the spray heads thereby effectuating the rotation of said heads and the spraying of the shampoo via the association nozzles onto the wigs supported on the adjacent wig forms. The shampoo is pumped at a relatively low pressure such that the spray heads rotate and spray shampoo rather slowly.
Once the wigs are thoroughly drenched by shampoo, the machine is ready to commence its shampoo or washing cycle. In response to either a manual command or an automatic command from the control means, the electrical motor 156 is energized via wires 157 to operate pump 154. At the same time, the mixing valve is controlled to enable hot and cold water to mix therein to provide warm water for pump 154. The pump 154 draws the warm water from mixing valve 160 via line 158 and provides it under high pressure into water pipe 116. Pipe 116 carries in high pressure warm water to the mixing chambers of all of the spraying devices. The high pressure water entering the mixing chamber passes at a high velocity through the openings 144 in each of the spray heads to impact the vanes 134 disposed thereunder and effectuate the very rapid rotation of the nozzles connected thereto. This action results in high velocity spinning streams or jets of water impacting the wigs on the forms disposed nearby. The high velocity spinning water jets lift and agitate the hair filaments of the wig and thereby effectuate a complete washing thereof. Furthermore, since the wig supporting shelves are narrow, the spinning water jets are enabled to richochet off of the walls of the wig treating chamber and thus onto wigs other than those immediately adjacent. This action further effectuates the cleaning of the hair filaments. This process continues for a sufficient period of time to effectively clean the wigs of any dirt or oil thereon.
After the washing is complete, the mixing valve stops the hot water from the building from mixing with the cold water and provides cold water to the pump 164. Under the control of the control means, the pump 164 is operated by motor 156 at a slower speed, whereupon the water pressure in lines 116 decreases. This action causes the spray heads to rotate slowly while spraying gently. The slow rotation of the spray heads and the gentle spray effectuates the gentle rinsing of the shampoo from the wigs on the wig forms adjacent the spray heads. The sudsy water produced by the rinsing of the shampooed wigs drains through the holes in the floorboard and out the drain pipe in the floor 44.
During the rinse cycle, electrical motor 166, in response to the control means, is energized via wires 167 to operate pump 164 and thereby provide water via line 162 into tank 170. At the same time, the control means enables electrical energy to pass through wires 173 to cause the electrical heating coil within tank 170 to heat the water disposed therein and turn it into steam. The steam produced in tank 170 is held therein under pressure by the "normally closed" solenoid 176.
Once the rinse cycle is completed, i.e., all of the shampoo being rinsed out of the wigs, the wigs may, if desired, be subjected to a conditioning mist. To that end, in response to the control means, solenoid 176 is opened, via electrical wires 177, to enable the steam within tank 170 to be depressurized to create the mist. The mist is mixed with a conditioning liquid in the solenoid mixing chamber and the resulting conditioning mist is provided into line 120. The mist in line 120 enters the mixing chambers of the spraying devices, passes through the associated spray heads and nozzles associated therewith and enters treatment chamber 48 to condition the wigs disposed therein.
Once the conditioning cycle is completed, the control means operates to actuate the heaters 192 and 208 via wires 195 and 211, respectively. Once heaters 192 and 208 are energized, their associated heating elements 194 and 210 heat the air within the baffles 184 and 200, respectively. At the same time that the heaters are energized, fans 196, 212 and 224 are turned on, whereupon air is brought through the holes in the baffles associated therewith and is heated and circulated throughout the wig treatment chamber 48. This action enables the damp wigs to be predried, i.e., dried to a condition such that their styling or setting is expedited.
Once the wigs are predried, the control means stops the operation of the machine 20. The doors may then be opened, the shelves slid out and the wigs removed. The machine is now ready for treating more wigs.
As should be appreciated, in accordance with this invention, a plurality of wigs (e.g., 10) can be washed, rinsed, conditioned and predried without the constant manual attention heretofore required and in a shorter period of time than a single wig could be similarly treated.
Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.
In the past few years, the wearing of wigs, either human hair or synthetic filament, has increased substantially.
A wig, like a human head of hair, requires cleaning, conditioning and styling to maintain an acceptable appearance. Accordingly, a whole new cosmetological business of wig maintenance has developed as a result of the widespread use of wigs.
Heretofore, the shampooing, rinsing and conditioning of wigs has of necessity, been carried out manually by a beauty operator, one wig at a time. Such action is necessarily wasteful and results in large expenditures of time, which if available to the beauty operator, could be used more profitably. Furthermore, as a result of the large expenditures of time, charges for cleaning, conditioning and setting of wigs are comparable to those for cleaning, conditioning and setting a human head of hair.
In view of the above, there presently exists a strong need for equipment capable of cleaning and conditioning human hair and synthetic filament wigs quickly and safely.
It is a general object of this invention to provide a wig treatment machine to answer that need.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a wig treatment machine capable of cleaning and conditioning a number of wigs at one time.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a wig treatment machine capable of cleaning and conditioning a number of wigs in less time that it would take a person to manually clean and condition a single wig.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a wig treatment machine which, after cleaning a plurality of wigs therein, treats them with a beautifying mist to condition the wig and render it easier to style.
These and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing a wig treatment machine comprising a housing having a door therein and forming a wig treatment chamber. At least one shelf is slideably mounted in the chamber. A plurality of wig forms is mounted on the shelf and each form is adapted for supporting a wig thereon. Plural, fluid-spraying means are disposed adjacent to the forms in the chamber. The spraying means are adapted for directing fluids to wigs disposed on the forms. Fluid supply means are provided to supply fluids to the spraying means.
Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wig treatment machine in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view, partially in section, of a typical spraying device which is mounted in the machine shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5; and
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6.
Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, a wig treating machine embodying the present invention is generally shown at 20 in FIG. 1. Machine 20 basically comprises an enclosed housing 22 having a plurality of doors 24, 26, 28 and 30 in the front wall 32 thereof.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, housing 22 also includes a pair of sidewalls 34 and 36, a top wall 38, a bottom wall 40 and a back wall 42. A floor 44 is provided within housing 22 intermediate the top and bottom walls and is generally parallel to those walls. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the floor 44 includes a depressed portion which has an opening 46 at its low point serving as a drain.
The floor 44 divides the interior of the housing into two chambers. The upper chamber, 48, is the larger of the two chambers and is hereinafter denoted as the wig treatment chamber. It is in the wig treatment chamber that plural wigs are washed, rinsed, conditioned and dried in accordance with this invention. The lower chamber serves to house the fluid supply and control components of the machine 20.
As can be seen, two narrow shelves 52 and 54 are disposed within the wig treatment chamber 48. A plurality of wig forms are mounted on each shelf. For example, five wig forms 56 are mounted on the top surface of shelf 52 via respective wing nuts 58. In a similar manner, five wig forms 60 are mounted on the top surface of shelf 54 by respective wing nuts 62.
Each of the wig forms 56 and 58 is adapted for supporting a wig for treatment in the wig treatment chamber 48.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, shelf 52 is disposed adjacent to door 24 and shelf 54 is disposed adjacent to door 26. Each of the shelves is adapted to be slid out of or into the housing via the associated door to expedite the insertion or removal of wigs from the machine 20. To that end, each of the shelves includes transversely extending end portions which are supported for sliding movement within a pair of horizontal tracks disposed along the opposed sidewalls 34 and 36 of the housing. For example, elongated tubular member 64 is disposed along wall 36 and is connected thereto (by means not shown) and a similar member 66 is disposed along wall 34 and is connected thereto (by means not shown). Member 64 includes a slot in its side face extending along the length of the member. The slot forms a track 68 for supporting one end of shelf 52. In a similar manner, a slot forming a track 70 is provided in the side face of member 66. Track 70 is adapted for supporting the other end of shelf 52 therein.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, the transversely extending ends of shelf 52 include enlarged lip portions 72 and 74. The lip portions are adapted to be disposed within the hollow interior of the tubular members to facilitate the sliding of the shelf within the track by precluding misalignment thereof.
A second pair of elongated tubular members 76 and 78 are disposed along sidewalls 36 and 34, respectively, parallel to and below members 64 and 66. The members 76 and 78 include slot-forming-tracks 80 and 82, respectively. Like tracks 68 and 70, tracks 80 and 82 are adapted for supporting the transversely extending ends of shelf 54. Furthermore, like shelf 52, the transversely extending ends of shelf 54 include enlarged lip portions 84 and 86 for facilitating the sliding of the shelf within the tracks.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, each shelf includes a handle portion 88 extending out of the front edge of the shelf but in the plane thereof. The handles 88 are adapted to be gripped in one's hand to slide the shelf along its associated track to enable the shelf to be removed from the chamber such that wigs to be treated can be placed on the wig forms connected to the shelf. The shelf is then slid, via the associated tracks, into the housing and treatment is begun. When treatment is completed, the shelf can be slid out of the housing and the treated wigs removed.
Doors 24 and 26 are disposed within respective openings in the front wall 32 of housing 22 and are hinged at their respective top edges. Each of the doors includes a handle 89 along its bottom edge. The handle is provided to enable the door to be swung up and out of the way to thereby provide access to the interior of the wig treating chamber so that a shelf with wigs thereon may be either inserted (prior to treatment) or extracted (after treatment).
In FIG. 3, the phantom line depicts the condition wherein door 24 is hinged open so as to permit access to the upper portion of the wig treating chamber.
In the sectional view of FIG. 4 there is shown the position of shelf 54 within the cavity. The phantom lines in FIG. 4 depict the condition wherein shelf 54 is disposed outside of the cavity to enable wigs to be either put on or taken off the wig forms 60.
As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of spraying devices are mounted within the wig treatment chamber. The devices are adapted for spraying cleaning, rinsing and conditioning fluids to the wigs mounted within the chamber to effect the cleaning and conditioning thereof. For example, as can be seen in FIG. 3, six spraying devices are mounted on the inside surface of top wall 38 of the housing. One device 90 is mounted in the corner where the top wall meets the sidewall and includes a rotatable spray head 92 which is directed generally to one side of one of the end wig form 56. Another similar single-head device is mounted in the opposite corner where the top wall meets the sidewall and also includes a rotatable spray head 94 which is directed generally to one side of the outer end wig form 56. A third spray device 94 is mounted on the inside face of the top wall intermediate one end wig form and the next adjacent or second wig form. The spray device 94 is a dual-head device and includes a pair of rotatable spray heads 96 and 98, spray head 96 being directed generally at the other side of the end wig form and spray head 98 is directed generally at one side of the second wig form. A fourth spray device 94 is mounted on the inside face of the top wall intermediate the second and third wig forms. The spray device 94 also includes a pair of rotatable spray heads 96 and 98, head 96 being directed generally at the other side of the second wig form and spray head 98 being directed generally at one side of the next adjacent or third wig form 56. A fifth spray device 94 is mounted on the inside face of the top wall intermediate the third and the next adjacent or fourth wig form 56. The spray device 94 also includes a pair of rotatable spray heads 96 and 98, head 96 being directed generally at the other side of the third wig form and head 98 being directed generally at one side of the next successive or fourth wig form 56. A sixth spray device 94 is mounted on the inside face of the top wall intermediate the fourth wig from and the other end wig form. The spray device 94 includes a pair of rotatable spray heads 96 and 98, head 96 being directed generally at another side of the fourth wig form and head 98 being directed generally at the other side of the end wig form.
A second group of six spray devices is mounted on a bar 100. Bar 100 is mounted between opposed sidewalls 34 and 36 of the housing 22 and is disposed in the middle of the wig treating chamber above wig forms 60 on shelf 54.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, one spray device 102 is mounted in the corner formed by bar 100 meeting sidewall 34 and includes a rotatable spray head 104 which is directed at one side of the end wig form. Another single-head spray device 102 is mounted in the opposed corner formed by the meeting of bar 100 and sidewall 34 and includes a rotatable spray head 104 which is directed at one side of the other end wig form 60. A third spray device 106 is mounted on the bottom face of bar 100 intermediate the end wig form and the next adjacent or second wig form. The spray device 106 is a dual-head device and includes a pair of rotatable spray heads 108 and 110, head 108 being directed generally at the other side of the end wig form and head 110 being directed generally at one side of the second wig form. A fourth spray device 106 is mounted on the bottom face of the bar 100 intermediate the second wig form and the next adjacent or third wig form. The spray device 106 also includes a pair of rotatable spray heads 108 and 110, head 108 being directed generally at the other side of the second wig form and head 110 being directed generally at one side of the next adjacent or third wig form. A fifth spray head 106 is mounted on the bottom face of the bar 100 intermediate the third wig form and the next adjacent or fourth wig form. The spray device 106 also includes a pair of rotatable heads 108 and 110. Head 108 being directed generally at the other side of the third wig form and head 110 being directed generally at one side of the next adjacent or fourth wig form. A sixth spray device 106 is mounted on the bottom face of the bar 100 intermediate the fourth wig form and the next adjacent or end wig form. The spray device 106 also includes a pair of rotatable heads 108 and 110, head 108 being directed at the other side of the fourth wig form and head 110 being directed at the other side of the end wig form.
The single-head spray devices 90 and 102 are of identical construction to one another and are of identical construction to the dual-head devices 94 and 106 except for the fact that the single head devices include only one rotatable spray head.
In FIG. 5 there is shown a perspective view of a typical dual-head spray device 94. As can be seen, device 94 includes a hollow casing 112 defining a mixing chamber 114 therein. Three input lines or pipes are connected to chamber 114. A first pipe, 116, serves to carry water to the mixing chamber, a second pipe, 118, serves to carry shampoo to the mixing chamber and a third pipe, 120, serves to carry a wig conditioning mist to the mixing chamber.
Pipes 116, 118 and 120 are connected between each of the spraying heads and fluid supply means disposed within chamber 50.
All of the spraying heads 92, 96, 98, 104, 108 and 110 are of identical construction.
As can be seen in FIG. 5, rotatable head 98 includes an elongated tubular shaft 122 connected at an angle to the bottom wall of casing 112. The interior of shaft 122 is in communication with the mixing chamber 114 via opening 124. The free end of elongated tubular member 122 is connected to a yoke assembly 126 in a manner to be described hereinafter.
As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the yoke assembly 126 is of generally tubular shape and includes two hollow ends 128. One end of a right angle tube 130 is disposed within one hollow end 128 of the yoke and one end of another right angle tube 130 is disposed within the outer end 128 of the yoke. A spray nozzle 131 including plural holes (not shown) is connected to the free end of each of the right angle tubes 130.
The mid-portion of the yoke assembly is bulbous in shape and defines an enlarged internal cavity 132 therein. The cavity is contiguous with the hollow ends 128 of the yoke assembly. A plurality of vanes 134 project inwardly into the cavity 132 from the inner wall of the yoke at an acute angle to the radial direction. A hollow coupling member is connected to the mid-portion of the yoke assembly above the cavity 132 and is in direct communication therewith. The coupling serves as the means for connecting the yoke assembly to shaft 122 to enable the assembly to rotate thereabout. To that end, the free end of shaft 122 is disposed within coupling 136 and connected thereto via a ball bearing 138. The ball bearing is disposed within a seat 140 in the inside surface of coupling 136. A sealing gasket 142 abuts ball bearing 138 and is interposed between the end of tubular member 122 and coupling 136.
The free end of shaft 122 terminates in a necked down portion having an opening 144 therein. When a fluid is provided under pressure into the mixing chamber 114, it passes through tubular shaft 122, through opening 144 therein into cavity 132 where it is directed against vanes 134. The force of the fluid impacting the vanes causes the yoke to rotate on the shaft 122. Furthermore, the fluid bouncing off the vanes 134 passes through hollow ends 128 of the yoke assembly and into the associated right angle tubes 130 and out of the plural holes in the associated nozzles, whereupon plural fluid streams are directed at the adjacent wig forms.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a floor board 146 is disposed on top of floor 44 within the wig treating chamber 48. The floor board 146 includes a plurality of openings 148 therein to enable used cleaning, rinsing and conditioning fluids to pass therethrough and onto floor 44 and from there into drain opening 46.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, one end of a drain pipe 150 is connected to opening 46 in floor 44 via a coupling 152. The other end of the drain pipe 150 is connected to the drainage system (not shown) in the building in which the wig cleaning unit 20 is disposed so as to carry away used fluids.
The lower chamber 50 of the wig treatment machine houses the means for supplying the treatment fluids to the spray devices within the wig treatment cavity. For example, water is supplied to the spray devices via water pipe 116 from a water pump 154 disposed within cavity 50 and connected to the water pipe.
The pump 154 is a heavy duty electrically operated pump including a motor 156 connected to control means (not shown) via wires 157. The control means may be manually operated or automatic (e.g., include a timer). The water input to pump 154 is provided by water pipe 158 which is connected to a manually controllable thermostatic mixing valve 160. One input to the valve 160 is provided by the cold water pipe 161 (see FIG. 1) in the building in which the wig treatment machine is located and another input to the valve is provided by the hot water line 163 in the building. The valve 160 is controlled in a conventional manner to provide water of a predetermined temperature (e.g., hot, cold, luke-warm, etc.) to pump 154.
The output of the mixing valve 160 also serves as the input to a second heavy duty electrical water pump 164, via line 162, including an electric motor 166 connected to the control means via wires 167. Pump 164 is disposed within chamber 50. The output of pump 164 is provided via pipe 168 into a pressurized tank or boiler 170 which is disposed within chamber 50 and serves as a means for producing wet steam. The steam is used by itself or mixed with a conditioning agent to produce a conditioning mist. To that end, tank 170 includes an electrical heating coil 172 disposed therein and connected to the control means via wires 173. Tank 170 includes an outlet port 174 which is connected to one end of a pipe 175. The other end of the pipe 175 is provided as an input to a normally closed solenoid 176. The solenoid is connected to the control means via wires 177. When the solenoid is closed, the water heated by the electric heating coil results in the production of steam under pressure in the tank. When the solenoid is opened, it releases the pressure in the tank thereby enabling some of the steam to condense into water droplets. The mixture of water droplets and steam forms a wet steam or mist. A mixing chamber (not shown) may be provided in solenoid 176 for enabling a conditioning agent to be mixed with the wet steam to form a conditioning mist.
The outlet of the solenoid is connected to the mist line 120. As previously noted, the mist line 120 is connected to the mixing chambers of all of the spraying devices. Accordingly, when solenoid 176 is operated, a conditioning mist is supplied, via lines 120, to the spray heads and from there to the wigs disposed with the treatment cavity.
Shampoo supply means are also provided within chamber 50. The shampoo supply means comprises a small electrical pump 178 connected to the control means via wires 179. The pump is coupled to a shampoo reservoir 180 and when operated carries liquid shampoo from the reservoir and forces it into the shampoo pipes 118 and from there to all of the mixing chambers of the spray devices. An adjustable flow meter 181 is connected between the pump and the shampoo lines and establishes the rate of shampoo flow into lines 118. A trough 182 is provided to funnel shampoo into the shampoo reservoir 180.
Doors 28 and 30 are provided in the front wall 32 of the housing contiguous with the lower chamber 50. The doors 28 and 30 enable access to the mist tank, the pumps, the solenoid, the motors, the fluid lines and the control means (not shown) which are disposed within chamber 50.
The wig treating machine 20 also includes means for drying wigs within the wig treating chamber.
To that end, as can be seen in FIG. 2, a baffle-like member 184 is connected via flanges 186 to the sidewall 36 of housing 22. The baffle 184 is disposed over a pair of openings 188 and 190 in sidewall 34. Opening 188 is disposed laterally of the wig forms 56 on shelf 52 and opening 190 is disposed laterally of the wig forms 60 on shelf 54. An electrical heater 192 is mounted within baffle 184 and on sidewall 36. The electrical heater 192 includes a pair of resistance heating elements 194 which are disposed over holes 188 and 190. The heater 192 is connected to the control means via wires 195. A pair of electrical fans 196 are mounted within baffle 184 and opposite resistance heating elements 194. Each fan is connected to the control means by wires (not shown). The baffle includes plural air intake holes 198 therein.
In a similar manner, a baffle 200 is connected via flanges 202 to sidewall 34 over a hole 204 which is disposed adjacent wig forms 56 and over hole 206 which is disposed adjacent wig forms 60. An electric heater 208 is mounted on sidewall 34 and includes a pair of resistance heating elements 210 disposed over holes 204 and 206. The heater 208 is connected to the control means via wires 211. A pair of electric fans 212 are mounted within baffle 200 and opposite resistance heating elements 210. Each fan is connected to the control means by wires (not shown). The baffle 200 includes a plurality of air intake holes 214 therein.
A housing 216 is mounted via flanges 218 onto top wall 38 over a pair of holes 220 and 222 disposed therein. An electrical recirculating fan 224 is mounted within baffle 216 and above hole 220 and is connected to the control means by wires (not shown).
When the control means turns the fans and heaters on, air is drawn into baffle 184 through holes 198 by the action of fans 196, whereupon the air is heated by the resistance heating elements 194 and carried to wigs disposed on the adjacent wig forms 56 and 60. In a similar manner, air is drawn through holes 214 in baffle 200 by the action of fans 212 whereupon the air is heated by the heating elements 210 and carried to wigs disposed on adjacent wig forms 56 and 60.
The fan 224 disposed over hole 220 within baffle 216 effectuates the circulation of air from one side of the treatment chamber to the other. The direction of air flown through the chamber is shown by the arrows in FIG. 3.
Operation of the wig treating machine 20 is as follows:
Doors 24 and 26 are swung up via their handles 91 to provide access to the shelves 52 and 54, respectively, within chamber 48. The handles 88 of the shelves are then grasped to slide the shelves out of the chamber and through the associated open door. Wigs are then placed on the wig forms 56 and 60. When the wigs are secured to the wig forms, the shelves 52 and 54 are slid back into the wig treatment chamber 48 and the doors 24 and 26, respectively, are closed. The wig treating machine 20 is now ready for operation.
Upon the depression of a start button (not shown), the control means energizes the shampoo pump 178 via wires 179.
Pump 178 operates to force shampoo from shampoo reservoir 180 through the meter 181 and into shampoo pipes 118 and thus to the spray devices within the wig treatment chamber. The liquid shampoo passes through the mixing chambers of the spray devices and impacts the vanes 134 in the spray heads thereby effectuating the rotation of said heads and the spraying of the shampoo via the association nozzles onto the wigs supported on the adjacent wig forms. The shampoo is pumped at a relatively low pressure such that the spray heads rotate and spray shampoo rather slowly.
Once the wigs are thoroughly drenched by shampoo, the machine is ready to commence its shampoo or washing cycle. In response to either a manual command or an automatic command from the control means, the electrical motor 156 is energized via wires 157 to operate pump 154. At the same time, the mixing valve is controlled to enable hot and cold water to mix therein to provide warm water for pump 154. The pump 154 draws the warm water from mixing valve 160 via line 158 and provides it under high pressure into water pipe 116. Pipe 116 carries in high pressure warm water to the mixing chambers of all of the spraying devices. The high pressure water entering the mixing chamber passes at a high velocity through the openings 144 in each of the spray heads to impact the vanes 134 disposed thereunder and effectuate the very rapid rotation of the nozzles connected thereto. This action results in high velocity spinning streams or jets of water impacting the wigs on the forms disposed nearby. The high velocity spinning water jets lift and agitate the hair filaments of the wig and thereby effectuate a complete washing thereof. Furthermore, since the wig supporting shelves are narrow, the spinning water jets are enabled to richochet off of the walls of the wig treating chamber and thus onto wigs other than those immediately adjacent. This action further effectuates the cleaning of the hair filaments. This process continues for a sufficient period of time to effectively clean the wigs of any dirt or oil thereon.
After the washing is complete, the mixing valve stops the hot water from the building from mixing with the cold water and provides cold water to the pump 164. Under the control of the control means, the pump 164 is operated by motor 156 at a slower speed, whereupon the water pressure in lines 116 decreases. This action causes the spray heads to rotate slowly while spraying gently. The slow rotation of the spray heads and the gentle spray effectuates the gentle rinsing of the shampoo from the wigs on the wig forms adjacent the spray heads. The sudsy water produced by the rinsing of the shampooed wigs drains through the holes in the floorboard and out the drain pipe in the floor 44.
During the rinse cycle, electrical motor 166, in response to the control means, is energized via wires 167 to operate pump 164 and thereby provide water via line 162 into tank 170. At the same time, the control means enables electrical energy to pass through wires 173 to cause the electrical heating coil within tank 170 to heat the water disposed therein and turn it into steam. The steam produced in tank 170 is held therein under pressure by the "normally closed" solenoid 176.
Once the rinse cycle is completed, i.e., all of the shampoo being rinsed out of the wigs, the wigs may, if desired, be subjected to a conditioning mist. To that end, in response to the control means, solenoid 176 is opened, via electrical wires 177, to enable the steam within tank 170 to be depressurized to create the mist. The mist is mixed with a conditioning liquid in the solenoid mixing chamber and the resulting conditioning mist is provided into line 120. The mist in line 120 enters the mixing chambers of the spraying devices, passes through the associated spray heads and nozzles associated therewith and enters treatment chamber 48 to condition the wigs disposed therein.
Once the conditioning cycle is completed, the control means operates to actuate the heaters 192 and 208 via wires 195 and 211, respectively. Once heaters 192 and 208 are energized, their associated heating elements 194 and 210 heat the air within the baffles 184 and 200, respectively. At the same time that the heaters are energized, fans 196, 212 and 224 are turned on, whereupon air is brought through the holes in the baffles associated therewith and is heated and circulated throughout the wig treatment chamber 48. This action enables the damp wigs to be predried, i.e., dried to a condition such that their styling or setting is expedited.
Once the wigs are predried, the control means stops the operation of the machine 20. The doors may then be opened, the shelves slid out and the wigs removed. The machine is now ready for treating more wigs.
As should be appreciated, in accordance with this invention, a plurality of wigs (e.g., 10) can be washed, rinsed, conditioned and predried without the constant manual attention heretofore required and in a shorter period of time than a single wig could be similarly treated.
Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.