Selectively activated color changing hairpiece

• US 9,977,267 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Grundhofer, Anselm
• Primary Examiner(s): Steitz, Rachel
• Application Number:
  US14/574,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20160174644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 359244, 359241, 359242
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 3/00 Wigs for dolls only A63H3/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0126 Opto-optical modulation, i.e. control of one light beam by another light beam, not otherwise provided for in this subclass

Abstract

A color-changing hairpiece is disclosed. The hairpiece may include a plurality of elongated light sources that emit light when activated and a photochromic layer provided in association with at least one light source such that the light emitted from the at least one light source impinges on a portion of the photochromic layer, the photochromic layer configured to change color responsive to the light emitted from the at least one light source.

Claims

1. A hairpiece, comprising:

a plurality of elongated light sources that emit light when activated; and

a photochromic layer formed on an outer surface of at least one light source of the plurality of elongated light sources such that the light emitted from the at least one light source impinges on an inwardly facing portion of the photochromic layer, wherein the photochromic layer changes color in response to the light emitted from the at least one light source.

2. The hairpiece of claim 1, further comprising:

a second photochromic layer arranged on a hair strand that is generally adjacent to the at least one light source.

3. The hairpiece of claim 2, wherein light emitted from an end portion of the light source impinges on the photochromic layer arranged on the hair strand.

4. The hairpiece of claim 2, wherein light emitted along a length of the light source impinges on the photochromic layer arranged on the hair strand.

5. The hairpiece of claim 1, wherein light emitted from the at least one light source that is not absorbed by the photochromic layer is internally reflected within the at least one light source.

6. The hairpiece of claim 1, further comprising:

an ultraviolet light emitter connected to the plurality of elongated light sources and configured to provide ultraviolet light when engaged so as to activate the elongated light sources.

7. The hairpiece of claim 6, further comprising:

a switch that is manually actuated by an operator from across a wired connection to engage the light emitter.

8. The hairpiece of claim 6, further comprising:

a switch that is manually actuated by an operator from across a wireless connection to engage the light emitter.

9. The hairpiece of claim 6, further comprising:

a switch that is automatically actuated by a computerized program to engage the light emitter.

10. The hairpiece of claim 1, wherein

the photochromic layer includes a photochromic dye that reflects a first color when the at least one light source is not activated, the first color being a color of the photochromic dye when the at least one light source is not activated;

and

the photochromic dye reflecting a second color when the at least one light source is activated, the second color being a color of the photochromic dye when the at least one light source is activated.

11. The hairpiece of claim 1, further comprising:

a pigment associated with the photochromic layer;

wherein

the photochromic layer includes a photochromic dye that produces a first color when the at least one light source is not activated, the first color being a combination of a color of the pigment and a color of the photochromic dye when the at least one light source is not activated; and

the photochromic dye produces a second color when the at least one light source is activated, the second color being a combination of the color of the pigment and a color of the photochromic dye when the at least one light source is activated.

12. The hairpiece of claim 1, further comprising:

a wearable cap portion through which first ends of at least the plurality of elongated light sources are interconnected.

13. The hairpiece of claim 1, wherein first ends of at least the plurality of elongated light sources are connectable to a head portion of a mannequin.

14. A wig, comprising:

a plurality of elongated light sources that emit light when activated;

a wearable cap portion through which first ends of at least the plurality of elongated light sources are interconnected; and

a photochromic layer formed on an outer surface of at least one light source of the plurality of elongated light sources such that the light emitted from the at least one light source impinges on an inwardly facing portion of the photochromic layer, wherein the photochromic layer changes color in response to the light emitted from the at least one light source.

15. The wig of claim 14, further comprising:

a light emitter connected to the plurality of elongated light sources and configured to provide light when engaged so as to activate the elongated light sources.

16. The wig of claim 14, further comprising:

a second photochromic layer arranged on a hair strand that is generally adjacent to the at least one light source, wherein

light emitted from an end portion of the light source impinges on the photochromic layer arranged on the hair strand.

17. The wig of claim 14, further comprising:

a second photochromic layer is arranged on a hair strand that is generally adjacent to the at least one light source, wherein

light emitted along a length of the light source impinges on the photochromic layer arranged on the hair strand.

18. A method, comprising:

externally illuminating a hairpiece with light having a first range of frequencies;

reflecting the external light from the hairpiece so as to produce a first color;

activating a photochromic dye formed on an outer surface of an elongated light source integrated with the hairpiece by illuminating individual strands of the hairpiece with the elongated light source integrated with the hairpiece, the light source producing light having a second range of frequencies; and

reflecting the external light from the hairpiece while the individual strands are illuminated by the elongated light source integrated with the hairpiece so as to produce a second color.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein

the first range of frequencies excludes ultraviolet light;

and

the second range of frequencies includes ultraviolet light.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising reflecting light not absorbed by the photochromic dye internally within the individual strands of the hairpiece.