The Comb-Over Was Patented in 1977, and It Won an Ig Nobel
Photo: Engin_Akyurt / Pixabay
Many people have tried to hide a bald spot. Frank J. Smith and Donald J. Smith of Orlando, Florida, patented a way to do it. US Patent No. 4,022,227, "Method of concealing partial baldness", was filed on 23 December 1975 and granted on 10 May 1977.
The method
The patent notes that hair transplants, hair weaving and hairpieces can cost from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. It offers a cheaper option that uses only the person's own hair. The hair around the bald area, which the patent says should be about 3 to 4 inches long, is divided into roughly equal sections, usually three: one on each side and one at the back. The sections are then folded over the bald spot one after another, starting with the back, with hair spray holding each layer in place. The top layer can then be styled however the wearer likes.
The first claim covers separating the hair into several sections and placing each one in turn over the bald area until it is "completely covered". Later claims add details such as the folding order and the use of hair spray.
The prize
In 2004 the Ig Nobel Prize for Engineering went to Donald J. Smith and his father, the late Frank J. Smith, "for patenting the combover", in the organisers' words. The Ig Nobel Prizes honour research and inventions that "first make people laugh, and then make them think".
The patent has long since expired, so the method is free for anyone to use. It is also a reminder that methods of styling hair, not just hair products, can be patentable subject matter in the United States.
---
Sources
Do you or your clients need trademark, patent, annuity or industrial design work in Indonesia? We handle filings, prosecution and renewals, with updates in English. Email us for a quote.
Contact UsIf you enjoyed this article on our portal, you can buy me a coffee via the PayPal link below.
PayPal
