U.S. patent application number 09/802725 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-12 for applicator for a hair product and method for using.
Invention is credited to Nelson, Charlene.
Application Number | 20020124858 09/802725 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25184521 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020124858 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nelson, Charlene |
September 12, 2002 |
Applicator for a hair product and method for using
Abstract
This invention includes an applicator for hair having a brush
first end and a hair arranging element second end. The intermediate
portion between these two ends is used to treat hair with both of
the ends without the operator giving up up possession of the
instrument. The applicator is used to treat arranged groups of hair
sections, section by section, each section being formed by the hair
arranging element and that same section being treated by the brush
by applying in applying a tinting substance to the formed section.
Once the hair section has been treated, it is isolated with
waterproof material, and a subsequent section is formed and
treated. This continues until all of the hair has been so treated
and is ready for tinting.
Inventors: |
Nelson, Charlene;
(Kernersville, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles Y. Lackey
Post Office Box 5871
Winston-Salem
NC
27113-5871
US
|
Family ID: |
25184521 |
Appl. No.: |
09/802725 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/200 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 19/026 20210101;
A45D 19/0066 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/200 |
International
Class: |
A45D 024/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An applicator for a hair product having first and second ends
comprising: a brush forming the applicator first end, a hair
arranging element forming the second end, and an intermediate
portion positioned between the brush and the hair arranging
element, the applicator being utilizable to treat hair with the
brush and with the hair arranging element continuously without
relinquishing possession.
2. The applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hair arranging
element is usable to arrange the hair into groups of hair sections
for subsequent treatment of a single section at a time.
3. The applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the brush is usable
to treat the arranged hair groups a single section at a time.
4. The applicator as claimed in claim 2 wherein the brush is usable
to treat the arranged hair groups a single section at a time.
5. The applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the intermediate
portion is substantially smaller in cross section than the
brush.
6. The method of utilizing an applicator for a hair product having
a brush at the first end, a hair arranging element at the second
and an intermediate portion positioned between the brush and the
hair arranging element comprising the steps of: utilizing the hair
arranging element to arrange the hair into groups of hair sections;
moving the applicator without relinquishing possession and
utilizing the brush to apply a hair treatment substance to a single
group of hair sections one section at a time; and continuing to
move the applicator to selective utilize the hair arranging element
and brush to arrange subsequent groups of hair sections and to
apply a hair treatment substance to each group of hair sections one
section at a time, the hair arranging element and the brush being
continuously moved and utilized without the operator relinquishing
possession.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein each treated hair
section is separated from all other sections.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the hair sections are
separated and isolated by waterproof material.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the groups of hair
sections are formed into substantially vertical rows.
10. The applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the length of the
applicator is within the range of from 7 to 12 inches.
11. The applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the brush has a
base portion, a plurality of bristles carried by the base, and a
gripping element extending from the base for holding the brush when
applying a hair treating substance.
12. The applicator as claimed in claim 2 wherein the brush has a
base portion, a plurality of bristles carried by the base, and a
gripping element extending from the base for holding the brush when
applying a hair treating substance.
13. The applicator as claimed in claim 4 wherein the brush has a
base portion, a plurality of bristles carried by the base, and a
gripping element extending from the base for holding the brush when
applying a hair treating substance.
14. The applicator as claimed in claim 5 wherein the brush has a
base portion, a plurality of bristles carried by the base, and a
gripping element extending from the base for holding the brush when
applying a hair treating substance.
15. The applicator as claimed in claim 14 wherein the length of the
applicator is within the range of from 7 to 12 inches and the cross
section of the intermediate portion is substantially smaller than
the cross section of the brush.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an applicator for a hair
product such as a hair coloring or tinting substance and a method
for utilizing that product and, more particularly, for a
multifunctional applicator for a hair product including a brush and
a hair arranging element combined in the same instrument.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A current fashion trend involves coloring the hair to create
a visual effect, either pronounced or subtle, depending on the
preference of the individual wherein the individual may apply hair
treating substances including various colors or, alternatively,
colors or shades that give the hair a special appearance. Of
particular importance is using color to treat areas of the hair, as
opposed to locks or substantially all the hair, which are lighter
or darker than the rest of the hair thus providing an overall hair
style with a very natural appearance.
[0005] Combs and brushes used for styling and grooming the hair are
well known. These instruments typically have a linear array of
teeth which may be moved through the hair so as to position the
hair in a desired manner. Additionally, it is well known to apply
various fluids such as hair oil, conditioner, hair coloring,
lightener, highlighting, detangling, and the like to the hair to
promote its health and improve its appearance. Such fluids are
typically applied by being dispensed from a container onto the hair
or being manually dispersed through the hair with the hands. Such
manual dispersion of the fluids through the hair inherently
possesses substantial disadvantages in that it generally requires
that the hands have intimate contact with the fluid. This is
particularly undesirable since the fluid dispersed may discolor or
otherwise have an undesirable effect of the skin or fingernails of
the hands.
[0006] Highlighting, tinting or shading the hair is particularly
popular today and is normally achieved by first separating the
entire head of hair into various groups of hair sections by
utilizing the thin spike-like tyne of a styling comb to arrange the
hair into these hair sections and, as each hair section is
developed, applying a tinting substance to that section to achieve
the highlighting effect. The tinting substance is restricted to
that particular hair section by the application of a waterproof
element such as foil or plastic to isolate and separate the section
from all other sections. When all sections have been formed and
treated, heat is applied for a predetermined period of time in
order that the tinting substance be activated to achieve the tint
shade desired.
[0007] Conventional tinting in this fashion is tedious and extended
in time because of the need to first utilize an instrument such as
the comb tyne to form groups of hair sections and thereafter to
utilize a separate instrument, a tinting brush, to apply the
tinting substance to the isolated hair section. The operator must
continually change the instruments by first utilizing the comb
tyne, then laying aside the comb tyne and picking up the tinting
brush, and thereafter repeating the process until all hair sections
have been formed and treated with the tinting substance. The
frequent exchange of instruments for this operation often results
in the operator dropping one or the other of such instruments
several times during the tinting operation thus disrupting the flow
of work during the tinting process. Moreover, the continuous
exchange of instruments; i. e., giving up possession of one and
reaching for the other during the course of the tinting process
takes a considerable period of time and effort by the operator to
achieve the overall tinting or shading desired.
[0008] With this conventional process in mind, it is apparent that
a means for easily and conveniently effecting the tinting or
shading operation is needed and desired. It is to this need and
desire that the present invention is directed.
OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a
hair product applicator that eliminates a number of the
shortcomings relating to the conventional practice of tinting or
shading hair.
[0010] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide
an applicator for a hair product having a brush formed on its first
end and a hair arranging element formed on its second end, the
applicator being utilizable to treat hair with the brush and with
the hair arranging element continuously without the operator
relinquishing possession.
[0011] Still another objective of the present invention is to
provide a method for utilizing the applicator that will allow a
single applicator to be used in all steps of the process without
the need to exchange treating elements or components while the
process is being carried out.
[0012] A further objective of the present invention is to provide
an applicator of the type described which has a base portion
supporting the bristles of the brush and a gripping element
extending from the base for holding the brush when applying the
hair treating substance.
[0013] To accomplish these objectives, the present invention
includes an applicator for a hair product having first and second
ends wherein a brush forms the applicator first end and a hair
arranging element forms the second end. An intermediate portion is
positioned between the brush and hair arranging element, and the
applicator is utilizable to treat hair with the brush and with the
hair arranging element continuously without the operator
relinquishing possession. The applicator is usable to treat
arranged groups of hair sections, section by section, each section
being formed by the hair arranging element and that same section
being treated by the brush in applying a tinting substance to the
formed section. Once the hair section has been completed and
treated, it is isolated with waterproof material, and a subsequent
section is formed and treated. This continues until all of the hair
has been so treated and is ready for tinting.
[0014] Thus there has been outlined the more important features of
the invention in order that the detailed description that follows
may be better understood and in order that the present contribution
to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,
additional features of the invention that will be described
hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims
appended hereto. In that respect, before explaining at least one
embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited in its arrangement of the components
set forth in the following description and illustrated in the
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways.
[0015] It is also to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limiting in any respect. Those skilled in
the art will appreciate that the concept upon which this disclosure
is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other
structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several
purposes of this development. It is important that the claims be
regarded as including such equivalent methods and products
resulting therefrom that do not depart from the spirit and scope of
the present invention. The application is neither intended to
define the invention, which is measured by its claims, nor to limit
its scope in any way.
[0016] Thus, the objects of the invention set forth above, along
with the various features of novelty which characterize the
invention, are noted with particularity in the claims annexed to
and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding
of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific results
obtained by its use, reference should be made to the following
detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts
throughout the several views.
[0017] The drawings are included to provide a further understanding
of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of
this specification. They illustrate embodiments of the invention
and, together with their description, serve to explain the
principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment of
the present invention wherein the applicator brush is evenly formed
along the base portion;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of
the present invention wherein the brush bristles are of varying
length to provide an inclined application surface;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of yet another embodiment
of the present invention smaller in size than those previously
described and more effectively usable in certain hair locations of
the head;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of yet another embodiment
of the present invention wherein the hair arranging element is
formed of stainless steel, and the brush includes a base and a
gripping member conveniently positioned nearby;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the applicator shown in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the applicator shown
FIGS. 1 and 5;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the method of utilizing the
applicator for treating the hair; and
[0025] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of yet another embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, an
applicator for a hair product shown generally as 10 has a first end
12 and a second end 14, first end 12 forming a brush 16 and second
end 14 forming a hair arranging element 18 small in cross section
and extended in length to be used as will be described
subsequently.
[0027] Brush 16 is mounted a base 20 which extends to a gripping
member 22 for holding applicator 10 during the hair treating
operation. Intermediate portion 24 connects brush 16 with hair
arranging element 14 at a location substantially midway between the
two components. The shape of brush 16 can be varied such as being
substantially parallel to base 20 in FIG. 1 and inclining with
respect thereto in FIG. 2 as shown. It can be short and stubby or
somewhat elongated depending on the nature and need of the hair
being treated.
[0028] Hair arranging element 14 can be formed of plastic or any
other material sufficiently strong to accomplish the hair treatment
required. Stainless steel has been found to be particularly useful
and efficient for this member.
[0029] Sizes of applicator 10 can be varied anywhere within a range
of from seven (7) to twelve (12) inches, the longer applicators
better suited to produce an even hairline between each hair section
when groups of hair sections are formed and shorter lengths for
particular areas of the head where the hair is irregular or
difficult to form and treat.
[0030] The method of utilizing applicator lo of the present
invention includes using hair arranging element 14 to form the hair
into groups of hair sections. As each hair section is formed,
applicator lo is moved by the operator to enable the application of
a hair treatment substance to the formed hair section with brush 16
without the operator relinquishing possession of applicator 10 to
make this change. Applicator 10 is simply moved so that hair
arranging element 14 is disengaged from the hair and brush 16 is
readied for applying the tinting substance to the hair. This
movement is merely a reversing by the operator of the applicator
ends, 12, 14, to disengage the hair from hair engaging element 14
to reengage the hair with brush 16. Obviously operating in this
manner saves a considerable amount of time since the operator does
not have to deposit applicator 10 on a shelf or table and pick up
another different applicator to do the next step of the
process.
[0031] When hair treatment is commenced, the hair is usually combed
out smoothly by the operator and then formed into a plurality of
substantially vertical rows with each row being treated separately.
When a row is formed and selected by the operator for treatment, he
or she begins at the uppermost portion of the head and hair and
selects a discreet quantity of hair strands by inserting hair
arranging element 14 within that segment of hair strands usually
interweaving it within the section of hair strands to separate the
thickness of the hair strands into tintable discreet quantities.
The upper portion of the separated hair strands is lifted to allow
the positioning of a sheet of waterproof material such as foil or
plastic. The separated hair strands rest directly on this material,
and the operator applies a tinting substance with brush 16 to
visible expose the hair to the tinting substance thereby applying a
sufficient quantity to ensure appropriate shading or tinting. This
separated section of treated hair strands is then folded within the
waterproof sheet and pinned in place until the process has been
completed to finish the vertical row. When all vertical rows have
been treated in a like manner, a hair dryer is used to activate the
tinting substance and finalize the tinting procedure.
[0032] Although several embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in
the art that the details of construction of these particular
embodiments may be modified without departing from the concept
presented. It is, therefore, intended that the invention be limited
only by the scope of the appended claims rather than by particular
details of the construction shown.
* * * * *