U.S. patent application number 10/219504 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-27 for combination hair comb and pick.
Invention is credited to Shannon, Gwendolyn Kay.
Application Number | 20030037794 10/219504 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26913943 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030037794 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shannon, Gwendolyn Kay |
February 27, 2003 |
Combination hair comb and pick
Abstract
The invention provides a combination comb and hair pick which is
particularly adapted for debraiding plat-styled hair. The device of
the invention comprises a comb section, a pick section and an
intervening body section. The pick section is contiguous with and
extends from the body toward the bottom end of the device to form
an angle of less than 90 degrees with the longitudinal axes of the
comb teeth. This configuration provides a hooking action which
prevents the pick section from slipping out of a pleat during the
debraiding of the plat. The comb and pick operation of the device
can be rapidly switched without releasing the device or radically
reorienting the device. This is achieved by pivoting the device
while it is held, so that either the comb section or pick section
is brought in contact with the desired portion of hair.
Inventors: |
Shannon, Gwendolyn Kay;
(Bronx, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WHITE & CASE LLP
PATENT DEPARTMENT
1155 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
26913943 |
Appl. No.: |
10/219504 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60314620 |
Aug 24, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/150 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2024/005 20130101;
A45D 24/10 20130101; A45D 24/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/150 |
International
Class: |
A45D 024/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hair grooming device having a top end, a bottom end and a
vertical axis, the device comprising: a body; a comb section
comprising a plurality of substantially parallel teeth contiguous
and extending from the body, wherein each tooth has a free end and
a longitudinal axis, and the free ends of the teeth define the
bottom end of the device and the longitudinal axes of the teeth
define the vertical axis of the device; and a pick section
contiguous with and extending from the body toward the bottom end
of the device.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the
vertical axis of the device and the pick section is less than 90
degrees.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pick section
extends from the body at a point disposed above the comb
section.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pick section is
contiguous with and extends from the top end of the device.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pick section
extends from the body at a point disposed below the top end of the
device.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body section is
offset with respect to the vertical axis of the device.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the teeth have a
uniform length.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the teeth have varying
lengths.
9. The device according to claim 2, wherein the pick section
extends from the body at a point disposed above the comb
section.
10. The device according to claim 2, wherein the pick section is
contiguous with and extends from the top end of the device.
11. The device according to claim 2, wherein the pick section
extends from the body at a point disposed below the top end of the
device.
12. The device according to claim 2, wherein the body section is
offset with respect to the vertical axis of the device.
13. The device according to claim 2, wherein the teeth have a
uniform length.
14. The device according to claim 2, wherein the teeth have varying
lengths.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent
application No. 60/314,620, filed Aug. 24, 2001, which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to the field of hair grooming
devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The comb is an ancient invention. As defined in Webster's
Revised Unabridged Dictionary, a comb is an instrument with teeth,
for straightening, cleansing and adjusting the hair, or for keeping
it in place. Throughout history, combs have been devised in a
multitude of sizes, shapes and materials. In the most typical case,
the standard consists of a spine, or a thin strip, from which a
plurality of parallel teeth extend.
[0004] A hair pick is another example of a hair grooming device
which is structurally and functionally different than the comb. In
general, a hair pick is a hair grooming device for giving lift and
volume to hair. However, specific applications require a hair pick
consisting of a straight or curved elongated member, often with a
pointed end, which is used for fine adjustment, separation and/or
detangling of strands or sections of hair, in particular, braids or
plat-styled hair. As used herein, the term "plat" includes but is
not limited to braids, dreadlocks, cornrows and similar styles
wherein the hair is arranged in a compact and intertwined manner. A
standard comb is ill-adapted for the rigorous task of detangling
plat-styled hair. In response, a number of specialized hair picks,
sometimes known as "debraiders", have been developed. These
debraiders are typically characterized by strong, short pick
sections which are sometimes hook-shaped. The "hooking action" of a
hook-type debraider pick allows the pick to remain within a pleat
during a progressive detangling motion along the length of the
pleat. One of these devices is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,307,825.
[0005] A number of combination hair combs and picks have also been
developed. The so-called rattail comb is a standard type
rectangular hair comb consisting of a spine from which the teeth
extend and a pick-shaped handle extending from the spine. The long
axis of the pick handle and the long axis of the spine are
co-extensive. The pick-shaped handle of the rattail comb is quite
long and thin and generally weak. Moreover, it lacks the hooking
action which facilitates debraiding. Accordingly, a rattail style
comb is ill-adapted for the grooming and/or detangling of braids
and otherwise plat-styled hair. Furthermore, the self-use of a
rattail comb to attempt to detangle plat-styled hair also
represents a particular hazard to the self-user since the often
strong force required to detangle the plat could result in the
breakage of the pick from the comb and the accidental injury to the
user.
[0006] Other types of combination hair combs and picks have also
been developed. One example consists of three distinct sections
sharing the same axis or spine: a handle section interposed between
a comb section and a pick section. The pick section consists of
multiple thin, straight pick elements parallel to the long axis of
the combination comb-pick. The teeth of the comb section are
perpendicular to the long axis of the comb and are also
perpendicular to the long axis of the pick section. This example of
a combination comb and pick lacks the hooking action and short
configuration which is advantageous for debraiding plat-styled
hair. Furthermore, their multiple pick elements also detract from
focused debraiding. Moreover, such have a rather elongated
configuration rather than a compact one, since all of component
sections are aligned along their longest axes. This type of
combination comb and pick is disclosed in U.S. D282,293, D282,294
and D330,781.
[0007] In view of the above, there is a need, met by the present
invention, for a combination hair pick and comb advantageously
adapted for both combing and debraiding pleat-styled hair via
hooking action.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention provides an improved combination comb and hair
pick. The combination comb and hair pick of the invention has a
substantially flat configuration and comprises a comb section, a
body section and a pick section. The comb section and the pick
section are separated from one another by the body section. The
body section is sized and configured for holding and handling the
combination comb and hair pick. The comb section comprises a
plurality of substantially parallel teeth continuous with and
extending from the body. The teeth may have the same or varying
length. Each tooth has a free end and a longitudinal axis. The free
ends of the teeth define the bottom end of the device and the
longitudinal axes of the teeth define the vertical axis of the
device.
[0009] The pick section projects from the body section to terminate
in a point or an end-point. The pick section projects from the body
of the device and extends in the direction of the bottom of the
device to form an angle of less than 90 degrees between the
vertical axis of the device and the pick section. The shape of the
pick section is variable provided that it is in a shape which is
suitable and facilitates the hooking action of the pick. In
accordance with various embodiments, the pick section can extend
from the body at a point disposed above the comb section or at a
disposed below the top end of the device. Alternatively, the pick
section is contiguous with and extends from the upper end of the
device.
[0010] The shape of the combined comb and pick of the invention
allows both the picking operation and the combing operation of the
device to be performed by movement of the device in approximately
the same direction. Advantageously, this configuration provides for
hooking of a plat by the pick section of the device while the
device is moved in the direction of its comb section. Further
advantageously, the comb and pick operation of the device of the
invention can be rapidly switched without releasing the device or
radically repositioning the device in the user's hand. This is
achieved by pivoting the device while it is held so that either the
comb section or pick section is brought in contact with a desired
portion of hair.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein
the longitudinal axis of the comb teeth and the vertical axis of
the body section are substantially parallel and wherein the pick
section extends from the top end of the body section toward the
bottom end of the device.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein
the longitudinal axis of the comb teeth and the vertical axis of
the body section are substantially parallel and wherein the pick
section extends from the body at point below the top end of the
device toward the bottom end of the device.
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein
the pick section is at least partly curved toward the bottom end of
the device.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein
the longitudinal axis of the body section of the device is offset
with respect to the longitudinal axes of the comb teeth and wherein
the pick section projects from the top end of the body section
toward the bottom end of the device.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates and embodiment of the invention wherein
the profile of the body section of the device is curved and wherein
the pick section of the device is slightly curved.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The invention provides an improved combination comb and hair
pick. In one embodiment of the invention, the combination comb and
hair pick has an at least substantially flat configuration
comprising a substantially flat front and back surface. In another
embodiment of the invention, either or both of the substantially
flat surfaces of the device may be contoured or textured to
facilitate more comfortable and controlled handling of the
device.
[0017] The device has a top end, a bottom end and a vertical axis.
The top end can be in any shape, e.g., substantially flat or
substantially convex. The hair grooming device of the invention
comprises a body section, a comb section and a pick section. The
comb section and the pick section are separated from one another by
the body section. The body section is sized and configured for
handling the combination comb and hair pick. Since the size of the
human hand varies among individuals, the devices of the invention
can be provided in various sizes, for example, to correspond to
small, medium and large-sized hands.
[0018] The comb section comprises a plurality of substantially
parallel teeth contiguous with and extending from the body. Each
tooth has a free end and a longitudinal axis. The free ends of the
define the bottom end of the device and the longitudinal axes of
the teeth define the vertical axis of the device.
[0019] The pick section is contiguous with and extends from the
body toward, or in the direction of, the bottom end of the device
to form an angle of less than 90 degrees with the axes of the comb
teeth. This configuration provides structural and functional
advantages to the invention. Structurally, the combination comb and
pick of the invention is compact and sturdy enough to withstand the
forces associated with debraiding. Additionally, the configuration
facilitates both the picking operation and the combing operation of
the device to be performed by movement of the device in
approximately the same direction. The comb and pick operation of
the device of the invention can be rapidly switched without
releasing the device or radically repositioning the device in the
user's hand. This is achieved by pivoting the device while it is
held so that either the comb section or pick section is brought in
contact with the desired portion of hair. Hence, the compact
structural design of the invention advantageously speeds the entire
debraiding process while providing ergonomically correct and
comfortable handling for the user.
[0020] The invention will now be described with reference to the
accompanying figures.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention comprising
a comb section 101, a body section 102 and a pick section 103. the
comb section comprises a plurality of parallel teeth. The free ends
of the teeth define the bottom end of the device. In this
embodiment, the shape of the top end of the device is substantially
flat and the pick section extends from the top end. Parallel lines
104 and 105 illustrate the longitudinal axes of the teeth of the
comb section, respectively. Line 106 shows the vertical axis of the
body which is parallel to the longitudinal axes of the teeth. Angle
107 is the angle formed between the vertical axis of the body and
the longitudinal axis of the pick section. According to the
invention, angle 107 is less than 90 degrees. Thus, at least part
of the pick section always points downward, i.e., toward the bottom
end of the device. Advantageously, therefore, a compact hook-type
configuration is formed.
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein
the longitudinal axis of the comb teeth and the vertical axis of
the body section are co-extensive and wherein the pick section
extends from the body section at a point disposed below the top end
of the device.
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention similar to
that shown in FIG. 2, but wherein the pick section is at least
partly curved. In accordance with this embodiment, the pick section
initially emerges from the body section of the device at an angle
of 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axes of the comb
teeth, but thereafter curves toward the bottom end of the device.
FIG. 3 also illustrates that the pick section of the device need
not have a pointed end but can also have, for example, a flat-ended
or blunted tip.
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein
the vertical axis of the body section of the device is offset with
respect to the longitudinal axes of the comb teeth and wherein the
pick section emerges from the upper end of the body section.
[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention similar to
that shown in FIG. 4, but wherein the profile of the body section
of the device is curved rather than straight and wherein the pick
section of the device is slightly curved
[0026] The device may be constructed of a variety of materials
including, but not limited to: metal, wood, ceramic, natural and
synthetic polymers/plastics, e.g., thermoplastic polymers and
thermosetting polymers, with and without reinforcements, such as
glass fibers.
[0027] It is understood that the above described examples of the
invention are illustrative only and that the invention is not
limited to these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention is to be determined solely in connection with the
accompanying claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *