U.S. patent application number 10/499465 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-05 for device for applying an additive to hair roots.
This patent application is currently assigned to Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.. Invention is credited to Rijskamp, Peter.
Application Number | 20050092340 10/499465 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 20429015 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050092340 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rijskamp, Peter |
May 5, 2005 |
Device for applying an additive to hair roots
Abstract
The invention relates to a device (1) for applying an additive
to hair, comprising a base part (2), an applicator element (3)
which is connected to an additive reservoir (4) and has at least
one outlet opening (5) for applying additive to the hair during
operation, a hair parting element (6) for parting the hair during
operation, having an end surface (7) near said outlet opening (5),
and an operating direction (8) in which the device (1) is moved
during operation. At least a portion (9) of the hair parting
element (6) adjoining the end surface (7) has a substantially
wedge-shaped cross-section (10) with a tip (11) extending
practically in the operating direction (8), the outlet opening (5)
being provided behind the tip (11), as viewed in the operating
direction (8). The device according to the invention enables
effective application of additive to the roots of the hair in a
user-friendly manner.
Inventors: |
Rijskamp, Peter; (Singapore,
SG) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
Corporate Patent Counsel
PO Box 3001
Briarcliff Manor
NY
10510
US
|
Assignee: |
Koninklijke Philips Electronics
N.V.
|
Family ID: |
20429015 |
Appl. No.: |
10/499465 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
December 18, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB02/05617 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/112 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 24/22 20130101;
A45D 19/02 20130101; A45D 19/0083 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/112 |
International
Class: |
A45D 024/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2001 |
WO |
PCT/SG01/00265 |
Claims
1. A device (1) for applying an additive to hair, comprising: a
base part (2); an applicator element (3) which is connected to an
additive reservoir (4) and has at least one outlet opening (5) for
applying additive to the hair during operation; a hair parting
element (6) for parting the hair during operation, having an end
surface (7) near said outlet opening (5); and an operating
direction (8) in which the device (1) is moved during operation;
characterized in that at least a portion (9) of the hair parting
element (6) adjoining the end surface (7) has a substantially
wedge-shaped cross-section (10) with a tip (11) extending
practically in the operating direction (8), the outlet opening (5)
being provided behind the tip (11), as viewed in the operating
direction (8).
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said
portion (9) of the hair parting element (6) adjoining the end
surface (7) extends at least as far as the outlet opening (5), as
viewed in the operating direction (8).
3. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
portion (9) of the hair parting element (6) adjoining the end
surface (7) has walls (12) enclosing a hollow space (13) between
the tip (11) and the outlet opening (5).
4. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a
distribution member (18) is provided behind the portion (9) of the
hair parting element (6) adjoining the end surface (7), as viewed
in the operating direction (8).
5. A device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said
distribution member (18) comprises a plurality of pins (28).
6. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a
plurality of applicator elements (3) and a plurality of hair
parting elements (6) are provided in a predetermined arrangement on
the base part (2).
7. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the end
surface (7) comprises a curved surface.
8. An electrical apparatus for the colouring of hair (31),
comprising electrical pumping means (32), power supply means (33),
and a device (1) for applying a colouring additive to hair, which
device comprises a base part (2), an applicator element (3) which
is connected to an additive reservoir (4) and has at least one
outlet opening (5) for applying additive to the hair during
operation, a hair parting element (6) for parting the hair during
operation, having a end surface (7) near said outlet opening (5),
and an operating direction (8) in which the device (1) is moved
during operation, characterized in that said device (1) for
applying a colouring additive to hair is a device as claimed in any
of the preceding claims.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a device for applying an additive
to hair, comprising a base part, an applicator element which is
connected to an additive reservoir and has at least one outlet
opening for applying additive to the hair during operation, a hair
parting element for parting the hair during operation, having an
end surface near said outlet opening, and an operating direction in
which the device is moved during operation.
[0002] The invention also relates to an electrical apparatus for
the colouring of hair, comprising electrical pumping means, power
supply means, and a device for applying a colouring additive to
hair, which device comprises a base part, an applicator element
which is connected to an additive reservoir and has at least one
outlet opening for applying additive to the hair during operation,
a hair parting element for parting the hair during operation,
having an end surface near said outlet opening, and an operating
direction in which the device is moved during operation.
[0003] A device of the type defined in the opening paragraph is
known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,247. This known device is a device
for applying a hair colouring additive to hair. In this known
device the applicator element and the hair parting element are
comprised in one elongate pin which comprises an outlet opening and
has a spherical end surface. Said pin comprises a transport channel
in connection with an additive reservoir for transporting additive
from the additive reservoir to the outlet opening, which channel
extends in the longitudinal direction of the pin. During operation,
the device is moved by the user in the operating direction to part
the hair and to apply the additive from the additive reservoir to
the hair via the outlet opening, both by means of said pin.
[0004] A drawback of the known device is that it is cumbersome for
a user to apply the additive effectively to the roots of the hair
by means of the device. Especially in hair colouring it is
important that the hair colouring additive is effectively applied
also to the roots, to obtain a satisfactory overall colouring
result. The user has to move the known device in circular massaging
movements across the scalp to make sure that the additive
effectively reaches the roots of the hair. This way of handling the
device is not comfortable for the user operating the device on her
or his own head and may, furthermore, cause the hair to become
entangled.
[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a device for
applying an additive to hair which enables effective application of
additive to the roots of the hair in a user-friendly manner. To
achieve this object, a device for applying an additive to hair
according to the invention is characterized in that at least a
portion of the hair parting element adjoining the end surface has a
substantially wedge-shaped cross-section with a tip extending
practically in the operating direction, the outlet opening being
provided behind the tip, as viewed in the operating direction. When
the device is moved in the operating direction, said portion of the
hair parting element adjoining the end surface parts the hairs at a
location close to the scalp. In this manner the roots of the hairs
are effectively exposed by the hair parting element, and the
additive coming out of the outlet opening provided behind the tip
can be applied directly to the exposed hair roots. Effective
application of additive to the roots is thus achieved, while the
user can use the device in a comfortable manner without having to
perform cumbersome movements with the device.
[0006] An embodiment of a device for applying an additive according
to the invention is characterized in that said portion of the hair
parting element adjoining the end surface extends at least as far
as the outlet opening, as viewed in the operating direction. Since
said portion extends as far as the location of the outlet opening,
it is ensured that the additive coming out of the outlet opening is
applied directly to those hair roots which are exposed by the hair
parting element.
[0007] An embodiment of a device for applying an additive according
to the invention is characterized in that the portion of the hair
parting element adjoining the end surface has walls enclosing a
hollow space between the tip and the outlet opening. When the hairs
are parted by the hair parting element and the roots are exposed,
this hollow space serves as a guide for the additive coming out of
the outlet opening, thus ensuring proper application of the
additive to the roots.
[0008] An embodiment of a device for applying an additive according
to the invention is characterized in that a distribution member is
provided behind the portion of the hair parting element adjoining
the end surface, as viewed in the operating direction. After the
additive has been applied via the outlet opening, this distribution
member distributes the additive further over the hair.
[0009] It is advantageous when the distribution member comprises a
plurality of pins. These pins comb the hairs after application of
the additive thus distributing the additive effectively through the
hair.
[0010] An embodiment of a device for applying an additive according
to the invention is characterized in that that a plurality of
applicator elements and a plurality of hair parting elements are
provided in a pre-determined arrangement on the base part. In this
manner the additive can be applied effectively and quickly to large
areas of the head of a user at once. The arrangement of the
applicator elements and the hair parting elements may be chosen to
fit a specific type of device which may be, for example, dependent
on the type of additive to be applied with the device or on the
type of hair.
[0011] An embodiment of a device for applying an additive according
to the invention is characterized in that the end surface comprises
a curved surface. In this manner any contact occurring between the
end surface and the scalp of the user during use of the device
causes as little discomfort as possible for the user.
[0012] According to the invention, an electrical apparatus for the
colouring of hair as mentioned in the opening paragraph is
characterized in that the device for applying a colouring additive
to hair is a device according to the invention. The advantages of
an electrical apparatus for the colouring of hair, such as a
uniform discharge of additive by means of an electrically driven
electrical pumping means for transporting additive from the
reservoir to the outlet opening, are enhanced by the advantage of
effective and easy application of additive to the roots, as offered
by the device according to the application. The electrical
apparatus for the colouring of hair according to the invention thus
offers effective colouring of hair in a user-friendly manner.
[0013] The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter
with reference to the drawings, in which
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an electrical apparatus
for the colouring of hair according to the invention, comprising an
embodiment of a device for applying an additive to hair according
to the invention,
[0015] FIG. 2a shows a schematic view of a detail of the device
shown in FIG. 1 for applying an additive to hair during operation,
and
[0016] FIG. 2b shows a perspective view of a detail of the device
shown in FIG. 1 for applying an additive to hair during
operation.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows an electrical apparatus for the colouring of
hair 31 according to the invention, comprising electrical pumping
means 32, power supply means 33, and an embodiment of a device 1
for applying an additive to hair according to the invention. The
device 1 comprises a base part 2 and a plurality of applicator
elements 3 which are connected to an additive reservoir 4. Each
applicator element 3 has an outlet opening 5 for applying additive
to the hair during operation. The electrical pumping means 32 in
this embodiment comprise an electrically driven piston which urges
the additive from the additive reservoir 4 to the outlet openings
5. Such electrical pumping means are known per se and, therefore,
are not further elucidated here nor shown in detail in the Figure.
It is to be noted that other types of known electrical pumping
means may be applied in the electrical apparatus for the colouring
of hair 31 according to the invention. The power supply means 33 in
this embodiment comprise batteries, but may also comprise other
known types of power supply means.
[0018] The device 1 also comprises a plurality of hair parting
elements 6 for parting the hair during operation, each having an
end surface 7 near the outlet opening 5. As can be seen in FIG. 1
and in more detail in FIG. 2a, a portion 9 of the hair parting
element 6 adjoining the end surface 7 has a substantially
wedge-shaped cross-section 10 with a tip 11 extending practically
in the operating direction 8. The outlet opening 5 is provided
behind the tip 11, as viewed in the operating direction 8. During
operation, the device 1 is moved over the head in the operating
direction 8. As can be seen in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the hairs 50 are
effectively parted near the scalp of the user by the wedge-shaped
portion 9, and the roots 51 of the hairs 50 are thus effectively
exposed. The additive which is discharged from the outlet opening 5
(denoted by arrows in FIGS. 2a and 2b) directly reaches the roots
51 of the hairs 50. In this manner the additive is applied
effectively and quickly to the roots of the hair. The device can be
handled in a comfortable manner by the user, even when using it on
her or his own head, since no additional cumbersome movements are
needed to apply the additive effectively to the roots of the
hair.
[0019] It is to be noted that the hair parting element 6 may
comprise various shapes of cross-section, as long as at least the
portion 9 adjoining the end surface 7 has a substantially
wedge-shaped cross-section 10 with a tip 11 extending practically
in the operating direction 8. The remainder of the hair parting
element 6 may also comprise a wedge-shaped cross-section but may
also comprise a cross-section of a different shape, such as a
circular cross-section.
[0020] Furthermore, the portion of the hair parting element
adjoining the end surface 7 extends at least as far as the outlet
opening 5, as viewed in the operating direction 8. In this
embodiment said portion extends even further than the outlet
opening 5, as can be seen in FIG. 2a. In this manner it is ensured
that, when during movement of the device 1 over the head a certain
portion of the hair is parted near the scalp by the wedge-shaped
cross-section 10, said portion of the hair is maintained parted at
least until said portion is reached by the outlet opening 5. This
further enhances the effective application of additive to the roots
51 of the hair.
[0021] In this embodiment the portion 9 of the hair parting element
6 adjoining the end surface 7 also has walls 12 enclosing a hollow
space 13 between the tip 11 and the outlet opening 5. When the
hairs 50 are parted and the roots 51 are exposed by the hair
parting element 6, the additive is discharged from the outlet
opening 5. The walls 12 enclosing the hollow space 13 guide the
additive discharged from the outlet opening to the exposed roots
present beneath the hollow space 13, and ensure that the additive
is kept as much as possible within the hollow space 13 during
operation. This further enhances the effective application of
additive to the exposed hair roots.
[0022] FIGS. 1 and 2a show that a distribution member 18,
comprising three pins 28 in this embodiment, is provided behind the
portion 9 of each hair parting element 6 adjoining the end surface
7, as viewed in the operating direction 8. When the additive has
been applied to the exposed hair roots via the outlet opening 5,
these pins 28 provide further combing of the hairs to further
spread the additive among the hairs.
[0023] It is advantageous when a plurality of applicator elements 3
and a plurality of hair parting elements 6 are provided in a
pre-determined arrangement on the base part 2. The arrangement of
the applicator elements and the hair parting elements on the base
part may be chosen in designing the device so as to fit a specific
type of device. The arrangement of the applicator elements and the
hair parting elements on the base part may for example, be chosen
in dependence on the type of additive to be applied by means of the
device. In this embodiment the elements are arranged in line, so
that the additive is applied and distributed over a relatively
large distance. However, other arrangements such as, for example, a
circular arrangement are, of course, also possible.
[0024] As can be seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2b, the end surface 7
comprises a curved surface. In this manner said end surface
contacts the scalp of the user during operation in a manner which
is more comfortable for the user.
[0025] It is to be noted that the use of the device according to
the invention is not limited to use in an apparatus for applying an
additive to hair which is electrically driven. It may also be
advantageously used in an apparatus for applying an additive to
hair which comprises manually driven pumping means such as, for
example, a manually driven piston construction or a squeezable
bottle.
[0026] It is observed that the device for applying an additive to
hair according to the invention is especially suitable for the
effective application of a colouring additive. However, said device
is also suitable for effective application of other additives such
as, for example, hair lotion, hair tonic or hair conditioner. It is
also very suitable for the application of additives having a
firming effect on the hairs; generally speaking such additives
should also be applied as effectively as possible to the roots of
the hair so as to achieve a good styling result.
[0027] It is furthermore observed that the additive reservoir may
be refillable with additive when it has become empty after use, or
may be detachably mounted in the device to be replaceable by a new
reservoir.
* * * * *