U.S. patent application number 10/729857 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-09 for hair brush with a removable ceramic hair pick.
This patent application is currently assigned to CONAIR CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Rizzuto, Leandro JR..
Application Number | 20050121049 10/729857 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34634056 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050121049 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rizzuto, Leandro JR. |
June 9, 2005 |
Hair brush with a removable ceramic hair pick
Abstract
A brush has a head with a number of bristles connected to a
handle with a distal end and a proximal end. The handle has a
hollow interior and an aperture disposed in the distal end. The
aperture is opposite the bristles and a hair pick removably
disposed in the aperture. The hair pick has one or more portions
that are made from a ceramic material.
Inventors: |
Rizzuto, Leandro JR.;
(Sheridan, WY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles N.J. Ruggiero, Esq.
Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, L.L.P.
One Landmark Square, 10th Floor
Stamford
CT
06901-2682
US
|
Assignee: |
CONAIR CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
34634056 |
Appl. No.: |
10/729857 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/147 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/104 20130101;
A45D 2024/005 20130101; A46B 15/00 20130101; A45D 1/00 20130101;
A45D 2200/202 20130101; A45D 24/00 20130101; A45D 8/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/147 |
International
Class: |
A45D 024/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A brush comprising: a handle having a proximal end, a distal end
with an aperture and a hollow interior; a plurality of bristles
being opposite said aperture; and a hair pick being disposed in
said aperture, wherein said hair pick has one or more portions that
are made of ceramic material.
2. The brush of claim 1, wherein said hair pick is a substantially
longitudinal member.
3. The brush of claim 1, wherein said hair pick has a distal end
and a proximal end and a bulbous member connected to said distal
end.
4. The brush of claim 2, wherein said hair pick has an elongated
staff portion connected to a cylindrical portion.
5. The brush of claim 4, wherein said cylindrical portion has a
sheath, said sheath for selectively engaging said aperture of said
handle.
6. The brush of claim 5, wherein said cylindrical portion has a
plurality of grooves disposed thereon.
7. The brush of claim 4, wherein said cylindrical portion of said
hair pick has a first diameter and said staff portion of said hair
pick has a second diameter, said first diameter being greater than
said second diameter, and wherein said aperture of said handle has
a third diameter, said third diameter being complementary in size
to said first diameter so that said hair pick is selectively
engageable in said handle.
8. The brush of claim 5, wherein said sheath is formed of an
elastomeric material,
9. The brush of claim 1, wherein said hair pick is formed entirely
from a ceramic material.
10. The brush of claim 1, wherein said hair pick has a base
material with a ceramic coating on one or more portions of said
base material.
11. The brush of claim 1, wherein said hair pick is formed from a
resilient material and has a layer on said resilient material, said
layer being disposed over a portion of said hair pick, said layer
being a ceramic material.
12. The brush of claim 1, wherein said hair pick is formed from a
resilient material and has a second layer, said second layer being
disposed over a portion of said hair pick being selected from the
group consisting of a staff portion, a hair pick handle, a tip, a
bulbous gripping member, and any combinations thereof.
13. A brush comprising: a handle having a proximal end, a distal
end with an aperture and a hollow interior; a plurality of bristles
being disposed substantially opposite relative to said aperture;
and a hair pick being selectively engageable in said aperture of
said handle, said hair pick having a portion being made from a
material that retains heat.
14. The brush of claim 13, wherein said hair pick is ceramic and
when heated assists in styling of hair.
15. The brush of claim 13, wherein said hair pick emits heat for
styling the hair.
16. The brush of claim 13, wherein said hair pick retains ions for
styling the hair.
17. The brush of claim 13, wherein said hair pick retains infrared
energy for styling the hair.
18. The brush of claim 13, said hair pick has a thermally
non-conductive material around said hair pick for grasping said
hair pick.
19. The brush of claim 13, further comprising a bulbous member
disposed on an end of said hair pick for selectively disengaging
said hair pick from said aperture.
20. A hair pick comprising: a bulbous member; a cylindrical member
being connected to said bulbous member, said cylindrical member
having a coating disposed thereon, said coating being made from a
thermally non-conductive material, said thermally non-conductive
material being an elastomeric material, said coating having a
plurality of grooves disposed thereon, said plurality of grooves
being suitable to grasp and hold the hair pick; and a staff portion
being elongated and connected to said cylindrical member, said
staff portion having a tip opposite said cylindrical member for
picking hair, wherein the hair pick is made from a material for
retaining an energy for an amount of time to style the hair, said
energy being selected from the group consisting of an electric
charge, infrared energy, thermal energy, and any combinations
thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a hairbrush. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a hairbrush having a
hair pick that may be selectively retained in a handle of the
hairbrush. Still more particularly, the hair pick is made of a
suitable material to impart one or more benefits to the hair.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Hair styling products are known in the art. They are
available in a large variety of designs for a number of modes of
styling, such as for example, hair curling. Typically, to achieve a
certain desirable hair curling style, heat is employed. This heat
along with hair product is applied to selective portions of the
hair to achieve tight, loose, large or small curls or other
styling. Hair picks are also known in the art for removing hair
that aggregates on a hairbrush. Hair picks are also known for
styling the hair and providing the stylist with a tool for certain
applications such as for example detangling the hair, teasing the
hair and overall styling of the hair. However, during the hair
curling manipulating, the prior art hair picks can potentially have
one or more detriments.
[0005] First, prior art hair pick are formed from a metal. When
this metal hair pick is placed in proximity to the curling iron,
the metal hair pick will become heated. This heated hair pick can
result in potentially unintentionally heating the scalp of the
individual that the stylist is working on. Moreover, the stylist
may potentially have difficulty manipulating the heated hair
pick.
[0006] Second, the hair pick is typically relatively smaller in
size than a hairbrush and/or curling iron. If placed on a counter,
or dropped during the styling, the hair pick can be potentially
lost very easily. Third, prior art hair picks typically do not
provide any additional styling benefits to the hair. They are
merely used in one or more limited situations such as for
detangling the hair. However, if the hair is very detangled, the
stylist must exert more force to the hair pick to untangle the
detangled hair. This results in an amount of discomfort to the hair
stylist's client. In order to reduce this discomfort, the hair
stylist must employ another device to assist with the entanglement
of the hair. Typically, a hair stylist would utilize an ion
generating device to impart a silky texture or non-static condition
to the hair and to further assist with detangling the hair.
However, the manipulation of the hairbrush, the ion generating
device and the hair pick is difficulty, especially
simultaneously.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for a hair pick that eliminates
one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks and deficiencies of the
prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair
pick that is removably mounted in a hairbrush.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
hair pick that retains heat for application to the hair.
[0010] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a hair pick that distributes heat on the hair.
[0011] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a hair pick that retains infrared energy and later emits the
infrared energy to treat the hair.
[0012] It is still yet another object of the present invention to
provide a hair pick that emits ions to treat the hair.
[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
hair pick improves the texture of the hair.
[0014] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide a hair pick that is made from a ceramic material.
[0015] It is still yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a hair pick that is made from a resilient base material
that has a ceramic coating thereon.
[0016] The above and other objects, advantages and benefits of the
present invention will be understood by reference to the detailed
description provided below and the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hairbrush having a handle
with an aperture and a removable hair pick being disposed in the
aperture.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of a preferred
embodiment of a hairbrush and a removable ceramic pick.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the handle of the
hairbrush of FIG. 1 with the ceramic hair pick being in the
handle.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side view of the ceramic hair pick of FIG. 3
being detached from the handle.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the hair pick
of FIG. 3 being detached from the handle.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a side view of still another embodiment of the
hair pick of FIG. 3 being detached from the handle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1, there
is provided a hair styling assembly of the present invention
generally represented by reference numeral 10. The hair styling
assembly 10 has a brush 12. The brush 12 is shown in a preferred
embodiment as a round vented brush of a generally elongated
cylindrical shape. However, one skilled in the art should
appreciate that the hair styling assembly 10 may be used with a
round brush, a cylindrical shaped brush, a flat hairbrush, a paddle
brush, a spinning brush, a half round brush, a vent brush, a comb,
an all purpose comb, a wide toothed comb, a teasing comb, a rat
tailed comb, a detangling comb and any other hair styling device or
hair styling apparatus known in the art.
[0024] One skilled in the art should appreciate that brush 12 has a
brush head 16. The brush head 16 may be formed in a variety of
diameters. Preferably, the smaller the diameter, the tighter the
curl of the hair. Relatively narrow diameters are especially
effective for creating curls while conversely relatively larger
diameters create looser curls. The brush head 16 is extends about
half way on the hair styling assembly 10 from an end to about a
midpoint on the hair styling assembly. The brush head 16 has a
length suitable to comb or style hair in a comfortable manner and
further to have an adequate number of bristles 14 disposed in
surrounding fashion thereon.
[0025] The brush head 16 has a sleeve 18. The sleeve 18 is disposed
around the brush head 16 in concentric relation to the brush head.
Preferably, the sleeve 18 is formed from a thermally conductive
material such as metal, copper, aluminum, or steel. However, one
skilled in the art should appreciate that the sleeve 18 may be made
from any thermally conductive material known in the art. Although,
the sleeve 18 is shown as completely surrounding the brush head 16,
alternatively the sleeve may only surround a radial portion of the
brush head such as three quarters of the brush head, half of the
brush head or a quarter of the brush head. Due to the thermally
conductive nature of the sleeve 18, the sleeve is preferably heated
upon contact with heated air from a heat source such as a hair
dryer. In this manner, the sleeve 18 is heated and the brush head
16 may assist with curling the hair being brushed to form one or
more curls.
[0026] The sleeve 18 has a number of apertures 20 being disposed
therethrough. Preferably, a number of bristles 14 extend outwardly
opposite the brush head 16 through the number of apertures 20. The
number of apertures 20 preferably facilitate drying of the hair
when using the hair styling assembly 10 with the hair dryer. The
number of apertures 20 preferably permit the heated air to traverse
through the sleeve 18 and out the opposite side of the brush head
16 to contact and dry the hair that is being brushed on the
opposite side. This decreases an amount of time necessary to dry
the hair as the number of apertures 20 facilitate the circulation
of the heated air relative to an instance where the brush head 16
blocks an air flow path. Here, the path of the heated air traverses
through a front side of the sleeve 18 and out a rear side of the
sleeve.
[0027] The number of bristles 14 may be boar's head bristles, nylon
bristles, heat resistant bristles or any other suitable material
known in the art for brushing the hair in a comfortable manner. The
number of bristles 14 are arranged, as shown in FIG. 1, extending
in all directions, preferably three hundred and sixty degrees
surrounding the brush 12. Preferably, this brush 12 and the number
of bristles 14 are used during the various stages of
blow-drying.
[0028] The hair styling device 10 has a handle 22. The handle 22 is
preferably an elongated cylindrical member removably or fixedly
connected, preferably fixedly, to the brush head 16 and is
lightweight to allow manipulation of the brush head. Although,
shown as generally cylindrical, one skilled in the art should
appreciate that the handle 22 may be generally rectangular or have
any other shape known in the art. The handle 22 has an interior
space 24 with a volume as shown in FIG. 2.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a hair pick being
detached from the hair styling device 10. The handle 22 has a
length 26 and a diameter 28. The length 26 and diameter 28 of the
handle 22 are suitably sized to be capable of being grasped by the
stylist. The diameter 28 is preferably measured from an inner
surface of an aperture 38. The handle 22 is shown as being formed
from a resilient material such as wood. Alternatively, the handle
22 may be formed from any material being known in the art such as a
thermoplastic, a thermoset, a polymer material, a metal, steel,
aluminum or any combinations thereof. Preferably, the handle 22 has
a distal side 30 and a proximal side 32 being opposite the distal
side. Preferably, the brush head 16 is connected to the handle 22
at the proximal side 32. In this embodiment, the handle 22 has a
bulbous feature 34 at the proximal side 32 that allows a thumb to
rest thereon. The bulbous feature preferably is aesthetically
pleasing. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the
proximal side 32 of the handle 22 may be shaped in any manner known
in the art.
[0030] The distal side 30 of the handle 22 further has an end 36.
The end 36 preferably has the aperture 38, preferably a circular
aperture therein. The aperture 38 permits access to the interior
space 24 of the handle 22.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 3, the interior space 24 has a length 40.
The length 40 preferably extends about halfway up the length 26 of
the handle 22 as shown in FIG. 2. However, one skilled in the art
should recognize that the interior space 24 is of a suitable size
to fit a longitudinal member therein.
[0032] The hair styling device 10 further has a hair pick 44. The
hair pick 44 is preferably an elongated cylindrical member having
preferably a dual function. First, the hair pick 44 preferably
allows the stylist to remove stray hair that aggregates on the
number of bristles 14 on the brush head 16 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
In this manner, the hair pick 44 may be grasped by the user,
removed from the interior space 24, and manipulated such that the
aggregated stray hair is removed from the brush head 16.
[0033] Second, the hair pick 44 may be used for styling purposes
such as detangling the hair and simultaneously imparting one or
more styling benefits to the hair. Preferably, the hair pick 44
improves the hair texture during a styling operation such as hair
drying, hair curling, hair brushing, hair washing, hair teasing, or
combing. Additionally, the hair pick 44 may act as a comb to
straighten tangled hair. Still further, the hair pick 44 may be
formed from a suitable material to retain heat, ions, infrared
radiation and impart that energy to improve the hair texture.
[0034] Referring again to FIG. 3, the hair pick 44 is preferably
selectively engageable and disengagebale in the hair styling
assembly 10. The hair pick 44 preferably has a complementary width
46 relative to the diameter 28 of the aperture 38 of the interior
space 24. In this manner, the hair pick 44 fits in the aperture 38
and is selectively retained in the interior space 24 of the handle
22.
[0035] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
hair pick 44 has a hair pick handle 48, a staff portion 50, and a
bulbous gripping member 52. The hair pick handle 48 is preferably a
cylindrical shaped member having a hair pick handle diameter or
width 46 being shown in FIG. 3. The hair pick handle 48 is
preferably connected between the staff portion 50 and the bulbous
gripping member 52. The hair pick handle 48 preferably has the
width 46 that is greater than a diameter of the staff portion
50.
[0036] Preferably, the hair pick handle 48 further has a sheath 56
that is disposed around the hair pick handle. The sheath 56 is
preferably has a higher coefficient of friction relative to the
hair pick handle 48 so that the sheath rubs up against the interior
space 24 of the handle 22. Thus, the hair pick 44 can be retained
against an interior wall or surface of the interior space 24 of the
handle 22 and will not fall out of the handle for storage purposes
when not in use during, for example, styling.
[0037] The sheath 56 is preferably an elastomeric material such as
a thermoplastic elastomer, a polyurethane material, rubber, or any
combinations thereof. However one skilled in the art should
appreciate that the sheath 56 may be any material known in the art
to facilitate gripping of the hair pick handle 48, the bulbous
gripping member 52, the staff portion 50 and also simultaneously
grip the interior wall of the interior space 24. The sheath 56
preferably also has a number of grooves 58 being disposed thereon.
The number of grooves 58 are arranged as a series of spaced
circular shaped furrows or channels that extend entirely along a
circumference of the sheath 56. However, one skilled in the art
should appreciate that the number of grooves 58 may be in any
pattern or configuration to facilitate gripping of the hair pick
handle 48.
[0038] Additionally, the sheath 56 preferably is formed from a
thermally nonconductive material. Preferably, the hair pick 44 is
typically involved in styling hair using for example a curling iron
or a hair dryer both that emit heat. This may cause the hair pick
44 to become heated and remain hot and difficult to hold. The
sheath 56 is preferably formed from a thermally nonconductive
material and preferably surrounds the hair pick handle 48. Thus,
the sheath 56 protects the fingers of the stylist that grips the
hair pick 44.
[0039] The hair pick handle 48 is preferably connected to the
bulbous gripping member 52 at an end opposite the staff portion 50.
Preferably, the bulbous gripping member 52 is spherical in shape
and has a diameter 60. The diameter 60 is about the same as the
hair pick handle diameter or width 46. Preferably, the bulbous
gripping member 52 has substantially the same size as that of the
hair pick handle 48 and facilitates the initial removal of the hair
pick 44 from the interior space 24 of the hair styling assembly
10.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 4, the hair pick handle 48 narrows in
width and is further integrally connected to the staff portion 50
opposite the bulbous gripping member 52. The staff portion 50 is
preferably a generally elongated member having a tip 62. The tip 62
preferably is a pointed end of the staff portion 50 opposite the
hair pick handle 48 and also opposite the bulbous gripping member
52. Preferably, the tip 62 and the staff portion 50 are both
resilient members and are suitable to detangle hair while
simultaneously provide styling benefits to the client.
[0041] The staff portion 50 further has an intermediate portion 64
with a width 66. The width 66 of the staff portion 50 at the
intermediate portion 64 is relatively wider than that of a width of
the tip 62 or an end opposite the tip connected to the hair pick
handle 48. This width 66 facilitates detangling the hair and
simultaneously styling attributes of the hair pick 44.
[0042] An exemplary feature of the present invention is that the
hair pick 44 is made from a suitable material to absorb energy
emitted from hair styling devices and further retain and impart
this energy to the hair to be treated.
[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention, the hair pick 44
is formed from a solid ceramic material. Preferably, the hair pick
44 may be made from the solid ceramic material or alternatively a
resilient base material, such as a metal or a plastic being coated
with a ceramic carrying paint. In a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the ceramic carrying paint is selected for
optimal heat absorption and is selected for optimal conductivity.
Preferably, the ceramic carrying paint is further selected for
other parameters such as cost, and durability that are also weighed
in addition to the optimal heat absorption and optimal
conductivity. In this ceramic carrying paint embodiment of the hair
pick 44, preferably smaller particles of ceramic material are
contained in the ceramic carrying paint. These relatively smaller
particles of ceramic material in the ceramic carrying paint allow
for a relatively higher concentration of ceramic material to be
contained in the ceramic carrying paint relative to an instance of
where larger particle are used. Preferably, a smaller particle size
of the ceramic material in the ceramic carrying paint further
minimizes granularity or a surface roughness of an outer surface of
the hair pick 44. This minimal surface roughness is preferred and
results in a smooth outer surface to the hair pick 44 that aids in
hair styling and texture of the hair. Preferably, the ceramic
material absorbs heat from, for example, a hair dryer or a curling
iron and retains this heat for an extended period of time relative
to the instance of the metal hair picks. Preferably, the heated
hair pick 44 will assist in styling of the hair and for example
facilitate detangling and drying of the hair.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 5, in another exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, the hair pick 44 may be formed from a resilient
base material 68. The resilient base material 68 has a ceramic
coating 70 disposed thereon. The ceramic coating 70 is preferred
since a ceramic coating has superior characteristics for heat
retention and heat distribution relative to the resilient base
material 68. Thus, the ceramic coating 70 improves the styling of
the hair to be treated.
[0045] In another embodiment, of the present invention, the hair
pick 44 is formed from a ceramic material and retains ions. The
ions are generated from a suitable ionic generating device (not
shown) that preferably is separate from the hair styling assembly
10 and hair pick 44. The excess generated ions are transferred to
the hair pick 44 by physical contact between the hair pick and the
ionic generating device. The ions on the hair pick 44 are then
transferred from the hair pick to the hair by a second physical
contact between the hair pick and the hair. This facilitates an
improved texture of the hair and assists, for example, in
detangling purposes.
[0046] In another embodiment of the present invention, the hair
pick 44 has one or more portions of the hair pick 44 that are made
from a ceramic material. These one or more portions preferably
retain infrared radiation for application to the hair to be treated
or styled. The infrared energy is generated from a suitable
infrared generating device that is separate from the hair styling
assembly 10 and the hair pick 44. The infrared energy is
transferred to the hair pick 44 by a suitable manner. The infrared
energy retained in the hair pick 44 is then transferred from the
hair pick to the hair by physical contact between the hair pick and
the hair. This results in improved benefits to the hair such as,
for example, an improved hair texture.
[0047] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention
shown in FIG. 6, the hair pick 44 may only have the tip 62 coated
with the ceramic coating 70. In another alternative embodiment, the
staff portion 50 of the hair pick 44 may be coated with the ceramic
coating 70. Still further, the hair pick handle 48 may be formed
from a resilient material such as a metal and the remainder of the
hair pick may be formed with the ceramic material or may be coated
with the ceramic coating 70. This may reduce the costs associate
with manufacture of the hair pick 44. One skilled in the art should
appreciate that remaining portions of the hair pick 44 that are not
coated may be formed from any suitable material that can withstand
the high temperatures that are associated with the ceramic coating
process. For example, the hair pick 44 may be formed from a metal
material, steel, aluminum or any another material known in the
art.
[0048] It should be understood that the foregoing description is
only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives
and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art
without departing from the present invention. Accordingly, the
present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives,
modifications and variances.
* * * * *