U.S. patent application number 10/747714 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-30 for hairbrush with thermochromic filaments and the method of manufacturing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Wessen Industrial Limited. Invention is credited to Su, Yu Hong, Yeung, Tze Fung.
Application Number | 20050138747 10/747714 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34700786 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050138747 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Su, Yu Hong ; et
al. |
June 30, 2005 |
Hairbrush with thermochromic filaments and the method of
manufacturing the same
Abstract
The present invention relates to a hairbrush with a plurality of
filaments which is formulated by a mixture of thermo-sensitive
color-changing powder and plastic materials, and the color of which
varies with temperature, and the method of manufacturing such
thermochromic filaments. The hairbrush comprises a handle, a head
which has a number of pre-set filament holes on its surface and is
attached to the handle by any convenient means, and a plurality of
filaments which is formulated by extrusion process from plastic
material of 98% to 94% by weight plus a mixture of 2% to 6% by
weight comprising melamine plastics of 6%, latent dye of 4.5%,
fixing agent of 10%, fatty acid of 0.5% and metallic oxide of 79%
by weight and is attached to the filament holes by any convenient
means.
Inventors: |
Su, Yu Hong; (Hong Kong,
HK) ; Yeung, Tze Fung; (Hong Kong, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mr. Eric Chan
42 Pin Oaks Drive
Phoenixville
PA
19460
US
|
Assignee: |
Wessen Industrial Limited
Hong Kong
HK
|
Family ID: |
34700786 |
Appl. No.: |
10/747714 |
Filed: |
December 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/207.2 ;
132/120 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/104 20130101;
A46B 1/00 20130101; A46D 1/00 20130101; A46B 15/0038 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/207.2 ;
132/120 |
International
Class: |
A46B 015/00 |
Claims
1. A hairbrush with a plurality of filaments which can change color
with temperature, comprising: a handle; a head which has a number
of pre-set filament holes on its surface and is attached to the
handle by any convenient means; and a plurality of filaments each
of which is formulated in one piece by extrusion process from
plastic material of 98% to 94% by weight plus a mixture of 2% to 6%
by weight comprising melamine plastics of 6%, latent dye of 4.5%,
fixing agent of 10%, fatty acid of 0.5% and metallic oxide of 79%
by weight, and is attached to the filament holes by any convenient
means.
2. A method of manufacturing filaments for a hairbrush as claimed
in claim 1, comprising the steps of: preparing a thermochromic
composition by feeding melamine plastics of 0.12%, latent dye of
0.09%, fixing agent of 0.2%, fatty acid of 0.01% and metallic oxide
of 1.58% and plastic material of 98% by weight into an extruder of
a monofilament making machine; adding heat to melt the materials;
mixing the materials inside the extruder by spinning to form molten
polymer; using the extruder barrel to push the molten polymer out
through a nozzle plate to form individual uniform wires; submerging
the wires into water for cooling to form strings of filaments;
steaming the filaments in a hot water bath; stretching the
filaments to a desired diameter; winding the annealed filaments on
a winder; and attaching the filaments to the filament holes by any
convenient means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to hairbrushes and more
particularly pertains to a hairbrush with a plurality of filaments
which is formulated by a mixture of thermo-sensitive color-changing
powder and plastic materials, and the color of which varies with
temperature, and the method of manufacturing such thermochromic
filaments.
[0002] Hairbrushes available in the marketplace generally have a
plurality of filaments or bristles which are made of natural
materials such as wood or synthetic materials such as nylons or
polymers of natural and synthetic materials. The filaments or
bristles on a hairbrush not only detangle the hair making it tidy
and smooth, but also stimulate the scalp giving the user a
comfortable feeling and making the hair grow healthily. A hairbrush
is often used to hold the hair in a desired position while using a
hair dryer to blow hot air onto the hair for drying and/or styling.
In order to quickly dry or style the hair, the user commonly
applies a high level of heat to the hair continuously through the
hair dryer, and it is not uncommon to get the hair damaged or even
burnt by the continuous application of high heat onto the hair.
This is especially the case for those with long or thick hair as
when they sense the heat, their hair has already damaged by the hot
air. Therefore, some hairbrushes have their filaments or bristles
coated with a layer of reversibly thermochromic material, for
example, thermochromic material sold under the trademark
"Chromicolor" available from Matsui International Company, Inc.,
and the color of filaments or bristles changes with the surface
temperature thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,226 discloses a hair brush
with bristles and the surface on which the bristles are mounted or
protrude, the outer layer of which is made of reversibly
thermochromic material. However, as the filaments or bristles as
well as the said surface rub against the hair while combing,
frequent use of the hair brush for a long period of time causes the
coating on the filaments or bristles and the surface to wear off by
friction and the filaments or bristles and the surface can no
longer function as a temperature indicator.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In view of the aforesaid disadvantages now present in the
prior art, the present invention provides a hairbrush with a
plurality of filaments, the entirety of which is formulated by a
mixture of thermo-sensitive color-changing powder and plastic
materials, and the color of which varies with temperature, and the
method of manufacturing such thermochromic filaments.
[0004] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a
handle, a head which has a number of pre-set filament holes on its
surface and is attached to the handle by any convenient means, and
a plurality of filaments each of which is formulated in one piece
by extrusion process from plastic material of 98% to 94% by weight
plus a mixture of 2% to 6% by weight comprising melamine plastics
of 6%, latent dye of 4.5%, fixing agent of 10%, fatty acid of 0.5%
and metallic oxide of 79% by weight, and is attached to the
filament holes by any convenient means.
[0005] In a preferred process to manufacture the filaments, a
thermochromic composition is prepared by feeding melamine plastics
of 0.12%, latent dye of 0.09%, fixing agent of 0.2%, fatty acid of
0.01% and metallic oxide of 1.58% and plastic material of 98% by
weight into an extruder of a monofilament making machine; heat is
added to melt the materials; the materials are mixed inside the
extruder by spinning to form molten polymer; the extruder barrel
pushes the molten polymer out through a nozzle plate to form
individual uniform wires; the wires are submerged into water for
cooling to form strings of filaments; the filaments are steamed in
a hot water bath and then stretched to a desired diameter; the
annealed filaments are wound on a winder and then attached to the
filament holes by any convenient means.
[0006] When the filaments are at a temperature under 45.degree. C.,
the filaments will exhibit a certain color.
[0007] When the filaments are heated to a temperature above
45.degree. C., the filaments will exhibit a color change. When the
temperature rises further, the color will become stronger.
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
hairbrush with a plurality of filaments which can change color with
temperature, so as to provide a visual indication of the
temperature of the hair around the hairbrush, thus preventing the
user from overheating the hair and causing damage to it.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
hairbrush with thermochromic filaments of high durability, thus
overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art.
[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
manufacturing method of such thermochromic filaments which is
economical as the filaments are formulated by a mixture of
thermo-sensitive color-changing powder which constitutes only 2% to
6% by weight.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the hairbrush of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the hairbrush generally comprises
a handle 1, a head 2 which has a number of pre-set filament holes 3
on its surface and is attached to the handle 1 by any convenient
means, and a plurality of filaments 4 each of which is formulated
in one piece by extrusion process from plastic material of 98% to
94% by weight plus a mixture of 2% to 6% by weight comprising
melamine plastics of 6%, latent dye of 4.5%, fixing agent of 10%,
fatty acid of 0.5% and metallic oxide of 79% by weight, and is
attached to the filament holes 3 by any convenient means.
[0013] In a preferred process to manufacture the filaments 4, a
thermochromic composition is prepared by feeding melamine plastics
of 0.12%, latent dye of 0.09%, fixing agent of 0.2%, fatty acid of
0.01% and metallic oxide of 1.58% and plastic material of 98% by
weight into an extruder of a monofilament making machine; heat is
added to melt the materials; the materials are mixed inside the
extruder by spinning to form molten polymer; the extruder barrel
pushes the molten polymer out through a nozzle plate to form
individual uniform wires; the wires are submerged into water for
cooling to form strings of filaments 4; the filaments 4 are steamed
in a hot water bath and then stretched to a desired diameter; the
annealed filaments 4 are wound on a winder and then attached to the
filament holes 3 by means of any convenient means. The head 2 with
the filaments 4 on its surface is attached to the handle 1 by means
of any convenient means.
[0014] When the filaments 4 are at a temperature under 45.degree.
C., the filaments 4 will exhibit a purple color. When the filaments
4 are heated to a temperature above 45.degree. C., the filaments 4
will exhibit a color change from purple to red. When the
temperature rises further, the red color will become stronger until
the color becomes dark red, which indicates a temperature above
50.degree. C.
[0015] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and
operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent
from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion
relating to the manner of usage and operation is provided.
[0016] With respect to the above description, it is to be realized
that the optimum relationships for the parts of the invention in
regard to size, shape, form, materials, function and manner of
operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent and obvious
to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to
those illustrated in the drawings and described in the
specification are intended to be encompassed by the present
invention.
[0017] The present invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways. It is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting.
[0018] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *