U.S. patent application number 10/967909 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-30 for hair coloring tool.
Invention is credited to McNamara, Helen.
Application Number | 20050139224 10/967909 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29780345 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050139224 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McNamara, Helen |
June 30, 2005 |
Hair coloring tool
Abstract
A hair coloring tool is disclosed that is particularly effective
and efficient in performing foil highlighting and hair coloring.
The hair coloring tool is used to separate and foil hair tufts and
then apply hair coloring agents to the hair tufts. An advantageous
embodiment of the hair coloring tool comprises an elongate body
having a first end and a second end. The first end comprises a thin
metal rod and the second end comprises a plurality of bristles
attached to the second end of the body. The first end of the tool
is used to perform foil highlighting and the second end of the tool
is used to perform hair coloring. A gripping handle between the
first end and the second end facilitates the rotation of the hair
coloring tool as the user alternately uses each end of the hair
coloring tool.
Inventors: |
McNamara, Helen; (Waco,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOCKET CLERK
P.O. DRAWER 800889
DALLAS
TX
75380
US
|
Family ID: |
29780345 |
Appl. No.: |
10/967909 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10967909 |
Oct 18, 2004 |
|
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10249823 |
May 9, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/150 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 19/0066 20210101;
A45D 19/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/150 |
International
Class: |
A45D 024/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hair coloring tool comprising: a body having a first end and a
second end; wherein said first end of said body comprises a thin
metal rod; and wherein said second end of said body comprises a
plurality of bristles attached to said second end of said body.
2. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
plurality of bristles is arranged into a plurality of separate
tufts that project from said second end of said body.
3. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thin
metal rod of said first end of said body has a pointed
terminus.
4. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thin
metal rod has a length in the range of three and three fourths
inches to five and one half inches.
5. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thin
metal rod has a diameter approximately one sixteenth of an
inch.
6. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 2 wherein said body
comprises a generally flat head adjacent to said second end of said
body, wherein said tufts of said bristles are spaced apart along a
single row extending across said head.
7. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
second end of said body comprises portions that form a tapered
handle that connects to said thin metal rod of said first end of
said body.
8. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 1 further
comprising: a gripping handle located between said thin metal rod
of said first end of said body and said second end of said
body.
9. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 8 wherein said
gripping handle is thicker than a thickness of said second end of
said body.
10. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 8 wherein said
gripping handle comprises a plurality of gripping ridges.
11. A hair coloring tool comprising: a body having a first end and
a second end and a gripping handle located between said first end
and said second end; wherein said first end of said body comprises
a thin metal rod; and wherein said second end of said body
comprises a plurality of bristles attached to said second end of
said body.
12. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein said
gripping handle is thicker than a thickness of said second end of
said body.
13. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein said
gripping handle comprises a plurality of gripping ridges.
14. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein said
plurality of bristles is arranged into a plurality of separate
tufts that project from said second end of said body.
15. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein said
thin metal rod of said first end of said body has a pointed
terminus.
16. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein said
thin metal rod has a length in the range of three and three fourths
inches to five and one half inches.
17. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein said
thin metal rod has a diameter approximately one sixteenth of an
inch.
18. The hair coloring tool as set forth in claim 14 wherein said
body comprises a generally flat head adjacent to said second end of
said body, wherein said tufts of said bristles are spaced apart
along a single row extending across said head.
19. A hair coloring tool comprising: an elongated body presenting
opposite first and second ends; a thin metal rod forming the first
end of the body, said thin metal rod having a pointed terminus; a
plurality of flexible bristles projecting from the body adjacent
the second end thereof; said bristles being arranged into a
plurality of separate tufts projecting from the body; said body
including a generally flat head adjacent said second end, said
tufts projecting from the head and being spaced apart along a
single row extending across said head; and the diameter of the
first end substantially constant along its length and having a
length in the range of three and three fourths inches to five and
one half inches.
20. A hair coloring tool comprising: an elongated body having
opposite first and second ends; the body having a handle portion
that tapers toward the first end, with the first end being a thin
metal rod; the body being relatively larger adjacent the second end
and defining a substantially flat head; the handle portion
extending between the first end and the head for facilitating
gripping by the user; the thin metal rod of the first end having a
pointed terminus, and a length in the range of three and three
fourths inches to five and one half inches; the diameter of the
first end being substantially constant along its length, and being
about one sixteenth of an inch; the material of the first end being
steel; the second end of the body formed of a material chosen from
the group of plastic, wood, and metal; and a plurality of flexible
bristles projecting from the second end of the body arranged in a
single row of separate tufts spaced across the head, the bristles
cooperatively defining an outermost brush edge spaced from the
head.
Description
REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] This patent application is a continuation-in-part of prior
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/249,823 filed on May 9, 2003.
The disclosures in the prior patent application are incorporated
herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth
herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to cosmetic and
beauty supplies. More particularly, the present invention concerns
a hair coloring brush having an improved handle for facilitating
foil highlighting of hair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There are several primary objectives in applying coloring
agents to hair. For example, the coloring agent (typically in the
form of a liquid, paste or gel) must be applied in a manner that
creates a natural appearance. In other words, the application
should have an appearance that resembles natural hair color, rather
than the appearance of manual coloring. One way to enhance the
natural appearance of hair coloring is to avoid lines that clearly
demarcate colored hair from uncolored hair. It is also important
that the coloring application be quick and inexpensive.
Accordingly, the desired natural appearance should not be attained
at the expense of time and money. However, conventional hair
coloring tools have proven to be ineffective in applying coloring
agents in a manner that provides the desired natural appearance,
without sacrificing time and expense.
[0004] Conventional hair coloring tools have a row of substantially
equal length bristles to form a brush, with a tapered handle that
has no use other than as a handle.
[0005] One traditional type of hair coloring technique referred to
as "foil highlighting" involves coloring of only portions of the
hair. The highlighted or colored hair is typically separated from
the rest of the hair by scaling out successive tufts of hair, and a
coloring preparation is then applied to the tufts. Strips of metal
foil are used to separate the treated tufts from the rest of the
hair so as to avoid the highlighting preparation from coming into
contact with the rest of the hair during the time that the
highlighting preparation requires to take effect. After the
highlighting preparation has taken effect the strips of metal foil
are removed and the highlighting preparation rinsed off.
[0006] The conventional manner of carrying out foil highlighting is
as follows. First, a section of hair is scaled out and held between
the first and middle fingers of the hair stylist. The thin
cylindrical tail of a metal tail comb ("rat tail comb") is then
woven through the section and lifted, thereby separating tufts of
hair from the section. The remaining hair of the section is allowed
to fall back onto the head of the person whose hair is being done.
A strip of metal foil is now inserted underneath the separated
tufts, with the foil being firmly advanced and pressed close to the
scalp by use of the metal tail of the comb, whereupon the tufts are
then released so that they fall back onto the foil. The tail comb
is then set down, and a highlighting brush is picked up. A
highlighting preparation is then applied to the separated tufts
with the brush, using the head of the person whose hair is being
done as a support.
[0007] The conventional technique is slow and cumbersome, because
the tail comb must be put down and the highlighting brush picked
up, and then reversed, in alternating use for each tuft. The comb
section of the metal tail comb is not used frequently in the foil
highlighting process, so the process is significantly hampered and
encumbered by the provision of two separate tools for foiling and
color application.
[0008] Therefore, there is a need in the art for a hair coloring
brush with an improved handle for facilitating a foil highlighting
and process and a hair color application process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior
art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a
hair coloring tool that is particularly effective and efficient in
separating and foiling hair tufts, and applying hair coloring
agents to hair tufts, in foil highlighting techniques.
[0010] In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the
hair coloring tool of the present invention comprises an elongated
body having opposite first and second ends. The first end comprises
a thin metal rod for foil highlighting. The second end comprises a
plurality of bristles projecting from the second end of the body
for performing hair coloring. In one advantageous embodiment the
bristles cooperatively present a brush edge, which is particularly
effective in applying coloring agents to the hair in a manner that
creates a natural appearance. The thin metal rod end is preferably
located adjacent to a tapered handle portion of the body.
[0011] In another advantageous embodiment of the present invention,
the hair coloring tool of the present invention comprises an
elongated body having opposite first and second ends with a
gripping handle located between the first and second ends. The
first end comprises a thin metal rod for foil highlighting. The
second end comprises a plurality of bristles projecting from the
second end of the body for performing hair coloring. In one
advantageous embodiment the bristles cooperatively present a brush
edge, which is particularly effective in applying coloring agents
to the hair in a manner that creates a natural appearance.
[0012] The gripping handle permits a user of hair coloring tool to
obtain a firm grip on the central portion of hair coloring tool. As
the user alternately uses the opposite ends of the hair coloring
tool the user continuously rotates the hair coloring tool about an
axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hair
coloring tool. The presence of the gripping handle facilitates the
rotation of hair coloring tool by the user.
[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair
coloring tool that is effective and efficient in separating and
foiling hair tufts, and applying hair coloring agents to hair
tufts, in foil highlighting techniques.
[0014] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a
hair coloring tool that has a gripping handle that facilitates the
rotation of the hair coloring tool by a user.
[0015] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a hair coloring tool that has a thin metal rod having a pointed
terminus for efficiently separating tufts of hair during a foil
highlighting procedure.
[0016] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and
technical advantages of the present invention so that those skilled
in the art may better understand the detailed description of the
invention that follows. Additional features and advantages of the
invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of
the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should
appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the
specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing
other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present
invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such
equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of
the invention in its broadest form.
[0017] Before undertaking the Detailed Description of the Invention
below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain
words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms
"include" and "comprise," as well as derivatives thereof, mean
inclusion without limitation; the term "or,".sup.1 is inclusive,
meaning and/or; the phrases "associated with" and "associated
therewith," as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be
included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within,
connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with,
cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to
or with, have, have a property of, or the like. Definitions for
certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent
document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that
in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior
uses, as well as future uses, of such defined words and
phrases.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] For a more complete understanding of the present invention
and its advantages, reference is now made to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which like reference numerals represent like parts:
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of an advantageous embodiment
of a hair coloring tool constructed in accordance with the
principles of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevation of the hair coloring
tool shown in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of another advantageous
embodiment of a hair coloring tool constructed in accordance with
the principles of the present invention; and
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a side elevation of the hair coloring
tool shown in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] FIGS. 1 through 4 and the various embodiments used to
describe the principles of the present invention in this patent
document are by way of illustration only and should not be
construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those
skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the
present invention may be implemented in any type of suitably
arranged hair coloring tool.
[0024] Turning initially to FIG. 1, hair coloring tool 10 comprises
an elongated body 12 having a first end 16 and a second end 14. The
second end 14 of body 12 is formed having portions that form a
handle that tapers toward the first end 16. The first end 16
comprises a thin metal rod that will be used for purposes that will
subsequently be described.
[0025] The body 12 is relatively larger adjacent the opposite
second end 14 and defines a substantially flat head 18. Extending
between the first end 16 and the head 18 is the handle portion of
second end 14 for facilitating gripping by the user. It will also
be appreciated that the body 12 presents a substantially central
longitudinal axis extending from the first end 16 to the opposite
second end 14.
[0026] The thin metal rod of the first end 16 has a pointed
terminus 20, and preferably a length in the range from three and
three fourths inches (3.75 inches) to five and one half inches (5.5
inches). The pointed terminus 20 facilitates the separation of
individual tufts of hair. The diameter of the thin metal rod of the
first end 16 is substantially constant along its length, and is
preferably about one sixteenth of an inch. Steel is the preferred
material for the thin metal rod of the first end 16.
[0027] The second end 14 of body 12 is formed of any suitable
material, such as injection molded plastic, wood, or metal. When a
wood material is used, the body 12 may be stained or painted. On
the other hand, when the body 12 is formed of a plastic material, a
pigment may be added prior to molding for providing the desired
coloring. It is noted that the flat head 18 is well suited for
indicia, such as a trademark or advertising.
[0028] Projecting from the second end 14 of the body 12 is a
plurality of flexible bristles 22 arranged in a single row of
separate tufts spaced across the head 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the
bristles 22 cooperatively define an outermost brush 24 spaced from
the head 18. Each illustrated tuft of bristles has a proximate end
(not shown) fixed by suitable means (e.g., glue) within a
cylindrical opening (also not shown) extending into the head 18. It
is also noted that the preferred tufts have generally the same
overall length.
[0029] In operation, the tool 10 is grasped along the handle
portion 14 while using either the application brush 24 defined by
the bristles 22 or the thin metal rod of the first end 16. Function
can be quickly alternated between foiling with the thin metal rod
of the first end 16 and color application with the application
brush 24 of the second end 14, without having to set down and pick
up separate tools. In these respects, the tool 10 is particularly
useful in efficiently and effectively applying hair coloring agents
to the hair and facilitating foil highlighting.
[0030] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate another embodiment of the hair
coloring tool of the present invention. The hair coloring tool
shown in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4 is designated with reference numeral
30. The hair coloring tool 30 is generally similar in structure to
the hair coloring tool 10. Hair coloring tool 30 comprises an
elongated body 32 having a first end 36 and a second end 34. The
first end 36 comprises a thin metal rod 36 to be used as previously
described with respect to hair coloring tool 10.
[0031] Hair coloring tool 30 also comprises a gripping handle 35
that is located between the first end 36 and the second end 24 of
elongated body 32. As shown in FIG. 4, the thickness of the
gripping handle 35 is thicker than the thickness of the second end
34 of hair coloring tool 30. This permits a user of hair coloring
tool 30 to obtain a firm grip on the central portion of hair
coloring tool 30. As the user alternately uses the opposite ends of
the hair coloring tool 30 the user continuously rotates the hair
coloring tool 30 about an axis that is perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the hair coloring tool 30. The presence of the
gripping handle 35 facilitates the rotation of hair coloring tool
30 by the user.
[0032] Gripping handle 35 is also formed having portions that form
a plurality of gripping ridges 37 in the surface of gripping handle
35. The gripping ridges 37 provide additional gripping surfaces for
the user to contact when gripping the gripping handle 35. The
continuous alternate rotation of hair coloring tool 30 by the user
is facilitated by the use of the gripping handle 35 and its
gripping ridges 37.
[0033] The body 32 is relatively larger adjacent the opposite
second end 34 and defines a substantially flat head 38. It will
also be appreciated that the body 32 presents a substantially
central longitudinal axis extending from the first end 36 to the
opposite second end 34.
[0034] The thin metal rod of the first end 36 has a pointed
terminus 40, and preferably a length in the range from three and
three fourths inches (3.75 inches) to five and one half inches (5.5
inches). The pointed terminus 40 facilitates the separation of
individual tufts of hair. The diameter of the thin metal rod of the
first end 36 is substantially constant along its length, and is
preferably about one sixteenth of an inch. Steel is the preferred
material for the thin metal rod of the first end 36.
[0035] The second end 34 of body 32 is formed of any suitable
material, such as injection molded plastic, wood, or metal. When a
wood material is used, the body 32 may be stained or painted. On
the other hand, when the body 32 is formed of a plastic material, a
pigment may be added prior to molding for providing the desired
coloring. It is noted that the flat head 38 is well suited for
indicia, such as a trademark or advertising.
[0036] Projecting from the second end 34 of the body 32 is a
plurality of flexible bristles 42 arranged in a single row of
separate tufts spaced across the head 38. As shown in FIG. 3, the
bristles 42 cooperatively define an outermost brush 44 spaced from
the head 38. Each illustrated tuft of bristles has a proximate end
(not shown) fixed by suitable means (e.g., glue) within a
cylindrical opening (also not shown) extending into the head 38. It
is also noted that the preferred tufts have generally the same
overall length.
[0037] In operation, the user grasps hair coloring tool 30 by the
gripping handle 35 while using either the application brush 44
defined by the bristles 42 or the thin metal rod of the first end
36. Function can be quickly alternated between foiling with the
thin metal rod of the first end 36 and color application with the
application brush 44 of the second end 34, without having to set
down and pick up separate tools. In these respects, hair coloring
tool 30 is particularly useful in efficiently and effectively
applying hair coloring agents to the hair and facilitating foil
highlighting.
[0038] Although the present invention has been described using
exemplary embodiments, various changes and modifications may be
suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the
present invention encompass such changes and modifications as fall
with the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *