U.S. patent application number 11/154295 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-02 for touch up/moustache hair fluid applicator.
This patent application is currently assigned to New Basics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lorrayne Y. Chu, May Mu.
Application Number | 20060021628 11/154295 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32682006 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060021628 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mu; May ; et al. |
February 2, 2006 |
Touch up/moustache hair fluid applicator
Abstract
A hair fluid applicator dispensing member for dispensing a fluid
includes a body having a proximate end and a distal end and a
bendable neck disposed between the proximate end and the distal
end. The dispensing member also includes a plurality of bristles
extending from the distal end. One or more orifices can be provided
in the distal end that are fluidly connectable to the fluid during
dispensing of the fluid. In other embodiments, the distal end
includes a plurality of bristles with at least one of the bristles
including an orifice that is fluidly connectable to the fluid
during dispensing of the fluid. The fluid can include at least one
of dye, colorant, shampoo, conditioner, and hair straightener.
Inventors: |
Mu; May; (Carlisle, MA)
; Chu; Lorrayne Y.; (West Newton, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAMILTON, BROOK, SMITH & REYNOLDS, P.C.
530 VIRGINIA ROAD
P.O. BOX 9133
CONCORD
MA
01742-9133
US
|
Assignee: |
New Basics, Inc.
Boston
MA
02210
|
Family ID: |
32682006 |
Appl. No.: |
11/154295 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/US03/40299 |
Dec 17, 2003 |
|
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11154295 |
Jun 15, 2005 |
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60434192 |
Dec 17, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/116 ;
132/114 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/1046 20130101;
A46B 2200/104 20130101; A45D 19/0066 20210101; A45D 19/02 20130101;
A46B 11/0013 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/116 ;
132/114 |
International
Class: |
A45D 24/22 20060101
A45D024/22 |
Claims
1. A hair fluid applicator dispensing member for dispensing a
fluid, comprising: a body having a proximate end and a distal end
and a bendable neck disposed between the proximate end and the
distal end; and a plurality of bristles extending from the distal
end.
2. The dispensing member of claim 1, further comprising one or more
orifices in the distal end fluidly connectable to the fluid during
dispensing of the fluid.
3. The dispensing member of claim 1, wherein the distal end
includes a plurality of bristles, at least one of the bristles
including an orifice that is fluidly connectable to the fluid
during dispensing of the fluid.
4. The dispensing member of claim 1, further comprising one or more
orifices in the distal end fluidly connectable to the fluid during
dispensing of the fluid, the distal end also including a plurality
of bristles, at least one of the bristles including an orifice that
is fluidly connectable to the fluid during dispensing of the
fluid.
5. The hair fluid applicator of claim 1, wherein the fluid includes
at least one of dye, colorant, shampoo, conditioner, and hair
straightener.
6. A hair fluid applicator, comprising: a collapsible fluid
container for containing a fluid, the fluid container having an
open end for allowing egress of the fluid; a compressible air
container encasing a majority of the fluid container; a one-way air
valve configured to allow air into the air container and to prevent
air from exiting therefrom; a dispensing member having a proximate
end attachable to the air container and a distal end having at
least one orifice in fluid communication with the open end of the
fluid container, there being a bendable neck disposed between the
proximate end and the distal end; and a one-way fluid valve
disposed between the open end of the fluid container and the
dispensing member, the one-way fluid valve allowing egress of the
fluid while preventing fluid from entering the fluid container.
7. The hair fluid applicator of claim 6, wherein the distal end
includes a plurality of bendable bristles.
8. The hair fluid applicator of claim 6, further comprising one or
more orifices in the distal end fluidly connectable to the open end
of the fluid container.
9. The hair fluid applicator of claim 6, wherein the distal end
includes a plurality of bristles, at least one of the bristles
including an orifice that is fluidly connectable to the open end of
the fluid container.
10. The hair fluid applicator of claim 6, further comprising one or
more orifices in the distal end fluidly connectable to the open end
of the fluid container, the distal end also including a plurality
of bristles, at least one of the bristles including an orifice that
is fluidly connectable to the open end of the fluid container.
11. The hair fluid applicator of claim 6, wherein the distal end
includes a plurality of bristles, at least one of the bristles
including an orifice that is fluidly connectable to the open end of
the fluid container.
12. The hair fluid applicator of claim 6, wherein the fluid
includes at least one of dye, colorant, shampoo, conditioner, and
hair straightener.
13. A hair fluid applicator, comprising: a collapsible fluid
container for containing a liquid, the fluid container having an
open end for allowing egress of the liquid; a one-way fluid valve
in communication with the open end of the fluid container for
allowing egress of the liquid; a compressible air container
encasing at least part of the fluid container, the air container
having an open end for receiving the fluid container, the air
container also including a one-way air valve for allowing air into
the air container while preventing air from exiting therefrom; and
a dispensing member connectable to the air container for delivering
fluid to hair to be treated, the dispensing member including one or
more orifices fluidly connected to the fluid container, the
dispensing member also including a proximate end and a distal end
and a bendable neck disposed therebetween; wherein as the air
container is compressed by a user, the fluid container collapses to
force the liquid out of the fluid container.
14. The hair fluid applicator of claim 13, wherein the distal end
includes a plurality of bendable bristles.
15. The hair fluid applicator of claim 13, wherein the distal end
includes a plurality of bristles, at least one of the bristles
including an orifice that is fluidly connectable to the fluid
container.
16. The hair fluid applicator of claim 13, wherein the orifices are
provided in one or more of the bristles.
17. The hair fluid applicator of claim 13, wherein the fluid
includes at least one of dye, colorant, shampoo, conditioner, and
hair straightener.
18. The hair fluid applicator of claim 13, wherein the one-way air
valve includes one or more raised members that can support the
fluid container above a slit in a duckbill valve of the one-way air
valve.
19. The hair fluid applicator of claim 13, wherein the one-way air
valve includes a flange that forms a seal between the fluid
container and the dispensing member.
20. A method of applying a fluid to hair to be treated, comprising:
providing a hair fluid applicator including a dispensing member
that includes a body having a proximate end and a distal end and a
bendable neck disposed between the proximate end and the distal
end, the dispensing member also including a plurality of bristles
extending from the distal end; adjusting the neck to a desired
angle for applying fluid to the hair; and applying fluid to the
hair to be treated through the dispensing member.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT/US03/40299, which designated the United States,
was filed on Dec. 17, 2003, and was published in English, which
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/434,192,
filed Dec. 17, 2002. The entire teachings of International
Application and the U.S. Provisional Application are hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional hair dye applicator devices that utilize a
compressible bottle containing liquid, such as a dye, are well
known in the art. However, such devices typically do not provide
means for controlling application of the fluid to the user's hair
in an acceptable manner. Furthermore, these prior art devices do
not provide means for controlling application of the liquid in a
desired pattern.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A hair fluid applicator dispensing member for dispensing a
fluid is provided that includes a body having a proximate end and a
distal end and a bendable neck disposed between the proximate end
and the distal end. The dispensing member also includes a plurality
of bristles extending from the distal end. One or more orifices can
be provided in the distal end that are fluidly connectable to the
fluid during dispensing of the fluid. In other embodiments, the
distal end includes a plurality of bristles with at least one of
the bristles including an orifice that is fluidly connectable to
the fluid during dispensing of the fluid. The fluid can include at
least one of dye, colorant, shampoo, conditioner, and hair
straightener.
[0004] A hair fluid applicator is also provided that includes a
collapsible fluid container for containing a fluid, the fluid
container having an open end for allowing egress of the fluid. The
applicator also includes a compressible air container encasing a
majority of the fluid container, a one-way air valve configured to
allow air into the air container and to prevent air from exiting
therefrom, and a dispensing member having a proximate end, which is
attachable to the air container, and a distal end. The distal end
can include at least one orifice in fluid communication with the
open end of the fluid container. The dispensing member can also
include a bendable neck disposed between the proximate end and the
distal end. The applicator also includes a one-way fluid valve
disposed between the open end of the fluid container and the
dispensing member. The one-way fluid valve allows egress of the
fluid while preventing fluid from entering the fluid container.
[0005] A method of applying a fluid to hair to be treated is also
provided that includes providing a hair fluid applicator including
a dispensing member that includes body having a proximate end and a
distal end and a bendable neck disposed between the proximate end
and the distal end. The dispensing member also includes a plurality
of bristles extending from the distal end. The method further
includes adjusting the neck to a desired angle for applying fluid
to the hair and applying fluid to the hair to be treated through
the dispensing member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the invention will be apparent from the following more particular
description of various embodiments of the invention, as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters
refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The
drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a touch up/moustache hair
fluid applicator in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing member
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tip of the dispensing
member provided in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tip of the dispensing
member provided in accordance with another embodiment of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the one-way air valve in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a sectional, perspective view of the one-way air
valve illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a one-way fluid valve in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a sectional, perspective view of the one-way fluid
valve illustrated in FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] A description of various embodiments of the invention
follows.
[0016] A touch up/moustache hair fluid applicator 10, which can be
disposable or reusable, is illustrated in FIG. 1. Generally, the
applicator 10 includes an air container 12 that encases at least a
majority of a collapsible fluid container 14 that can contain a
fluid, such as a colorant, dye, shampoo, conditioner, hair
straightener, etc. The air container 12 is resiliently
compressible, i.e., deformable when squeezed, but returns to its
original shape, and can include a one-way air valve 16 for allowing
air into the air container while preventing air from exiting
therefrom. The air container 12 includes an open end 18 couplable
to a dispensing head, head part, brush head, or dispensing member
20 through which the fluid is delivered to hair to be treated. In a
particular embodiment, the dispensing member 20 can be screwed onto
the air container 12 or otherwise affixed thereto. A one-way fluid
valve 22 is disposed between the open end 18 of the air container
12 and the dispensing member 20 for allowing egress of the fluid
from the fluid container 14 while preventing fluid from entering
the fluid container (see, for example, FIG. 47 of U.S. Pat. No.
6,357,449, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by
reference).
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates the dispensing member 20 that includes a
body 26 that can include a bendable neck 19 disposed between a
proximate end 21, which is attachable to the air container 12, and
a tip or distal end 23. A plurality of fine bristles/teeth 24 are
provided at the distal end 23, which is designed to allow the user
to selectively apply fluid to hair to be treated, such as sideburns
and moustaches. The neck 19 can be designed to be bendable similar
to the accordion-type configuration of a bendable straw. In other
embodiments, the neck 19 can include a pivoting mechanism, such as
a ball bearing, to effect the bending of the neck 19. Other
mechanisms can be used to allow the neck 19 to articulate. In a
particular embodiment, the bristles 24 are soft and bendable.
[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the distal end 23 can include a
plurality of orifices 28 that fluidly connect to the fluid
container 14 for delivering fluid to the hair to be treated. In
other embodiments, orifices can be provided at the base and/or
along the shaft of some or all of the bristles 24. FIG. 4
illustrates an embodiment wherein bristles 30 can be provided that
include orifices that are fluidly connectable to the fluid
container 14. In further embodiments, a combination of the bristles
24, 30 can be implemented.
[0019] An embodiment of the one-way air valve 16 is illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6 and includes a duckbill-type valve 32 having a slit
34 through which air is allowed to flow into the air container 12,
although other types of one-way valves can be implemented. The
valve 16 can include raised members or bumpers 36 that support the
fluid container 14 above the slit 34 so that air can flow into the
air container 12. The valve 16 can also include a flange 38 that
snap-fits into the air container 12 and provides a seal.
[0020] An embodiment of a one-way fluid valve 22 (FIGS. 7 and 8)
can include a flange 40 that forms a seal between the fluid
container 14 and the dispensing member 20. The one-way valve 22 can
also include a duckbill-type valve 42 that includes a slit 44 such
that the fluid passes in a one-way direction through the valve 22.
In other embodiments, other types of one-way fluid valves can be
implemented.
[0021] In operation, when the air container 12 is compressed, the
air pressure between the air container and the fluid container 14
increases since the air cannot escape. This increased pressure
collapses the fluid container 14 that pumps fluid up through the
one-way fluid valve 22 into the dispensing member 20 and out
through the orifices 28 and/or bristles 30. When the compression on
the air container 12 is relieved, the one-way fluid valve 22 does
not allow the back flow of fluid to the fluid container 14. Due to
the higher outside pressure, air outside rushes in through the
one-way air valve 16 and enters the space between the two
containers 12, 14 to equalize the pressure.
[0022] With no backflow, the fluid container 14 collapses and by
repeating the steps, fluid continuously flows out of the dispensing
member 20 with every compression until the desired amount of fluid
is evacuated from the fluid container, regardless of the
orientation of the applicator 10. The neck 19 can be bent to allow
the user flexibility in applying the fluid to the hair to be
treated.
[0023] In particular embodiments, the valves 16, 22 can be formed
from a flexible material, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer,
such as silicone. The one-way fluid valve 22 can be formed from a
chemically-resistant material. In specific embodiments, the air
container 12 can be formed from a low density polyethylene and the
dispensing member 20 can be formed from polypropylene. In one
embodiment, the fluid container 14 is formed from a low density
polyethylene/PPO blend.
[0024] Any of the hair fluid applicators disclosed herein can be
used on humans as well as animals, such as a dog.
[0025] While this invention has been particularly shown and
described with references to various embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and details may be made therein without departing from the
scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.
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