U.S. patent application number 11/336511 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-26 for non-thermal spring grip hair brush.
Invention is credited to Kyung E. Kim.
Application Number | 20070169787 11/336511 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38284335 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070169787 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Kyung E. |
July 26, 2007 |
Non-thermal spring grip hair brush
Abstract
A non-thermal hairstyling brush for wrapping hair around the
brush and holding it in place with a clamp that pivots on the
handle. The brush is used for clamping the hair in place on the
brush while rotating the brush when drying the hair with a separate
hair dryer.
Inventors: |
Kim; Kyung E.; (Santa
Monica, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE, LLP
PO BOX 7068
PASADENA
CA
91109-7068
US
|
Family ID: |
38284335 |
Appl. No.: |
11/336511 |
Filed: |
January 20, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/241 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/104 20130101;
A45D 20/525 20130101; A46B 9/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/241 |
International
Class: |
A45D 2/34 20060101
A45D002/34 |
Claims
1. A non-thermal hairstyling appliance comprising: a brush having
an axis of rotation; a handle affixed to the brush for rotating the
brush about its axis of rotation; a clamp disposed above at least a
portion of the brush and secured adjacent the brush for pivoting
through an angle between an open position spaced from the brush, to
provide a gap between an underside of the clamp and the brush, and
a closed position generally overlying and in contact with the
brush; a push button disposed on a first portion of the handle
behind a pivot axis of the clamp, the push button having an
exterior pressure surface exposed above the handle, an internal
housing portion extending into a recessed area in the handle, and
an internal spring-engaging surface located inside the push button
housing and facing the recessed area of the handle, and a spring
inside the recessed area contacting the internal spring-engaging
surface of the push button so the bias of the spring normally holds
the clamp in the closed position, the push button adapted to pivot
about the pivot axis to move the clamp to its open position under
pressure applied to the external pressure surface of the push
button, the push button moving downwardly into the recessed area
for moving the spring contacting surface against the bias of the
spring, the clamp adapted to pivot to its closed position when
pressure is released from the external pressure surface, allowing
the spring bias applied to the spring-engaging surface to pivot the
clamp about the pivot axis.
2. A non-thermal hairstyling device comprising: an elongated
handle, a brush affixed to the handle for axial alignment with the
handle, a push button projecting from a surface of the handle
behind a pivot axis, a hair clamp affixed to the push button and
disposed over the brush in front of the pivot axis, the push button
projecting into an internal recess in the handle, and a spring
within the internal recess biased against an inside portion of the
push button for holding the clamp in a closed position adjacent the
brush, the clamp pivoting to an open position under pressure
applied to the push button against the bias of the spring, the
spring bias applying a spring pressure to pivot the clamp about the
pivot axis to a closed position when pressure on the push button is
released.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the push button
encompasses the spring to prevent the spring from being exposed, in
both the open and closed positions of the clamp.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the clamp rotates about
a pivot axis contained inside a portion of the handle affixed to
the brush.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to hairstyling appliances, and more
particularly, to a non-thermal hairstyling brush having a clamp
that holds the hair in contact with the brush while the brush is
rotated when drying and styling the hair.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Hairstyling in the past has been addressed by using a number
of different implements such a curling irons, curling devices with
clamps, various shapes of combs and brushes, and the like. In order
to improve their effectiveness, thermal devices are sometimes used.
Curling irons with clamps are an example. Use of non-thermal
implements such as specially-shaped or designed combs or brushes
may be used with applied heat from a hair dryer, for example.
However, the prior art does not provide an effective hairstyling
appliance that can be used easily and effectively for styling the
hair while applying heat separately such as from a hair dryer.
[0003] The present invention provides an ergonomically and
functionally effective non-thermal hairstyling device which is
useful in styling the hair while using a separate heat applying
device such as a hair dryer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Briefly, one embodiment of this invention comprises a
hairstyling brush having an elongated handle, a brush affixed to a
front end of the handle, with bristles extending radially outwardly
from the brush, and a push button and spring-actuated clamp carried
on the handle next to the brush. The clamp pivots through an angle
between an open position for wrapping the hair around the brush, in
an angular gap formed between the open clamp and the brush, and a
closed position for overlying the brush and holding the hair in
place on the brush. The clamp is actuated by a push button carried
near a front portion of the handle. The push button is disposed in
an internal space within the front position of the handle to
contact a spring engaged with an internal portion of the push
button. Finger pressure applied to the push button against the bias
of the spring opens the clamp. The clamp is released to move under
spring pressure to the closed position for holding the hair on the
brush while rotating the brush. The user holds the brush in one
hand while holding a hair dryer in the other hand, for drying and
styling the hair, while the hair is in contact with the brush, held
on the brush by the spring pressure of the clamp.
[0005] The invention is ergonomically effective in holding the hair
in close contact with the brush while the brush is easily and
effectively rotated with one hand, without interference, while the
other hand is used to hold the hair dryer.
[0006] These and other aspects of the invention will be more fully
understood by referring to the following detailed description and
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded side elevational view showing
components of a non-thermal hairstyling device according to
principles of this invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing a hair-clamping
device in an angled open position.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but
showing the clamping device in a closed position.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a top elevational view taken of line 4-4 of FIG.
3.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view taken on line 5-5 of FIG.
4 and showing a configuration of the hair-clamping device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, a hairstyling device of this invention
includes a cylindrical shaped and perforated tubular shell 10, and
a brush 12 which, in assembly, is disposed inside the shell. An
inner end cap section 14 is secured to an end of the shell for
containing the brush inside the shell. An elongated handle section
16, in assembly, is disposed over the inner end cap 14 for
attaching a front portion of the handle to a rear portion of the
brush and shell assembly. A hair clamp 18, in assembly, overlies
the brush and shell assembly and is pivotally secured to the end
cap. A push button assembly 20 is located adjacent to a rear
portion of the clamp and, in assembly, a portion of the push button
is disposed in a recessed region 22 near the front end portion of
the handle.
[0013] The tubular shell is preferably made from metal to provide a
somewhat rigid cylindrical shape. The shell is perforated with
relatively large holes 22 spaced apart circumferentially in rows
extending parallel to each other along the length of the shell.
[0014] The brush 12 includes an axial rod 24 to which radially
extending bristles 26 are secured. The bristles are arranged in
groups with each group of bristles extending through a
corresponding hole in the shell. The assembled arrangement of the
brush and shell is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 which illustrate how
the groups of bristles project radially outwardly through the vent
holes in the cylindrical shell. The outer surface of the shell
provides a firm base with outer portions of the bristles projecting
free for use in styling the hair in the well-known manner.
[0015] A front end cap 28 is secured to a front portion of the
shell to close off the interior of the shell, as shown best in
FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0016] The inner end cap section 14 is one embodiment in which the
brush is securely held in place and an internal support is provided
for a spring that controls rotation of the hair clamp. An
alternative embodiment is described below. The illustrated end cap
section 14 has a cylindrical cap 30 at its front end which is
secured to a rear portion of the shell to close off the interior of
the shell in front of the handle 16. The end cap 14 also includes
an elongated base 32 in the shape of a post which extends axially
away from the brush toward a rear portion of the hairstyling
device. In its assembled position, the end cap 30 aligns the base
32 of the end cap on the axis of the brush collinear with the rod
24 in the center of the brush. The end cap 30 has a pair of holes
34 aligned on a lateral axis perpendicular to the principal axis of
the brush to provide a seat for one or more pivot pins as described
below.
[0017] The handle section 16 is preferably made of molded plastic
material that includes a cylindrical front end cap 36 that opens
toward the brush end of the hairstyling device. The handle section
also includes an elongated hand-held section 38 which is formed
integrally with the end cap 36 and which extends axially to the
rear of the hairstyling device. The end portion of the hand-held
section 38 tapers generally narrower toward the end of the
hairstyling device away from the recessed region 22. The hand-held
section accommodates the full width of the user's hand behind the
recessed region 22 and the push button when the hairstyling device
is used.
[0018] The end cap 36 on the front of the handle section has an
inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the end cap 30
which engages the rear portion of the brush. In assembly, the end
cap 36 fits over the end cap 30 in a tight friction lock to rigidly
affix the handle section to the rear section of the brush. The
front portion of the handle section 16 has a hollow area centered
in the end cap 36 for receiving the post 32 of the inside end cap
30 when the handle section 16 is fitted over the inside end cap
section 14. This securely fastens the inside end cap section 14 to
the inside front portion of the handle section 16.
[0019] The recessed region 22 on the front portion of the handle
section opens upwardly to form a slotted area that receives the
push button assembly 20. The push button assembly 20 includes a
shell 40 that forms a lever arm for pivoting the hair clamp 18
about an axis between the brush end of the device and the handle.
The push button shell 40 is rigidly affixed to or integrally formed
with an end of the hair clamp 18. The hair clamp and the push
button shell are preferably made of light weight metal. The push
button assembly is adapted to be pushed downwardly into the
recessed region 22 so as to raise the clamp to an angular open
position shown in FIG. 2. The push button assembly is normally
spring-actuated to be maintained in an at-rest or closed position
shown in FIG. 3, holding the clamp in the closed position in which
the clamp generally overlies the curved outer surface of the
brush.
[0020] The shell 40 has an ergonomically effective exterior
configuration formed by a top surface 42 which is curved concave
upwardly to generally match the shape of a user's finger or thumb.
A rear portion 44 of the push button surface is angled upwardly
away from the brush end of the hairstyling device. This rear
portion of the push button surface projects upwardly above the top
surface of the handle and provides effective leverage in pushing
the push button down into the recess for pivoting the clamp to its
open position.
[0021] The push button shell 40 also includes a pair of spaced
apart and parallel, relatively thin side walls 46 (see FIG. 4) that
extend downwardly into the recess. The push button shell is
generally rectangular in shape when viewed in the top view of FIG.
4 to closely match the rectangular shape of the slotted recessed
opening in which the push button is contained. The end of the shell
is closed off so that the interior components inside the push
button are not exposed.
[0022] The side walls of the shell have downwardly projecting ears
48 near the front lower portion of the shell. Pivot pin holes 50
extend through the ears and are aligned on a lateral pivot axis
through the holes 34 in the interior end cap 30. One or more pivot
pins (not shown) extend through the ears to pivotally secure the
front lower portion of the push button shell to the end cap 30.
This allows the push button shell to pivot downwardly on one side
of the pivot axis to raise the clamp on the other side of the pivot
axis. The pivot pins are contained inside the outer end cap 36 on
the handle so that the pivot pins are not exposed to the exterior
of the hair brush.
[0023] A torsion spring 52 is located in the recessed area below
the push button top surface 42. The spring is coiled at its base at
53 as shown in FIG. 1. The spring is contained in a hollow interior
region of the shell 40 between the side walls of the shell. The
hollow interior area within the shell faces downwardly toward a
bearing surface 54 inside the recessed area. The bottom of the
torsion spring is seated on the bearing surface. The spring's
bearing surface can be a slotted region within the end cap post 32
or other fixed bearing surface for holding the bottom of the spring
in a fixed position. The torsion spring also includes a spring arm
56 which projects upwardly from a base of the spring into the
hollow inside area within the shell. The top of the spring arm
supports a roller 58 which engages a contoured surface 60 in the
top inside portion of the push button shell. The contoured surface
60 within the push button shell is curved concave upwardly
generally parallel to the curved upper surface of the push
button.
[0024] When the push button is in its at-rest position, shown in
FIG. 3, the roller on the spring lever engages the bearing surface
behind a curved bottom of the surface, holding the spring in a
flexed position, applying upward spring pressure to the push
button. This upward force, which is effective to apply leverage
spaced from the pivot axis at the front of the push button, holds
the hair clamp 18 under spring pressure against the top surface of
the brush. When the push button is pushed downwardly into the
recess against the spring pressure, the roller 58 rolls against the
contoured bearing surface 60 toward the rear of the push button.
This folds the torsion spring to increase the spring tension. This
downward angular motion of the push button into the recess 22 also
raises the hair clamp 18 into the angular open position shown in
FIG. 2.
[0025] When the user's pressure applied to the surface 42 of the
push button is released, the spring lever arm 56 moves back to its
normal position and applies its spring pressure to the bearing
surface 60 of the push button. This automatically pivots the push
button about its axis of rotation for moving the hair clamp back to
the closed position shown in FIG. 3.
[0026] The hair clamp 18 is generally rectangularly shaped but
curved when viewed on end as in FIG. 5. The clamp has a curved
configuration matching the curved shape of the brush cylinder. The
clamp also has spaced apart large vent holes 62 generally
rectangular in shape and encompassing most of the area within the
clamp. This produces a substantial open space through which the
bristles 26 can project when the clamp is held in its closed
position over the brush, under the bias of the spring on the
opposite side of the pivot axis.
[0027] In an alternative embodiment, the inner end cap section 14
can be omitted and the front end portion of the handle can provide
the support for the end of the brush rod 24 and the bottom of the
spring. In this instance, the front section of the handle is molded
to form a solid interior portion that extends beneath a rectangular
recessed opening in the top portion of the handle. The push button
shell extends downwardly into this open recess, facing the spring.
The base of the spring is seated on a molded base inside the handle
for contact with the underside of the push button shell. The front
end portion of the molded handle contains a detent aligned in the
center of the handle section for receiving the end of the brush rod
to hold the brush in place. The molded handle section includes an
end cap similar to end cap 36 that locks onto the end of the shell
10 that forms a portion of the brush. The push button shell pivots
internally within the recess by a pair of molded outwardly
projecting tabs that fit into corresponding molded detents in
adjacent walls of the molded front end section of the handle. The
tabs pivot in the detents to rotate about the lateral pivot axis as
described previously for the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0028] The hairstyling device is used by initially wrapping the
user's hand around the handle and pressing down on the push button
upper surface. This raises the clamp to the angular open position
shown in FIG. 2. (In the open position the clamp is held at an
angle of about 35.degree. to 45.degree. relative to the top surface
of the brush.) This allows the user to effectively wrap the hair
around the exposed circumference of the brush, after which the
pressure of the push button can be released to cause the clamp to
rotate back to its closed position holding the hair in contact with
the brush. The user is able to rotate the brush about its axis with
one hand while holding a hair dryer in the other hand for applying
heat to the hair. The large vent holes in the clamp are effective
in transmitting heat to and from the hair under the spring-biased
clamp.
[0029] The user can rotate the hair brush effectively during use.
The push button in its released position applies light spring
pressure to the clamp, which allows the brush to be rotated while
holding the hair securely in contact with the brush. The push
button is completely enclosed in its released position so that the
hair does not get tangled with any open areas under the push
button. The pivot pins and other components of the push button and
spring assembly are contained internally within the push button and
handle assembly so as to not project from the brush and cause
interference with the user's hair. The push button maintains a low
profile above the handle, even in its released position, only a
short distance from the pivot axis. This reduces any interference
that could be caused with the user freely rotating the hair brush
during use. In addition, the lack of an open space under the push
button prevents the user from placing the hand under the push
button as the brush is rotated during use, thereby preventing
injury. Also, the large open spaces in the clamp allow heat to flow
in freely from a hair dryer, and the bristles on the brush are not
restricted by the closed position of the clamp, which allows better
styling.
* * * * *