U.S. patent application number 12/592949 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-01 for hair grooming device with biological coatings.
Invention is credited to Charlotte Wynne.
Application Number | 20100163067 12/592949 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42283419 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100163067 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wynne; Charlotte |
July 1, 2010 |
Hair grooming device with biological coatings
Abstract
A comb or brush having a first biological agent such as
tourmaline coated on at least the length of the teeth of the comb
or the bristles of the brush, and a second biological agent such as
silver coated on the tips of the teeth of the comb or the bristles
of the brush. In an embodiment the frame of the comb or base of the
brush are coated with the same agent as applied to the teeth or
bristles, respectively. In a further embodiment the teeth of the
comb have a round cross-sectional shape to facilitate movement
through tangled hair. The teeth may be formed integrally with the
frame of the comb or formed separately and attached to the
frame.
Inventors: |
Wynne; Charlotte; (Topanga,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dennis H. Lambert
7000 View Park Drive
Burke
VA
22015
US
|
Family ID: |
42283419 |
Appl. No.: |
12/592949 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61200844 |
Dec 4, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/162 ; 15/160;
15/207.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46D 1/00 20130101; A46D
1/0284 20130101; A46B 2200/104 20130101; A46B 11/00 20130101; A46B
2200/1046 20130101; A45D 24/02 20130101; A46D 1/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/162 ; 15/160;
15/207.2 |
International
Class: |
A45D 24/00 20060101
A45D024/00; A46B 9/02 20060101 A46B009/02; A46D 1/00 20060101
A46D001/00 |
Claims
1. A comb comprising a base or frame and a plurality of teeth
projecting from one side thereof, wherein: a coating of a first
biological agent is applied along the length of at least the teeth;
and a coating of a second biological agent is applied to the tips
of the teeth.
2. A hairbrush comprising a base and a plurality of bristles
projecting outwardly therefrom, wherein: a coating of a first
biological agent is applied along the length of at least the
bristles; and a coating of a second biological agent is applied to
the tips of the bristles.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
patent application Ser. No. 61/200,844, filed Dec. 4, 2008.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to hair grooming devices, and
particularly to combs and brushes in which the teeth or bristles,
respectively, are coated along their length with a substance such
as tourmaline, for example, that has a beneficial biological
effect, and coated on their tips with another substance such as
silver, for example, for its antimicrobial properties.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Compositions and agents with antimicrobial and/or other
biologically beneficial properties are known in the art. It is also
known to treat brushes and combs with these compositions and agents
so that healthful benefits are obtained when the brush or comb is
used. For example, brushes for grooming animals have been treated
with pesticides to kill or repel fleas and other pests when the
animal is groomed with the brush. Toothbrushes have been treated
with polishing agents or antimicrobial agents to treat teeth and
gums when the brush is used, the bristles of mascara brushes have
been treated with antimicrobial agents, and hairbrushes have been
treated with various agents to impart sheen to the hair and/or
impart other healthful benefits to the hair and scalp when the
hairbrush is used.
[0004] Combs and brushes generally have the antimicrobial and/or
other biologically beneficial compositions and agents embedded or
mixed in the resin or other material used in the manufacture of the
comb or brush, although in some instances the base or frame of a
brush is coated with the agent, e.g. tourmaline, and in other
instances the bristles of a brush are coated with the agent. U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,610,925 (anti-static coating on the bristles of a hair
brush), 5,300,290 (bristles of a toothbrush coated with an
antimicrobial agent), 5,657,777 (bristles of a mascara brush made
of or coated with an antimicrobial oligodynamic metal), 5,722,106
(polishing agent applied to the free ends of toothbrush bristles),
6,357,075 (infrared radiating material mixed in the plastic forming
the bristles of a brush), 6,604,531 (bristles of a hairbrush coated
with a material containing antimicrobial and deodorizing
properties), and 6,925,856 (toothbrush bristles having embedded
therein an infrared radiating material), are exemplary of such
devices.
[0005] Brushes in which the base or frame either has embedded
therein or is coated with a biologically beneficial agent have
limited effectiveness since this part of the brush does not contact
the scalp nor does it contact all of the hair when used.
[0006] It is believed that combs having the agent embedded or mixed
in the resin used to manufacture the comb also have limited
effectiveness because the agent does not directly contact the hair
when the comb is used, and it is believed that the plastic from
which the comb is made would have an insulating or isolating effect
on the agent.
[0007] Further, neither prior art brushes nor combs have different
agents coated on different discrete areas of the teeth of the comb
or bristles of the brush for the different biological properties of
those agents.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to one aspect, the present invention is a comb or
brush having different biological agents coated on different
discrete areas of the teeth of a comb or bristles of a brush. In
particular, the present invention is a comb or brush in which a
first biological agent is coated on the length of the teeth of a
comb or the bristles of a brush, and a second biological agent is
coated on the tips of the teeth or bristles.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the teeth of a comb or bristles
of a brush are coated along their length with tourmaline and the
tips are coated with silver.
[0010] In an embodiment of the invention alternate teeth or
alternate groups of teeth along the length of a comb, or alternate
groups of bristles of a brush, may have different biological
coatings.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the teeth of a
comb have a round cross-section rather than the relatively flat
shape commonly given to the teeth. The round shape moves more
easily through tangled hair.
[0012] A comb according to the invention may be made of any
suitable material, including wood, metal or plastic, or
combinations thereof, and the teeth may be made integral with the
frame or made separately and assembled thereto.
[0013] Similarly, a brush according to the invention may be made of
any suitable material, including those commonly employed, and may
have bristles made of animal hair or plastic for example. Coating
of the teeth or bristles may be accomplished by dipping,
electrodeposition, or other suitable method. The brush may have any
suitable conventional style, including flat or round, for
example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of
the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts
throughout the several views, and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of a typical comb
embodying the discrete coatings of biological agents according to
the invention, with some of the teeth not shown for simplicity of
illustration.
[0016] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 in
FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 in
FIG. 1, depicting the teeth of the comb as having a traditional
flattened shape.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a further enlarged sectional view taken along line
4-4 in FIG. 2, depicting a tooth of a comb having the preferred
rounded cross-section according to the invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2,
showing the coating of an additional biological material on the tip
of the teeth of the comb.
[0020] FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view shown partially in
section of an alternate embodiment of comb wherein the frame and
teeth are formed separately and then assembled together.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation of a different style of
comb.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a hairbrush wherein the
bristles are coated with multiple biological agents according to
the invention.
[0023] FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal sectional
view of one of the bristles of the brush of FIG. 8.
[0024] FIG. 10 is a reduced scale perspective view of a round
styling brush to which the invention may be applied.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Referring more specifically to the drawings, a comb
incorporating the features of the invention is indicated generally
at 10 in FIG. 1. The comb comprises a frame 11 with a plurality of
teeth 12 extending from one side thereof, and may be integrally
formed in one piece from metal, plastic, wood, or other suitable
material as commonly employed in manufacturing combs. Further, the
comb may have any desired size and may have closely spaced teeth or
widely spaced teeth, depending upon the intended use.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the entire comb, including the frame and
the teeth, are coated with a first biological agent or composition
13. Alternatively, just the teeth may be coated throughout their
length or most of their length with the agent or composition. In
either event the tips of the teeth are coated with a second
biological composition or agent 14. In a preferred embodiment the
first biological agent or composition coated on the teeth, and in
some embodiments coated on both the teeth and the frame, comprises
tourmaline and the second biological agent or composition coated on
the tips of the teeth comprises silver. Both of these agents have
antimicrobial properties as well as other recognized properties
that have healthful benefits.
[0027] The teeth may have a conventional cross-sectional shape such
as the oblong or flattened shape shown at 15 in FIG. 3, but in the
preferred embodiment they have a round cross-sectional shape as
indicated at 16 in FIGS. 4 and 5. The coating 13 may be applied to
both the frame 11 and teeth 12 as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows the
coating 13 on the teeth 12 and FIG. 5 shows the coating 14 on the
tips of the teeth. In the example shown the coating 14 is applied
over top of the coating 13 for ease of manufacture. If desired, the
teeth could have silicone or rubber tips (not shown) to further
protect the scalp during use of the comb.
[0028] The coating 13 may be applied in any suitable manner, such
as by dipping or electrodeposition. The coating 14 preferably is
applied by dipping the tips of the teeth in a liquid solution of
the coating.
[0029] In an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 6 the teeth 12' are
formed separate from the frame 11' and then affixed to the frame in
any suitable manner, as by snapping or gluing the base ends of the
teeth in sockets or recesses 17 formed in the base. As indicated in
this figure the frame may be made of wood and the teeth of metal,
but the frame and teeth may be made of any suitable material as
needed or desired. The coatings 13 and 14 (not shown in this
figure) may be applied to the teeth before or after they are
attached to the frame.
[0030] FIG. 7 depicts another style of comb 20 that may incorporate
the features of the invention. In this regard, it should be
understood that the invention is not limited to any particular
style of comb.
[0031] The invention is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 as applied to a
brush 21. In this form of the invention the brush frame or base 22
and bristles 23 may be made and assembled in accordance with
conventional methods, and the first and second biological agents or
compositions coated on the bristles as in the previously described
embodiments. If desired, the base 22 of the brush can also be
coated with the first biological agent or composition. Since the
bristles tend to flex substantially during use, the coating 13
preferably is applied to the bristles by electrodeposition or a
comparable process to prevent it from flaking off during use of the
brush. As seen best in FIG. 9 the tips of the bristles preferably
are rounded at 24 to avoid damage to the scalp during use.
[0032] Although not depicted in the drawings different biological
coatings may be applied to alternate teeth or groups of teeth along
the length of the comb. Similarly, different agents may be applied
to different bristles or groups of bristles in the brush.
[0033] The tourmaline coating can be given a variety of colors such
as, for example, red, blue, or white, and preferably is applied to
a thickness of from about two thousandths of an inch up to about
five thousandths of an inch. The silver coating on the tips of the
teeth of the comb or bristles of the brush may comprise pure
silver. Silver has a relatively low melting point and may be heated
to a liquid state so that the tips of the teeth or bristles can be
dipped into the liquid silver to coat the tips with the silver.
[0034] A comb or brush in accordance with the invention exposes the
hair to direct contact with much more surface area coated with the
biological agents than do conventionally treated combs and brushes.
For instance, conventional brushes coat only the frame or base of
the brush with tourmaline, limiting the extent of contact of the
agent with hair as the brush is used.
[0035] Although particular embodiments of the invention are
illustrated and described in detail herein, it is to be understood
that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention
without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention as
defined by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *