U.S. patent number 3,903,904 [Application Number 05/324,022] was granted by the patent office on 1975-09-09 for heated comb with mist feature.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sunbeam Corporation. Invention is credited to George P. Gallanis, William R. Hemrich.
United States Patent |
3,903,904 |
Hemrich , et al. |
September 9, 1975 |
Heated comb with mist feature
Abstract
A heated comb with mist feature having three generally aligned
body portions including an elongated handgrip power handle body
portion having an air inlet at the rear end, a heated air outlet at
the forward end, an electric motor powered fan adjacent the air
inlet and a heater element between the fan and air outlet, a comb
holder body portion releasably connected to the forward end of the
power handle and a downwardly opening heated air discharge recess
adapted to selectively receive fine or course combs or a brush, a
pump-reservoir body portion releasably mounted on the comb holder
body portion and having a spray mist nozzle adjacent the forward
end of the heated air discharge recess, and a lever pivotally
mounted on the comb holder body portion for actuating the pump and
having a finger-engageable portion extending along a portion of the
underside of the power handle body portion in spaced relation to
facilitate convenient actuation of the pump by a person holding the
power handle body portion while styling his or her hair.
Inventors: |
Hemrich; William R. (Glen
Ellyn, IL), Gallanis; George P. (Westchester, IL) |
Assignee: |
Sunbeam Corporation (Chicago,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
23261733 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/324,022 |
Filed: |
January 16, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/118; 34/91;
392/384; 392/394; 392/404 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D
20/50 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45D
20/00 (20060101); A45D 20/50 (20060101); A45D
020/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;132/112,9,122,33,7
;39/96,97-99 ;128/893 ;219/222 ;401/176,171 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McNeill; G. E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Clark; George R. Rose; Neil M.
Dean; Clifford A.
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is:
1. A heated comb with mist feature comprising an elongated housing
portion having air inlet means provided at the rear end thereof and
air outlet means provided on the underside thereof toward the
forward end thereof, means for releasably attaching a comb to said
housing portion adjacent said air outlet means with the comb teeth
depending therefrom, a motor actuated fan disposed in said housing
portion adjacent said air inlet means, heater means disposed in
said housing portion between said fan and said air outlet means, a
second body portion removably mounted on the forward end of said
elongated body portion above said air outlet means, said second
body portion defining a fluid reservoir and having a pump and spray
nozzle mounted therein with said spray nozzle being disposed
adjacent one end of said air outlet means, being directed in the
same direction as said comb teeth and being in communication with
an outlet of said pump, and a lever pivotably mounted on said
elongated housing portion for actuating said pump.
2. A heated comb with mist feature comprising, a handgrip body
portion having air inlet means at its rear end and air outlet means
at its forward end, an electric motor mounted in said handgrip body
portion and having a fan operable thereby disposed adjacent said
air inlet means, heater means mounted in said handgrip body portion
between said fan and said air outlet means, means for energizing
said motor and said heater means, a comb holder body portion
attachable to said forward end of said handgrip body portion and
having an open bottom recess formed in the underside thereof,
passage means in said comb holder body portion for directing heated
air from said air outlet means of said handgrip body portion to
said recess for discharge therefrom, a clip member mounted in said
recess for resiliently gripping the upper edge of a comb inserted
into said recess, a pump-reservoir body portion removably mounted
on said comb holder body portion and having top and side walls
blending into adjacent top and side walls of said comb holder body
portion, said pump-reservoir body portion having a piston pump
mounted therein with a piston rod thereof projecting rearwardly of
said pump reservoir body portion and into said comb holder portion,
a spray nozzle mounted in said pump reservoir body portion and
adjacent the forward end of said recess in said comb holder body
portion, a capped filler port formed in said pump-reservoir body
portion in a location whereby same is accessible for filling said
reservoir only when said pump-reservoir body portion is removed
from said comb holder body portion, said piston pump having an
inlet in communication with said reservoir and an outlet in
communication with said spray nozzle, and a lever member pivotably
mounted in said comb holder body portion and having an actuating
portion engageable with said rearwardly projecting portion of said
piston rod and a finger actuating portion extending rearwardly
alongside a portion of the underside of said handgrip body portion
in spaced relation thereto.
3. The heated comb with mist feature of claim 2 wherein said
passage means in said comb holder body portion is characterized by
a downwardly and forwardly inclined wall portion.
4. In a hair styling appliance of the type having a casing
including a hand grip portion, a motor actuating fan mounted in
said casing, air inlet and air outlet means formed in said casing,
and heater means mounted in said casing between said fan and said
air outlet means, a spray mist attachment comprising a body portion
which is releasably attachable to said casing and which defines a
fluid reservoir, said body portion having portions of its outer
surfaces adapted to blend into adjacent outer surfaces of said
casing, a spring-return reciprocating piston pump mounted in said
body portion and having an inlet in communication with the interior
of said reservoir, a spray nozzle mounted in said body portion in
communication with the outlet of said pump and positioned adjacent
said air outlet means, latch means for releasably attaching said
body portion to said casing, and a finger actuated lever pivotally
mounted on said body portion for actuating said piston pump.
5. In the hair styling appliance of claim 4, a capped port in said
body portion for filling said reservoir with said capped filler
port being located in a position such that it is accessible for
filling the reservoir only when said body portion is detached from
said casing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Our present invention pertains to a heated comb hair styler having
a spray mist feature for convenient spot wet styling.
2. Description of the Prior Art
While heated combs are known to be old in the art, applicants are
unaware of any prior art patents which disclose a heated comb
having a mist spray feature which is formed of three releasably
interconnected body portions which provide an attractive personal
care product of this type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned with a heated comb having a mist
feature whereby spot wet styling is readily available to a person
styling his or her hair. With the present trend in hairstyles being
toward longer hair on both men and women, a personal care product
of this type is in great demand. The heated comb with mist feature
hair styler of the present invention provides an elongated
three-part housing which is extremely attractive and is well
adapted for its stated purpose. As will be described in greater
detail herein, this hair styler comprises a power handle having an
air inlet at its rear end and a heated air outlet at its forward
end. Mounted within the handle are an electric motor powered fan
adjacent the air inlet and a heater assembly between the fan and
the air outlet. A power cord is provided for energizing the motor
and the heater assembly and on-off and/or high-low switches may be
provided. The power handle by itself may be used for spot drying
hair or fingernail polish. A comb holder body portion which blends
into the outer configuration of the power handle is releasably
attachable to the forward end thereof. The underside of this body
portion is provided with a heated air discharge recess which is in
communication with the heated air outlet of the power handle, and
is provided with a spring clip for releasable mounting a fine or
course comb or a brush in this recess depending on the needs of the
particular hairstyle desired. Releasably mounted on the comb holder
body portion is a pump-reservoir body portion which completes the
overall pleasing design of this hair styler and which includes a
mist spray nozzle adjacent the forward end of the heated air
discharge recess. A pump actuating lever is pivotably mounted on
the comb holder with a finger-engageable portion thereof extending
along a portion of the underside of the power handle in spaced
relation thereto to facilitate convenient actuation of the spray
mist pump by a person holding the power handle during a hair
styling operation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel
heated comb having a mist feature.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a
heated comb which is characterized by three releasably
interconnected body portions including a power handle, a comb
holder and a pump-reservoir unit.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide such
a heated comb wherein the power handle includes an air inlet at its
rear end, a heated air outlet at its forward end, a motor driven
fan adjacent the air inlet and a heater assembly between the fan
and the air outlet, wherein the comb holder attachable to the
heated air outlet end of the power handle includes a downwardly
opening heated air discharge recess with clip means therein for
releasably holding a comb or brush and a pivotably mounted
finger-engageable lever, and wherein the pump-reservoir unit
releasably mounted on the comb holder includes a pump adapted to be
actuated by the lever, a fluid reservoir and a spray mist discharge
nozzle disposed adjacent the forward end of the heated air
discharge recess.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of
novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may
be had to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heated comb with mist feature
embodying our invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partially broken front elevational view with
the power handle and a major portion of the comb holder shown in
vertical section;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pump-reservoir unit shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the interconnected
comb holder and pump-reservoir unit; and
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the pump-reservoir unit of FIG. 4
with a portion of the bottom wall thereof broken away for
clarity.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in which like parts are designated by
like numerals in the various views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a
heated comb with mist feature, designated generally by reference
numeral 10, which embodies our invention. As is best shown in FIGS.
1 and 2, the heated comb with mist feature 10 of the present
invention is characterized by three releasably interconnected
portions including a power handle 12, a comb holder 14 and a
pump-reservoir unit 16. Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the power
handle 12 is characterized by a generally tubular hand grip body
portion 17 having an air inlet grill 18 formed at the rear end of
the body portion 17 (to the left in FIG. 2) with a screen 19 being
provided inwardly of the grill portion 18. Also provided in the
body portion 17 is a motor mounting frame 20 which may be suitably
attached to the interior of the body portion 17 in which is mounted
an electric motor 21 having a drive shaft 22. A conventional fan 23
is mounted on the rear end of the drive shaft 22 adjacent the air
inlet grill 18. A heater assembly 24 of conventional type is
mounted within the body portion 17 forwardly of the motor 21.
The underside of the body portion 17 is provided with a depending
housing portion 26 in which is mounted an on-off switch 27 having a
protruding actuating button 28. It is to be understood that a
high-low switch could also be provided in this unit for higher fan
speed and greater heater output. The switch 27 is connected to a
power cord 29 with the heater assembly 24 and the motor 21 being
connected to the switch 27 through suitable electrical leads.
The forward end of the body portion 17 is characterized by a
substantial recess 32 with a screen 33 being provided at the inner
end of the recess to prevent anyone from inserting a finger into
the recess 32 and coming into contact with the heater assembly 24.
The inner upper surface defining the recess 32 is provided with a
notch 34 which is located approximately midway between the forward
end of the recess 32. This notch 34 is for a purpose which will be
described hereinafter. It is noted that the power handle 12
described thus far herein may be used by itself as a spot hair
dryer or for drying wet nail polish.
The comb holder 14, as is best illustrated in FIG. 4, comprises a
body portion 36 which is characterized by a generally tubular
portion 38 having a rearwardly projecting reduced thickness portion
39 which is adapted to be telescopically received within the recess
32 formed in the forward end of the power handle 12. The comb
holder body portion 36 is further characterized by a base portion
40 which extends forwardly from the lower portion only of the
tubular portion 38 with the base portion 40 having side walls 41, a
front end wall 42 and a bottom wall 43. The bottom wall 43 has a
downwardly opening heated air discharge recess 44 formed therein
with an upper wall 46 of the base portion 40 defining the upper
surface of the downwardly opening heated air discharge recess 44. A
downwardly and forwardly inclined wall portion 47 extends between
the forward edge of the upper wall 46 and the bottom wall 43 at the
forward end of the recess 44. The upper wall 46 is laterally
slotted, as at 48, to accommodate the mounting end portions 50 of a
resilient clip 49 which projects downwardly into the recess 44 and
is adapted for releasably gripping either a fine tooth comb, a
course tooth comb, or a brush. The bottom wall 43 is provided at
the forward and rear ends of the recess 44 with aligned slots 51
which serve to accommodate the aforementioned combs and brush. A
circular opening 52 is provided in the bottom wall 43 forwardly of
the heated air discharge recess 44 for a purpose which will be
described hereinafter. The rear end of the upper wall 46 of the
base portion 40 is characterized by an upwardly and rearwardly
inclined wall portion 53 having a central opening 54 formed
therein, the purpose for which will also be described hereinafter.
It is noted that the inclined wall portion 53, the upper wall 46
and the downwardly inclined wall portion 47 together with the side
walls 41 of the base portion 40 define a passageway which serves to
direct the heated air from the forward end of the power handle 12
downwardly to the heated air discharge recess 44.
The lower rear portion of the comb holder housing portion 36 is
provided with an opening 56 in which is received a bell-crank type
lever 57 which is pivotally mounted therein on a pivot pin 58. The
lever 57 is characterized by a finger-engageable portion 59 which,
when the comb holder 14 is connected to the power handle 12, is
adapted to extend along a portion of the underside of the power
handle 12 in spaced relation thereto whereby same may be
conveniently actuated by anyone gripping the power handle 12. The
lever 57 is further characterized by an actuating portion 60 which
is disposed within the body portion 36 and which is provided with
an enlargement 61 for actuating a mist spray pump to be described
hereinafter.
A flexible latch member 62 has its forward end connected to the
underside of the top wall of the tubular portion 38 of the comb
holder body portion 36, as at 63 in FIG. 4. Intermediate its
opposite ends, the latch member 62 is provided with an actuating
button 64 which extends upwardly through an opening 65 formed in
the upper wall of the tubular body portion 38. The rear end of the
latch member 62 is provided with an upwardly extending latch finger
66 (FIG. 2) which, when the comb holder 14 is inserted into the
forward end of the power handle 12, is engageable in the notch 34
formed in the upper surface of the forward recess 32 of the power
handle 12. The latch finger 66 is provided with a downwardly and
rearwardly inclined upper surface 67 whereby the latch member 62 is
automaitcally depressed by a cam action upon insertion of the comb
holder 14 into the recessed forward end of the power handle 12
until the latch finger 66 springs upwardly into engagement in the
notch 34. To disassembly the comb holder 14 from the power handle
12, the actuating button 64 is manually depressed whereby to
disengage the latch finger 66 from the notch 34, in a manner well
known in the art.
To facilitate mounting of the pump-reservoir 16 on the comb holder
14, the forward edge of the tubular portion 38 of the comb holder
body portion 36 is provided with a reduced thickness portion as
illustrated at 68. Also, a detent 69 is provided on the upper
surface of the bottom wall 43 of the base portion 40 intermediate
the forward end of the recess 44 and the circular opening 52.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a comb 70 having a series of teeth 71 is
shown mounted in the comb holder 14, a base portion 72 of the comb
70 being resiliently gripped by the comb clip 49.
As is best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the pump-reservoir 16
is characterized by a body portion 74 including a top wall 75, side
walls 76, a bottom wall 77, a front end wall 78 and a cover 79
which serves as a rear end wall. The rear edges of the body portion
74 are characterized by reduced thickness portions, as is best
shown at 80 in FIG. 4, whereby to facilitate interengagement
between the rear end of the pump-reservoir body portion 74 and the
forward end of the tubular body portion 38 of the comb holder 14.
The forward end of the body portion 74 is releasably engaged with
the forward end of the base portion 40 of the comb holder 14 by
means of a retainer clip 81 which is fastened to the bottom wall 77
of the body portion 74 and is resiliently engageable with the
detent 69 provided on the base portion 40 of the comb holder 14, as
illustrated in FIG. 4.
The forward end of the pump-reservoir is defined by a vertical wall
82 which is spaced somewhat rearwardly of the front end wall 78 of
the body portion 74. The vertical wall 82 is further characterized
by a boss portion having a vertically extending bore 83 which is
adapted to receive a spray nozzle 115 to be more fully described
hereinafter. The wall 82 is further provided with a horizontal bore
84 which intersects the vertical bore 83.
The bottom wall 77 of the pump-reservoir portion 74 is provided
with a filler opening 85, with a cap 86 being provided for the
filler opening 85. The filler cap 86 is attached to the
pump-reservoir 16 by attachment of a portion thereof to a depending
boss 87 formed on the underside of the bottom wall 77. The filler
cap 86 is further provided with a tab 88 to facilitate removal of
same from the filler opening 85 when it is necessary to refill the
reservoir.
The pump-reservoir cover 79 is provided on its inner surface with
an integral inwardly extending tubular gland 89 having a reduced
diameter portion 90 upon which is mounted the open end of a pump
housing 92 whereby to define a pumping chamber 93 therein. The pump
housing 92 is provided with an axial bore 94 with a pump outlet
tube 95 extending between the axial bore 94 and the bore 84 formed
in the reservoir front end wall 82. The pump housing 92 is also
provided with an inlet bore 97 which intersects the axial bore 94
and is connected to one end of a pump inlet tube 96, the opposite
end of which tube 96 is provided with an eyelet having a check
valve 99 provided therein and a screen 100 at its outer end. The
opposite or outer face of the reservoir cover 79 is provided with
an outwardly projecting recessed gland 102 which is adapted to
receive a center web gasket 103, and a piston rod bearing 104. A
piston assembly 106 includes a piston 108 movable within the
chamber 93 and which is connected to one end of a piston rod 107
which extends through an opening 105 formed in the cover 79 in
centered relation relative to the glands 89 and 102. A return
spring 109 is provided about the outer portion of the piston rod
107 and is seated between the piston rod bearing 104 and a washer
110 which is retained adjacent the outer end of the piston rod 107
by a spring retainer 111. As best seen in FIG. 4, the outer end 112
of the piston rod 107 is biased against the enlargement 61 provided
on the actuating portion 60 of the pivotally mounted pump-actuating
lever 57. The pump-reservoir 16 is also provided with a relief
check valve 113 which is mounted in the bottom wall 77 thereof.
The spray nozzle 115 previously mentioned herein is characterized
by a body portion 116 having a reduced end 117 which is fitted into
the bore 83 adjacent the reservoir front wall 82. The body portion
116 is also provided with an externally threaded portion 118 upon
which is threadedly mounted a nozzle head 119 having a central
orifice 120 provided therein. Although not shown in the drawings,
the nozzle head 119 includes the conventional ball valve, spring
and spray plug. As illustrated in FIG. 4, it is noted that the
nozzle orifice 120 is vertically aligned with the circular opening
52 provided in the bottom wall 43 of the comb holder 14 whereby,
upon actuation of the pump through the lever 57, a spray mist is
provided adjacent the specific portion of a person's hair being
combed or brushed.
As is clearly illustrated in the drawings, the outer configurations
of the interconnected power handle 12, comb holder 14 and
pump-reservoir 16 are such that the meeting outer surfaces blend
one into the other whereby to provide an overall appearance of a
single elongated housing. For instance, as best shown in FIG. 2,
the upper surface of the fully assembled heated comb with mist
feature 10, disclosed herein, while being defined by respective
contiguous upper surfaces of the handgrip body portion 17, the comb
holder body portion 36 and the pump reservoir body portion 74,
provides a smooth generally planer upper surface.
In use, the heated comb with mist feature 10 disclosed herein is
readily grasped by gripping the power handle 12 and, if it should
be desired to spot wet style, it is merely necessary to squeeze the
lever 57 with the finger whereby to actuate the pump. It is evident
that with this personal care product, wet styling may be
accomplished without the necessity of putting down a heated comb,
turning on a faucet, and applying water directly to the hair.
While there has been shown and described a single embodiment of the
present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art
that various changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the invention in its broader aspects and it is,
therefore, contemplated in the appended claims to cover all such
changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and
scope of the present invention.
* * * * *