Hair-grooming implement

Abstract

A hair-grooming implement for controllably applying heat to hair strands while they are being combed by having heated surfaces positioned between adjacent comb teeth at a location such that they can only be contacted by hair strands drawn between adjacent comb teeth during a hair-combing and hair-grooming operation so that the heat applied to the combed hair strands will soften said hair strands and allow the teeth of the comb to position the hair strands in a desired, neatly groomed orientation with respect to the person's head, in which orientation they will remain after the softening and compliancy-increasing heat is no longer present, thus causing the hair strands, in their new, neatly groomed orientation, to remain in the desired groomed position for a substantial period of time.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is generally that of the hair-grooming art and, in particular, that aspect of the hair-grooming art which has to do with causing multiple hair strands to lie in a desired relationship to each other and with respect to the head of a person so as to result in an overall desired type of appearance of a person's hair. This general field includes a variety of types of combing and brushing implements and also applicatory agents of a solid, semi-solid, liquid, and gel type which may be applied to the person's hair so as to constrain it to remain in the desired orientation into which it is combed or brushed by such a hair-grooming implement.

The above-mentioned general field also includes the use of curling irons, such as marcelling irons, or the like, for shaping hair strands, permanent wave machines for similarly shaping hair strands, and so-called "cold waves" based upon the application of chemical softening agents to the hair strands prior to their being repositioned or shaped. Also, this general field includes the more recent type of hair positioners comprising fast hair dryers which can be used either for quickly drying moistened hair which has been positioned in a desired orientation while moistened and then dried in place, or which can be used for heating the hair directly by the application of hot air thereto during an actual hair-combing or hair-brushing operation which facilitates the repositioning of the hair in what might be termed a dry-grooming manner. This general field also includes various other means for facilitating the repositioning of hair strands into desired orientations.

However, all of the above-mentioned prior art hair-positioning devices, apparatuses, and methods of grooming hair have disadvantages of one type or another. The use of applicatory agents applied to the hair results in a sort of a plastered-down look or an obviously treated look to the hair which is not thought to be attractive, plus the fact that such applicatory agents may not be desirable from the standpoint of hair health and cleanliness and may also lead to the soiling of articles of furniture and/or headgear and the like with which the hair may come into contact.

The prior art type of hair-shaping means comprising curling or marcelling irons, hot permanent waves, and the like, are undesirable because they tend to damage the hair, resulting in drying and splitting of the hair strands in a most unsightly manner. This is true to a lesser degree with respect to the prior art hair-shaping method comprising the application of chemical softening agents to the hair while it is set or repositioned. This frequently damages the hair strands and, in some cases, has led to at least temporary baldness.

The least damaging of the above-mentioned prior art methods for grooming hair has been the use of a hot-air-blowing hair dryer. However, this works reasonably well for short periods of time, but does not actually cause a repositioning of the hair strands for as long a period of time as would be desirable and, in the case of a relatively heavy or unmanageable type of hair, it may work to a very minimal degree or even practically not at all for such hair-repositioning use. Therefore, it is clear that some simple device that would virtually eliminate the above-mentioned prior-art disadvantages or problems encountered in hair-repositioning grooming operations would be extremely advantageous, and it is precisely for this purpose that the novel hair-grooming implement of the present invention has been developed.

The hair-grooming implement of the present invention applies heat in a hair-softening manner directly to combed surfaces of small groups of hair strands while physical force is being applied to said hair strands in a combing operation which moves them into the desired new or repositioned orientation and thus the softening and the physical repositioning of the hair strands occur simultaneously in a manner which causes the hair strands to easily be repositioned into any desired orientation, in which position they will tend to remain for substantial periods of time as soon as the combination hair-softening heat and physical combing and hair-repositioning force is removed from the hair strands, and these advantages flow from and occur by reason of the specific featrues of the invention pointed out hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, the hair-grooming implement comprises a mounting base member (which is preferably of longitudinal configuration) provided with a plurality of substantially transversely directed teeth, usually longitudinally spaced along the mounting base member and similarly projecting outwardly from one side thereof and terminating in outer free comb teeth ends lying in a substantially combing or brushing inner contact plane. The mounting base member is preferably provided with a manually graspable operating handle member which, in one preferred form, may be of longitudinal configuration projecting from one end of the mounting base member. At least certain adjacent spaced ones of the comb teeth are provided with heat-conductive and heat-transmissive, hair-contacting surface means positioned along at least portions of inner surfaces of at least certain of the comb teeth in a manner such as to be substantially completely positioned between the spaced comb teeth and immediately adjacent the intervening hair-strand-receiving comb teeth spaces defined between adjacent comb teeth, and thus being adapted to be physically mechanically drawn into contact with, and slidably drawn along, intervening hair strands during a hair-combing operation while simultaneously applying heat to said combed hair strands along the combed lengths thereof for both softening and increasing the compliancy of said combed hair strands while they are being physically repositioned by the hair-combing action of the adjacent comb teeth slidably moving along the lengths of the adjacent comb teeth slidably moving along the lengths of the combed hair strands. The apparatus of the device also includes heating means for the production and/or transmission of heat from a heat source (usually self-contained) to said heat-conductive and heat-transmissive hair-contacting surface means carried by and between said adjacent comb teeth. Said heating means is preferably effectively mounted within the mounting base member and is provided with thermally conductive heat flow means connected therefrom toward base portions of said teeth and outwardly through and along said heat-conductive, heat-transmissive hair-contacting surface means. Substantially the entire remainder of the comb teeth and the mounting base member comprises high-efficiency thermal insulator means (such as pyrolytic graphite, multi-particle fused ceramic materials, various refractory materials, or other thermal insulating materials characterized by extremely low thermal conductivity). This arrangement of the high-efficiency thermal insulator means effectively physically and thermally isolates both the heating means and the heat-conductive and heat-transmissive, hair-contacting surface means extending along inner faces of at least certain adjacent comb teeth surfaces from any accidental exterior contact and also functions to minimize heat loss except from the heat-conductive and heat-transmissive hair-contacting surface means to hair strands combed therealong during a hair-combing and hair-grooming operation with respect thereto. This prevents a person from inadvertently burning himself or herself.

In a preferred form, the heating means comprises a controllably electrically energizable heat-producing means producing heat as a function of the product of the square of electric-current flow times the electrical resistance thereof, and is provided with controllably operable switch means adapted for use in controlling the energization or de-energization thereof and, consequently, the placing of the entire device in hair-grooming condition or the placing of the entire device in a non-operative storage condition.

In one preferred form of the invention, thermally responsive controller means is placed in effective heat-receiving relationship with respect to some heated portion of the device and is arranged to effectively de-energize the heating means when a predetermined upper temperature is reached and is arranged to re-energize the heating means when a predetermined lower temperature is reached, whereby to substantially maintain the effective temperature of the heat-conductive, heat-transmissive, hair-contacting surface means along inner comb teeth faces within a predetermined elevated temperature range which has been found to be optimum for hair-softening and hair-grooming purposes whenever the device is in operative intended-for-use condition.

In another form of the invention, the heating means may be effectively provided with safety means which, in one form, may comprise safety switch means of a time-responsive type arranged to effectively de-energize the heating means after the passage of a predetermined period of time following initiation of the duty cycle thereof and which, in another form of the safety switch aspect thereof, may comprise a position-responsive or an inertia-responsive switch means adapted to effectively de-energize the heating means in response to the abrupt changing of the orientation of the switch means such as might be produced if the energized device should happen to fall, while unattended and in an energized condition, from a proper at-rest position into an unattended, improper, nearby dislodged position, so as to prevent possible undesirable consequences from occurring. The de-energized condition produced by the operated safety switch means would remain until the resetting of the safety switch means prior to or coincident with the next re-energizing of the heating means for the next hair-grooming usage of the entire device. The safety switch means may also be of a current-responsive type adapted to prevent the passage of current in excess of a predetermined value by automatically de-energizing the heating means in response to the momentary passage of such excessive current. This may comprise circuit breaker means or, in a modification, may comprise an effective power-limiter unit, one form of which may take the form of a power-limiting transformer, or other electrical isolation means, which is capable of transmitting therethrough electrical power below and up to a certain maximum value only, and which is incapable of transmitting electric power in excess of said predetermined maximum value. In one representative form, this may comprise a leakage-flux transformer or any other substantial functional equivalent.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hair-grooming and hair-repositioning implement capable of applying both physical repositioning force and hair-softening heat to selected combed hair strands simultaneously in an optimized hair-repositioning manner and which is of the character referred to herein, generically and/or specifically, including any or all of the features referred to herein, either individually or in combination, and which is of relatively simple, easy-to-use, readily portable construction suitable for use by inexperienced persons and which is of extremely simple, inexpensive, and easy-to-manufacture construction suitable for ready mass production and distribution of the invention at low cost, both as to the initial capital cost (including production set-up cost) and as to the subsequent per-unit manufacturing cost, whereby to be conducive to widespread production, distribution, sale, and use of the novel hair-grooming implement for the purposes outlined herein or for any substantially equivalent or similar purposes.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but not specifically limiting, the present invention), and said objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of the detailed description which follows.

For the purpose of clarifying the present invention, several exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the hereinbelow-described figures of the accompanying two sheets of drawings and are described in detail hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a reduced-size side elevational view illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 2--2 of FIG. 1 and essentially comprises a cross-section through the mounting base member of the comb and a central plane section along the downward length of a representative one of the comb teeth.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A illustrates a slight variation of the FIG. 3 showing.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 4--4 of FIG. 3 and shows in enlarged form the relationship between a portion of the length of the mounting base member at the back of the comb (in section) and a corresponding, partially broken-away, sectional view of several of the downwardly extending comb teeth.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary operational view similar in aspect to FIG. 3, but illustrating several adjacent teeth of the comb in the act of receiving and combing multiple hair strands in the comb teeth spaces therebetween so that they will be heated and also effectively positioned as desired for hair-grooming purposes as they pass between the comb teeth and, more particularly, between the opposed hair-contacting, heated surface means lying along inner facing surfaces of adjacent comb teeth.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, largely sectional view illustrating the representative positioning of a thermally responsive controller means in one selected predetermined relationship with respect to the hair-grooming, heated surface means lying along the inner sides of adjacent comb teeth and arranged to control the temperature thereof between predetermined upper and lower temperature limits defining an operating temperature range which is optimum for hair-softening and hair-grooming purposes and which at all times is below a temperature which might damage or injure hair strands.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the positioning of the comb in a protective mounting device which is adapted to mount and hold the comb in a completely protected and safe manner while making it conveniently manually accessible for convenient hair-grooming usage.

FIG. 8 is a view of a somewhat diagrammatic and electrical schematic nature illustrating the electrical circuitry of the representative first form of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating one type of electrically energizable heating means adapted to be mounted in the mounting base member of the comb for providing the heat to be conducted to the hair-contacting, heated surface means positioned between adjacent comb teeth.

FIG. 10 is a view generally similar to FIG. 9 but illustrates a slightly modified type of heating means.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of an arrangement somewhat similar to FIG. 10, but illustrates the controller means as being of a slightly modified type from that previously shown.

FIG. 12 is a view of a somewhat simplified and diagrammatic nature illustrating the addition of a time-responsive safety switch means arranged to automatically de-energize the entire heating means at the end of a predetermined time interval following the initial, manually controlled energization thereof so as to prevent the heating means from being inadvertently left in energized condition long after a short hair-grooming usage thereof has terminated.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, largely sectional view illustrating portions of a slight variation of the invention including an inertia-responsive safety switch means effectively coupled in circuit with the electrically energizable heating means in a manner such that very abrupt changing of the orientation thereof, such as might be produced by a fall of the entire device from an at-rest but energized condition into some other nearby dislodged position while still energized (which might have dangerous consequences) will, as a consequence thereof, be effectively operated so as to de-energize the heating means until manually reset and usually, also, until the heating means is again re-energized.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view illustrating another slight modification including an additional safety means comprising input electrical power or input electrical current limiting means arranged to allow only an input into the system of a predetermined amount of electrical power or electrical current so that any inadvertent shorting-out of the system in the event that it should fall into a conductive medium, such as water or the like, or otherwise be shorted out, will now allow a very large amount of power or a very large amount of current to be drawn from a source of electric power, such as a wall plug or the like, which might be extremely dangerous and could possibly lead to the electrocution of any person who might be in electrically conductive relationship with respect to such a short or shorting-out body of water.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One exemplary embodiment of the hair-grooming implement of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 inclusive wherein it is shown as comprising a longitudinal mounting base member, such as is generally designated by the reference numeral 20, provided with a plurality of substantially transversely directed teeth, or tooth members, longitudinally spaced along the mounting base member 20 and with said comb teeth being generally designated by the reference numeral 22. In the example illustrated, each of the comb teeth 22 has a base or attachment end 24 and extends outwardly to an outer free comb tooth end or tip 26, with each of the comb teeth 22 being of substantially the same length so that all of the comb teeth free ends or tip ends 26 terminate along a comb-tip-end contact plane or line such as is indicated at 28 and which, in the example illustrated, is a substantially straight line, although not specifically so limited. Indeed, the comb-tip-end line 28 may define a curve or may be in various desired configurations suitable for hair-combing usage other than the specific exemplary arrangement shown in the first form of the invention illustrated.

The mounting base member 20 is provided with a manually graspable operating handle member which, in the example illustrated, is generally designated by the reference numeral 30 and extends or projects from one end of the mounting base member 20 in substantial alignment therewith, although not specifically so limited in all forms of the invention.

At least certain adjacent spaced ones of the comb teeth 22 are provided with heat-conductive, hair-contacting surface means extending along inner surfaces of the comb teeth 22 and substantially completely positioned within intervening hair-strand-receiving comb teeth spaces defined between adjacent teeth. In the example illustrated, each such hair-contacting surface means is designated by the reference numeral 32 and the intervening hair-strand-receiving comb teeth spaces are indicated by the reference numeral 34. Thus it will be noted, as is perhaps best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the arrangement is such that when hair strands, such as those indicated generally at 36 in FIG. 5, are drawn through the hair-strand-receiving comb teeth spaces 34 during a hair-combing and hair-grooming operation such as is shown fragmentarily in FIG. 5, the heated hair-contacting surface means 32 will both heat and physically mechanically comb and position the intervening hair strands 36 so that they will be softened by the heat and physically combed into a desired orientation while in the softened condition so that they will remain in the desired orientation subsequently after the heated hair-contacting surface means 32 have completed a hair-combing operation and said combed and repositioned hair strands have cooled off and have resumed their former stiffnesses in the new groomed orientation thereof.

The hair-grooming implement also includes heating means for the production and transmission of heat from a heat source to the previously mentioned heat-conductive and heat-transmissive hair-contacting surface means 32 so that they can be properly heated and maintained at a proper temperature for maximized hair-softening purposes during a hair-combing and hair-grooming operation of the type shown fragmentarily in FIG. 5.

In the exemplary first form of the invention, the heating means is generally designated by the reference numeral 38 and is effectively mounted within the comb-mounting base member 20 and is provided with thermally conductive heat flow means connected therefrom to base parts of the previously mentioned hair-contacting surface means 32 for properly heating same to an optimum hair-softening temperature. In the example illustrated, the heating means 38 is shown as being of an electrically energizable type and may be said to comprise an electrically conductive, resistive, strip type of heat-producing means adapted to be connected at a first end, such as is indicated at 40 in FIG. 8, to one terminal 42 of an effective two-wire source of electrical energy, such as the plug indicated at 44 in FIG. 8, and adapted to be connected at the other end 46 to an insulated return wire 48 which is connected to the other terminal 50 of the electrical energy source effectively comprising the plug 44. A suitable control switch, such as is indicated at 52, may be provided to control the energization of the heat-producing means 38 or it may be eliminated and reliance may be placed upon the engagement and disengagement of the male plug 44 with a corresponding female electrical outlet connected to a suitable source of electrical energy (usually the conventional AC energy available in most homes and buildings, although not specifically limited thereto or even to AC since it may be powered by virtually any type of AC or DC power).

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, there is an auxiliary electrical unit or component shown in block diagrammatic form at 54 in FIG. 8 and also generally designated by the reference numeral 54 in FIG. 6. It is shown connected in series with the complete circuit of the electrically energizable heat-producing means 38 and, in one representative form, comprises thermally responsive controller means placed in effective heat-receiving relationship with respect to some heated portion of the entire device and preferably with respect to some part of one of the comb teeth 22 and/or the heated hair-contacting surface means 32 thereof so that the thermally responsive controller means 54 (which actually comprises thermally responsive switch means which may be of the bi-metallic, thermostatic type or otherwise) will sense the amount of heat and the temperature of the adjacent hair-contacting surface means 32 and will effectively open the circuit therethrough and de-energize the heat-producing means 38 whenever the sensed temperature rises to or above a predetermined upper temperature, and will operate in the opposite sense -- that is, will close said circuit -- whenever the temperature sensed by the thermally responsive controller means 54 falls to a predetermined lower temperature. Thus it will be seen that the thermally responsive controller means 54 will function to maintain the effective operating temperatures of the opposed heated hair-contacting surface means 32 within a predetermined elevated temperature range which has been found to be optimum for hair-softening and hair-grooming purposes in a manner such as is shown fragmentarily in one representative form in FIG. 5.

The entire heat-producing means 28 and all forward portions of the circuit energizing same are adapted to be effectively surrounded, enclosed, and protected by thermal insulator means which actually comprises the thermal insulator portions, indicated at 56, of the comb-mounting base member 20 and which completely encase, enclose, and protect the heat-producing means 38, the return wire 48, and certain adjacent portions of the electrical circuit energizing same and also normally enclose and protect the removable thermally responsive controller means 54, which is shown as being accessible for removal, repair, and/or replacement, by way of a screw-in cover plug specifically indicated by the reference numeral 58. The comb teeth 22 are also similarly comprised in large part of such thermal insulating material, in this case indicated by the reference numeral 60, and are integrally connected to the other insulating material 56 of which the comb mounting base member 20 and the attached handle 30 are formed.

In the example illustrated, the heated hair-contacting surface means 32 comprise strips of metal carried along adjacent surfaces of the insulating material 60 of the comb teeth 22. However, the invention is not limited to this particular arrangement of the heated hair-contacting surface means or strips 32, which may assume an arrangement wherein they are at least partially embedded within the comb teeth 22. Such an alternate arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 3A, and parts thereof corresponding to the showing of FIG. 3 of the first form of the invention are designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter "a", however. It is believed that this very minor modification is completely apparent from an examination of FIG. 3A and, therefore, that any further detailed description thereof would be redundant in view of the full description which has been set forth hereinbefore of the arrangement set forth in FIG. 3.

In a preferred form, a jewelled indicator light 62 may optionally be placed in series with the complete electric circuit means energizing the heat-producing means 38 and preferably may be removably mounted by either a push-in, turn-and-lock, or a screw-in socket at a convenient, visibly observable location such as is also generally designated by the reference numeral 62. Preferably the arrangement is such that the jewelled lamp can be removed and replaced whenever necessary, and it is obvious from its position in the circuit, as best shown in FIG. 8, that it will be energized and will be illuminated whenever the heat-producing means 38 is energized and will conversely be de-energized and not illuminated whenever the heat-producing means is de-energized. Thus, a person using the hair-grooming device will at all times know when it is energized and when it is de-energized.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, the electrically energizable heat-producing means is indicated diagrammatically at 38 in FIG. 8 as comprising an electrical resistance. However, physically the first form of said heat-producing means is better indicated in the showing of FIG. 9, which shows it as comprising a type of heating element which is known as a strip heater wherein a matrix of rubber, plastic, or other carrying and effective encapsulating material is provided with electrically conductive means therein in a predetermined concentration and arrangement such as to produce the desired electrical conductivity so as to cause the production of a desired amount of heat, which, by reason of the substantial volume of the matrix material, will usually be of lower temperature than a coil-type electric heating element. In a preferred form, the strip-type heater indicated at 38 in FIG. 9, may comprise a substantially electrically non-conductive matrix or a matrix of relatively low electrical conductivity for a plurality of electrically conductive particles or elements disseminated therethrough which effectively increase the overall conductivity of the composite two-phase material comprising the entire strip heater 38. This type of arrangement can be so designed as to have virtually any desired resistivity (or, conversely, conductivity) so as to produce a desired amount of heat as a function of the total resistance value of the strip heater times the square of the total current flow which the resistance permits to flow therethrough. In other words, this type of strip heater, which is well-known in the art, can be arranged so as to have virtually any desired quantity of heat output within the limits permitted by the electric power source to which the plug 44 is adapted to be electrically connected, and yet it will do so in a manner such as to have a substantially lower maximum temperature than would be the case with a coiled "Nichrome" wire type of heating element having an equal heat output.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, the thermal insulating material 56 of the comb back and 60 of the comb teeth (which may be the same type of thermal insulating material) may be made of a refractory material, a ceramic material, a pyrolytic graphite material, or any other material having adequate thermal insulation characteristics to prevent the undesired transmission of heat therethrough to any portion of the skin or hair of a person using the hair-grooming implement except by way of the heated hair-contacting strips 32 when hair strands, such as shown at 36 in FIG. 5, are combed through the interventing spaces 34 between adjacent comb teeth 22. Since the conventional duty cycle of the hair-grooming implement is such that normally it will be used for only relatively short periods of time, the extent of the efficiency of the thermal insulation characteristic of the thermal insulating material, such as shown at 56 and 60, can be determined by the maximum expected period of use of the device before it is de-energized and allowed to cool off.

In the example illustrated, the thermally responsive controller means, indicated generally at 54 in FIGS. 6, 8, and 9, may comprise any suitable thermally responsive, effective switch means. However, one form thereof which has been found suitable comprises what is known as a thermostat or bi-metallic switch means having two switch contact members, with one of same generally being in a fixed position, although sometimes adjustable for temperature regulation, and with the other contact member being positioned at the end of a movable arm formed of two different metals having substantially different co-efficients of thermal expansion so that, as the temperature thereof varies, one metallic element expands (or contracts) substantially more than the other metallic element whereby to cause a free end of a cantilever bi-metallic arm to be physically displaced into either electrical engagement with the fixed switch contact or out of engagement therewith. Since such bi-metallic thermostats, or thermostatic switches, are well-known in the art, no detailed structure and corresponding description are set forth in the drawings and specification, since it is believed that such would be redundant in view of the well-known nature thereof. However, it should be clearly noted that the invention is not limited to the particular type of bi-metallic, thermally responsive switch means just described, but may employ any of a variety of substantially functionally equivalent, thermally responsive switch or controller means in lieu thereof.

FIG. 7 illustrates the exemplary first form of the invention in supported or mounted relationship with respect to a suitable supporting or mounting base means, one representative form of which is shown in FIG. 7 and is generally designated by the reference numeral 64. It will be noted that said supporting or mounting base means 64 is made of a thermal insulating material and has an enlarged bottom 66 adapted to rest upon an auxiliary underlying supporting surface, such as is indicated fragmentarily and somewhat diagrammatically at 68. It should further be noted that the supporting or mounting base means 64 is provided with a longitudinal receiving trough 70 extending downwardly thereinto and adapted to receive the plurality of comb teeth 22 therein when the hair-grooming device is in supported relationship with respect to the base 64 in the manner clearly shown in FIG. 7. It should also be noted that the rear end of the supporting or mounting base means 64 is provided with an arcuate supporting surface, as indicated at 72, which is adapted to receive therein and to effectively support a corresponding bottom arcuate portion of the handle member 30 when the entire hair-grooming implement is in supported relationship with respect to the supporting and mounting base means 64.

Thus it will be understood that the device, when energized, will be supported in a very stable manner by the mounting and supporting base means 64 so that the heated hair-contacting surface means 32 between adjacent comb teeth 22 will be prevented from accidentally coming into contact with water or any other undesired material and, indeed, the comb teeth 22 are substantially completely enclosed by side portions of the supporting and mounting base means 64 when in the relationship shown in FIG. 7. The device can be quickly grasped by its handle 30 and removed for hair-grooming use and then can be replaced in the supporting and mounting means 64, either at intermediate times during a hair-grooming operation or after completion thereof. Of course, when the hair-grooming operation is terminated and the device is de-energized, it is normally replaced within the supporting and mounting base means 64, which will both protect and firmly support it in a stable manner until its next usage.

FIG. 10 is an electrical schematic view very similar to both FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. However, as previously pointed out, it should be noted that FIG. 8 is a generic view with respect to the heat-producing means 38 wherein said heat-producing means is merely indicated as an electrical resistance, thus designating its electrical characteristics, but not its physical characteristics, which are indicated in FIG. 9 wherein the heat-producing means 38 is shown in one representative physical aspect wherein it comprises an exemplary strip-type heater such as has been described in some detail hereinbefore.

FIG. 10 illustrates another physical form of the generic arrangement shown in FIG. 8 wherein the heat-producing means is of a slightly different form and, therefore, is generally designated by the reference numeral 38b and wherein it is shown as comprising an electrical resistance coil made of a material having a desired magnitude of electrical resistance for the total length of the coil, such as might be produced by using a particular Nichrome wire coil-type heating element 38b which is adapted to be positioned within a comb back of a comb such as that shown at 20 in the representative first form of the invention. Otherwise, the modification of FIG. 10 is essentially the same as the first form of the invention and, therefore, all portions of this modification which are either identical to or substantially equivalent to corresponding portions of the previously described first form of the invention are designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter "b", however.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a slight modification wherein the rear end of the handle is provided with electric-current-flow-responsive means which is generally designated by the reference numeral 74 and which may comprise what is commonly known as a circuit breaker, which is a kind of switch means which is normally closed until electric current flow therethrough exceeds a predetermined value, at which time it automatically opens the circuit until it is again manually closed and reset by the operation of a reset button, such as that indicated at 76 in FIG. 11. It should be understood that the partially broken-away electric supply cord indicated at 78c in FIG. 11 is of a two-wire type similar to that shown in the electrical circuit schematics of FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 and is adapted to be connected to a plug such as that indicated at 44c functionally similar to the plug 44 of FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, and adapted to similarly energize the rest of the complete electric circuit and heat-producing means as shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and/or FIG. 10. Therefore, all of said previously shown electric circuit portions and heat-producing means are not again shown in FIG. 11 and it should merely be understood that the circuit breaker means 74 and manually reset means 76 are functionally interconnected in the electric circuit means in a manner similar to the connection of the thermally responsive controller switch means indicated in block diagrammatic form at 54 in FIGS. 8 and 9 and at 54b in FIG. 10 (although, in certain forms of the invention, said circuit breaker means 74 and reset means 76 may be connected in said electric circuit means in addition to, rather than in place of, a thermally responsive controller switch means of the type shown at 54 in FIGS. 8 and 9 and at 54b in FIG. 10). All portions of the device fragmentarily illustrated in FIG. 11 which are functionally similar to previously illustrated and described elements of the invention are designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter "c", however.

FIG. 12 is, in certain ways, similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates a hair-grooming implement of any of the various types referred to hereinbefore or hereinafter in a temporarily removed or exploded relationship with respect to a supporting and mounting base means of the same general type as that shown in FIG. 7, although said supporting and mounting base means in FIG. 12 is modified somewhat from the arrangement of FIG. 7 by including a time-responsive safety switch means. Therefore, parts of the hair-grooming implement and of the supporting and mounting base means of FIG. 12 which are generally similar to the corresponding parts of the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 inclusive, are designated by the same reference numerals, followed by the letter "d", however. Thus, it will be noted that the supporting and mounting base means 64d is substantially the equivalent of the supporting and mounting base means 64 of FIG. 7 and is intended for the same general supporting and mounting purposes with respect to the hair-grooming implement of FIG. 12. However, it should be noted that the supporting and mounting base means 64d of FIG. 12 includes one particular representative, non-specifically-limiting, type of time-responsive safety switch means, such as is generally designated at 80, which is effectively adapted to be coupled in circuit between the input two-wore electrical cord 78d and an auxiliary two-wire electrical cord portion 82 attached to the rest of the hair-grooming implement in the same manner as previously described forms of the invention so that the time-responsive safety switch means 80 will be in series with the entire electrical energizing circuit means and will automatically de-energize same after the passage of a predetermined period of time following the initial energization of the complete electric circuit means and, correspondingly, of the heat-producing means, which may be of any of the previously described types as shown at 38 in FIGS. 8 and 9 or as shown at 38b in FIG. 10, or any other substantial functional equivalent thereof. While the time-responsive safety switch means indicated at 80 in FIG. 12 may be of a pre-set type arranged to merely comprise an "on-off" switch, with a predetermined time delay being provided after being moved to the "on" position for subsequent actuation after a predetermined time to automatically open the switch, it may also be of an adjustable time-delay type such as is shown in FIG. 12 wherein it includes a manually graspable rotating knob, such as is shown at 84, which is capable of being rotated so as to move a pointer or marker 86 relative to a circular numbered time scale 88 so as to cause the energization period to last for a corresponding period of time, as determined by the setting of the pointer or marker 86 relative to the circularly arranged time scale 88. It should be noted that the particular numbers of the time scale 88 shown in FIG. 12 are not to be construed as limiting the device to a range of from one to somewhat more than 7 minutes, but merely represent a time scale ranging from zero through seven incremental electrical energizing time periods, with each time increment corresponding to any desired base time unit period.

FIG. 13 illustrates, in fragmentary form, another slight modification of the invention wherein only a portion of the electric circuit means of the type shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is illustrated as being provided with another type of safety switch means in series therewith in a manner substantially equivalent to the series connection of the thermally responsive controller switch means shown diagrammatically at 54 in FIGS. 8 and 9 and may be connected in lieu thereof or in addition thereto. Because FIG. 13 illustrates a modification, parts thereof which are functionally or structurally similar to or identical to corresponding parts of the first form of the invention are designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter "e", however. It will be noted that the portion of the electric circuit means adapted to energize the heating means and shown fragmentarily at 48d in FIG. 13 is connected through a safety switch means, shown in exterior, somewhat diagrammatic form at 90 in FIG. 13, which is of a type which may be referred to as an inertia-responsive switch means which is responsive to the abrupt changing of orientation of the switch means, such as might occur if it inadvertently becomes dislodged and falls or is manually dropped so as to produce a change of the inertial condition thereof exceeding a predetermined magnitude. This type of inertial switch means is well-known in the art and generally comprises a mass connected to switch elements and resiliently mounted and maintained in switch-closed position purely by reason of the resilient mounting thereof and so positioned that the application of shock or an abrupt change in the inertial condition (momentum) thereof will be of a magnitude thereof such as to overcome and disengage the resilient mounting of said mass so that it will become displaced and will effectively open the switch means until again manually replaced and re-set. Since such inertial switch means are well-known in the art, the detailed structure thereof is not shown in FIG. 13 and is not described herein in view of the obvious redundancy which would be involved in doing so. It should be noted that the purpose of the novel safety switch means 90 shown in FIG. 13 is to shut off the device in the event of an accident wherein the device falls onto a lower surface and is stopped abruptly as a result of substantial impact thereof on such a lower surface. This is for safety purposes so as to prevent damage which might occur if the device shorted out as a consequence of such a fall onto a wet surface, or the like, and particularly if there should be physical damage or breakage to the implement as a consequence of such a fall.

FIG. 14 is another view of just a portion of the device illustrating both a portion of the insulating material of the handle and a portion of the electrical circuit energizing the heat-producing means and is generally a view of substantially the same type as FIG. 13. However, it illustrates another safety means adapted to be connected in the electrical energizing circuit in a manner equivalent to the connecting of the thermally responsive controller or switch means 54 of the first form of the invention as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the connecting of the electric-current-responsive circuit breaker means 74 of FIG. 11, the connecting of the time-responsive safety switch means 80 of FIG. 12, and the connecting of the impact-responsive safety switch means 90 of FIG. 13 with respect to the electrical energizing circuit means connected to the heat-producing means. The additional safety means so connected in FIG. 14 is generally designated by the reference numeral 92 and comprises current-limiting means of a somewhat different type from the circuit breaker means generally designated at 74 in FIG. 11, which is of a well-known type.

In FIG. 14 all parts which correspond to previously illustrated and described forms of the invention are designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter "f", however. It will be noted that the safety means 92 may comprise a means which effectively limits the total amount of electric current or electric power which can be transmitted therethrough to the heat-producing means. In this modification, it will be noted that both wires coming from the plug 44f enter an input side of the safety device 92 and that two additional wires 49f exit from the opposite side of the safety device 92 and provide the complete connected electric circuit which energizes the heat-producing means. This is so because the safety device 92 actually comprises a transformer of what is known as a leakage-flux type which has an effective limit to the amount of power which can be transmitted from the primary winding 94 thereof to the secondary winding 96 thereof and thus automatically limits the amount of electrical power available in the electrical circuit means 48f connected to the secondary winding 96 of the leakage flux transformer 92. Thus, any shorting out of the circuit 48f at any output portion of the hair-grooming implement cannot produce large and dangerous surges of electric current or voltage because of the limitation provided by the leakage flux transformer 92.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hair-grooming implement, comprising: a comb-mounting base member provided with a plurality of substantially transversely directed teeth spaced therealong and similarly projecting outwardly from one side thereof and terminating at outer free comb teeth ends lying in a substantially brushing inner contact plane, at least certain adjacent spaced ones of said teeth being provided with heat-conductive, heat-transmissive, hair-contacting surface means positioned along inner surfaces of said teeth facing intervening hair-strand-receiving comb teeth spaces defined between said teeth and adapted to physically mechanically contact and be drawn along intervening hair strands during a hair-grooming operation while simultaneously applying heat to said groomed hair strands along the length thereof for softening and increasing the compliancy of said hair strands temporarily during a hair-grooming operation; heating means for the transmission of heat from a heat source to said heat-conductive and heat-transmissive hair-contacting surface means carried by said comb teeth when placed in operative condition, said heating means being effectively mounted within said comb-mounting base member and being provided with thermally conductive heat flow means connected therefrom and extending to the outer heat-conductive, and heat-transmissive hair-contacting, surface means positioned along inside surface portions of adjacent teeth; and thermal insulator means effectively completely surrounding said heating means carried within said comb base mounting member and also effectively surrounding and fully enclosing the heat flow means except for the inner adjacent hair-contacting surfaces thereof defined and comprised by said thermally conductive and thermally transmissive hair-contacting surface means positioned along facing adjacent inner surfaces of said comb teeth, thus providing a structure completely isolating the thermally conductive and transmissive hair-strand-contacting surface means from any possible external contact with a person using the hair-grooming implement, or with any other exterior physical surface, except to hair strand means passed between adjacent teeth during a hair-combing and hair-grooming operation.

2. A hair-grooming implement as defined in claim 1, wherein said thermal insulator means comprises a substantially non-meltable, heat-resistant material having a thermal insulation characteristic such as to remain cool to the touch during the normal duty cycle of the entire device when used for heat-applying, hair-grooming purposes.

3. A hair-grooming implement as defined in claim 1, wherein said thermal insulator means comprises a substantially non-meltable, heat-resistant material having a thermal insulation characteristic such as to remain cool to the touch during the normal duty cycle of the entire device when used for heat-applying, hair-grooming purposes and taking the form of an exterior coating of pyrolytic graphite.

4. A hair-grooming implement as defined in claim 1, wherein said heating means comprises controllably energizable heat-producing means thermally conductive, heat-transmissive relationship with respect to heat-dispersing and temperature-reducing means coupled to and comprising a part of said heat flow means.

5. A hair-grooming implement as defined in claim 1, wherein said heating means comprises controllably electrical energizable, heat-producing means in thermally conductive, heat-transmissive relationship with respect to heat-dispersing and temperature-reducing means coupled to and comprising a part of said heat flow means.

6. A hair-grooming implement as defined in claim 5, wherein said electrically energizable, heat-producing means is provided with means for controllable connection with respect to an electrical energizing means comprising a source of electrical energy and provided with controllably operable switch means for effectively connecting same in energizing relationship with respect thereto when the grooming implement is to be used for hair-grooming purposes.

7. A hair-grooming implement as defined in claim 1, including thermally responsive controller means placed in effective heat-receiving relationship with respect to a heatable portion of said hair-grooming implement and effectively cooperable for effectively de-energizing said heating means when a predetermined upper temperature is reached and for re-energizing same when a predetermined lower temperature is reached whereby to substantially maintain the temperature of said heat-conductive and heat-transmissive hair-contacting surface means along inner faces of said comb teeth within a predetermined elevated temperature range optimum for hair-softening and hair-grooming purposes.

8. A hair-grooming implement as defined in claim 6, including thermally responsive controller means placed in effective heat-receiving relationship with respect to a heatable portion of said hair-grooming implement and effectively cooperable for effectively de-energizing said heating means when a predetermined upper temperature is reached and for re-energizing same when a predetermined lower temperature is reached whereby to substantially maintain the temperature of said heat-conductive and heat-transmissive hair-contacting surface means along inner faces of said comb teeth within a predetermined elevated temperature range optimum for hair-softening and hair-grooming purposes.

9. A hair-grooming implement as defined in claim 6, including time-responsive safety switch means effectively coupled in circuit with said electrical energizing means for said heating means and operable in response to the occurrence of a predetermined physical condition comprising the passage of a predetermined period of time for effectively de-energizing the heating means as a consequence thereof until manually re-set and re-energized again.

10. A hair-grooming implement as defined in claim 6, including position-responsive safety switch means effectively coupled in circuit with said electrical energizing means for said heating means and operable in response to the occurrence of a predetermined physical condition comprising the abrupt changing-of-orientation of the switch means produced by the falling of the unattended, energized hair-grooming implement from an at-rest position into an unattended, nearby, dislodged position for effectively de-energizing the heating means as a consequence thereof until manually re-set and re-energized again.

11. A hair-grooming implement as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting base member is provided at one end thereof with a longitudinally projecting, manually graspable operating handle member.