Patent Application
20170325563
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The inventive concept is involved with devices and professional accessories used by hair stylists and barbers.
U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/334,795 filed on May 11, 2016 by the current inventor, describes an elastomeric sponge block having a relative smooth, semi-rigid top surface and an elastomeric bottom surface constructed of regularly-spaced circular chambers and groupings of V-shaped channels.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,050 (April 03, 2007) discloses a method for hair styling incorporating the use of a handheld device. The device is intended for sculpting hair and includes a pliable member having a substantially smooth bottom surface. A plurality of spaced-apart bores is disposed in the bottom surface. When the handheld device is placed against a person's head, the pliable member at least partially deforms to conform to the shape of the person's head. By repeatedly pulling the bottom surface of the pliable member across the hair tangentially to the surface of the person's scalp, the plurality of spaced-apart bores disposed in the bottom surface cause clumps of hair to be formed at substantially regular intervals that are a function of the distance between ones of the spaced-apart bores.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,565 issued on Dec. 04, 2001 to Girardot et al. The invention discloses an applicator for applying and distributing a substance onto a target surface. The applicator comprises a substantially planar sheet of compressible, conformable material having opposed first and second surfaces and an interior region. The interior region decreases in volume when subjected to an externally-applied force. The applicator further includes at least one discrete reservoir extending inwardly of the first surface into the interior, is partially filled with a substance and at least one discrete aperture in the first surface in fluid communication with the reservoir. Compression of the first surface expresses product from the aperture and translational motion of the first surface relative to a target surface applies and distributes the product onto the target. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of apertures is associated with corresponding reservoirs. A hand-held applicator, which is preferably resilient both in compression and in bending to conform to irregular target surfaces may be used with the invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,943,365 issued on Jan. 16, 1934 to Borden, discloses an improvement to band-held sponge rubber devices, which features a plurality of spaced open ducts. The preferred embodiment comprises a sponge-rubber lathering and washing appliance, further comprising two sponge-rubber boards, superposed one on the other and secured together, at least one being a split of a sponge rubber slab and at least one having skin on its abutting face, said device having distributed over substantially its entire area a plurality of spaced -normally open ducts extending entirely through it transversely of its abutting lace skin whereby the sponge cells adjacent thereto are freely vented.
The inventive concept disclosed sets forth a device for conducting a specific method of styling hair. The subject device is essentially an elastomeric block having an elliptically-shaped, substantially smooth top surface, a patterned, sculptured and textured bottom surface, and a continuous side panel integrally connected to the edges of both the top surface and the bottom surface.
The device is referred to in this document as an “elastomeric block” 1.
The elastomeric block 1 is used by a hair stylist or barber to produce a uniquely-designed hairstyle featuring multiple sections of hair twists or spirals. The hair stylist grasps the top surface of the device and places the channels and chambers of the bottom surface into direct contact with strands of hair. Simultaneously with the initiation of the contact, the hair stylist uses varying pressure and-directions of movement of the bottom surface against the hair. In this manner the hair may be styled into a multiplicity of twists, spirals, or twined segments.
The objects, features, and advantages of the inventive concept presented in this application are more readily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, totaling seven (7) figures, show the basic components and functions of the preferred embodiment. In the several figures, like reference numbers are used in each figure to correspond to the same component as may be depicted in other figures.
A general perspective view of the bottom surface of the elastomeric block 1 is shown in
In the preferred embodiment, there is a total of thirty-two (32) circular chambers. For illustrative purposes, a few of the circular chambers 70, 74,75, 76, 100, and 101 are labeled as indicated in
Because of the extremely limited space in
The aforementioned numbered circular chambers must be deduced from the presentation of numbered circular chambers generally around the periphery of the bottom surface 4 shown in
In
A hair stylist or other user of the elastomeric block 1 performs a styling of hair by the steps of
a) ensuring that the hair of an imminent customer, or of a wig, is free of any styling liquid or other substances;
b) Grasping the elastomeric block 1 simultaneously by the side 2 and top surface 3 while orienting the elastomeric block 1 such that said bottom surface 4 is immediately adjacent to the hair of a customer;
c) placing the bottom surface 4 of said elastomeric block 1 against a section of strands of the customer's hair;
d) applying a series of generally planar or circular twisting motions of the bottom surface 4 against the customer's hair. The bottom surface 4 of the elastomeric block 1 may flex slightly during this step. Additionally, the aforementioned twisting motions may approximately correspond to the general shape of a customer's head;
e) circularly rubbing the bottom surface 4 of said elastomeric block 1 across the sections of hair, thereby causing the main-channels 21-29 and cross-channels 30-38 to tunnel sections of hair strands into the circular chambers 70-101. This rubbing motion serves to create spiraling twists within the circular chambers 70-101. As necessary, the stylist or user repeats steps b) through e) to create a substantial plurality of sections of hair twists and spirals.
While preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept have been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, and totality of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, and substitutions may involve other features which are already known per se and which may be used instead of, or in combination with features already disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is intended that this inventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, and substitutions, and limited only by the scope of the claims presented herein.
This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/334,795 filed on May 11, 2016, which provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62334795 | May 2016 | US |
