Patent Application
20080190441
This application relates to a hairbrush which has a shape that when combined with a selected bristle combination and placement improves the grooming characteristics of the brush over known brushes of the prior art.
The bristles of the brush described herein are a combination of double pinned nylon bristles which are the longest bristles in the brush head and are arranged in rows preferably forming a spiral arrangement on the brush head. Surrounding the double pinned nylon bristles at each site in each row is a series of shorter bristles of a different type whose function it is to groom the hair in a particular manner for a hair treatment operation.
In this instance, the disclosure describes two different types of shorter bristles which surround the longer doubled pinned nylon bristles. The shorter bristles of a first type surround the double pinned nylon bristles in a first row, and the shorter bristles of a second type are made to surround the double pinned nylon bristles of the next adjacent row.
Each such row always contains double pinned nylon bristles which have a length such that the outer ends lie in the surface of a right cylinder. These rows alternate preferably in a spiral fashion over a brush surface that is described to be concave, so that the entire bush head surface is covered with rows of bristles arranged (in this instance) in spiral fashion. Each row of bristles is staggered so that the bristles of each row are offset from each other to ensure excellent engagement with hair being treated. The surface of the brush head containing the bristle sites may be coated with a suitable colour changing thermochromic material to indicate to the brush user the temperature of the surface of the hair brush barrel in which the bristles are held.
The surface of the hair brush head is therefore concave and is preferably that of a surface revolution in which the central portion has a minimum diameter so as to be a concave surface. The smooth concave surface is interrupted at the ends to define a sharply rising surface at each end of the brush head which is enlarged so as to prevent hair tangling when the operator is performing a hairstyling operation. The end of the brush remote from the handle is designed to be flat.
The combination of bristle selection combined with the shape of the barrel provides a hair brush with superior hair grooming characteristics. Coupled with this, the barrel of the brush may be coated with a thermochromic material to indicate the temperature of the brush barrel. This combination provides the hairstylist with a balanced brush which is easy to use and has excellent hair grooming qualities which generally avoids hair tangles to which prior art brushes are subject.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Note that the bristle sites 118 and 140 are staggered so that there will be a maximum contact with the strands of hair being first separated by the long (nylon) bristles 116. Each bristle site always gives rise to at least one long (nylon) bristle which is surrounded by short bristles of a specific type. Sites in each row are offset with sites of adjacent rows.
Handle 112 decreases in diameter at 122 and brush head 114 enlarges to form anti-tangle rings 124, 126 at each end of concave surface of revolution 128. It will be quite evident that the anti-tangle end rings are formed to be separate from the concave surface 128; there being a definite step in the surface topography shown at conical ring surface 130.
Referring specifically to
Each of bristle sites such as 120 also supports short bristles (white boar) 120 as well as long (nylon) bristles 116. Each of the bristle sites 140 supports at least one long (nylon) bristle 116 as well as short black (boar) bristles 142. In this manner, brush 100 may be used to straighten hair, or it may be used to shine hair.
This brush is ergonomic, that is the handle 112 is shaped to feel comfortable in the hand of the user and the balance provided by the large brush head 114 makes the brush feel “good” to the user.
There are many advantages to this brush. First the combination of bristles 116, 120 and 142 produces a superior hair grooming performance. The long nylon bristles 116 provide an extended length of the brush head bristles so that hair may be conveniently separated and wrapped on brush head 14 because of early contact with the long stiff nylon bristles 116. The hair being groomed is then contacted by bristles 120 or 142. These bristles serve to either “shine” the hair being contacted (white boar bristles 120) or the gripping bristles (black boar bristles 142) which are useful in straightening hair.
The shape of the brush head, the concave surface 128 which may be coated with a thermochromic colour changing material is a handy reference to indicate surface temperature of the brush head. The rows of bristles may be spiraled (not shown) and in any event, the bristles of different types are staggered to provide maximum contact with the hair being groomed.
The ends of the brush head are enlarged to prevent tangling of the hair, as prior art brushes are prone to do. With this brush, it is almost impossible to wrap hair being groomed around the end of the brush.
Because the end of the brush is flat, there is a natural tendency to place the brush on its head end when not in use. This provides a convenient storage mode for the brush.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that the modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the dependent claims.
