Patent Application
20240115028
The present invention relates generally to hair accessories, and more particularly to a device for engaging and removing extensions and other products from hair.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Hair accessories and extensions such as braids, crochet, dreadlocks, and other such items are an increasingly popular way for individuals to enhance their appearance by providing instant length, fullness, and/or style to their existing hair. To this end, there are many known methods and products relating to hair extensions depending on the user's budget and style they are going for.
For example, one popular type of hair extension comprises a plurality of elongated strands of real or synthetic hair that are joined together along their respective top ends via one end of a sleeve. The second end of the sleeve is secured onto the user's real hair in a “strand-by-strand” method. Another popular type of extension uses a weft comprising an elongated wide elastic band having a plurality of fibers that are fixed perpendicularly along the length of the band. The band includes a plurality of apertures which permits attachment to the scalp hair, typically by braiding the scalp hair and then sewing the weft with the braid.
In either instance, it can be quite difficult to remove these hair components when the user wishes to do so. In most instances, such products are removed by cutting the users hair just above the extension. Alternatively, some users who do not want to damage their hair often attempt to utilize a sharp object such as a fork or pick, for example, to attempt to pry open the sleeve in order to separate the extension from the user's hair. Unfortunately, this method often results in damage to the extension, thus resulting in the inability to use the accessory again.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a takedown tool that can engage and remove a hair accessory without the drawbacks described above.
The present invention is directed to a hair accessory takedown tool. One embodiment of the present invention can include an elongated cane-shaped main body having a bottom end, a central section, a curved section, and a second end. A first triangular-shaped engagement member can be disposed along the bottom end of the main body. The first engagement member can include a sharpened tip that is configured to engage a hair accessory.
In one embodiment, a second triangular-shaped engagement member can be disposed along the second end of the main body. The second engagement member can include a large shape, and a bulbous tip. A plurality of metallic teeth can extend downward from the curved section of the main body so as to be parallel to the central section. The teeth and second engagement member can function to remove hair accessories and untangle scalp hair.
In one embodiment, a finger indentation can be positioned adjacent to the first engagement member, and a gripper can be positioned along the central section at a location above the indentation.
This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.
Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.
As described herein, a “unit” means a series of identified physical components which are linked together and/or function together to perform a specified function.
As described throughout this document, the term “about” “approximately” “substantially” and “generally” shall be used interchangeably to describe a feature, shape, or measurement of a component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.
As described herein, the term “slidingly engage” and derivatives thereof shall be used to describe a situation wherein two identified objects are connected linearly such that one identified part slides along the other identified part.
As shown in the drawing, one embodiment of the tool 10 can include a main body having a bottom end 11a, an elongated central section 11b, a curved section 11c and a second end 11d that form a generally cane shape. In the preferred embodiment, the main body can be constructed from rigid plastic and can include a generally cylindrical cross-sectional shape so as to be easily gripped by a user in a manner similar to holding a pen or pencil. Of course, other shapes and construction materials are also contemplated.
To this end, the main body can be constructed from other materials that are, for example, relatively strong and stiff for their weight such as various metals or metal alloys, various plastics/polymers, and/or various composite materials, for example.
In one embodiment, a first engagement member can be secured to the bottom end 11a of the main body. The first engagement member can include a generally triangular shaped member having a broad first end 21, a tapered middle section 22, and a sharpened tip 23.
The first engagement member is designed to engage and penetrate the sleeve portions of hair accessories, such as micro braid tips, for example. As such, in the preferred embodiment the first engagement member can be constructed from metal such as steel or aluminum, for example, and the sharpened tip can include a cross sectional dimension of less than 1 mm, for example.
In one embodiment, the engagement member can comprise a discrete element that is permanently connected to the bottom end 11a of the main body via glue or other such connectors. Alternatively, the engagement member may be formed integrally with the main body and can include a metallic cover that is positioned over the formed shape. Of course, any number of other shapes, sizes and construction materials are also contemplated.
In one embodiment, an indentation 12 can be formed along a portion of the elongated central body section 11b. The indentation 12 will preferably be located adjacent to the first engagement member and can function to align and receive the fingers of a user when engaging hair accessories using the first engagement member.
In one embodiment, a gripper 13 can be provided along the central body section 11b. In one embodiment, the gripper can comprise an elongated main body having a hollow central channel through which the main body is positioned. The gripper can be constructed from any number of high friction materials such as foam or rubber, for example, and can function to aid a user in gripping the device when utilizing the below described teeth and second engagement member.
The gripper body can include any number of different shapes and sizes, such as various finger indentations, for example, and may be fixedly secured to a specific location along the main body using glue or other connectors or may be slidingly positioned along the main body in a manner that permits the gripper to move toward and away from the first engagement member.
In one embodiment, the curved section 11c can include a continuous curve that functions to align the second end 11d in a generally parallel orientation with the elongated central section 11b at a set separation distance D. To this end, the curved section can include a middle portion 11c1 that acts as the upper edge of the tool and is located equidistantly between the central section and the second end.
Of course, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the curved section does not include a continuous curve and/or wherein the second end is positioned in different orientation relative to the elongated central section 11b such as diagonal or perpendicular, for example.
In one embodiment, a plurality of elongated teeth 14 can extend outward from the bottom edge of the curved section 11c. Each of the teeth will preferably include a metallic construction and will be aligned parallel to each other and the elongated central section 11b. Each of the teeth can function to engage the scalp hair of a user to remove twists and knots in the same when a user imparts a downward pulling force onto the main body via the gripper 13.
Although described above as including metallic teeth oriented in a parallel orientation, other embodiments are contemplated wherein different construction materials, length of teeth and/or orientation of teeth are provided.
In one embodiment, a second engagement member can be secured to the second end 11d of the main body. As described herein, the second engagement member can include a generally triangular shaped member having a broad first end 31, a tapered middle section 32, a bulbous tip 33, and a metallic construction.
Because the second engagement member is designed to engage hair accessories that have already been loosened/penetrated by the first engagement member, the second engagement member can include a length (e.g., distance between first end and tip) that 1 to 2 times larger than the length of the first engagement member. Moreover, the bulbous tip will preferably not be sharp, and can include a cross sectional dimension of about 7 mm, for example. Of course, any number of other shapes, sizes and construction materials are also contemplated.
In the preferred embodiment, the main body can include a height (e.g., distance between the sharpened tip 23 and the center of the curve 11c1) of about 7 inches, and a separation distance D of about 1.5 inches. Such dimensions are important to allow the tool 10 to be capable of being held in a manner similar to a pen or pencil when using the first engagement member; and to allow the teeth 14 and the second engagement member to engage hair accessories in the manner described above.
As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
As described herein, one or more elements of the device 10 can be secured together utilizing any number of known attachment means such as, for example, screws, glue, compression fittings and welds, among others. Moreover, although the above embodiments have been described as including separate individual elements, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this end, one of skill in the art will recognize that one or more individually identified elements may be formed together as one or more continuous elements, either through manufacturing processes, such as welding, casting, or molding, or through the use of a singular piece of material milled or machined with the aforementioned components forming identifiable sections thereof.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Likewise, the term “consisting” shall be used to describe only those components identified. In each instance where a device comprises certain elements, it will inherently consist of each of those identified elements as well.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No. 63/413,915 filed on Oct. 6, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63413915 | Oct 2022 | US |
