HAIR BRUSH WITH STORAGE CASE

Abstract

A hair brush is provided which comprises a brush and a storage case affixed to a surface of the brush for storing a head covering, wherein the case includes a closure mechanism for retaining the head covering in the case. The case may have a base and a lid having corresponding edges, and the closure mechanism may be a zipper which holds the base and lid together at corresponding edges to form a cavity between the base and lid for receiving and retaining the head covering. Head coverings contemplated for storage in the case include, without limitation, scarfs, head wraps, durags (do-rags), skull caps, wave caps, bonnets, hair nets, bandanas, hats, beanies, etc.

Description

FIELD

The present invention relates to a hair brush with a storage case attached thereto for storing a head covering or other article therein to minimize misplacement of the head covering or other article.

BACKGROUND

In addition to brushing or otherwise grooming the hair on one's head, persons sometimes cover all or a portion of their hair, for various reasons and purposes, by wearing a head covering such as a scarf, durag (do-rag), bonnet, hair net, bandana, beanie, and the like. Sometimes, keeping track of where a head covering is located when not being worn is difficult, and the head covering becomes misplaced. It would be advantageous to provide a way for storing and carrying a head covering, when not being worn, in a manner that facilitates keeping track of the head covering until such time as it is desired to wear it.

Persons have become fairly habituated to storing, keeping track of, carrying, and retaining their hair brush throughout their daily activities, inside and outside the home. For example, persons often carry a hair brush with them for personal grooming throughout the day, to be used as necessary or convenient. Accordingly, as will be described, a hair brush with an attached storage case has been developed for containing a head covering therein, which stores the head covering with the hair brush and minimizes or avoids misplacement of the head covering.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,125 discloses a hair brush having a compartment with multiple variably sized cavities for holding various cosmetic materials and tools. U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,070 discloses a hair brush having a chamber in its handle for receiving and holding a fluid dispensing device and/or other items such as pills, coins, lipstick or scissors. U.S. Pat. No. 8,066,014 discloses brushes having storage compartments for receiving and retaining cosmetic materials and tools (e.g., lipstick, mascara, tweezers, nail clippers, etc.). However, all of the compartments, chambers, and cavities are incorporated into the existing body or handle of the brushes disclosed in these patents, and none of those compartments, chambers, or cavities is large enough to receive and store a head covering of any sort, nor is such use contemplated.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a hair brush comprising a brush having a plurality of bristles and a storage case for storing a head covering, wherein the case is affixed to a surface of the brush opposite the bristles and wherein the case includes a closure mechanism for retaining the head covering in the case. The case may have a base and a lid having corresponding edges, and the closure mechanism may be a zipper which holds the base and lid together at corresponding edges to form a cavity between the base and lid for receiving and retaining the head covering.

In some embodiments, the hair brush comprises:

• • a brush which includes
  • a brush body having a grooming face with a plurality of bristles extending therefrom and
  • a second face opposite the grooming face; and
  • a case which includes
  • a base affixed to the second surface of the brush body,
  • a lid movable, relative to the base, between a fully open position and a fully closed position, and to any partially open or closed position therebetween, wherein the base and lid form a cavity therebetween for receiving and retaining the head covering, and
  • a closure mechanism capable of holding the lid in a partially or fully closed position, thereby enabling the head covering to be retained in the cavity which is sized to store the head covering therein.

In some embodiments, at least one of the base and the lid of the case is made from a flexible material, such as without limitation, one or more of fabric, leather, vinyl, and rubber. Such flexible material sometimes facilitates fitting the head covering in the case when the lid is in its fully closed position, particularly when the head covering is not sufficiently foldable or flexible.

In some embodiments, each of the base and lid has a corresponding edge, and the closure mechanism is a zipper which holds the base and lid together at the corresponding edges to form the cavity in which the head covering is received and retained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention will be further explained with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the several views. The drawings shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational front view of an exemplary embodiment of a hair brush with an attached case, where the case is shown in an open configuration;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational front view of the hair brush of FIG. 1, showing a head covering in the case;

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevational front view of the hair brush of FIG. 1, showing the case in a partially closed configuration; and

FIG. 4 is a is a schematic elevational front view of the hair brush of FIG. 1, showing the case in a closed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with the various embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. In addition, any measurements, specifications and the like shown in the figures are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as examples for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Wearing a head covering is common and done for various reasons and purposes, both practical and cosmetic (i.e., aesthetic). However, it is easy to lose or misplace a head covering when it is not being worn. There are many types of head coverings, for example without limitation, scarfs, head wraps, durags (do-rags), skull caps, wave caps, bonnets, hair nets, bandanas, hats, beanies, etc., all of which are suitable for use with the hair brush having a case which is described and contemplated herein. Head coverings may be made of a material or fabric flexible enough to allow folding or otherwise reshaping of the head covering to fit into a container or case as described below.

Head coverings are not always put on first thing in the day, but sometimes are worn at a later time. Sometimes head coverings are worn for some period of time overnight while sleeping, and then removed and not worn during the day. Furthermore, for various reasons, head coverings are often taken off, put back on, repositioned, etc., after being worn for some period of time, whether daytime or nighttime. Sometimes, a head covering is not put on first thing in the day, but rather is taken with the person to be put on later. Head coverings may be adjusted and repositioned more than once, and even many times, a day.

The various instances where the head covering is not being worn are opportunities for misplacement. Since many people are already used to keeping track of and otherwise avoiding misplacement of their hair brush, a hair brush with attached case has been developed to provide a way to store a head covering with the hair brush to facilitate also keeping track of the head covering and minimizing its misplacement. Furthermore, the case is sized to receive and retain a head covering therein and may also be made of one or more flexible materials (e.g., fabric, leather, vinyl, rubber, etc.) to enable a head covering to fit within the case, even in instances where the head covering is only partially, or not at all, foldable or flexible.

FIGS. 1-4 provide several views of an exemplary embodiment of a hair brush 10 which comprises a brush 12 with a storage case 14 attached thereto, in accordance with the present invention. More particularly, the brush 12 includes a brush body 16 with a grooming face 18 having a plurality of bristles 20 extending therefrom. The brush body 16 also includes a second face 22 opposite the grooming face 18. The case 14 is attached to the second face 22 of the brush body 16, as explained more specifically below.

It is noted that the type of brush 12 suitable for making the hair brush 10 of the present invention is not particularly limited. The brush 12 should have a face or surface (i.e., second face 22) to which the base 24 of the storage case 14 can be securely be attached. More particularly, the face of the brush 12 to which the case 14 is to be attached should be without bristles 20 or other features (deep ridges, excessive quantity of apertures, insufficient surface area, etc.) which would prohibit securely attaching the base 24 of the storage case 14 thereto. Furthermore, although the type of brush 12 shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 is a palm brush, the brush 12 may include a handle or other features, or not.

With reference still to FIGS. 1-4, the storage case 14 is sized and shaped to store (i.e., contain and retain) a head covering HC therein and includes a base 24, a lid 26, and a closure mechanism 28. The base 24 of the case 14 is affixed, such as by adhesive, tape, staples, etc. (not shown per se), to the second face 22 of the brush body 16. To avoid unduly increasing the overall size of the hair brush 10, or interfering with the ease of carrying and handling of the hair brush 10, the length and width of the base 24 of the case 14 may be about (i.e., within 2 centimeters (cm)) the same as the length and width dimensions of the second face 22 of the brush body 16. For example, without limitation, in an exemplary embodiment where the second face 22 of the brush body 16 is 12×6.5 centimeters (cm) (length×width), the base 24 of the case 14 should be no more than 14×8.5 cm, 13×7.5 cm, and more preferably 12×6.5 cm. Similarly, to maintain reasonable carrying and handling characteristics for the hair brush 10, in another exemplary embodiment, the case 14 may have a total height (i.e., base 24 and lid 26 together) of no more than 4.5 cm, such as 4.2 cm or less, or 4 cm or less, or 3.8 cm or less, or 3.5 cm or less. While flexible materials or fabric (e.g., woven or knit fabric, leather, vinyl, rubber, etc.) will provide a case 14 of greatest flexibility and adaptability for containing and retaining a head covering in the cavity formed between the base and lid of the case, any material strong enough to contain and retain a head covering HC (for example without limitation, various woven, nonwoven and knitted fabrics, wood, plastic, metal, etc.) may be used to make the case 14.

The lid 26 of the case 14 is movable relative to the base 24, between a fully open position (e.g., FIG. 1) and a fully closed position (e.g., FIG. 4), as well as to any partially open or partially closed position therebetween (e.g., FIGS. 2 and 3). The fully open position may be such that the base 24 and lid 26 are completely decoupled and separate (not shown). However, it is beneficial for the base 24 and lid 26 to be at least partially attached to one another, such as shown most clearly in FIG. 1, because such an arrangement minimizes the possibility of misplacing the lid 26.

The closure mechanism 28 should be capable of holding the lid 26 in any partially or fully closed position in which the head covering HC is retained between the base 24 and lid 26 (e.g., FIGS. 3 and 4). In some embodiments, the head covering HC may be partially visible or otherwise accessible even when the lid 26 is only partially closed (i.e., in a partially closed position). Although the closure mechanism 28 shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 is a zipper 28, it will be readily recognized by persons of ordinary skill that the closure mechanism 28 may be any mechanism capable of holding the base 24 and lid 26 sufficiently together (i.e., at least partially closed) so that the head covering HC is retained therebetween. For example, without limitation, the closure mechanism 28 may comprise one or more zippers, buttons, Velcro closures, magnets, buttons, string, string laced through apertures, clips, hooks, interlocking, snapping, or dovetailed tabs or other features, sealingly mated edges (e.g., similar to Tupperware® containers and lids), and combinations thereof.

More particularly, as can be seen in FIGS. 1-4, each of the base 24 and lid 26 of the case 14 may have a corresponding edge 30, 32 which align with, and may contact, one another when the base 24 and lid 26 are held together, and thereby enclose or form a cavity 34 (see especially the dotted lines in FIGS. 3 and 4). The cavity 34 is sized and shaped to receive and retain (i.e., store) the head covering (HC) therein. It is contemplated, but not required, that at least a portion of the closure mechanism 28 is positioned proximate to one of both of the corresponding edges 30, 32 of the base 24 and lid 26, respectively. FIG. 2 shows the head covering HC placed in the cavity 34 between the base 24 and lid 26 of the case 14 while the lid 26 is in a partially closed position.

FIG. 3 shows the lid 26 in a partially closed position wherein the zipper 28 is not engaged along its entire length and, therefore, the base 24 and lid 26 are not fully in contact with one another along their corresponding edges 30, 32. In such a partially closed position, the cavity 34 between the base 24 and lid 26 remains accessible from outside the case 12, but the head covering HC is retained between the base 24 and lid 26, in proximity with the hair brush.

It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention described hereinabove are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hair brush having a case for storing a head covering, the hair brush comprising: a brush which includes a brush body having a grooming face with a plurality of bristles extending therefrom anda second face opposite the grooming face; anda case which includes a base affixed to the second surface of the brush body,a lid movable, relative to the base, between a fully open position and a fully closed position, and to any partially open or partially closed position therebetween, wherein the base and lid form a cavity for receiving and retaining the head covering therein, anda closure mechanism capable of holding the lid in a partially or fully closed position, thereby enabling the head covering to be retained in the cavity which is sized to store the head covering therein.

2. The hair brush of claim 1, wherein at least one of the base and the lid of the case is made from a flexible material.

3. The hair brush of claim 1, wherein the flexible material comprises one or more of fabric, leather, vinyl, and rubber.

4. The hair brush of claim 1, wherein each of the base and lid has a corresponding edge, and the closure mechanism is a zipper which holds the base and lid together at the corresponding edges to form the cavity in which the head covering is received and retained.

5. The hair brush of claim 1, wherein the base affixed to the second surface of the brush body using an adhesive.