Patent Application
20130186423
This invention relates to an improved hair coloring cap that allows a user to apply two or more different hair colors to the user's hair in a single application to create his or her own multi-dimensional personal color brilliance and/or retouch roots. The improved hair coloring cap is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, safe and easy to use, and enables a user to color his or her hair in a professional manner without incurring the expense of a professional hairdresser.
Many individuals like to color or highlight their hair to conceal signs of aging (e.g., gray hairs), and/or to obtain a new hairstyle or look. For example, an individual with brown hair may desire to dye his or her hair blonde, red, black or some other color or multi-dimensional colors at the same time, or vice versa. Other individuals may desire to apply multi-color highlights to their hair, which is the process of applying different hair coloring agents to different strands of hair to lighten or darken said strands of hair from their original color and in contrast to other portions of the user's hair.
Notwithstanding the fact that many individuals frequently desire to color or highlight their hair, it can be expensive and time consuming for said individuals to frequent a salon or professional hairdresser each time the individual desires to color or highlight his or her hair with multiple colors. Many individuals simply cannot afford the expense of repeated trips to the salon or hairdresser to have their hair colored or highlighted by a professional. Other individuals simply don't have the time to spend hours at a salon each time they desire to have their hair colored or highlighted with a single or multiple colors.
Many individuals that do not have the time or resources to have their hair colored or highlighted at a salon or by a professional hairdresser will attempt to color their own hair with existing hair coloring kits. However, many existing hair coloring kits can be difficult to use by someone lacking formal hairdresser training or education, and can result in damage to the individual's hair and/or an unacceptable result (i.e., incorrect and/or inconsistent coloring, etc.). Moreover, even when correctly utilized, traditional hair coloring caps are only designed to permit an individual to color his or her hair one color at a time. Therefore, an individual desiring to apply two or more colors to his or her hair must repeat the entire hair coloring process for each separate color, which includes applying the coloring agent, waiting for the coloring agent to react with the hair to be colored, rinsing the remaining coloring agent from the hair, washing out, conditioning and thoroughly drying the colored hair. Because the forgoing process has to be repeated for each color, the coloring or highlighting process could go on for hours and is both time consuming and inconvenient and, therefore, undesirable.
Even if an individual were to attempt to apply two different coloring agents with a traditional hair coloring cap at the same time, it would be extremely difficult for the individual to successfully separate the strands of different colored hair which could lead to mixing of the various coloring agents and potentially disastrous results. Consequently, there exists in the art a long-felt need for an improved hair coloring cap that can be used by an individual to color or highlight different portions of his or her hair with different colors in a single application. There also exists in the art a long felt need for an improved hair coloring cap that can be used by an individual with no formal education or specialized training in the field of hairdressing and/or coloring. Finally, there is a long-felt need for an improved hair coloring cap that accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives, and that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and safe and easy to use.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, is an improved hair coloring cap for applying different colors to different strands of hair in a consistent fashion and in a single application. The improved hair coloring cap is preferably comprised of a cap portion for placement on a user's head, and a plurality of flexible panels extending outwardly from said cap portion in spaced apart relationship to one another. Along said cap portion, and preferably located between each of said panels, are a plurality of spaced apart continuous openings in the cap portion for receiving strands of the user's hair. The various openings in the cap portion, as well as the various flexible panels extending therefrom, may be color coded to assist the user in applying the various hair coloring agents in a consistent manner to achieve a professional looking result.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a kit is disclosed for permitting an individual to apply different hair coloring agents to different strands of hair in a consistent fashion and in a single application. The kit is preferably comprised of an improved hair coloring cap with a plurality of spaced apart continuous openings formed therein and a plurality of flexible panels extending outwardly from said cap in spaced apart fashion, a hook for assisting the user to pull strands of his or her hair through said continuous openings in the cap to be colored, and at least one hair coloring agent for applying color to at least a portion of the hair strands extending through said openings. As previously mentioned, the various openings in the cap, as well as the various flexible panels extending therefrom, may be coded to assist the user in applying the at least one hair coloring agent in a consistent manner to achieve a professional looking result.
The improved hair coloring cap and kit of the present invention enables an individual to apply two or more different hair colors safely and easily without incurring the expense of a professional hairdresser. The improved hair coloring cap and kit of the present invention also allows anyone, including those without any formal hair coloring or hair dressing education or training, to independently color their hair with multiple color dimensions with only a single application. The individual panels of the improved hair coloring cap of the present invention also permit the user to fold and segregate the various colored hair sections to prevent or reduce the likelihood of cross contamination of the various hair colors being used. The improved hair coloring cap and kit of the present invention can also be used for touching up root color.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details.
The improved hair coloring cap of the present invention enables an individual with little or no hairdresser education or training to color and/or highlight different portions of his or her hair with different colors in a single application. The improved hair coloring cap of the present invention also provides the user with an easy to follow pattern for applying the various coloring agents to the various strands of hair to produce a consistent and professional looking result in a single application. Finally, the improved hair coloring cap of the present invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, safe and easy to use, and produces results consistent with those of a salon and/or professional hairdresser.
Referring initially to the drawings,
Cap portion 110 can be manufactured in various shapes and sizes to accommodate virtually any shape and size of head 210, but should be sized to fit somewhat snugly on the wearer's head 210. As previously mentioned and as illustrated in
Openings 120 are continuous apertures in cap portion 110 that extend from interior surface 112 to exterior surface 114, and that are positioned in spaced apart relationship along the surface of cap portion 110. More specifically, openings 120 may be positioned along the surface of front portion 116, side portions 117, and back portion 118. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, openings 120 may be grouped together in groups of six to twelve openings 120 in single or double rows between each of panels 130 as illustrated in the FIGS, and explained more fully below. As an important aspect of the present invention, cap portion 110 can be provided with existing openings 120 for receipt of hair strands or, alternatively, it is also contemplated that cap portion 110 could be marked for openings 120 (but not contain the same) so that a user could create the openings 120 where desired along cap portion 110 to further reduce the possibility of coloring agents being unintentionally applied to other hair strands or the scalp.
Openings 120 are preferably generally circular in shape, though it is contemplated that other shapes could also be used without affecting the overall concept of the present invention, and are preferably between 1/32 and ½ of an inch in diameter. As previously mentioned, the openings 120 may be pre-existing on cap portion 110, or created by the user at desired locations. As explained more fully below, select strands of hair 220 may be pulled through openings 120 to be colored. Openings 120 may also be color coded, or designated with some other coding system, to inform the user of where to apply the various coloring agents when coloring the select strands of hair 220. In this manner, even a novice can quickly and easily color his or her hair using the hair coloring cap 100 of the present invention, and obtain a professional looking result. It should also be appreciated that the amount of hair 220 pulled through each opening 120 will affect the overall coloring scheme of the wearer's hair 220.
Each of panels 130 is preferably a generally flat, rectangular sheet comprised of a first end portion or base 132 that is connected to the exterior surface 114 of cap portion 110, opposing side portions 134, a second end portion 136 opposite of first end portion 132, a top surface 138 and a bottom surface 140, as best illustrated in
Each of panels 130 may be integrally formed with cap portion 110, or first end portion 132 of each of panels 130 may be attached to the exterior surface 114 of cap portion 110 by any means commonly known in the art, such as gluing, adhesives, or the like. As illustrated in
Each of panels 130 are preferably 2 to 24 inches in length, as measured from first end portion 132 to second end portion 136, between 2 and 6 inches in width, as measured between opposing side portions 134, and between 1/64 and ⅛ inches in thickness, as measured between top surface 138 and bottom surface 140, though it is contemplated that other dimensions could also be used to suit user preference or accommodate shorter or longer strands of hair 220.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, panels 130 may further comprise a grip 142 attached to the second end portion 136 for easy handling of panel 130. Grip 142 may be any type of grip commonly known in the art for handling an article and is preferably formed of rubber, though any other suitable materials may also be used. Grip 142 may be attached to panel 130 by any means commonly known in the art for attaching two articles together, such as adhesive, crimping, etc. Similar to openings 120, one or more of panels 130 and/or grips 142 may also be color coded, or designated with some other coding system (e.g., numbering, lettering, etc.), to inform the user of whether the panel 130 is meant to be used for highlighting or low-lighting. For example, a panel 130 or grip 142 marked with yellow may inform the user that the panel 130 should be used as a highlight panel, whereas a panel 130 and/or grip 142 marked with red may signify a low-light panel. In this manner, even a novice can quickly and easily color his or her hair using the hair coloring cap 100 of the present invention, and obtain a professional looking result.
Having now described the overall structure of improved hair coloring cap 100 and kit 300, their use and usefulness will now be described. An individual desiring to color or highlight different portions of his or her hair with different colors in a single application would begin the process by placing the improved hair coloring cap 100 of the present invention on his or her head 210, as illustrated in
Once the desired strands of hair 220 have been pulled through openings 120, said hairs 220 may be extended along the top surface 138 of panel 130, as best illustrated in
Once all of the desired hair 220 has been successfully colored or highlighted, wearer 200 can unfold the various panels 130 with the colored or highlighted hair 220, wash the excess colors off of cap 100, remove cap 100 from the wearer's head 210, and wash and condition the wearer's entire head 210. Cap 100 may then be washed and reused on subsequent coloring or highlighting applications, or discarded.
In this manner, improved hair coloring cap 100 and kit 300 of the present invention can be used by a wearer 200 to color or highlight different portions of his or her hair 220 with different coloring agents 320 in a single application. Consequently, a user with little or no formal education or specialized training in the field of hairdressing and/or coloring can easily and safely color or highlight their own hair in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost typically associated with a trip to a hair salon or professional hairdresser. Finally, the improved hair coloring cap and kit of the present invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and safe and easy to use.
Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/589,452 filed on Jan. 23, 2012.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61589452 | Jan 2012 | US |
