HAIR IRON BRUSH

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to Japanese Utility Model Application No. 2012-6293 (now Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3180622), filed Oct. 16, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to hair styling tools. In particular, several embodiments are directed toward a hair iron brush that includes brush bristles and a heating plate to provide both a brushing function and an ironing function.

BACKGROUND

Hair brushes have been combined with heating features (e.g., blow drying mechanisms, heating plates) to aid in the hair styling process. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2006-255349 is directed toward a hair iron brush that includes brush bristle rows and heating plates extending lengthwise along the brush and arranged in an alternating pattern across the width of the brush. The brush bristle rows and heating plates are carried by a surface of a brush base structure, which is in turn connected to an end of a brush handle.

Typically, brushes with heating plates have a flat bristle implanting surface positioned on the surface of the brush base structure. When the brush bristle rows and the strips of heating surfaces are alternatingly arranged on the flat bristle implanting surface, the brush bristles may be able provide a brushing function, but the strips of heating surfaces are not adequately exposed to the hair to form well-set curls or properly straighten the hair. Rather, the flat bristle implanting surface on which the heating surfaces are arranged prevents the hair from sufficiently contacting the heated surfaces and, therefore, the hair iron brush fail to provide the desired styling effect.

Hair brushes have also been developed with bristles that include a multi-element mineral powder, such as the hair brush described in Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3094498.

SUMMARY

The hair iron brush disclosed herein includes a brush base with an arc-shaped bristle implanting surface on which brush bristle rows and elongated heating surfaces (e.g., heating strips) are arranged in an alternating pattern across the width of the brush (i.e., along the lateral axis of the brush). The brush bristle rows and the elongated heating surfaces can provide (1) an ironing function that can be used to impart curls and waves into hair and/or straighten hair, and (2) a brushing function to untangle and smooth the hair. The arc shape of the bristle implanting surface positions the elongated heating surfaces into sufficiently close contact with the hair for heated styling, and therefore the hair iron brush has an enhanced ability to curl and/or straighten hair.

In certain embodiments, the brush bristle rows each include an elongated base member that can be fitted within a corresponding elongated groove or recess formed in the surface of a heating plate. This configuration facilitates the attachment of the brush bristle rows to the brush base of the brush, and therefore provides for efficient manufacture of hair iron brushes with alternating brush bristle rows and heating surfaces.

The hair iron brush can provide the ironing function by directly contacting the elongated heating surfaces of the heating plate with the hair. Heat can also be transferred from the heating plate to the brush bristles via the elongated base members of the brush bristle rows, which are fitted within the elongated grooves of the heating plate. This additional heat transfer to the hair can further enhance the hair iron brush's ironing function.

Various embodiments of the hair iron brush allow users to grasp the brush base of the brush (i.e., the styling portion extending from the handle) without exposure to excessive heat because the heating plate is, in effect, covered by the brush bristles that extend therefrom and, therefore, the brush bristles block direct contact with the skin. In certain embodiments, the brush bristles can be made from heat resistant resin (e.g., a synthetic resin) that gradually transfers heat from the heating plate along the brush bristles, and inhibits the brush bristles from becoming too hot for a user to touch.

In various other embodiments of the hair iron brush, a multi-element mineral powder can be included in either the brush bristle rows, the heating plate, or both the brush bristle rows and the heating plate. The multi-element mineral powder can emit electromagnetic energy (referred to as “weak energy”) to care for/treat the hair as it is being styled (e.g., brushed, straightened, curled, etc.). The weak energy is expected to promote hair growth and provide effective scalp care by promoting blood circulation to the scalp. The multi-element mineral powder can also reduce the amount of static electricity typically produced while brushing hair to maintain smooth hair during curling and/or straightening. Furthermore, the multi-element mineral powder can also generate negative ions during brushing, which are expected to promote blood circulation to the scalp of the user. The negative ions can also produce a clustering effect (i.e., shrinking the size of water molecules) that affects the moisture in/on the hair. As discussed in further detail below, this clustering effect can add luster and shine to the hair and enhance rehydration. In addition, the negative ions can act on hair cuticles (glass-like fibers) to maintain and prolong the luster and shine provided by styling with the hair iron brush. Accordingly, the hair brush iron can provide care and treatment for thin and damaged hair.

In further embodiments of the hair iron brush, the brush bristle rows and/or the heating plate can include far infrared radiating powder in addition to or in place of the multi-element mineral powder. During brushing, the far infrared radiating powder can emit far infrared radiation to heat the hair from within and/or warm the user's scalp. The combination of the multi-element mineral powder and the far infrared radiating powder can together enhance the blood circulation of the scalp and care for the hair to treat damage hair and maintain the hair's luster.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of a hair iron brush taken along A-A of FIG. 2 and configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the hair iron brush of FIG. 1 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the hair iron brush of FIG. 2 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a brush row of a hair iron brush configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present technology is directed toward hair iron brushes that can curl and/or straighten hair using heated surfaces of a heating plate, while also brushing hair using brush bristles made from a heat resistant resin. Several embodiments of the hair iron brush can style hair while also caring for the hair using electromagnetic radiation emitted from a multi-element mineral powder and/or far infrared radiation emitted from a far infrared radiating powder. In certain embodiments, the hair iron brush can also improve blood circulation to the user's scalp.

Specific details of several embodiments of the technology are described below with reference to FIGS. 1-4. Other well-known structures and systems often associated with hair brushes, curling irons, straightening irons, and/or other hair styling tools have not been shown or described in detail below to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the descriptions of the various embodiments of the disclosure. Although many of the embodiments are described below with respect to the styling of human hair, other applications and other embodiments in addition to those described herein are within the scope of the technology. Additionally, several other embodiments of the technology can have different configurations, components, or methods than those described herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art, therefore, will accordingly understand that the technology can have other embodiments with additional elements, or the technology can have other embodiments without several of the features shown and described below with reference to FIGS. 1-4.

Many of the details, dimensions, functions and other features shown and described in conjunction with the Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other details, dimensions, functions and features without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that further embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced without several of the details described below.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are front and side views, respectively, of a hair iron brush 10 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of the hair iron brush 10 taken along line A-A of FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hair iron brush 10 can include a brush base or base portion 2 connected to an end portion of a handle or handle portion 1. A curved or arc-shaped bristle implanting surface 20 can be attached to or otherwise formed on the surface of the brush base 2, and a plurality of brush bristle rows 3 of heat resistant brush bristles 31 (e.g., synthetic resin brush bristles) can be aligned along a longitudinal axis of the brush 10 (i.e., extending lengthwise along the longitudinal axis of the brush 10). One or more elongated heating surfaces or strips 42 of a heating plate 4 can also extend along the longitudinal axis of the brush 10. The elongated heating surfaces 42 and the brush bristle rows 3 can be alternatingly arranged across the width of the arc-shaped bristle implanting surface 20 such that the elongated heating surfaces 42 are exposed between pairs of brush bristle rows 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the brush base 2 can have a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape, and a front surface of the brush base 2 can be defined, at least in part, by the heating plate 4. The heating plate 4 can be made from a metal and/or ceramic material and formed into a convexly curved or arc shape. The surface of the heating plate 4 can be attached to, formed on, or integrally formed with the arc-shaped bristle implanting surface 20.

The hair iron brush 10 can further include a back plate member 21 that has a convexly rounded or arc shape such that the back plate member 21 and the heating plate 4 together define the cross-sectional shape of the brush base 2. The back plate member 21 can be made from a synthetic resin (e.g., acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin) and, in certain embodiments, may be integrally formed with the handle 1. In other embodiments, the back plate member 21 can be flat or have other suitable configurations for a back side of a brush. In still further embodiments, the back plate member 21 can be omitted, and the bristle implanting surface 20 can extend around the circumference of the brush base 2.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the hair iron brush 10 can include a support plate or member 5 positioned within the body of the brush base 2 between the heating plate 4 and the back plate member 21. The support plate 5 can be fixed to the inner wall of the back plate member 21 using screws and/or other suitable fasteners. A set of first hook pieces or portions 43 can protrude from either side of the inner surface of the heating plate 4 and interface with a corresponding set of second hook pieces or portions 50 that protrude from opposing sides of the support plate 5. To assemble of the brush base 2, the heating plate 4 and the back plate member 21 can be attached together by engaging the first and second hook portions 43 and 50 together, and aligning the end of the back plate member 21 with the end of the heating plate 4 to allow a cap 6 (FIGS. 2 and 3) to be inserted therebetween. The cap 6 can be configured to secure the heating plate 4 and the back plate member 21 together. The assembled brush base 2 can form an elliptical cross-sectional shape (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1), or may have other suitable shapes (e.g., round, oval, etc.) with at least one convex or arced surface.

FIG. 4 is a side view of one of the brush bristle rows 3 of the hair iron brush 10 of FIGS. 1-3. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the brush bristle row 3 can include a plurality of brush bristles 31 aligned in a single row along an elongated base member 32 (e.g., an elongated strip of material), which can later be placed in a corresponding recesses along the longitudinal axis of the brush 10. In other embodiments, the base member 32 can support more than one row of brush bristles 31. The brush bristles 31 and the base member 32 can be formed integrally from one or more heat resistant resins (e.g., synthetic resins). In other embodiments, the brush bristles 31 and the base member 32 can be formed separately, and attached together to form the brush bristle row 3. The brush bristles 31 can be made from various suitable bristle materials, such as silicon rubber, nylon, other synthetic resins, natural materials (e.g., animal hair, vegetable fiber, etc.), and/or metals (e.g., stainless steel).

In various embodiments, the tips or end portions of the brush bristles 31 can have a spherical, hemispherical, or otherwise rounded shape that provides a smooth contact surface. The smooth contact surface is gentler on the hair and scalp than blunt bristle ends, and therefore reduces the likelihood of hair loss and comfortably contacts the scalp during brushing and styling.

As a person skilled in the art would appreciate, the brush bristle row 3 shown in FIG. 4 is merely illustrative of one embodiment of a brush bristle row suitable for the hair iron brush 10. In other embodiments, the number of brush bristles 31, alignment pitch between the brush bristles 31, thickness of the brush bristles 31 (i.e., bristle diameter), and the number of rows of the brush bristles 31 in the brush bristle row 3 can differ from that shown in FIG. 4, and can be selected to provide a desired brush bristle row configuration.

Referring to FIG. 1, the surface of heating plate 4 can include a plurality of elongated grooves or recesses 41 that extend along the length of the brush base 2 (i.e., along the longitudinal axis of the brush 10) and form a plurality of rows across the width of the brush 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the heating plate 4 includes nine elongated grooves 41, but in other embodiments a heating plate and/or other portions of the brush base 2 can include fewer than or more than nine elongated grooves 41. The brush bristle rows 3 can be attached to the brush base 2 by dovetailing and/or otherwise interfacing the base member 32 of each brush bristle row 3 with a corresponding elongated groove 41 of the heating plate 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the elongated heating surfaces 42 of the heating plate 4 are exposed between the brush bristle rows 3, such that the brush bristle rows 3 and the elongated heating surfaces 42 of the heating plate 4 are alternately arranged across the width of the arc-shaped bristle implanting surface 20 (i.e., the front surface of the brush 10). The cross-sectional shape of each elongated heating surface 42 can be a half circle, an arc, or other convex shape (e.g., an inverted substantially U-shaped cross-section) and/or a mountain-type shape (e.g., an inverted substantially V-shaped cross-section). These outwardly protruding heating surfaces 42 can enhance the contact with the hair during brushing and/or styling to provide sufficient heat to the hair for curling and/or straightening. In other embodiments, the elongated heating surfaces 42 can be generally flat and/or have other suitable shapes that can sufficiently contact the hair during brushing and/or styling.

As shown in FIG. 1, the brush base 2 can also include an electric heater 7 mounted on or otherwise operable coupled to the back surface of the heating plate 4. Power can be supplied to the heater 7 by manipulating an activation switch 8 (FIG. 2; e.g., an ON/OF switch) and/or other activation mechanism (e.g., a button, lever, etc.) on the handle 1 of the hair iron brush 10. In some embodiments, the handle 1 can be attached to a power cord (not shown) to supply electricity to the heater 7, whereas in other embodiments, the hair iron brush 10 can be battery-operated. Heat can be transferred from the heater 7 to the heating plate 4, and the heating plate 4 can then transfer residual heat to the brush bristle rows 3. In embodiments where the brush bristle rows 3 are implanted in the grooves 41 of the heating plate 4, the proximity of the base member 32 to the heating plate 4 can facilitate the heat transfer to the brush bristles 31.

In various aspects of the technology, the maximum temperature of the heater 7 can be predetermined (e.g., by a manufacturer) to reduce the likelihood that the end portions of brush bristles 31 expose the user's skin (e.g., scalp, fingers, etc.) and/or other body parts to excessive heat and/or burn the skin. In certain embodiments, the brush bristles 31 are made from a heat resistant material (e.g., a synthetic resin) to provide gradual and moderate heat transfer from the heating plate 4 to the brush bristles 31. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the brush bristles 31 can protrude away from the heating plate 4, and thereby provide a barrier between the heating plate 4 and a user's hand to block the user's hands or fingers from directly touching the heating plate 4. This arrangement allows users to grip or otherwise support the brush base 2 of the hair iron brush 10 with their bare hands without being exposed to excessive heat.

In further aspects of the hair iron brush 10, the brush bristle rows 3 and/or the heating plate 4 can include a multi-element mineral powder and/or a far infrared radiating powder. As used herein, the term “multi-element mineral” can refer to minerals that have a balanced mixture of a plurality of elements, include silicon as a main component (e.g., perlite, pitchstone, and tourmaline), and are known to emit negative ions. The composition of one such multi-element mineral, perlite, is shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1

Anhydrous silicon (SiO₂)
71.94%

Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃)
14.94%

Iron oxide (Fe₂O₃)
2.54%

Magnesium oxide (MgO)
0.44%

Calcium oxide (CaO)
2.47%

Alkali oxide (K²O + Na²O)
6.87%

Manganese oxide (MnO)
0.03%

Phosphoric anhydride (P₂O₅)
0.14%

Loss of heating
3.43%

Loss by drying (at 110° C.)
0.07%

Other: titanium
Trace

Multi-element minerals can be formed into powder by grinding the multi-element mineral with a ball-mill or other suitable crushing/pulverizing mechanism. The individual particles of the multi-element mineral powder can have a particle size of about 1-3 μm. In other embodiments, the multi-element mineral powder can be comprised of particles that have larger and/or smaller particle sizes.

The multi-element mineral powder can be used independently or in combination with other multi-element mineral. For example, two or more multi-element mineral powders can be blended together. In certain embodiments, the multi-element mineral powder can be used in its original powder form. In other embodiments, the multi-element mineral powder can be mixed with water or other liquids, heated and/or compressed, and the resultant supernatant can be ground or crushed using vacuum freeze drying, spray drying, and/or other suitable drying methods.

In use, the multi-element mineral powder can emit electromagnetic waves with wavelengths of about 4-14 μm (“weak energy”) to electrically modify the area surrounding the nuclei of atoms and cause an excited state (oscillation, vibration) in the atoms and the material formed thereof The excited atom is expected to cleave and shorten water cluster polymers, reduce the volume of the water, and increase the specific gravity. This results in sufficient adhesion of the outer membranes of plant and animal cells by the water (free water), promotes the permeation of water and Ca²⁺into the cell, and thereby activates various functions of the cell. When the multi-element mineral powder is included in features of the hair brush iron 10, the process described above can reduce the size of the groups of molecules in the water so that the water can penetrate deep within the user's hair, and therefore the restore the moisture balance of the hair to healthy levels. In addition, the weak energy and negative ions can active proteins throughout the user's hair and/or scalp to increase the health and luster of the hair.

In various embodiments, a far infrared radiating powder can be combined with or used independently of the multi-element mineral powder. Far infrared powder can be made by grinding far infrared radiating materials, such as alumina (Al₂O₃), titania (TiO₂), ferrite (Fe₂O₃), chrome oxide (Cr₂O₃), silica (SiO₂), yttria (Y₂O₃), magnesia (MgO), and/or other far infrared radiating materials. The far infrared radiated powders can be blended and used to emit far infrared waves of an appropriate wavelength for absorption into the hair and/or scalp. Together, the negative ions, weak energy, and far infrared radiation emitted by the far infrared radiating powder and the multi-element mineral powder included in features of the hair iron brush 10 can mineralize the water in the user's hair and activate the proteins in the hair so that the hair remains healthy and lustrous.

In various embodiments of the hair iron brush 10, multi-element mineral powders and/or far infrared radiating powders can be can be molded into a predetermined shape (e.g., a brush bristle, heating plate, etc.) by incorporating a multi-element mineral powder and/or a far infrared radiating powder into the brush bristles 31 and/or the heating plate 4. For example, a multi-element mineral powder and/or a far infrared radiating powder can be included in the brush bristle rows 3 by mixing and molding the powder(s) into the raw material (e.g., the synthetic resin) of the brush bristle rows 3.

The multi-element mineral powder and/or the far infrared radiating powder can also or alternatively be in a coating layer (e.g., a ceramic coating layer, a plating layer, a fluorine coating layer, a nylon layer, a synthetic resin layer, a silicon rubber layer, a fluorine rubber layer, etc.) that is formed by mixing the multi-element mineral powder and/r the far infrared radiating powder with a coating agent and applying onto a surface of the brush bristles 31, the heating plate 4, and/or other portions of the hair iron brush 10. For example, the front surface of the heating plate 4 (e.g., the elongated heating surfaces 42) can include a ceramic coating layer having the multi-element mineral powder and/or the far infrared radiating powder incorporated therein. For example, the ceramic coating layer can be formed by adding the powder(s) to a heat resistant coating material or agent (e.g., Formica® available from Formica Group of Auckland, New Zealand), and applying the mixed material (e.g., having a paint-like consistency) the heating plate 4. The heating plate 4 can be placed into or through a heating oven to treat (e.g., bake out) the coating agent. In certain embodiments, the ratio of the multi-element mineral powder and/or the far infrared radiating powder to the heat resistant coating material can be at a volume ratio of about 3-15%. In other embodiments, the ratio of powder to coating material can have higher or lower volume ratios to accommodate the desired properties of the heating plate 4.

In operation, a user can manipulate the switch 8 to an “on” position to provide power to the heater 7, and transfer heat to the heating plate 4. The user can brush through hair using the brush bristles 31 (i.e., a brushing function), while at the same time imparting curls and waves in the hair or straightening the hair with the heating plate 4 (i.e., an ironing function). The arc-shaped bristle implanting surface 20 of the brush base 2 orients the elongated heating surfaces 42 such that they come into substantial contact with the hair, thereby facilitating the formation of curls and/or straightening of the hair.

During use, the hair iron brush 10 can emit electromagnetic radiation from the multi-element mineral powder and/or the far infrared radiation emitted from the far .infrared radiating powder, which can care for and treat the hair during styling (e.g., hydrating the hair, reducing static, increasing luster and shine, etc.), and promote blood circulation to the scalp. When the switch 8 is moved to an “off” position, the heater 7 stops generating heat, and the hair iron brush 10 cools down. In the off configuration, the brush bristles 31 of the hair iron brush 10 can still be used to brush hair (without the ironing function), while also providing the beneficial effects of the energy radiated from the multi-element mineral powder and/or the far infrared radiation radiated from the far infrared radiating powder.

In various aspects of the technology, the hair iron brush 10 can be used in conjunction with a hair dryer, which allows a user to curl or straighten his or her hair while applying heat to either side of the hair (i.e., the hair dryer from one side and the heating plate 4 on the other). In this embodiment, heat can also be transferred to both ends of the bristles 31: at a first end from the hair dryer by aiming the hair dryer towards the brush bristles 31, and at a second end from the heating plate 4 positioned at the base of the brush bristles 31. Using the hair iron brush 10 in this manner exposes the hair to additional heat, and therefore provides more effective styling and hair care. In certain embodiments, the hair dryer used in conjunction with the hair iron brush 10 can be an ion dryer that emits the negative ions together with warm air or cold air.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Aspects of the invention described in the context of particular embodiments may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and no embodiment need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims.

Number	Date	Country	Kind
U 2012-6293	Oct 2012	JP	national
U 3180622	Oct 2012	JP	national

HAIR IRON BRUSH

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CPC

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