Patent Application
20220395067
The field of the invention is hair styling tools, including a tool for edge definition. In one embodiment, the tool includes an edge brush, a comb, a container for hairstyling substance, an applicator for the hairstyling substance, and a cover for the edge brush. In another embodiment, the tool includes components designed to facilitate the parting and styling of the hair, such as a comb, multiple brushes, and a rattail comb.
Sharp edges on a hairline are highly desirable and highly sought-after by hairstylists and their customers. Unfortunately, well-defined hairlines can fray due to exposure to changes in humidity in environments, wind, donning of hats, and other issues.
In prior art approaches, end-users or hair stylists will dip their brushes or use their fingertips to apply a hairstyling substance or another product that acts as an edge controller. After interacting with the hairstyling substance, the end-user may need access to a means to clean their fingers. Failure to clean hands can result in unsanitary conditions, and so the process requires carrying a separate container for the hairstyling substance or other cleaning product.
Edge-styling is particularly in high demand with curly hair customers, where a sharp edge is hard to accomplish and maintain.
A need exists in the art for an edge tool that defines sharp edges with a limited need to carry additional tools and hairstyling substance. A need also exists for a method of using and manufacturing such an edge tool.
A need also exists in the art for a single-piece specialized comb that includes all of the hairstyling tools needed to achieve the desired appearance for various hair types. In addition, a need also exists for a method of using such a multi-function specialized comb.
An object of the invention is to provide an edge tool that overcomes drawbacks in the prior art. A feature of the invention is that it facilitates all the functions needed to maintain a sharp edge in one tool. An advantage of the invention is that a single tool that allows to both initially define and then refine a sharp edge and also carries hairstyling substance. An additional advantage of the invention is that the end-user can complete all of the steps in defining an edge using a single implement.
A further object is to provide an edge tool that facilitates defining a sharp edge without requiring contact with hair products. A feature of the invention is that it includes all of the tools necessary to complete the edge definition tasks without direct contact with a sticky hair care product. In addition, an advantage of the invention is that it is a more sanitary product.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an edge tool where the components of the edge tool are not disfigured or crushed during storage. A feature of this invention is that it includes a cap for the pliable brush components, and so the brush components can be stored in a convenient location, such as a purse. An advantage of the invention is that it can be carried and used anywhere an edge definition tool is needed.
A further object of the invention is to provide a tool that is inexpensive to manufacture and can be mass-produced. A feature of the invention is that the invention's components can be manufactured using conventional processes in a large-scale manner. An advantage of the invention is that it can be offered on the mass market at a price point accessible to the end customers and can be sold for less than the individual components making up the edge definition tool.
Yet another object of the invention is that it includes multiple applicators in one edge-defining tool. A feature of the invention is that multiple applicators can be used with the tool depending on the type of hairstyling substance being applied. A benefit of the invention is that, in one embodiment, it can be used in a range of circumstances.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a styling tool comprising a removable cover; a main body having a first end and a second end; a spatula located at the first end of the main body; and an edge-defining brush located at the second end of the main body. The first end is received by the removable cover while not in use.
In another embodiment, the invention provides is a hairstyling device comprising a main body having a tool section and a handle section; and an elongated portion having an end attached to the said handle section. The tool section includes a comb and a plurality of brushes.
Also provided is a method of use of a hairstyling tool comprising preparing a hairstyling tool; parting hair using a cover of the hairstyling tool; separating a cap from the hair styling tool; combing hair using a comb on the hair styling tool; applying an edge fixing product, and creating shapes using a brush on the hair styling tool.
The invention, together with the above and other objects and advantages, will be best understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The previous summary and the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.
As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or steps unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.
Turning to the figures,
The main body 14 and the cover 12 are engaged with each other to form the tool 10. The cover 12 includes an elongated portion 16 or an elongated area. In one embodiment, the elongated portion comprises the majority of the cover 12. In one embodiment, the elongated portion comprises the majority of the cover 12. In the depicted embodiment, the elongated portion 16 extends from the pointed end 8 to the widened area depicted with the dashed line 17. The cover 12 acts as a handle for the tool 10, in one embodiment. The elongated portion 16 helps a user to comfortably hold the tool 10 when defining a sharp edge. The elongated portion 16 also helps in the removal of the cover 12 by providing a large surface area to remove the cover 12, such as by twisting off, in one embodiment. The elongated portion 16 of the cover 12 is particularly adapted to also help in styling hair by moving large quantities of hair, such as when hair is being initially parted. The cover 12 also acts as a container for hairstyling substances (shown in
The main body 14 includes a first end 40, not shown in
In the embodiment shown, the second end 18 includes a sloped area 22. Extending in a parallel direction from a sloped area 22 are the hairstyling tools. In the depicted embodiment, the tools include an edge-defining brush 24 and a comb 26. In the figures, the brush 24 is shown as a solid element, but this is only for the sake of clarity of the drawings. The brush 24 comprises bristles in most embodiments. However, in at least one embodiment, the brush 24 is replaced by an applicator not using individual bristles, such as a rubber applicator. In the depicted embodiment, the tools include a brush 24 and a comb 26. In other embodiments, the brush 24 may be denser, and its bristles may be more pliable, while the second tool comprises a brush with firmer bristles with more space between each grouping of bristles instead of a comb. In at least one embodiment, the bristles comprise boar's hair bristles. The comb 26 in one embodiment comprises comb teeth. In the depicted embodiment, the brush 24 comprises boar, nylon, or a mix of boar and nylon hair and is pliable. In another embodiment, not depicted in
In this way, the brush 24 and comb 26 are both useful for styling hair. The brush 24 may be used for defining edges, while the comb 26 may be used for combing or parting. The comb 26 may also be replaced by another tool, such as another brush with sparser hair than the brush 24. During the use of one embodiment, the cover 12 can also be used to part a large quality of hair, where the elongated portion 16 and the pointed end 8 can function as a rattail comb. As can be appreciated from the figures, the circumference of the pointed end 8 is smaller than a circumference of the approximate midpoint of the cover 12, shown as a dashed line 11 in
Imaginary arrows y show the angle of the view of the embodiment of the tool 10 depicted in
Visible in
In one embodiment, at least some of two hairstyling tools 24, 26 at the second end 18 of the main body 14 are used for the application of hairstyling substance. In this way, the three tools, 24, 26, and 42 are used in conjunction with each other on an end-user. In some embodiments, an additional edge-defining brush is located at the second 18 of the main body 14, such as the multiple brushes shown in the embodiment described starting with
The main body 14 is received by cover 12, engaging the wall 48 of the main body 14 portion on the edge 50 of the cover 12. In one embodiment, the edge 50 includes threads that are received by the wall 48 of the main body 14.
As shown in
The sidewall 60 continues around the periphery of each compartment 58 except for the hinge 54 and an open channel 56. The open channel 56 engages the neck 64 of the main body 14.
While in
An overview of the method of use 80 is shown in the flowchart in
The use process begins by preparing 82 the tool. As part of the preparation, the cover 12 is replaced in one method of use. The cover 12 can be used to separate large quantities of hair, akin to a rattail comb. The cap 20 is also removed from the tool at this point, in one embodiment. Also, any solutions that will be used later on are prepared at this stage. For example, as part of subsequent steps, an edge fixer is applied to the hair. It is be prepared at the start of the method 80, in one embodiment.
Once the preparation steps 82 are completed, the next stage is to separate 84 the hair and define edges by using the cover 12 or the comb 26, shown in
Once the hair is separated, the end-user applies the hairstyling substance 86. The hairstyling substance is applied during the application step 86 to the end-user's skin, hair, or a combination of both, around the forehead in one embodiment.
Before the hairstyling substance 86 dries, small quantities of hair are used to create various hair shapes 88 on the forehead. In order to manipulate the hair, the brush 24 is used along with pressure. Once the desired look is achieved, the device is optionally cleaned 90. In one embodiment, instead of cleaning the tool immediately, the device is returned to its packaging and will be cleaned at a subsequent time.
The separation step 84 is depicted in
The brush 124 and the comb 126 are covered by a cap 120, as shown in
The elongated cover 112 is shaped like an elongated cone ending with a tip 108. The elongated portion 107 of the elongated cover 112 may act as a rattail comb to part hair.
The elongated cover 112 also includes an indentation 116 adapted to receive an end-user's thumb. The elongated cover 112 also includes a label area 117, where printed indicia may be added.
Extending from a surface 146 of the flat main body 114 is a rod 144. The rod 144 terminates in a tip 140 and an elongated brush 142, which can be used to apply a hairstyling substance, as described above. The elongated brush 142 is also adapted to make fine adjustments to hair during the application of the hairstyling substance. The elongated brush 142 acts as a brush applicator in one embodiment.
A benefit of the embodiment 100 is the addition of indentation 116 (visible in
The elongated portion 166 is adapted to function as a rattail comb, in one embodiment.
The handle section 164 is disposed between the elongated portion 166 and the tool section 168. While various compositions are possible, in one embodiment, the elongated portion 166 comprises a metallic rod, while the handle section 164 and the tool section 168 comprise an integrally molded component comprising a resilient plastic.
The elongated portion 166 comprises a parting tool, such as a rattail comb, in one embodiment, and it is used to move large quantities of hair from one side of the head to another. The elongated portion 166 may be made of a metal material, while the main body 162 is made of a plastic material.
The handle portion 164 includes one or more gripping areas 174. In general, the handle section 164 comprises an ovular shape so that the handle section 164 is adapted to be held firmly for extended periods of time. The gripping areas 174 include a flowable material, such as a gel, in some embodiments to help in the gripping of the device.
As shown in the embodiment 160 of
The elongated portion 166 extends from an end of the handle section 164 opposite of the tool section 168. In one embodiment, the elongated portion includes a ring 176, which ensures that the elongated portion is not inserted too far into an aperture defined in the handle section 164.
The elongated portion 166 comprises a rod with a tapered end. The tapered end of the elongated portion 166 also comprises the first end 170 of the main body 162.
As described below, the elongated portion 166 is used to move large quantities of hair, while the hairstyling implements found in the tool section 168 are used to perform more specific adjustments of smaller quantities of hair.
The tool section 168 defined near the second end 172 of the device 160 includes multiple hairstyling tools. In the view of the device 160 in
The comb 182 is adapted to manipulate hair in a more precise manner. In one embodiment, the comb 182 is adapted to not obscure the hair being manipulated, and so it covers only about 15% of the total length of the device 160, and the length of the comb is approximately 1 inch. Instead of moving large quantities of hair, akin to the elongated portion 166, the comb 182 is designed to move smaller quantities of hair in a more precise manner. The comb 182 is used as the first tool, in one embodiment.
The depicted embodiment shows all of the hairstyling implements in the tool section 168 being substantially smaller than the overall length of the entire hairstyling device. This allows for the tools to be used to perform precise adjustments to the hair.
The comb 182 comprises a series of substantially parallel teeth extending from the tool section 168. As can be appreciated in
While in the embodiment of
The smaller brush 184 is likewise designed for precise adjustment of hair, such as along the hairline. The bristles of the smaller brush 184 comprise natural or synthetic hair fibers, such as boar's hair, a nylon mix, or the like. In one embodiment, the smaller brush 184 is adapted to be used to perform hairstyling finishing tasks.
In one embodiment, the larger brush 186 and the smaller brush 184 use different compositions for the bristles. Therefore, in one embodiment, the larger brush 186 uses bristles that are less pliable than the smaller brush 184. In one embodiment, both brushes 184, 186 comprise the same material. The larger brush 186 may be harder and less flexible, in another embodiment, by having a denser concentration of the material, such as a harder boar bristle, than the smaller brush 184. The larger brush 186 is adapted to be used to perform the same hair styling finishing tasks as the smaller brush 184 but for a larger quantity of hair than the smaller brush 184, in one example.
As shown in
As can be seen in
As can be appreciated from
As can be appreciated from the view of
The method of use 240 is shown in the flowchart in
As the brushes and comb form only a small part of the main body, cleaning is not time-consuming. Further, the liquid containing the solution does not need to hold a large volume.
Once the preparation step 242 is completed, and the device is ready, the elongated portion of the tool is used to part 244 the hair by moving a large quantity of the hair from one side of the hair to another, as required by the hairstylist. The elongated portion, as shown in the figures above, allows for rapid movement of a large quantity of hair. In one embodiment, the elongated portion is then used to shape the initial front fringe of hair or the bangs.
As the elongated portion is not adapted to perform precise movements with the end-user's hair, finer adjustments are likely to be needed. For this purpose, combing 246 of the hair is performed using the comb shown in
Once a desirable appearance of the hairline is achieved, a hairstyling product is applied to the applicator brush 248. The applicator brush, such as the larger brush shown in
Finally, in areas where the hairstyling product has been introduced, the second smaller brush shapes 249 the hair. The smaller brush is shown in
A benefit of the invention is that the separation between the larger brush and the smaller brush means that any hairstyling product left on the larger brush will not smear on the hair being styled.
Although exemplary implementations of the invention have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended to define the invention parameters, they are by no means limiting but are instead exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” are used merely as labels and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.
