Patent Grant
8997756
This specification describes technologies related to scalp care.
As individuals style their hair in different ways, or use artificial hair or hair attachments such as weaves or wigs, various issues and problems for those individuals' scalps may develop. For example, scalps may be itchy, may have issues with blood circulation, or may residue may be trapped between the hair and the scalp.
The devices described herein provide a way to manipulate the scalp for relief while minimizing the impact on natural hairstyles, weaves, and wigs. Certain embodiments additionally provide an effective way to distribute fluids directly to the scalp while minimizing the impact on natural hairstyles and on artificial weaves or wigs. Embodiments incorporate a handle that makes it easy to hold the device, as well as teeth that are curved and shaped so as to facilitate sliding the teeth under natural or artificial hair so that it is easy to position the tips of the teeth in a way that touches the scalp and can stimulate the scalp in a helpful way.
In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a device including a handle portion formed of an elongated piece of material, the handle portion being extended along a longitudinal axis; a tooth portion, comprising a plurality of teeth, wherein all of the teeth extend along the longitudinal axis, are of the same length, and the teeth are curved; and a bridge portion, joining the handle portion to the teeth, wherein the bridge portion broadens as it extends, along the longitudinal axis, from the handle portion.
Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a device a handle portion formed of an elongated, flat piece of material, the handle portion being shaped to be held by one hand of a user; a bridge portion, extending from the handle portion, wherein the bridge portion broadens as it extends from the handle portion, the bridge portion being formed of a flat piece of material that is in the same plane as the handle portion, the bridge portion extending beyond the grip of a user when a user holds the device by the handle portion; and a tooth portion, extending from the bridge portion and comprising a plurality of teeth, wherein all of the teeth are of the same length and the teeth are curved with a contour that substantially conforms to the curvature of the top of a human head.
Yet another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a device including a handle portion formed of an elongated piece of material, the handle portion being extended along a longitudinal axis, the handle containing a cavity that is filled with a liquid to be conveyed to a user's scalp; a tooth portion, comprising a plurality of teeth, wherein all of the teeth extend along the longitudinal axis, are of the same length, and the teeth are curved, and the teeth are hollow and the tips of the teeth have openings; and a bridge portion, joining the handle portion to the teeth, wherein the bridge portion broadens as it extends, along the longitudinal axis, from the handle portion, and wherein the bridge portion contains an orifice that allows fluid form the cavity to flow through the orifice through the openings at the tips of the teeth.
These and other embodiments may each optionally include one or more of the following features. In some embodiments, the handle portion and the bridge portion are formed of a single, continuous planar piece of material. In some embodiments, each tooth extends a distance from the bridge portion in the direction of the longitudinal axis that is least as long as the handle portion. In some embodiments, all of the teeth are substantially parallel. In some embodiments, the teeth are separated by gaps such that the teeth are substantially narrower than the gaps. In some embodiments, the material used in the handle portion, the bridge portion, and the tooth portion is all of approximately the same thickness and that thickness is approximately the same as the width of the teeth. In some embodiments, the tips of the teeth are narrower than the width of the teeth at the points from which the teeth extend from the bridge region. In some embodiments, the curvature of each tooth is substantially similar to an elliptical arc, wherein the major axis of the elliptical arc is oriented in the direction of the teeth. In some embodiments, the curvature of each tooth is substantially similar to a truncated elliptical arc, wherein the major axis of the elliptical arc is oriented in the direction of the teeth. In some embodiments, the teeth are curved such that the ends of the teeth are positioned above the plane of the bridge portion and the handle portion. In some embodiments, the teeth are curved such that the ends of the teeth are positioned at or below the plane of the bridge portion and the handle portion. In some embodiments, the device has an axis of symmetry in the middle of the device that is parallel to the direction in which the teeth extend from the bridge portion. In some embodiments, the handle portion provides a firm gripping region for a user to hold the scalp scratching device. In some embodiments, the teeth are positioned such that when inserted underneath a mass of hair, the ends of the teeth may be moved to stimulate the scalp in a manner that relieves irritation. In such an embodiment, the movement of the ends of the teeth occurs in a direction that is parallel to the direction in which the teeth extend from the bridge portion. In some embodiments, the tips of the teeth are rounded to facilitate penetration by the teeth underneath natural or artificial hair. In some embodiments, the teeth are tapered to facilitate penetration by the teeth underneath natural or artificial hair. In some embodiments, the width of the teeth and the gaps between teeth are sized to facilitate penetration underneath the teeth of natural or artificial hair. In some embodiments, the curvature conforms to the curvature of the top of a human head to facilitate sliding underneath a mass of natural or artificial hair by the teeth.
Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented so as to realize one or more of the following advantages. Embodiments provide a way to deal with the challenge posed by the difficulty of reaching the surface of a user's scalp if the scalp is blocked by a mass of natural or artificial hair. Embodiments provide for different types of teeth that are curved in a manner so as to easily slide under a user's hair and touch the scalp directly, under the hair. By moving the tips of the teeth against the scalp, it becomes possible to relieve itching, increase blood circulation to the scalp, and help dislodge or remove residue. Furthermore, the teeth are designed to avoid injuring the scalp. Furthermore, the handle portion is shaped in a way that makes it easy to hold the device and move the ends of the teeth to care for the user's scalp, and the bridge portion joins the tooth portion to the handle portion in a way that makes it easy to position and guide the tips of the teeth in a way that is beneficial to the scalp. Other embodiments offer the additional advantage of providing a convenient way to deliver liquids to the user's scalp without interfering with existing natural or artificial hair of the user.
The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other potential features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
Hair weaves and hair extensions are done by braiding the wearer's natural hair flat to their head and sewing artificial hair to the braids. This is done for thickness, length and to wear a different texture of hair. Because the hair is braided and the hair is sewn on, it is hard to scratch and massage the scalp. Alternatively, various hairstyles may make it difficult for the person with that hairstyle to reach theft scalp. Whether due to artificial hair, such as a hair weave, extension, or wig, or due to a natural hairstyle, the hair may create a barrier around the scalp that is difficult to penetrate.
Thus, those individuals with hair that blocks access to their scalps would like to be able to manipulate their scalps so as to be able to relieve and address these problems. Furthermore, the individuals would like to be able to manipulate their scalps without disrupting a natural hairstyle or artificial weaves or wigs.
Individuals can use elongated implements, such as a pick, to attempt to reach and manipulate their scalps. However, these elongated implements are straight and are directed to reach the scalp by piercing through a hairstyle, which may disrupt the hairstyle.
However, there are multiple reasons why a user with such an arrangement of hair might want to manipulate their scalp. For example, the scalp might get itchy or irritated. Alternatively, there might be dandruff or residue that the user would like to dislodge. To address such problems, the user might want to rub or otherwise stimulate points on the scalp, either to relieve itch and irritation or to help dislodge dandruff or residue. Alternatively, the user might want to apply a liquid, such as a cleaning agent to the scalp to help care for it.
However, current technology is not well adapted to care for a user's scalp in the above scenarios because current approaches are not adapted to help the user reach areas on their scalp without disturbing the user's natural or artificial hairstyle.
In general, embodiments are curved to the shape of the user's head allowing the user better control to scratch and massage without disturbing hair weaves and hair extensions. Thus, embodiments help address some of the issues noted above.
Embodiments are designed to conform to the user's headshape. For example, a user may insert the device through and/or under a hair weave or hair extensions or their natural hairstyle to scratch and massage the scalp without disturbing the hair itself. Instead of using Bobbie pins, styling combs and other items not designed to be inserted through the weave to scratch and massage that are too small and are not shaped to get the best results, embodiments advantageously include a number of structural features that improve their ability to help manage scalp issues without disturbing hair arrangements.
Various embodiments will now be discussed in connection with the drawings to explain their operation.
In the context of
Scalp care device 300 may be manufactured by making a mold of the design, and constructing the device as a piece of a strong plastic. The plastic may be flexible or inflexible. Additionally, multiple plastics may be used for different parts of the device. For example, the teeth may be formed of a more malleable plastic than the handle. It may also be noted that all or part of the device can be formed of other hard, solid materials, such as rubber, wood, metal, glass, or ceramics. The surface of the device may also be coated with a smooth coating that improves the ability of the teeth to slide through and under natural or artificial hair. Similarly, it is possible to dip the teeth in a lubricant or solution that help the teeth slide through and under natural or artificial hair.
It is possible to construct variants of the device with different curvatures, spacing, and lengths of the teeth for different users. It is also possible for a user to customize an embodiment by cutting off portions of the teeth or molding them to customize that embodiment for their personal use by improving the degree of fit.
Scalp care device 300 comprises three main regions: handle portion 310, bridge portion 320, and tooth portion 330.
Handle portion may have a wide variety of shapes that help a user to grip the device. While
Additionally, handle portion need not necessarily be formed of a thin sheet of material. While forming the handle portion of a thin sheet of material makes it simple and inexpensive to manufacture the handle portion, the handle portion can be formed in a wide variety of ways. The handle portion may have a curved or angled top or bottom surface, or may have a complicated three-dimensional configuration that helps it act as a grip. For example, the handle portion may have a rounded bottom, and may have multiple grooves on its top surface that are designed to facilitate a firm grip on the handle by a user's fingers. Another aspect of the handle portion, in which it includes a cavity holding fluids, is discussed in connection with
Tooth portion 330 comprises a plurality of teeth. For example, the plurality of teeth may include four teeth 332A-332D.
In some embodiments, the handle portion and the bridge portion are formed of a single, continuous planar piece of material. Such a feature makes it easy to manufacture such a device and easy to hold the device so that the bridge portion is planted on the user's head and the teeth slide underneath the user's hair.
In some embodiments, each tooth extends a distance from the bridge portion in the directions of the longitudinal axis that is least as long as the handle portion. This construction helps the teeth reach parts of the scalp that are difficult to reach otherwise. In some embodiments, all of the teeth are substantially parallel. This construction helps the teeth slide together under the user's hair. In some embodiments, the teeth are separated by gaps such that the teeth are substantially narrower than the gaps. For example, the teeth may be two to four millimeters wide, but may be separated by gaps of a centimeter or more. In some embodiments, the material used in the handle portion, the bridge portion, and the tooth portion is all of approximately the same thickness and that thickness is approximately the same as the width of the teeth. Such a flat planar construction facilitates manufacture and use of the device. In some embodiments, the tips of the teeth are narrower than the width of the teeth at the points from which the teeth extend from the bridge region. Such narrowed teeth tips make it easier for the teeth to penetrate underneath the hair.
In some embodiments, the curvature of each tooth is substantially similar to an elliptical arc, wherein the major axis of the elliptical arc is oriented in the direction of the teeth. Such an elliptical arc may be shaped to conform to a user's head, so as to allow the teeth to slide along a user's head underneath hair. In some embodiments, the curvature of each tooth is substantially similar to a truncated elliptical arc, wherein the major axis of the elliptical arc is oriented in the direction of the teeth. This approach offers similar advantages to an elliptical arc, only part of the downward curvature is not present.
In some embodiments, the teeth are curved such that the ends of the teeth are positioned above the plane of the bridge portion and the handle portion. In some embodiments, the teeth are curved such that the ends of the teeth are positioned at or below the plane of the bridge portion and the handle portion. These approaches affect where the ends of the teeth are with respect to the plane of the bridge portion and handle portion in a way that helps with the usability and effectiveness of the device.
In some embodiments, the device has an axis of symmetry in the middle of the device that is parallel to the direction in which the teeth extend from the bridge portion. Such a symmetrical arrangement allows the device to be used equally well in either hand and makes it easier to position the teeth. In some embodiments, the handle portion provides a firm gripping region for a user to hold the scalp scratching device. By providing this ability, the handle allows the user to position and manipulate the teeth well.
In some embodiments, the teeth are positioned such that when inserted underneath a mass of hair, the ends of the teeth may be moved to stimulate the scalp in a manner that relieves irritation. Such a configuration of the teeth provides the device with its functional properties. In such an embodiment, the movement of the ends of the teeth occurs in a direction that is parallel to the direction in which the teeth extend from the bridge portion. Such a movement direction facilitates scalp relief without disrupting the user's hair.
In some embodiments, the tips of the teeth are rounded to facilitate penetration by the teeth underneath natural or artificial hair. The sides of the teeth may be rounded as well. It is possible for some edges of the teeth to be rounded while others remain flat. Rounded teeth may make it easier to penetrate because the penetration is then more gradual. In some embodiments, the teeth are tapered to facilitate penetration by the teeth underneath natural or artificial hair. Tapering works similarly to rounding, because the penetration is more gradual. In some embodiments, the width of the teeth and the gaps between teeth are sized to facilitate penetration underneath the teeth of natural or artificial hair. For example, the teeth may be kept narrow as discussed above and the gaps kept wide, because narrow teeth with wide gaps need to push less hair out of the way when penetrating beneath the hair.
In some embodiments, the curvature conforms to the curvature of the top of a human head to facilitate sliding underneath a mass of natural or artificial hair by the teeth. As discussed above, it is because the teeth are curved that the ends of the teeth can reach the scalp without interfering with a mass of natural or artificial hair that would otherwise make it difficult to reach the scalp.
Scalp care device 400 is similar to scalp care device 300 from
This fluid is contained in a cavity in the interior of handle portion 410. For example, the fluid may be a cleaning, soothing, or moisturizing fluid that needs to be applied directly to the user's scalp. In the context of scalp care device 400, handle portion 410 is essentially a bottle that also serves as a grip. Handle portion is portrayed in
While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of the invention. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination may in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
Thus, particular embodiments of the invention have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the devices may include additional parts or omit certain parts, and still remain within the scope of what is claimed.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/637,678 filed Apr. 24, 2012, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
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