Abstract:
A cosmetic glove is described for applying fluid to a user&#39;s hair, scalp or skin. By employing an array of cylindrical protrusions on each glove finger, to increase the gloves surface area and fluid adhesion, the glove prevents treatment or styling products from leaving the area of treatment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/100,838 filed on Jan. 7, 2015, and is incorporated herein in its entirety. The present device relates to hand coverings employed during hair coloring application. More particularly, the disclosed device and method, relates to gloves employed for hair coloring having a fluid cohesion and retention area formed by a plurality of projections or rods extending from exterior surface areas of the glove fingers to thereby provide enhanced fluid retention allowing for easy application of creams and pastes to a client and also allowing for employment of the gloves as the applicator. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A wide array of beauty products are currently available for treatment or styling of the skin, scalp and hair. As these liquids are often applied by hand using tools for such application, users and beauticians conventionally employ gloves on their hands during the process for cleanliness and safety. 
         [0003]    Such liquid or gel product or cream application used in hair coloring, is generally difficult to apply, especially to the portions of the hair needing a touch up, adjacent the scalp. The use of bottles of such fluid with funneled applicators is less than adequate to reach these low-lying areas of hair adjacent the scalp, and generally result in a messy application with the mixed coloring fluid missing the target. 
         [0004]    Further, in many cases the liquid or cream must be applied accurately to a row or areas of hairs on the scalp, while avoiding application to an adjoining area. When tools such as small brushes are employed for this purpose, it can be hard to hold the brush or tool with gloved hands, and to concurrently accurately place the liquid dye or coloring fluid or cream, in the correct positions on the scalp. 
         [0005]    As such there is a current unmet need for a device and method allowing for gloved protection of the hands of the person applying liquids and creams containing dye or coloring to the scalp. Such a device in addition to providing a barrier to the hands and figures of the user, should also allow for easy and accurate placement of the dye or coloring liquid on the hair in specific areas of the scalp. Such a device should provide structure and function to allow concurrent liquid application and combining of the hair to render it easier to use than conventional handled brushes and squirt bottles. Additionally, such a device should provide for the carrying and positioning of the fluid or gel or liquid used for coloring, in a manner increasing efficiency and accuracy. 
         [0006]    Further, to alleviate the need for holding slippery tools and applicators, such a device and method should allow for the positioning of the fluid, gel, or other liquid, in transferable amounts, directly upon the glove fingers of the user. 
         [0007]    The forgoing examples of related art and limitation related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive, and they do not imply any limitations on the invention described and claimed herein. Various limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the specification below and the accompanying drawings. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a glove device configured to protect the hands and fingers of a user from contact with applied fluids while concurrently providing enhanced fluid retainment to thereby enable the easy and enhanced communication of a fluid or cream or the like, to the hair skin or scalp of a client or recipient. 
         [0009]    An additional object of this invention is the provision of such a protective and fluid retaining glove, which also provides projections or rods which enhance fluid retention and which can be employed for combing and separating hair follicles while applying the retained fluid therebetween. 
         [0010]    It is yet another object of this invention to optionally include a fluid wiper to return diverted fluid to the treatment area. 
         [0011]    These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements described in this specification and hereinafter described in the following detailed description which fully discloses the invention, but should not be considered as placing limitations thereon. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In accordance with the objects of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a device configured in one preferred mode as a protective hand glove for preventing contact with the hand of the user with cosmetic creams and pastes such as those employed for hair coloring and treatment. In addition to providing a fluid barrier each glove is adapted with projections positioned to enhance fluid retention and allow for the easy application of creams and pastes. 
         [0013]    In this first preferred mode, the device is configured as a glove or gloves which are adapted for engagement with either or both of a left and a right hand. Each glove has a palm side which is positioned next to the palm of the hand of the user with the glove engaged on the hand in an as-used position. 
         [0014]    Each of the palm sides of each glove are configured on one or a plurality of finger surfaces, with a plurality of defined fluid retention areas. These fluid retention areas are defined by areas positioned between the extending members or rods from the surface of the palm side of the glove on any or all of the four finger surfaces of finger portions of the glove and/or the surface of the thumb of the glove. For ease of description when used herein finger surfaces or finger portions can also refer to the same surface on a thumb portion of the glove adapted to surround the thumb of a hand of the user. 
         [0015]    The fluid retention areas are formed in-between projecting rods from the finger surfaces of the glove itself, or between rods projecting from engaged pads which are engaged to finger surfaces or removably engaged to finger surfaces. The area for fluid retention defined by an area of a plurality of rods extending from finger surfaces, should ideally cover as much area as possible of the finger surfaces on the palm side of the glove, so as to maximize an area for fluid retention of the glove. 
         [0016]    So positioned to extend from the finger surfaces the plurality of rods forming the fluid retention area is adapted to collect and deliver fluid from a bowl, to the hair of the person. Consequently, the area of adjacent rods providing the fluid retention areas therebetween can cover the entirety of the middle phalanx area of each finger portion of each glove and a portion each glove finger distal end and proximal phalanx for maximum fluid retention. The rods are preferably sufficiently spaced and flexible to allow the finger portions and fingers of the user to curve and bend while wearing the glove in the as-used position. Additionally, the fluid retention area between side surfaces of the projecting rods from the glove surface or pad surface should also cover the palm side surface of the thumb portion of the glove. 
         [0017]    The grouped pluralities of projecting rods should ideally extend from first sides positioned in areas on the glove finger and thumb surfaces in sections wide enough and long enough to cover a majority of the width of the palm side of each finger portion and thumb portion of the glove. Such will maximize the number of adjacent projecting rods, and thereby maximize the formed fluid retention area in-between. 
         [0018]    Each fluid retention area whether projecting from an engaged pad or directly from an engagement of first ends of the rods with the surface of the glove itself should additionally contain a plurality of the projecting rods in formed rows. Such can preferably be three or four or more rods per row with equal spacing therebetween. 
         [0019]    A current preferred length of each projecting rod from a first end positioned on a pad surface or the glove surface is between 0.05 to 0.9 inches, however other lengths may be preferred depending on the thickness and fluid attraction of the dye, fluid or gel being captured in the fluid retention area in-between the projecting rods. The diameter of the projections or rods can vary depending on the stiffness of the material forming the projecting rods. 
         [0020]    The projecting rods, forming the fluid retention area therebetween, can be aligned in equally spaced rows and columns that lie perpendicular and parallel, if the plurality of projecting rods is to also be employed to act as a brush to separate and part hair follicles. Alternatively, the rods may be placed randomly and spaced as such to simply form the fluid retention area on the palm side surfaces of the fingers and thumb of the glove. 
         [0021]    In a second preferred mode of the device, the fluid retention area of projecting rods from extending from first end positioning on the palm side of finger and thumb portions of the the glove may be replaced by a fluid wiping pad or squeegee. This mode of the device will allow the user to use a digit to wipe diverted fluid or paste back onto the scalp and hair follicles of the person receiving the treatment. Currently, positioning of a blade or squeegee on the palm side surface of the thumb portion of the glove is preferred. 
         [0022]    The fluid wiping pad projects from the surface of the palm side of the thumb of the glove and is configured to contain one or more wiping blades or squeegees to scoop fluid, which is positioned parallel to the axis of the thumb portion. 
         [0023]    The wiping blades should span a majority of the length of the thumb of the glove and currently in a preferred mode has a height of between 0.05 and 0.5 inches, of projection from the surface of the glove. The blades can be arranged in a pattern perpendicular to the thumb&#39;s distal-proximal axis. 
         [0024]    The device, in either preferred mode, can additionally contain a variety of surface textures to increase user grip and fluid cohesion. 
         [0025]    The glove itself, and the projections or rods extending from a glove surface or from a fluid retention pad, along with the fluid wiping pad, should be composed of one or a combination of flexible materials from a group of flexible materials including vinyl, rubber, silicone, polymeric materials, or plastic. Other fluid-impervious materials may be employed which are inert or non-reactive with the dye or gel or other fluid being applied to the scalp, and should be easily flexed by a hand. 
         [0026]    With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The device herein described and disclosed in the various modes and combinations is also capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Any such alternative configuration as would occur to those skilled in the art is considered within the scope of this patent. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0027]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other powder and pill storage and dispensing products for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0028]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only nor exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the disclosed device. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting in any fashion. 
           [0029]    In the drawings: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a first preferred mode of the device wherein the projections or rods extend from first ends positioned on the palm surface of the finger portions and thumb portions of the glove, are engaged to pads, which may be removably or permanently engaged to the underlying glove. 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  displays a perspective view of the second preferred mode of the device similar to that of  FIG. 1  but with squeegee or wiping blades positioned on the surfaces of thumb portions of the glove and showing the pads may also be removably engaged. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2 a    shows an example of a pad with differing configurations which can be provided in a kit for removable engagement to the glove and shows a differing number of posts in the plurality with three columns and seven rows. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  depicts a mode of the device similar to that of  FIG. 1 , but where the rods extend directly from first ends positioned on finger and thumb portions of the palm side of the glove, formed in a unitary structure of glove and rods. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  shows a mode of the device where the rods extending from first ends positioned on finger portions and/or thumb portions may have cups positioned at the distal ends to enhance the fluid holding capability of the device. Also showing is an axial cavity and opening of the depicted finger portion. 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a graphic depiction of an area of finger portions of gloves having projections or rods extending therefrom and showing the enhanced fluid retention area formed between the adjacent plurality of projections or rods within a perimeter of the area of the rods. Also shown in  FIG. 5  as in  FIG. 4 , the depicted finger portions could be employed without a glove and instead would be adapted for engagement to slide over the fingers of existing gloves, to provide the enhanced fluid retention thereto. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    Now referring to drawings in  FIGS. 1-5 , wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in  FIG. 1  the device  10  configured in one referred mode, as a glove device  10  adapted for engagement with either hand of a user to an as-used position, covering the palm, fingers, and thumb, for hand protection. So engaged the device  10  provides a barrier to fluid contact with the hands while concurrently providing for easy application of fluids, creams and pastes to the head and scalp of the user or a person being serviced by the user. The fluid may be applied directly to the portions of the glove  10  having projections such as rods  16  extending from first end engagements with the glove or by using a reservoir bowl or the like to position fluid in retention areas between the rods  16  and onto the head or scalp of a person. 
         [0037]    In this first preferred mode, the device  10  includes of a glove  12 , configured for an engagement to an as-used position on one or both of a left and a right hand. The glove device  10  has a palm side which is positioned adjacent the palm of the user with the glove device  10  in the as-used position. As noted this palm side is configured with one or a plurality of fluid retention areas formed between adjacent rods  16  projecting from a finger portion  13  or a pad  17  engaged to each of four finger portions of the glove  12  and with a thumb portion  15  thereof. 
         [0038]    The fluid retention areas  14  defined by the area within a perimeter of the plurality of rods  16  extending from pads  17  of  FIGS. 1-2  should cover an area equal to or exceeding a majority portion of the middle phalanx of each finger portion  13  of the glove  12 . This area shown in  FIG. 1 , extends to the distal end of each finger portion  13  for maximum fluid retention, while allowing the fingers to bend. Additionally, the fluid retention area if formed by rods  16  extending from the thumb portion  15  of the glove device  10  should cover the majority of the distal and proximal phalanx. Ideally the fluid retention areas should be maximized by forming an area of rods  16  having a maximum width and length when engaged to a finger portion  13  or thumb portion  15  which can be achieved by the proper placement of the projecting rods  16  in groups. 
         [0039]    The formed fluid retention areas should in one preferred mode include a plurality of four or more projections or members forming rods  16  which extend substantially perpendicularly from a first end extending from a surface of the glove  12  or of the pad  17  if employed to position rods  16  on the glove  12 . A current preferred length of each projection or rod  16  is between 0.05 and 0.9 inches between the first end positioned on the glove or pad and the distal end. 
         [0040]    These projections or rods  16 , if the glove device  10  is also used to brush and separate hair follicles, should be preferably aligned in equally spaced rows and columns that lie perpendicular and parallel, respectively on the finger portions  13  of the glove  12  for example as in  FIG. 1 , however more than two rows may be employed. In another mode, the rods  16  may also be positioned with first end engagements in pluralities which extend in a hexagonal configuration or alternative geometrical patterns. 
         [0041]    Shown in another preferred mode of the device  10 , per  FIG. 2 , the fluid retention area  14  of a thumb portion  15 , is replaced by a fluid wiping pad  18  formed as a blade or squeegee much like a windshield wiper. This wiping pad  18  can act as a blade or squeegee to allow the wearer to wipe diverted fluid or paste back onto the user or client such as when fluid drips down the forehead. 
         [0042]    Also shown in  FIGS. 2 and 2   a , the pads  17  may be removably engageable to the finger portions  13  using a connector  11  such as adhesive or hook and loop fabric or another connector  11  which will provide for engagement of the pads  17  with the finger portions  13  or the thumb portions  15 . This removable engagement is shown on the finger portion  13  adjacent the thumb portion  15  of one of the gloves  12 , but could be employed for all the pads  17  of all the finger portions  13  or glove portions  15  to allow for changing the configuration of the engaged posts  16 . This removable engagement of the rods  16  to the surfaces of the glove  12  can be employed in any of the modes of the device  10  herein. 
         [0043]    This mode of removable engagement would be preferable where the user has a plurality of differing configured pads  17  with different numbers of rods  16  thereon which could be arranged in differing rows or formed in differing lengths adapted to comb or otherwise part hair such as in  FIG. 2 a    for example. In this mode the user could engage pads  17  having the appropriate plurality of rods  16  having lengths adapted to part or comb hair and concurrently apply liquid held in-between the rods  16 . 
         [0044]    The fluid wiping pad  18  covers the thumb portion in the same manner as the first preferred mode above and is configured to include one or a plurality of formed wiping blades  20  to scoop fluid. The blades  20  run parallel to each other and preferably run parallel to the thumb&#39;s distal-proximal axis. The wiping blades  20  should span the length of the fluid wiping  18  and may have a height of between 0.05 and 0.25 inches, and can be arranged in a pattern aligned with or perpendicular to the distal-proximal axis of the thumb portion. 
         [0045]    The device  10 , in either preferred mode, can additionally contain a variety of surface textures to increase user grip and fluid cohesion. The glove device  10  fluid retention areas  14  and fluid wiping pad  18  should be composed of one or a combination of flexible, waterproof, washable materials in a list including but not limited to a polymeric material, vinyl, rubber, neoprene, silicone or plastic. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  depicts a mode of the glove device  10  similar to that of  FIG. 1 , however in this mode, the projections or rods  16  extend directly from respective first ends positioned on the exterior glove surface of for example the finger portions  13 . In this mode the glove  12  and finger portions  13  and the projections or rods  16  may be formed as a unitary structure of glove  12  and projections forming the rods  16  through injection molding or other means to engage the rods  16  to extend from the surfaces of the glove. 
         [0047]    Depicted in  FIG. 4  is a mode of device  10  herein where the projections or rods  16  extending from first end positions on the exterior of a finger portion  13  include cups  22 , positioned at distal ends of the projections or rods  16 . This configuration of the projections or rods  16  may be used in any mode of the glove device  10  shown or taught herein, and thereby enhance the fluid-holding capability thereof within the fluid retention areas between the extending projections or rods  16  and between the extending cups  22  and the surface of the glove or finger portions  13  such as in  FIGS. 5-6  if configured in that manner. Cups  22  or cup-shaped components having a lower central area  19  surrounded by a raised perimeter edge  21  are preferred because in addition to the projecting rods  16  positioned in a group extending to the perimeter edge, the cups  22  form a cover to help maintain fluid between the lower edge of the cups  22  and surface of the glove or finger portions  13 , the area between the lower central area  19  of the cup  22  and the perimeter edge  21 , provides a reservoir itself for fluid retention therein. 
         [0048]    Shown in  FIG. 5  is a depiction of the projections, or rods  16 , extending from respective first ends at the exterior surface of finger portions  13  or with the fingers of gloves as shown herein. Depicted is the fluid retention area  14  formed between the surface of the finger portion  13  within a perimeter  23  of the group or plurality of adjacent projections or rods  16 , and showing fluid  25  retained therebetween. While formation in a unitary structure of glove  12  and finger portions  13  is preferred,  FIGS. 4-5  also are provided to show a mode wherein finger portions  13 , as depicted, may be provided which have an axial cavity  27  therein accessible from an opening  29  at a first end. In this mode, these finger portions  13  can be adapted to engage over the fingers of existing gloves to provide the utility herein to existing gloves. 
         [0049]    For example, the finger portions can be adapted to engage upon the fingers of existing gloves by configuring the finger portions from elastic and flexible material, such as a polymeric material, and having a diameter of the opening  29  and axial cavity sized to frictionally engage upon the fingers of existing gloves. Such an opening  29  diameter and that of the axial cavity  27  might be formed smaller than the diameter of the existing gloves to provide for a compressive engagement of the finger portions on the fingers of an existing glove, which would occur when the polymeric material stretches and then compressively biasly engages upon the finger of the existing glove. 
         [0050]    As noted, any of the different configurations and components can be employed with any other configuration or component shown and described herein. Additionally, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof and steps in the method of production, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, it will be appreciated that in some instance some features, or configurations, or steps in formation of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims. 
         [0051]    Further, the purpose of any abstract of this specification is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Any such abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.