Abstract:
A hair coloring tool combining a styling comb and a hair coloring brush into a single easy to use device is disclosed. The hair coloring brush is secured to the styling comb by an assembly which is capable of holding the hair coloring brush at various angular positions relative to the comb to promote easy application of hair coloring agents to selected strands of hair.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to hair coloring tools and, more particularly, to a hair coloring tool which combines a hair separating element and a color applicator in a single tool. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years it has become increasingly popular to treat hair. More specifically, it has become popular to add highlights or coloring to one&#39;s hair. Traditionally, highlighting and hair coloring has been performed in beauty salons by professional stylists. When highlighting hair, the first step is to separate the hair that is to be colored from the remaining strands of hair. This is normally performed by the stylist using a comb, or other suitable device, to separate the hair. Next, coloring the hair a particular color is performed. This is normally performed by using a separate brush or other suitable color applicator to apply a coloring agent to the selected strands of hair. 
     Separating and coloring of the hair requires a stylist to alternate between using the comb, then the brush. This can become cumbersome and inconvenient for the stylist as the stylist must repeatedly pick-up and set down the comb and brush. Furthermore, the constant switching of the comb and brush necessarily lengthens the total time spent on the highlighting process. Moreover, the constant switching of the comb and brush makes highlighting one&#39;s own hair, without the use of a stylist, extremely difficult. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned and related drawbacks associated with conventional hair coloring tools are substantially reduced or eliminated by the hair coloring tool of the present invention which provides a combination hair detangling and separator element and hair color application element in a single tool. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the coloring tool comprises an elongated element having a first end portion, a second end portion and a handle portion intermediate the first and second end portions, the handle portion having an opening formed therethrough; a hair color applicator having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion having an opening formed therethrough; and a connection assembly, coupled along the length of the handle portion of the elongated element and adapted to rotatibly position the hair color applicator at operating angles relative to the elongated element. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it incorporates a plurality of hair styling tools into a single device. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it prevents unnecessary mess during hair coloring. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is easy to use. 
     A feature of the present invention is that it is easy to manufacture. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The aforementioned and related advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the following drawings, where like numerals represent like elements, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the hair coloring tool of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional top view of the rotational connection assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The hair coloring tool of the present invention will now be described with reference to  2 FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a side view of the hair coloring tool of the present invention. As shown, the hair coloring tool  10  includes a hair separating element  11 , a hair color applicator element  12 , and a connection assembly  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the hair separating element  11  comprises a comb having a first end portion  13 , including a plurality of teeth  14  downwardly extending therefrom. The teeth  14  are used to detangle the hair that is to be colored. The comb has a central handle portion  15  having a threaded opening  21  formed therethrough. The comb also includes an elongated pick portion  17  which extends in a tapered manner from the end of the handle portion  15 , opposite the comb  13 , and provides a mean for the user to separate and weave the hair to be colored. In a preferred embodiment, the comb  11  has a total length of about 10 inches and is composed of a molded, flexible chemical resistant material such as plastic. Other chemical resistant materials can be used instead of plastic. 
     The hair color applicator element  12  includes a handle  16  having a threaded opening  22  formed at one end thereof. A brush  19 , suitable for applying a coloring agent to the hair strands, is coupled to the opposite end of the handle  16  by an attachment piece  18 . In a preferred embodiment, the brush  12  is composed of a chemical resistant material such as plastic. However, other chemical resistant materials can be used. 
     The hair color applicator element  12  is rotatibly engaged to the comb  11  by a connection assembly  20 . As shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, the connection assembly  20  is comprised of a screw  24  which is in threaded communication with the openings  21 ,  22  of the comb  11  and the hair color applicator element  12 , respectively. By engaging the comb  11  and the hair color applicator element  12  in such a fashion, the hair color applicator  12  can be positioned at operating angles (i.e. 30°, 60°, 90°, etc.) relative to the comb  11 . As such, the hair color applicator  12  can be placed flush against the comb  11  when not in use or at operating positions relative to the comb  11  when a coloring agent is being applied to selected strands of hair. A cover  25  can be placed over the head of the screw  24  to protect it from damage. 
     The method of using the hair coloring tool  10  of the present invention will now be described. First, handle  12  is rotated away from the comb  11  and a suitable coloring agent is applied to the brush  19 . Next, the user detangles and separates the strands of hair to be colored using the teeth  14  and places the selected strands of hair on a coloring foil or other suitable device. The strands of hair are then sectioned and woven with the pick  17  to enable highlighting and streaking. Then, the coloring agent is applied to the hair by passing the brush  19  over the hair as needed. To complete the process, the colored hair is wrapped in the coloring foil for a predetermined period. Upon expiration of the predetermined period, the coloring agent has been absorbed by and reacted with the hair, thereby changing its color. Thus, by using the coloring tool of the present invention, the user can detangle, separate and apply coloring agent to selected strands of hair without having to repeatedly pick up and set down multiple styling tools. 
     The foregoing detailed description of the invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiment disclosed, and that various changes and modifications to the invention are possible in light of the above teaching. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto.