Abstract:
The present invention relates to a long hair shampoo basin for use at barber shops and beauty salons. More specifically, the present invention is directed to shampoo basins which are adapted for shampooing longer hair than is accommodated by present basins without dragging the hair on the bottom of the basin. A variable height screen may be positioned within the basin to vary the effective depth of the basin.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to the provisional patent application filed on Sep. 10, 2004 having Ser. No. 60/522281, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     This invention was not developed under a Government contract or through financial support resulting from a government contract. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Traditional basins for shampooing hair as used in a hair salon or barber shop are adapted to wash short to medium length hair. The problem is that longer hair bunches up at the bottom of the basin, often sliding through the drain at the bottom thereof and contacting the unsanitary drain-pipe. Moreover, the bunching of the long hair causes substantial tangling, creating potential for further problems and damage to the hair. The resultant tangled hair must be combed and/or brushed by the stylist. The tangles caused by the prior art basins are often difficult to comb-out, inflicting pain on the client and substantial damage to the hair roots.  
         [0004]     Moreover, using a wash basin known in the art, it is difficult to properly wash medium to long hair as the hair is all clumped at the bottom of the basin. The clumped hair limits complete coverage of all the hairs with the shampoo, which thereby prevents complete washing of all hairs. Additionally, similar problems are encountered when attempting to apply conditioners and cream-rinses because of the clumping or collecting of the hair at the bottom of the wash basin.  
         [0005]     There is need in the art for a wash basin which provides solutions to these and other problems.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention relates to a long hair shampoo basin for use at barber shops and beauty salons. More specifically, the present invention is directed to shampoo basins which are adapted for shampooing longer hair than is accommodated by present basins. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the improved shampoo basin according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section view illustrating optional basin inserts at selected positions, according to a second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the basin insert of the second embodiment disposed in an operative position within the present long hair shampoo basin. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a shampoo basin as generally depicted in  FIG. 1 . For purposes of the present description, the person whose hair is being washed or rinsed using the basin is referred to as the “client”, while the person who is washing the client&#39;s hair is referred to as the “stylist”. The basin depicted is fitted with items known in the art of hair washing, such as water flow control means ( 13 ), water temperature regulation means ( 15 ), water spray head ( 16 ), standard water drain means ( 20 ) disposed in the floor of the basin and a bottom outside edge ( 19 ). Additionally, the present shampoo basin is substantially of rectangular construction with four vertically-oriented sidewalls joined at rounded corners and having a rounded top rim ( 18 ), an inner wall surface ( 12 ) and a region for neck support ( 17 ) with a substantially semi-circular notch having a sufficient thickness to ensure that the client&#39;s upper neck is comfortably cradled within the notch. The thickness of rim ( 18 ) near neck support ( 17 ) is also adapted to accommodate at least one aperture or spray nozzle ( 29 ) (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and associated plumbing to deliver a spray of liquid ( 30 ) to the dorsal surface of the client&#39;s head and underside of the hair. Typically, the liquid will be water, but additional plumbing (valves and tubing, not shown) may be incorporated to deliver shampoo, conditioner or other rinse through the spray nozzle.  FIG. 3  also illustrates one embodiment of the optional insert ( 10 ) for the shampoo basin, which may be constructed of any suitable material and may be of screen-like ( 11 ) construction. It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale. The distance from the top of the basin to the floor is typically between about  6 ″ to about  48 ″.  
         [0012]     The basin body is preferably of single piece construction and may be formed from conventional materials that are known in the art, such as molded or formed stainless steel, ceramic-, porcelain-, or powder-coated metal, or appropriate plastic or polymer, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.  
         [0013]     The embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is directed to the placement of the optional lower screen ( 10 ) at different positions or depths within the inventive shampoo basin, generally parallel to the basin floor. This Figure clearly depicts the angle of the outside wall ( 21 ,  25 ) toward the bottom drain. The lower screens ( 10 ) are constructed of a size to rest between the inside wall ( 21 ) of the outwardly facing portion of the basin and the inside wall ( 22 ). Stops ( 27 ) or small ledges ( 28 ) may be incorporated along the inner surface of the basin sidewalls to stabilize the screen ( 10 ) at the desired position. This construction envisions multiple potential lower screens ( 10   a,    10   b ) adapted for selected levels within the shampoo basin, which is much deeper than those known in the art. According to this embodiment, the wash basin is adapted to allow a client having long hair to sit in a reclined orientation, facing up, with the neck resting on a rounded edge ( 17 ), with the back of the head over the basin and the hair falling down into the basin, as is now known in the art. However, unlike basins known in the art, the basin according to this embodiment will have a vertical depth or vertical length of between about  6 ″ to about  48 ″ such that the client&#39;s long hair will not be drawn into the drain during rinsing, but will be suspended above the floor of the basin to prevent possible contamination and also to prevent tangling of the ends of the hair. Another advantage provided by the adjustable screen position of the present embodiment is that the screen may be used to support a tray or other container filled with a material for treatment of the ends of the hair. The treatment material can be positioned at the correct height by placing the screen at the desired location so that only the ends, or a specified length of the hair going from the ends toward the roots, are suspended into the treatment. For example, the client may wish to have a treatment for split ends, or may wish to apply a coloring to only the ends of the hair without affecting the rest of the hair.  
         [0014]     Although not a part of the present invention, the present basin may be attached or associated with a wash or spray nozzle as currently used for the washing of hair.  
         [0015]     In another embodiment, the wash basin has an adjustable vertical depth such that the stylist or person who will be washing the client&#39;s hair may increase or decrease the vertical depth of the wash basin, by introducing a lower screen ( 10 ) of suitable dimensions.  
         [0016]     In yet another embodiment the wash basin has a plurality of apertures or spray heads ( 32 ), shown as dashed lines in  FIG. 3 , positioned in a substantially vertical relationship along the lengths of the inner walls ( 21 ) of the basin. The spray heads positioned along the inner wall may be incorporated into the basin itself, with the plumbing running within the basin walls, or may be attached as one or more spray bars to the inner walls of the basin, for example, in opposing corners of the basin. The spray head are arranged to extend vertically downward from the client&#39;s head at different points along the length of the hair and are directed to spray towards the opposing wall. Any additional spray heads that may be positioned throughout the inner wall of the wash basin are likewise positioned to spray the hair. Moreover, each spray head so positioned may be independently positioned and oriented as desired and as is known in the art.  
         [0017]     Other noteworthy features of the first embodiment of the invention include a water pressure and temperature control valve arrangement which is of a conventional design and which is typically utilized with conventional showers and bathtubs. Additionally, the fluid delivery conduit and fluid delivery line could be connected such that they could be selectively utilized or utilized simultaneously. This selective or simultaneous utilization could be controlled by a conventional manually operable valve arrangement or a valve arrangement in association with a foot operated water delivery switch whether electric or manually actuated, as is known in the art. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of foot control switches could be selectively or simultaneously engaged by the stylist to effect the desired selective or simultaneous delivery of water to either the fluid delivery conduit or fluid delivery line or to both. As is readily apparent, the foot operated water delivery switch arrangement allows for the hands of the stylist giving the shampoo and rinse to be free from controlling water flows so that the shampoo and rinse can more easily be completed. It is to be understood that the switch and valve assembly described is illustrative of numerous types and designs of switch operated valves which could be utilized in combination with the present invention, and it is within the intent and purview of the present invention to encompass all such conceivable and known designs.  
         [0018]     Although the basin is shown in  FIG. 1  as having a substantially vertical orientation relative the floor, the inventive shampoo basin may have an angled orientation, according to comfort and desired activity. Indeed, the hair stylist may desire the present shampoo basin to be tilted between about 0° (vertical) to about 45° toward or away from the client. It will be readily apparent to those in the art that in order to effect an angled orientation other than vertical, the water inlets and drainage plumbing must have sufficient degrees of flexibility to permit pivoting of the upper portion of the basin and forward and backward displacement of the basin bottom relative to the client.  
         [0019]     Other embodiments and modifications of the present invention will occur readily to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of these teachings. Therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the following claims which include all such other embodiments and modifications when viewed in conjunction with the above specification and accompanying drawings.