Modular brush for user-selected hair streaking

A modular brush for applying hair coloring in a user-selected pattern includes a brush body and a plurality of detachable bristle modules. The bristle modules have tightly packed bristles that retain a volume of hair treatment solution, such as dye after the bristles have been dipped into a supply of the solution. The modules may be arranged to achieve the user-selected pattern of hair coloring. The supply or number of supplies of the solution may be provided by a modular tray.

DESCRIPTION 
1. Technical Field 
The present invention relates generally to hair treatment and more 
particularly to devices for applying a hair-coloring solution. 
2. Background Art 
Hair streaking is the art of dying selected strands of hair to achieve a 
desired appearance. Streaking includes a number of variations, such as 
highlighting, lowlighting, frosting, tipping and color texturing. 
Prior art streaking procedures are both difficult and cumbersome. One such 
procedure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,781 to Poole et al. A hair 
stylist parts the hair of a person into sectors by combing one sector of 
hair over the top of the person's head. A protective sheet of material is 
placed adjacent to the lower portion of the sector. A lower layer of hair 
is combed from the laid-up sector down onto the protective sheet. A brush 
having a series of spaced tufts of bristles is used to apply spaced 
parallel streaks of dye to the layer of hair on the protective sheet. A 
second protective sheet is then placed on the treated layer and a second 
layer of laid-up hair is combed downwardly onto the second sheet. The 
brush is again used to form the parallel streaks of colored hair. This is 
continued for each sector of the person's scalp. 
Another known procedure is to place a cap having a number of holes onto the 
head of a person. Depending upon the desired pattern of hair streaking, 
strands of the person's hair are pulled through the holes in the cap. The 
exposed strands can then be colored using one shade or several different 
shades of dye. 
A third known procedure of hair treatment providing different shades of 
hair coloring is to dip a brush into a first shade of dye solution and use 
the brush to apply the first shade in a random pattern, whereafter the 
brush is dipped into a second shade of dye solution and is used to apply 
the second shade between previously dyed areas of hair. This can be 
repeated for each shade that is desired. 
There are a number of disadvantages to use of these procedures. 
Self-application is difficult, and the result is uncertain, particularly 
if hair at the back of a person's scalp is to be dyed. At a beauty salon, 
hair streaking is time consuming and expensive. 
Another method that is even more difficult to practice without the aid of a 
skilled stylist is one that includes wrapping strands to be dyed with one 
or more shades of color within an aluminum foil. Regardless of which of 
the above-described procedures is used, a certain amount of discomfort or 
unreliability accompanies the process. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a brush for applying 
hair coloring in a relatively easy, reliable, comfortable and repeatable 
selfapplying pattern that is selected by the user. It is a further object 
to provide such a brush that enables the user to simultaneously apply 
several shades of hair coloring. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The above objects have been met by a brush that is structurally adaptable 
to achieve a variety of hair streaking patterns, and to retain different 
shades of coloring within different rows of bristle tufts, so that a 
single application of the brush to a user's hair will provide alternating 
shades of dyed hair. The brush is a modular device that permits 
repositioning of bristle tufts according to taste. Bristle modules and 
spacer modules may be selectively positioned along a brush body to provide 
a configuration of bristles and spaces that streak hair as desired merely 
by applying hair coloring to the bristles and brushing the user's hair. 
Those areas of the user's hair which come into contact with the bristles 
on the bristle modules are dyed, while hair that is between the bristle 
modules retains its natural color. The bristle modules and spacer modules 
are removable, thereby allowing different shades to be applied to the 
bristles by removing the modules and dipping them into separate reservoirs 
of different hair coloring solutions. 
In a first embodiment, the bristle modules and the spacer modules are rings 
which slide onto a cylindrical portion of the brush body. The exterior of 
the bristle modules is comprised of flat sides which have bristles 
extending therefrom. Because the bristles are mounted on flat sides, they 
can retain a tightly packed relationship along their entirety. Closely 
tufted bristles can more reliably pick up and maintain a volume of 
coloring solution. Curvature of surfaces will cause the bristles to flare 
out. While some curvature is possible, the preferred embodiment is one in 
which the bristles extend from planar surfaces. 
In a second embodiment, bristle modules are able to slide onto one of a 
number of sides of a brush body. A module may have spaces or may be a 
continuous array of bristles. In both of the above-described embodiments, 
dye can be applied to each of the many sides of the brush, whereafter the 
brush is brought into contact with a person's hair and moved downwardly 
while rotating the brush. The multi-sided brush will provide a fresh 
supply of dye as the brush is rotated from one tuft of bristles to the 
next. 
All of the bristles may receive the same shade of dye, but this is not 
critical. Different shades may be applied to each of the sections of 
bristles on a side of the brush. For example, one ring of bristles may be 
used to highlight a person's hair, while an adjacent ring can be used to 
provide lowlighting, i.e. darkening. 
In a third embodiment, the modular brush is one having a single side of 
bristles. Bristle modules may be slidably received along the length of a 
brush body. While the multi-sided embodiments are preferred because they 
provide a sequence of fresh supplies of solution with the rotation of the 
brush, a single-sided brush may be used for hair streaking procedures such 
as tipping and frosting. 
The bristle modules may have a center array with a high bristle density and 
opposed end arrays that sandwich the high density bristles. Depending upon 
the direction of movement, one end array will lead the center array and 
will perform a combing function to aid in properly spreading the dye 
solution. 
The multi-sided brushes may be used with a modular tray that can be 
selectively resegmented to correspond with the pattern of bristles 
selected by a user. During the hair streaking procedure, the bristles of 
the modular brush are inserted into dye-containing segments of the modular 
tray. The brush is then rolled to ensure that the bristles of each side of 
the brush receive a quantity of the dye. The closely packed bristles 
retain a volume of the dye as the brush is removed from the tray. 
An advantage of the present invention is that modularity allows the user to 
construct the brush and to rearrange the device as tastes and styles 
change. The present invention provides a device that facilitates 
self-application of dye solutions, even if more than one shade is to be 
applied at a single time.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a modular brush 10 
is shown as including a handle 12 and a cylindrical portion 14 extending 
from the handle. The handle has a configuration to facilitate manipulation 
by a user, but the configuration of the handle is not critical. 
The handle 12 and the cylindrical portion 14 form a brush body. Preferably, 
the brush body is made of a rigid plastic. The cylindrical portion 14 
meets the handle 12 at a shoulder 16. At the opposite end of the 
cylindrical portion, an externally-threaded member 18 is fixed in place. 
The externally-threaded member may be an integral part of the brush body. 
FIG. 1 shows three bristle modules 20, 22 and 24 and one spacer module 26 
that are fixed to the brush handle 12. Each of the modules 20-26 is a ring 
having a circular inside diameter and a polygonal exterior. An end cap 28 
secures the modules onto the brush body. 
The assembly of parts is shown more clearly in FIG. 2. Here, the modules 
include first and second bristle modules 30 and 32 and a spacer module 34. 
The inside diameter of each of the modules 30-34 is slightly greater than 
the diameter of the cylindrical portion 14 of the brush body. The modules 
slide onto the cylindrical portion of the brush body to abut the shoulder 
16. The end cap 28 is then threaded onto the externally-threaded member 18 
to fix the modules in place. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, the bristle modules 20-24 contain arrays of 
closely packed bristles 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48. The individual 
bristles of the arrays 36-48 may be made of nylon. Each array acts in the 
same manner as an absorbent structure, such as a sponge, for a dripless 
retention of hair coloring solution after being dipped into the solution. 
The polygonal exterior of the bristle modules 20-24 provides a number of 
flat surfaces for mounting of the bristle arrays 36-48. Thus, the bristles 
are each coterminus and are less likely to drip after receiving a quantity 
of solution. 
While nylon bristles are not critical, the bristle material should be 
non-absorbent, so that dye is easily transferred from the bristles to a 
person's hair. Moreover, non-absorbent material is more durable and is 
more easily cleaned, such as by flushing. Bristles having a diameter in 
the range of 0.01 to 0.012 inch provide sufficient rigidity without being 
so stiff as to cause discomfort upon contact with the user's scalp. 
At opposite ends of each closely packed bristle array 36-48 is an array of 
spaced bristles 50 and 52. While the bristles 50 and 52 are not critical 
to the present invention, these bristles can provide a combing operation 
during the application of hair coloring. The tips of these bristles 50 and 
52 are dipped within a molten plastic that is allowed to harden to form 
spherical members. Preferably the spaced bristles are made of a plastic 
having a rigidity sufficient to properly comb a user's hair. These 
bristles can be comb-like teeth bristles. 
In operation, the brush 10 is dipped into a container of hair treatment 
solution, such as color dye. The closely packed arrays 36-48 have a 
density and a material makeup to pick up solution without dripping. The 
brush is moved in a rotating fashion along the length of a user's hair. As 
each bristle array makes contact with hair, a fresh supply of dye is 
provided for application. 
The outermost bristle module 20 has a closely packed bristle array 36-44 on 
the six sides of the module. This arrangement will provide a continuous 
streak of highlighting or lowlighting to a user's hair. In comparison, the 
bristle modules 22 and 24 have planar sides without bristles. 
Consequently, the closely packed bristle arrays 46 and 48 of these modules 
will achieve shorter streaks. The present invention allows the user to 
select modules that will achieve a desired streak pattern. Streak lengths 
can be modified, as well as coloring shades. For example, a darkening 
solution can be applied at bristle array 46, while a lightening solution 
is applied at array 48. 
When the modular brush 10 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as 
viewed from the end cap 28, the bristles 50 and 52 function to comb the 
hair, so as to aid in proper solution distribution. These bristles 50 and 
52 are not critical, however. 
In FIG. 2, only three modules 30-34 are shown. The three modules are larger 
in the direction of the axis of the cylindrical portion 14 than are the 
modules of FIG. 1. Alternatively, smaller modules may be used to achieve 
the same pattern by utilizing a second spacer module 34. In any case, the 
modules should extend across the entirety of the cylindrical portion 14, 
so that the modules are prevented from axially or rotationally moving 
during use. While not critical, the cylindrical portion may have a length 
of 3.5 inches and the modules may vary in size between 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 
inch. 
The first bristle module 30 has an identical array 54, 56, 58, 60 and 62 on 
each of six sides. The second bristle module 32 has two bristle arrays 64 
and 66. The arrays 64 and 66 are offset axially on the module 32. Thus, 
the arrays 64 and 66 will not form a continuous streak, but will instead 
shade different groupings of hair. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, a modular brush 68 is shown as having a brush body 
that includes a handle 70 and a support region 72. The support region is a 
multi-sided structure that includes first and second flanges 74 and 76 on 
each side. A bristle module 78 includes a base 80 having longitudinal 
grooves 82 on opposed sides. The longitudinal grooves are positioned to 
receive the ends of the flanges 74 and 76, so as to fix the module in 
position. 
Extending upwardly from the base 80 is a center array of tightly packed 
bristles 84 adapted, as described above, to retain a volume of hair 
treatment solution, such as dye. The center array 84 is a continuous 
pattern. Identical bristle modules may be slid into position on each side 
of the brush 68. An end cap 86 then locks the modules in place. 
The center arrays 84 on the different sides of the brush 68 may be inserted 
into different shades of hair coloring, as desired. Thus, solutions will 
not become mixed as a user dips the brush 68 into the solutions in order 
to dye hair. 
After a particular array 84 has been dipped into a supply of solution, the 
center array will retain a sufficient quantity of solution for the 
application. The brush is then moved in a direction to properly distribute 
the solution and to ready the hair for the next application. A first row 
of bristles 88 functions to comb the hair so as to aid in proper solution 
distribution. A second, trailing row of bristles 90 also serves to comb 
the user's hair. 
Alternatively, the tightly packed bristle array may be segmented to form a 
number of separated arrays along one side of the brush 68. Identical 
modules 78 may be slid into place along the various sides of the brush, 
whereafter the brush may be used for hair streaking in the same manner as 
described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. This use of a plurality of 
bristle arrays having widthwise spacings is the preferred embodiment of 
the present invention. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, a modular brush 92 having a handle 94 and a 
support region 96 is shown. In this embodiment, the support region 96 
includes a single side for receiving bristle modules 98 and 100 and a 
spacer module 102. The support region 96 has opposed flanges 104 and 106 
and has a stop surface 108. Each of the modules 98-102 has grooves 110 
positioned to receive the flanges 104 and 106. The mating of the flanges 
into the grooves blocks the modules with respect to widthwise movement, 
while the stop surface 108 and a locking button 112 prevent longitudinal 
movement. Optionally, the locking button is spring-loaded. 
While not shown, the brush 92 includes a number of other modules that allow 
a user to select a pattern of bristles 114 and 116 and spaces. The pattern 
can be modified by depressing the locking button 112 to release the 
modules for rearrangement. 
Because the brush 92 of FIG. 4 includes only a single side, the brush will 
not provide a fresh supply of solution with rotation of the brush. 
However, the embodiment of FIG. 4 is particularly suited for frosting and 
tipping. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, a modular tray 118 may be used to provide supplies 
of dye to the brushes described above. Four troughs 120, 122, 124 and 126 
may be supplied with a single shade of hair coloring, or may each contain 
different shades. Trough 120 is separated from the adjacent trough 122 by 
a first step 128. A second step 130 separates troughs 124 and 126. In 
comparison, a substantially thinner wall 132 separates trough 122 from 
trough 124. 
In operation, the user selects a desired hair streaking pattern. One of the 
modular brushes is then configured according to the selected pattern. The 
next step is to construct the tray 118 to provide troughs 120-126 that 
correspond to the bristle arrays of the brush. Referring to FIGS. 6-8, 
segments 134, 136, 138 and 140 may be used to form a modular tray. The 
segments slide vertically into contact with each other using flanged 
detents and projections 142 and 144, respectively. The segments may also 
be connected using means other than the detent-and-projection arrangement 
illustrated in the drawings. As best shown in FIG. 8, a step segment 138 
may be connected to a trough segment 140 having a step 130 in order to 
provide a wide space between adjacent troughs. 
The tray 118 is formed to provide troughs that are aligned with bristle 
patterns on a multi-sided module brush as described above. The brush is 
then inserted into the tray and is rotated so that each side receives a 
quantity of dye. In use, the brush is rotated so that each side of the 
brush provides a fresh supply of hair coloring.