Mobile salon work station

A mobile salon work station. In an exemplary application, the mobile salon work station includes a frame assembly and work areas equally spaced thereabout having mirrored surfaces, storage compartments, swing out shelves, overhead retractable electrical reels and an overhead accessory holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Technical Field 
The present invention generally relates to a mobile salon work station. 
More particularly, the present invention relates to a mobile salon work 
station which is self contained, easily transportable, requires a minimal 
amount of floor space and no leasehold improvements. 
2. Discussion 
Salons are most frequently set up and conducted as a business in rented 
buildings or space. In such a highly competitive industry, space is at a 
premium and there is a continual need for innovation not only in services 
but also in ambiance. As such, many salons need to relocate often or to 
redesign the interior floor space of their establishments. The cost of 
converting a rented building or space into a new salon or remodeling an 
existing salon is substantial. Generally, such remodeling or renovating of 
a rented building or space involves structural renovations and the like to 
the building or space. Such fixtures or improvements cannot be removed 
when the salon operator terminates his or her lease, or desires to move to 
another location. Additionally, during such renovations, the salon 
operator is unable to adequately and fully conduct business. The expense 
associated with such remodeling is normally very substantial while the 
effect of such is temporary at best. In the past, there has been no way to 
minimize this substantial expense while still having a salon that is 
unique and attractive in appearance. Therefore, it is desirable to have a 
mobile salon work station which requires a minimum amount of floor space, 
no leasehold improvements and is entirely moveable to create the effect of 
remodeling without incurring most of the costs. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a mobile salon 
work station which is easily transportable and virtually self contained. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mobile salon 
work station which requires a minimum amount of floor space and no 
leasehold improvements. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mobile salon 
work station which requires a single electrical hook up for the entire 
unit. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mobile salon 
work station which can accommodate two (2) stylists and two (2) clients or 
three (3) stylists and three (3) clients simultaneously while providing an 
acceptable amount of privacy. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mobile salon 
work station which provides numerous storage compartments and display 
shelves for retail products. 
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a mobile 
salon work station which can vary the interior architecture and decorum of 
the salon establishment to meet changing business conditions, or to 
improve, upgrade and create a "new look" which is essential in such a 
highly competitive business such as hairdressing. 
It is a related object of the present invention to provide a mobile salon 
work station which can be configured so as to create numerous possible 
interior designs or arrangements within the available floor space. 
In one form, the present invention provides a portable work station for 
styling hair. The portable work station includes a frame having a 
perimeter and work areas equally spaced about the perimeter. 
Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become 
apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from 
a reading of the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and 
the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings there is depicted a mobile salon work station 
embodying the concepts of the present invention. The mobile salon work 
station of the present invention is generally identified in the drawings 
with reference numeral 10. The mobile salon work station 10 includes a 
frame assembly 12 supported on a floor 14 by lockable casters 16. The 
lockable casters 16 allow the mobile salon work station 10 to be easily 
transported. Other known easily transported and supporting methods in the 
art may equally be applied for this purpose. 
With particular reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the mobile salon 
work station 10 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will 
now be further discussed. As shown most clearly in the simplified top view 
of FIG. 4, the mobile salon work station 10 defines a plurality of work 
areas 18. In the preferred embodiment, the mobile salon work station 10 
defines three (3) work areas 18. However, it will be appreciated that any 
number of work areas 18 may be alternatively incorporated. It will be 
further appreciated that in the preferred embodiment, the work areas 18 
are substantially identical and together form a generally hexagonal shape 
as illustrated in the simplified top view of FIG. 4. 
The work areas 18 include side mirrored surfaces 20, a front mirrored 
surface 22 and a top mirrored surface 24. The side mirrored surfaces 20, 
the front mirrored surface 22 and the top mirrored surface 24 are all 
removably secured to the frame assembly 12 of the mobile salon work 
station 10. Moreover, the top mirrored surface 24 is pivotally secured to 
the frame assembly 12 thereby pivoting up and down upon pivot points 26. 
This four (4) mirror system allows the stylist to obtain three (3) or four 
(4) views of his/her client at a glance while creating and developing the 
hair style. No hand held mirrors are required. No additional mirrors are 
required. The work areas 18 further include side panels 28, a front panel 
30 and storage compartment panels 32. The side panels 28 and the front 
panel 30 are removably secured to the frame assembly 12 of the mobile 
salon work station 10 so that if the interior design of the salon changes, 
the side panels 28 and the front panel 30 may be removed and replaced so 
as to match the new decorum of the salon. The side mirrored surfaces 20, 
the front mirrored surface 22, the side panels 28 and the front panel 30 
of the work areas 18 in combination form a relative enclave, allowing a 
client an adequate amount of privacy in a busy salon. Also secured to the 
frame assembly 12 of the mobile salon work station 10, between the front 
mirrored surface 22 and the front panel 30, is a counter 34. The counter 
34 is typically made of glass or any other suitable material. The counter 
34 allows a client to place his/her glasses, coffee cup or any other item 
out of the way while enjoying the salon experience. 
The mobile salon work station 10 also includes a lighting system 36 which 
is secured to the frame assembly 12. The lighting system 36 includes 
support members 38, base support units 40, extension arms 42 and lights 
44. The support members 38 of the lighting system 36 are secured at one 
end to the frame assembly 12 and at an opposite end to the base support 
units 40. The extension arms 42 of the lighting system 36 are secured at 
one end to the base support units 40, while the lights 44 are secured at 
an opposite end thereof. The lights 44 are adjustable and arranged above 
the work areas 18 so as to provide an optimum amount of lighting for both 
the stylist and the client. 
With continued reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, and additional reference to 
FIG. 2, the mobile salon work station 10 of the preferred embodiment of 
the present invention is shown to also include an overhead accessory 
holder assembly 46 which is secured to the frame assembly 12. The overhead 
accessory holder assembly 46 includes a downwardly projecting arm 48 and a 
cross member 50. The cross member 50 includes circular members 52 secured 
thereto. The circular members 52 hold curling irons, hair dryers, and any 
other such commonly used accessories. As is more clearly shown in FIG. 2, 
the height of the downwardly projecting arm 48 is adjustable to allow for 
the varying heights of stylists. A twist lock 54 provides for the easy 
adjustment of the downwardly projecting arm 48. The overhead accessory 
holder assembly 46 also includes retractable electrical reels 56 which 
allow for the electrical cords from the various accessories to be easily 
retracted. The retractable electrical reels 56 thereby prevent the 
inadvertent dropping or dangling of the electrical cords of the 
accessories held in the overhead accessory holder assembly 46, and keeps 
these cords out of the way of stylists and clients, preventing same from 
being burned or tripped. 
With continued reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the mobile salon work 
station 10 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention also 
includes lower storage compartments 58. The lower storage compartments 58 
include outer panel doors 60 which are rotatably mounted to the frame 
assembly 12 at pivot points 62. The outer panel doors 60 of the lower 
storage compartments 58 swing outwardly as shown in FIG. 1. The lower 
storage compartments 58 may be used to store clean and/or soiled towels, a 
trash receptacle, a dry vacuum cleaner, professional and retail inventory, 
personal belongings, or any other known items. As with the side panels 28 
and the front panel 30, the panel doors 60 are capable of being removed 
and replaced if and/or when the salon changes decorum. 
In the preferred embodiment and the exemplary embodiment illustrated in 
FIG. 1, the mobile salon work station 10 also includes swing out shelves 
64. Swing out shelves 64 are rotatably secured to the frame assembly 12 
and rotate about a pivot point 66. The swing out shelves 64 can be used by 
the stylist as additional work space, or as a place to set combs, brushes, 
shears, electrical power strips, etc., or as a retail display shelf, or 
for any other suitable purpose. The swing out shelves 64 are pivotally 
attached to the frame assembly 12 in a conventional manner and allow the 
items contained thereon to be closer to and more conveniently retrieved by 
the stylist. 
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the mobile salon work 
station 10 includes pull out drawers 68 and shelves 70, both secured to 
the frame assembly 12. As previously discussed with the swing out shelves 
64, the pull out drawers 68 and the shelves 70 can include clippers, 
combs, brushes, shears, retail display items, or any other similarly often 
used material. An electrical power strip for additional appliances can 
also be mounted to the shelves 70. Moreover, the lower storage 
compartments 58, the swing out shelves 64 and the pull out drawers 68 may 
all include security locks so as to also be used to store personal 
belongings. 
While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiments of the 
invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to 
modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope 
or fair meaning of the accompanying claims.