Hair coloring variegation device and method of use

A method and device for selectively entraining hair strands from the scalp having at least one hooking applicator, the at least one hooking applicator employing a hook that rotates to entrain the hair strands, a hair color container having hair color therein and a way to apply the hair color to the entrained hair stands includes a hooking applicator, hair color container, and trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism operates to entrain hair using the hooking application and apply hair color to the hair from the hair color container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the coloring of human hair, and more particularly, to an improved method and device for quickly and effectively coloring human hair.

Background Art

Hair color variegation is a popular service performed by the professional beauty industry. The process involves the segregation of one or more sections of human hair followed by the treatment of the segregated hair with a hair coloring method or chemical. The technical skill required to separate particular sections of a person's hair from the remainder has kept this procedure mostly in the purview of hair salons.

A previously popular method for highlighting hair is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,111. The method disclosed therein involves a cap tightly fitted over a scalp of combed-back hair. Strands of hair are then pulled through holes in the cap with a crochet hook and the exposed hair is colored to create the effect of variegation. Although this method can be somewhat successful both at keeping the chemical hair coloring from bleeding onto the hair not intended for treatment and creating a generally variegated look, the necessity of drawing hairs through individual holes in the cap makes it difficult for the technician to consistently draw out a section of hair from the desired area without unintentionally entraining undesired sections of hair from areas surrounding the hole. The end result is unpredictable and, sometimes, very undesirable. Moreover, the available variegation pattern is dictated by the location and distribution of the holes in the cap. Additional disadvantages to this method include the inability to effectively color hair roots, the inability to consistently prevent the bleeding of color to adjacent sections of unselected hair, and the pain experienced by the recipient due to the repeated pulling of her hair through small holes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,754 is another example of a hair highlighting method employing a cap over the scalp. This method has the identical drawbacks of the '111 patent.

Alternatively, there are various combing methods used to apply hair color in a variegated manner. A general method involves dipping a comb into a liquid hair color and pulling the comb through the hair to be treated. Only relatively large sections of hair can be treated in this manner and it is difficult for the operator to avoid color bleeding onto hair not intended for treatment. U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,781 describes a method wherein a hair stylist parts hair into sections and uses a brush with a series of spaced tufts to brush streaks onto random strands. The tufts of the brush are dipped into a hair color composition and retain the composition until the brush is drawn across the strands to be colored, thus depositing the colorant thereon. This method utilizes protective sheets placed under and over the streak-treated partings before and after treatment to avoid color bleeding to adjacent hair. However, using this brush method makes it difficult to choose which strands of hair will be treated. Hence, there is minimal control over the placement of the hair treatment. Therefore, larger sections of hair are treated, resulting in a more unnatural hair coloring effect.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,765 describes a modular brush for applying hair color compositions with a brush body and detachable bristle modules so that the brush can be configured to achieve a user-defined variegated pattern. However, this arrangement presents the same limitations as described above for the '781 patent.

A more commonly used technique by those skilled in the art involves selecting hair through weaving with a conventional tail comb and then placing the selected sections onto aluminum foil (or some other sheet of barrier material) and then painting sections with a hair color composition. A dispensing device for metallic foil that may be used in this process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,608. The foil method allows for smaller, more independent, more consistently variegated sections to be treated closer to the scalp, resulting in a more naturally variegated final appearance. When using this method, the potential for color bleeding onto surrounding hair is reduced. But even with these advantages over other hair color variegation techniques, the foil method is very time consuming and expensive. For an average client, approximately 30 to 50 minutes is required to complete this method of hair coloration.

Hair color variegation techniques that involve color treated sections that have been woven away and placed inside a barrier material for processing produce natural and attractive variegated appearance. It follows then that advancement in the field of hair color variegation involves weaving, color treatment and barrier material. Reference will now be made to technology that attempts to advance on one or more of these three general systematic elements.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0028835 discloses “A Device for Dispensing a Barrier Material to a Lock of Hair.” This device (although some of the embodiments vary greatly) is comprised of two tape dispensers that are hinged at the roll end. The tape dispenser end (distal to the roll end) opens and closes in such a way as to cause the faces of the two tapes to touch. A section of hair can be chosen and encapsulated between the two tapes. The face of one or both of the tapes is treated with one or both of the chemical hair color components. The embodiments also include means within the device to apply hair color just before the hair is encapsulated within the tape. This method, although saving time and product, still lacks the ability to automatically, quickly and accurately weave away a plurality of selected hair sections for variegation purposes.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,306 discloses a hair-weaving comb that has regular teeth and inwardly barbed teeth attached alternately across the spine of the comb. In practice, a thin section of hair is parted away from the scalp. The teeth of the comb are then pushed into the parting and drawn back out. The barbed teeth pick up sections of hair while the straight teeth do not. An operator grabs the hooked hair, pulls the comb away and lets the non-hooked hair fall. This device allows for a faster and more consistent weave than the manual hair weaving method. However, it does not offer any device or method to apply color or barrier material. In addition, the device does not effectively pick up sections of hair in a predictable manner, nor does it pick up hair against a curved scalp surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,243 discloses a comb/color applicator combination. The device discloses a comb with a hollow spine that screws onto a container filled with chemical color composition. When the container is squeezed, the chemical composition fills the hollow spine of the comb and exits the spine through small holes positioned in between the teeth of the comb. Although this device will yield a variegated hair color appearance, there is a substantial risk of color bleeding because the variegated hair is not woven away from the rest, and the device fails to provide the technician with a high degree of control or accuracy.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,722 describes a hair lightening method involving the use of an optical photosensitizer and a compound capable of providing a hydrogen radical (ethanol is preferred) in a solution. The solution is applied to the hair and then left to saturate for 5 to 60 minutes. Low intensity ultraviolet light (typically provided by a comb or hood) is then applied to the hair causing a hydrogen to be exchanged between the two components in the solution, thereby creating hydrogen peroxide inside the hair shaft. The peroxide is excited by the light causing some of the hair pigment (melanin) to be destroyed. As a result, the hair subjected to the process is lightened. Using this same photochemical reaction, the '722 patent describes a method whereby the entire head of hair is saturated with the photosensitive solution followed by the segregation of small sections of hair by manual weaving. The non-segregated hair is masked with an opaque material so that only the segregated hair is exposed to the low intensity ultraviolet light. The result is “highlight” effect among the segregated hair strands. The techniques described in the '722 patent involve considerable time and manual labor.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,393 discloses a hooking mechanism for hair coloration. The implement has a plurality of equidistantly spaced, accurate hook members movable between open and closed positions with respect to the bottom surface of the body of the implement by an operating slide member at its top. After thus hooking and engaging spaced groups of hair strands for treatment, the implement is lifted from the scalp to isolate the strand groups for bleach or dye treatment. This implement does not offer the operator nearly the degree of control that is inherent in the instant invention. Although the bottom surface of the device is curved, it does not flexibly conform to the curve of the head. This prohibits the device from uniformly selecting portions of hair.

Furthermore, the '393 patent offers no means by which the hooked hair can have a comfortable tension applied to it when the hooks are in the closed position. Hair may be hooked away from the scalp, but it cannot be held against tension—it will simply slide through hooks when the operator pulls the device away from the head. Finally, the '393 patent does not include any means by which it can apply color compositions nor any means to assure a safe and controlled contact with the scalp by the swinging hooks.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0042643 discloses a hair highlighting tool. However, the disclosed invention does not address the multiple problems overcome with the instant invention. In fact, it may exacerbate some of the problems regarding the regulation and control of hair coloration.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,530,358 overcomes many of the problems identified above but does not address the problem of applying color of higher viscosity. The ‘358’ patent does not provide means for expelling high viscosity liquid hair color from a color container onto entrained sections of hair in a controlled manner as does the present invention. The ‘358’ patent discloses a hook that is only useful for entraining hair against an applicator that distributes low viscosity hair color onto the entrained section by way of a ‘wicking’ action. The present invention features a hook and applicator arrangement that, when in the closed position, channels high viscosity liquid hair color onto entrained sections in a controlled manner. Also, the ‘358’ hooking mechanism is prohibitively complicated and relies on a mechanism that raises the hook and entrained section of hair up to the applicator. The present invention eliminates the need for this mechanism without losing function. Furthermore, the ‘358’ patent describes a mechanical means responsible for confining the hooks to a light controlled contact with the scalp. This mechanical means consists two feet separated into four scalp contact points; two contact points in front of the hook and two contact points in back of the hook creating a hook channel that extends flush with the rotation of the hook toward the scalp. The present invention involves an arrangement that likewise confines the hooks to a light, controlled contact with the scalp also employing two ‘feet’ with two scalp contact points positioned in front of as well as in back of the hook. The present preferred embodiment of the device entrains and gathers the entrained section of hair differently employing a ‘scissor action’ by gathering the hair as it approaches the closed position between the inside of the hook and the side edges of the scalp contact points or ‘feet’. Considering there are feet that only occupy the width of the applicator nozzle, this leaves the entire pivot of the hook toward the nozzle in full view of the operator. This more open hook arrangement allows the operator a better view of the entraining of the hair as well as a better view of the application of color onto the entrained section than is allowed in the ‘358’ patent. Finally, unlike the ‘358’ patent, the present invention keeps the color components separated as it dispenses and mixes them just before the color comes into contact with the entrained sections.

All of the above-cited prior art addresses certain needs. However, none solves the time, consistency and control problems that are encountered when performing the manual hair color variegation technique presently most popular in the purview of the hair salon. In addition, none have successfully combined mechanical elements into a single device to give it the ability to do all that is mentioned in the present disclosure. Accordingly, there is a need for a hair coloration device that safely, accurately, predictably, and quickly applies low and high viscosity colorant to uniformly selected and entrained portions of hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present embodiment of the hair color variegation device features a pre-loaded color container that slides into the front of the handle as well as hair entraining and color dispensing mechanisms that are engaged in sequence by a single squeeze of the handle. The device is used in one hand by drawing a parting of hair across the scalp with a rod-like member extending away from the rear of the device. This member is called the parting stem. The device is then turned so that the head of the device is facing and in line with the parting of hair. The head of the device is placed along the parting so that the parting is visible 1/16 ″ to ¼″ or farther above the line of the contact points of the head of the device. The head of the device is now urged against the parting, at which point the head of the device will conform to the curve of the scalp. In this conformed placement, each hook is now in the correct position to accurately lift hair against each applicator nozzle. While holding the device lightly conformed to the scalp, the operator slowly squeezes the handle. As the operator slowly squeezes the handle, the hooks pivot simultaneously across the scalp, painlessly entraining sections of hair against the applicator nozzles. As the operator continues to slowly squeeze the handle, the hooks remain engaged while the squeeze plate begins to put pressure on the color container. This allows the operator to hold and slide the entrained sections of hair without applying the hair color. Continuing to squeeze the handle, the pressure of the squeeze plate onto the color container causes the liquid color to move out of the color container and therefore out of the applicator nozzle and onto the entrained hair. Now, the operator may carefully pull the device away from the scalp while maintaining a controlled pressure on the handle. In this manner, hair color is evenly deposited onto the entrained sections of hair. At this point the operator may stop applying squeeze pressure while continuing to holding the entrained sections of hair. While the hair is still entrained in one hand and no color is being deposited, the operator may place barrier material over the color treated sections with the free hand or simply let the color treated hair drop back into the rest of the hair. This application process may be repeated many times in one variegated hair color service.

Variations of the device may employ a single hooking applicator as well as any number of hooking applicators up to six or more hooking applicators. Certain variations of the device that employ one and perhaps up to three hooking applicators will not need a curvature conformation feature.

Hooking applicators vary in size allowing embodiments of the device to entrain individual sections of hair of varying size.

Other embodiments of the device feature a variety of detachable head units. This allows a single device handle to accommodate a variety of head units each featuring different numbers and sizes of hooking applicators.

Still other embodiments allow the operator to restrict the flow of hair color to some of the hooking applicators while allowing color to flow through others while the device is in use, while other embodiments provide a mechanical alternative to the rack and pinion gear drive that pivots the hook/hooks in the form of a lever system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention is a squeeze operated, hand held device that is used to selectively entrain and color human hair. The invention addresses separate and distinct technical needs of professional hair colorists and individuals desiring a controlled method of selectively coloring their hair.

The central mechanical aspect of the present invention consists of a hook that pivots along a scalp of hair and entrains a section of hair against a color applicator nozzle. This being the case, it is therefore fitting to begin the detailed description with an explanation of the hook and applicator nozzle as well as the various mechanical interactions thereof in respect to the section of hair that is entrained.

Relating to the hook and applicator nozzle, the open position' and closed position' will be referred to many times. For the sake of minimizing redundancy (seeFIGS. 1A and 1B), the term “open position” always refers to the hook2aas having pivoted to the farthest position away from the applicator nozzle11a. The term “closed position” always refers to the hollow of the hook2aas having pivoted into contact with the applicator nozzle11ahaving entrained a section of hair1bbetween.

FIGS. 1A and 1Bdepict hooking applicators1ain the open and closed positions respectively. The hook2ain each figure is fixed to an axle9; and, the axle9pivots in a gear box6.

The hook2aconsists of a short length of longitudinally halved tube laterally pivotal on one straight edge and longitudinally tapered on the opposite edge forming the hook point3a.

Each ofFIGS. 2A, 2B and 2Cdepicts a bottom view of the hooking applicator1ain the closed position; however,FIG. 2Adepicts the hook point3aat the front of the hook2a,FIG. 2Bdepicts the hook point3aat the back of the hook2aandFIG. 2Cdepicts the hook point3aat the middle of the hook2a. The location of the hook point3apresents a difference in the way the hook2aentrains a section of hair1b: with both types of hooks2apivoting along a parting of hair1cfrom the same position relative to the part1c, a hook2athat is pointed on the front3awill entrain less hair than a hook2athat is pointed on the back3a.

FIG. 3Adepicts the hooking applicator in the open position; more specifically, it outlines the hollow2d(depicted by a bold black line) of the hook2aand depicts the nozzle11aas being partially covered by a layer of viscoelastic foam11b(or any other applicable flexible material).FIG. 3Billustrates the hollow2dof the hook2aand the cylinder of the applicator nozzle11aare an accurate fit while in the closed position.FIG. 3Cis a sectional view of the closed position and illustrates how this accurate fit becomes a seal as the hollow of the hook2apresses into the layer of viscoelastic foam11bthat surrounds the aperture5on three sides. The nozzle seal11bprevents leaking of the liquid hair color around the back and sides of the hook2awhile in the closed position.

Referring toFIGS. 1A and 1B, notice one foot4afixed to the front of the applicator nozzle11aand one foot4gfixed to the back of the applicator nozzle11awith the hook2apositioned between. A comfortable contact of the pivoting hook2awith the scalp1cis assured as the hook2ais confined to travel a precise pivotal path between the front foot4aand rear foot4g, and, as the hook point3ais confined to pivot generally flush with the front foot contact point4band rear foot contact point4h. This mechanical arrangement, therefore, utilizes the front foot contact point4band rear foot contact point4has means to allow the hook2ato entrain a section of hair1bwhile preventing the hook point3afrom making forceful contact with the scalp.

FIGS. 4A-4Dbottom views depict another mechanical relationship between the hook2a, front foot4aand rear foot4g, namely, how the hook2a, front foot4a, and rear foot4gfunction to separate the entrained section of hair1bfrom the surrounding hair at the scalp as well as to center the entrained section of hair1bwithin the hollow of the hook2aand maintain the centered position of the section of hair1bthrough the color coating process. This separation and centering of the entrained section of hair1boccurs as the front contact surface2eand rear contact surface2fof the hook2aslide against the front hook contact surface4eof the front foot4aand rear hook contact surface4jof the rear foot4g, as per a scissor action, while moving from the open to closed position.

FIG. 4Adepicts the hook2aand applicator nozzle11ain the open position.FIG. 4Bdepicts same hooking applicator1aas the hook2ahas pivoted toward the closed position enough to have entrained a section of hair4b.FIG. 4Cillustrates the hooking applicator1aas the hook2ahas pivoted with the entrained section of hair1bto a point where the hook2ahas not quite reached the closed position and the entrained section of hair1bhas been pulled in by the hook2aclose enough to the applicator nozzle11afor the entrained section1bto have encountered the front foot scissors edge4fand the rear foot scissors edge4k.FIG. 4Ddepicts the hooking applicator1ain the closed position with the section of hair1bcentered over the aperture5of the applicator nozzle11aas well as being centered over the color channel2band hair channel2cof the hook2a. Also, the entrained section of hair is occupying the front foot channel4cand rear foot channel4i.

FIG. 1Cdepicts a front view of the front foot4aand points to the preferred location of the front scissors edge4fof the foot front4a. As stated above, this scissors edge4fof the front foot4apushes an entrained section of hair functionally into the closed position.FIG. 1Ddepicts this front scissors edge4flocated closer to the center of the front foot4athan the preferred location depicted inFIG. 1C. Relocating this front scissors edge4frelative to the center of the front foot4a, along with relocating the aperture5, color channel2band hair channel2c, so that the said features intersect functionally with the top of the front scissors edge4fin the closed position, changes the amount of hair that is entrained by the individual hooking applicator1aas well as changing the closeness to the scalp of the initial application of color onto the entrained section of hair. Furthermore, if the rotation of the hook2ais not on a particular degree of upswing relative to the bottom of the front scissor edge4f, a portion of the entrained section of hair will be brought against the bottom of the corner of the front foot4arather than the front scissors edge4fcausing strands of hair to become lodged between the hook2aand front foot4a. This will cause the entrained section of hair to become snagged. This front scissors edge4fmay occupy various positions relative to the center of the front foot4aand may even be somewhat angled rather than the perpendicular orientation it occupies presently in relation to the bottom of the gear box6. In addition to this, the length of the front foot4amay be adjusted in order to change the amount of hair that is entrained. (Note: All of the preceding description ofFIGS. 1C and 1Dalso applies to the rear foot which is not visible in said figures. Simply replace the term ‘front’ with the term rear and this will provide the same description of the rear foot.)

FIG. 3Dis another variation of the feet arrangement featuring a foot bridge4d. This foot bridge4dconnects the front foot4aand rear foot4galong the bottom creating one wide foot that surrounds the tip of the hook3ain the closed position. This foot bridge4dcreates a further scissor action along the bottom of the hook2a. Furthermore, the hook point3amay be but not necessarily closed on five sides creating a box that is open only to the hook point3aas it pivots toward and establishes the closed position. This foot bridge4dvariation is optional.

ViewFIG. 3A-3Cduring the following description of the process by which the entrained section of hair becomes coated with liquid hair color.FIG. 3Ais a front perspective view of the hooking applicator1ashowing the hook2aand nozzle11ain the open position with the color channel2band hair channel2cforming one continuous indentation approximately centered front to back across the hollow2dof the hook2a.FIG. 3Bis a front perspective view of the hooking applicator1ashowing the hook2aand nozzle11ain the closed position over a section of hair1bwith the color channel2band hair channel2cpositioned approximately centered over the nozzle aperture5.FIG. 3Cis a sectional front perspective view of the hooking applicator1a. Said figure shows that the portion of the hollow2dof the hook2athat comes into contact with the applicator nozzle11a, while in the closed position, has flattened the nozzle seal11bthat is directly under said portion of the hook2a; however, the color channel2bremains open and, the area of the nozzle seal11bwithin the hair channel2c, remains raised and fills the hair channel2c. This is because the nozzle seal11bis at least as thick as the hair channel2cis deep. As seen inFIG. 3B, with a section of hair1bentrained in the closed position, the entrained section1bis occupying the color channel2bas well as the hair channel2c; furthermore, said hair channel2cis also occupied by a portion of the nozzle seal11bas said portion remains expanded in the hair channel against the entrained section of hair. The portion of the nozzle seal11bthat fills the hair channel2cdoes apply a slight pressure to the section of hair1bentrained therein; however, this pressure is not enough to restrict movement of the entrained section1bthrough the closed position; the pressure is only enough to prevent the liquid color flowing into the color channel2bfrom leaking to the outside of the closed position through the hair channel2c. Also, the pressure exerted onto the section of hair1blocated within the hair channel2cis such that a desirable amount of tension is maintained on the entrained section1b. This tension allows the device to maintain comfortable control over the entrained sections1bthroughout the process.

While viewingFIG. 3B, consider a section of hair1bis entrained in the closed position and liquid hair color is exiting the aperture5, the liquid fills the color channel2b, thereby surrounding the portion of the entrained section1bthat is occupying the color channel2b. As the liquid color continues to exit the aperture5, the liquid is prevented by the nozzle seal11bfrom expanding out from the sides of the hook2aas well as from the back of the hook2athrough the hair channel2c. This mechanical arrangement causes the entrained section of hair1bto become coated with liquid hair color1das well as allows the coated entrained section1dto remain coated as the coated section of hair1dpasses through and exits the color channel2b.

FIG. 3Adepicts a front foot channel4cformed into the side of the front foot4aand rear foot channel4iformed into the side of the rear foot4g. The purpose of each of these indentations is to allow clearance for the entrained section1bof hair to slide through the closed position without getting pinched. As seen inFIG. 3B, the front foot channel4chas the added benefit of allowing the color coated entrained section1dto pass from the closed position without the color being scraped away from the color coated section of hair1d.

Each ofFIGS. 5A and 5Bare perspective front views of the hooking applicator in the open and closed positions respectively depicting another color channeling variation featuring a hook2awithout a color channel or hair channel. This variation includes an indentation or nozzle color channel11dthat is located around the aperture5of the applicator nozzle11a. This nozzle color channel11dis open to the front of the closed position as well as the front foot channel4cand will serve to direct the flow of the color coated entrained section of hair1dmuch the same way as a hook color channel2b. This variation also includes a nozzle hair channel11elocated on the applicator nozzle11abehind the nozzle color channel11d. The nozzle hair channel11eopens to the rear foot channel4iin the closed position and is covered by the nozzle seal11bin order to allow the hair to move through the closed position without the risk of color back flow though the nozzle hair channel11e. The nozzle color channel11d, however, is open to the front of the closed position in order to allow the liquid hair color to flow from it.

FIG. 6AandFIG. 6Bare front perspective views of the hooking applicator1adepicting another color channeling variation combining both a color channel2blocated on the hook2aas well as a nozzle color channel11dlocated around the aperture5of the nozzle, deeper front foot channel4cand nozzle hair channel11e. This variation will provide the most color deposit along the entrained section of hair.

Considering all of the variations of channeling described above, the shape and dimension of the hook channel2band nozzle channel11das well as the size and shape of the aperture5will vary according to the viscosity of the liquid hair color as well as the desired degree of control of color flow as well as the size of color bead deposited onto the entrained section of hair1b.

FIGS. 7A and 7Bdescribes a small slender appendage or hook tooth3bextending out from the color channel2bof the hook2a. As seen inFIG. 7B, the tooth3bextends away from the hollow of the hook2atoward the radial center of the hook2ain such a way that when the hook2ais in the closed position over the applicator nozzle11a, the tooth3benters into the aperture5of the nozzle11a. Since the thickness of the tooth3bis smaller than the dimensions of the aperture5, the tooth3bdoes not obstruct the flow of color from the aperture5. In the instance where a pressurized color container is supplying an applicator nozzle11a, a rubber or silicone (or other flexible chemically resistant material) tube gasket11cmay be placed snuggly against the inside wall of the applicator nozzle11a. This gasket11ccovers the nozzle11aaperture5and prevents pressurized as well as non-pressurized color from flowing out.

ViewingFIG. 7AandFIG. 7Bin series shows the hook2aand the tooth3bpivoting from the open to the closed position. As the hook2adoes this, the tooth3bwill push against the portion of the gasket11clocated in the nozzle aperture5. As the tooth3bpushes against the gasket11c, pressurized color is released. As the hook2apivots back toward the open position, the tooth3bwill exit the aperture5and the cylindrical gasket11cwill naturally flex back to the closed position over the aperture5inside the nozzle11aagain blocking the flow of color from the aperture5. In this manner, pressurized color may be controlled to flow onto entrained sections of hair only when the hook2abrings the entrained sections to the closed position over the nozzle11a.

As depicted inFIG. 1A, the applicator nozzle11afeatures an aperture5as an exit for liquid hair color and a hose12functions as a supply line between the color container hoses and the nozzle11a. The nozzle hose12extends upward a short distance, perpendicular to the nozzle11athen turns at a right angle, extending back ending in a nozzle hose coupling13a.

FIGS. 1A and 1Bdepict a preferred embodiment of the device involve a rack and pinion gear arrangement as mechanical means to pivot the hook2a. The hook2ais fixed to the distal front of an axial9and the rear portion of the axial9pivots within a gear box6. A pinion gear8is fixed to the portion of the axial9contained within the gear box6. A rack gear7apivots the pinion gear8within the gear box6from underneath.

As depicted inFIG. 8, the flexible head14aconsists of a straight row of hooking applicators1aconnected one to another along the bottoms of the gear boxes6by roller couplings14b.

FIG. 8also depicts two head mounts15attached to the front of the top handle section20b. Each end of the head14ais fixed to the distal front of each head mount15forming a head14aattached to a handle20a.

FIGS. 9A and 9Bdepict the row of hooking applicators1asharing a single thin flexible rack gear7athat extends along the inside bottom of each gear box6with the series of pinion gears8seated teeth to teeth into the rack gear7a. Back and forth movement of the rack gear7acauses the pinion gears8and therefore the axles9and hooks2ato pivot in unison.

As seen inFIG. 9A, the head14ais pressed lightly against a parting of hair1cand the head14aflexes into the curve of the scalp. The head14ais placed against the scalp in the upright position thereby allowing each of the front foot contact points4band rear foot contact points4h(not visible inFIG. 9) to make functional contact with parting of hair1c.

FIG. 9Adepicts the device relying on a flat spring14cto allow the head14ato flex. The flat spring14cexpands as the head14aflexes into the curve of the scalp.

The roller coupling14d, shown inFIG. 9AandFIG. 10A, is another mechanical feature to aid in the flexing ability of the head14a. A roller coupling14dis fixed to both ends of the head14a; it is a section of tube that fits telescopically over the end of each head mount15.

FIG. 10Adepicts a lip14eformed into each of the head mounts15at a location that is as far back from the distal end of the head mount15as the head14ais wide. A cap14fis located at the tip of each head mount15. Each lip14eand cap14fprevents the roller couplings14dfrom sliding back and forth along the ends of the head mounts15. The inside diameter of the roller couplings14dare slightly larger than the outside diameter of the cylindrical ends of the head mounts,15so that the roller couplings14dcan freely roll. As seen inFIG. 9A, each end of the head14ais fixed to each of the roller couplings14dand, as the head14aflexes into the curve of the parting of hair1c, the two hooking applicators1athat are fixed to the roller couplings14dare able to freely pivot over the ends of the head mounts15. This pivoting naturally occurs when the head14aflexes against the curve of the scalp and creates a smoother and more complete flexing action.

The rack slide mount17, as viewed inFIG. 8, is a section of tube that is fixed to the front edge of the top handle section20b. As viewed inFIG. 9B, one side of an upside down ‘L’ shaped rod or rack slide16ais positioned snuggly sliding within the tube of the rack slide mount17. The other side of the rack slide mount17extends straight down then bends out along the side of the head at a slight angle for a short span. The rack slide16athen bends forward and finally tapers down forming the rack gear pin16b. The rack gear pin16bextends directly into a small hole or rack gear seat7blocated at the distal end of the rack gear7aforming a snap-in fit between the rack gear pin16band the rack gear seat7b.

In order to impart a more complete understanding of the rack slide action, it is necessary to explain in more detail the action of the handle. As seen inFIG. 10A, the handle20ais composed of a top handle section20b, and a bottom handle section20cconnected to one another at the rear of each by a handle hinge21a. This salad tong type configuration is held in the open resting position by the handle hinge spring21bagainst the handle stop21c. The handle stop21cis a protrusion located on the inside of the bottom handle section20cof the handle hinge21a. As the bottom hinge section20cpivots back toward the open position, the bottom hinge section20cis prevented from opening any further as the handle stop21ccomes into contact with the rear bottom edge of the top handle section20b.

FIG. 10A-10Dare side views of the hand of an operator squeezing the handle20aof the device from the open positionFIG. 10Ato the closed positionFIG. 10DwithFIGS. 10B and 10Crepresenting middle handle positions. With the device depicted inFIGS. 10A-10Dshown appropriately positioned against a parting of hair1c, one will notice as one views these illustrations in sequence that the top handle section20b(along with the attached head mounts15and head14a) remains stationary against a parting of hair1cwhile the bottom handle section20cis the pivotal section. As such, one will notice, while again viewing these figures in sequence, the visible actuator tine18(which is attached to the bottom handle section20c) sliding from the bottom to the top of the head mount15and rack slide16a.

Having established a more complete understanding of the role of the handle as it pertains to the sliding action of the actuator tines against the head mount and rack slide, one may now refer toFIG. 8. The rack slide actuator tines18consist of two rods extending forward from the front edge of the bottom handle section20c. The tines18are positioned between the bottoms of the head mounts15. The distance between the tine ends18is such that the tine18on the left is in contact with the left head mount15and the tine on the right18is in contact with the right head mount15as well as the rack slide16a. (Refer toFIGS. 9A and 9Bfor the remainder of the paragraph.) With the actuator tines18in this position, squeezing the handle20awill cause the tine18on the left to slide upward against the inside of the left head mount15, and the tine18on the right to simultaneously slide upward against the right head mount as well as the inside of the rack slide16a. As the bottom of the rack slide16ais angled outward (see bold line16c), the upward sliding motion of the right tine18against the angled section of the rack slide16ccauses the rack slide16ato move outward stabilized by the rack slide mount17and head mounts15(seeFIG. 10B). As the bottom end of the rack slide16ais attached to the rack gear7aby the rack gear pin16b, the outward sliding motion of the rack slide16acauses the rack gear7ato move to the side. The rack gear7asliding to the left in this manner causes the hooks2ato pivot toward the closed position over the applicator nozzles11a. In this manner, when the right actuator tine18is in contact with the bottom of the rack slide angle16c, the hooks2aare in the open position (seeFIG. 9A). Squeezing the handle until the right tine18is at the top of the rack slide angle16ccauses the hooks2ato move to the closed position (seeFIG. 9B). Releasing the handle will cause the rack slide16ato return to the inward most resting position against the tension of the rack slide spring19. The action caused by a continued squeeze of the handle20abringing the actuator tines18past the top of the rack slide angle16cwill be described later in this disclosure.

The bottom handle section20c(seeFIG. 8) employing only a single tine18on the right side against the rack slide16amay also be employed as an alternative embodiment.

As described in the summary, the present invention features a single squeeze mechanism capable of, in series, entraining the hair and dispensing the liquid hair color onto entrained sections of hair. As described above, engagement of the hooks occurs during the first increment of the squeeze action applied to the handle. The second increment of squeeze action pivots the lever24aso that it pushes up on the level pallet22. (SeeFIG. 8for a detailed perspective view of the level pallet22and lever24a). As both the level pallet22and lever24aare hinged to the top of the bottom handle section20c, the upward motion of the bottom handle section20ctoward the top handle20bsection, combined with the mechanical action of the level pallet22and lever24afacilitates the movement of the liquid hair color out of the color container51aand through the channels that direct the color onto the entrained sections of hair

The following is a detailed description of the second in series mechanical action (dispensing of the hair color) and how this action coordinates with the first action (entraining of hair sections) as the device is in use. The mechanical action will be described while referring toFIGS. 10A-10B. (Note:FIGS. 10A-10Bdepict side views of the preferred embodiment of the device depicted inFIG. 8.)

As seen inFIG. 10A, an operator functionally holds the device by the handle20aas the device is in the resting position and places the head14aof the device appropriately against a parting of hair1c.

As seen inFIG. 10B, the operator squeezes the handle20acausing the bottom handle section20cto lift toward the top handle section20b. Consequently, the tine18that is against the rack slide16amoves upward to the top most point of the rack slide angle16c(this point on the rack slide16aappears as a bold square). This causes the hooks2ato be in the closed position over the applicator nozzles11awith entrained stalks of hair1bbetween. The lifting action of the bottom handle section20ctoward the top handle section20balso causes the button contact point24cof the lever24ato contact the lever button24d. This contact causes the lever24ato pivot on the lever hinge24e, thereby, pushing the level pallet contact point24bof the lever24aagainst the bottom of the level pallet22. This, in turn, causes the level pallet22to lift toward the bottom of the color container51a.

FIG. 10Cdepicts the handle20ahaving been squeezed to the point where the actuator tine18begins to slide along the section of the rack slide16athat is parallel to the head mount15. This allows the hooks2ato remain in the closed position while the level pallet22comes into contact with and pushes up on the bottom of the color container51a. The pressure of the level pallet22on the color container51acauses the liquid color to begin to move from the color container51athrough the color container neck52band into the manifold intake53c. Continuing through the manifold53a, the liquid color flows through the manifold hoses53b, into the nozzle hoses12and nozzles11aand through the color aperture5onto the entrained section of hair1b.

The operator will continue to apply light squeeze pressure to the handle20awhile watching for a small bead of color1eto simultaneously form at the front of each hook (seeFIG. 9C). When she sees these color beads1eform she will know that the hair color has exited each nozzle11aaperture5and has surrounded the portion of each entrained section1bthat is within the closed position. The moment she sees the beads of color1eform, she will maintain the same pressure while slowly pulling the device away from the parting of hair1c. As depicted inFIG. 9D, she pulls the device away from the parting1c, the constant light pressure on the handle will evenly surround the entrained sections1bwith hair color1das the entrained sections1dpass through the closed position.

Once the operator has sufficiently coated the entrained sections of hair, she will generally proceed one of two ways: she can release pressure on the handle allowing the device to return to the resting position depicted inFIG. 10A; this approach allows the coated sections to drop back into the hair. The other option is to release the handle20aonly to the point where hair color stops dispensing while maintaining the entrained sections in the closed position. This occurs as the handle20ais released enough for the level pallet22to release from the bottom of the color container51abut not enough for the actuator tine18to slide down beyond the top of the rack slide angle16c; this mechanical position is depicted inFIG. 10B(The top of the rack slide angle is depicted as a solid black square located on the rack slide). (The following description of barrier material application does not include correspondent drawings.) At this point, the entrained and coated sections are in a taut and stationary position, extending between the head of the recipient and the head of the device. The operator, while maintaining the entrained sections in this position, and having a free hand, may pick up a folded section of barrier sheet and place it over the entrained sections or perhaps place a section of cotton under the section close to the scalp; any number of barrier material types and techniques known by a person skilled in the art may be applied at this time followed by a controlled release of the barrier treated section into the rest of the hair. Finally, the operator may trace the tip of the parting stem27along the scalp, exposing the next parting of hair to be serviced and thereby beginning a new pass of the device along the recipient's hair (seeFIG. 10Afor the parting stem27). A pass of the device through a recipient's hair, such as the entire pass described above, may be repeated the number of times deemed appropriate by the operator or until the point at which the upward motion of the level pallet22onto the color container51ais interrupted by becoming flatly parallel and directly adjacent to the top of the color container housing26, thereby flattening and emptying the color container51a(seeFIG. 10D). The color container51amay then be refilled or replaced.

The following is a description of two types of disposable color containers. These color containers are pre-filled (preferably by a manufacturer), loaded into the device and are discarded when empty.

Pre-packaged color containers that dispense two part oxidative color or lightener must include a means by which the two reactive components remain separate inside the container until just prior to use.FIG. 11Adepicts an internal container51fwithin an external container52e, with each container accommodating one of the two hair color components. The internal container51fis filled to capacity so that it is firm. The external container52eis filled but not firm. In addition to the difference in firmness between the two containers, the internal container51fis intentionally manufactured with a structurally weaker front seam and/or weaker plastic film than the external container52e. The difference in firmness in addition to the weak film allows the operator to moderately squeeze this dual container causing the internal container51fto rupture. This rupture releases the color component within, into the other color component contained within the external container52e. The operator will briefly kneed the dual container thereby fully mixing the two color components. Also, the rear bottom seam511of the external container52eand the rear seam511of the internal container51fare sealed together so that the internal container51fdoes not float around freely inside the external container52egiving the internal container51fthe opportunity to move forward and block the manifold port51bof the external color container52efrom the inside. This dual container52e,51fmay be discarded once it is empty and replaced by a pre-filled dual container52e,51f. For convenience, the manifold port51bmay feature a puncture seal51gadhered to the front. In order to accompany the puncture seal51g, a puncture spike53hwill be affixed to the manifold intake53c. This puncture feature allows the operator to mix the components without mess, opening the manifold port51bonly at the point where it engages the manifold intake53c.

FIG. 11Bdepicts another preferred dual color container embodiment52a; the purpose of which is to keep the two components of the liquid hair color separate until the two components exit the color container52a. The two (2) components of the liquid hair color are of equal texture and viscosity and are kept separate within the dual color container52aby a barrier52b. The barrier52bessentially forms two separate color containers of equal volume arranged flatly against one another. Each side of the divided color container52aopens to each side of the dual manifold port52c.

When pressure is applied to this dual color container52a, both hair color components enter each side of the dual manifold port52c. The two components then enter the manifold intake53cwhere they pass through a section of helical static mixer52dand begin to mix. The partially mixed color then enters the inner tube53gof the manifold53a. The color is further mixed as it passes through the inner manifold tube53gas it also contains a section of static mixer52d. Fully mixed color now exits both ends of the inner manifold tube53gand enters the main outer manifold tube53f, then the nozzle hoses53band finally exits the nozzle aperture5. The operator will proceed with the color service as described previously.

The following describes the process of reloading the device with color as well as cleaning the various color channels of the device.

A color container featuring a refill port51d(as seen inFIG. 8) will not need to be disassembled and can be refilled using a syringe or baster type mixing container with a hollow dispensing stem. The operator mixes the two components of the hair color in the reservoir of the mixing container, secures the lid over the reservoir and injects the mixed color into the color container51athrough the refill port51d. Having completed this stage of refilling, the operator secures the lid51eonto the refill port51d.

Pre-packaged color containers will need to be removed from the device when empty and replaced with one that is full. The following example will be described with a single chamber color container51a(seeFIG. 8), although a dual chamber color container52acould be used for the explanation as well. In order to do this, the operator will release the back of the color container51afrom the back of the color container housing26aby disengaging the fastening tabs51hfrom the fastening pins26c(seeFIG. 8andFIG. 10A). She will then disengage the manifold mounting bracket53efrom the rack slide mount17, remove the manifold intake53cfrom the manifold port51bof the color container51a(seeFIG. 8), bend the manifold53aforward which will disengage the manifold intake53cfrom the manifold port51bof the color container51a. She will then disengage the manifold port51bof the color container51afrom the manifold port bracket26b(seeFIGS. 9A and 10A) She will then be able to pull the empty color container51aout from the color container housing26a. With the manifold53astill bent forward on the flexibility of the manifold hoses53b, thereby exposing the frontal opening to the color container housing26a, she will then slide a full and sealed color container51ainto the opening until the full length of the color container51aoccupies the full length of the color container housing26a. Then she will push the manifold port51bof the color container51aonto the manifold port bracket26bin order to secure this port26bas well as the front of the color container51aonto the front of the color container housing26a. Next she will push the fastening tabs51honto the tab pins26cthereby securing the back of the color container51ato the back of the color container housing26a. Finally, she will urge the manifold intake53conto the manifold port51band snap the manifold mounting bracket53eonto the rack slide mount17.

Having refilled the color container51aor, having exchanging an empty single color container51aor dual color container52awith a full one, the operator will now prime the device by squeezing the handle20auntil the color exits all of the nozzle11aapertures5(SeeFIGS. 10A-10B and 9C). The first squeeze with a new color container51a, may cause some color to exit some apertures5before others; therefore, the operator will perform this operation over a cleanable surface, paper towel, sink, etc. as the hair color may drip, out of some of the nozzles11auntil color is exiting all nozzles11a. The operator will simply wipe the excess color from the nozzles11awith a paper or cloth towel and proceed with the color service.

In order to minimize the overall number of drawings in this disclosure, the following description of the cleaning procedure does not have supporting illustrations. Refer toFIG. 8for an approximation.

In order for the operator to clean the refillable color container51aand manifold53a, she will disengage the color container51aas described above, cap51ethe refill port51d, inject water or cleaning fluid into the color container51athrough the manifold port51band place a finger over the manifold port51b. Then she shakes and kneads the color container51aand pours the liquid out of the refill port51dand/or manifold port51b. She will repeat this step until the container51ais clean. In order to clean the manifold53aand nozzles11ashe simply engages the color container51ainto the device following the reload procedure described earlier, and then fills the container51athrough the refill port51dand places the cap51eover the port51dand squeezes the handle20a. Water will jet out of the nozzle11aapertures5thereby cleaning the nozzles11aand nozzle hoses12as well as all of the hoses and channels of the manifold53a. She may also insert a slender cleaning implement into the various hoses, ports and nozzles during the cleaning procedure.

Although an operator may rely on disposable color containers51afor regular use, it is advisable for the operator to have a refillable container51aavailable to fill with water or cleaning fluid in order to utilize the cleaning method just described.

Other types of color containers may be employed in the device such as a caulk gun type or syringe type arrangement. Also the varied types of containers may be compressed manually, compressed using an electric motor or the color may be dispensed by means of a color container that is under pressure.

The color containers51a,52a(seeFIGS. 8, 11A and 11B) are preferably formed from polyethylene, polypropylene or other type of liquid proof and chemical resistant flexible and easily sealable film. The main tube of the manifold53f(along with the hose couplings53dthat are molded into it) is preferably molded from one of a variety of liquid chemical resistant plastic material while the hoses53bmay be formed from one of several types of liquid chemical resistant rubber or silicone tubing. The hoses53bmay be glued or clamped to the manifold couplings53d; or, all of the couplings53dmay be barbed allowing the hoses53bto be removed from the coupling53dyet, attach firmly when in use. The sections of static tube mixer52dwill also preferably be of the chemically resistant plastic variety and may be a separate part or formed directly into the inside geometry of the manifold53a. Separate static tube mixers52dmay be removable through a threaded cap located on one or both ends of the main manifold tube53f. Removable static tube mixers52dand/or threaded access caps located on the ends of the main manifold tube53fare features that make the manifold53aeasier to clean. Also, the sections of static tube mixer52dmay also be located within the manifold hoses52b. Alternatively, the entire geometry of the non-mixing manifold53a, including the hoses53band manifold intake53cmay be molded as one part from a liquid chemical resistant rubber or silicone.

When considering the functionality of the manifold53a, notice the L-shaped manifold hose53b. This L-shape provides a corner that acts as a weak leverage point and allows the pressurized liquid filled hose53bto bend easily as the head14aof the device conforms to the curve of the scalp.

Another unique feature of the device is a mechanical arrangement that gives the operator the ability to stop the flow of color to individual applicator nozzles while allowing other applicator nozzles to flow. The mechanism effectively pinches a hose closed with the push of a lever.

As seen inFIG. 12A-12C, each end of the rigid plastic manifold tube53fis detachably affixed against the top of each of the head mounts15by a manifold mounting bracket531; one additional manifold mounting bracket53eextends from the top center of the main manifold tube53fand attaches to the rack slide mount17. Fixed along the length of the manifold tube53fare several short lengths of rigid tube that function as couplings53dfor the lengths of hose53bthat extend away from the manifold tube53f. Fixed to the front of the manifold tube53fare clamp lever mounting brackets54e; one above each of the hose couplings53d. Attached pivotal to each of the lever mounting brackets54eis a clamp lever54a. The top of the clamp lever54aextends back across the top front of the handle a short distance and at a slight angle while in the resting position. This top section of the clamp lever54ais flat and serves as a thumb contact54b. The bottom section of the clamp lever54aextends straight down to a point just below the bottom of the hose couplings53d. At this point the clamp lever54amakes a sharp angle back to a point where it has extended slightly behind the bottom of the hose coupling53d. Now this bottom end of the clamp lever54amakes a final sharp turn and crosses the back of the hose slightly below the hose coupling53dforming the clamp lever hose contact54c. This being the shape of the clamp lever54a, when an operator places a thumb onto the thumb contact54band presses down, the bottom of the clamp lever hose contact54moves forward against the hose53bjust below the point where the hose53battaches to the coupling53d. As the operator continues to press on the thumb contact54b, the clamp lever hose contact54cpinches the hose53bforward against the pinch plate54fthereby stopping the flow of color through that hose53b(seeFIGS. 12B and 12Cside views depicting the hose clamping mechanism in the disengaged and engaged positions respectively). Once the operator presses the thumb contact54bdown to the farthest point, two interlocking hooks54d, one on the bottom of the thumb contact54band one on the front top of the head mount15, will lock together thereby holding the clamp lever54ain the hose pinching position. The operator simply needs to move the thumb contact slightly to the side and the clamp lever lock54ddisengages restoring color flow to the tube53b.

FIGS. 12A-12Cdepict a necessary variation of the actuator tines. Since it is chosen, although not necessary, to have all of the parts of the present hose clamping mechanism built onto and around the manifold in such a manner that the manifold in the present embodiment sits lower on the head mounts than in similar embodiments described; including the actuator tines, as they have previously been arranged, into the present embodiment will cause the actuator tines to run into the manifold before they have a chance to slide the functionally necessary distance up the length of the head mounts and rack slide. Therefore, depicted here are telescopic actuator tines. As viewed inFIG. 12A, the slide tine on the other side of the device, although not visible, will have all of the features of the visible slide actuator tine described in the following:

The rear end of the slide actuator tine93is within in a slide tine seat94. The front end of the slide actuator tine93has, fixed and extending away perpendicular to the outside, a slide actuator tine channel pin96. This channel pin96is seated within a channel95formed into the head mount15; said channel95extends the entire length of said head mount15and is open to the inside.

The bottom handle section20c, as well as the slide tine seat94that is fixed to it, as seen inFIG. 12B, are farther away than said parts ofFIG. 12C. As the front of the bottom handle section20cmoves closer to the top handle section20b, the front of the bottom handle section20calso moves closer to the head mounts15. This is why fixed actuator tines eventually run into the main manifold tube. The sliding actuator tine93overcomes this problem.FIG. 12Bshows the front of the slide tine93, with the fixed channel pin96seated inside the tine channel95, (the channel pin96is seen as a bold dot) fully extended from the tine seat94.FIG. 12Cshows that, as the bottom handle section20cmoves up and gets closer to the head mounts15, the tine channel pin96follows the tine channel95and causes the tine seat94to move forward over the slide tine93. This arrangement allows the front of the tine93to track the length of the head mount15thereby remaining in the same position relative to it.

This novel actuator tine arrangement may be included in any embodiment of the device that requires actuator tines.

Another multi-hooking mechanism device embodiment of the device allows the hooking mechanisms to be positioned closer together than the multi-hooking mechanism device embodiment described previously. The previously described embodiment discloses a row of hooking applicators that are positioned side by side in such a way that the pivoting motion of the hooks are parallel to the line represented by the row of hooking applicators. This means that the more open the hook is relative to the applicator nozzle, the farther away the individual hooking applicators must be from one another. This is because the hook can only open so far as the point at which the hook makes contact with the applicator nozzle of the neighboring hooking applicator. The closer the neighboring hooking applicator, the less the hook can open. Another solution to this problem is to make the hooks smaller. This however may not be a desirable solution as this may cause the sections of hair that are entrained to be smaller than desired.

To overcome this shortcoming the present embodiment features a row of hooking mechanisms that are at an angle to one another so that when each hook is in the open position, each hook is positioned, in front of each neighboring applicator nozzle; therefore, each hook does not bump into each neighboring applicator nozzle. One way to accomplish this is depicted inFIG. 13. This figure depicts a top view of a row of hooking applicators1aarranged side by side and angled as described above. This row of hooking applicators1ais arranged as a device head14a; yet, this head14ais depicted without the rest of the device. The rest of the device is omitted as no further mechanical change is required of the device in order to accommodate the head14aarrangement described below.FIG. 13shows the tops of the gear box6cut away to expose a rack gear7cwith angled teeth7dseated against an angled pinion gear8arrangement. In addition to depicting the angled pinion gear8position and angled rack7agear teeth7d,FIG. 13also depicts the hooks2ain the open position in front of the adjacent nozzle11arather than against the nozzle11aas per the previously described device head14aarrangement; therefore, this angled hooking applicator1aembodiment solves the above stated shortcoming by allowing the hooks2ato remain the same size while positioning the hooking applicators1acloser together.

As an alternative to the previously described rack and pinion gear means, the following describes an embodiment of the device that utilizes a mechanical lever action as a means to pivot the hooks. As per the device head embodiment described immediately prior, this device head embodiment likewise features a series of hooking applicators that are arranged in an angled configuration so that the hook axles are at an angle relative to the parting of hair, thereby, allowing the hooks to pivot in front of the adjacent nozzles. Although the present embodiment features hooking applicators that are arranged in said manner, this lever action embodiment may also be arranged such that the pivotal relation of the hook axles to the parting may also be approximately perpendicular as per the first device head configuration described in this disclosure.

It is necessary to state the following at this time; the many parts of the device that are not mentioned in the following description will be assumed to function in like manner to the first embodiment of the device described in this disclosure. This, in order to avoid redundant descriptions.

As seen in the two different angles of front view (FIGS. 14A and 14B) depicting the lever action hooking applicator70, the present embodiment features a hooking applicator70with a hook2athat pivots on a hook seat68, said hook seat68being located at the top front of the hooking applicator body69. The hook2afeatures a lever65that extends away from the back of the hook2a. The hook2apivots as the hook slide61, and therefore, the hook slide tip63slides forward, guided within the hook slide bracket64. As the hook slide61moves forward, it slides underneath the hook lever65causing the lever65and therefore the hook2ato pivot. The hook slide tip63will slide forward against the hook lever65until the hook2acloses over the nozzle11a. Conversely, as the hook slide61backs away from the hook lever65, the hook2apivots back to the open position, pulled as such by the tension of the hook spring66.

Having described the mechanical action of the individual lever action hooking applicator70, the following is the series of mechanical actions that occur in order to simultaneously pivot all of said type of hooks along a device head comprised of multiple lever action hooking mechanisms.

As viewed inFIGS. 15A and 15B, the handle20aof the device compresses and the actuator tines18begin to slide up against the angled bottom section55bof each slide rack lever55a. (The angled bottoms of the slide rack levers55aare indicated inFIG. 15Aby two bold black lines.) As the actuator tines18continue to slide upward against the rack slide lever angles55b, the slide rack levers55abegin to close against the head mounts15. As seen inFIG. 15B, the inward closure of the slide rack levers55aagainst the head mounts15cause the slide rack actuators56(which are fixed to the outside of the slide rack levers55a) to begin to enter the actuator channels57; these channels57are openings located on the slide rack mounts58. Each slide rack mount58is fixed to each head mount15. As the slide rack actuators56continue to enter the actuator channels57, the angled fronts of the slide rack actuators56cause the slide rack seats59and the slide rack60aon which they are attached to move forward.

Sandwiched between the two slide rack plates60bof the slide rack60aare the top sections62of the hook slides61. Continuing to viewFIG. 15B, the bottom sections of these hook slides61are fixed to and extend forward perpendicular to the top sections62forming the ‘L’ shaped hook slide61. The hook slide tips63move back and forth in the hook slide seats64. While the rack slide60amoves forward, the top sections of the ‘L’ shaped hook slides62and therefore the hook slide tips63also begin to move forward. As the hook slide tips63move forward within the hook slide brackets64, the hook slide tips63push forward on the hook levers65causing the hooks2ato move from the open to the closed position. As the operator releases the handle20athe above mechanical process reverses, the hooks2areturn to the open position by the tension of the hook springs66and the rack slide60areturns to the resting position by the tension of the rack slide spring67.

The next mechanical operation of this lever action hooking applicator embodiment to be described is the curvature conformation feature (refer toFIGS. 16A and 16B). As described above, the mechanical relationship between the slide rack60aand top sections of the hook slides62are responsible for the pivoting action of the hook2a. In addition to this function, the top sections of the hook slides62and slide rack60aalso give the device the ability to conform to the curve of the head. In order for the head14aof the device to curve, the individual hooking mechanisms70must be able to move up and down a short distance relative to the head mounts15as well as pivot to the side slightly. The contiguous way in which the top sections of the hook slides62are positioned within the slide rack60aallow the top portions of the hook slides62to move up and down as well as pivot side to side radially. Now, when the head14aof the device is urged against the scalp, each hooking applicator70moves from the resting position to the position it must assume in order for it to cooperate with the other attached hooking mechanisms70in assuming the particular degree of curvature. As each hooking applicator70moves, so does the top portion of each hook slide62sandwiched within the slide rack60a. Now as the top portion of each hook slide62changes position pivotally from side to side as well as up and down differently from the other top portions of the hook slides62, they do not change position pivotally from front to back as the slide rack60aprevents this front to back pivoting. So, the slide rack60acan move forward and back, thereby causing the hooks2ato pivot from the open to closed position in unison even as the individual hooking mechanisms70pivot from side to side as well as move up and down differently from one another.

The final difference that will be described is a variation of position and shape of the color manifold. Considering an embodiment of the device which employs a rack and pinion gear arrangement to pivot the hooks, this gear driven embodiment eliminates the option of positioning the manifold hoses so that they extend from the manifold directly to the applicator nozzles through the area where the rack and pinion gears are positioned thereby eliminating the applicator hose. A mechanical arrangement that allows the manifold hoses to run straight to the back of the applicator nozzle renders a device head with less plumbing and therefore easier cleaning. In addition to a head with less plumbing, the manifold hoses can be shorter, and therefore, take up less space.

As seen inFIG. 17, the present lever action hook embodiment features a low manifold color container52fwith a single hose52g(see alsoFIG. 15A) that extends from the front, extending down to the low manifold52hlocated level with and in back of the applicator nozzles11a. Also, the low manifold hoses521iextend forward away from the manifold52ha short distance and connect to the applicator nozzles11a.

Hose connectors as well as any other pertinent part not described in this low manifold color container52harrangement may be adapted to here from previously described color container arrangements.

Any embodiment of the hooking applicator may substitute liquid color application onto entrained sections of hair for the application of hair color chalk, mascara or any other type of hair color or hair treatment that can be formed into a solid or semi solid stick. As depicted inFIG. 18, this embodiment of the hooking applicator71features a spring73loaded tube72athat is positioned open end72bdown between the front foot4aand rear foot4gof the hooking applicator71so that the open end72bof the tube72awill be centered within the hollow of the hook2ain the closed position. This tube72ais positioned in such a way that it may be fixed or detachable to the front foot4aand rear foot4g. If it is detachable, the spring73loaded tube72awill have a tab74bfixed to opposite sides of the tube's open end72b. The upper portion of the front foot4aand rear foot4gwill have a tab seat74aindented centered on the upper inside. Now, the tabs74bof the spring loaded tube72awill snap securely into and out of the tab seats74a. A stick of hair treatment75is positioned between the compressed spring73and the bottom of the tube72b. The stick of hair treatment75is held from springing out of the opened end of the tube72bby two flexible, thin, intersecting cross members76. These cross members76are attached to the open end of the tube72band intersect at or near the center of the opening of the tube72b. Alternatively, the cross members76may be substituted for one or more tiny flexible tabs attached to the edge of the tube open end72bin such a way that they face toward the center of the tube open end72band may or may not connect as they may radiate only partially toward the center.

The viscosity or hardness of the stick of hair treatment75must be such that it is soft enough to wear away easily from the stick75onto the section of hair that passes over the exposed tip77of said stick75yet the stick of hair treatment75must be of the viscosity or hard enough so that, as the stick of hair treatment75is being pushed against the cross members73by the spring, the stick75will not extrude through the cross members76while the device is not in use.

The hollow of the hook, features an indentation2bthat is the diameter and shape of the section of the rounded tip77of the stick of hair treatment75that is protruding from the open end72bof the tube72a. Now, as the hook2acloses over the tip77of the stick of hair treatment75, the tip of the stick77seats accurately into the indentation2bin the hollow if the hook. As the hook2aentrains a section of hair, the front foot4aand rear foot4gcenter the entrained section of hair over the indentation2blocated in the hollow of the hook2a. Once the hook2ahas closed over the tip77of the stick of hair treatment75with the entrained section of hair, the hair will move through the closed position and will be coated with the hair treatment. As the tip77of the stick of hair treatment75wears away with repeated runs of entrained sections of hair it will be continually fed to the tip72bof the tube72aagainst the tension of the spring73. The intersecting cross members76hold the tip77of the hair treatment stick75in place at the end of the tube72band allows the tip77of the stick hair treatment75to wear away evenly as the cross members76are able to move slightly during repeated runs preventing un-worn away ridges from forming on the tip77of the stick of hair treatment75directly under the cross members76.

The operator will feel the need to adapt the way she uses the device to better accommodate the various needs and requests of the patrons seeking hair color variegation services. The operator has the option to vary the distance between the rows of color treated hair. This allows the recipient to choose within a range of more or less color treated sections placed in the overall color service. In addition to this, the recipient may choose within a range of thick or fine individual color treated sections. If the operator places the head of the device close to a parting of hair, the device will entrain and therefore treat finer sections of hair. The farther away the operator places the head of the device from the parting of hair the thicker the entrained and treated section will be. While keeping the head of the device parallel to the parting, the operator may also slightly stagger the successive placements of treated rows from side to side. By adjusting the three technical variables described above, various aspects of the final appearance of the color service may be changed by using a single device head. However, far more variation in the final appearance is possible with a device that has multiple device heads to choose from. Detachable and interchangeable device head embodiments will now be described and illustrated.

A wide range of varied head types may be embodied by creating a range of hook/hooking applicator sizes and arranging them at various distances from one another onto heads of different widths. A larger hook/hooking applicator will entrain a wider/larger section of hair and, conversely, a smaller hook/hooking applicator will entrain a narrower/smaller section of hair. Also, a head with hooks that are spaced farther apart or closer together will render each entrained section along the row of entrained sections farther apart or closer together from one another. Obviously then, a wider head will render a wider row of entrained sections.

FIG. 19Adepicts a device head14awith three larger hooks2aarranged at a greater distance from one another comprising a head14aof perhaps medium width.FIG. 19Bdepicts a device head14awith five smaller hooks2aarranged at a closer distance to one another forming a head14aof perhaps medium width.FIG. 19Cis also perhaps a medium width device head14awith four larger hooks2aarranged closer to one another.FIG. 19Dis a device head14aof three larger hooks2apositioned close to one another comprising a head14aof narrower width.FIG. 19Edepicts six smaller hooks2apositioned close to one another along a wide head14a. There are many more head variations possible and may it suffice to state that all will occur as obvious in light of what has thus far been disclosed.

There are numerous mechanical arrangements that may be employed to create a head that quickly and easily detaches and reattaches to the body of the device. One preferred embodiment of the detachable head is depicted inFIGS. 20A and 20B. These figures describe a head14athat includes roller couplings14dthat pull away from the head mounts15as well as a manifold intake53bthat pulls away from the color container coupling51band a rack gear pin16bthat pulls away from rack slide seat7b. Re-attaching the head in this instance simply requires the operator to re-attach what has been detached.

Another detachable head embodiment is depicted inFIG. 21A-21C. These figures describe an embodiment of the device featuring a detachable arrangement where the head14aof the device as well as the head mounts15and actuator tines18detach. This arrangement allows the width of the head14ato vary from one detachable head to another. TheFIG. 20detachable head arrangement alone does not.

TheFIG. 21A-21Cembodiment utilizes small spring loaded release levers (78aand78h).FIG. 21Cis included in order to provide a magnified view of the type of release lever (78aand78h) used. The head release lever78aallows the front portion of the top hinge plate20bto detach. In this manner, the head14a, head mounts15, rack slide mount17and rack slide16adetach from the device with one press of the head release lever78atrigger78b. An actuator release lever78hallows the front portion of the bottom hinge plate20cand therefore the actuator tines18to detach. Actuator tines18that are detachable are necessary because a wider head mount15requires actuator tines18that are wider.

As mentioned above, a head release lever78ais positioned on the front of the top handle section20b. The trigger78bside of the lever78ais curved down following the contour of the distal front of the top handle section20band the latch side78cextends straight back and then ends at a short right angle bend forming the latch pin78d. In the resting position, the latch pin78drests in a small hole or latch pin eyelet78e. The eyelet78eopens on the inside to the hollow insert seat79of the detachable front of the top handle section20b. The insert seat79of the detachable front of the top handle section20bis open at the back and fits over the insert tab80aattached to the distal front of the top handle section20bas it is in the detached state. An indentation or pin seat80bis located on the top surface of the insert tab80a. The pin seat80blines up with the pin eyelet78ewhen the insert tab80ais the fully engaged position over the insert seat79. This allows the latch pin78dto seat through the eyelet78eand into the pin seat80bthereby locking the detachable front of the device onto the body of the device with the tension of the elbow type latch spring78fholding the latch pin78din the pin seat80b. In order to detach the front of the device from the body, the operator simply presses down on the trigger78bof the lever78acausing the trigger side78band latch side78cto pivot on the hinge78g. As the trigger side78bof the lever78apivots down, the latch pin78dpivots up and out of the pin seat80bagainst the tension of the latch spring78f. With the latch pin78dlifted out of the pin seat80b, the operator simply pulls forward on the detachable front of the device and it simply slides off (FIG. 21Bdepicts the detachable head in the detached position). As the latch pin78dis angled on the back, the operator simply slides the insert seat79over the insert tab80aand the latch pin78dlifts as it slides over the tab80aand then clicks down into place within the latch pin seat80burged by the tension of the latch spring78f.

Also depicted inFIGS. 21A and 21B, the actuator tines18detach from and reattach to the front of the bottom handle section20cutilizing the actuator release lever78h. See the description of the action of head release lever78aabove for the action of the actuator release lever78h.

Another preferred detachable head embodiment is depicted inFIG. 22A-22F. This embodiment utilizes a dial with a spiral thread to adjust the width of both the head mounts and the rack slide actuator. The dial adjustable head mounts will be described first followed by a description of the dial adjustable rack slide actuator. It is important to note while considering the following dial adjustable head mount mechanical arrangement that the rack slide16a, rack slide mount17and rack slide spring19are appropriately attached to one of the head mounts.

FIG. 22Ashows each of the two head mounts15consists of a slide plate81and a head mount15. Each slide plate81is mounted separately onto the front of the top handle section20b. Fixed to the top front of the top handle section20bare two slide rails82that run parallel to and are a short distance from one another. Each slide plate81has two slide rail fittings83formed into it. Each fitting83tightly surrounds each slide rail82on three sides but not so tight as to prevent each fitting83from sliding along each rail82. This slide arrangement confines the movement of each slide plate81as well as the head mount15fixed to it to a side to side slide.FIGS. 22A and 22Bshow a single dial84is positioned over both slide plates81as they are fitted onto both slide rails82. The dial84is mounted over the slide plates81by an axle85that is fixed to the top handle section20b. The dial84is positioned in such a way that the dial84presses down firmly onto the rail fittings83yet the dial84can turn. A knob86or more preferably a key slot86will be positioned at the center of the dial84so that the operator can easily turn the dial84. A key slot86is more preferable because the dial84is also the thumb rest for the operator; therefore, a key slot86will be less obstructive for this purpose. The device will also include a key that is similar in dimension to a coin so that the operator may also use a coin to turn the dial84.

Radiating from the axle85along the bottom of the dial84to the outside edge of the dial84are two threads87. These threads87are curved thin grooves that form a spiral across the bottom of the dial84. Fixed to and protruding from the top surface of the each slide plate81is a short small and perhaps cylinder thread insert88. As the name implies, the thread insert88seats into the thread87of the dial84. Now, as the operator turns the dial84, each thread insert88will move back and forth along each thread87in turn causing each slide plate81and head mount15to slide back and forth along each slide rail82.

There are numbered dial positions89aligned with the back of the dial84. The area where the numbers are located is raised to the same level as the slide rail fittings83. There may be any number of dial positions89indicated but preferably the number of positions will be the same as the number of head widths available to the device. Our preferred dial embodiment has three positions.

A setting indicator90mark is positioned on the back edge of the top surface of the dial84. Positioned on the bottom of the dial84directly under the setting indicator90is a small protrusion91. Positioned along the raised numbered area of the top handle section20bare indentations92. There is one indentation92positioned under the dial84directly in front of each dial position89. Also, each indentation92is in line with the dial protrusion91; so, as the operator turns the dial84, the protrusion91will snap into the indentations92. Each snap-in, numbered dial position89corresponds to a specific width of a particular detachable head.

FIGS. 22B, 22C and 22Dare all depictions of three dial84positions as well as each corresponding head mount15position.FIG. 22Edepicts the dial adjustable head mount embodiment including the head14a.

FIG. 22Fdepicts a bottom view of the device showing the actuator tines18awith the same dial84controlled adjustability feature as the head mounts15. Each of the two actuator tines18aconsists of a slide plate81and an actuator tine18a. Each slide plate81is mounted separately onto the bottom front of the bottom handle section20c. Fixed to the bottom front of the bottom handle section20care two rails82that run parallel to and are a short distance from one another. All other mechanical aspects of the dial controlled adjustability feature of the actuator tines are identical to the mechanical aspects of the dial controlled adjustability feature of the head mounts described previously.

FIG. 23Adepicts a preferred pen or marker type embodiment of the device that is more compact and less complicated to use than the previous embodiments. This embodiment may be the most likely, of all of the embodiments presented so far, to be directed to the consumer market as it features only a single hooking applicator1amaking it more possible for consumers to use the such a device on one another; or, on him or herself.

In general,FIG. 23Adepicts a single hooking applicator or head28of the device fixed to a body plate50aalong the side of the gear box6. Extending away from the rear of the body plate is a parting stem27. A squeeze plate44, approximately the same dimensions as the body plate50a, is positioned a distance from and face to face to the body plate50a.

Although the present embodiment features a single hooking applicator, this embodiment may also maintain nearly the same ease of use and mechanical configuration while featuring two or more hooking applicators as the head of the device. For instance, the present embodiment may feature a head comprised of two or three hooking applicators that are joined to one another level and side by side. This head may also have a body plate fixed to the side of one of the gear boxes, and so on, including all of the mechanical features described in the following. Furthermore, like the single hooking applicator head, this two or three hooking applicator head does not require a head conformation feature as does the four or more hooking applicator head described previously. This is because the span of the two or three hooking applicator head is narrow enough that a certain fixed orientation of said head will overcome the need for the head to bend or flex into the varied curvature of the scalp.

An illustrated description of the hooking applicator has been presented earlier in this disclosure; therefore, a description of the hooking applicator in the following will occur in a cursory manner in order to coordinate it with the detailed illustrated description of the mechanisms involved in hook engagement and liquid hair color discharge.

The present single hooking applicator head embodiment features a similar sequential hair entraining and color dispensing trigger function to the previously described multiple hooking applicator head embodiment. The mechanism responsible for this will be described below.

As seen inFIG. 23B, a single trigger29ais hinged30to the front of the body plate50ato both body plate wings50b. As the trigger29amoves from the open resting position, it does so against the resistance of the trigger spring32. The wound pivotal section of the spring32is positioned with the trigger hinge pin31running through it. The trigger spring32is leveraged on one end to the trigger29and on the other end to the top body plate wing50bby the trigger spring eyelet33.

As seen inFIG. 23C, the trigger29apivots on the trigger hinge30toward the squeeze plate44causing the hook2ato pivot from the open toward the closed position facilitated by a series of coordinated lever and slide hinge mechanisms that originate at the trigger29a. The following is a detailed description of this mechanical operation.

While viewingFIGS. 23B and 23Cin sequence (also, seeFIGS. 24A and 24Bin sequence), the trigger29apivots from the resting position toward the squeeze plate44causing the trigger slide35to pivot on the trigger slide hinge36awhile being pushed forward on the trigger slide hinge36aby the trigger slide push rod36b. This slide forward of the hinged back of the trigger slide35occurs as the push rod36bis hinged to both the trigger slide35as well as the trigger slide hinge36aon one side while being hinged to the back of the body plate50aby the squeeze plate stabilizer hinge46on the other side; therefore, it is the coordinated hinged slide lever action of the push rod36band the trigger29athat pushes the trigger slide35at an angle forward through the trigger slide guide37.

As the trigger slide35moves forward, sandwiched between the trigger slide guide37and the top wing50bof the body plate50a, the front of the trigger slide35is confined to a specific angled forward path as the trigger slide channel39moves with the fixed trigger slide guide pin38positioned within. As the distal front of the trigger slide moves forward, it encounters the contact angle40b(indicated by the single short bold line) of the slide wedge40a. The movement of the front of the trigger slide35over the slide wedge contact angle40bcauses the slide wedge40ato slide downward against the tension of the slide wedge spring40d, guided as it is sandwiched between the body plate50aand the slide wedge bracket41. This downward motion of the slide wedge40acauses the wedge section40cto wedge between the front of the body plate50aand the rack gear slide42a. As the rack gear slide42ais fixed to the rack gear7a, the rack gear7aslides to the side. This motion of the rack gear7acauses the pinion gear8to turn thereby bringing the hook2ato the closed position over the applicator nozzle11a. Squeezing the trigger29ato the point where the hook2abecomes closed over the applicator nozzle11acauses the trigger squeeze plate contact point29bto come into contact with the squeeze plate44. Continuing to squeeze the trigger29amaintains the hook2ain the closed position as the trigger slide35simply continues to move forward over the fully engaged slide wedge contact angle40b, while the trigger squeeze plate contact point29bcontinues to push the squeeze plate44toward the body plate50a.

As seen inFIG. 23B, the movement of the squeeze plate44is confined to a face to face approach toward the body plate50aby two (2) slide mechanisms: a squeeze plate slide hinge48apositioned at the front of the body plate50aand a squeeze plate slide stabilizer45positioned at the back of the body plate50a. The squeeze plate slide hinge48aguides this end of the squeeze plate44to slide back and forth face to face toward the body plate50aalong the squeeze plate slide hinge channels49a. The squeeze plate slide stabilizer45also guides the movement of the squeeze plate44to a back and forth face to face slide at the back of the squeeze plate44; however, this rectangular shaped rod45, as it is hinged to the body plate50aon one side and hinged slidable to the squeeze plate44on the other side within the squeeze plate stabilizer slide brackets47, allows the squeeze plate44to approach the body plate50aalong the same axis (x) as the trigger29apivots with little wobbling edge to edge along the y axis.

As seen inFIGS. 24A-24D, the approach of the squeeze plate44toward the body plate50aoccurs against the tension of the dual elbow squeeze plate spring48blocated along the bottom front of the device (In order to provide further clarity, the dual elbow spring48b, although it is positioned along the bottom of the device, is shown in bold black inFIG. 24A). As the squeeze plate44approaches the body plate50ait does so preferably at an angle back relative to the body plate50aso that the back of the squeeze plate44comes into contact with the back of the body plate50afirst (as seen inFIG. 24C) followed by an angled forward approach of the front of the squeeze plate44toward the front of the body plate50auntil the full length of the squeeze plate44is in full face to face contact with the body plate50a(as seen inFIG. 24D). This approach of the squeeze plate44toward the body plate50ais preferred in order that, when a full color container51j, such as the preferred type depicted inFIG. 24A, is loaded functionally into the device, the color container51jis gradually, through successive runs of the device through a head of hair, emptied from back to front. In practice, each of said individual runs will begin as the squeeze plate44and body plate50aappear in the position depicted inFIG. 24Aand will gradually follow, through successive individual runs, the entireFIG. 24mechanical sequence until the squeeze plate44and body plate50ameet face to face as depicted inFIG. 24Dhaving emptied the color container51j.

This back to front emptying process of the color container51) is assured as the dual elbow spring48bis located at, and therefore, creates tension between the front of the squeeze plate44and the front of the body plate50a, thereby, tensioning the front of each of the two plates away from one another to the open most position. This tension is maintained as one elbow of the dual elbow spring is attached on one side to the body plate50aand on the other side to the squeeze plate slide hinge pin49b. The attachment between the spring and the front of the squeeze plate is maintained as the bottom squeeze plate slide hinge pin49bextends through the center of one of the two spring48bcoils. This spring48bcoil attachment is also the pivot point of a second preferred squeeze plate44tension. This front pivotal tension urges the back of the squeeze plate44to the open most position away from the back of the body plate50awhen the trigger29ais released. Since both of the outward tensions described above are located at the front of the two plates, inward pressure applied to the middle of the squeeze plate44by the contact point29bof the trigger29awill, through successive runs of the device through a head of hair, cause the back of the squeeze plate44to move toward and contact the back of the body plate50afirst, followed by the approach of the front of the squeeze plate44toward the front of the body plate50a.

As seen inFIGS. 23B and 24A, the point in each individual run where the trigger29ais released causes the trigger29ato pivot out to the open position with the tension of the trigger spring32. Said mechanical action causes the squeeze plate44to move away from the body plate50a, thereby, returning the squeeze plate to the open resting position against the tension of the dual elbow squeeze plate spring48b. Concurrently, the trigger slide35returns to the resting position and, in doing so, slides off of the slide wedge contact angle40b. This release of the slide wedge contact angle40bcauses the slide wedge40ato slide upward with the tension of the slide wedge spring40d, which, in turn, raises the wedge section40cof the slide wedge40aout from between the rack slide42aand the side of the gear box6. The rack slide42ais then released to slide inward, guided by the rack slide seat43in which it is slidably seated, toward the side of the gear box6with the tension of the rack slide spring42b. Finally, as one side of the rack gear7is attached to the rack gear slide42, the inward motion of the rack gear slide42acauses the rack gear7to move back to the resting position along with the pinion gear8and therefore the hook2a.

The color container valve, neck and coupling are the same as the color containers described in the multi-hooking applicator embodiment described earlier in this disclosure only embodied in the singular.