Abstract:
A portable hair styling and beauty station for providing hair care and beauty services is provided. The hair styling and beauty station comprises a base wall, a first side wall secured to the base wall, a second side wall secured to the base wall, and a top wall secured to the first side wall and the second side wall. A mirror is also provided. A mirror receiving mechanism holds the mirror on the top wall. A mirror storing mechanism stores the mirror between the base wall and the top wall.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates generally to a hair styling and beauty station and loading assembly and, more particularly, the invention relates to a hair styling and beauty station which can be easily loaded and unloaded onto the loading assembly for transporting and storing the hair styling and beauty station.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Portable hair styling stations are known in the art. For instance, the Lamia, U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,632, describes a mobile salon work station. The work station of the Lamia patent includes a frame assembly and work areas equally spaced thereabout having mirrored surfaces, storage compartments, swing out shelves, overhead retractable electrical reels, and an overhead accessory holder. Unfortunately, many problems exist which does not allow the Lamia patent&#39;s work station to be easily transported and stored.  
         [0005]     For instance, the work station of the Lamia patent is quite complicated and can not be easily transported from one location to the next without a high risk of damaging all or part of the work station. It does not appear that the work station is easily collapsible without substantially dismantling the work station. In addition, the mirrors are left unprotected during transportation and storage thereby greatly increasing the risk of breakage. Furthermore, the small wheels on the work station do not allow the work station to move easily over thresholds and rough terrain.  
         [0006]     Currently, work stations, if transportation is desired or necessary, are loaded in and out of a vehicle by manually tipping the work station against the bed of the vehicle then using physical effort to balance, lift, and the slide the work station into the vehicle&#39;s cargo area. This procedure is physically difficult, burdensome, and could potentially cause injury to the person loading the work station.  
         [0007]     To this end, loading assemblies which maintain an object being loaded and maintained in a horizontal position are known in the art. For instance, the Carpenter. U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,695, describes a hydraulic wheelchair lift for a van-type vehicle. The-wheelchair lift of the Carpenter patent has a pivotable frame which can be swung from within to without the vehicle, a slide frame telescopically movable relative to the swing frame, and a wheelchair supporting platform carried at the lower end of the slide frame. The Carpenter patent, however,-fails to describe a loading assembly which maintains an object in a horizontal position when loaded and moves to a vertical position when unloaded.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, there exists a need for a fair styling and beauty station which can be easily transported from one location to the next without a high risk of damaging all or part of the hair styling and beauty station. Additionally, a need exists for a loading. assembly which maintains an object in a substantially horizontal position when loaded and moves to a vertical position when unloaded. Furthermore, there exists a need for a combined hair styling and beauty station and loading assembly which operates together to transport and store the hair styling and beauty station.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     The present invention is a portable hair styling and beauty station for providing hair care and beauty services. The hair styling and beauty station comprises a base wall, a first side wall secured to the base wall, a second side wall secured to the base wall, and a top wall secured to the first side wall and the second side wall. A mirror is also provided. A mirror receiving mechanism holds the mirror on the top wall. A mirror storing mechanism stores the mirror between the base wall and the top wall.  
         [0010]     In addition, the present invention includes a work station receivable within a vehicle. The work station comprises a base platform and at least two side supporting walls secured to the base platform. A top platform is secured to the supporting walls with the base platform, the supporting walls, and the top platform creating an opening wheels are mounted to the base platform. A mirror is removably positionable in and extending from the top platform. A mirror retention means is formed in the opening for retaining the mirror within the opening when the work station is in the horizontal and vertical position.  
         [0011]     The present invention further includes, in combination, a portable hair styling and beauty station and a loading assembly securable to a vehicle with the hair styling and beauty station securable to the loading assembly wherein the loading assembly loads the hair styling and beauty station from an unloaded vertical position to a loaded substantially horizontal position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front side view illustrating-a hair styling and beauty station, constructed in accordance with the present invention;.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating the hair styling and beauty station of  FIG. 1 , constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the hair styling and beauty station of  FIG. 1 , constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a loading assembly, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the hair styling and beauty station in a loaded position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the loading assembly of  FIG. 4 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the hair styling and beauty station in a loaded position and a tilt track extended;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating the loading assembly of  FIG. 4 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the hair styling and beauty station on the tilt track;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the loading assembly of  FIG. 4  constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the hair styling and beauty station in an unloaded position;  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating an assembly base of the loading assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is an elevational side view illustrating the assembly base of the loading assembly of  FIG. 8 , constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a left perspective view of a support arm of the assembly base of the loading assembly, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a right perspective view of the support arm of the assembly base of the loading assembly of  FIG. 10 , constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a tilt rack of the loading assembly, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the tilt rack of the loading assembly of  FIG. 12 , constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the present invention is a hair styling and beauty station, indicated generally at  10 . The hair styling and beauty station  10  provides a portable work station for performing hair styling and beauty to clients at any desired location.  
         [0026]     The hair and beauty station  10  of the present invention includes a base plate  12 , a first side wall  14  secured to the base plate  12 , a second side wall  16  secured to the base plate  12 , and a top plate  18 . Wheels  20  mounted to the base plate  12  allow the hair styling and beauty station  10  to move with ease to any desired location. Attaching the wheels  20 , especially pneumatic wheels, to the hair styling and beauty station  10  provide easy movement over thresholds and different rough surfaces including snow, gravel, rough pavement, carpet, etc.  
         [0027]     The hair styling and beauty station  10  further includes a mirror  22  releasably mountable to the top plate  18 . The-mirror  22  is receivable within a slot (not shown) on the top plate  18  of the hair styling and beauty station  10 . The mirror  22  can be removed from the top plate  18  and inserted into a pocket  24  formed on either the first side wall  14  or the second side wall  16 . Furthermore, the mirror  22  has reflective surfaces on both sides allowing two stylists to work on opposite sides of the hair styling and beauty station  10  at the same time.  
         [0028]     The hair styling and beauty station  10  of the present invention further includes bumpers  26  mounted on the first and second side walls  14 ,  16 , and the top plate  18 . The bumpers  26  reduce the risk of damaging the hair styling and beauty station  10  and other property. Positioning of the bumpers  26  along the sides and/or edges of the hair styling and beauty station  10  is also within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0029]     The hair styling and beauty station  10  provides power used in the hairstyling and ; beauty industry. To this end, the hair styling and beauty station  10  can be connected to a power source. GFI outlets  28  on the hair styling and beauty station  10  provide electrical plugs for hair styling and beauty equipment (not shown) while reducing risks to the stylist and clients.  
         [0030]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4-13 , the present invention further includes a loading assembly  30  for transporting the hair styling and beauty station  10 . The loading assembly allows the hair styling and beauty station  10  to be loaded into and unloaded from a vehicle (not shown). It should be noted that the loading assembly  30  has and will be described herein as loading and unloading the hair styling and beauty station  10 . It is within the scope of the present invention to use the loading assembly  30  to load and unload any type of equipment or station which moves from a loaded substantially horizontal position to an unloaded vertical position.  
         [0031]     The loading assembly  30  of the present invention includes an assembly base  3  mountable to the vehicle, a tilt rack  34  pivotally mounted to the assembly base  32 , and a podium rack  36  slidable along the assembly base  32  and the tilt rack  34 . The loading assembly  30  incorporates a latch to retain the slides in the closed position to secure the hair styling and beauty station  10  during transport. The hair styling and beauty station I  0  is secured to the loading assembly  30  by straps, a latching buckle or other connecting mechanism (not shown), and multiple supporting framework integrated into the loading assembly  30 .  
         [0032]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the assembly base  32  of the loading assembly  30  of the present invention includes a frame  38  mounted to the vehicle. The frame  38  includes a first rail  40  and a second rail  42  substantially opposite and parallel to the first rail  40 . Preferably, the first rail  40  and the second rail  42  are angled downward allowing the podium rack  36  to roll down the rails  40 ,  42 , as will be described in further detail below.  
         [0033]     A winch  44  is mounted to the frame  38  for raising hair styling and beauty station  10  into the vehicle, as will be described in more detail below. The winch  44  also controls the lowering of the hair styling and beauty station  10 . A cable (not shown) extends from the winch  44  over a roller  46  to a loop  62  (see  FIGS. 12 and 13 ) on the podium rack  36  for raising and lowering the hair styling and beauty station  10 , as described in more detail below.  
         [0034]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the assembly base  32  further includes a pair of support arms  48  each having a first end  50  and a second end  52 . The first ends . 50  of the support arms  48  are hingedly connected to the frame  38 . The second ends  52  of the support arms  48  are hingedly connected to the tilt rack  34 .  
         [0035]     Referring back to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the tilt rack  34  of the loading assembly  30  of the present invention includes a first rail  54  and a second rail  56  substantially opposite and parallel to the first rail  54 . When unloading the hair styling and beauty station  10  from the vehicle, the tilt rack  34  rotates about the pivot points of the support arms  48  aligning the first rail  54  of the tilt rack  34  with the first rail  40  of the frame  38  of the assembly base  30  and aligning the second rail  56  of the tilt rack  34  with the second rail  42  of the frame  38  of the assembly base  30 .  
         [0036]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the podium rack  36  of the loading assembly  30  of the present invention includes a support frame  58  for supporting the hair styling and beauty station  10  during loading and unloading. Wheels  60  on the Support frame  58  allow the podium rack  36  to follow and move along the first rails  40 ,  54  of the assembly base  32  and the tilt rack  34 , respectively, and the second rails  42 .  56  of the assembly base  32  and the tilt rack  34 , respectively.  
         [0037]     Operation of the loading assembly  30  of the present invention in loading and unloading the hair styling and beauty station  10  will now be described. It will be understood by those persons skilled in the art-that the loading and unloading can be accomplished in a variety of manners and the description herein below is only one such manner.  
         [0038]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , prior to unloading the hair styling and beauty station  10 , the hair styling and beauty station  10  is in a substantially horizontal position releasably secured to the podium rack  36  of the loading assembly  30 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the tilt rack  34  of the loading assembly  30  rotates, either manually or automatically, in a generally downward direction to align the first rails  40 ,  54  and the second rails  42 ,  56 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the podium rack  36  travels down the first rails  40 ,  54  and the second rails  52 ,  56 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the tilt rack  34  and the podium rack  36  rotate to position the hair styling and beauty station  10  in a substantially vertical position. While gravity causes the podium rack to move along the first rails  40 ,  54  and the second rails  52 ,  56 , the winch  44  controls the rate of descent of the podium rack  36 . The straps securing the hair styling and beauty station  10  to the loading assembly  30  are then removed or otherwise loosened and the hair styling and beauty station  10  is rolled off of the podium rack  36  to a desired location.  
         [0039]     To load the hair styling and beauty station  10  onto the loading assembly  30 , the hair styling and beauty station  10  is rolled onto the podium rack  36 . The straps are then tightened about the hair styling and beauty station  10  to releasably secure the hair styling and beauty station  20  to the podium rack  36 . The winch  44  is then activated to urge the podium rack  36  vertically toward the base assembly  32  by rotating the tilt rack  34  and aligning the first rails  40 ,  54  and the second rails  42 ,  56  of the assembly base  32  and the tilt rack  34 , respectively. The podium rack  36  travels along the first rails  40 .  54  and the second rails  52 ,  56  until the podium rack  36  rests in a substantially horizontal position on the base assembly  32 . The tilt rack  34  is then rotated back against the podium rack  36 . The hair styling and beauty station  10  is now in a substantially horizontal position.  
         [0040]     The loading assembly  30  of the present invention provides an easy method of loading the hair styling and beauty station  10  into and unloading the hair styling and beauty station  10  from a vehicle inhibiting risk to the user. The loading assembly  30  loads the hair styling and beauty station  10  from a vertical position to a substantially horizontal position and securing it in the vehicle.  
         [0041]     The loading assembly  30  reduces the risk of harm to the user&#39;s vehicle in case of an accident or due to lifting of the hair styling and beauty station  10 . The loading assembly also reduces the risk to property and to the hair styling and beauty station  10  itself. The loading assembly  30  is easy to use for all users and can be operated by a single user without lifting or straining. The loading assembly  30  is bolted or otherwise firmly secured to the vehicle.  
         [0042]     Other aspects of the loading assembly are as follows: 
        1) The loading assembly  30  is constructed to accommodate a vehicle bed height of between approximately twenty-four (24) inches and approximately thirty-one (31) inches, although constructing the loading assembly  30  to accommodate other vehicle bed heights is within the scope of the present invention;     2) The loading assembly  30  is secured to the vehicle bed with bolts or other attachment mechanisms;     3) The tilting mechanism of the loading assembly  30  reduces the loading effort such that the hair styling and beauty station  10  passes a loading test where the operation is completed using the effort of two fingers;     4) Mechanical stops on the loading assembly  30  inhibits the hair styling and beauty station  10  from tipping unless the slides or rails are fully extended;     5) A mechanical cam on the loading assembly  30  inhibits the slides from retracting unless the hair styling and beauty station  10  is tilted in the full back position; and     6) The hair styling and beauty station  10  is attached to the loading assembly  10  by rolling the hair styling and beauty station  10  directly against the framework of the loading assembly  30 , then securing the hair styling and beauty station  10  using a cinch-type strap and buckle with pull release similar to a seatbelt.        
 
         [0049]     The hair styling and beauty station  10  and loading assembly of the present invention decreases the effort and burden of manually loading the hair styling and beauty station  10  while removing the necessity to balance and support the hair styling and beauty station  10  when sliding the hair styling and beauty station  10  into a vehicle.  
         [0050]     The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.