Abstract:
Embodiments of a device for treating the hair includes: a receptacle containing a substance to be applied to at least one of the hair and the scalp; a lifter member for lifting the hair and comprising a comb secured to the receptacle and movable relative thereto; and at least one dispenser endpiece for dispensing the substance on at least one of the hair and the scalp after the hair has been lifted by the lifter member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This non provisional application claims the benefit of French Application No. 03 05557 filed on May 7, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/472,463 filed on May 22, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 

   FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to devices and methods for treating the hair, and more particularly hair roots. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Devices for applying substance to the hair are known from French patent documents FR-A-2,828,999 and FR-A-2,805,442. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide devices and methods that give volume to the hair, for example, by applying substance to hair roots that hardens as the substance dries so as to cause the hair roots to be more upstanding on the scalp. 
   In various exemplary embodiments, the invention provides a novel device that enables such a substance to be applied. 
   In various exemplary embodiments, the invention provides a device comprising: a receptacle containing a substance for application to at least one of the hair and the scalp; a lifter member for lifting the hair, the lifter member being secured to the receptacle and movable relative thereto; and at least one dispenser endpiece for dispensing the substance on at least one of the hair and the scalp, after the hair has been lifted by the lifter member. 
   Various exemplary embodiments of the invention allow a user to easily apply a substance to the hair for the purpose of stiffening the root ends thereof while the hairs are upstanding on the scalp, thereby obtaining a desired volume effect. 
   Since the lifter member that lifts the hair is secured to the receptacle, in such embodiments the device is advantageously made in such a manner as to enable the user to actuate the lifter member using a same hand as is being used to hold the receptacle. Thus, the other hand of the user remains available, for example, for helping to obtain a desired hairstyle. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the receptacle preferably includes a substance dispenser valve which is actuated by moving the lifter member. This makes the device simpler to use. 
   Further, in exemplary embodiments, the device preferably includes a dispenser endpiece distinct from the lifter member. This makes it possible, for example, to spray substance in a direction substantially perpendicular to a portion of the hair that extends between the scalp and the lifter member. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the lifter member advantageously comprises a comb, for example, having at least one row of teeth, or indeed a single row of teeth. The teeth may have bases that are in alignment. For example, the comb may comprise two to forty teeth. Further, the comb may comprise five to twenty teeth. Free ends of the teeth may point in a direction that is substantially away from the receptacle, particularly while the lifter member is being actuated. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the hair lifter member may advantageously include an actuator portion defining a location on which the user can press in order to cause the lifter member to move relative to the receptacle. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the lifter member may be connected via at least one tab to a base portion fastened on the receptacle. The tab may include at least one film-hinge. For example, the lifter member may include two such tabs, each provided with a film-hinge and spaced apart from each other sufficiently to enable the dispenser endpiece to engage therebetween while dispensing the substance, after the lifter member has been moved to lift the hair. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the device may also include a portion for bearing against the scalp, which portion may be stationary relative to the receptacle. The bearing portion may rest on the scalp while the lifter member is being moved to lift the hair. The bearing portion may comprise, for example, two rods which may be parallel and situated at equal distances from the dispenser endpiece. For example, the rods may be of a length that is selected so that free ends thereof are at substantially a same level as the bases of the teeth of the comb, prior to the lifter member being actuated, and when the device is observed in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the receptacle. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the dispenser endpiece may include an abutment against which the lifter member can bear at an end of displacement thereof. The abutment can come into contact, for example, with the actuator portion of the lifter member. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the dispenser endpiece may be connected to the base portion via at least one film-hinge, and the abutment may be situated on a side of the dispenser valve that is opposite from the film-hinge. 
   The dispenser endpiece may be provided with a nozzle arranged to generate a spray. 
   The substance contained in the receptacle may contain polymers and may have a drying time that is relatively short, for example, less than 30 seconds. 
   Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a device for treating the hair, the device comprising: a receptacle containing a substance for application to at least one of the hair and the scalp; a lifter member for lifting the hair, the lifter member comprising a comb secured to the receptacle and movable relative thereto; and at least one dispenser endpiece for dispensing the substance on at least one of the hair and the scalp, after the hair has been lifted by the lifter member. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the comb may comprise at least one row of teeth, for example, a row of two to forty teeth. Free ends of the teeth may point in a direction going substantially away from the receptacle, for example, while the lifter member is being actuated. 
   Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a hair treatment device comprising: a receptacle containing a substance for application to at least one of the hair and the scalp, and including a substance dispenser valve; a lifter member for lifting the hair, the lifter member being secured to the receptacle and movable relative thereto, movement of the lifter member enabling the substance dispenser valve to be actuated; and at least one dispenser endpiece for dispensing the substance onto at least one of the hair and the scalp, after the hair has been lifted by the lifter member. 
   Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a hair treatment device comprising: a receptacle containing a substance for application to at least one of the hair and the scalp; a hair-lifter member secured to the receptacle and movable relative thereto; and at least one dispenser endpiece for dispensing the substance on at least one of the hair and the scalp, after the hair has been lifted by the hair-lifter member; the hair-lifter member being connected via at least one film-hinge to a base portion that is fastened to the receptacle. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the hair-lifter member may be connected to the base portion via at least one tab, for example, two tabs, each provided with a respective film-hinge, the tabs being spaced apart from each other sufficiently to allow the dispenser endpiece to engage therebetween while dispensing the substance, after the hair-lifter member has been displaced to lift the hair. 
   Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method of applying a substance to the hair, the method comprising: providing a device as defined above; lifting the hair with the hair-lifter member; and dispensing a substance onto the roots of the hair when lifted. 
   After the substance has been dispensed, the hair can be held in a desired lifted position for a length of time that is sufficient to allow the substance to dry. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention can be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic elevation view showing a device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the exemplary device as seen looking along arrow II of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic and fragmentary axial section view of the exemplary device taken along line III-III of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIGS. 4 to 6  illustrate the exemplary device of  FIGS. 1 to 3  in use for giving volume to the hair. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  show a device  1  comprising a receptacle  2  containing a substance pressurized by a propellant gas, for example, a substance rich in polymers and suitable for drying quickly, together with a dispenser head  3  fastened on the receptacle  2  via a base portion  4 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the base portion  4  may comprise an assembly skirt  5  snap-fastened in an annular groove  6  near a top of the receptacle  2 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the receptacle  2  includes a cup  7  that supports a dispenser valve  8 , the cup  7  being crimped to the body of the receptacle  2 . 
   In a conventional manner, the dispenser valve  10  may comprise a hollow control rod  11 , a body  12  held by the cup  7  and into which the rod  11  can be depressed, and a spring  13  for returning the rod  11  into a position in which the rod  11  bears via a sealing lip  14  against an annular gasket  15 . In this position, the lip  14  closes off communication between an inside of the body  12  and a lateral orifice  16  of the rod  11 , through which orifice  16  the substance can flow from the receptacle  2  when the rod  11  is depressed. 
   In embodiments of the invention, the dispenser head  3  also comprises a hair-lifter member  20  and a dispenser endpiece  30 . 
   The hair-lifter member  20  may comprise a comb  21  and an actuator portion  22  against which a user can press to move the comb  21 , thereby lifting the comb  21 . 
   In the exemplary embodiment shown, the comb  21  and the actuator portion  22  are made integrally by molding a plastics material, together with two tabs  23  that connect to the base portion  4 , each having a thin portion  24  defining a film-hinge, thereby enabling the comb  21  and the actuator portion  22  to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the plane of  FIG. 3  and to a longitudinal axis X of the receptacle  2  when the user presses on the actuator portion  22 . The base portion  4  may be made integrally, i.e., monolithically, with the tabs  23 . It should be understood that the thin portion  24  may be replaced by any other suitable hinge means, either known or hereafter developed. 
   In the exemplary embodiment shown, the comb  21  comprises a row of teeth  25  having bases  26  that are in alignment, and free ends  27  of the teeth  25  that are directed generally away from the receptacle  2 . 
   The dispenser endpiece  30  and the comb  21  are offset along the axis X. Further, the endpiece  30  comprises a body  31  of generally frustoconical shape, in the exemplary embodiment shown, provided with an internal channel  32  whose bottom end opens into a housing  33  that receives an end of the control rod  11 . The house  33  is extended downward by a cone  35  that facilitates insertion of the rod  11 . 
   The body  31  of the dispenser endpiece  30  receives a nozzle  36  at a top end thereof and is connected to the base portion  4  by a tab  37  made integrally, i.e., monolithically, with the body  31 , the tab  37  including a thin zone  38  defining a film-hinge. Thus, the body  31  and the dispenser endpiece  30  can pivot about an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis about which the lifter member  20  can tilt. The tabs  37  can be made integrally, i.e., monolithically, with the base portion  4 . As sown in  FIG. 3 , the thin zones  24  and  38  are situated on a same side of the device  1  relative to the axis of the control rod  11 , which coincides with the axis X. 
   On a side remote from the tab  37 , the dispenser endpiece  30  is made to have an abutment  39  against which the actuator portion  22  can come to bear when the user presses thereon, for example, with an index finger I, as shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 . 
   In the exemplary embodiment shown, the device  1  further comprises two rods  40  that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the receptacle  2  and are connected to the base portion  4  in a vicinity of the assembly skirt  5 . 
   Free ends  41  of the rods  40  are rounded in shape and are situated substantially at a same level as the bases  26  of the teeth prior to the hair-lifter member  20  being actuated, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The device  1  may be used as follows. 
   A user takes hold of the receptacle  2  in one hand, placing the index finger I on the actuator portion  22 , and slides the comb  21  tangentially to the scalp S so as to select a portion of the hair that is to be made to stand up, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The user can take advantage of the rods  40  which bear against the scalp S. 
   Once the device  1  is in place, the user can press on the actuator portion  22  until the actuator portion  22  comes into abutment with the abutment  39  on the dispenser endpiece  30 . 
   The pressure exerted by the index finger I lifts the comb  21  so that the comb  21  takes up an angle relative to an initial orientation of the comb  21 . The hair-lifter member  20  is made somewhat easier to move by the presence of the rods  40 . 
   The hair taken between the teeth  25  of the comb  21  follows the movement so the roots R of the hair extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scalp S, thereby exposing the hairs for subsequent operations, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   By pressing a little harder on the actuator portion  22 , the abutment  39  of the dispenser endpiece  30  is caused to move, thereby entraining the control rod  11  and opening the dispenser valve  10 , thus causing the spray to be released. The spray is deposited directly on the roots of the hair, between the scalp S and the portion of the hair that is engaged in the comb  21 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   Once the desired quantity of substance has been deposited, the user can relax the pressure applied to the actuator portion  22  a little so as to cause dispensing of the substance to stop. 
   The user can hold the hair-lifter member  20  in this intermediate position for a length of time needed to allow the substance to dry, thus enabling the roots R to be fixed in a desired position so as to give the hair a desired volume. When the user releases the actuator portion  20 , the actuator portion can return to the initial position shown in  FIG. 2 , for example, because the thin zones  24  possess a certain amount of shape memory. 
   Naturally, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described above. 
   Exemplary embodiments of the invention contemplate that the shape of the hair-lifter member can be modified. For example, it is possible to use hair-holding elements of some other form. It is also possible to modify the shape of the dispenser endpiece and the shape of the actuator portion, amongst other possible modifications. Where appropriate, the hinge of the hair-lifter member and/or the means for possible return thereof to the initial position can be provided other than by a film-hinge. 
   Throughout the description, including in the claims, the term “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one,” unless specified to the contrary. 
   Although the present invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.