Abstract:
A portable shampooing sink having: a semi-rigid annular ring having a front and a rear as defined by location about the neck of a user; a neck closure inside of the semi-rigid annular ring; a skirt intermediate the semi- rigid annular ring and the neck closure; and a drain located at the rear. According to certain preferred embodiments, the semi-rigid annular ring is a split ring defining an opening, the skirt includes a slit that provides access between the opening in the split ring and the neck closure and the neck closure is a tube having a smooth exterior surface and a padded interior for comfort.

Description:
This application claims benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/555,651 filed Mar. 24, 2004 of common inventorship herewith. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to hairdressing apparatus and more particularly to a portable shampoo sink that simplifies handling of excess water present during the shampooing of the hair. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the conventional washing or shampooing of the hair of one person by another, for example in a beauty salon, barber shop or the like, the conventional method is for the client or party having their hair washed to tilt back in a chair and place the head over the lip of a sink that generally contains a depression for receipt of the neck. While such an operation is generally acceptable, there exist numerous situations where such positioning of the client is not possible or convenient. Some examples of such cases are physically handicapped or aged persons who cannot perform the required head and neck manipulation, but rather must sit virtually upright during the shampooing operation, shampooing performed in the home where a chair of appropriate height or design and/or a sink of appropriate height or design may not be available. In all of these situations it is not unusual for the person whose hair is being washed to become soaked with water that pours off of the head during shampooing or other hair dressing operations such as perming that involve wetting the clients hair. 
   A number of solutions to the problem just described have been proposed in the prior art, but none of these provides an acceptable solution to the problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,458 issued Jul. 9, 2002 to McFadden describes a portable shampooing that includes a basin defining a central opening and a sleeve of elastic, liquid impermeable material. The sleeve defines a first periphery joined to the basin around the opening for admitting passage of a human head. The sleeve also defines a second periphery smaller than the first for fitting around a human neck, preferably at or just below the chin. Optionally, the basin includes a funnel portion and drainage tube. While the device of McFadden is aimed at solving the described problem, it has several shortcomings. Firstly, in the case of a client receiving a perm, it would be virtually impossible of extremely difficult to pass the device over the head of the client whilst “perm rods” or other hair curling apparatus. The device of McFadden has the drain extending from the font of the device, a configuration that would make it most difficult to properly orient a client with respect to a sink or other drain apparatus, especially if the client were in, for example, a wheel chair. Finally, the device of McFadden incorporates a so-called shield that extends upwardly behind the client&#39;s head to capture overspray. According to McFadden, the shield preferably extends 10 inches above the bottom wall of the device. The presence of such a shield would virtually prohibit the hairdresser to have adequate access to the rear of the head to properly shampoo or otherwise treat the hair of a user. 
   Other similar such devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,745 to Magee, U.S. Pat. No. 1,429,950 to Jones et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,054 to Pasquarello. While all of these devices attempt to solve the same asic problem addressed herein, each of them suffers from one or more of the following problems: they are bulky, they require tilting of the head backward, they require elasticized insertion of the head etc. 
   Thus, there remains a need for a portable shampooing basin or sink that allows for the comfortable washing or treatment of the hair of persons exhibiting limited movement capabilities or confined to some situation where appropriate access to a sink or other drainage device is readily available, for example, due to confinement to a wheel chair. 
   OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable shampooing sink that is comfortable and can be readily applied to the body of a client in a condition where the use of conventional shampooing sinks is not a viable option without significantly wetting the client. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the present invention there is provided a portable shampooing sink comprising: a semi-rigid annular ring having a front and a rear as defined by location about the neck of a user; a neck closure inside of the semi-rigid annular ring; a skirt intermediate the semi-rigid annular ring and the neck closure; and a drain located at the rear. According to certain preferred embodiments, the semi-rigid annular ring is a split ring defining an opening, the skirt includes a slit that provides access between the opening in the split ring and the neck closure and the neck closure is a tube having a smooth exterior surface and a padded interior for comfort. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of one embodiment of the portable shampoo sink of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the portable shampoo sink of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a partially cross-sectional side view showing the portable shampoo sink of  FIG. 2  about the neck of a user. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the accompanying Figures wherein  FIGS. 1 and 2  depict top plan views of alternative preferred embodiments of the portable shampoo sink of the present invention and  FIG. 3  depicts a partially cross-sectional view of the shampoo sink of  FIG. 2 , the following discussion will describe the common features of both embodiments followed by a review of the differences between the two embodiments. 
   Referring now specifically to  FIG. 1  that depicts a top plane view of a first embodiment of the portable shampoo sink  10  of the present invention, according to this embodiment, shampoo sink  10  comprises a semi-rigid annular ring  12 , a neck closure  16  and a skirt  14  that extends between first annular ring  12  and neck closure  16 . Skirt  14  lies in a plane preferably at or near the base of annular ring  12  but below the upper surface thereof and serves to collect any water falling from the head of a user and guides it to drain hole  18  located toward the rear of portable shampoo sink  10 . In this embodiment, neck closure  16  preferably includes a hook and loop or so-called Velcro® fastener or zipper as a fastener that allows for adjustment of neck closure  16  about necks of varying sizes. 
   While the portable shampoo sink of  FIG. 1  provides a satisfactory device for the intended use in many situations, from the comfort and ease of use perspectives it has some short comings such as the difficulty of placing or removing over the head of a user when the user is averse to such application or hair curling or other hairdressing apparatus is in place, and the relative discomfort about the neck due to the use of a hook and loop fastening system for adjustable application. 
   In order to overcome these relative shortcomings the alternative embodiment of the portable shampoo sink  20  of the present invention has been developed. As shown in  FIG. 2 , according to this embodiment, shampoo sink  20  comprises a semi-rigid annular ring  22 , a second smaller annular ring that serves as the neck enclosure  26  in this embodiment and a skirt  24  similar to that described in connection with skirt  14  above that connects semi-rigid annular ring  22  with neck closure  26 . In this embodiment, while skirt  24  is relatively planar toward the front area  28 , rear area  30  of skirt  24  is tapered downward toward a drain  32 , best seen in  FIG. 3  that is a partially cross-sectional view of the portable shampoo sink of  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, water or other liquid falling from the head of a user ( 34  in  FIG. 3 ) is captured by skirt  24  and guided by tapered area  30  to drain  32  for removal from portable shampoo sink  20 . 
   A particular distinction between the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  and that depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3  lies in the design of the neck closure  26 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , semi-rigid annular ring  22  is a split ring that can be opened to separate opposing ends  36  and  38  and skirt  24  includes an elongated mating slit  25  that can be similarly separated for application of neck closure  26  about the neck of a user  34  and then closed by bringing opposing ends  36  and  38  back together and fastening them in proximity with a fastening mechanism  40  which may be a hook and loop fastener, a buckle or other similar device. According to this embodiment, neck closure  26  preferably comprises a second inner annular ring that is “rounded” as opposed to “flat” as in the case for neck closure  16  of  FIG. 1 , and includes a smooth, liquid tight surface  27  and padding  29  for increased comfort for the user. Such a smooth, liquid tight surface could be provided by the use of a tubular structure of PVC or rubber filled with a suitable resilient foam to provide the desired comfort and liquid tightness. To permit adjustability of neck closure  26 , some adjustable closure mechanism  42 , for example one or more spaced apart hook and loop straps that can be secured to the opposing outer surfaces of mating slit  25  along the length thereof can be provided or one or more straps and buckles can be similarly provided to accomplish the same function. By the proper selection of adjustable closure mechanism  42 , the tightness of neck closure  26  about the neck of a user can be adjusted. 
   Among the many common features of the embodiments of  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 2 and 3 , are the following: semi-rigid annular rings  12  and  22  may be fabricated from a polymer foam or other flexible/semi-rigid material or comprise inflatable tubes which are similarly flexible/semi-rigid but can be collapsed for storage or transportation; skirts  14  and  24  comprise a water or other liquid proof material such as PVC, rubber, etc. and may be transparent, colored or decoratively adorned; skirts  14  and  24  are attached to semi-rigid annular rings  12  and  22  below the top of these structures to provide a “basin” structure for the receipt of liquid, as best seen in  FIG. 3 ; whichever neck closure structure  16  or  26  is used, skirts  14  and  24  must be attached thereto in a location that inhibits the passage of liquid from skirts  14  and  24  to the neck of the user; and drains  32  and  18  located in the rear area  30  may include whatever connectors, extensions etc. may be required to achieve proper drainage to a remotely located fixed sink or other drain. According to a highly preferred embodiment skirts  14  and  24  are fabricated from a flexible material such as PVC, rubber or some other flexible natural or synthetic material. 
   Fabrication of portable shampoo sinks  10  and  20  will of course depend largely upon the materials used to construct them. In the case where they are fabricated from PVC or another suitable polymeric material heat sealed or welded joints may be used to join the various portions thereof. In other situations where dissimilar materials are used for individual portions glued joints may be provided. 
   As used herein, the term “semi-rigid” is meant to define a structure that can be flexed and bent but is sufficiently rigid as to be self supporting such that semi-rigid annular rings  12  and  22  retain their shape and relative planarity when placed about the neck of a user and do not collapse so as to permit liquid falling onto skirts  14  and  24  to pass over annular rings  12  and  22  or neck closures  16  and  26 . 
   In use, the portable shampoo sink of  FIG. 1  is placed about the neck of a user by passage of neck closure  16  over the head of the user. In the case of the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the portable shampoo sink is applied about the neck of the user by spreading ends  36  and  38  and slit  25 , inserting the neck of the user into the opening between ends  36  and  38 , through slit  25  and into neck closure  26  and then securing mechanism  40  and optionally straps  44  and  46  for proper fit. 
   There has thus been described a portable shampoo sink that is easy to apply to the neck of a user, is comfortable while applied and provides excellent protection of the user from being wet by liquids applied to the head of the user. 
   As the invention has been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same may be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Any and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.