Abstract:
A capsule for containing a chemical coloring agent as it treats a lock of hair has a male side with a projection and a female side with a cavity, connected by a hinge that allows the projection and the cavity to be swung into sealing relationship with the hair trapped therebetween. A reinforcing pattern of interconnected elements form a region of one of the surfaces, the pattern forming an array of spaced-apart islands. The interconnected elements provide enhanced rigidity for the capsule and provide the capsule a better grip on the hair to maintain the capsule in place. The male side and/or female side may be provided with a trough positioned opposite the hinge to reduce overflow of the coloring agent, and can be provided with a well positioned near the hinge to allow the hair to more readily distribute itself when folded over.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to capsules employed to contain a chemical agent in contact with a lock of hair while the agent acts to change the appearance of the hair. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When treating hair with chemical coloring agents, it has been found advantageous to encapsulate locks of hair after applying the coloring agent thereto while the coloring agent acts to change the appearance of the hair. Such encapsulation serves to maintain the agent in close proximity to the hair and prevents dripping of the agent onto surfaces where it is not wanted. Clear capsules that allow a user to view the coloring process are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,893. These capsules can be formed from embossed plastic sheet stock to have a male side and a female side, connected by a hinge so as to be folded and locked together to encapsulate a lock of hair placed therein. 
     UK Patent Application 2 203 645 A teaches a capsule device which is similar to that taught in the &#39;893 patent, but which is provided with one or more channels to facilitate the spread of the treatment agent through the encapsulated space containing the lock of hair. Other devices for maintaining chemical agents on the hair employ a combination of a foam lining with a plastic shell, such as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,465. The &#39;465 device employs reinforcing ribs to increase its rigidity, enabling the device to be suitable for straightening hair as well as for coloring operations. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is for a capsule for use with a chemical agent to apply color to hair. This device provides a capsule into which a lock of hair and a treating solution are contained to highlight the lock of hair contained therein. The capsule can be formed from a sheet of material configured to provide a male side, terminating in a male side free end, and a female side, terminating in a female side free end, with a hinge region therebetween. The use of such capsules and their general structure are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,893. 
     The male side is embossed so as to provide a projection bounded by generally planar top surface and by a projection sidewall that is substantially normal to the top surface, the projection being surrounded by a male side lip that is planar and substantially parallel to the top surface of the projection. The projection has a projection distal end near the hinge region and a projection proximal end near a male side free end that is spaced apart from the hinge region (the projection proximal end will be closest in proximity to the scalp during the hair treatment). 
     The female side is embossed so as to form a cavity having a cavity distal end near the hinge region and a cavity proximal end near a female side free end that is spaced apart from the hinge region, the cavity being surrounded by a planar female side lip. The cavity is bound by a base surface that is generally planar and parallel to the female side lip, and by a cavity sidewall that is substantially normal to the base surface, and configured so as to sealably engage the cavity in the female side of the capsule with the projection of the male side when the projection is positioned in the cavity. 
     The engagement of the projection with the cavity can be secured by the use of interlocking protrusions on the projection sidewall and recesses in the cavity sidewall, where the protrusions and recesses are designed to releasably, lockably engage together so as to maintain the projection securely engaged in the cavity. 
     At least one of the base surface and the top surface has a first region with a reinforcing pattern of interconnected elements that are connected so as to provide an array of spaced-apart islands. These islands may reside either above or below the surface created by the interconnected elements. If only one of the surfaces has a first region with a reinforcing pattern embossed therein, it is preferred for first region of the top surface of the projection to be so embossed to add rigidity to the top surface, since the hair is typically positioned on this surface for application of the coloring agent to the hair, and thus the reinforcing pattern adds rigidity to this surface to provide more stable support for the hair residing thereon while the coloring agent is applied. It is preferred for the projection that the interconnected elements reside below the top surface to so as to provide a retaining region for the coloring agent. The interconnected elements also serve to provide a structure that obstructs flow of the coloring agent under gravity during the coloring process, and thus tend to maintain the coloring agent in place on the hair, particularly when the elements are arranged so as to prevent creating a line of site from the distal end to the proximal end. 
     In some embodiments where both the base surface and the top surface are provided with a region patterned with interconnecting elements, these regions are formed such that the islands and the interconnected elements are superimposed when the projection of the male side is engaged with the cavity of the female side. This superimposed configuration is felt to provide better gripping of the lock of hair contained in the capsule, particularly when the elements on one of the surfaces are raised thereabove while the elements on the other surface are recessed therefrom, and the edges of the elements are sloped so as to create a limited degree of interlocking of the elements when the male side is engaged with the cavity of the female side. 
     While the use of these patterns on the base surface and the top surface is preferably employed, it is further preferred that a region of these surfaces near the hinge not be provided with the reinforcing patterns so to as allow free movement of the hair in this region, allowing the hair to redistribute when it is folded over and thereby more evenly distribute the coloring agent therein to provide uniform coloring of the hair. In fact, it is further preferred that one or both of the sides have lower surface that is bowed or has a stepped-down region in the vicinity of the hinge to further promote the redistribution of the hair. Such a bowed or stepped-down region forms a well to accommodate the hair where it is typically folded over in close proximity to the hinge. It is further preferred that both sides be bowed. 
     In some embodiments, a trough is provided that communicates with the cavity proximal end. The trough may reside in the base surface of the cavity or in the top surface of the projection; a pair of troughs can be provided, one in each of the base surface and the top surface. These troughs serve to catch any excess coloring agent which might otherwise leak out from the proximal ends during the coloring process. Such leakage could result in irritation of the scalp of the party whose hair is being treated. In those cases where a troughs are provided, it can also be advantageous to have the troughs slightly spaced apart from the sidewalls to provide addition contact area between the female side and the male side when engaged. 
     The thickness of the sheet stock from which the capsule is fabricated also effects the stiffness of the capsule, but the weight factor of thicker material may increase the likelihood of slipping. A thickness of 12 to 14 mil is preferred. Less than 12 mil thick stock is likely to warp. Above 14 mil thickness, the capsule becomes too heavy to hold well when engaged with the hair. This also provides a shell that is less likely to deform during washing or when used in a heated environment such as under a dryer used to increase the temperature and thereby speed the chemical reaction to reduce the time needed to achieve the desired coloring effect. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, the free ends of the male side and the female side are shaped so as to form an arc that is concave with respect to the edge of the sheet from which the capsule is formed, allowing the capsule to closely conform to the head contours of the individual whose hair is to be colored. 
     To aid the user in separating the male side and the female side after the coloring process has been completed, tabs can be provided that extend from the male side lip and the female side lip to allow the user to readily pry apart the male side and the female side. In one embodiment, these tabs narrow as they approach the proximal ends to reduce the likelihood of interference when multiple capsules are employed to color the hair of an individual. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a coloring agent capsule that forms one embodiment of the present invention; as shown in  FIG. 1 , the capsule is open for placement of a lock of hair on a male side of the capsule and for receiving a coloring agent applied to the hair. The male side has a projection which lockably, sealably engages a cavity in a female side to form a capsule to contain the hair and the coloring agent during the coloring process. Both a top surface of the projection and a base surface of the cavity have regions that are impressed with a reinforcing pattern that provides rigidity and serves to impede flow of the coloring agent to maintain it in place on the hair. In this embodiment, the reinforcing pattern is configured as a pattern of interconnected elements formed by crossing lines that form a series of rhomboidal islands. Both the male side and the female side are also provided with reservoir troughs to hold excess coloring agent that may flow towards the scalp of the individual to whom the capsule is applied. The female side and the male side are attached together by a hinge portion that allows the female side to be folded over the male side as shown in  FIGS. 2-4  so as to entrap the hair and the coloring agent. Opposite the hinge portion, the female side and the male side each terminates in a curved free end adjacent the reservoir trough, these curved free ends providing a concave arc that allows the capsule to closely conform to the contour of the head of the individual whose hair is to be colored, thereby allowing the capsule to be positioned in close proximity to the individual&#39;s scalp. 
         FIGS. 2-4  illustrate the coloring agent capsule shown in  FIG. 1  when the female side is folded so as to be superimposed over the male side and the two portions then pressed together to lockably engage protrusions on the male side with recesses in the female side.  FIG. 2  shows the coloring agent capsule as the female side begins to be folded over. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view that shows the coloring agent capsule shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  when the female side has been folded over so as to be superimposed over the male side; the view of  FIG. 3  is shown looking downward from above the female side of the capsule, and looking toward the hinge ends of the sides. The projection of the male side nests in the cavity (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of the female side. The projection has a series of protrusions extending from a projection sidewall, and the cavity is provided with corresponding recesses in a cavity sidewall. The protrusion has a guide arrow indicating to the user which edge should be positioned against the head of the individual whose hair is being colored as well as indicating which surface the hair should be placed across. 
         FIG. 4  is a non-exploded view looking towards the free ends, showing the coloring agent capsule shown in  FIGS. 1-3  when the male side and the female side have been pressed together to engage the protrusions of the projection with the recesses in the cavity; this engagement locks the protrusion and the cavity together during the time that the coloring agent acts on the hair. Since the reservoir troughs are positioned adjacent to the curved free edges, they reside close to the head of the individual during use and serve to catch any excess coloring agent that might otherwise leak out onto the scalp during the time that the agent acts on the hair. The male side and the female side have lips with tabs extending therefrom to allow the user to readily pry the sides apart when the coloring process has been completed. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of another embodiment of the present invention, which has many features in common with the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , but where the cavity has a base surface that is not embossed. This embodiment also differs in the configuration of the tabs extending from the lips; the tabs of this embodiment are narrower near the scalp of the user to prevent interference when multiple capsules are applied at the same time. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a male side and a hinge of a coloring agent capsule that forms another embodiment of the present invention; this capsule employs a different reinforcing pattern than that shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , this pattern being formed by an overlapping array of rings that provide an array of circular spaced-apart islands. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , but which has a well formed in the bottom surface of the female side of the capsule in a region in close proximity to the hinge. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment, which is similar to that shown in  FIG. 7 , but where the top surface of the male side has a well in the protrusion in close proximity to the hinge. This embodiment also has tabs which are offset with respect to each other such that they each extend beyond the other when the male side and the female side of the capsule are superimposed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate one embodiment of the present invention, a capsule  100  for containing a coloring agent applied to a lock of hair. The capsule  100  has a male side  102  and a female side  104  that are joined together by a hinge region  106  that allows the female side  104  to be folded over the male side  102  so as to be superimposed thereon (as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). To simplify fabrication of the capsule  100 , the male side  102 , the female side  104 , and the hinge region  106  can be formed from a single sheet of material. 
     The male side  102  has a male side hinge end  108 , which joins with the hinge region  106 , and a male side free end  110 , which can be formed as a concave curve to conform to the scalp of an individual whose hair is to be colored. The male side  102  has an embossed section that forms a projection  112 . This projection  112  is bounded by a top surface  114 , which extends substantially in a plane, and by projection sidewalls  116 . The projection  112  is surrounded by a planar male side lip  118  that extends substantially parallel to the top surface  114 . The projection  112  has a projection distal end  120 , which is located near the male side hinge end  108 , where it will be distant from the scalp of the individual when the capsule  100  is in service. The projection  112  also has a projection proximal end  122 , which is located near the male side free end  110  and can extend parallel thereto. 
     The top surface  114  of the projection  112  has an upper outer region  124  that is embossed with a reinforcing pattern  126  which, in this embodiment, is formed by a series of intersecting linear valleys ( 128 ,  130 ) that interconnect so as to form an array of spaced-apart islands  132  that are rhombus-shaped. In this embodiment, the linear valleys ( 128 ,  130 ) are recessed into the top surface  114 , with the islands  132  being coplanar with the remainder of the top surface  114 . The reinforcing pattern  126  provides increased rigidity for the top surface  114 , and serves to provide support for a lock of hair when placed onto the top surface for application of the coloring agent onto the hair. 
     In the embodiment illustrated, the linear valleys ( 128 ,  130 ) are arranged such that they do not present a line of sight when viewed from the free end  110  in the direction of the hinge end  108 . Such a configuration provides better gripping power on the hair, since strands entrapped therein to not have a direct path of slip as the weight of the capsule tries to pull the capsule off the hair. Similarly, the lack of a direct line of sight creates resistance to flow of the chemical agent, thereby assisting in maintaining it in place on the hair. 
     The top surface  114  is also provided with a top surface trough  134  that extends parallel to and in close proximity to the projection proximal end  122 , being separated therefrom by a top surface ridge  136 . When the capsule  100  is in service with the male side  102  and the female side  104  lockably engaged together, the top surface trough  134  provides a reservoir into which excess coloring agent can collect, while the top surface ridge  136  serves to obstruct such excess coloring agent from flowing out beyond the projection proximal end  122 . 
     It has been found that a lock of hair to be colored can be positioned in the capsule  100  more readily when placed across the male side  102  than when placed on the female side  104 . To provide a reminder to the user that the hair should be placed on the male side  102 , the top surface  114  can be provided with an index mark  138  embossed therein. The index mark  138  can also serve as a reminder to the user as to which end of the male side  102  should be positioned against the scalp of the individual prior to placing the hair thereon. 
     The female side  104  of the capsule  100  has a female side hinge end  140 , which joins with the hinge region  106 , and a female side free end  142 , which can be formed as a concave curve similar to that of the male side free end  110 . The female side  104  is embossed to form a cavity  144  bounded by a base surface  146  and cavity sidewalls  148 ; the cavity sidewalls  148  generally conform to the shape of the projection sidewalls  116 , with the exception of distal end corners  149  where the cavity sidewalls  148  bow outward to facilitate the swing in and out of the projection  112 . The cavity  144  is surrounded by a planar female side lip  150  that extends substantially parallel to the base surface  146 , which is substantially planar. When the capsule  100  is folded with the female side  104  superimposed over and lockably engaged with the male side  102 , the base surface  146  extends parallel to the top surface  114  of the projection  112 . The cavity has a cavity distal end  152 , which is located near the female side hinge end  140 , and a cavity proximal end  154 , which is located near the female side free end  142  and can extend parallel thereto. 
     The base surface  146  of the cavity  144  has an base surface outer region  156  that is embossed with a reinforcing pattern  158  which, in the capsule  100  illustrated, is formed by a series of intersecting linear ridges ( 160 ,  162 ) that interconnect and form an array of spaced-apart islands  164  in a manner that is nestable with the reinforcing pattern  126  of the top surface  114 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the linear ridges ( 160 ,  162 ) are raised from the base surface  146 , and the islands  164  are recessed with respect to the linear ridges ( 160 ,  162 ), being co-planar with the remainder of the base surface  146 . The reinforcing pattern  158  is positioned so as to become superimposed directly on the reinforcing pattern  126  of the projection  112 , providing an interlocking action that serves both to grip the hair and to impede the flow of the coloring agent under the force of gravity. The gripping action of the superimposed patterns ( 126 ,  158 ) is felt to be superior to that provided by transverse ridges and grooves, such as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,893. The increased rigidity of the top surface  114  and the base surface  146  has also been found to reduce warping of the capsule  100  over time and provide an increased service life compared to earlier capsules. This reduced susceptibility to warping is particularly advantageous when the capsule is used in combination with a heat source to speed the coloring process. Increased rigidity can be provided by fabricating the capsule  100  from a thicker material; however, it is desirable to maintain the capsule  100  relatively lightweight so that it will maintain its position on the head of the individual during the coloring procedure. It is felt that employing material having a thickness of 0.012″-0.015″ provides a good balance between rigidity and overall weight. 
     Similarly to the top surface  114  of the projection  112 , the base surface  146  of the cavity  144  is provided with a base surface trough  166  that extends adjacent to the one of the cavity sidewalls  148  that defines the cavity proximal end  154 . In service, the base surface trough  166  extends the reservoir created by the top surface trough  134  for collection of excess coloring agent. 
     In this embodiment, the top surface  114  has a substantially planar region  168 , which is free from the linear recesses ( 128 ,  130 ), in addition to the reinforced upper outer region  124 . The free planar region  168  allows the hair that it contacts to redistribute, this free movement of the hair distributing the solution therein and providing uniform coloring of the hair. Similarly, the bottom base surface  146  has a substantially planar region  170  which is free of reinforcing ridges and is coplanar with the surface bearing the linear ridges ( 160 ,  162 ). This will further promote the free movement of the hair in this region of the capsule  100 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the capsule  100  as it begins to be folded at the hinge region  106  to bring the female side  104  over the male side  102 . The projection  112  of the male side  102  is provided with a series of locking protrusions  172  positioned around the top surface  114 , while the female side  104  has a series of locking recesses  174  positioned in the cavity  140  and configured to lockably, releasably engage the locking protrusions  172  when the female side  104  is superimposed over the male side  102  and the sides ( 102 ,  104 ) pressed together to bring the base surface  146  of the cavity  144  against the lock of hair positioned on the top surface  114  of the projection  112 .  FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the capsule  100  when the female side  104  is superimposed over the male side  102 , while  FIG. 4  is an assembled view when the female side  104  has been brought into lockable engagement with the male side  102 . It should be noted that, while the capsule  100  is illustrated as being formed from an opaque material, it is frequently preferred for the capsule  100  to be formed from a clear or translucent material to allow the user to judge the effect of the coloring agent during the coloring process. 
     When the coloring process has been completed, the male side  102  and the female side  104  are pried apart to release the lock of hair contained in the capsule  100 . To facilitate prying the sides ( 102 ,  104 ) apart, the lips ( 118 ,  150 ) are each provided with tabs  176  extending therefrom. The tabs  176  are at least partially offset from each other as shown in  FIG. 4  to allow them to be readily pried apart. 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a capsule  100 ′ that has many features in common with the capsule  100 , but where a female side  104 ′ has a cavity  144 ′ with a base surface  146 ′ that is not embossed with a reinforcing pattern. 
     The capsule  100 ′ also differs in that it has tabs  176 ′ that are tapered so as to narrow as they approach the free ends ( 110 ,  142 ). This reduces their size in proximity to the free ends ( 110 ,  142 ) to reduce the likelihood of interference with other capsules  100 ′ when multiple capsules  100 ′ are applied to the hair of the individual. 
       FIG. 6  is a partial isometric view of a capsule  200  that forms another embodiment of the present invention. The capsule  200  again has many features in common with the capsule  100 , but has a male side  202  with a projection  204  having a top surface  206  that has a different reinforcing pattern  208  embossed therein. The reinforcing pattern  208  is formed as an array of overlapping rings  210 , each surrounding a circular island  212 . The rings  210  shown are configured so as to avoid creating a direct line of sight between a male side free end  214  and a male side hinge end  216 . 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a capsule  300  that forms another embodiment of the present invention. The capsule  300  again has many features in common with the capsule  100 , but differs in that the female side  302  has a cavity  304  with a base surface  306  which has a well  308  which is in close proximity to a hinge region  310 . This increases the entrapped volume in this portion of the cavity  304  when the capsule  300  is closed, and allows a long lock of hair to be folded back on itself and provide adequate freedom of this lock to allow repositioning of the hair enclosed thereunder to readjust and promote uniform coloring. 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a capsule  400  that forms another embodiment of the present invention. The capsule  400  has many features in common with the capsule  300 , but differs in that it has a male side  402  having a protrusion  404  with a top surface  406  which has a well  408  which is in close proximity to a hinge region  410 . This allows a long lock of hair to be folded back on itself with freedom to redistribute to promote more uniform coloring. To avoid leakage, the well  408  should be spaced apart from a distal end sidewall  412  of the protrusion  404 . The capsule  400  also has a well  414  in a base surface  416  of a cavity  418  of a female side  420 , and tabs  422  that are positioned so as to be offset with respect to each other such that, when the male side  402  is engaged with the female side  420 , each of the tabs  422  extends beyond the other on one side. 
     While the novel features of the present invention have been described in terms of particular embodiments and preferred applications, it should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that substitution of materials and modification of details can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.