Abstract:
A hair treatment device or tool to chemically treat a section of hair for highlighting, frosting, perming, coloring, decoloring, straightening, neutralizing, relaxing, conditioning and the like comprising a member or body of lightweight, flexible, resilient, washable, porous, absorbent foam or fabric including at least one hair section treatment channel formed therein extending from the surface thereof to receive a section of hair therein coated or covered with a treating chemical to isolate the section of hair during treatment and absorb excess chemical from the section of hair being treated.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    A hair treatment device or tool to chemically treat a section of hair. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Numerous devices have been developed to chemically treat hair for highlighting, frosting, perming, coloring, decoloring, straightening, neutralizing, relaxing, conditioning and the like. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,662,767 shows a clamp to hold a woman&#39;s hair in small bunches to permit selective dyeing at the roots. The clamp comprises a plastic shell with resilient plastic opposed members for frictionally clamping a small bunch of hair and holding the hair away from the head. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,613 relates to a hair frosting device comprising a container hinged on one side and snapped latched on the other so that it can be opened for placing a strand of hair therein. An opening at one end thereof is notched on one part of the container with cooperating notches on the other part for pulling the hair strand through and positioning it after which the container is filled with a hair treating liquid and closed. This allows the isolated treatment of one or more strands of hair without the problem of treating adjacent strands which are not desired to be treated. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,870 shows a coiffure styling device comprising a pair of elongated body members hinged along adjacent edges for closing the device around strands of hair. Attached along the free edges of the body members by stems are complementary hemispherical nodules with rounded camming surfaces and flat engaging surfaces which snap-lock together when the body member halves are hinged to a closed portion. At one or both ends of each body member half is formed a flange flared outwardly to form a base of expanded surface area to support the styling device diametrically outwardly from the scalp of a person. On the inner faces of each body member is a groove for accommodating the hair strands and for containing adequate styling fluids. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,165 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,599 teach an applicator device for applying product to at least one section of hair includes an elastically deformable component, a reservoir for the product, and a slot at least partially defined by the elastically deformable component. The slot is bounded by edges and is configured to receive a section of hair between the edges. The slot comprises a first slot portion lying in a first plane and at least one second slot portion lying in a second plane different from the first plane. 
         [0009]    EP 1,481,605 relates to rolling a lock of hair around a support forming a curl around it. One end of the lock is held in a resiliently deformed slot in the support. The capillary product is applied onto the lock, coating at least part which is rolled around the outer periphery of the support. 
         [0010]    Additional examples of the prior art are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,778; U.S. Pat. No. 3,198,196; U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,759; U.S. Pat. No. 3,805,810; U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,638 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,449. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention relates to a hair treatment device or tool to chemically treat a section of hair for highlighting, frosting, perming, coloring, decoloring, straightening, neutralizing, relaxing, conditioning and the like. 
         [0012]    The hair treatment device or tool comprises a body constructed of a lightweight, flexible, resilient, absorbent material having at least one hair section treatment channel extending substantially the length thereof. 
         [0013]    Chemical is applied directly to each section of hair to be treated before each section of hair is placed or positioned in a hair section treatment channel. 
         [0014]    Alternately, chemical may be placed into the hair section treatment channels before sections of hair are placed in the hair section treatment channels. 
         [0015]    The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the hair treatment device or tool of the present invention including a hair section treatment channel. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an end view of the hair treatment device or tool of the present invention including a hair section treatment channel of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the hair treatment device or tool of the present invention including an alternate embodiment of a hair section treatment channel. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the hair treatment device or tool of the present invention including an alternate embodiment of a hair section treatment channel of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the hair treatment device or tool of the present invention including another alternate embodiment of a hair section treatment channel. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an end view of the hair treatment device or tool of the present invention including an alternate embodiment of a hair section treatment channel of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  depicts the application of chemical to a section of hair using the hair treatment device or tool of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the hair treatment device or tool of the present invention including yet another embodiment of a hair treatment device or tool of the present invention including a hair section treatment channel. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is an end view of the hair treatment device or tool of the present invention including an alternate embodiment of a hair section treatment channel of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the hair treatment device or tool of the present invention including still yet another alternate embodiment of a hair treatment device or tool of the present invention including hair section treatment channel. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is an end view of the hair treatment device or tool of the present invention including an alternate embodiment of a hair section treatment channel of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
       [0028]    Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention relates to a hair treatment device or tool generally indicated as  10  to chemically treat a section of hair for highlighting, frosting, perming, coloring, decoloring, straightening, neutralizing, relaxing, conditioning and the like. 
         [0030]    The hair treatment device or tool  10  comprises a substantially cylindrical body  12  having a hair section treatment channel  14  extending substantially the length thereof. Of course, the hair section treatment channel  14  may extend the entire length of the substantially cylindrical body  12 . 
         [0031]    The substantially cylindrical body  12  is constructed of a lightweight, flexible, resilient, washable, porous, absorbent foam or fabric. 
         [0032]    As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the hair section receiving channel  14  comprises a slit  16  including two absorbent interior surfaces  18  extending from the outer surface  20  of the substantially cylindrical body  12  to substantially the center  22  thereof. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show an alternate embodiment of the hair treatment device or tool generally indicated as  110 . Specifically, the hair treatment device or tool  110  comprises a substantially cylindrical body  112  having a hair section treatment channel  114  extending substantially the length thereof. Of course, the hair section treatment channel  114  may extend the entire length of the substantially cylindrical body  112 . 
         [0034]    The substantially cylindrical body  112  is constructed of a lightweight, flexible, resilient, washable, porous, absorbent foam or fabric. 
         [0035]    As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the hair section receiving channel  114  comprises a slot or groove  116  including two absorbent interior surfaces  118  extending from the outer surface  120  of the substantially cylindrical body  112  to substantially the center  122  thereof and a third absorbent interior surface  118 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show another alternate embodiment of the hair treatment the hair treatment device or tool generally indicated as  210 . Specifically, the hair treatment device or tool  210  comprises a substantially cylindrical body  212  having a plurality of hair section treatment channels  214  extending substantially the length thereof. Of course, the hair section treatment channel  214  may extend the entire length of the substantially cylindrical body  212 . 
         [0037]    The substantially cylindrical body  212  is constructed of a lightweight, flexible, resilient, washable, porous, absorbent foam or fabric. 
         [0038]    As best shown in  FIG. 6 , each hair section receiving channel  214  comprises a slot or groove  216  including two absorbent interior surfaces  218  extending from the outer surface  220  of the substantially cylindrical body  212  to substantially the center  222  thereof and a third absorbent interior surface  218 . 
         [0039]    The method of using the hair treatment device or tool  10 / 110 / 210  is depicted in  FIG. 7 . Specifically, chemical  24  may be dispensed from a bottle and applied directly to each section of hair  26 / 126 / 226  to be treated before each section of hair  26 / 126 / 226  is placed or positioned in a hair section treatment channel  14 / 114 / 214 . 
         [0040]    Of course, chemical  24  may be applied with a brush or digitally by the thumb and index finger. 
         [0041]    Alternately, chemical  24  may be placed into the hair section treatment channels  14 / 114 / 214  before the sections of hair  26 / 126 / 226  are placed in the hair section treatment channels  14 / 114 / 214 . 
         [0042]    Otherwise, each section of hair  26 / 126 / 226  may be placed or positioned in a hair treatment channel  14 / 114 / 214  before chemical  24  is applied to each section of hair  26 / 126 / 226 . 
         [0043]    In application, the chemical may be evenly spread over the sections of hair  26 / 126 / 226  by digitally massaging or squeezing the substantially cylindrical body  12 / 112 / 212 . In addition, the porosity of the interior surfaces  18 / 118 / 218  of the substantially cylindrical bodies  12 / 112 / 212  allow excess chemical to be absorbed into the interior surfaces  22 / 122 / 222  of the hair section treatment channels  14 / 114 / 214 . 
         [0044]    Once the chemical has had sufficient time to effectively react with the hair sections  26 / 126 / 226 , the hair treatment devices or tools  10 / 110 / 210  are removed and washed for reuse. 
         [0045]    Since the sections of hair  26 / 126 / 226  are isolated in the corresponding hair section treatment channel  14 / 114 / 214 , the chemical  24  does not dry or affect hair not intended to be treated. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show yet another alternate embodiment of the hair treatment device or tool generally indicated as  310 . Specifically, the hair treatment device or tool  310  comprises a substantially rectilinear body  312  having a hair section treatment channel  314  extending substantially the length thereof. Of course, the hair section treatment channel  314  may extend the entire length of the substantially rectilinear body  312 . 
         [0047]    The substantially rectilinear body  312  is constructed of a lightweight, flexible, resilient, washable, porous, absorbent foam or fabric. 
         [0048]    As best shown in  FIG. 9 , the hair section receiving channel  314  comprises a slot or groove  316  including two absorbent interior surfaces  318  extending from the outer surface  320  of the substantially rectilinear body  312  to the center  322  thereof and a third absorbent interior surface  318 . 
         [0049]      FIGS. 10 and 11  show yet still another alternate embodiment of the hair treatment device or tool generally indicated as  410 . Specifically, the hair treatment device or tool  410  comprises a substantially rectilinear body  412  having a plurality of hair section treatment channels  414  extending substantially the length thereof. Of course, the hair section treatment channel  414  may extend the entire length of the substantially rectilinear body  412 . 
         [0050]    The substantially rectilinear body  412  is constructed of a lightweight, flexible, resilient, washable, porous, absorbent foam or fabric. 
         [0051]    As best shown in  FIG. 11 , each hair section receiving channel  414  comprises a slot or groove  416  including two absorbent interior surfaces  418  extending from the outer surface  420  of the substantially rectilinear body  412  to substantially the center  422  thereof and a third absorbent interior surface  418 . 
         [0052]    Although substantially cylindrical or substantially rectilinear bodies  12 ,  112 ,  212 ,  312  and  412  of foam are depicted, foam sheets may be used to wrap the sections of hair. 
         [0053]    It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0054]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 
         [0055]    Now that the invention has been described,