Abstract:
A light guide comb that produces a direct massage effect on the head of a user, and, moreover, uses light rays to promote cell activation of the head, cortical layer and acupuncture points, while simultaneously stimulating hair follicles to promote the health and growth of hair. The light guide comb includes an upper shell, a lower shell, a compartment, a light stimulation device and a light guide. A plurality of guide holes are defined in the upper shell to correspond to a plurality of guide pins configured on the light guide. Light rays produced by the light stimulation device disposed within the compartment are propagated through the plurality of guide pins and transmitted outward. A plurality of massage knobs are disposed on a comb head of the lower shell to provide a massage surface area greater than that of the plurality of guide pins.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     (a) Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     A light guide comb that particularly provides a comb that is able to part the hair during the course of combing and produce a massage effect directly on the head of the user, and which uses light rays to promote activation of scalp cells and stimulate the hair follicles to encourage the health and growth of hair.  
         [0003]     (b) Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Because of the many pressures on modern people that cause life stress or headaches, insomnia, memory loss or neurosis brought about by improper diet, and so on, resulting in acquired alopecia that causes hair follicle atrophy and hair loss or hair follicle necrosis resulting in baldness. And consequent effects of baldness can not only cause possible discord in the family and interpersonal relationships from psychosomatic imbalance, there is even the greater possibility of an inferiority complex from hair loss and baldness that affects work.  
         [0005]     Apart from the use of drugs to treat headaches, insomnia, memory loss, neurosis, and so on, or hair loss and baldness brought about by many pressures, recent years have advocated the use of massage or light wave stimulation to treat such afflictions. Moreover, research has demonstrated that rays having wavelength equal to that of infrared light or far-infrared rays can affect catalysis of hair follicle cell structure that produces a resuscitating effect. Such wavelengths are primarily used to synchronously stimulate the hair follicle cells to produce wave motions of similar frequency to affect a catalysis function that achieves cell activation and stimulation of hair growth. Conventional phototherapy apparatus on the current market are primarily designed for use on body parts of the user other than the head, and are only reluctantly used on the head whereby a light source producing specific light waves is allowed to penetrate parted hair and irradiate the scalp. However, light wave interference caused by the hair obstructing the light or the light being reflected from grease affects the light wave structure, resulting in the scalp only receiving a portion of the light energy, whereas most of the light energy is absorbed by the hair, causing damage thereto. Hence, when operating the phototherapy apparatus, a comb must be used to part the hair in order to expose a small area of the scalp to the irradiating light waves, which results in the phototherapy apparatus being inconvenient and tedious to operate. Moreover, conventional phototherapy apparatus are unable to achieve the anticipated phototherapy effect.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a light guide comb that achieves a comprehensive vibration wave effect that promotes hair follicle activation and stimulates luxuriant growth of hair. In order to achieve this objective, the present invention primarily comprises an upper shell, a lower shell and a compartment formed from the upper shell and the lower shell, a light stimulation device and a light guide. A plurality of guide holes are defined in the upper shell to correspond to a plurality of guide pins configured on the light guide. The plurality of guide pins part the hair when combing with the light guide comb, and light rays produced by the light stimulation device disposed within the compartment are transmitted to ends of each of the guide pins, and are able to directly act on the scalp of a user to produce a massage effect. During the course of combing the hair, the light rays transmitted by the guide pins directly irradiate the scalp to achieve the comprehensive vibration wave effect that promotes hair follicle activation and stimulates luxuriant growth of hair.  
         [0007]     A second objective of the present invention is to provide the light guide comb with a structural assembly wherein optical fibers are connected to comb teeth. Light rays emitted by a light generator are received and transmitted through a coupling end that gathers together the optical fibers. The comb teeth are supported on a base, and an interior of each of the comb teeth forms a passageway that enables the optical fibers to be axially disposed therein.  
         [0008]     A third objective of the present invention is to provide the light guide comb with at least more than one massage knob disposed on an outer portion of a comb head of the lower shell, which provides an extended massage surface area. The massage knobs are fabricated from different material or formed in different shapes to enable the user to replace the massage knobs  8  according to different needs or preferences.  
         [0009]     A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide the light guide comb with at least more than one massage knob disposed on the outer portion of the comb head of the lower shell, which provides an extended massage surface area. The massage knobs can be provided with light guides to enable the transmittance of light rays.  
         [0010]     A fifth objective of the present invention is to further provide the light guide comb with a vibration wave device having vibrational energy disposed within the comb head and the compartment of a handle. During the course of combing the hair and massaging the head, the vibration wave device can simultaneously assist the light rays in producing mechanical massage stimulation of the scalp to achieve a synergistic root effect.  
         [0011]     To enable a further understanding of said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, brief description of the drawings is provided below followed by detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded elevational view according to the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic elevational view depicting structural assembly of an upper shell according to the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic elevational view depicting structural assembly of a lower shell according to the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic view depicting intersecting relationship of points of light according to the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic view depicting comb teeth pressing on the scalp according to the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5A  shows a partially enlarged view of depicting comb teeth pressing on the scalp according to the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  shows a side cutaway view of another embodiment according to the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  shows a partial cutaway view of  FIG. 6  depicting structural connecting of the comb teeth with optical fibers according to the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  shows a cutaway view of the present invention in use on the scalp. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which shows a comb  1  of the present invention comprising a plurality of comb teeth  2 , an upper shell  11 , a lower shell  12 , a compartment  9 , a light stimulation device  3  and a light guide  23 , wherein the upper shell  11  and the lower shell  12  are mutually joined to form the compartment  9  that enables the light stimulation device  3  to be disposed therein. The comb teeth  2  are also defined as a plurality of guide pins  25 . A plurality of guide holes  24  are defined in the upper shell  11 , position of which are such to correspond to the plurality of guide pins  25  configured on the light guide  23 . The plurality of guide pins  25  penetrate the plurality of guide holes  24 , thereby mutually joining the two together. Light rays emitted by the light stimulation device  3  configured within the compartment  9  penetrate the plurality of guide holes  24  through the guide pins  25  and are transmitted outwardly therefrom, the hair of the user is thus prevented from obstructing the light rays, and enables the emitted light rays to directly irradiate, contact and massage the head of the user. Moreover, the plurality of guide pins  25  have the function to comb the hair.  
         [0022]     The aforementioned plurality of guide pins  25  are regulated on a base  21  that is disposed within the compartment  9  so that the plurality of guide pins  25  are positioned in an acting face of a comb head  20 . The light stimulation device  3  disposed within the compartment  9  comprises a light generator  31 , a drive circuit  32 , a power supply device  333  and a switch  35 . Electricity is provided by the power supply device  333  after regulating and controlling the light generator  31  using the drive circuit  32  and the switch  35 . The power supply device  333  includes direct current or alternating current, and electric sources  33  disposed within an embodiment of the power supply device enable the emitting of light. The internally disposed electric sources  33  can be connected to an external power supply connector by means of an electrical outlet  330  to supply electricity thereto (not shown in the drawings). Moreover, the light waves emitted can be controlled to produce low power light ray wavelengths.  
         [0023]     The light rays emitted by the light generator  31  can be further modulated using the drive circuit  32  to produce pulse light or far-infrared rays that are able to stimulate and activate cells and hair follicle structure to achieve a resuscitation and rejuvenation function. An embodiment of the light generator  31  is a diode light emitter  80 . Because far-infrared rays are invisible light, thus, the user is unable to identify them with the naked eye, and in order for the light guide  23  of the comb  1  of the present invention to be able to produce a light-emitting visual effect, the diode light emitter  80  comprises not only far-infrared ray light-emitting diodes  801 , but is also further configured with colored light-emitting diodes. An embodiment of the present invention uses red light-emitting diodes  802  to transmit red light through the light guide  23 .  
         [0024]     A vibration wave device  4  is further disposed in the compartment  9  in the position of the comb head  20 . And an embodiment of the vibration wave device  4  is a motor  41 .  
         [0025]     Because the light guide  23  is fabricated from transparent material, thus, it is able to transmit the light rays emitted by the far-infrared ray light-emitting diodes  801  and the red light-emitting diode  802 , and more particularly the plurality of guide pins  25  configured on the light guide  23  and regulated on the base  21  penetrate the upper shell  11 , thereby securing the configuration and providing the comb  1  with advantages of a stable structure and easy manual assembly.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , which show another embodiment of transmitting the light rays by the aforementioned light guide  23  that adopts a structural assembly whereby optical fibers  5  are connected to comb teeth  2 . The light generator  31  emits light rays, which are then received and transmitted by a coupling end  50  that gathers together the optical fibers  5 . Light wavelengths emitted by the light guide  31  are filtered by means of a light wave converter component  34  to form required wavelength or different forms of colored light rays.  
         [0027]     The vibration wave device  4  having vibrational energy is installed within the compartment  9  of the comb head  20 . Referring again to  FIG. 7 , wherein the function of the optical fibers  5  is to transmit light waves, and ends of the optical fibers  5  are light-transmitting ends  51 . The comb teeth  2  are supported by the base  21 , and an interior of each of the comb teeth  2  forms a passageway  22  that enables axial disposal of the optic fibers  5  therein. A lower end of the passageway  22  forms an incident light surface  220 , from which the light rays emitted from the light-transmitting ends  51  are transmitted outward. Light guides formed by the comb teeth  2  are fabricated from transparent material, thereby enabling the light rays emitted from the light-transmitting ends  51  to form points of light  200 .  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , which shows the comb teeth  2  being used to comb hair  60 , wherein the light-transmitting ends  51  and ends of the light guide  23  press close to the scalp  6 , and the points of light  200  formed act directly on the scalp  6 , while space between each of the comb teeth  2  guide strands of the hair  60  to achieve a combing effect. During the course of comb therapy, the vibration wave device  4  having vibrational energy or a thermal generator  7  can be simultaneously actuated. The vibrational energy generated by the vibration wave device  4  is transmitted through the comb teeth  2  and used to directly act on the scalp  6 , thereby producing a vibration wave massage effect on the scalp  6 , or the thermal generator  7  directly emits thermal radiation waves that dry and sterilize the hair or have a hot compress effect on the scalp  6 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , which depicts an area of the scalp  6  irradiated by the light rays, wherein, the plurality of guide pins  25  of the comb teeth  2  are able to respectively form beams of light  201  on the surface of the scalp  6  using the areas of light formed by the points of light  200  from the light rays. Because the spaces between the plurality of guide pins  25  are arranged in an alternating configuration, thus, crossover areas  202  are formed between the beams of light  201 , and the crossover areas  202  mutually connect to enable each of the beams of light  201  produced by the points of light  200  to intersect and form an integrated light transmitting surface that irradiates the surface of the scalp  6 . Apart from the aforementioned intersecting arrangement of the adjacent light beams  201  that achieves an integrated light transmitting surface, moreover, variation in line of movement of the comb  1  when combing can be used to effect mutual light irradiation along different point positions of the scalp  6 .  
         [0030]     Referring to again to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 5A , a lower interface of the light guide  23  formed by the ends of the plurality of guide pins  25  of the comb teeth  2  is circular arc-shaped, which presses on the epidermal layer of the scalp  6  during the course of combing, and the pressure penetrates deeply dermis tissue  62 , thereby forming a stronger mechanical massage force. The circular arch-shape of the light guide  23  can prevent scuffing of the scalp  6 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the present invention is further able to provide an extended massage area, whereby at least more than one massage knob  8  is disposed in the comb head  20  of the lower shell  12  of the comb  1 , and because the form and structure of the massage knobs  8  is relatively larger than that of the comb teeth  2 , thus, a corresponding relatively extended massage area is provided. A hand of a user operates the comb  1  to cause the massage knobs  8  to affect a pressing massage on the scalp of the user, or vibration waves can be used to further assist in producing a massage effect.  
         [0032]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a male joint member  81  is affixed to a side of each of the massage knobs  8 , and a movable joint method can be adopted to mutually join the male joint members  81  with female joint members  82  of the lower shell  12 . The massage knobs  8  can be fabricated from different material or formed in different shapes to enable the user to replace the massage knobs  8  according to different needs or preferences. Moreover, the massage knobs  8  and the lower shell  12  can be manufactured as a single integrated body having external appearance similar to the joined state depicted in  FIG. 3 . Furthermore, apart from fabricating the massage knobs  8  from hard material, flexible material can also be used to counteract excessively intensive massage and present the scalp with a moderate touch. The massage knobs  8  can also be designed with light transmittance (not shown in the drawings), thereby enabling light rays emitted by the light stimulation device  3  within the compartment  9  to irradiate the scalp.  
         [0033]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the power supply device  333  is disposed in a handle  10  of the upper shell  11  of the comb  1  of the present invention, and the electric sources  33  are disposed within an embodiment of the power supply device  333 . The electric sources  33  use batteries  332  to supply electric power, and a battery cover  111  is used to cover and seal the batteries  332  within the handle  10 .  
         [0034]     An end of the handle  10  of the upper shell  11  is provided with a through hole  15  and a screw  14 , wherein the screw  14  penetrates the through hole  15  and screws tight into a corresponding screw hole  13  defined in the lower shell  12 . Furthermore, an end of the comb head  20  and two central side positions of the upper shell  11  and the lower shell  12  are provided with a plurality of mutually corresponding male and female tenons  16 . The upper shell  11  and the lower shell  12  are joined together by means of the male and female tenons  16 , thereby sealing the light guide  23 , the light stimulation device  3  and the vibration wave device  4  within the compartment  9  formed between the upper shell  11  and the lower shell  12 . A key-press hole  356  is defined in a top portion of the battery cover  111  of the handle  10  of the upper shell  11 . When the upper shell  11  and the lower shell  12  are fastened together, a key-press  355  is securely disposed within the key-press hole  356 .  
         [0035]     Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which show elevational views of the assembled present invention depicting the guide pins  25  of the comb teeth  2  penetrating the guide holes  24  and fixed on outer portions of the comb head  20  of the upper shell  11 . After the upper shell  11  and the lower shell  12  are fastened together, the key-press  355  penetrates the key-press hole  356  and is fixed on an outer portion of the upper shell  11 . The massage knobs  8  are fixed to an outer portion of the comb head  20  through mutual joining of the male joint members  81  and the female joint members  82  of the lower shell  12 . When wanting to use the comb  1 , the key-press  355  is pressed to actuate a switch  35  to supply electricity to the power supply device  333  (see  FIG. 1 ), whereupon the comb  1  can be operated according to needs.  
         [0036]     It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.