Abstract:
A device for holding a lock of hair is provided. The device includes a base portion for resting on the scalp; a holding portion arranged to hold a portion of the lock in a substantially upstanding configuration between the holding portion and the scalp; and a link portion connecting the base portion to the holding portion and configured in such a manner as to allow access to the portion of the lock.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non provisional application claims the benefit of French Application No. 03 05558 filed on May 7, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/472,464 filed on May 22, 2003, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices, methods and kits for facilitating treatment of the hair, and more particularly hair roots. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is known to apply substances to the hair. Such substances may be in the form of a gel that dries relatively slowly, for example. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide devices, methods and kits that make it easier to use slow-drying substances for giving volume to the hair. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide devices, methods and kits for facilitating treatment of the hair, for example, to obtain a hair volume effect by applying a substance. In exemplary embodiments, the substance may be a polymer-rich substance that is capable of holding hair roots spaced apart from the scalp. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the invention provides a device for holding a lock of hair, the device comprising: a base portion for resting against the scalp; a holding portion arranged to hold a portion of said lock substantially upstanding between the holding portion and the scalp; and a link portion connecting the base portion to the holding portion and configured in such a manner as to allow access to said portion of said lock. In exemplary embodiments, the link portion is configured to allow a hair care substance to be applied to said portion of said lock. In exemplary embodiments, the holding portion may be situated substantially above the base portion at a non-zero distance therefrom. 
     Such a device enables hair roots to be held in an upstanding configuration on the scalp, for example, for a long enough time to allow a substance, used to fix the hair in position, to dry. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the link portion may advantageously be arranged in such a manner that the hair-holding portion can be moved toward the base portion by elastically deforming the device. In such embodiments, a light resilient return force can be exerted on the hair so as to keep the hair under a certain amount of tension while the substance is being applied and while the substance is drying. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the link portion may extend substantially obliquely between the holding portion and the base portion. 
     Still, in exemplary embodiments, the base portion may be in the form of a circular arc. Such embodiments may make it easier to apply the device to the scalp and to deform the link portion elastically. 
     According to various exemplary embodiments of the invention, the link portion may be made in various ways. For example, in embodiments, the link may be generally U-shaped with limbs that are connected to the base portion. In embodiments in which the base portion is in the form of a circular arc, the two limbs may be connected respectively to two circumferential ends of the base portion. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the link portion and the base portion may advantageously be made integrally, i.e., monolithically, for example, by molding a plastics material. In exemplary embodiments, the holding portion may also be made integrally, i.e., monolithically, with the link portion, for example, by molding a plastics material. In exemplary embodiments, the entire device may be made as a single piece by molding a plastics material. 
     According to various exemplary embodiments of the invention, the holding portion may be made in various ways. For example, the holding portion may include a clip, such as, for example, an elastically deformable clip. 
     For example, in exemplary embodiments the clip may be made with at least one branch hinged relative to another branch, such as, for example, by at least one film-hinge. In exemplary embodiments, the clip comprises two branches each hinged via a film-hinge to the link portion, the two branches being arranged in such a manner as to be capable, when in a close-together position, of co-operating so as to clamp hair between them. Co-operation between the branches may be achieved, for example, by a rim formed at a free end of one of the branches on which the other branch may snap-fasten. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the clip may also be made with two branches at a spacing that may be selected in such a manner as to make it possible to clamp onto hair. In exemplary embodiments, the two branches may include two substantially touching edges with sufficient elasticity to enable the user to insert the hair that is to be held between said edges. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the branches may be covered in an outer sleeve of a compressible material, for example, a foam. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the branches may include two diverging portions, making it easier to insert hair therebetween. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a device for holding a lock of hair, the device comprising: a base portion for resting on the scalp; a holding portion comprising a clip arranged to hold a portion of said lock in a substantially upstanding configuration between the holding portion and the scalp; and a link portion connecting the base portion to the holding portion, the link portion being arranged in such a manner that the holding portion can be moved toward the base portion by elastically deforming the device. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method of treating hair, the method comprising: holding root portions of a lock of hair in an upstanding configuration on the scalp by using a device as defined above; and applying a hair care substance to the roots of the hair held with the device. 
     For example, in exemplary embodiments the substance may be a substance that hardens on drying, so as to lock the hair roots in the orientation given thereto by the device. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the substance may be constituted by a polymer-rich gel, for example, a gel having a drying time that is greater than or equal to twenty seconds. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a hair care kit comprising a device as defined above together with a substance for applying to hair roots. For example, in exemplary embodiments, the substance may be a substance for locking the roots in a particular orientation on drying. 
    
    
     
       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 plan view of a first exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, the holding portion being shown in an open configuration enabling hair to be inserted; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the first exemplary embodiment as seen looking along arrow II in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the first exemplary embodiment, analogous to  FIG. 1 , the holding portion being shown in a closed position for holding hair inserted therein; 
         FIGS. 4 to 6  illustrate the exemplary device of  FIGS. 1 to 3  in use for holding hair; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a second exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of a third exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an elevation view of the third exemplary embodiment as seen looking along arrow IX of  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a step in the manufacture of the third exemplary device of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 to 3  show a first exemplary embodiment of a device  10  comprising a base portion  20 , a holding portion  30 , and a link portion  40  interconnecting the base portion  20  and the holding portion  30 . 
     In the first exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the device  10  is made as a single piece by molding a plastics material, for example, a relatively rigid plastics material. Such materials including, but not limited to, a polyolefin, such as polypropylene or polyethylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), styrene polymers, and polyamides. 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, the base portion  20  comprises an elongate body of circular cross-section extending along a curvilinear longitudinal axis X, which is circular in the first exemplary embodiment, with radius lying in the range fifteen millimeters (mm) to thirty millimeters, for example. In the first exemplary embodiment, the body of the base portion  20  extends over an angular sector of about 270°. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the link portion  40  is generally U-shaped, comprising two limbs  41 , each connected to a corresponding end of the base portion  40 . 
     The limbs  41  are of circular cross-section and extend obliquely upward going toward a middle portion  21  of the base portion  20 . A curvilinear portion  42  having the same circular cross-section unites the limbs  41 . This curvilinear portion  42  extends along a longitudinal axis Y that is substantially concentric with the axis X when the device  2  is observed from above. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the curvilinear portion  42  extends over an angular sector of about 180°. 
     The holding portion  30  comprises a clip with two branches  31  and  32  that are connected to the curvilinear portion  42  by respective thin portions  34  and  35  that define film-hinges. Thus, the branches  31  and  32  can pivot relative to the link portion  40  between an open position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , that allows hair to be treated to be inserted into the space  36  therebetween, and a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , in which the hair can be held in place by being clamped between the branches  31  and  32 . The branches can co-operate, for example, by an end  37  of the branch  32  snap-fastening in a recess  38  defined by a rim  39  on the branch  31 . 
     The device  10  may be used as follows. 
     A user takes hold of a lock of hair so as to cause the hair roots R to be upstanding on the scalp S, and then introduces the hair between the branches  31  and  32 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The user can then close the clip, for example, by using the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 5 , and let go of the hair. The roots R remain upstanding on the scalp S because the hair is held in the branches  31  and  32 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The general shape of the device, and for example, the inclination of the link portion  40  relative to the base portion  20 , enables a certain amount of flexibility to be given to the device as a whole, thus making it possible to exert tension on the hair that is being held. The user can then put a substance onto the upstanding roots R, such as, for example, a gel, and leave the device  10  in place for a length of time needed to allow the substance to dry prior to removing the device. 
     Various modifications to the device are contemplated by the invention. For example, various modifications to the holding portion are contemplated by the invention, as described below with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 10 . 
     A second exemplary embodiment of a device  10 ′ is shown in  FIG. 7 , which differs from the first exemplary embodiment described above by the shape of the holding portion  30 . In the second exemplary embodiment, the holding portion  30  comprises branches  31  and  32  that are not hinged to the link portion  40  by film-hinges. 
     The branches  31  and  32  have respective parallel rectilinear portions  51  and  52  of circular cross-section and respective end portions  53  and  54  that diverge going away from the curvilinear portion  42  so as to make it easier to insert hair between the branches  31  and  32 . 
     The rectilinear portions  50  and  51  have respective adjacent edges  55  and  56  that are touching or spaced apart by only a small distance, so as to enable them to clamp onto hair that is inserted therebetween. 
     A third exemplary embodiment of a device  10 ″ is shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , which differs from the second exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  by the fact that the spacing between the rectilinear portions  51  and  52  is greater, as shown in  FIG. 10 , thereby enabling respective sleeves  61  and  62  to be engaged thereon. The sleeves  61  and  62  are made of foam, for example. The spacing between the rectilinear portions  51  and  52  is selected in the third exemplary embodiment to be such that the sleeves  61  and  62  touch or are even slightly compressed against each other, once they are in place on the branches  31  and  32 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The sleeves  61  and  62  cover the end portions  53  and  54 , at least in part. 
     When the device  10 ″ is in use, the user can slide hair between the sleeves  61  and  62 , for example, because of the compressibility from the materials from which the sleeves  61  and  62  are made. 
     Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention contemplate that the holding portion and the base and link portions could be made in other ways. 
     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.