Patent Publication Number: US-6658687-B1

Title: Hairbrush with integral radio receiver

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to brushes. More particularly, the invention relates to a hairbrush having housed therein a radio receiver for providing audio entertainment during the hair brushing task. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the past, sound generators or radio receivers have been incorporated into a vast array of devices for personal entertainment or even to encourage proper habits through reward. Although proper maintenance of the hair is important for general hygiene, however, there has been very little development toward the incorporation of audio devices into hairbrushes or the like. Because the task of hair brushing often involves water and/or other hair care products, the incorporation of electrical devices has previously been limited to simple devices that are easily sealed within a brush structure. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,159 issued Jul. 20, 1999 to Haitin (“Haitin”) discloses a brush having a sound generator that rewards brushing movements of a certain speed, force and duration. Haitin, which is limited to very simple output, however, does not extend to the incorporation of more sophisticated entertainment providing structures. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,014 issued Feb. 3, 1987 to Bland (“Bland”) discloses a hand held hair dryer with a housed radio receiver. The dryer of Bland, however, does not contact wet hair or flowing water and thus does not include those features necessary to the incorporation of a radio receiver within a hairbrush. 
     It is therefore a specific object of the present invention to incorporate a radio receiver into a conventional hairbrush, whereby the user may have the benefits of audio entertainment to relieve the tedium of hair brushing notwithstanding the generally incompatible environment presented by the task. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a hairbrush in a compact and convenient form that is also economical to produce. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention—a radio hairbrush—generally comprises a body, having a plurality of bristles dependently secured thereto; a handle; a radio receiver integral with the body; and an audio output device. The radio receiver is contained within a cavity internal to the body and all controls for the radio receiver are sealed to prevent the ingress of fluids to the cavity. Preferably, the controls include at least an ON-OFF control for the radio receiver and a volume control for controlling the level of sound generated by the audio output device. 
     In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of orifices through the body are positioned adjacent to the audio output device for allowing the emanation through the body of sound waves emitted from the audio output device. In this embodiment, a flexible membrane, such as a thin, plastic sheet, is interposed between the audio output device and the orifices to prevent the ingress of fluids through the orifices to the cavity. 
     The handle preferably comprises a compartment adapted to retain a power source, such as one or more batteries, for the radio receiver. The handle further comprises a removable cap, for allowing access to the compartment for placement and/or removal of the battery or batteries, which is adapted to form a watertight seal to the compartment. In at least one embodiment, this seal may be achieved by placement of a gasket, O-ring or other like structure adjacent to or within the cap. 
    
    
     Finally, many other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, especially in light of the foregoing discussions and the following drawings, exemplary detailed description and appended claims. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment follows together with illustrative figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view, the preferred embodiment of the present invention—a hairbrush with integral radio receiver and; 
     FIG. 2 shows, in a top cross-sectional view, the audio receiver internal the hairbrush of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 shows, in a side cross-sectional view, the hairbrush of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Although those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many alternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrations provided herein, this detailed description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of which is limited only by the claims appended hereto. 
     Referring now to the Figures, the preferred embodiment of the present invention—a hairbrush  15  with integral radio receiver  10 , generally comprises a handle  11 , a body  12 , a radio receiver  13  and an audio output device  14 , such as for example, a speaker. According to the preferred embodiment, the handle  11  is integrally formed with, or otherwise secured to, the body  12  of the hairbrush  15 . The body  12  of the hairbrush  15 , as will be better understood further herein, fully encloses the radio receiver  13  and audio output device  14 . In this manner, the electrical components  16  of the present invention may be protected from water and/or hair care products. Additionally, the batteries  17  for operation of the radio receiver  13  are preferably conveniently housed within the handle  11 . As a result, the hairbrush  15  is adapted to provide a compact and convenient entertainment source, particularly suited to relief of the brushing tedium. It is expected that this combination will, especially among younger users, greatly encourage more thorough and frequent brushing by the addition of a fun element to an otherwise time-consuming and laborious chore. 
     Referring now specifically to FIG. 1, the body  12  of the hairbrush  15  is shown to generally comprise a plurality of bristles  18  dependently secured adjacent one side of a substantially fluid impermeable body  12 . According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the body  12  is constructed of a plastic or like material, which is lightweight and inexpensive to manufacture yet generally fluid impervious. While those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize many possible substantial equivalents, it is only critical that such substitutions provide a water resistant housing for the radio receiver  13  and audio output device  14 . As a result, all such substitutions should be considered within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims appended hereto. Likewise, the bristles  18  may comprise any of a number of materials such as, for example, wire or plastic, although they should in any case be constructed and operative as are those of an ordinary hairbrush. Because it is preferred that the cavity  19  internal the body  12  be fluid impermeable, however, in order to protect the various components  16  of the radio receiver  13  from damage, the bristles  18  should be secured to the body  12  in a manner that precludes the infusion of fluids through their points of affixation. This may be accomplished, for example, by securing the bristles  18  into indentations in said body  12  that do not fully penetrate the body  12  or, in the alternative, by filling orifices of affixation with an epoxy resin or the like. 
     As also shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the body  12  of the hairbrush  15  further comprises a plurality of orifices  20  for the transmission therethrough of sound waves, a power indicator  21  and a window  22  for indication of the selected radio station. To prevent the ingress of water and other fluids, thereby maintaining the integrity of the radio receiver  13 , a fluid impermeable membrane  23  is preferably interposed between the sound orifices  20  and the radio receiver  13 . Such a membrane  23  may comprise, for example, a thin sheet of plastics material circumferentially adhered to the internal surface of the body  12  about the extent of the sound orifices  20 . The power indicator  21 , which may comprise a light-emitting diode (“LED”) or the like, is also preferably placed in sealed engagement with the body  12  of the hairbrush  15 . Such sealed engagement may be achieved, for example, by placing an epoxy resin around the glass or plastic circumference of the indicator  21  and in sealing contact with the circumferential extent of the orifice therefor. In the alternative, the indicator  21  may be positioned within the cavity  19  in the area of a translucent window integral with and through the body  12 . In this manner, a power on condition may be indicated to the user, thereby preventing inadvertent battery drainage without compromise to the fluid resistant integrity of the present invention. Finally, a tuning window  22  is similarly provided in the body  12  of the hairbrush  15  so that the user may readily tune the receiver  13  to a desired station. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2 particularly, the radio receiver  13  of the hairbrush  15  is further detailed. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the radio receiver  13 , which may comprise a standard AM-FM receiver modified in accordance with teachings herein, is securely mounted within the body&#39;s internal cavity  19 . An integral ON-OFF-VOLUME control  24 , a tuning control  25 , a tuning scale  26  and an AM-FM control  27 , as are well known to those of ordinary skill in the electrical arts, are provided. Although those of ordinary skill will recognize that separate power and volume controls may be provided, it is preferred that an integral control  24  be utilized in this application to minimize the opportunity for fluid ingress. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each exteriorially extending control  24 ,  25 ,  27  of the radio receiver  13  are selected to be fluid resistant while the antenna for the radio receiver is implemented in a low profile form for mounting entirely within the cavity  19 . Each of these components  24 ,  25 ,  27  are readily available to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, many manufacturers produce button-type single or double pole, single or double throw switches in weatherproof and/or water tight designs. Exemplary of these manufacturers are Clarostat of El Paso, Tex.; Honeywell of Freeport, Ill.; and NKK Switches of Scottsdale, Ariz. In the alternative, other manufacturers, such as APM Hexseal of Mesa, Ariz., produce rubber boots and seals in many standard or custom forms for weatherproofing standard, off-the-shelf switches and rotary selectors. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, the handle  11  of the radio hairbrush is shown to comprise a mute switch  28 , for convenient audio disruption and a battery compartment  29 . The mute switch  28  may be used to temporarily interrupt the receiver&#39;s audio output, for brief conversation or the like, without interrupting the brushing task. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention the handle  11  of the hairbrush  15  is also constructed of a plastic or like material for protection of the batteries  17  and electrical components internal thereto. As also shown in the Figure, electrical wiring  30  connects the radio receiver  13  to the power source, which may typically comprise two standard 1.5 V alkaline or rechargeable batteries  17  connected in series retained within a battery compartment  29  by a cap  31 . The cap  31  is preferably sealed with an O-ring  32  or the like, which may comprise a rubber, polymeric or other similar material, to prevent the ingress through the battery compartment  29  of water or other fluids. 
     While the foregoing description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize the many variations, alterations, modifications, substitutions and the like as are readily possible, especially in light of this description, the accompanying drawings and claims drawn thereto. For example, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the radio receiver  13  may be replaced with a miniature compact disc player, cassette player, MP-3 player or the like. In the case of the MP-3 player, or other digital storage medium, the audio download may be through a translucent window utilizing an infrared interface or the like. Likewise, the handle  11  of the hairbrush  15  may be provided with an externally projecting charging plug, thereby allowing the permanent sealing of the batteries  17  within the handle  11  to further ensure that fluids do not ingress to the cavity  19  of body  12 . The only critical aspect for each of the foregoing examples, however, is that care be taken to protect the internal electrical components from fluids and other hair care products. In any case, because the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, the foregoing detailed description should not be construed as a limitation of the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.