Patent Publication Number: US-2005121049-A1

Title: Hair brush with a removable ceramic hair pick

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a hairbrush. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hairbrush having a hair pick that may be selectively retained in a handle of the hairbrush. Still more particularly, the hair pick is made of a suitable material to impart one or more benefits to the hair.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Hair styling products are known in the art. They are available in a large variety of designs for a number of modes of styling, such as for example, hair curling. Typically, to achieve a certain desirable hair curling style, heat is employed. This heat along with hair product is applied to selective portions of the hair to achieve tight, loose, large or small curls or other styling. Hair picks are also known in the art for removing hair that aggregates on a hairbrush. Hair picks are also known for styling the hair and providing the stylist with a tool for certain applications such as for example detangling the hair, teasing the hair and overall styling of the hair. However, during the hair curling manipulating, the prior art hair picks can potentially have one or more detriments.  
      First, prior art hair pick are formed from a metal. When this metal hair pick is placed in proximity to the curling iron, the metal hair pick will become heated. This heated hair pick can result in potentially unintentionally heating the scalp of the individual that the stylist is working on. Moreover, the stylist may potentially have difficulty manipulating the heated hair pick.  
      Second, the hair pick is typically relatively smaller in size than a hairbrush and/or curling iron. If placed on a counter, or dropped during the styling, the hair pick can be potentially lost very easily. Third, prior art hair picks typically do not provide any additional styling benefits to the hair. They are merely used in one or more limited situations such as for detangling the hair. However, if the hair is very detangled, the stylist must exert more force to the hair pick to untangle the detangled hair. This results in an amount of discomfort to the hair stylist&#39;s client. In order to reduce this discomfort, the hair stylist must employ another device to assist with the entanglement of the hair. Typically, a hair stylist would utilize an ion generating device to impart a silky texture or non-static condition to the hair and to further assist with detangling the hair. However, the manipulation of the hairbrush, the ion generating device and the hair pick is difficulty, especially simultaneously.  
      Accordingly, there is a need for a hair pick that eliminates one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair pick that is removably mounted in a hairbrush.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair pick that retains heat for application to the hair.  
      It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hair pick that distributes heat on the hair.  
      It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a hair pick that retains infrared energy and later emits the infrared energy to treat the hair.  
      It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a hair pick that emits ions to treat the hair.  
      It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hair pick improves the texture of the hair.  
      It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a hair pick that is made from a ceramic material.  
      It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide a hair pick that is made from a resilient base material that has a ceramic coating thereon.  
      The above and other objects, advantages and benefits of the present invention will be understood by reference to the detailed description provided below and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hairbrush having a handle with an aperture and a removable hair pick being disposed in the aperture.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a hairbrush and a removable ceramic pick.  
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the handle of the hairbrush of  FIG. 1  with the ceramic hair pick being in the handle.  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the ceramic hair pick of  FIG. 3  being detached from the handle.  
       FIG. 5  is a side view of another embodiment of the hair pick of  FIG. 3  being detached from the handle.  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of still another embodiment of the hair pick of  FIG. 3  being detached from the handle.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to the drawings and, in particular,  FIG. 1 , there is provided a hair styling assembly of the present invention generally represented by reference numeral  10 . The hair styling assembly  10  has a brush  12 . The brush  12  is shown in a preferred embodiment as a round vented brush of a generally elongated cylindrical shape. However, one skilled in the art should appreciate that the hair styling assembly  10  may be used with a round brush, a cylindrical shaped brush, a flat hairbrush, a paddle brush, a spinning brush, a half round brush, a vent brush, a comb, an all purpose comb, a wide toothed comb, a teasing comb, a rat tailed comb, a detangling comb and any other hair styling device or hair styling apparatus known in the art.  
      One skilled in the art should appreciate that brush  12  has a brush head  16 . The brush head  16  may be formed in a variety of diameters. Preferably, the smaller the diameter, the tighter the curl of the hair. Relatively narrow diameters are especially effective for creating curls while conversely relatively larger diameters create looser curls. The brush head  16  is extends about half way on the hair styling assembly  10  from an end to about a midpoint on the hair styling assembly. The brush head  16  has a length suitable to comb or style hair in a comfortable manner and further to have an adequate number of bristles  14  disposed in surrounding fashion thereon.  
      The brush head  16  has a sleeve  18 . The sleeve  18  is disposed around the brush head  16  in concentric relation to the brush head. Preferably, the sleeve  18  is formed from a thermally conductive material such as metal, copper, aluminum, or steel. However, one skilled in the art should appreciate that the sleeve  18  may be made from any thermally conductive material known in the art. Although, the sleeve  18  is shown as completely surrounding the brush head  16 , alternatively the sleeve may only surround a radial portion of the brush head such as three quarters of the brush head, half of the brush head or a quarter of the brush head. Due to the thermally conductive nature of the sleeve  18 , the sleeve is preferably heated upon contact with heated air from a heat source such as a hair dryer. In this manner, the sleeve  18  is heated and the brush head  16  may assist with curling the hair being brushed to form one or more curls.  
      The sleeve  18  has a number of apertures  20  being disposed therethrough. Preferably, a number of bristles  14  extend outwardly opposite the brush head  16  through the number of apertures  20 . The number of apertures  20  preferably facilitate drying of the hair when using the hair styling assembly  10  with the hair dryer. The number of apertures  20  preferably permit the heated air to traverse through the sleeve  18  and out the opposite side of the brush head  16  to contact and dry the hair that is being brushed on the opposite side. This decreases an amount of time necessary to dry the hair as the number of apertures  20  facilitate the circulation of the heated air relative to an instance where the brush head  16  blocks an air flow path. Here, the path of the heated air traverses through a front side of the sleeve  18  and out a rear side of the sleeve.  
      The number of bristles  14  may be boar&#39;s head bristles, nylon bristles, heat resistant bristles or any other suitable material known in the art for brushing the hair in a comfortable manner. The number of bristles  14  are arranged, as shown in  FIG. 1 , extending in all directions, preferably three hundred and sixty degrees surrounding the brush  12 . Preferably, this brush  12  and the number of bristles  14  are used during the various stages of blow-drying.  
      The hair styling device  10  has a handle  22 . The handle  22  is preferably an elongated cylindrical member removably or fixedly connected, preferably fixedly, to the brush head  16  and is lightweight to allow manipulation of the brush head. Although, shown as generally cylindrical, one skilled in the art should appreciate that the handle  22  may be generally rectangular or have any other shape known in the art. The handle  22  has an interior space  24  with a volume as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a hair pick being detached from the hair styling device  10 . The handle  22  has a length  26  and a diameter  28 . The length  26  and diameter  28  of the handle  22  are suitably sized to be capable of being grasped by the stylist. The diameter  28  is preferably measured from an inner surface of an aperture  38 . The handle  22  is shown as being formed from a resilient material such as wood. Alternatively, the handle  22  may be formed from any material being known in the art such as a thermoplastic, a thermoset, a polymer material, a metal, steel, aluminum or any combinations thereof. Preferably, the handle  22  has a distal side  30  and a proximal side  32  being opposite the distal side. Preferably, the brush head  16  is connected to the handle  22  at the proximal side  32 . In this embodiment, the handle  22  has a bulbous feature  34  at the proximal side  32  that allows a thumb to rest thereon. The bulbous feature preferably is aesthetically pleasing. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the proximal side  32  of the handle  22  may be shaped in any manner known in the art.  
      The distal side  30  of the handle  22  further has an end  36 . The end  36  preferably has the aperture  38 , preferably a circular aperture therein. The aperture  38  permits access to the interior space  24  of the handle  22 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , the interior space  24  has a length  40 . The length  40  preferably extends about halfway up the length  26  of the handle  22  as shown in  FIG. 2 . However, one skilled in the art should recognize that the interior space  24  is of a suitable size to fit a longitudinal member therein.  
      The hair styling device  10  further has a hair pick  44 . The hair pick  44  is preferably an elongated cylindrical member having preferably a dual function. First, the hair pick  44  preferably allows the stylist to remove stray hair that aggregates on the number of bristles  14  on the brush head  16  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In this manner, the hair pick  44  may be grasped by the user, removed from the interior space  24 , and manipulated such that the aggregated stray hair is removed from the brush head  16 .  
      Second, the hair pick  44  may be used for styling purposes such as detangling the hair and simultaneously imparting one or more styling benefits to the hair. Preferably, the hair pick  44  improves the hair texture during a styling operation such as hair drying, hair curling, hair brushing, hair washing, hair teasing, or combing. Additionally, the hair pick  44  may act as a comb to straighten tangled hair. Still further, the hair pick  44  may be formed from a suitable material to retain heat, ions, infrared radiation and impart that energy to improve the hair texture.  
      Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the hair pick  44  is preferably selectively engageable and disengagebale in the hair styling assembly  10 . The hair pick  44  preferably has a complementary width  46  relative to the diameter  28  of the aperture  38  of the interior space  24 . In this manner, the hair pick  44  fits in the aperture  38  and is selectively retained in the interior space  24  of the handle  22 .  
      In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the hair pick  44  has a hair pick handle  48 , a staff portion  50 , and a bulbous gripping member  52 . The hair pick handle  48  is preferably a cylindrical shaped member having a hair pick handle diameter or width  46  being shown in  FIG. 3 . The hair pick handle  48  is preferably connected between the staff portion  50  and the bulbous gripping member  52 . The hair pick handle  48  preferably has the width  46  that is greater than a diameter of the staff portion  50 .  
      Preferably, the hair pick handle  48  further has a sheath  56  that is disposed around the hair pick handle. The sheath  56  is preferably has a higher coefficient of friction relative to the hair pick handle  48  so that the sheath rubs up against the interior space  24  of the handle  22 . Thus, the hair pick  44  can be retained against an interior wall or surface of the interior space  24  of the handle  22  and will not fall out of the handle for storage purposes when not in use during, for example, styling.  
      The sheath  56  is preferably an elastomeric material such as a thermoplastic elastomer, a polyurethane material, rubber, or any combinations thereof. However one skilled in the art should appreciate that the sheath  56  may be any material known in the art to facilitate gripping of the hair pick handle  48 , the bulbous gripping member  52 , the staff portion  50  and also simultaneously grip the interior wall of the interior space  24 . The sheath  56  preferably also has a number of grooves  58  being disposed thereon. The number of grooves  58  are arranged as a series of spaced circular shaped furrows or channels that extend entirely along a circumference of the sheath  56 . However, one skilled in the art should appreciate that the number of grooves  58  may be in any pattern or configuration to facilitate gripping of the hair pick handle  48 .  
      Additionally, the sheath  56  preferably is formed from a thermally nonconductive material. Preferably, the hair pick  44  is typically involved in styling hair using for example a curling iron or a hair dryer both that emit heat. This may cause the hair pick  44  to become heated and remain hot and difficult to hold. The sheath  56  is preferably formed from a thermally nonconductive material and preferably surrounds the hair pick handle  48 . Thus, the sheath  56  protects the fingers of the stylist that grips the hair pick  44 .  
      The hair pick handle  48  is preferably connected to the bulbous gripping member  52  at an end opposite the staff portion  50 . Preferably, the bulbous gripping member  52  is spherical in shape and has a diameter  60 . The diameter  60  is about the same as the hair pick handle diameter or width  46 . Preferably, the bulbous gripping member  52  has substantially the same size as that of the hair pick handle  48  and facilitates the initial removal of the hair pick  44  from the interior space  24  of the hair styling assembly  10 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the hair pick handle  48  narrows in width and is further integrally connected to the staff portion  50  opposite the bulbous gripping member  52 . The staff portion  50  is preferably a generally elongated member having a tip  62 . The tip  62  preferably is a pointed end of the staff portion  50  opposite the hair pick handle  48  and also opposite the bulbous gripping member  52 . Preferably, the tip  62  and the staff portion  50  are both resilient members and are suitable to detangle hair while simultaneously provide styling benefits to the client.  
      The staff portion  50  further has an intermediate portion  64  with a width  66 . The width  66  of the staff portion  50  at the intermediate portion  64  is relatively wider than that of a width of the tip  62  or an end opposite the tip connected to the hair pick handle  48 . This width  66  facilitates detangling the hair and simultaneously styling attributes of the hair pick  44 .  
      An exemplary feature of the present invention is that the hair pick  44  is made from a suitable material to absorb energy emitted from hair styling devices and further retain and impart this energy to the hair to be treated.  
      In one embodiment of the present invention, the hair pick  44  is formed from a solid ceramic material. Preferably, the hair pick  44  may be made from the solid ceramic material or alternatively a resilient base material, such as a metal or a plastic being coated with a ceramic carrying paint. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ceramic carrying paint is selected for optimal heat absorption and is selected for optimal conductivity. Preferably, the ceramic carrying paint is further selected for other parameters such as cost, and durability that are also weighed in addition to the optimal heat absorption and optimal conductivity. In this ceramic carrying paint embodiment of the hair pick  44 , preferably smaller particles of ceramic material are contained in the ceramic carrying paint. These relatively smaller particles of ceramic material in the ceramic carrying paint allow for a relatively higher concentration of ceramic material to be contained in the ceramic carrying paint relative to an instance of where larger particle are used. Preferably, a smaller particle size of the ceramic material in the ceramic carrying paint further minimizes granularity or a surface roughness of an outer surface of the hair pick  44 . This minimal surface roughness is preferred and results in a smooth outer surface to the hair pick  44  that aids in hair styling and texture of the hair. Preferably, the ceramic material absorbs heat from, for example, a hair dryer or a curling iron and retains this heat for an extended period of time relative to the instance of the metal hair picks. Preferably, the heated hair pick  44  will assist in styling of the hair and for example facilitate detangling and drying of the hair.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the hair pick  44  may be formed from a resilient base material  68 . The resilient base material  68  has a ceramic coating  70  disposed thereon. The ceramic coating  70  is preferred since a ceramic coating has superior characteristics for heat retention and heat distribution relative to the resilient base material  68 . Thus, the ceramic coating  70  improves the styling of the hair to be treated.  
      In another embodiment, of the present invention, the hair pick  44  is formed from a ceramic material and retains ions. The ions are generated from a suitable ionic generating device (not shown) that preferably is separate from the hair styling assembly  10  and hair pick  44 . The excess generated ions are transferred to the hair pick  44  by physical contact between the hair pick and the ionic generating device. The ions on the hair pick  44  are then transferred from the hair pick to the hair by a second physical contact between the hair pick and the hair. This facilitates an improved texture of the hair and assists, for example, in detangling purposes.  
      In another embodiment of the present invention, the hair pick  44  has one or more portions of the hair pick  44  that are made from a ceramic material. These one or more portions preferably retain infrared radiation for application to the hair to be treated or styled. The infrared energy is generated from a suitable infrared generating device that is separate from the hair styling assembly  10  and the hair pick  44 . The infrared energy is transferred to the hair pick  44  by a suitable manner. The infrared energy retained in the hair pick  44  is then transferred from the hair pick to the hair by physical contact between the hair pick and the hair. This results in improved benefits to the hair such as, for example, an improved hair texture.  
      In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 6 , the hair pick  44  may only have the tip  62  coated with the ceramic coating  70 . In another alternative embodiment, the staff portion  50  of the hair pick  44  may be coated with the ceramic coating  70 . Still further, the hair pick handle  48  may be formed from a resilient material such as a metal and the remainder of the hair pick may be formed with the ceramic material or may be coated with the ceramic coating  70 . This may reduce the costs associate with manufacture of the hair pick  44 . One skilled in the art should appreciate that remaining portions of the hair pick  44  that are not coated may be formed from any suitable material that can withstand the high temperatures that are associated with the ceramic coating process. For example, the hair pick  44  may be formed from a metal material, steel, aluminum or any another material known in the art.  
      It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances.