Patent Publication Number: US-2022211158-A1

Title: Hairstyling edge-control systems and methods

Description:
I. TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to hairstyling devices. In particular, the present invention relates to devices for styling baby hairs. 
     II. BACKGROUND 
     In the field of hairstyling, baby hairs are in the midst of a resurgence. Baby hairs are very fine, delicate, and thinly textured hair strands located at the edges of a person&#39;s hairline. Particularly within the African American, Latinx, and other communities of color, baby hairs feature prominently in hairstyling, especially in relation to hair beautification, treatment products, customizing of wigs, etc. With their resurgence and emerging interests, baby hairs enjoy many fashionable and artful styles. For example, baby hairs can be slicked down or gelled to lay flat, or styled to create swirls, spirals, wave-like patterns, and many others. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of several exemplary baby hair styles  100 ,  102 , and  103 . In spite of a resurgence and increasing prominence, the baby hair styling industry is inconvenienced by a patchwork of different types of tools and devices to create the styles noted above and depicted in  FIG. 1 . A tail comb, or rat tail comb, is the professional hair stylist most popular tool for creating fashionable and artful baby hair styles. 
       FIG. 2  is an illustration of several conventional baby-hair brushes and combs available at local retailers. In  FIG. 2 , a rat tail comb  200  includes a sharp tip  202  for parting hair and to pull out the baby hair to begin the styling process. A brush/comb combination (i.e., a top portion)  203  is provided at another end of the rat tail comb  200  for styling purposes, such as forming shapes with the baby hair. 
     Another conventional tool is a rat tail comb  204  that includes a sharp tip  206 , along with a comb  207 . Although effective for styling purposes, the sharp tips  202  and  206  of the rat tail combs  200  and  204  are prone to breakage and other types of damage. The sharp tips  202  and  206  are also frequent sources of damage to garment pockets and purse linings, while being carried. They can also pose a danger to the user. 
     A third conventional tool is a styling comb  208 . The styling comb  208  includes a brush  210  at one and a comb  212  at the other end. The styling comb  208 , however, is devoid of the sharp tips seen in the tail comb  200  and the rat tail comb  204 . Thus, a user in possession of the styling comb  208  would likely need an additional tool, such as a rat tail comb, for parting the hair and pulling out the baby hairs. 
     In a pinch, professional stylists and self-stylists may substitute use of a toothbrush, a large comb, or an oversized brush to shape and lay down the baby hair. In fact, many self-stylists traditionally use a human digit, such as their finger, to press the baby hairs down to form shapes, such as the shapes shown in  FIG. 1 . The finger, for example, can emulate the functionality of the top portion of the comb (e.g., the top portion  203  of the tail comb  200 ). 
     One of the problems with using a human finger as a tool for styling baby hairs is that conditioning gels and other hair treatments can cause the baby hairs to stick to the skin of the finger. Accordingly, several different types of tools, such as brushes, toothbrushes, and regular baby hairbrushes, are needed to begin and complete the baby hair styling process in an efficient and satisfactory manner. 
     III. SUMMARY 
     The embodiments featured herein help solve or mitigate the above noted deficiencies as well as other issues known in the art. For example, what is needed are convenient methods and systems for efficiently, satisfactorily, and safely styling baby hairs. Tools constructed in accordance with the embodiments provide a baby-hair brush with a collapsible tail comb and a pressing tip for parting and laying down baby hairs. These tools ultimately assist in easily and efficiently creating the fashionable and artful baby hair styles that are enjoyed and appreciated by so many. 
     Under certain circumstances, an embodiment of the present invention includes a hairstyling device having a handle and at least one of bristles or a row of teeth positioned on a side of one end of the handle. Also provided is a tail comb operatively attached to an opposite end of the handle, the tail comb being collapsible for storage in an interior portion of the handle. 
     Additional features, modes of operations, advantages, and other aspects of various embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. These embodiments are presented for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments, or modifications of the embodiments disclosed, will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings provided. 
    
    
     
       IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments may take form in various components and arrangements of components. Illustrative embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference numerals may indicate corresponding or similar parts in the various drawings. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating the embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. Given the following enabling description of the drawings, the novel aspects of the present disclosure should become evident to a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art(s). 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of several exemplary baby hair styles. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of conventional baby-hair brushes and combs. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of a baby-hair brush constructed and arranged in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed illustration of a collapsible tail comb depicted in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed illustration of a collapsible tail comb depicted in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of a baby-hair brush cap constructed in accordance with the embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of sample dimensions of one example of a baby-hair brush in accordance with the embodiments. 
     
    
    
     V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the illustrative embodiments are described herein for particular applications, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art and with access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present disclosure would be of significant utility. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of a baby-hair brush  300  constructed and arranged in accordance with the embodiments. The baby-hair brush  300  includes a pressing tip  302  attached to a first (distal) end  303  of the brush  300 . The pressing tip  302  can be attached to the baby-hair brush  300  using conventional techniques well known to those of skill in the art, such as gluing, stapling, or some other fastening arrangement. 
     The pressing tip  302  is used for styling baby hairs, particularly to press the baby hairs down onto a surface of the skin and keeping the baby hairs in place. The pressing tip  302  can be constructed of a soft material such as rubber, plastic, or a hard foam. The pressing tip  302  can also be constructed of other suitable materials within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The pressing tip  302  is used in a manner similar to the tip of a smartphone stylus pen to press the baby hairs. 
     By way of example, the baby-hair brush  300  includes bristles  304  that form a styling brush for use in baby-hair styling, such as brushing down the baby hairs. The baby-hair brush  300  also includes rows of teeth  306 , that together form a comb for further styling and shaping of the baby hairs. 
     The baby-hair brush  300  also incudes a handle portion  308  and a second (proximate) end  309 . Operatively attached to the proximate end  309  is a tail comb  310 , also called a rat tail comb. In some embodiments of the baby-hair brush  300 , the handle  308  has an elongated or slender type shape. The tail comb  310  includes a sharp tip  311  for styling the baby hairs. In a deployment stage  312 , the tail comb  310  is in a stowed position suitable for storing or transporting the baby-hair brush  300 . However, when deployed for use, as depicted in deployment stage  314 , the tail comb  310  is configured for parting hair, to pull out the baby hair, and to begin the baby hair shaping and styling process. 
     Once the hair styling process concludes, the tail comb  310  is collapsible by folding into a groove  316 , or cavity, for stowing. The tail comb  310  being able to fold into the groove  316  for stowing reduces the susceptibility of the tail comb  310  to damage when being transported in a purse or being carried in the pocket of a garment. Stowing of the tail comb  310  also reduces the potential of a user being injured by the sharp tip  311 . The groove  316  is formed (e.g., carved) into the handle  308  of the baby-hair brush  300 . 
       FIG. 4  is a more detailed illustration of the collapsible tail comb  310  depicted in t  FIG. 3 . In the illustrious embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the handle  308  is shown with the tail comb  310  in various stages of deployment  400 ,  402 ,  404 , and  406 . By way of a single example, the tail comb  310  can be attached to an axis  408  for securing in place and to facilitate rotating of the tail comb  310  for folding into the groove  316 . In an embodiment, the axis  408  could be a pin, small rod, or any other conventional fastening and rotating mechanisms known to a person of skill in the art. 
     By way of example only, and not limitation, in the deployment stage  400  the tail comb  310  is fully deployed or extended out of the groove  316 . In the deployment stage  402 , a base  311  of the tail comb  310  is slightly rotated along the axis  408  in a rotational direction A1 toward the groove  316 . 
     Similarly, in the deployment stage  404 , the base of the tail comb  310  continues rotation along the axis  408  in the rotational direction A1, toward the groove  316 . Finally, in the deployment stage  406 , the tail comb  310  is depicted being fully retracted into the groove  316  for stowing. When stowed, or fully folded, the tail comb  310  is substantially hidden from visibility of the user. In practice, the user can cycle the collapsible tail comb  310  through all of the deployment stages  400 ,  402 ,  404 , and  406 , in a single motion. 
       FIG. 5  is a detailed illustration of a baby-hair brush  500  according to a second embodiment of the invention. The baby-hair brush  500  includes a handle  508  and a tail comb  510 . The tail comb  510  includes a sharp tip  511 . 
     The tail comb  510  collapses for stowing by retracting into a small internal cavity or shaft  512  formed within the handle  508 . That is, instead of folding along a rotational axis for stowing, such as the axis  408  in the tail comb  310 , the tail comb  510  of  FIG. 5  is movable (e.g., when depressed by a user) along a longitudinal axis (X) of the handle  508  for stowing within the cavity  512 . 
     By way of example only, and not limitation, movement and stowing of the tail comb  510  can be controlled by means of a spring locking mechanism  514  in a manner similar to operation of a conventional ballpoint pen. Other mechanisms, well known to a person of skill in the art, can be used to facilitate the retracting and stowing of the tail comb  510  and are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     During operation, for example, a stage of deployment  520  in  FIG. 5  depicts the tail comb  510  fully extended and ready for use to style baby-hairs. By way of example, as a user slightly presses the sharp tip  511  of the tail comb  510  for stowing, the tail comb  510  moves along the longitudinal axis (X) of the handle  508 . At a brief moment in time, the tail comb  510  appears partially stowed within the cavity  512  as depicted in a deployment stage  530 . 
     In yet other embodiments, a button or other mechanism (not shown) can be actuated by the user to initiate retraction of the tail comb  510 . 
     In a deployment stage  540 , as the user continues to retract the tail comb  510 , the tail comb  510  eventually completely slides into the shaft  512  for storage. In the baby-hair brush  500 , the tail comb  510  is completely hidden from view and access by the user. In practice, and as discussed above in relation to the tail comb  310  of  FIG. 4 , the user can cycle the retractable tail comb  510  through all of the deployment stages  520 ,  530 , and  540  in a single motion. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of a baby-hair brush cap  600  constructed in accordance with the embodiments. In  FIG. 6 , the baby-hair brush cap  600  is configured for protecting, and storing the pressing tip  302 , the brush  304 , and the  306  of the baby-hair brush  310 . The baby-hair brush cap  600  operates similar to a toothbrush cap but is configured to protect the important features of the baby-hair brush  300  formed at its distal end  303 . A partially open baby-hair brush cap  610  is also depicted in  FIG. 6 , along with a packaged baby-hair brush cap  612  ready for shipment and sale to waiting customers. 
       FIG. 7  is an illustration of sample dimensions  700  of one exemplary baby-hair brush constructed in accordance with the embodiments. While a baby-hair brush arranged in accordance with the embodiments can be constructed with any suitable dimensions, the dimensions  700  are one example. In  FIG. 7 , and for purposes of relative comparison only, the exemplary baby-hair brush  300  has a length (L 1 ) about 7 times longer that its width (W). 
     When extended, the tail comb  310  has a length (L 2 )—a little less than one third of the length (L 2 ) of the baby-hair brush  300 . However, the embodiments of the baby-hair brush  300  are not limited to the exemplary dimensions  700  of  FIG. 7 . For example, dimensions of the illustrious embodiments of the baby-hair brush  300  can include various standards and ratios, all of which would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Those skilled in the relevant art(s) will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the embodiments described above can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.