Patent Publication Number: US-2022218095-A1

Title: Beauty tool head with flexible bristle base

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Beauty tools, such as hairbrushes, heating irons, and other styling devices, are conventionally known and commonly used. Conventional hair brushes generally include a handle or other gripping surface, and a brush or bristle end for separating hair as it is run through a user&#39;s hair. Curling or heating irons also conventionally have a handle portion, but include a heating area instead of the brush or bristle end. The conventional hair brush and heating iron have also been integrated into a heating hair brush. Typically, the conventional hair brush and heating iron combination tends to have an interior heating surface and conventional brush bristles extending outwardly through the heated portion. When in use, the heat is distributed to the brush bristles to heat the user&#39;s hair as the brush is run through a user&#39;s hair. 
     SUMMARY 
     Exemplary embodiments described herein include a heated beauty tool, such as a heated airbrush. According to the present disclosure, the heated hairbrush may include a handle portion configured to house a heating assembly and a bristle portion. The bristle portion may include one or more heated areas. The heated areas may be integrated or form a part of or all of one or more bristles. The heated hairbrush may include two or more different bristle configurations, including a heated bristle and a non-heated bristle. More particularly, the bristle portion includes a barrel-shaped primary heating element configured to be heated by the heating assembly. The bristle portion includes bristle base heated members interlocked about an outer periphery of the heating element. Each bristle base heated member has one or more secondary heating elements (i.e., heated bristles) configured to be heated by the primary heating element. The bristle portion includes non-conductive, heat insulating bristle spacers secured by the bristle base heated members and the heating element. Bristle bars are secured by the bristle spacers and have one or more bristles (i.e., non-heated bristles) extending through the bristle spacers and the bristle base heated members. 
     According to one aspect, a beauty tool comprises a handle portion configured to house an associated heating assembly and a bristle portion connected to the handle portion. The bristle portion includes a primary heating element configured to be heated by the associated heating assembly. A bristle base heated member is mounted to an outer periphery of the heating element. The bristle base heated member has a secondary heating element configured to be heated by the primary heating element. A non-conductive, heat insulating bristle spacer is secured between the bristle base heated member and the heating element. A bristle bar is secured by the bristle spacer and has bristles extending through the bristle spacer and the bristle base heated member. The bristle spacer is configured to thermally isolate the bristle bar from both the heating element and the bristle base heated member. 
     According to another aspect, a beauty tool comprises a handle portion configured to house an associated heating assembly, and a bristle portion connected to the handle portion. The bristle portion includes a barrel-shaped primary heating element configured to be heated by the associated heating assembly. Bristle base heated members are interlocked about an outer periphery of the heating element. Each bristle base heated member has a secondary heating element configured to be heated by the primary heating element. Non-conductive, heat insulating bristle spacers are secured by the bristle base heated members and the heating element. Bristle bars are secured by the bristle spacers and have bristles extending through the bristle spacers and the bristle base heated members. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a beauty tool according to the present disclosure, the beauty tool including a handle portion and a bristle portion. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the beauty tool. 
         FIG. 3  is an end view of the bristle portion of the beauty tool with an end cap removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a heating element of the bristle portion. 
         FIG. 5-8  are perspective views of a bristle base heated members of the bristle portion. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a bristle spacer of the bristle portion. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a bristle bar of the bristle portion. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the present disclosure. Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a beauty tool, such as the depicted heated hairbrush  100 , according to the present disclosure. The heated hairbrush  100  may comprise a first end portion  102 , a second end portion  104 , a handle portion  106  and a bristle portion  108 . The handle portion  106  is located between the first end portion  102  and the bristle portion  108 , and the bristle portion is located between the second end portion  104  and the handle portion  106 . The handle portion  106  is configured to house a heating assembly (not shown) configured to heat a heating element  116  ( FIG. 3 ) provided in the bristle portion  108 . The heater assembly may be any conventional heater assembly which can be incorporated within the hairbrush  100 . The heating element  116  can be formed of any type of heat conductive material, such as metal (e.g. aluminum) or ceramic. The hairbrush  100  can be powered by electricity through a cord  118  (only a portion is visible); however, it will be appreciated that the hairbrush  100  can be powered by other means, such as one or more batteries for example. As depicted, the handle portion  106  may further comprise a control  120 , for example, a button, switch, slide, knob, etc., for turning on and off the heating of the hairbrush  100  and regulating the output temperature of the heater assembly, and an indicator  122 , such as, a slight, scale, number, display, etc., for relaying information, such as the heating level, to a user. 
       FIG. 3  is an end view of the bristle portion  108  (particularly a view of the second end portion  104  of the hairbrush  100  with the end cap  128  removed). The bristle portion  108  includes the heating element  116 , bristle base heated members  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  interlocked about an outer periphery of the heating element, non-conductive, heat insulating bristle spacers  154  secured by the bristle base heated members, and bristle bars  156  secured by the bristle spacers. With reference also to  FIG. 4 , the heating element  116  can be barrel-shaped and can be elliptical shaped in end view so as to define a major axis A 1  and a minor axis A 2 . The heating element  116  includes a base  160  having an inner surface  162  and an opposite outer surface  164 . The inner surface  162  is provided with at least one groove  166  for receiving at least one heating coil (not shown) that is operably connected to the heating assembly housed in the handle portion  106 . An inner sleeve  168  corresponding in shape to the inner surface  152  can be press-fitted into the heating element  116  to cover the at least one heating coil located in the at least one groove  166 . 
     The outer surface  164  has extending outwardly therefrom a first pair of circumferentially spaced flanges  170 ,  172  (i.e., guide flanges) and a second pair of circumferentially spaced flanges  174 ,  176  (i.e., guide flanges) located opposite the first pair of) flanges  170 ,  172  along the minor axis A 2 . The flanges  170 ,  172 , which can be L-shaped, are oriented in a facing relationship and extend along a length of the heating element  116 . Similarly, the flanges  174 ,  176 , which can be L-shaped, are oriented in a facing relationship and extend along a length of the heating element  116 . As shown, the flanges  170 ,  172  flank a platform  178  provided on the outer surface  164 , and the flanges  174 ,  176  flank a platform  180  provided on the outer surface  164 . Further provided on the heating element  116  are first and second flanges  186 ,  188  (i.e., mounting flanges). Each of the first flanges  186  includes a first leg  192  extending from the outer surface and a second leg  194  extending obliquely from a side of the first leg. The second flanges  188  include first and second legs  196 ,  198  and are shaped identical to the first flanges  186  except for a direction of projection of the second legs  198  of the second flanges  188 . In the depicted aspect of the heating element  116 , a pair of first flanges  186  is circumferentially spaced from each of the flanges  170 ,  176 , and a pair of second flanges  188  is circumferentially spaced from each of the flanges  172 ,  174 . With this arrangement, provided on opposite sides of the outer surface  164  of the heating element  116  along the major axis A 1  are immediately adjacent first and second flanges  186 ,  188 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , one of the bristle base heated members  140  is supported by the first pair of flanges  170 ,  172  and is secured to the heating element by the first and second flanges  186 ,  188  immediately adjacent the respective flanges  170 ,  172 . The other of the bristle base heated members  140  is supported by the second pair of flanges  174 ,  176  and is secured to the heating element by the flanges  188 ,  186  immediately adjacent the respective flanges  174 ,  176 . The features of each of the bristle base heated members  140  are best depicted in  FIG. 5 . As illustrated, each bristle base heated member  140  includes a base support  210  having an inner surface  212  and an outer surface  214 , and sidewalls  216 ,  218  depending from opposite side edges of the base support  210 . The inner surface  212  has depending therefrom spaced tabs  224  which extend along a length direction of the base support. When assembled on the heating element  116 , the tabs  224  flank the flanges  170 ,  172 , and the flanges engage the inner surface  212 . Each of the sidewalls  216 ,  218  includes spaced ledges  226 ,  228  (only ledges  226  on the sidewall  216  are shown in  FIG. 5 , ledges  228  are visible in  FIG. 3 ). The ledges  226 ,  228  engage with the second legs  194 ,  198  of the respective first and second flanges  186 ,  188  of the heating element  116  (see  FIG. 3 ). The base support  210  further includes a plurality of opening  232  extending therethrough, the openings being aligned in both the length direction and width direction of the base support  210 . Each of the openings  232  is sized to receive a non-heated bristle  234  of the bristle bar  156 . According to one aspect, the opening  232  aligned in the width direction of the base support  210  are interconnected by grooves  238  formed in the outer surface  214 . Further depicted in  FIG. 5  is a plurality of substantially arch-shaped heating elements (i.e., heated bristles)  242  integral with and protruding from the outer surface  214 . The heating elements  242  are aligned in both the length direction and width direction of the base support  210  in an alternating manner with the openings  232 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the bristle base heated members  142  are provided opposite one another on the heating element  116  and are supported by the immediately adjacent first and second flanges  186 ,  188  on the opposite sides of the heating element  116  (again along the major axis A 1 ). The features of the bristle base heated members  142  are best depicted in  FIG. 6 . As illustrated, each bristle base heated member  142  includes a base support  250  having an inner surface  252  and an outer surface  254 . The inner surface  252  has depending therefrom spaced tabs  258  which extend along a length direction of the base support  250 . Each of the tabs  258  can be grooved along their length to engage with the second legs  194 ,  198  of the respective first and second flanges  186 ,  188  of the heating element  116  (see  FIG. 3 ). The base support  250  further includes a plurality of opening  262  extending therethrough, the openings being aligned in a length direction of the base support  250 . Each of the openings  262  is sized to receive a bristle  234  of the bristle bar  156 . According to one aspect, the opening  262  are intersected by grooves  264  formed in the outer surface  254 . Further depicted in  FIG. 6  is a plurality of substantially arch-shaped heating elements (i.e., heated bristles)  268  integral with and protruding from the outer surface  254 . The heating elements  268  are aligned in the length direction of the base support  210  in an alternating manner with the openings  262 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the bristle base heated members  144 ,  146  are identically configured but for their connection along opposite sides of the bristle base heated member  140 . The features of the bristle base heated members  144 ,  146  are best depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . As illustrated, each bristle base heated member  144 ,  146  includes a base support  280 ,  300  having an inner surface  282 ,  302  and an outer surface  284 ,  304 , and a sidewall  286 ,  306  depending from a side edge of the base support  280 ,  300 . The sidewall  286 ,  306  includes spaced ledges  288 ,  308  which engage with the second legs  194 ,  198  of the respective first and second flanges  186 ,  188  of the heating element  116  (see  FIG. 3 ). Further, the opposite side edge of the base support  280 ,  300  has a recessed portion provided with a projecting lip  290 ,  310  which engages the inner surface  212  of the base support  210  of bristle base heated member  140  (see  FIG. 3 ). The inner surface  282 ,  302  has depending therefrom a tab  292 ,  312  which extend along a length direction of the base support  280 ,  300 . The tab  292  can be grooved along its length to engage with the second leg  194  of the first flange  186  (see  FIG. 3 ), and the tab  312  can be grooved along its length to engage with the second leg  196  of the second flange  188  (see  FIG. 3 ). The base support  280 ,  300  further includes a plurality of opening  294 ,  314  extending therethrough, the openings being aligned in a length direction of the base support  280 ,  300 . Each of the openings  294 ,  314  is sized to receive a bristle  234  of the bristle bar  156 . According to one aspect, the openings  294 ,  314  are intersected by grooves  296 ,  316  formed in the outer surface  284 ,  304 . Further depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8  are a plurality of substantially arch-shaped heating elements  298 ,  318  (i.e., heated bristles) integral with and protruding from the outer surface  284 ,  304 . The heating elements  298 ,  318  are aligned in the length direction of the base support  280 ,  300  in an alternating manner with the openings  294 ,  314 . 
     It should be appreciated that the secondary heating elements  242 ,  268 ,  298 ,  318  (i.e., heated bristles), which are heated by the primary heating element  116 , define one or more heated hair treating areas of the hairbrush  100  which in accordance with this example is configured to treat the hair with heat and thereby allow its styling, such as straightening or waving. It should also be appreciated that when the bristle base heated members  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  are assembled onto the heating element  116 , the grooves  238 ,  264 ,  296 ,  316  become aligned to define continuous grooves about a periphery of the bristle portion  108  which prevent binding of the user&#39;s hair as the hairbrush  100  is run through a user&#39;s hair. 
       FIG. 9  depicts the bristle spacers  154  secured by the bristle base heated members  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 , and  FIG. 10  depicts the bristle bars  156  secured by the bristle spacers  154 . Each bristle spacer  154  includes rectangular shaped base  330  having an upper surface  332  and a lower surface  334  and opposite sides  336 ,  338 . The lower surface  334  is provided with a cutout  344  elongated in a length direction of the base  330 . The upper surface  332  is provided with an array of bosses  346  having bores  348  which extend through the upper surface  332 . The bosses  346  are preferably molded integrally with the base  330 . Each bristle bar  156  includes a base  350  having the non-heated bristles  234  in the form of plastic stubs extending outwardly therefrom. The bristles  234  are preferably molded integrally with the base  350 . The cutout  344  provides the manner by which the base  350  is received in the base  330  (see  FIG. 3 ), and when positioned in the base  330  the bristles  234  extend through the bores  348 . The bristle spacers  154  are configured to thermally isolate the bristle bars  156  from both the heating element  116  and the bristle base heated members. In  FIG. 3 , the bristle spacers  154  are sandwiched between the heating element  116  and the bristle base heated members  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 , and the bosses  346  are received in the openings  232 ,  262 ,  294 ,  314  of the respective the bristle base heated members  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 . More particularly, for the bristle base heated members  140 , bristle spacers  154  are secured between each of the sidewalls  216 ,  218  and adjacent tabs  224 , and between the tabs  224  that flank the platforms  178 ,  180 . For the bristle base heated members  142 , bristle spacers  154  are secured between the tabs  258 . For the bristle base heated members  144 , bristle spacers  154  are secured between the sidewalls  286  and the first flanges  186 , and for the bristle base heated members  146 , bristle spacers  154  are secured between the sidewalls  306  and the second flanges  188 . It should be appreciated that the bristle spacers  154  can be made from any non-conductive, heat insulating material, e.g. plastic, rubber, silicone etc. which prevents the heating of the bristle bars  156  by the heating element  116 . Further, the bristle spacers  154  can be rigid or at least partially flexible (e.g. the base  330  can be rigid and the bosses  346  received in the openings of the bristle base heated members can be flexible). 
     Accordingly, exemplary embodiments described herein include a heated beauty tool, such as the depicted hairbrush  100 . The heated hairbrush may include a handle portion  106  configured to house a heating assembly and a bristle portion  108 . The bristle portion  108  may include one or more heated areas. The heated areas may be integrated or form a part of or all of one or more bristles. The heated hairbrush  100  may include two or more different bristle configurations, including a heated bristle and a non-heated bristle. 
     According to one aspect, the bristle portion  108  includes a primary heating element  116  configured to be heated by the associated heating assembly. A bristle base heated member is mounted to an outer periphery of the heating element  116 . The bristle base heated member has a secondary heating element (i.e., heated bristles) configured to be heated by the primary heating element. A non-conductive, heat insulating bristle spacer  154  is secured between the bristle base heated member and the heating element  116 . A bristle bar  156  is secured by the bristle spacer  154  and has bristles extending through the bristle spacer and the bristle base heated member. The bristle spacer  154  is configured to thermally isolate the bristle bar  156  from both the heating element  116  and the bristle base heated member. 
     Further, the heating element  116  includes at least one guide flange  170 ,  172  extending outwardly from an outer surface of the heating element  116 . The guide flange is adapted to position the bristle base heated member on the heating element. At least one mounting flange  186 ,  188  also extends outwardly from the outer surface of the heating element  116 . The mounting flange is adapted to mount the bristle base heated member on the heating element  116 . 
     More particularly, the bristle portion  108  includes the primary heating element  116  configured to be heated by the heating assembly. The bristle portion  108  includes plural bristle base heated members  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  interlocked about an outer periphery of the heating element. Each bristle base heated member has one or more secondary heating elements  242 ,  268 ,  298 ,  318  (i.e., heated bristles) configured to be heated by the primary heating element. The bristle portion  108  includes the non-conductive, heat insulating bristle spacers  154  secured by the bristle base heated members  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  and the heating element  116 , and the bristle bars  156  secured by the bristle spacers  154  and having one or more bristles  234  (i.e., non-heated bristles) extending through the bristle spacers  154  and the bristle base heated members  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 . 
     In the depicted aspect, guide flange  170 ,  172  extend outwardly from an outer surface of the heating element  116  and are adapted to position the bristle base heated member  140  on the heating element  116 . Plural mounting flanges  186 ,  188  also extend outwardly from the outer surface of the heating element  116 . The mounting flanges are adapted to mount the bristle base heated members  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  on the heating element. The mounting flanges include first mounting flanges  186  extended in a first direction from the outer surface of the heating element  116  and second mounting flanges  188  extended in a second opposite direction from the outer surface of the heating element  116 . 
     It will be appreciated that the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.