Patent Publication Number: US-10758022-B2

Title: Mini brake for hair color placement foils and its method of use

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to hair coloring in salons and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a small brake device and to its method of use for manually creasing triangular hair foils for their subsequent use in dimensional hair color placement. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Thin rectangular sheets of aluminum foil, referred to as “hair foils,” are commonly used by professional hair colorists and hair stylists to color or highlight the hair of customers in hair salons. Each rectangular hair foil is used to form a “packet” which is locked in place into a selected hair section with a lock of hair and a desired coloring composition. As many as fifty or more hair foils may be required to color a single head of hair. A busy hair colorist will use thousands of hair foils in a week. 
     Conventional rectangular or square hair foils are supplied to hair salons in stacks of flat foil sheets often separated by paper sheets. Hair foils are also sold as a pop-up style and in the form of continuous rolls of foil with a cutter to cut a custom length of foil chosen by the colorist. Many colorists simply work with what are commonly referred to as potato wrap foils. 
     Conventional rectangular or square hair foils require multiple folds to lock the foil packet with coloring product into the selected hair section. Thus, during its use as a hair foil, each foil sheet is folded at least once and usually multiple times by the hair colorist to form a pocket for the lock of hair and coloring composition. To facilitate this step the foil sheets are prepared before the hair coloring procedure begins by cutting to size and/or creasing a plurality of sheets. This makes it easier for the hair colorist to use them during the hair coloring procedure. 
     The preparation of hair foils is time consuming and tedious work and there have been efforts to mechanize the process. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,947, Jun. 20, 2006 to James Douglas Farfor for CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE discloses a cutting and folding machine for cutting foil from a sheet into rectangular pieces with one edge folded over to provide reinforcement along that edge. U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,432, Mar. 5, 2013 TO Ross et al, for METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING SHEETS OF FOIL discloses a machine for automatically dispensing sheets of foil ready for use in coloring hair. 
     However, machines are relatively expensive and may not be available to the hair colorist. Therefore, there remains a need for an improved and economical device for manual preparation of foils for hair color placement which will facilitate the preparation and use of the foils during the hair coloring process. There also remains a need for an improved hair coloring procedure. Accordingly, the present invention provides a small brake device for creasing triangular hair foils and a method of their use which offers several advantages over traditional rectangular or square hair foils. 
     Whereas conventional hair foils require multiple folds to lock the foil packet with product into the selected hair section, the triangular hair foils of the present invention require only a single fold to lock the foil packet into place. This single locking fold of the triangular foil allows for quicker and cleaner release from the hair than the multiple locking folds required by a rectangular foil. Additionally, triangular foils allow for the treated hair section to be placed farther into the body of the packet, away from the foil crease, keeping the product on the selected section of hair and decreasing the possibility of uneven product saturation and product displacement that can result from the multiple folds of rectangular foils pushing the product away from the hair section, thereby avoiding what is known in the industry as lines of demarcation. By placing the crease of the triangular foils parallel to the temporal hair line, the packets of product and treated hair are kept out of the client&#39;s eyes and face as the packets are folded, closed and directed away from the face, keeping chemicals away from the customer&#39;s face. This technique also provides a more professional presentation on the part of the colorist than allowed by traditional rectangular foils. 
     The present invention is directed to a device for manual preparation of triangular hair color placement foils and to their method of use. In accordance with the present invention the device can be provided at little expense yet is practical and will facilitate the preparation of triangular foils to make the life of the hair coloring user much easier. Use of triangular hair foils allows coverage of more head surface in a shorter time than use of conventional rectangular foils. Triangular foils also can be easily directed away from the face of the client and provide a more attractive, finished look during the coloring process. 
     Further understanding of the present invention will be had from the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a hair foil prepared in accordance with a preferred embodiment of a method of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the hair foil of  FIG. 2  folded and shown in use with a lock of hair and coloring composition; 
         FIG. 7  is a sequential top plan view illustrating the steps of a preferred embodiment of a method of use of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of a customer&#39;s head showing placement of triangular foils thereon in accordance with a preferred embodiment of a method of hair coloring of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a left side elevation view of a customer&#39;s head showing placement of triangular foils thereon in accordance with a preferred embodiment of a method of hair coloring of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a rear elevation view of a customer&#39;s head showing placement of triangular foils thereon in accordance with a preferred embodiment of a method of hair coloring of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A hair folding and creasing brake device for creating pre-folded and creased triangular hair foils for dimensional hair color placement comprises a sheet which is hinged so that foil sheets placed on its surface can be clamped and then bent to form a crease therein. In plan view, a preferred embodiment of a brake of the present invention has three congruent isosceles right triangles, two of which are hingedly joined along their respective hypotenuses and a third of which is joined to one of the two along their respective legs. A hair coloring foil is prepared by placing a foil or a pack of foils onto the square formed by the two isosceles right triangles which are joined at their hypotenuses, then folding the third triangle over the foil to clamp the foil and then then folding the free right triangle over the third right triangle to thereby bend the foil along the joined hypotenuses. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Broadly speaking, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a hair folding and creasing brake device for creating creased triangular hair foils for dimensional hair color placement. The hair foil brake comprises a sheet which is hinged so that foil sheets placed on its surface can be clamped and then bent to form pre-triangular foils from square foil sheets. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of a hair foil brake of the present invention is shown and indicated generally by the numeral  10 . Hair foil brake  10  is a hinged sheet  12  comprising, in plan view, first, second and third isosceles right triangles,  14 ,  16  and  18 . Triangular sheet  14  has a leg  20  hingedly joined to leg  22  of triangular sheet  16  to form clamping joint  24 . Triangular sheet  16  has hypotenuse  26  joined to hypotenuse  28  of triangular sheet  18  to form bending joint  30 . The length of leg  20  is preferably about 4 to about 5 inches, depending upon the desired size of hair foil sheets to be creased thereby. Thus, for creasing 4 inch square hair foil sheets, leg  20  is preferably about 4 inches in length, i.e., leg  20  preferably corresponds to the size of the square hair foil sheet to be creased. 
     It is intended that sheet  12  can be made of a single sheet of thin polymeric material with joints  24  and  30  being “live” hinges formed therein by any conventional means. Alternatively, sheet  12  can comprise three separate triangular sheets which are joined together at  24  and  30  by any other type of hinge which achieves the purpose of the present invention. Sheet  12  can be a thin sheet of less than a millimeter or a thick sheet of up to 20 millimeters or so, the thickness of sheet  12  being limited only by its requirement to successfully function to clamp and crease hair foil sheets. Of course, while it is contemplated that sheet  12  will be comprised of a suitable polymeric material such as nylon, polyester or the like, it can be comprised of any suitable material including metals or even paper. 
       FIGS. 2 to 4  show alternative preferred embodiments of a mini brake of the present invention which are provided with features to enhance the crease imparted to hair foil sheets by the mini brake. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 4 , mini brake  100  is generally analogous to mini brake  10 , being a hinged sheet  112  having first, second and third isosceles right triangles  114 ,  116 , and  118 , clamping joint  124  and bending joint  130 . However, brake  100  has a folding edge  132  provided with a plurality of teeth  134  projecting from valleys  132  to impart corresponding indentations into hair foil sheets during its use to further enhance creases therein to facilitate folding of the sheets. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate mini brake  200  which is generally analogous to mini brake  10 , being a hinged sheet  212  having first, second and third isosceles right triangles  214 ,  216 , and  218 , clamping joint  224  and bending joint  230 . However, brake  200  has a bending joint  230  provided with spaced apart projections  234  and valleys  236  to impart corresponding indentations into foil sheets during its use to further enhance creases therein to facilitate folding of the sheets. 
     As will be described in more detail below, a hair foil brake of this invention is intended for use to impart a crease to each of a pack of square hair foils to facilitate their individual use as triangular packets. Brakes  10 ,  100  or  200  are each well suited for this purpose it being understood that in the following description brake  100  or  200  can be substituted for brake  10 . 
     A suitable starting hair foil square for use with hair foil brake  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , and indicated generally by the numeral  40 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , hair foil  40  is shown in plan view and is a conventional square hair foil sheet comprised of aluminum and is illustrated before being prepared for use by brake  10  in accordance with the present invention. Hair foil  40  is preferably about 4 to about 5 inches square which allows for the best horizontal, diagonal or vertical placement of triangular foils on a person&#39;s head. Dashed line  42  extending from one corner to the opposite corner of hair foil  40  indicates approximately where the crease line will be imparted to hair foil  40  by hair foil brake  10 . Packs of hair foils separated by paper sheets and suitable for use in the present invention include 0.0006 inch florist foil/highlighting foil available commercially from Alufoil Products Co., Hauppauge, N.Y. Of course, other hair foil sheets of various thicknesses and from other suppliers can also be used. For example, foil sheets may be supplied in a pop up style or as a continuous roll of foil which is then cut to provide each foil sheet. Potato wrap foils may also be used. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 6 , hair foil  40  is shown as it would be after it has been prepared for use by brake  10  and then used by a hair colorist. Thus, hair foil  40  has been manually folded along crease line  42  and locked about hair section  44  and color product  46  painted onto hair section  44 . Further understanding of this process will be had by referring to  FIG. 7  which illustrates the use of brake  10  to prepare foil sheet  40  and then the subsequent steps in the process of this invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , brake  10  is first provided in an “open” or unfolded configuration as shown the upper left hand portion of  FIG. 7 . Next, as indicated by arrow  48 , a pack  50  of hair foil sheets  40  is placed onto second and third triangles  16  and  18  with intended crease line  42  aligned with bending joint  30 . Pack  50  can comprise one or more hair foil sheets  40 , for example 20 or so sheets, so long as the number of sheets does not substantially interfere with the effectiveness of brake  10  to impart a crease into each sheet  40 . 
     In accordance with the next step of the present invention and as indicated by arrow  52 , first triangle  14  is folded about clamping joint or hinge  24  to lie on top of pack  50  to clampingly hold half of pack  50  between first and second triangles  14  and  16 . Next, as indicated by arrow  54 , third triangle  18  is folded along bending joint  30  to form creases  42  in each hair foil sheet  40  in pack  50 . Removal of pack  50  from brake  10  is then begun as shown by arrow  56  illustrating unfolding third triangle  18  to an open configuration and then arrow  58  illustrating unfolding first triangle  14  to an open configuration with pack  50  of sheets  40  folded over folding edge  32  of first triangle  14 . 
     Pack  50  of hair foil sheets  40  can then be removed from brake  10  as shown by arrow  60  and a single sheet  40  separated from pack  50 , as illustrated by arrow  62  for use by a hair colorist. It will be understood that only three sheets  40  are illustrated for clarity but that one to twenty or even more sheets  40  will be suitably used. Furthermore, it is an advantage of the present invention that sheets  40  will tend to flare or slightly separate as shown in the figure so that manual selection of one sheet  40  for use will be facilitated, Thus, as illustrated by arrow  62  one foil sheet  40  is selected and then as indicated by arrow  64  is placed against hair section  44  which is to be colored. Then as illustrated by arrow  66 , color product  46  is painted or otherwise applied to hair section  44 . Finally, and as illustrated by arrow  68 , hair foil  40  is folded along crease line  44  to lock triangular wings  70  and  72  about hair section  44  and color product  46 . 
     Hair foils  40  are typically applied to a customer&#39;s head in horizontal, diagonal or vertical patterns to achieve different hair coloring effects. Thus, the colorist can take horizontal, diagonal or vertical slices or solid panels and/or can apply drips of color without weaving. The triangular shape of hair foils  40  with wings  70  and  72  when folded facilitates changing the foil&#39;s direction of placement to achieve different results and allows more control using less foil to achieve the results. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 8 to 10 , various placements of hair foils  40  on a customer&#39;s head  74  are illustrated.  FIG. 8  illustrates hair foils  40  placed on left side  76  of a customer&#39;s head  74  with hair and coloring product neatly directed away from the customer&#39;s face.  FIG. 9  illustrates hair foils  40  placed on the right side  78  of a customer&#39;s head  74  with hair and product directed away from the customer&#39;s face and showing a technique requiring less time to cover the foiling section.  FIG. 10  illustrates hair foils  40  placed on the back  80  of a customer&#39;s head  74  and illustrates more head coverage than would be obtained with conventional square foils because of the relatively narrower width of hair foils  40 . Of course, hair foils  40  can be rotated as needed to cover precise areas or obtain particular effects. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention that the triangular shape of the present foil requires only a single fold to lock the foil into place. Additionally, the triangular foils of the present invention allow for the treated hair section to be placed farther into the body of the foil, away from the foil crease, keeping the product on the selected section of hair and decreasing the possibility of uneven product saturation and product displacement that can result from the multiple folds of rectangular foils pushing the product away from the hair section, thereby avoiding what is known in the industry as lines of demarcation. Furthermore, by placing the crease of the triangular foils parallel to the temporal hairline, the packets of product and treated hair are kept out of the client&#39;s eyes and face as the packets are folded, closed and directed away from the face. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 to 10 , it is an advantage of the present invention that triangular hair foil packets are provided for use in the coloring process because triangular hair foils provide better coverage of the head. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is subject to modification and variation and it is intended that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the following claims.