Patent Publication Number: US-11019903-B2

Title: Heated paddle hairbrush

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a hair styling apparatus, and, in particular, relates to a heated hair paddle having a novel bristle arrangement adapted to maximize exposure of the hair to heat, facilitate detanglement and massage the scalp. 
     2. Background of the Related Art 
     Various hair styling devices are commonly known in the art including hair brushes, combs and hair dryers. Examples of such hair styling devices are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,308,899 and Des. Pat. Nos.: 508,777, 514,329 and 545,570, the entire contents of each disclosure being incorporated by reference herein. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure relates to further improvements in hair styling devices or brushes. In accordance with one embodiment, a heated hair paddle includes a brush head defining a central longitudinal x-axis extending along a length of the brush head, a y-axis orthogonal to the longitudinal x-axis extending along a width of the brush head, and a z-axis extending along a height of the brush head. A plurality of first bristles depends from the brush head. The first bristles have a dimension along the y-axis greater than a corresponding dimension along the x-axis to provide an increased surface area to contact a length of hair along the y-axis of each first bristle. The first bristles comprise a thermally conductive material. A plurality of second bristles depends from the brush head. The second bristles have a dimension along the z-axis greater than a corresponding dimension along the z-axis of the first bristles to minimize the potential of contact of the scalp with the thermally conductive first bristles. A plurality of third bristles depends from the brush head. The third bristles are more rigid than the second bristles, and provide a gross straightening effect on the length of hair. A heater is thermally coupled to the first bristles to convey heat to the first bristles whereby the first bristles convey heat to a length of hair. 
     The first, second and third bristles each may be arranged to define a plurality of respective first, second and third rows extending along the longitudinal axis of the brush head. The first bristles may have one of an elliptical, oval or oblong cross-section. The first bristles may comprise aluminum, the second bristles may comprise silicone and the third bristles may comprise nylon. 
     The heated hair paddle may include an inner first row of the first bristles radial outward of each side of the central longitudinal axis, an inner second row of the second bristles radial outward of each of the inner first rows of the first bristles, an outer first row of the first bristles radial outward of each of the inner second row of the second bristles, an outer second row of the second bristles radial outward of each of the outer first rows of the first bristles, and an outer third row of the third bristles radial outward of each of the outer second rows of the second bristles. 
     The inner first rows of the first bristles on each side of the central longitudinal axis may be longitudinally displaced with respect to each other. The outer first rows of the first bristles on each side of the central longitudinal axis may be longitudinally displaced with respect to each other. In some embodiments, the inner first row of the first bristles is longitudinally aligned with the outer first row of the first bristles on the opposed side of the central longitudinal axis. 
     The heated hair paddle may include a base to which the first rows of bristles are secured. The base may define a plurality of apertures for reception of the second bristles of the second rows. The base may comprise a thermally conductive material. The base and the first bristles of the first rows may be monolithically formed. 
     The heated hair paddle further may include an ion port extending through the base for directing charged ions to the hair. 
     The heated hair paddle of the present disclosure provides a novel bristle arrangement which establishes a large surface area for contacting the length of hair during grooming while also creating a serpentinous path through which the length of hair must traverse thereby subjecting the hair to heat treatment for an extended period of time and thus enhancing the grooming effect. 
     Other advantages of the present disclosure will be appreciated by the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with references to the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the heated hair paddle in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the heated hair paddle; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the heated hair paddle; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5-6  are rear and frontal axial views respectively of the heated hair paddle; and 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the heated hair paddle in use in grooming a subject&#39;s hair. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar components throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  illustrates the heated hair paddle  10  in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the heated hair paddle  10  is a hair styling apparatus in the form of a hair brush or comb having the capability to apply heat and, optionally, a concentration of ions to a length of hair traversing the hair paddle  10 . 
     The hair paddle  10  includes a handle  12  and a brush head  14  extending from the handle  12 , which may be connected to, or integrally formed, with the handle  12 . The handle  12  may define contoured outer surface(s)  16  to facilitate engagement by the user. The brush head  14  defines a central longitudinal x-axis extending along the length of the brush head  14 , an orthogonal y-axis extending along the width of the brush head  14  and orthogonal to the x-axis, and a z-axis extending along the height of the brush head  14 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , the hair paddle  10  includes housing half sections  18  which are coupled to each other to define the handle  12  and the brush head  14 . The housing half sections  18  may be connected with the use of fasteners, screws or the like. The hair paddle  10  further includes three bristle components, namely, a first bristle component  20 , a second bristle component  22  and a third bristle component  24 . The bristle components  20 ,  22  and  24  cooperate to style and apply heat to a length of hair as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. The hair paddle  10  further includes an ion generator  26  having a pair of ion ports  28  for distribution of a concentration of ions to the length of hair, and a heater  30 . The hair paddle  10  further includes a circuit board  32  having software and/or logic to control operation of the hair paddle  10 . One or more switches  34  may be mounted to the handle  12  to control operation of the components of the hair paddle  10  including the ion generator  26  and the heater  30 . An electrical cord “e” ( FIG. 1 ) is coupled to the handle  12  and is an electrical communication with the circuit board  32  to power the components of the hair paddle  10 . Alternatively, or optionally, the hair paddle  10  may include a battery, e.g., a rechargeable battery, to power the components of the hair paddle  10 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3-4 , in conjunction with  FIG. 2 , the first bristle component  20  includes a first base  36  and four sets of first bristles  38  extending outwardly from the first base  36  and arranged longitudinally along linear rows, e.g., four linear rows, with respect to the central longitudinal axis x. The first base  36  is in thermal communication with the heater  30  and communicates thermal energy to the first bristles  38 . In one embodiment, the first base  36  and the first bristles  38  are monolithically formed of a thermally conductive material such as aluminum or steel. The first bristles  38  each define a dimension along the orthogonal y-axis which is greater than the dimension along the central longitudinal x-axis. For example, the first bristles  38  may define a generally elliptical, oblong or oval configuration in cross-section which gradually tapers or narrows in dimension away from the brush head  14 . ( FIG. 4 ) The elliptical, oblong or oval configuration increases the surface area which contacts the length of hair as the brush head  14  passes through the length of hair. In addition, the first bristles  38  are in thermal communication with the heater  30  through the first base  36  to distribute heat to the length of hair. Two spaced rows of the first bristles  38  are on one side of the central longitudinal axis x, e.g., on the left side of the central longitudinal axis x, and two spaced rows of the first bristles  38  are disposed on the other side of the central longitudinal axis x, e.g., on the right side of the central longitudinal axis x. Thus, the arrangement defines inner first rows  40   i  of the first bristles  38  on the left and right sides of the central longitudinal axis x and outer first rows  40   o  of the first bristles  38  on the left and right sides of the central longitudinal axis x.  FIGS. 5-6  illustrate the arrangement of the inner first rows  40   i  and the outer first rows  40   o.    
     As best depicted in  FIG. 3 , the inner first rows  40   i  are misaligned or longitudinally displaced with respect to each other and the outer first rows  40   o  are misaligned or longitudinally displaced with respect to each other; however, the inner first row  40   i  on the left side of the central longitudinal axis x is longitudinally aligned with the outer first row  40   o  on the right side of the central longitudinal axis x, and the inner first row  40   i  on the right side of the central longitudinal axis x is longitudinally aligned with the outer first row  40   o  on the left side of the central longitudinal axis x. This arrangement facilitates the brushing/combing effect on hair by causing the length of hair to pass through the serpentinous path defined by the alternating displaced and aligned sets of first bristles  38  while also subjecting the length of hair to heat for a greater duration of time thereby also enhancing the grooming effect on the length of hair. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the second bristle component  22  includes a second base  42  and four sets of second bristles  44  extending outwardly from the second base  42  and arranged along linear rows, e.g., four linear rows extending along the central longitudinal axis x. The second bristles  44  each define a dimension along the z-axis which is greater than the corresponding dimension of the first bristles  38  along the z-axis. Thus, the second bristles  44  are configured to prevent the heated first bristles  38  from contacting the scalp of the subject. The second bristles  44  are more flexible than the first bristles  38 , and are capable of flexing in a manner which prevents tangling while aligning and grooming the length of hair. In embodiments, the second bristles  44  define a circular cross-sectional dimension and may gradually taper away from the brush head  14  to define a conical tip segment  44   t . The second bristles  44  of the second bristle component  22  extend through correspondingly dimensioned and positioned apertures  46  of the first base  36  of the first bristle component  20 . ( FIG. 2 ) 
     As best depicted in  FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 , two spaced rows of the second bristles  44  are on one side of the central longitudinal axis x, e.g., on the left side of the central longitudinal axis x and two spaced rows of the second bristles  44  are disposed on the other side of the central longitudinal axis x, e.g., on the right side of the central longitudinal axis x. Thus, the arrangement defines inner second rows  48   i  of the second bristles  44  on the left and right sides of the central longitudinal axis x and disposed between the inner and outer first rows  40   i ,  40   o  of the first bristles  38 , and outer second rows  48   o  of the second bristles  44  on the left and right sides of the central longitudinal axis x and disposed radial outward of the outer first rows  40   o  of the first bristles  38 . The inner and outer second rows  48   i ,  48   o  are each longitudinally aligned with each other. 
     The third bristle component  24  includes two rows of third bristles  50  disposed radially outward of the first and second rows of the first and second bristles  38 ,  44 , e.g., along the outer edges of the brush head  14 . One row  52  is on the left side of the central longitudinal axis x and the other row  52  is on the right side. As best depicted in  FIG. 2 , each row depends from a base  54  with the third bristles  50  extending through apertures  56  within the housing half section  18 . The third bristles  50  may be circular in cross-section and include a bulbous tip  50   b . The third bristles  50  are fabricated from a rigid polymeric material and have a smaller cross-section or diameter than the second bristles  44 . These characteristics allow the third bristles  50  to more effectively and aggressively part the hair to initiate and ease passing of the first and second bristles  38 ,  44 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 7 , during application in grooming a subject&#39;s hair, strands “h” of the length of hair are initially engaged by the third bristles  50  which, due to at least in part to their rigidity, perform a gross straightening effect on the hair. As the strands “h” of hair passes across the brush head  14 , the second flexible bristles  44  minimize entanglement, and guide the strands of hair through the first bristles  38 . As noted above, the enlarged elliptical, oblong or oval configuration, in conjunction with the serpentinous path, provided by the first bristles  38 , establishes a large surface area contacting the strands “h” of hair while increasing the duration of time to which the length of hair is subjected to heat. In addition, the ion ports  28  direct charged particles into the length of hair to restore balance, create a shiny appearance, and further smooth the hair. 
     Any of the first, second and third bristles  38 ,  44 ,  50  may have a hair treatment solutions or coating including, but not limited to, Argan oil. moisturizers, hydration agents, penetration agents, preservatives, emulsifiers, natural or synthetic oils, solvents, surfactants, detergents, gelling agents, emollients, antioxidants, fragrances, fillers, thickeners, waxes, odor absorbers, dyestuffs, coloring agents, powders, viscosity-controlling agents, buffers, protectants, pH regulators, chelating agents, humectants, conditioners, glitter, mica, minerals, silicones, polyphenols, sunblocks, phytomedicinals, and combinations thereof, as well as other additives typically used in hair care products as appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, the above description, disclosure, and figures should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. It is to be understood, therefore, that the disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.