Patent Publication Number: US-9402460-B2

Title: Hair brush

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Background 
     The present invention relates generally to a hair brush. 
     2. Description of the Background 
     Various hair brushes are known that generally include a handle, a brush head, and bristles for brushing hair. Oftentimes such hair brushes are used to brush wet hair to facilitate the drying of the hair. When so used, a user may also use a hair dryer to apply heat and increased air flow to speed the rate of evaporation of water from the hair. However, many prior art brushes interfere with the application of heat and air flow from the hair dryer, thereby prolonging the drying process. 
     One answer to the interference caused by these brushes is to add apertures to the brush head that allow air to flow through the brush head. For example, one hair brush allows air blown from a hair dryer to the rear face side of the hair brush to be smoothly guided to through-holes in the hair brush to send the air to the front face side. The hair brush includes divergent projections formed on a rear face of a base section, and through-holes are respectively formed in depressions located between the projections. A cushion member of a brush section is fixed to the front face side of the base section of the hair brush, and bristles are embedded in the cushion member. Air blown from the hair dryer to the rear face side of the hair brush is guided by the projections to the depressions located between the projections and enters the through-holes. The air passed through the through-holes passes through the holes in the cushion member and is sent to the front face side of the hair brush. 
     In another example, a hair brush includes bristles extending from openings extending through a cushion on the base of the hair brush. The openings allow a flow of air from a hand-held hair dryer or blower to reach the hair and scalp during brushing. The brush has a handle, a base connected to the handle, and vents running through the base. Bristles are mounted on a long, narrow, substantially rectangular track. The track is affixed to the base so that the bristles extend from the openings. The openings are wider than the tracks and bristles to allow a flow of air to pass through. 
     However, such prior art hair brushes are poorly designed to achieve maximal drying effect. For example, some hair brushes incorporating through-holes include dozens of small through-holes to allow air to pass through the brush head. Further, other hair brushes include only a few holes located on the back of the brush head, but a multitude of small holes on the face of the brush head between the bristles. These designs choke the air flow from the hair dryer through the brush head. Other examples of hair brushes include elongate apertures on opposite sides of the brush head face requiring an awkward angle for application of the air stream from a hair dryer. 
     There is a need, therefore, for hair brushes that maximize drying ability when used in concert with hair dryers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect, a hair brush includes a brush head including opposing front and back sides having a hollow portion therebetween. The back side includes a plurality of longitudinal apertures that extend between first and second ends of the brush head, at least one of the longitudinal apertures having a length L. The front side includes first and second sets of apertures separated by a medial portion. At least one of the apertures of the first and second sets of apertures has a length dimension of at least about 0.3 L to about 0.6 L. 
     According to another aspect, a hair brush includes a head including a front side having a face, a back side, and first and second ends, wherein an internal volume extends between the front and back sides and the first and second ends. The hair brush further includes a plurality of bristles extending generally perpendicularly from the face, each bristle having a base associated with the face and a shaft extending from the base to a bristle tip. A bristle volume extends from the base to the bristle tip and between the plurality of bristles. A ratio of the internal volume to the bristle volume is about 1:1. 
     According to a further aspect, a hair brush includes a handle, a head that extends from the handle, the head including a front side having a face, a back side, and an internal volume extending between the front side and the back side, a plurality of inlets disposed on the back side defining an inlet area, and a plurality of outlets disposed in the face defining an outlet area. A ratio of the inlet area to the outlet area is at least about 1:1. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hair brush according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a partial front, bottom, and left side of the hair brush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a hair brush according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a partial front, bottom, and left side of the hair brush of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a hair brush according to a further embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded partial isometric view of a front, bottom, and left side of the hair brush of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front top elevational view of the hair brush of  FIG. 5  partially assembled with a front side or insert; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear elevational view of the hair brushes of  FIGS. 2, 4, and 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a front, bottom, and left side of a front side or insert for a hair brush according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of the insert of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of a schematic of two types of bristles; 
         FIG. 12A  is a top elevational view of a schematic of an insert with bristles according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 12B  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 12A ; and 
         FIG. 12C  is a perspective view of an insert with bristles according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1 to 12 , a hair brush  10  (e.g., an oval, paddle, or agility or half-round paddle, or other style) of the present disclosure generally includes a head  12  and a handle  14 . The head  12  and handle  14  may be joined by any means, including frictional interference, adhesives, fasteners, or other means. In one embodiment, a ferrule  16  may be used to join the handle  14  and the head  12 . While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the ferrule  16  may facilitate joining of dissimilar materials such as a wooden or other natural material handle  14  and a plastic head  12 . The ferrule  16  may be made of any suitable material including a natural material, a metal, plastic, and the like. In another embodiment (seen in  FIG. 6 ), a handle mount  14   a  may extend from the brush head  12  to provide a base for a sturdy connection between the handle  14  and the head. The handle mount  14   a  may be formed integrally with the brush head  12  or may be separately formed and attached to the head. The handle mount  14   a  may further include lock and key features  18  such as a ridge, groove, tooth, pattern, and combinations thereof, or other features that rotationally orient a handle  14  to be connected to the handle mount in a preferred orientation. 
     The brush head  12  includes a back side  20 , a flexible front side  22 , a first end  24 , and a second end  26 , which together bound an interior, hollow portion  28  or internal volume (an uninterrupted void space within the brush head  12 ). The back side  20  may be a single, monolithic structure or may be modular, as seen in  FIG. 6 . The back side  20  includes one or more longitudinal apertures  30 . In one embodiment, the longitudinal apertures  30  on the back side  20  of the brush head  14  may have a length L. The length L may be measured by following the contour of an aperture (see e.g., L′ of  FIG. 8 ), which measures the absolute length of the opening of the smallest restriction area (aperture area) or by measuring the length of the aperture along a longitudinal axis y irrespective of the curve (along either x or z axes) of the aperture (see e.g., L″ of  FIG. 8 ). The length L may be about 10 centimeters (±10%), or about 9 centimeters, or about 8 centimeters, or about 6 centimeters, or about 4 centimeters, or a length L ranging from about 4 to about 6 centimeters, or about 6 to about 8 centimeters, or about 8 to about 10 centimeters, or about 4 to about 12 centimeters. 
     In one embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the back side  20  may further include a medial projection  32  that is aligned beneath a medial portion  34  of the front side  22 . The medial projection  32  provides support to the front side  22  when in use. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  are illustrative of the front side  22  or insert, which may be shaped to fit any shaped brush head  12  shown herein or otherwise. The front side  22  may be formed as a wholly or partially flexible insert that may be attached to the back side  20  by means of a friction fit within an internal groove  36  (as seen in  FIGS. 2, 4, 6, and 7 ) or by other means, such as an adhesive. In one embodiment, the front side  22  may include a lip  38  to insert into the internal groove  36  to lock the front side to the back side  20 . The front side  22  may further include first and second sets of apertures  40  separated by the medial portion  34  that adds structural integrity to the front side. The first and second sets of apertures  40  may have a length dimension measured similarly as described with respect to the apertures  30  in the back side  20 . For example, as seen in  FIG. 10 , the length may be measured by following the contour of an aperture  40  (see e.g., L′″ of  FIG. 10 ), which measures the absolute length of the opening of smallest restriction area (aperture area) or by measuring the opening of the aperture along a longitudinal axis y irrespective of the curve (along either x or z axes) of the aperture (see e.g., L″″ of  FIG. 10 ). The length of the apertures  40  may be expressed as a multiple of the length L of apertures  30  and may be about 0.8 L, or about 0.6 L, or about 0.5 L, or about 0.4 L, or about 0.3 L, or ranging from about 0.3 to about 0.6 L. 
     The front side  22  further includes bristle apertures  42  sized to accept a bristle  44  therethrough. The front side  22  may further include a plurality of bristles  44 . The bristles  44  may be single post-like bristles including a base  44   a , a shaft  44   b  extending from the base, and a bristle tip  44   c , as seen in  FIG. 11 . In one embodiment, post-like bristles  44  may be capped with a bristle cap  46 . Bristle caps  46  may be spherical or a have another shape, such as ovoid, rectilinear, cylindrical, and the like. In another embodiment, the bristles  44  may be in the form of a bristle cluster  48  that includes a plurality of fine bristles  50  clustered or bunched together and joined together at a common base  44   a . A bristle cluster  48  may include a number of fine bristles  50  ranging from about 3 to about 10, or about 5 to about 20, or about 10 to about 30 fine bristles, or may include about 10, or about 15, or about 20 fine bristles. The bristles  44  and bristle clusters  48  may be attached to the front side  22  of the brush head  12  by passing through the bristle apertures  42  and secured thereto by heat welding, adhering with an adhesive, frictional interference, snap fit, or other mechanical or chemical means known in the art. 
     The bristles  44  and bristle clusters  48  may be disposed in longitudinal rows or in any other pattern and extend substantially perpendicularly from one or more planes defined by the circumference of the bristle apertures  42  on the face of the front side  22  or insert. In one embodiment, the bristles  44  are disposed in rows spaced apart by a width W measured along the x axis on center from one row of bristle apertures to an adjacent row of bristle apertures, as seen in  FIG. 10 . The width W may be about 0.3 cm, or about 0.4 cm, or about 0.5 cm, or about 0.7 cm, or about 1 cm. In one embodiment, the longitudinal apertures  30  and apertures  40  of the front side  22  may each individually have a width dimension W′ measured along the x axis of the opening of smallest restriction area (aperture area) that ranges from about 0.3 W to about 1.5 W, or about 0.5 to about 1.2 W, or about 0.8 to about 1 W, or a width dimension of about 0.4 W, or about 0.6 W, or about 0.8 W, or about 1 W. 
     In one embodiment, the bristles  44  define a bristle volume  52 . The bristle volume  52  has a thickness equal to the bristle height H (e.g., distance between the base  44   a  at the top surface of the front side  22  and the tip  44   c ) and length Lb and width Wb dimensions defined by an area outlined by peripheral bristles  54  on the front side  22 . In one embodiment, the bristle volume  52  ranges from about 80 to about 200 cubic centimeters (cm 3 ), or about 100 to about 180 cm 3 , or about 120 to about 160 cm 3 . In another embodiment, a ratio of the internal volume  28  compared to the bristle volume  52  is about 4:1, or about 2:1, or about 1:1, or about 1:2, or about 1:4, or about 1:8, or ranges from about 2:1 to about 1:2. 
     Brushes  10  of the present disclosure are designed to provide improved drying ability. Optimizing the ratio of the internal volume  28  to the bristle volume  52  is one method that may contribute to this goal. Having increased air volume within the brush head  12 , as well as within the bristle volume  52  provides a larger air mass that can absorb moisture. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that with each stroke of the brush  10  moist air is introduced into the bristle volume  52  and subsequently into the interior volume  28 . Therefore, the larger the interior volume  28 , the greater the capacity for transferring moisture from the bristle volume  52  and removing moisture from wet hair, which translates into improved drying ability. 
     A further embodiment to improve drying ability is to employ a convex front side  22  with bristles  44  of the same length, such as is seen in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, the centrally disposed bristles will contact the scalp of a user and the peripherally disposed bristles will be spaced from the scalp to provide a gap for air exhaust. 
     Another method to improve drying ability is to improve directional air flow through the brush head  12  and bristle volume  52  when the brush  10  is used in conjunction with a hair dryer. For example, misalignment of the apertures  40  on the front side  22  portions with the apertures  30  on the back side  20  will divert, and therefore, slow air flow through the brush head  12  when applied to the back side by a hair dryer. Indeed, slowed air flow may cause backwash of the air stream reducing the volume of air that can move through the brush head  12 . Therefore, at least partial alignment of the apertures  30 ,  40  will improve drying ability. Entire alignment of the apertures  30 ,  40  will maximize air flow through the brush head  12 . This principle may be equally applicable whether air flow is from the front of the brush to the back or vice versa. 
     A further method may be realized when considering the longitudinal apertures  30  as a single air inlet (the combined aperture area of each aperture on the back side  20 ) and the apertures  40  as a single air outlet (the combined aperture area of each aperture on the front side  22 ). Having a larger air inlet compared to an air outlet will focus an air stream applied to the back side  20  of the brush head  12  through the smaller area of the outlet for a more controlled drying experience. Conversely, when considering the longitudinal apertures  30  as a single air outlet and the apertures  40  as a single air inlet, having a larger air outlet functions to minimize constriction of the air flow from front to back to improve drying ability. 
     Hair brushes  10  disclosed herein may be made of any suitable material or combinations of materials. Examples of contemplated materials include polymers, plastics, metals, rubber, silicone, laminated materials, recycled materials, natural and/or eco-friendly materials, biodegradable materials, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, a contemplated hair brush  10  may incorporate a light-weight, eco-friendly bamboo handle  14 , and a plastic brush head  12  with a flexible plastic or rubber front side  22  into which plastic bristles  44  or bristle clusters  48  are affixed. 
     In another embodiment, the hair brushes  10  disclosed herein may vary in size, for example, the hair brushes may be sized for an adult or for a child. In one embodiment, a child&#39;s hair brush  10  may be approximately about ¾ scale, or about ½ scale, or about ¼ scale of an adult-sized brush. “Adult-sized” brushes  10  may be about 15 to about 25 centimeters in overall length. 
     EXAMPLE 
     The hair brushes of the present disclosure were tested relative to other commercially available hair brushes to compare drying speeds as described below. 
     Materials and Methods 
     Tresses of virgin European medium brown hair, eight inches in length were first weighed at a dry weight. Tresses were then wetted for 30 seconds with warm tap water (37° C.). The wetted tresses were briefly combed to detangle the tresses and reweighed. The tresses were then dried with a commercial drier on a low setting and positioned 30 centimeters from the tresses. Air temperature at the position of the tresses was monitored to ensure constant drying heat (±5° C.) from one test to the next. 
     Each experiment was timed, and the time was recorded when the tresses attained a mass that was +20% of original (dry) mass. Five replicates were run for each sample. During drying, the test brush was run down the tresses while being applied from the opposite side of the incoming hot air. The tresses were constantly stroked during drying. Drying of the tresses was recorded during the process every 15 seconds, and the test was concluded when the tresses were touch dry, which corresponds to a residual water content of +20-25% of dry weight of the tresses. At this point, a consumer would typically stop the drying to proceed to styling. 
     Results 
     Weight loss of tresses during the drying process using either a sample brush or control brush was calculated as follows: average over the five tresses of (W i −W t )/(W i −D i ), where W i  is the wetted initial weight, W t  is the weight at the specific time, and D i  is the dry initial weight. Statistical analysis of the results showed the differences in drying times to be significant to a probability of error of less than 10%. 
     Table No. 1 below indicates the drying time of the tresses in seconds for each brush. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE NO. 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Drying time. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Test Brush 
                 % faster drying time 
                 Control 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Paddle 
                 23% 
                 Conair Velvet Touch 
               
               
                   
                 Oval 
                 33% 
                 Conair Ceramic Wood 
               
               
                   
                 Half-round 
                 16% 
                 Olivia Garden XL Pro 
               
               
                   
                 Average 
                 24% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As can be seen from Table No. 1, the paddle, oval, and half-round hair brushes of the present disclosure dried the tresses at least 16% and on average 24% faster than controls. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The hair brushes described herein advantageously improve hair drying. 
     Numerous modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of the application are reserved. All patents and publications are incorporated by reference.