Patent Publication Number: US-7707663-B1

Title: Cushion insert and silicon bowl assembly for shampoo bowl

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
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   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
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   REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
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   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the field of shampoo basins, more specifically, a cushioning device that securely attaches along the top perimeter of the shampoo basin so as to provide stability from movement associated with the neck being placed on traditional cushioning devices. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is to provide a converter piece that when placed over a traditional sink or porcelain base will convert into a shampoo basin. 
   B. Discussion of the Prior Art 
   The Cartwright patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,660) discloses a gel-filled cushioning device for use with a shampoo bowl including a front wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a U-shaped, neck receiving notch in the front wall. However, the cushioning device disclosed under the Cartwright Patent is directed to the notch of the shampoo basin, as opposed to a cushioning device that is mounted along the upper perimeter of the basin such that it will not easily move when a neck of the end user rests upon it. Furthermore, an alternative embodiment enables the end user to convert a traditional sink or porcelain basin into a shampoo bowl, which is not a feature disclosed under the Cartwright Patent. 
   The Flora patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,980) discloses a neck cushioning device adapted for use with a shampoo basin having a neck-receiving notch and includes a cushioning pad formed of a gel-based material. Again, the cushioning device disclosed under the Flora Patent is directed to the notch of the shampoo basin, as opposed to a cushioning device that is mounted along the upper perimeter of the basin such that it will not easily move when a neck of the end user rests upon it. 
   The Kirsch patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,338) discloses an arrangement for the washing or other treatment of hair of a person which comprises a sink having a rim with an indentation, as is conventional. The rim indentation receives and supports the neck of the person. A gel-type flexibly, resilient pad is carried on the rim within the indentation. Again, the cushioning device disclosed under the Kirsch Patent is directed to the notch of the shampoo basin, and not the upper perimeter of the shampoo bowl. 
   The Morgan patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,364) discloses a neck cushioning device for engagement with hair shampoo bowls. Again, the cushioning device disclosed under the Kirsch Patent is directed to the notch of the shampoo basin, and not the upper perimeter of the shampoo bowl, which provides additional security of the cushioning device so as to eliminate unwanted movement and resulting soreness associated with the placement of the neck against the cushioning device. 
   The Hakim patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,365) discloses a neck support for a beauty salon hair washing sinks comprising a pillow formed of an elastomeric foam with a waterproof envelope thereof. Again, the cushioning device disclosed under the Kirsch Patent is directed to the notch of the shampoo basin, and not the upper perimeter of the shampoo bowl, thereby providing enhanced security of the cushioning device. 
   The Carlquist patent (U.S. Pat. No. Des. 456,944) illustrates a shampoo sink cushion, which does not securely fasten about the perimeter of a traditional shampoo basin. 
   The Bower et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,539) discloses a portable washing cart with a sink where the material of the sink to be deformable into a specific configuration, whereby such configuration is retained by a material comprising: soft plastics, lead alloys, or other conventionally known ductile materials. However, the washing cart disclosed under the Bower Patent requires the use of an entire cleaning station, as opposed to a single shampoo basin. Furthermore, the washing cart is not directed to the use of placement of a cushioning device over the notch in the shampoo basin in which a cushioning device maybe designed to securely attach about the upper perimeter of the shampoo basin. 
   The Hajek patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,774) discloses a completely biodegradable disposable plastic basin containing a circular bottom with a ringed wall upstanding around it. However, the device disclosed under the Hajek Patent is adapted to fit over an existing shampoo basin for a sanitary purpose, as opposed to providing enhanced comfort for an existing shampoo basin. Furthermore, the device disclosed does not include discussion of an alternative embodiment that can convert a traditional sink or porcelain base into a shampoo basin. 
   In light of the above discussed prior art there is a need for a converter that can transform a traditional sink or porcelain base into a shampoo basin. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a shampoo basin cushioning device that cushions the neck along the notch in the shampoo basin, but also securely fastens along the top perimeter of the shampoo basin. The ability of the cushioning device to securely attach along the perimeter of the shampoo basin enables the cushioning device to avoid movement and remain steady when the neck of an end user is placed upon it. This embodiment seeks to eliminate the movement and associated neck soreness associated with moving cushions that are designed for the neck notch of a shampoo basin. A second embodiment is a sink or porcelain base converter that when placed over the sink or porcelain base will convert it into a shampoo basin. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention: 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of the sink converter embodiment; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the sink converter above an existing sink or porcelain base; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the sink converter embodiment by itself; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a detailed view of the sink converter embodiment along line  4 - 4 ; and 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of the cushioning device embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
   Detailed reference will now be made to a sink converter embodiment  10  (hereinafter converter), examples of which are illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . The converter  10  consists of an upper base member  11  that reflects the shape of a shampoo bowl. The upper base member  11  includes a drain cover  12 , a neck notch  13 , a hose hole  14 , a faucet handle hole  15 , and a rim  16  for retaining water within the bowl of the upper base member  11 . 
   The upper base member  11  is installed over a traditional sink  20 . The drain cover  12  is included into the design of the upper base member  11  in order to prevent hair from passing through the upper base member  11  and entering a drain hole  21  of the sink  20 . 
   It shall be asserted that the primary benefit of the upper base member  11  is two fold. First, is to convert a traditional sink  20  into a shampoo basin that is typically seen in a beauty salon. Second, the upper base member  11  is made of a soft silicon material such that when the converter  10  is in use, the neck of the person whose hair is being washed will not be sore from resting upon a hard surface, like porcelain or metal. Furthermore, the design of the upper base member  11  is such that it will not move when the neck of a person is placed upon the neck notch  13 , which can occur with some of the cushioning devices previously discussed with the prior art. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the back portion of the base member  11  of the sink converter  10  further includes a downwardly extending lip which engages the back section of the shampoo sink  20 . In the assembled condition as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the sink converter  10  completely covers the conventional shampoo sink  20  with the converter bowl portion resting on top of the sink bowl, the front section of the conventional shampoo sink  20  acts as a base that supports the neck notch  13 , the converter back portion overlaps the upper surface of the back section of the conventional shampoo sink  20  and the downwardly extending lip engages the side surface of the back section of the conventional shampoo sink  20 . 
   Detailed reference will now be made to a cushioning device embodiment  50  (hereinafter cushioning device), examples of which are illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The cushioning device  50  consists of a cushioning piece  51  that is made of a soft silicon material. The cushioning piece  51  has a neck notch  52  for placement of the neck during use. The cushioning piece  51  is designed to be installed along the top perimeter of a traditional shampoo basin  53 . 
   The installation of the cushioning piece  51  of the cushioning embodiment  50  is to yield a secure attachment to the shampoo basin  53 , such that the cushioning piece  51  shall not move during the placement of a neck when the shampoo basin  53  is in use. It shall be asserted that the benefit of the installation of the cushioning piece  51  is to prevent soreness or pain of the neck associated with a hard material located around a neck resting notch and/or from movement of a cushioning device around said notch.