Patent Publication Number: US-11044983-B1

Title: Hair grooming device and associated use therefore

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a non-provisional patent application that claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/590,688 filed Nov. 27, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure relate to hair grooming implements and, more particularly, to a specially designed hair grooming device including a receptacle for collecting, concealing, and storing hair that is left on one&#39;s hands after shampooing, until the user is ready to empty, thus avoiding messes in the bath, messes on the shower walls, and preventing the clogging of drains. 
     Prior Art 
     Imagine vigorously shampooing the hair when bathing; as many would attest, it is quite common for loose hair to come away in the hands. Unfortunately, this loose hair often ends up messily clinging to shower walls and floors or worse, clogging drains. The Hair grooming device  10  would eliminate these challenges by offering a secure place for collecting, managing, and disposing of this hair. 
     Accordingly, a need remains for an improved hair grooming device in order to overcome at least one of the above-noted shortcomings. The exemplary embodiment(s) satisfy such a need by a specially designed hair grooming device including a receptacle that is convenient and easy to use, lightweight yet durable in design, versatile in its applications, and designed for collecting, concealing, and storing hair that is left on one&#39;s hands after shampooing, until the user is ready to empty, thus avoiding messes in the bath, messes on the shower walls, and preventing the clogging of drains. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF NON-LIMITING EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
     In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) to provide a hair grooming device for collecting, concealing, and storing hair that is left on a user hand after shampooing, until the user is ready to empty, thus avoiding messes in the bath, messes on the shower walls, and preventing the clogging of drains. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) are provided by a hair grooming device including a receptacle including a first half hingedly coupled to the second half, a base plate statically seated within the receptacle and including a plurality of bristles attached thereto, a top plate removably stacked on the base plate and seated in the receptacle, the top plate including a plurality of apertures, and a plurality of suction cups coupled to the first half of the receptacle. Advantageously, the bristles are aligned and positioned through the apertures when the top plate is positioned on the base plate. In this manner, the bristles terminate away from the top plate such that the top plate shields the base plate from the hair. Notably, the top plate is freely disengaged from the base plate and capable of both collecting and removing the hair from the receptacle. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the base plate has a planar top surface and a planar bottom surface, wherein the top plate has a planar top surface and a planar bottom surface. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the bristles include a first group of tall bristles and a second group of short bristles juxtaposed thereto. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the first group of tall bristles and the second group of short bristles are penetrated through the apertures, respectively, while the top plate is stacked on the base plate. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the top plate includes a proximal end having a flexible pull tab attached thereto. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the receptacle includes a handle extended along a latitudinal width of the first half of the receptacle. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the top plate is configured to be selectively removed from the first half of the receptacle when disengaged from the base plate. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the bottom surface of the top plate is registered parallel to the top surface of the base plate when stacked thereon. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the first group of tall bristles and the second group of short bristles are oriented perpendicular to the top surface of the base plate and the top surface of the top plate. 
     The present disclosure further includes a method of utilizing a hair grooming device for collecting, concealing, and storing hair that is left on a user hand after shampooing, until the user is ready to empty, thus avoiding messes in the bath, messes on the shower walls, and preventing the clogging of drains. Such a method including the steps of: providing a receptacle including a first half hingedly coupled to the second half; providing a base plate including a plurality of bristles attached thereto; statically seating the base plate within the receptacle; providing a top plate including a plurality of apertures; removably stacking the top plate on the base plate such that the top plate is seated in the receptacle; providing and coupling a plurality of suction cups to the first half of the receptacle; aligning and positioning the bristles through the apertures by positioning the top plate on the base plate; and the bristles terminating away from the top plate such that the top plate shields the base plate from the hair. 
     The method further includes the steps of: providing shampoo; washing a user hair with the shampoo; brushing the user hair with the bristles and thereby collecting the user hair on the top plate away from the base plate; and freely disengaging the top plate from the base plate and thereby removing the user hair from the receptacle. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure so that the following detailed description may be better understood, and that the present contribution to the relevant art(s) may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NON-LIMITING EXEMPLARY DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed to be characteristic of non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hair grooming device and separate quantity of shampoo, in accordance with a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the hair grooming device at a closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the hair grooming device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the hair grooming device shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the hair grooming device; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view take at section  7  in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures are not intended to be drawn to any particular scale; nor are the figures intended to illustrate every non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to any particular non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) depicted in the figures nor the shapes, relative sizes or proportions shown in the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure is shown. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) set forth herein. Rather, such non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) are provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the relevant art(s). Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures. 
     The illustrations of the non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the present disclosure. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of the structures, systems and/or methods described herein. Other non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) may be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art(s) upon reviewing the disclosure. Other non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) may be utilized and derived from the disclosure such that structural, logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. 
     One or more embodiment(s) of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s)” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the true spirit and scope of this application to any particular non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiment(s) have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiment(s) shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of other embodiment(s). Combinations of the above embodiment(s), and other embodiment(s) not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the relevant art(s) upon reviewing the description. 
     References in the specification to “one embodiment(s)”, “an embodiment(s)”, “a preferred embodiment(s)”, “an alternative embodiment(s)” and similar phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment(s) is included in at least an embodiment(s) of the non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s). The appearances of the phrase “non-limiting exemplary embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all meant to refer to the same embodiment(s). 
     Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not limited to, left, right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, vertical, horizontal, back, front and lateral are relative to each other and are dependent on the specific orientation of an applicable element or article, and are used accordingly to aid in the description of the various embodiment(s) and are not necessarily intended to be construed as limiting. 
     If used herein, “about” means approximately or nearly and in the context of a numerical value or range set forth means±15% of the numerical. 
     If used herein, “substantially” means largely if not wholly that which is specified but so close that the difference is insignificant. 
     A non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure is referred to generally in  FIGS. 1-7  and is intended to provide a specially designed hair grooming device  10  including a receptacle  11  for collecting, concealing, and storing hair that is left on one&#39;s hands after shampooing, until the user is ready to empty, thus avoiding messes in the bath, messes on the shower walls, and preventing the clogging of drains. It should be understood that the exemplary embodiment(s) may be used to groom a variety of hair species, and should not be limited to any particular hair species described herein. 
     The non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) is/are referred to generally in  FIGS. 1-7  and is/are intended to provide a hair grooming device  10  for collecting, concealing, and storing hair that is left on a user hand after shampooing, until the user is ready to empty, thus avoiding messes in the bath, messes on the shower walls, and preventing the clogging of drains. The hair grooming device  10  includes a receptacle  11  including a first half  12  hingedly coupled to the second half  13 , a base plate  14  statically seated within the receptacle  11  and including a plurality of bristles  15  attached thereto, a top plate  16  removably stacked on the base plate  14  and seated in the receptacle  11 , the top plate  16  including a plurality of apertures  17 , and a plurality of suction cups  18  coupled to the first half  12  of the receptacle  11 . Advantageously, the bristles  15  are aligned and positioned through the apertures  17  when the top plate  16  is positioned on the base plate  14   14 . In this manner, the bristles  15  terminate away from the top plate  16  such that the top plate  16  shields the base plate  14  from the hair. Notably, the top plate  16  is freely disengaged from the base plate  14  and capable of both collecting and removing the hair from the receptacle  11 . 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the base plate  14  has a planar top surface  14   a  and a planar bottom surface  14   b  wherein the top plate  16  has a planar top surface  16   a  and a planar bottom surface  16   b.    
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the bristles  15  include a first group  15   a  of tall bristles  15  and a second group  15   b  of short bristles  15  juxtaposed thereto. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the first group  15   a  of tall bristles  15  and the second group  15   b  of short bristles  15  are penetrated through the apertures  17 , respectively, while the top plate  16  is stacked on the base plate  14 . 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the top plate  16  includes a proximal end  16   c  having a flexible pull tab  20  attached thereto. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the receptacle  11  includes a handle  21  extended along a latitudinal width  22  of the first half  12  of the receptacle  11 . 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the top plate  16  is configured to be selectively removed from the first half  12  of the receptacle  11  when disengaged from the base plate  14 . 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the planar bottom surface  16   a  of the top plate  16  is registered parallel to the planar top surface  14   a  of the base plate  14  when stacked thereon. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the first group  15   a  of tall bristles  15  and the second group  15   b  of short bristles  15  are oriented perpendicular to the planar top surface  14   a  of the base plate  14  and the planar top surface  16   a  of the top plate  16 . 
     The present disclosure further includes a method of utilizing a hair grooming device  10  for collecting, concealing, and storing hair that is left on a user hand after shampooing, until the user is ready to empty, thus avoiding messes in the bath, messes on the shower walls, and preventing the clogging of drains. Such a method including the steps of: providing a receptacle  11  including a first half  12  hingedly coupled to the second half  13 ; providing a base plate  14  including a plurality of bristles  15  attached thereto; statically seating the base plate  14  within the receptacle  11 ; providing a top plate  16  including a plurality of apertures  17 ; removably stacking the top plate  16  on the base plate  14  such that the top plate  16  is seated in the receptacle  11 ; providing and coupling a plurality of suction cups  18  to the first half  12  of the receptacle  11 ; aligning and positioning the bristles  15  through the apertures  17  by positioning the top plate  16  on the base plate  14 ; and the bristles  15  terminating away from the top plate  16  such that the top plate  16  shields the base plate  14  from the hair. 
     The method further includes the steps of: providing shampoo  30 ; washing a user hair with the shampoo  30 ; brushing the user hair with the bristles  15  and thereby collecting the user hair on the top plate  16  away from the base plate  14 ; and freely disengaging the top plate  16  from the base plate  14  and thereby removing the user hair from the receptacle  11 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7  in general, in a non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s), the hair grooming device  10  is fashioned of a durable plastic material and measuring approximately seven to eight inches (7″-8″) in length, five to six inches (5″-6″) in width  22 , and two inches (2″) in depth. To facilitate attachment to a shower wall, the hair grooming device  10  comes with a series of suction cups  18  that fit onto the unit&#39;s back panel. Inside the receptacle  11 , a brush with numerous hard but moveable bristles  15  is provided for both collecting the loose hair and removing it from the box. The top plate  16  is freely disengaged from the base plate  14  and capable of both collecting and removing the hair from the receptacle  11 . As an additional consideration, the hair grooming device  10  is made available in a variety of colors to appeal to individual tastes or to match any bathroom&#39;s decor. 
     There are several significant benefits and advantages associated with the hair grooming device  10 . Foremost, this clever device  10  allows users to attend to a necessary personal grooming ritual both neatly and quickly. Able to expediently deposit loose hair while shampooing, users certainly appreciate that they are able to rid the hands of the messy, wet detritus. With the hair grooming device  10 , consumers can confidently attend to their shampooing regimen without fear of clogged drains and hair residue marring shower and vanity surfaces. Ideal for both men and women for use in the home, the hair grooming device  10  is especially appreciated by styling professionals, kept by shampoo bowls to ensure that stations remain pristine and hair-free. In addition, public venues that offer shower facilities such as gyms and day spas are able to keep their areas clean and drains free of expensive clogs. Compact and lightweight, the hair grooming device  10  is easily packed into a carry-on or personal grooming kit for use while on vacation or traveling for business. 
     An innovative product, the hair grooming device  10  offers a much-needed accessory for bathing needs. Able to complete the shampooing regimen in a more sanitary manner, busy individuals find this product an essential tool for their personal hygiene endeavors. Affordably priced, the hair grooming device  10  will be well-received by the general consumer populace, an extremely sizable market potential. 
     While non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) has/have been described with respect to certain specific embodiment(s), it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art(s) without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the above Detailed Description, various features may have been grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiment(s) require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s). Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter. 
     The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiment(s) which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the above detailed description.