Patent Publication Number: US-2023147326-A1

Title: Hand-held hair removal article

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a hand-held hair removal article. More specifically, the invention relates to a shaped flexible article adapted to scoop a hair removal compound, apply the hair removal compound to a hair removal area, and remove the hair removal compound and hair from the hair removal area. 
     RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to co-pending U.S. provisional patent application for HAND-HELD HAIR REMOVAL ARTICLE, application No. 63/263,938, filed Nov. 11, 2021, the full disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference and priority which are hereby claimed. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hair removal wax systems are well known in the art and have been utilized for many years. Such systems suffer from a number of deficiencies. The typical process involves locating a target hair removal location, heating a desired amount of wax, and applying it to the target hair removal location, allowing the wax to start cooling from the resultant skin contact, allowing the hair to bond with the cooling wax, applying a disposable strip to the wax and hair bond, and then lifting or ripping the disposable strip, removing the wax and hair bond, leaving hairless, smooth skin. Because the root of the hair is typically removed from the follicle, growth of hair above the skin surface will typically take several days to several weeks. This prolonged period of lack of exposed hair is desirable both for the non-prickly feeling and for the hairless aspects. Drawbacks of such systems are fairly well known. First, removal strips must be purchased in quantity to allow for reapplications. As a result, unwanted cost and storage are needed. Additionally, storage of the strips can be messy, unsightly, and inconvenient, to the extent that storage with the wax is not desired, it is easy to lose one or both of the wax and strips leading to further displeasure with the system. Finally, removal strips are not always environmentally friendly and are typically disposable and not reusable. 
     Another system for hair wax removal comprises a sugar based natural wax that can be applied to a target hair removal area. Most of the sugar based natural wax hair removal methods comprise that of traditional wax application and removal processes, wherein the wax is heated, applied on the skin, and removed with either wax strips or by hand, pulling the wax away from the skin and removing the hair. Some sugar based natural wax systems exist such that the sugar based natural wax can be warmed on contact with the user&#39;s skin to bond with the hair to be removed and then quickly removed from the skin to remove not only the hair removal compound, but also hair which has bonded thereto. The hair removal system sometimes includes a volume of hair removal compound configured to bond with hair upon application to the user&#39;s skin and the use of a hand or a reusable flexible member adapted to scoop, apply and/or remove the volume of hair removal compound from a hair removal area. Drawbacks of such reusable flexible members are fairly well known, including, but not limited to, improper and/or inefficient shape, non-ergonomically conscious designs, improper material such as polyvinyl chloride that can break and cause injury to the user, designs that allow for slippage during use, and a steep learning curve in learning to properly use the reusable flexible member, wherein improper techniques can lead to bruising and extensive hair removal time. Further drawbacks exist based on current designs of reusable flexible members that are uniform in shape and some consisting of a more rectangular nature, creating difficulty for the user in accessing hard to reach parts of the body, namely the bikini area where the upper leg meets the joints of the pelvis, the bikini area under the body, or the buttocks. Thus, there is a need in the art for a hand-held hair removal article with improved functionality, performance, and design. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like or similar parts in the various views: 
         FIG.  1    is a plan view of one embodiment of a hand-held hair removal article in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a plan view of one embodiment of a hand-held hair removal article in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a plan view of one embodiment of a hand-held hair removal article in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hand-held hair removal article in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of the present invention references the accompanying drawing figures that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the present invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and, therefore, the description is not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     The present hand-held hair removal article aims to provide a more efficient article based on its design. The present article aims to provide a more ergonomically correct design to provide a more comfortable experience to avoid long-term injuries or exacerbate prior injuries to the wrist or hand of the user. The present article aims to provide a better user experience based on the exterior textures of the article, as well as an optional internal cavity to allow less slippage and better grippage. The present article aims to provide a shorter and easier learning curve in learning to properly use the reusable flexible article for hair removal with the hair removal compound. The present article aims to provide a more versatile article that can be used with either or both hands on larger areas of the body, as well as more constricted, hard to reach places on the body, such as that within the bikini area, both upper and lower portions, as well as that of the buttocks. 
     With these thoughts in mind, amongst others, aspects of the present disclosure were conceived and developed. 
     Aspects of the present disclosure may include, but are not limited to, a substantially planar hand-held hair removal article  100  comprising a first side  102 , a second side  104 , a top side  106 , a bottom side  108 , a top surface  110 , and a bottom surface  112 , the first side  102  comprising a first right angle  114  between the first side  102  and the bottom side  108  and an obtuse angle  120  between the top side  106  and the first side  102 , the second side  104  comprising a second right angle  116  between the bottom side  108  and the second side  104  and an acute angle  118  between the second side  104  and the top side  106 , the top surface  110  and the bottom surface  112  comprising a consistent thickness between the top surface  110  and the bottom surface  112 , the angles between the first side  102 , the bottom side  108 , the second side  104 , and the top side  106  being rounded, the hand-held hair removal article comprising a flexible material. 
     In certain instances, the first side  102  is approximately 3.15″, the second side is approximately 3.40″, and the bottom side is approximately 2.15″. 
     In certain instances, the first side  102  is approximately 2.02″, the second side  104  is approximately 2.15″, and the bottom side  108  is approximately 1.14″. 
     In certain instances, the thickness between the top surface  110  and the bottom surface  112  is approximately 0.04″. 
     In certain instances, the hand-held hair removal article  100  comprises at least one cavity between the top surface  110  and the bottom surface  112 . 
     In certain instances, the top surface  110  comprises one or more finishes on part or all of the top surface  110 , including, but not limited to, a gloss, smooth, transparent, translucent, dimpled, rippled, depressed, matte, rough, or grip finish. 
     In certain instances, the bottom surface  112  comprises one or more finishes on part or all of the bottom surface  112 , including, but not limited to, a gloss, smooth, transparent, translucent, dimpled, rippled, depressed, matte, rough, or grip finish. 
     In certain instances, the hand-held hair removal article  100  comprises symmetrical curvature throughout the top surface  110  and the bottom surface  112  for better grippability. 
     In certain instances, the hand-held hair removal article  100  comprises asymmetrical curvature throughout the top surface  110  and the bottom surface  112  for better grippability. 
     In certain instances, the top surface  110  is raised or lowered in one or more portions of the top surface  110 . 
     In certain instances, the bottom surface  112  is raised or lowered in one or more portions of the bottom surface  112 . 
     In certain instances, the hand-held hair removal article  100  comprises a material capable of flexing to scoop, apply and/or remove a volume of hair removal compound from a hair removal area. 
     In certain instances, the hand-held removal article  100  material comprises, but is not limited to, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, or other similar plastic material or a combination thereof. 
     In certain instances, the hand-held removal article  100  comprises an ambidextrous design to be used by either a right hand or a left hand. 
     In certain instances, the hand-held removal article  100  comprises capabilities to be used at various angles and hand-held positions to scoop, apply and/or remove a volume of hair removal compound from a hair removal area. 
     In certain instances, the hand-held removal article  100  comprises, but is not limited to, scoop, apply and/or remove a volume of hair removal compound from a hair removal area with a first side  102 , a second side  104 , a top side  106 , a bottom side  108 , a top surface  110 , or a bottom surface  112 . 
     In certain instances, the hand-held removal article  100  comprises of one or more hand-held removal articles, such that multiple hand-held removal articles can be cut from the same material mold and disconnected at a later time. For example, during production, a hand-held removal article  100  would comprise of three separate hand-held removal articles that can be separated by methods of, but not limited to, breaking apart, snapping, bending, or another form of separation. 
     From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting. 
     The constructions and methods described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. 
     As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.