INVENTOR: VARDGES VICK AVETISYAN

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This PCT application claims the benefit of US Utility Patent Application 16/445,132, filed on June 18, 2019, and incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hair care, and more particularly to a tool for treating hair and then isolating the treated hair.

BACKGROUND

Various solutions have been attempted to provide an easy means to color hair and provide other hair treatments, and to thereafter isolate such treated hair from contacting adjacent strands of hair until the treatment is complete. The most common “tin foil” solution is to wrap the treated hair in a square of tin foil. However, such a solution results in messy tin foil pieces scattered about at the end of the treatment, and tin foil, being malleable, is difficult to use as a support for hair coloring brushes and the like. Further, such tin foil pieces are not reusable after use, and thus must be discarded. Such tin foil pieces, moreover, do not allow the hair to be combed or teased without use a comb, but holding the foil pieces, a comb and hair treatment implements such as brushes simultaneously is cumbersome.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that can be used as a support to treat a section of hair with a hair treatment implement, such as a brush, and that can also be lopped upward and secured to isolate the treated hair from neighboring strands of hair.

Further, such a needed invention would be reusable and durable enough to withstand the strong chemicals sometimes used to treat hair. The needed device would further include an easy-to-use clip having comb teeth so that a separate comb does not have to be held by the person treating the hair. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a tool for treating a section of hair of a person. The treatment of the hair may be, for example, coloring of the hair, conditioning of the hair, or the like.

A flexible water-impervious band has a top side, a bottom side, a proximal edge, a distal edge, and two lateral edges. The proximal edge includes a first part of a first mechanical fastener. The distal edge includes a first part of a second mechanical fastener. An elongated two-part hair clip comprises a lower part and an upper part. Each part has a proximal end, a distal end, an upper side, and a lower side. The lower side of the lower part includes a second part of the first mechanical fastener that is adapted for connecting with the first part of the first mechanical fastener of the band. The upper part is pivotally fixed at the proximal end thereof with the proximal end of the lower part. The hair clip is movable between an open position and a closed position, and the upper part of the hair clip includes a second part of the second mechanical fastener that is adapted for connecting with the first part of the second mechanical fastener of the band.

Preferably a coil spring urges the upper part of the hair clip towards the lower part of the hair clip, urging the hair clip into the closed position. The force of the coil spring can be overcome manually by separating the two parts. Preferably the proximal end of each part includes a finger lever that, when squeezed together, overcome the force of the coil spring to separate the distal ends of the upper part and the lower part of the hair clip, putting the hair clip into the open position.

Preferably the lower side of the upper part of the hair clip includes a plurality of comb teeth projecting downwardly therefrom. Similarly the upper side of the lower part of the hair clip may include a plurality of the comb teeth projecting upwardly therefrom. Each set of comb teeth on the two parts may be offset such that they do not collide when the hair clip is in the closed position, and preferably each set of comb teeth do not contact the opposing part of the hair clip. In use, with the section of the hair of the person placed within the hair clip while the hair clip is in the open position, and with the band in a flat configuration, the hair extends on the top side of the band from the proximal edge of the band towards the distal edge of the band. The section of hair is then treated, and then the distal edge is brought up into a looped configuration to engage the second part of the second mechanical fastener of the upper part of the hair clip. As such, the section of hair after being treated is isolated away from other sections of the hair of the person by the looped band. A splash guard may be included on the lower part of the hair clip, projecting upwardly proximate the proximal end to cover the coil spring, a pivot between the parts, and the finger levers, thereby inhibiting liquids from contacting these parts of the tool.

The present invention is a device that can be used as a support to treat a section of hair with a hair treatment implement, such as a brush, and that can also be lopped upward and secured to isolate the treated hair from neighboring strands of hair. The present invention is reusable, and also durable enough to withstand the strong chemicals used to treat hair. The present device further includes an easy-to-use hair clip having comb teeth so that a separate comb does not have to be held by the person treating the hair. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. l is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated with a band of the invention in a flat configuration and with a hair clip of the invention in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention, illustrated with the band in a looped configuration and with the hair clip in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a right-side elevational view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the hair clip, illustrated with the band omitted for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a first mechanical fastener; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the hair clip, illustrated in the closed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words“comprise,”“comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,”“above,” "below" and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word "or" in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. When the word“each” is used to refer to an element that was previously introduced as being at least one in number, the word“each” does not necessarily imply a plurality of the elements, but can also mean a singular element.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a tool 10 for treating a section 15 of hair 16 of a person 20. The treatment of the hair 16 may be, for example, coloring of the hair 16,

conditioning of the hair 16, or the like.

A flexible water-impervious band 30 has a top side 38, a bottom side 32, a proximal edge 31, a distal edge 39, and two lateral edges 35. The proximal edge 31 includes a first part 41 of a first mechanical fastener 40. The distal edge 39 includes a first part 51 of a second mechanical fastener 50. Preferably the band 30 is non-opaque or transparent. Such a band 30 may be made from a flexible transparent or translucent film, vinyl sheet, or the like. An elongated semi-rigid two-part hair clip 60 comprises a lower part 70 and an upper part 80. Each part 70,80 has a proximal end 72,82, a distal end 78,88, an upper side 79,89, and a lower side 71,81. The lower side 71 of the lower part 70 includes a second part 42 of the first mechanical fastener 40 that is adapted for connecting with the first part 41 of the first mechanical fastener 40 of the band 30. The upper part 80 is pivotally fixed at the proximal end 82 thereof with the proximal end 72 of the lower part 70. The upper part 80 is movable between an open position 100 and a closed position 90. The upper part 80 of the hair clip 60 includes a second part 52 of the second mechanical fastener 50 that is adapted for connecting with the first part 51 of the second mechanical fastener 50 of the band 30. The hair clip 60 is disposed substantially transversely across the band 30 between each later edge 35 thereof proximate the proximal edge 31 thereof. Preferably the hair clip is made with an injection molded plastic process, by stamping each part 70,80 from a metal sheet (not shown), or the like.

Preferably a biasing mechanism 130 urges the upper part 80 of the hair clip 60 towards the lower part 70 of the hair clip 60, urging the hair clip 60 into the closed position 90. The force of the biasing mechanism 130 can be overcome manually by separating the two parts 70,80. Preferably the biasing mechanism 130 includes a coil spring 131 (FIGS. 2 and 3), and preferably the proximal end 72,78 of each part 70,80 includes a finger lever 140 that, when squeezed together, overcome the coil spring 131 to separate the distal ends 78,88 of the upper part 80 and the lower part 70 of the hair clip 60, putting the hair clip 60 into the open position 100 (FIG. 1). Preferably the lower side 81 of the upper part 80 of the hair clip 60 includes a plurality of comb teeth 160 projecting downwardly therefrom. Similarly the upper side 78 of the lower part 70 of the hair clip 60 may include a plurality of the comb teeth 160 projecting upwardly therefrom. Each set of comb teeth 160 on the two parts 70,80 may be offset such that they do not collide when the hair clip is in the closed position 90, and preferably each set of comb teeth 160 do not contact the opposing part 70,80 of the hair clip 60 (FIG. 4).

In use, with the section 15 of the hair 16 of the person 20 placed within the hair clip 60 while the hair clip 60 is in the open position 100, and with the band 30 in a flat configuration 110, the hair 16 extends on the top side 38 of the band 30 from the proximal edge of the band 30 towards the distal edge 39 of the band 30. The section 15 of hair 16 is then treated, and then the distal edge 39 is brought up into a looped configuration 120 to engage the second part 52 of the second mechanical fastener 50 of the upper part 80 of the hair clip 60. As such, the section 15 of hair 16 after being treated is isolated away from other sections of the hair 16 of the person 20 by the looped band 30. A splash guard 170 may be included on the lower part 70 of the hair clip 60, projecting upwardly proximate the proximal end 72 to cover the coil spring 131, a pivot 180 between the parts 70,80, and the finger levers 140, thereby inhibiting liquids from contacting these parts of the tool 10.

In some embodiments the first part 41 of the first mechanical fastener 40 includes two or more pins 42 projecting downwardly from the lower side 71 of the lower part 70 of the hair clip 60. Each pin 42 has an outwardly-extending raised cap 43 (FIGS. 4-6). The second part 42 of the first mechanical fastener 40 includes two or more cooperative notches 44 formed through the band 30 proximate the proximal edge 31 of the band 30. Each notch 44 preferably includes a waist 45 adapted to flex away from one of the pins 42 as the pin 42 passes therethrough. Each notch 44 is aligned and cooperative with one of the pins 42 such that one of the pins 42, when inserted into the notch 44 and moved through the waist 45 results in a snap-fit of the band 30 to the hair clip 60.

In some embodiments the first part 51 of the second mechanical fastener 50 includes one or more hooks 54 projecting upwardly from the upper side 89 of the upper part 80 of the hair clip 60. The second part 52 of the second mechanical fattener 50 includes one or more cooperative hook apertures 53 formed through the band 30 proximate the distal end 39 of the band 30. Each hook aperture 53 is aligned and cooperative with one of the hooks 54 such that one of the hooks 54, when inserted into one of the hook apertures 53 further and selectively secures the band 30 to the hair clip 60.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the biasing mechanism includes a mechanical snap 150 (FIG. 6) fixed between the distal ends 78,88 of the upper and lower pats 70,80 of the hair clip 60. Further, the first part 70 of the hair clip 60 and the second part 80 of the hair clip 60 may be integrally formed, wherein biasing mechanism 130 further includes a living hinge 132 formed between the first part 70 of the hair clip 60 and the second part 80 of the hair clip 60. As such the hair clip 60 may be made through a plastic extrusion process, with the first part 41 of the first mechanical fastener 40 being a T-shaped extrusion (not shown) that is designed to cooperate with the notch 44. While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the band 30 may be rectangular as illustrated in the figures or some other suitable shape. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention.

The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference.

Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above "Detailed Description." While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated.

While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.