Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR PORTABLE HAIR STYLIST'S SALON SYSTEM
This invention concerns a modular and portable system for a
hair stylist's salon, including a collapsible and relocatable
container for a hair stylist's salon work station.
Although the invention is described and referred to
specifically as it relates to specific structures of a modular
and portable system for a hair stylist's salon, including a
collapsible and relocatable hair stylist's salon work station it
will be understood that the principles of this invention are
equally applicable to similar structures and accordingly, it will
be understood that the invention is not limited to such
structures.
~ACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Home hair styling by traveling hair stylists is a growing
service industry. At present this is often performed with an
elementary kit consisting of a gym bag containing a portable hand
held (blow) hair dryer, a curling iron, combs and scissors. This
service is nothing like as good as that provided by a fully
equipped hair salon. Despite this shortcoming, there is still an
overwhelming demand for home hair styling by mobile hair
stylists.
PRIOR ART
Portable toilet and vanity bags and cases are known from US
Patents 369,472 issued Sep. 6, 1887, to Scheuer et al., 1,578,778
issued Mar. 30, 1926, to Thornhill, 1,607,007 issued Nov. 16,
1926, to Leviten et al., 1,650,241 issued Nov. 22, 1927, to
Stenholm, 1,652,771 issued Dec. 13, 1927, to Deubel, 1,973,283
issued Sep. 11, 1934, to Buttrick, 2,038,319 issued Apr. 21,
1936, to Stanley, 2,145,462 issued Jan. 31, 1939, to Speck, and
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4,717,024 issued Jan. 5, 1988, to Djezovic, generally having
mirrors, and pockets or compartments, Stenholm besides has an
electric light. None of these provide a modular portable hair
stylist's salon system.
If the components of a hair stylist's salon are analyzed,
these basically include hair dryer having a hood and work
station, and the salon itself provides various cosmetic tools and
products. A full size hair dryer is both too heavy and too bulky
for convenient transport, and carriage in and out of vehicles.
Besides which a bag or bags containing sufficient cosmetic tools
and products has to be carried as well. Ideally a cosmetic tool
bag, a color bag (for hair) and a product bag should also carried
to provide an adequate variety of styling for most or all
customers. As can be seen this still does not provide a work
station, but merely the tools of the industry, and still forms a
considerable load to carry.
It a principal object of the invention to provide a modular
and portable system for a hair stylist's salon. It is a further
principal object to provided a collapsible and relocatable
container for a hair stylist's salon work station It is
therefore a principal object of the salon kit, that it be movable
in and out of vehicles, and over curbs, up and down steps and
stairs, through doorways, over stones and similar obstacles. It
is a further principal object that the salon kit includes a hair
dryer while remaining easily movable. It is a further principal
object of the invention to provide a portable or mobile work
station for a hair stylist. It is a subsidiary object to provide
a hair dryer of reduced size, while retaining its efficiency and
effectiveness. It is a further subsidiary object to provide a
multi-purpose cart or similar vehicle to mount salon kit
elements. Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the
art from the following specification, accompanying drawings and
appended claims.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to a modular portable system for a
hair stylist's mobile salon.
In one aspect the invention is directed to a carriage
element having frame means mounted on which are carrying means
for a collapsible relocatable container element for a hair
stylist's mobile salon station. A compact hair dryer element is
height adjustably mounted on the frame means, so the compact hair
dryer element can be operated on tyhe carriage element. The
compact hair dryer element includes box means, for motor and
heater coils, and head hood means, height and angularly
adjustable with respect to said box means. Preferably the
compact hair dryer box means is height adjustably mounted on the
frame means by clip means.
Conveniently the clip means are mounted on upright members spaced
apart from and connected to the hair dryer box means. These clip
means may have clamp means fixedly attached to said box upright
members and clamp means releasably attached to the frame means.
The hair dryer box upright members are suitably connected at
their top and bottom to the dryer box means. Conveniently the
compact hair dryer element is above the carrying means. The
frame means is preferably wheeled with paired spaced apart
uprights, which have level means projecting forward to front
support stand means, top transverse handle means and bottom
transverse spar means. The carrying means preferably has
platform means mounted on said level means to carry the
collapsible relocatable container element for the hair stylist's
mobile salon station.
In another aspect the invention is directed to a collapsible
relocatable container element for a modular portable system for a
hair stylist's salon. The container element is selectively
movable from a first closed disposition for carriage and
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relocation, to a second open disposition on a work substrate.
The container element has provided on the inner surface thereof a
plurality of internal compartments for receiving combs, brushes,
scissors, clippers, water hose and hair products, and adjustable
mirror means, whereby the container element when open comprises a
hair stylist's salon station. Preferably the container element
has internal electric outlet means and external electric power
cord means.
The container element in second open disposition has
generally upright reinforced panel means including rear central
portion means connected to paired opposed side portion means
extending forward and outward therefrom and reinforced base
portion means connected to the rear portion means. The rear
portion means has adjustably mounted on the inner surface thereof
mirror means, and each side portion means has the inner surface
thereof a plurality of internal compartments for receiving combs,
brushes, scissors, clippers, hose and hair products. Usually the
rear portion means is rear panel means, the side portion means
are side panel means and the base portion means is base panel
means. These panel means are generally rectangular.
The mirror means may have vertical rear hook and eye
attachment strips selectively engaging vertical hook and eye
attachment strips on the inner surface of the rear portion means,
so the mirror means is selectively adjustable in position on the
rear portion means. The mirror means can be slidably mounted in
side vertical channel means on the inner surface of the rear
portion means. The mirror means may have rear ball and socket
joint means operatively associated by arm means with inner ball
and socket joint means on said inner surface of said rear portion
means. Preferably the container element has opposed front and
rear panel means, opposed top and base panel means and opposed
left and right side panel means, all these panel means having
generally rectangular shape. In which case the rear panel means
has top, bottom and opposed side edges, while the left and right
side panel means have top, bottom, front and rear edges, the base
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panel means has front, rear and left and right side edges, the
front panel means has top, bottom and left and right side edgesr
and the top panel means having front, rear and left and right
side edges. The rear panel means base edge is foldably attached
to the base panel means rear edge. The rear panel means opposed
side edges are foldably attached to the paired opposed side panel
means at the rear edges. While the base panel means front edge
is foldably attached to the front panel means bottom edge, and
the front panel means top edge is foldably attached to the top
panel means front edge. Continuous fastening means are
preferably provided along each left and right side panels means
base, front and top edqes, as are continuous fastening means
along the left edges of the base, front and top panel means, and
also continuous fastening means along the right edges of the
base, front and top panel means. The continuous fastening means
on the left side panel means engage the continuous fastening
means along the left edges of the base, front and top panel means
in mating engagement in first closed disposition. Similarly the
continuous fastening means on said right side panel means engage
the continuous fastening means along the right edges of the base,
front and top panel means in mating engagement in the first
closed disposition.
The continuous fastening means are disengaged in the second open
disposition. The top panel means preferably has hook and loop
attachment means along its interior rear edge. The rear panel
means preferably has hook and loop attachment means along its
exterior top edge. The top panel means rear edge attachment
means engage the rear panel means top edge attachment means in
the first closed disposition. The front panel means preferably
has interior transverse hook and loop attachment means engageable
with the top panel means rear edge hook and loop attachment means
in second open disposition. Preferably the opposed side panel
means have front edges longer than rear edges by approximately at
least about ~ to 1 inch, which extend the front edges downward
with respect to the rear edges, whereby in second open
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disposition the opposed side panel means are tilted inward and
backward, this downward extension can be varied depending on
panel dimensions as those skilled in the art are aware.
Preferably the base panel means of the container element has
plastic cover means selectively movable from first rolled
inoperable configuration and second unrolled operable
configuration, whereby in the second unrolled operable
confiquration the plastic cover means covers the base panel
means.
In a third basic aspect the invention is directed to
a modular portable system for a hair stylist's salon comprising
in combination the compact hair dryer element, the container
element for hair stylist's salon station and the carriage element
for the compact hair dryer element, and the container element.
The compact hair dryer element, the container element and the
carriage element are as described above.
The hook and loop attachments can be replaced with metal
snaps as those skilled in the art would be aware.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, set up
for use.
Fig. 3 shows an exterior front view of a closed salon
station box of Fiq. 1.
Fig. 4 shows an exterior back view of a closed salon station
box of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 shows a base view of a closed salon box of Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 shows a front view of an open salon station box of
Fig. 1.
Fig 7 shows a top view of an open salon station box of Fig.
1.
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Fig. 8 shows a rear view of an open salon station box of
Fig. 1.
Fig. 9 shows an alternative mirror mounting structure of
Fig. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention is now illustrated by reference to the
preferred embodiments thereof. The numeral 10 indicates a mobile
salon kit of the invention resting on substrate 12. Kit 10 has
carrying frame, cart or dolly 14, hair dryer 16, and portable
salon station box or bag 18. Frame 14 has uprights 20 which join
at the top, forming grab handle 22 with grip 24. Horizontal bars
26 project forward from uprights 20 to legs 28 which are joined
by bottom rest 30, forming a front support stand. Support
platform 32 rests on horizontal bars 26 supporting salon station
box or bag 18. At elbow joins 40 of uprights 20 and horizontal
bars 26 are plates 36 mounting wheel braces 38 having axle
brackets 40 mounting wheels 42. Hair dryer 16 is a modified
Venus model dryer manufactured by Belmont Takara Co. New York
Inc. in Somerset, New Jersey. This model has been found ideal
for normal salon purposes, but too bulky and heavy for mobile
purposes, besides its length of electric cord. The cabinet has
been reduced in size as much as possible while still containing
all the elements of the dryer - heater coil and blower motor
being especially suitable. Other hair dryers available have
suitable size compact cabinets, but applicant has found these
have low watt heater coils and blower motors and are not suitable
nor effective to provide professional level service.
Dryer 16 has cabinet 44, locked by padlock lock 46, which as
those skilled in the art appreciate can be replaced by other
suitable conventional locks, such as a side clip, as on a
suitcase, head hood 48, mounted by elbow 50 in stack 52, with
timer control 54 and thermostat control 56, it further has
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electric power cord 58 and power plug 60, except for cabinet size
these are conventional. Dryer cabinet 44 has fixed to the rear
thereof adjustment bars 62, fixedly attached thereto are bolted
clips 64, which are of the sort used to hold bicycle locks when
not in use on bikes. Clips 64 besides having a portion fixedly
clamped to dryer adjustment bars 62 by bolts, have an integral
portion releasably clamped to uprights 20 of cart 14 using
pivoted locking levers 66. Dryer cabinet 44 also has side
gripping handle 68.
In use in a clientls room salon station box 18 is removed
from cart 14, which is maneuvered immediately behind client's
chair. The height of dryer cabinet 44 is then adjusted as
required, by grasping gripping handle 68, releasing locking
levers 66 and raising or lowering dryer cabinet 44, then locking
levers 66 so clips 64 grip uprights 20. As those skilled in the
art appreciate fixed clamps may be attached to uprights 20, while
releasable clamps may be attached to adjustment bars 62.
Salon station box 18 has rear carry strap 68 for ease of
moving it, and retractable electric power cord 74 mounting plug
76.
In Fig. 2, cart 14 is shown as set up for use with dryer
cabinet 44 adjusted in height, and dryer hood 48 extended, power
cord 58 is shown extended. The only additional feature shown in
Fig 2, is hinge 70 on cabinet 44, which allows opening of front
panel 72 to enter the cabinet for maintenance and repairs.
In Figs. 3 and 4 is shown the exterior of salon station box
18, which has front panel 78, side panels 80 and 82, rear panel
84, top panel 86, base panel 88, In these figures side panels 80
and 82 have longer outer edges than inner edges, with the extra
length at the bottom, providing a top upward slope from rear to
front. Rear carry strap 68 and front carry strap 92 have
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adjustable padded shoulder pieces 94 trear) and 96 (front).
Front carry strap 96 is integral with support strips 98 and 100
attached to front panel 78, rear carry strap 68 is integral with
support strips 102 and 104 attached to rear panel 84. Optionally
these strips join on base panel 88, strip 106 joining strips 98
and 102, strip 108 joining strips 100 and 104. The exterior of
salon station box 18 is made of CORDURA~, a nylon fabric, forming
a sewn pattern, which as those skilled in the art are aware is
both light weight and tear resistant. The support strips and
carry straps are similarly nylon and are sewn to the nylon
exterior with heavy stitching. As those skilled in the art will
appreciate other conventional fabrics of similar properties could
be used instead of nylon.
Side panel 80 is connected to base panel 88, front panel 78,
and top panel 86 by plastic zipper 110, similarly side panel 82
is connected to base panel 88, front panel 78, and top panel 86
by plastic zipper 112. Side panels 80 and 82, rear panel 84 and
base panel 88, all contain plex-i-glass reinforcement sheets,
plex-i-glass is chosen for its flexibility and light wei~ht, as
those in the art will appreciate other conventional materials of
similar properties could be used instead of plex-i-glass.
Plastic zippers are used for their light weight. The colors of
zipper, nylon exterior, nylon strips and straps, and shoulder
piece can be and typically are selected as those skilled in the
art are aware for their aesthetic value. Zippers 110 and 112
when closed hold the salon station in box or bag form, when open
they allow access to the interior of the station.
Fig. 6 shows salon box 18 opened ready for use, standing on
working level substrate 114 (bench, counter, shelf or table).
Side panels 80 and 82 fold outward from rear panel 84, while base
panel 88 remains in contact with substrate 114. Zippers 110 and
112 are unzipped completely on top, front and bottom edges of
side panels 80 and 82, base, front and top panels 88, 78 and 86
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form a continuous strip or flap with zippers 110 and 112 along
the side edges, as shown panels 78 and 86 are folded together.
The outer edges 116 and 118 of panels 80 and 82, are about ~ to 1
inch longer than the inner edges 120 and 122 of panels 80 and 82,
with this extra length added at the bottom, it tilts panels 80
and 82 upward and backward, which has been found to stabilize the
station, as the weight on the inside of the side and rear panels
tends to pull inward and downward. Rear panel 84 has transparent
upper side pockets 124 and 126 to hold business or cutting cards,
alternatively lower transparent side pockets 125 and 127 may be
present. Removable mirror 128 is shown in a raised position, it
is slidable in channels 130 and 132, and held in position by
vertical velcro strips 134 and 136 which extend to the top of
panel 84, engaging similar vertical velcro strips on the back of
mirror 128, which allows full height adjustability of mirror 128.
At the bottom of rear panel 84 is electric power outlet box 138
connected to electric power cord 74 and plug 76. In front of
outlet box 138, sewn to panel 88 is protective plastic roll 140
secured by attached tie 142, when unrolled as in Fig. 7, roll 140
covers base 88, protecting it from staining and damage during use
of chemical reagents. Panel 80 has pockets with elasticated top
edges, or with bungee style pull cords along their top edges, on
its interior side. Base pocket 144 contains products for hair
styling and the like 146, top pocket 148 contains combs 150, top
pocket 152 contains brushes 154, top pocket 156 contains scissors
158, should these prove insufficient, the extra tools may be held
against panel 80 by elasticated cloth band 160. Panel 82
similarly has pockets with elasticated top edges, or bungee type
pull cords along their top edges, on its interior side. Base
pocket 162 contains cape 164, slippers, hose tubing and clips,
outer middle pocket 166 contains electric clipper 168 (only power
cord and plug shown), inner middle pocket 170 contains snippers
tnot shown), top outer pocket 172 contains cellular or mobile
phone 174, top inner pocket 176 contains money and has zipper
178. As those skilled in the art appreciate the number and
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arrangement of interior panel pockets can be varied, provided
that sufficient pockets of sufficient capacity are supplied.
While the number of pockets is to a certain extent a matter of
convenience for the stylist, the number shown is quite adequate
to provide effective full salon service from the portable
station. Base panel 88 may have front pocket 180 having an
elasticated rear edge, when present it i5 used for storage of
used tools, for example, combs and the like.
Fig. 7 shows a top view of station box or bag 18 opened for
use, base panel 88, front panel 78 and top panel 86 are shown
fully extended. Transparent plastic cover 140 is shown unrolled
on top of base panel 88, and optional base panel pocket 180.
Transverse velcro strips 182 and 184 allow folding of top panel
86 onto front panel 78, as the fully extended strip or flap 198
formed by panels 88, 78 and 86 will hang down to the floor from
working level substrate 114. Flap 198 may also contain a large
flat pocket 200
Fig. 8 shows a rear view of station box or bag 18 opened for
use, mirror 128 has rear velcro strips 186 and 188 which
cooperate with rear panel velcro strips 134 and 136 to hold
mirror 128 in position. Rear panel 84 has outer top velcro strip
190, which when station box or bag 18 is closed engages inner
velcro strip 184 of top panel 86 closing the station. The effect
of the extra length at the bottom front of side panels 80 and 82
is shown, pushing the side panels back and up, to counterbalance
the weight on the inside of the station pulling forward and
downward.
Fig. 9 shows an alternative mirror mounting system, mirror
128 has mirror ball and socket joint 192 mounted thereon
connected by arm 194 to rear panel ball and socket joint 196
mounted on rear panel 84. This allows not only height but
angular adjustment of mirror 128.
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In use cart 14 is maneuvered into client's accommodation. A
chair is placed for the client against a working substrate,
typically a table. Then station box 18 is removed from cart 14,
and the cart is placed behind the chair and dryer 16 is adjusted
to the correct height for the client using clips 64. Then salon
box 18 is placed on the working substrate and opened, unzipping
zippers 110 and 112, and separating velcro strips 184 and 190,
and unfolding top panel 86 and front panel 78, which are folded
together and secured by velcro strips 184 and 190. Side panels
80 and 82 are adjusted for convenience and mirror 128 adjusted
for height. Dryer plug 60 and salon box plug 76 are connected to
electric power outlets, possibly through an intermediate power
bar. The station is now set up ready for use having most
features of full salon service to hand. The hook and loop
attachments can be replaced with metal snaps as those skilled in
the art would be aware.
As those skilled in the art would realize these preferred
described details and materials and components can be subjected
to substantial variation, modification, change, alteration, and
substitution without affecting or modifying the function of the
described embodiments.
Although embodiments of the invention have been described
above, it is not limited thereto, and it will be apparent to
persons skilled in the art that numerous modifications and
variations form part of the present invention insofar as they do
not depart from the spirit, nature and scope of the claimed and
described invention.
