Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HAIR COLORING VARIEGATION DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the coloring of human hair, and
more
particularly, to an improved method and device for quickly and effectively
coloring human
hair in a variegated manner.
Background Art
Hair color variegation is a popular service performed by the professional
beauty
industry. The process involves the segregation of one or more sections of
human hair
followed by the treatment of the segregated hair with a hair coloring method
or chemical.
The technical skill required to separate particular sections of a person's
hair from the
remainder has kept this procedure mostly in the purview of hair salons.
A previously popular method for highlighting hair is described in U.S. Patent
No.
5,562,111. The method disclosed therein involves a cap tightly fitted over a
scalp of
combed-back hair. Strands of hair are then pulled through holes in the cap
with a crochet
hook and the exposed hair is colored to create the effect of variegation.
Although this
method can be somewhat successful both at keeping the chemical hair coloring
from
bleeding onto the hair not intended for treatment and creating a generally
variegated look,
the necessity of drawing hairs through individual holes in the cap makes it
difficult for the
technician to consistently draw out a section of hair from the desired area
without
unintentionally entraining undesired sections of hair from areas surrounding
the hole. The
end result is unpredictable and, sometimes, very undesirable. Moreover, the
available
variegation pattern is dictated by the location and distribution of the holes
in the cap.
Additional disadvantages to this method include the inability to effectively
color hair roots,
the inability to consistently prevent the bleeding of color to adjacent
sections of unselected
hair, and the pain experienced by the recipient due to the repeated pulling of
her hair
through small holes. U.S. Patent No. 4,165,754 is another example of a hair
highlighting
method employing a cap over the scalp. This method has the identical drawbacks
of the
111 patent.
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Alternatively, there are various combing methods used to apply hair color in a
variegated manner. A general method involves dipping a comb into a liquid hair
color
and pulling the comb through the hair to be treated. Only relatively large
sections of hair
can be treated in this manner and it is difficult for the operator to avoid
color bleeding onto
hair not intended for treatment. U.S. Patent No. 3,349,781 describes a method
wherein
a hair stylist parts hair into sections and uses a brush with a series of
spaced tufts to
brush streaks onto random strands. The tufts of the brush are dipped into a
hair color
composition and retain the composition until the brush is drawn across the
strands to be
colored, thus depositing the colorant thereon. This method utilizes protective
sheets
placed under and over the streak-treated partings before and after treatment
to avoid
color bleeding to adjacent hair. However, using this brush method makes it
difficult to
choose which strands of hair will be treated. Hence, there is minimal control
over the
placement of the hair treatment. Therefore, larger sections of hair are
treated, resulting
in a more unnatural hair coloring effect.
U.S. Patent No. 5,337,765 describes a modular brush for applying hair color
compositions with a brush body and detachable bristle modules so that the
brush can be
configured to achieve a user-defined variegated pattern. However, this
arrangement
presents the same limitations as described above for the '781 patent.
A more commonly used technique by those skilled in the art involves selecting
hair
through weaving with a conventional tail comb and then placing the selected
sections
onto aluminum foil (or some other sheet of barrier material) and then painting
sections
with a hair color composition. A dispensing device for metallic foil that may
be used in
this process is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,237,608. The foil method allows
for smaller,
more independent, more consistently variegated sections to be treated closer
to the scalp,
resulting in a more naturally variegated final appearance. When using this
method, the
potential for color bleeding onto surrounding hair is reduced. But even with
these
advantages over other hair color variegation techniques, the foil method is
very time
consuming and expensive. For an average client, approximately 30 to 50 minutes
is
required to complete this method of hair coloration.
Hair color variegation techniques that involve color treated sections that
have been
woven away and placed inside a barrier material for processing produce natural
and
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attractive variegated appearance. It follows then that advancement in the
field of hair
color variegation involves weaving, color treatment and barrier material.
Reference will
now be made to technology that attempts to advance on one or more of these
three
general systematic elements.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0028835 discloses "A Device for Dispensing a
Barrier Material to a Lock of Hair." This device (although some of the
embodiments vary
greatly) is comprised of two tape dispensers that are hinged at the roll end.
The tape
dispenser end (distal to the roll end) opens and closes in such a way as to
cause the
faces of the two tapes to touch. A section of hair can be chosen and
encapsulated
between the two tapes. The face of one or both of the tapes is treated with
one or both
of the chemical hair color components. The embodiments also include means
within the
device to apply hair color just before the hair is encapsulated within the
tape. This
method, although saving time and product, still lacks the ability to
automatically, quickly
and accurately weave away a plurality of selected hair sections for
variegation purposes.
U.S. Patent No. 5,152,306 discloses a hair-weaving comb that has regular teeth
and inwardly barbed teeth attached alternately across the spine of the comb.
In practice,
a thin section of hair is parted away from the scalp. The teeth of the comb
are then
pushed into the parting and drawn back out. The barbed teeth pick up sections
of hair
while the straight teeth do not. An operator grabs the hooked hair, pulls the
comb away
and lets the non-hooked hair fall. This device allows for a faster and more
consistent
weave than the manual hair weaving method. However, it does not offer any
device or
method to apply color or barrier material. In addition, the device does not
effectively pick
up sections of hair in a predictable manner, nor does it pick up hair against
a curved scalp
surface.
U.S. Patent No. 5,024,243 discloses a comb/color applicator combination. The
device discloses a comb with a hollow spine that screws onto a container
filled with
chemical color composition. When the container is squeezed, the chemical
composition
fills the hollow spine of the comb and exits the spine through small holes
positioned in
between the teeth of the comb. Although this device will yield a variegated
hair color
appearance, there is a substantial risk of color bleeding because the
variegated hair is
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not woven away from the rest, and the device fails to provide the technician
with a high
degree of control or accuracy.
U.S. Patent No. 5,303,722 describes a hair lightening method involving the use
of
an optical photosensitizer and a compound capable of providing a hydrogen
radical
(ethanol is preferred) in a solution. The solution is applied to the hair and
then left to
saturate for 5 to 60 minutes. Low intensity ultraviolet light (typically
provided by a comb
or hood) is then applied to the hair causing a hydrogen to be exchanged
between the two
components in the solution, thereby creating hydrogen peroxide inside the hair
shaft. The
peroxide is excited by the light causing some of the hair pigment (melanin) to
be
destroyed. As a result, the hair subjected to the process is lightened. Using
this same
photochemical reaction, the 722 patent describes a method whereby the entire
head of
hair is saturated with the photosensitive solution followed by the segregation
of small
sections of hair by manual weaving. The non-segregated hair is masked with an
opaque
material so that only the segregated hair is exposed to the low intensity
ultraviolet light.
The result is "highlight" effect among the segregated hair strands. The
techniques
described in the '722 patent involve considerable time and manual labor.
U.S. Patent No. 4,325,393 discloses a hooking mechanism for hair coloration.
The
implement has a plurality of equidistantly spaced, accurate hook members
movable
between open and closed positions with respect to the bottom surface of the
body of the
implement by an operating slide member at its top. After thus hooking and
engaging
spaced groups of hair strands for treatment, the implement is lifted from the
scalp to
isolate the strand groups for bleach or dye treatment. This implement does not
offer the
operator nearly the degree of control that is inherent in the instant
invention. Although
the bottom surface of the device is curved, it does not flexibly conform to
the curve of the
head. This prohibits the device from uniformly selecting portions of hair.
Furthermore, the '393 patent offers no means by which the hooked hair can have
a comfortable tension applied to it when the hooks are in the closed position.
Hair may
be hooked away from the scalp, but it cannot be held against tension ¨ it will
simply slide
through hooks when the operator pulls the device away from the head. Finally,
the '393
patent does not include any means by which it can apply color compositions nor
any
means to assure a safe and controlled contact with the scalp by the swinging
hooks.
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U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0042643 discloses a hair highlighting tool.
However, the disclosed invention does not address the multiple problems
overcome with
the instant invention. In fact, it may exacerbate some of the problems
regarding the
regulation and control of hair coloration.
U.S Patent No. 7,530,358 overcomes many of the problems identified above but
does not address the problem of applying color of higher viscosity. The '358'
patent does
not provide means for expelling high viscosity liquid hair color from a color
container onto
entrained sections of hair in a controlled manner as does the present
invention. The '358'
patent discloses a hook that is only useful for entraining hair against an
applicator that
distributes low viscosity hair color onto the entrained section by way of a
'wicking' action.
The present invention features a hook and applicator arrangement that, when in
the
closed position, channels high viscosity liquid hair color onto entrained
sections in a
controlled manner. Also, the '358' hooking mechanism is prohibitively
complicated and
relies on a mechanism that raises the hook and entrained section of hair up to
the
applicator. The present invention eliminates the need for this mechanism
without losing
function. Furthermore, the '358' patent describes a mechanical means
responsible for
confining the hooks to a light controlled contact with the scalp. This
mechanical means
consists two feet separated into four scalp contact points; two contact points
in front of
the hook and two contact points in back of the hook creating a hook channel
that extends
flush with the rotation of the hook toward the scalp. The present invention
involves an
arrangement that likewise confines the hooks to a light, controlled contact
with the scalp
also employing two 'feet' with two scalp contact points positioned in front of
as well as in
back of the hook. The present preferred embodiment of the device entrains and
gathers
the entrained section of hair differently employing a 'scissor action' by
gathering the hair
as it approaches the closed position between the inside of the hook and the
side edges
of the scalp contact points or 'feet'. Considering there are feet that only
occupy the width
of the applicator nozzle, this leaves the entire pivot of the hook toward the
nozzle in full
view of the operator. This more open hook arrangement allows the operator a
better view
of the entraining of the hair as well as a better view of the application of
color onto the
entrained section than is allowed in the '358' patent. Finally, unlike the
'358' patent, the
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present invention keeps the color components separated as it dispenses and
mixes them
just before the color comes into contact with the entrained sections.
All of the above-cited prior art addresses certain needs. However, none solves
the
time, consistency and control problems that are encountered when performing
the manual
hair color variegation technique presently most popular in the purview of the
hair salon.
In addition, none have successfully combined mechanical elements into a single
device
to give it the ability to do all that is mentioned in the present disclosure.
Accordingly, there
is a need for a hair coloration device that safely, accurately, predictably,
and quickly
applies low and high viscosity colorant to uniformly selected and entrained
portions of
hair.
Summary of the Invention
The present embodiment of the hair color variegation device features a pre-
loaded color container that slides into the front of the handle as well as
hair entraining
and color dispensing mechanisms that are engaged in sequence by a single
squeeze of
the handle. The device is used in one hand by drawing a parting of hair across
the
scalp with a rod-like member extending away from the rear of the device. This
member
is called the parting stem. The device is then turned so that the head of the
device is
facing and in line with the parting of hair. The head of the device is placed
along the
parting so that the parting is visible 1/16 "to 1/4 "or farther above the line
of the contact
points of the head of the device. The head of the device is now urged against
the
parting, at which point the head of the device will conform to the curve of
the scalp. In
this conformed placement, each hook is now in the correct position to
accurately lift hair
against each applicator nozzle. While holding the device lightly conformed to
the scalp,
the operator slowly squeezes the handle. As the operator slowly squeezes the
handle,
the hooks pivot simultaneously across the scalp, painlessly entraining
sections of hair
against the applicator nozzles. As the operator continues to slowly squeeze
the handle,
the hooks remain engaged while the squeeze plate begins to put pressure on the
color
container. This allows the operator to hold and slide the entrained sections
of hair
without applying the hair color. Continuing to squeeze the handle, the
pressure of the
squeeze plate onto the color container causes the liquid color to move out of
the color
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container and therefore out of the applicator nozzle and onto the entrained
hair. Now,
the operator may carefully pull the device away from the scalp while
maintaining a
controlled pressure on the handle. In this manner, hair color is evenly
deposited onto
the entrained sections of hair. At this point the operator may stop applying
squeeze
pressure while continuing to holding the entrained sections of hair. While the
hair is still
entrained in one hand and no color is being deposited, the operator may place
barrier
material over the color treated sections with the free hand or simply let the
color treated
hair drop back into the rest of the hair. This application process may be
repeated many
times in one variegated hair color service.
Variations of the device may employ a single hooking applicator as well as any
number of hooking applicators up to six or more hooking applicators. Certain
variations
of the device that employ one and perhaps up to three hooking applicators will
not need
a curvature conformation feature.
Hooking applicators vary in size allowing embodiments of the device to entrain
individual sections of hair of varying size.
Other embodiments of the device feature a variety of detachable head units.
This allows a single device handle to accommodate a variety of head units each
featuring different numbers and sizes of hooking applicators.
Still other embodiments allow the operator to restrict the flow of hair color
to
some of the hooking applicators while allowing color to flow through others
while the
device is in use, while other embodiments provide a mechanical alternative to
the rack
and pinion gear drive that pivots the hook/hooks in the form of a lever
system.
In earlier embodiments of the invention, each hook pivots from an open
position
distanced away from each corresponding applicator to a closed position that
finds each
hollow of each hook closed around the bottom of each applicator. As the hook
moves
from the open to the closed position, a section of hair has become entrained
into the
closed position between the hook and applicator, the entrained section of hair
becomes
automatically positioned directly under the exit opening of the applicator.
Now, as the
color exits the opening, the color is deposited directly onto the top of the
entrained
section of hair. As the operator draws the device away from the scalp, the
entrained
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sections remain entrained and therefore convey through the closed position.
Hair color
is thereby deposited in the form of a continuous bead of color onto each
section.
Additional embodiments of the invention include purpose of these additional
features to saturate the deposited bead of hair color completely into the
entrained
sections prior to exiting the closed position. These additional structural
features close
around the entrained sections of hair and, in this closed position, are
referred to as a
saturation chamber of the device. This saturation chamber constitutes the
second
stage of color application onto the entrained sections of hair and is in
addition to the first
stage of color application occurs in the initial 'closed position' of the
device.
In addition to the saturation chamber embodiment, a 'comb' type embodiment of
the device will be presented as well as an embodiment that includes mechanical
features that allow the operator to adjust the size of the hair section that
the hooking
applicator entrains.
Other embodiments includes: a modified saturation chamber that uses seals to
create a space to hold more color for hair treatment; a saturation chamber
with a
modified foot bridge configuration to allow more travel of the hook to reduce
hair
pinching; a one piece top handle and head mount for improved rack movement;
and
improved rack slide mechanism; a mechanism to adjust the distance of travel of
the
hooks via the rack slide assembly; a hinged head hood to cover the head
mechanism
for safety, aesthetics, and ergonomics; and a manifold retractor for moving
the manifold
out of the way for installing and/or removing a color container.
Another embodiment includes a hooking applicator that uses a worm gear for
rotating the hooks.
Yet another embodiment includes an applicator that uses a clamping action
rather than a hooking applicator for hair color application. This applicator
includes
opposing plates that clamp on a section of entrained hair for coloring. The
plates can
be sized to color a single wide swath or section of hair as opposed to
multiple and
spaced apart sections with an applicator using a number of hooks. This
embodiment
can also employ a seal and squeegee like the hooking applicator using one or
more
hooks. The clamping applicator can also be used by an individual for coloring
the
individual's hair rather than another person coloring the individual's hair.
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Still another embodiment of the invention includes a modified hair color
container
that has dry bleach and a liquid hair color pouch, the pouch rupturable for
mixing with
the dry bleach. A second pouch embodiment is a dual component pouch, one
component pouch holding the dry bleach and the other component pouch having
the
liquid. The pouches are connected together by a neck, which can be clipped
closed
and then opened by removing the clip so that the dry bleach and liquid can mix
together.
Another feature of the invention is the ability to use hair products like
styling
products with the device rather than a hair coloring.
Other features of the invention include the use of releasably attachable
sections
for the device. In this embodiment, one section is configured to receive the
hair product
container and the other section houses the mechanism that allows the hair
product to
be conveyed to the hooking or clamping applicator.
The devices can also be used to apply a coating to one or more elongated
flexible members. The coating can be a reactive coating using one or two
chemically
reactive components that would occupy the hair product container, either in a
single or
dual pouch mode. The elongated flexible members could be synthetic fibers for
wigs or
other hairpiece, wire, cord, animal hair, rope, cable, and the like.
Another embodiment provides an improved comb design, wherein the comb
includes a squeegee and hook insert to improve application of a hair product
to hair or
other material.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The following Brief Description of Drawings as well as the Detailed
Description of
Drawings that follows repeatedly refer to the following terms: open position
and closed
position. Open position refers to the hook 2a as it appears having pivoted
away from the
applicator nozzle 1 1 a (see FIG.1A). The closed position refers to the hook
2a as it
appears having pivoted into contact with the applicator nozzle 1 1 a (see
FIG.1 B).
FIG. IA is a front perspective view of a single hooking applicator la of the
preferred embodiment. This figure depicts the hooking applicator as it appears
with the
hook 2a in the open position.
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FIG. 1 B is a front perspective view of a single hooking applicator of the
preferred
embodiment. This figure depicts the hooking applicator as it appears with the
hook 2a in
the closed position.
FIG. IC is a front view of the front of an applicator nozzle ha and a foot 4a.
This
figure depicts the preferred location of the scissors edge 4f of the foot 4a.
FIG. ID is a front view of a hooking applicator la and depicts a relocation of
the
scissors edge 4f of the foot 4a.
FIG. 2A ¨ 2C are bottom views of a single hooking applicator of the preferred
embodiment, each depicting the hook point in the closed position with the hook
point
positioned in the front, back and middle of the hook respectively.
FIG. 3A is a magnified front perspective view of the preferred embodiment
depicting the hook 2a, nozzle ha and feet 4a in the open position and provides
a
detailed depiction of the geometry of each.
FIG. 3B is a magnified front perspective view of the preferred embodiment
depicting the hook 2a, nozzle ha and feet 4a in the closed position with a
section of
hair entrained therein.
FIG. 3C is a magnified front perspective view of the preferred embodiment
depicting the hook 2a, nozzle ha and feet 4a in the closed position and
provides a
detailed sectional depiction of the geometry of each.
FIG. 3D is a magnified front perspective view of the preferred embodiment
illustrating the hook 2a, nozzle I I a and feet 4a in the closed position and
shows an
alternative embodiment of the feet 4a.
FIGS. 4A ¨ 4D are magnified bottom views of the preferred embodiment of
hooking applicator together providing a serial depiction of the mechanical
process of
hair section entrainment.
FIG. 5A is a magnified front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the
hook 2a, nozzle ha and feet 4a in the open position and depicts an alternative
arrangement of the hair channel 2b and color channel 2c.
FIG. 5b is a magnified front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the
hook 2a, nozzle lla and feet 4a in the closed position. This figure depicts
the
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alternative arrangement of the hair channel 2b and color channel 2c shown in
FIG.5A
with a section of hair entrained within.
FIGS. 6A - 6B are magnified front perspective views of an alternative
embodiment of the hook 2a, nozzle ha and feet 4a in the open and closed
positions
respectively. These figures illustrate yet another alternative arrangement of
the hair
channel 2b and color channel 2c.
FIGS. 7A - 7B are magnified front views of an alternative embodiment of the
hook 2a, nozzle ha and feet 4a in the open and closed positions respectively.
These
figures depict an alternative arrangement of the hook 2a and nozzle ha
featuring a
hook tooth 3b and nozzle seal lib.
FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the complete mechanical arrangement of
the
preferred embodiment. In order to provide a clearer depiction, this figure
includes
isolated duplicate views of three components arranged around the complete
view.
FIGS. 9A ¨ 9D are front views of the preferred embodiment depicting,
respectively, a sequence of functional interaction of said embodiment with a
parting of
hair lc. Concurrently, these figures depict the positions and relationships of
the
individual mechanisms in each of the four depicted stages of a single cycle of
mechanical engagement.
FIGS. 10A ¨ 10D are side views of a complete assembly of the preferred
embodiment depicting a sequence of functional interaction of said embodiment
with a
parting of hair lc. Concurrently, these figures illustrate the positions and
relationships of
the individual mechanisms in each of the four depicted stages. These depicted
stages
combine to illustrate a single cycle of mechanical engagement including
entrainment of
hair sections and dispensing of hair color respectively. in order to
demonstrate scale
as well as how said embodiment may be held while in use, a hand is depicted
holding
said embodiment in a functional manner.
FIGS. 11A- IIB are perspective side views of alternative embodiments of the
color container and manifold hose system featured in the preferred embodiment
depicted in FIG.8.
FIG. 12A is a front perspective view of a complete assembly of the preferred
embodiment depicted in FIG.8 including additional mechanical functions located
at the
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front of the device. One additional mechanism depicted allows the operator to
interrupt
the flow of liquid color to one or more hoses along the manifold while
allowing flow to
others. The second of said functions allows the slide actuator tine/tines 93
to slide
telescopically within the slide tine seat 94.
FIG. 12B ¨ 12C are side views of the additional mechanical functions depicted
in
FIG. 12A. These views illustrate the relative positions of the individual
mechanisms
involved in each of said additional mechanical functions as the mechanisms
appear in
the disengaged and engaged positions respectively.
FIG. 13 depicts an alternative mechanical assembly of the head 14a of the
preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8. This assembly utilizes an angled
position of
each hooking applicator la along the head 14a of said preferred embodiment in
order
for the pivoting action of each hook 2a to avoid being interrupted by the
applicator
nozzle ha of each adjacent hooking applicator la.
FIGS. 14A ¨ 14B depict an alternative mechanical arrangement of the hooking
applicator la depicted in FIG. IA ¨ 1B. This hooking applicator 70 embodiment
utilizes
a hook slide 61 and hook lever 65 arrangement as a mechanical means to pivot
the
hook 2a.
FIGS. 15A ¨ 15B illustrates a complete embodiment of the device while
providing
an alternative assembly to the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 8. This
alternative
embodiment possesses an identical functional action as the FIG.8 embodiment
while
utilizing an alternative mechanical means that integrates a device head 14a
comprised
of a row of lever action hooking applicators 70 described in FIGS. 14A ¨ 14B.
FIGS. 16A ¨ 16B depict front views of the lever action hooking applicator
embodiment depicted in FIGS. 15A ¨ 15B. The present figures provide a view of
the
action of the individual mechanisms located at the front of the device as they
function in
sequence to pivot the hooks.
FIG. 17 is a top view of the device illustrated in FIGS. 15A ¨ 15B. This view
provides a more complete description of the mechanical function described in
FIGS. 14,
15 and 16.
FIG. 18 depicts an alternative mechanical arrangement of the hooking
applicator
described in FIGS. IA ¨ 1B. This hooking applicator illustration describes the
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mechanical means necessary to render an embodiment of the device capable of
dispensing a stick or sticks of hair color chalk, mascara, etc. onto an
entrained
section/sections of hair.
FIGS. 19A ¨ 19E depict five of the many possible head arrangements that may
be assembled in order to give the operator various options for the final hair
color
variegation appearance. These figures combine various hook/hooking applicator
sizes
with varying distances between the hooks/hooking applicators to give the
operator the
opportunity to provide the hair color variegation service recipient with
choices pertaining
to the size of the sections being treated (by varying the size of the hook)
and the
distance between the treated sections (by varying the distance between the
treated
sections).
In addition to the option of having multiple hair color variegation devices,
each
with a fixed head of a different hooking applicator orientation, the operator
may also be
given the opportunity to have one of said device body along with several
different
detachable heads. FIGS. 20A ¨ 20B as well as FIGS. 21A ¨ 21C and FIGS. 22A ¨
22F
depict mechanical assemblies of varied sophistication, thereby, providing a
range of
opportunity for embodiments with such a feature.
FIG. 20A ¨ 20B depicts a head and manifold of said device that detaches by
disengaging the roller couplings from the head mounts as well as the rack gear
from the
rack slide. FIG. 20A shows a side view of this arrangement in the attached
position
while FIG. 20B depicts a side view of the detached position.
FIG. 21A ¨ 21C depicts a head, manifold, head mount and rack slide assembly
that detaches from the top hinge section of said device. In addition to the
detachable
head, this figure shows actuator tines removable from the bottom hinge
section. FIG.
21A shows a side view this arrangement in the attached position while FIG. 21B
depicts
a side view of said device detached position. FIG. 21C depicts a side view of
the
mechanical means of removability.
FIG. 22A ¨ 22E illustrate top views of said device including the mechanical
assemblies that allow the head mounts, rack slide and actuator tine assemblies
to be
adjustable rather than removable while the head and manifold remain removable.
FIG.
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22F illustrates a bottom view of said device illustrating an adjustable
actuator tine
assembly.
FIGS. 23A ¨ 23C and 24A ¨ 24D depict a preferred embodiment of the hair color
variegation device in the form of a compact, single hooking applicator, pen or
marker
like appliance. FIG. 23A depicts a perspective side view of a complete
assembly of said
device. FIGS. 23B and 23C are close up front perspective views depicted to
describe
the mechanical assemblies involved in the pivoting of the hook from the open
to closed
position respectively. FIGS. 24A ¨ 24D represent top views of a complete
assembly of
the device including the means for liquid hair color application. Said top
views represent
the series of mechanical operations causing the hook to pivot and the color to
dispense
respectively.
FIGS. 25A ¨ 25B are front perspective views of the complete mechanical
arrangement of a preferred embodiment of a hooking applicator with the hook in
both
the open and closed positions.
FIGS. 26A ¨ 26D are a series of bottom views of a preferred embodiment of the
hooking applicator. This series of views depicts four specific points in the
process of hair
entrainment.
FIGS. 27A ¨ 27B are front views of a preferred embodiment of the hooking
applicator in both the open and closed positions.
FIGS. 28A ¨ 28C are full side views of a preferred embodiment of a comb type
variation of the hair color variegation device. These views depict the
progression of
movement of the mechanical assemblies facilitated by a squeezing of the handle
of the
device.
FIGS. 29A ¨ 29B are perspective views of the front of the preferred comb
embodiment of the device. These views are seen from the lower front of the
device and
depict this embodiment with hair between the teeth. These are views of the
device with
the hooks in the open and closed positions respectively.
FIG. 30 is a front view of a cross section of the comb portion of the
preferred
embodiment.
FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the front of the preferred embodiment of the
comb variation of the device.
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FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the back of the preferred embodiment of the
comb variation of the device.
FIGS. 33A-B are front left perspective views of the complete mechanical
arrangement of a preferred embodiment of a hooking applicator with the hook in
both
the open and closed positions.
FIGS. 34A-B are front left perspective views of a preferred embodiment of the
hook and applicator nozzle in both the open and closed positions without
rubber facing.
FIG. 35 shows one embodiment of color spreading elements as part of the
saturation chamber.
FIG. 36 shows another embodiment of color spreading elements as part of the
saturation chamber.
FIG. 37 shows yet another embodiment of color spreading elements as part of
the saturation chamber.
FIGS. 38A-D are a series front views of a preferred embodiment of the hooking
applicator in functional contact with a parting of hair. These views depict
the hook in a
progression of hair entrainment positions from the open position to close the
closed
position.
FIGS. 39A-D depict a preferred embodiment of the entire mechanics of the
device in front right perspective view. These are a series of views depicting
the entire
mechanical operation of the device gradually moving from disengaged position
to a fully
engaged position.
FIGS. 40A-B depict an embodiment showing a mechanism for adjusting the size
of the entrained section of hair.
FIG. 41 depicts an entire preferred embodiment of the device in right
perspective
view including coverings.
FIGS. 42A-B depict an entire preferred embodiment of the device in right
perspective view including coverings and showing the head hood in both the
open and
closed position.
FIGS. 43A-43C show yet another embodiment of the inventive hooking
applicator.
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FIGS. 44A-44D show the mechanical operations of the device when dispensing
hair color from the hair color container.
FIGS. 45A-45C show yet another embodiment of the inventive hooking applicator
using a different kind of hook for hair color application.
FIGS. 46A-460 show different views and mechanical actions for the applicator
of FIGS. 45A45C.
FIGS. 47A-47C show different kinds of hair color containers.
FIGS. 48A-48B show mechanical action of the applicator of FIGS. 45A-45C.
FIGS. 49A-49C show still another embodiment of the hooking applicator that
uses a worm gear to rotate the hook.
FIGS. 50A-50E show another embodiment of the device of FIGS. 45A-45C, for
coloring a slice of hair.
FIG. 51 shows an improvement to the comb device of FIGS. 29A-29B.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
The present invention is a squeeze operated, hand held device that is used to
selectively entrain and color human hair. The invention addresses separate and
distinct
technical needs of professional hair colorists and individuals desiring a
controlled
method of selectively coloring their hair.
The central mechanical aspect of the present invention consists of a hook that
pivots along a scalp of hair and entrains a section of hair against a color
applicator
nozzle. This being the case, it is therefore fitting to begin the detailed
description with an
explanation of the hook and applicator nozzle as well as the various
mechanical
interactions thereof in respect to the section of hair that is entrained.
Relating to the hook and applicator nozzle, the open position' and closed
position' will be referred to many times. For the sake of minimizing
redundancy (see
FIGS.1A and 1B), the term "open position" always refers to the hook 2a as
having
pivoted to the farthest position away from the applicator nozzle 11a. The term
"closed
position" always refers to the hollow of the hook 2a as having pivoted into
contact with
the applicator nozzle 11 a having entrained a section of hair lb between.
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FIGS. IA and 1B depict hooking applicators la in the open and closed positions
respectively. The hook 2a in each figure is fixed to an axle 9; and, the axle
9 pivots in a
gear box 6.
The hook 2a consists of a short length of longitudinally halved tube laterally
pivotal on one straight edge and longitudinally tapered on the opposite edge
forming the
hook point 3a.
Each of FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C depicts a bottom view of the hooking applicator la
in the closed position; however, FIG.2A depicts the hook point 3a at the front
of the
hook 2a, FIG.2B depicts the hook point 3a at the back of the hook 2a and
FIG.2C
depicts the hook point 3a at the middle of the hook 2a. The location of the
hook point 3a
presents a difference in the way the hook 2a entrains a section of hair lb:
with both
types of hooks 2a pivoting along a parting of hair lc from the same position
relative to
the part lc, a hook 2a that is pointed on the front 3a will entrain less hair
than a hook 2a
that is pointed on the back 3a.
FIG. 3A depicts the hooking applicator in the open position; more
specifically, it
outlines the hollow 2d (depicted by a bold black line) of the hook 2a and
depicts the
nozzle 11 a as being partially covered by a layer of viscoelastic foam llb (or
any other
applicable flexible material). FIG.3B illustrates the hollow 2d of the hook 2a
and the
cylinder of the applicator nozzle 11 a are an accurate fit while in the closed
position.
FIG.3C is a sectional view of the closed position and illustrates how this
accurate fit
becomes a seal as the hollow of the hook 2a presses into the layer of
viscoelastic foam
lib that surrounds the aperture 5 on three sides. The nozzle seal lib prevents
leaking
of the liquid hair color around the back and sides of the hook 2a while in the
closed
position.
Referring to FIGS. IA and 1B, notice one foot 4a fixed to the front of the
applicator nozzle 11a and one foot 4g fixed to the back of the applicator
nozzle lla with
the hook 2a positioned between. A comfortable contact of the pivoting hook 2a
with the
scalp lc is assured as the hook 2a is confined to travel a precise pivotal
path between
the front foot 4a and rear foot 4g, and, as the hook point 3a is confined to
pivot
generally flush with the front foot contact point 4b and rear foot contact
point 4h. This
mechanical arrangement, therefore, utilizes the front foot contact point 4b
and rear foot
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contact point 4h as means to allow the hook 2a to entrain a section of hair lb
while
preventing the hook point 3a from making forceful contact with the scalp.
FIGS. 4A -40 bottom views depict another mechanical relationship between the
hook 2a, front foot 4a and rear foot 4g, namely, how the hook 2a, front foot
4a, and rear
foot 4g function to separate the entrained section of hair lb from the
surrounding hair at
the scalp as well as to center the entrained section of hair lb within the
hollow of the
hook 2a and maintain the centered position of the section of hair lb through
the color
coating process. This separation and centering of the entrained section of
hair 1 b
occurs as the front contact surface 2e and rear contact surface 2f of the hook
2a slide
against the front hook contact surface 4e of the front foot 4a and rear hook
contact
surface 4j of the rear foot 4g, as per a scissor action, while moving from the
open to
closed position.
FIG. 4A depicts the hook 2a and applicator nozzle 11 a in the open position.
FIG. 4B depicts same hooking applicator la as the hook 2a has pivoted toward
the
closed position enough to have entrained a section of hair 4b. FIG. 4C
illustrates the
hooking applicator 1 a as the hook 2a has pivoted with the entrained section
of hair lb to
a point where the hook 2a has not quite reached the closed position and the
entrained
section of hair lb has been pulled in by the hook 2a close enough to the
applicator
nozzle 1 1 a for the entrained section lb to have encountered the front foot
scissors edge
4f and the rear foot scissors edge 4k. FIG. 4D depicts the hooking applicator
la in the
closed position with the section of hair lb centered over the aperture 5 of
the applicator
nozzle 11 a as well as being centered over the color channel 2b and hair
channel 2c of
the hook 2a. Also, the entrained section of hair is occupying the front foot
channel 4c
and rear foot channel 4i.
FIG. IC depicts a front view of the front foot 4a and points to the preferred
location of the front scissors edge 41 of the foot front 4a. As stated above,
this scissors
edge 4f of the front foot 4a pushes an entrained section of hair functionally
into the
closed position. FIG.1D depicts this front scissors edge 4f located closer to
the center of
the front foot 4a than the preferred location depicted in FIG. 1C. Relocating
this front
scissors edge 4f relative to the center of the front foot 4a, along with
relocating the
aperture 59 color channel 2b and hair channel 2c, so that the said features
intersect
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functionally with the top of the front scissors edge 41 in the closed
position, changes the
amount of hair that is entrained by the individual hooking applicator 1 a as
well as
changing the closeness to the scalp of the initial application of color onto
the entrained
section of hair. Furthermore, if the rotation of the hook 2a is not on a
particular degree
of upswing relative to the bottom of the front scissor edge 4f, a portion of
the entrained
section of hair will be brought against the bottom of the corner of the front
foot 4a rather
than the front scissors edge 41 causing strands of hair to become lodged
between the
hook 2a and front foot 4a. This will cause the entrained section of hair to
become
snagged. This front scissors edge 4f may occupy various positions relative to
the center
of the front foot 4a and may even be somewhat angled rather than the
perpendicular
orientation it occupies presently in relation to the bottom of the gear box 6.
In addition to
this, the length of the front foot 4a may be adjusted in order to change the
amount of
hair that is entrained. (Note: All of the preceding description of FIGS. 'IC
and 'ID also
applies to the rear foot which is not visible in said figures. Simply replace
the term 'front'
with the term rear and this will provide the same description of the rear
foot.)
FIG. 3D is another variation of the feet arrangement featuring a foot bridge
4d.
This foot bridge 4d connects the front foot 4a and rear foot 4g along the
bottom creating
one wide foot that surrounds the tip of the hook 3a in the closed position.
This foot
bridge 4d creates a further scissor action along the bottom of the hook 2a.
Furthermore,
the hook point 3a may be but not necessarily closed on five sides creating a
box that is
open only to the hook point 3a as it pivots toward and establishes the closed
position.
This foot bridge 4d variation is optional.
View FIG. 3A ¨ 3C during the following description of the process by which the
entrained section of hair becomes coated with liquid hair color. FIG.3A is a
front
perspective view of the hooking applicator 1 a showing the hook 2a and nozzle
1 1 a in
the open position with the color channel 2b and hair channel 2c forming one
continuous
indentation approximately centered front to back across the hollow 2d of the
hook 2a.
FIG. 3B is a front perspective view of the hooking applicator I a showing the
hook 2a
and nozzle 11 a in the closed position over a section of hair 1 b with the
color channel 2b
and hair channel 2c positioned approximately centered over the nozzle aperture
5.
FIG.3C is a sectional front perspective view of the hooking applicator I a.
Said figure
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shows that the portion of the hollow 2d of the hook 2a that comes into contact
with the
applicator nozzle 11a, while in the closed position, has flattened the nozzle
seal lib
that is directly under said portion of the hook 2a; however, the color channel
2b remains
open and, the area of the nozzle seal lib within the hair channel 2c, remains
raised
and fills the hair channel 2c. This is because the nozzle seal lib is at least
as thick as
the hair channel 2c is deep. As seen in FIG. 3B, with a section of hair lb
entrained in
the closed positon, the entrained section lb is occupying the color channel 2b
as well
as the hair channel 2c; furthermore, said hair channel 2c is also occupied by
a portion
of the nozzle seal ilb as said portion remains expanded in the hair channel
against the
entrained section of hair. The portion of the nozzle seal ilb that fills the
hair channel 2c
does apply a slight pressure to the section of hair lb entrained therein;
however, this
pressure is not enough to restrict movement of the entrained section lb
through the
closed position; the pressure is only enough to prevent the liquid color
flowing into the
color channel 2b from leaking to the outside of the closed position through
the hair
channel 2c. Also, the pressure exerted onto the section of hair lb located
within the hair
channel 2c is such that a desirable amount of tension is maintained on the
entrained
section lb. This tension allows the device to maintain comfortable control
over the
entrained sections lb throughout the process.
While viewing FIG. 3B, consider a section of hair lb is entrained in the
closed
position and liquid hair color is exiting the aperture 5, the liquid fills the
color channel 2b,
thereby surrounding the portion of the entrained section lb that is occupying
the color
channel 2b. As the liquid color continues to exit the aperture 5, the liquid
is prevented
by the nozzle seal llb from expanding out from the sides of the hook 2a as
well as from
the back of the hook 2a through the hair channel 2c. This mechanical
arrangement
causes the entrained section of hair lb to become coated with liquid hair
color Id as
well as allows the coated entrained section Id to remain coated as the coated
section of
hair Id passes through and exits the color channel 2b.
FIG. 3A depicts a front foot channel 4c formed into the side of the front foot
4a
and rear foot channel 4i formed into the side of the rear foot 4g. The purpose
of each of
these indentations is to allow clearance for the entrained section lb of hair
to slide
through the closed position without getting pinched. As seen in FIG.3B, the
front foot
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channel 4c has the added benefit of allowing the color coated entrained
section Id to
pass from the closed position without the color being scraped away from the
color
coated section of hair Id.
Each of FIG. 5A and 5B are perspective front views of the hooking applicator
in
the open and closed positions respectively depicting another color channeling
variation
featuring a hook 2a without a color channel or hair channel. This variation
includes an
indentation or nozzle color channel lid that is located around the aperture 5
of the
applicator nozzle 11a. This nozzle color channel lid is open to the front of
the closed
position as well as the front foot channel 4c and will serve to direct the
flow of the color
coated entrained section of hair id much the same way as a hook color channel
2b.
This variation also includes a nozzle hair channel lie located on the
applicator nozzle
ha behind the nozzle color channel lid. The nozzle hair channel lie opens to
the rear
foot channel 4i in the closed position and is covered by the nozzle seal llb
in order to
allow the hair to move through the closed position without the risk of color
back flow
though the nozzle hair channel lie. The nozzle color channel lid, however, is
open to
the front of the closed position in order to allow the liquid hair color to
flow from it.
FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are front perspective views of the hooking applicator la
depicting another color channeling variation combining both a color channel 2b
located
on the hook 2a as well as a nozzle color channel lid located around the
aperture 5 of
the nozzle, deeper front foot channel 4c and nozzle hair channel lie. This
variation will
provide the most color deposit along the entrained section of hair.
Considering all of the variations of channeling described above, the shape and
dimension of the hook channel 2b and nozzle channel lid as well as the size
and
shape of the aperture 5 will vary according to the viscosity of the liquid
hair color as well
as the desired degree of control of color flow as well as the size of color
bead deposited
onto the entrained section of hair lb.
FIGS. 7A and 7B describes a small slender appendage or hook tooth 3b
extending out from the color channel 2b of the hook 2a. As seen in FIG. 7B,
the tooth
3b extends away from the hollow of the hook 2a toward the radial center of the
hook 2a
in such a way that when the hook 2a is in the closed position over the
applicator nozzle
ha, the tooth 3b enters into the aperture 5 of the nozzle ha. Since the
thickness of the
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tooth 3b is smaller than the dimensions of the aperture 5, the tooth 3b does
not obstruct
the flow of color from the aperture 5. In the instance where a pressurized
color
container is supplying an applicator nozzle 11a, a rubber or silicone (or
other flexible
chemically resistant material) tube gasket 11c may be placed snuggly against
the inside
wall of the applicator nozzle 11a. This gasket 11 c covers the nozzle 11 a
aperture 5 and
prevents pressurized as well as non-pressurized color from flowing out.
Viewing FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B in series shows the hook 2a and the tooth 3b
pivoting from the open to the closed position. As the hook 2a does this, the
tooth 3b will
push against the portion of the gasket 11c located in the nozzle aperture 5.
As the tooth
3b pushes against the gasket 11c, pressurized color is released. As the hook
2a pivots
back toward the open position, the tooth 3b will exit the aperture 5 and the
cylindrical
gasket 11c will naturally flex back to the closed position over the aperture 5
inside the
nozzle 11 a again blocking the flow of color from the aperture 5. In this
manner,
pressurized color may be controlled to flow onto entrained sections of hair
only when
the hook 2a brings the entrained sections to the closed position over the
nozzle 11a.
As depicted in FIG. 1A, the applicator nozzle 11 a features an aperture 5 as
an
exit for liquid hair color and a hose 12 functions as a supply line between
the color
container hoses and the nozzle 11a. The nozzle hose 12 extends upward a short
distance, perpendicular to the nozzle 11 a then turns at a right angle,
extending back
ending in a nozzle hose coupling 13a.
FIGS. IA and 1B depict a preferred embodiment of the device involve a rack and
pinion gear arrangement as mechanical means to pivot the hook 2a. The hook 2a
is
fixed to the distal front of an axial 9 and the rear portion of the axial 9
pivots within a
gear box 6. A pinion gear 8 is fixed to the portion of the axial 9 contained
within the gear
box 6. A rack gear 7a pivots the pinion gear 8 within the gear box 6 from
underneath.
As depicted in FIG. 8, the flexible head 14a consists of a straight row of
hooking
applicators la connected one to another along the bottoms of the gear boxes 6
by roller
couplings 14d.
FIG. 8 also depicts two head mounts 15 attached to the front of the top handle
section 20b. Each end of the head 14a is fixed to the distal front of each
head mount 15
forming a head 14a attached to a handle 20a.
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FIGS. 9A and 9B depict the row of hooking applicators 1a sharing a single thin
flexible rack gear 7a that extends along the inside bottom of each gear box 6
with the
series of pinion gears 8 seated teeth to teeth into the rack gear 7a. Back and
forth
movement of the rack gear 7a causes the pinion gears 8 and therefore the axles
9 and
hooks 2a to pivot in unison.
As seen in FIG. 9A, the head 14a is pressed lightly against a parting of hair
lc
and the head 14a flexes into the curve of the scalp. The head 14a is placed
against the
scalp in the upright position thereby allowing each of the front foot contact
points 4b and
rear foot contact points 4h (not visible in FIG.9) to make functional contact
with parting
of hair lc.
FIG. 9A depicts the device relying on a flat spring 14c to allow the head 14a
to
flex. The flat spring 14c expands as the head 14a flexes into the curve of the
scalp.
The roller coupling 14d, shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 10A, is another mechanical
feature to aid in the flexing ability of the head 14a. A roller coupling 14d
is fixed to both
ends of the head 14a; it is a section of tube that fits telescopically over
the end of each
head mount 15.
FIG. 10A depicts a lip 14e formed into each of the head mounts 15 at a
location
that is as far back from the distal end of the head mount 15 as the head 14a
is wide. A
cap 14f is located at the tip of each head mount 15. Each lip 14e and cap 14f
prevents
the roller couplings 14d from sliding back and forth along the ends of the
head mounts
15. The inside diameter of the roller couplings 14d are slightly larger than
the outside
diameter of the cylindrical ends of the head mounts, 15 so that the roller
couplings 14d
can freely roll. As seen in FIG.9A, each end of the head 14a is fixed to each
of the roller
couplings 14d and, as the head 14a flexes into the curve of the parting of
hair lc, the
two hooking applicators 1a that are fixed to the roller couplings 14d are able
to freely
pivot over the ends of the head mounts 15. This pivoting naturally occurs when
the head
14a flexes against the curve of the scalp and creates a smoother and more
complete
flexing action.
The rack slide mount 17, as viewed in FIG. 8, is a section of tube that is
fixed to
the front edge of the top handle section 20b. As viewed in FIG. 9B, one side
of an
upside down 'L' shaped rod or rack slide 16a is positioned snuggly sliding
within the
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tube of the rack slide mount 17. The other side of the rack slide mount 17
extends
straight down then bends out along the side of the head at a slight angle for
a short
span. The rack slide 16a then bends forward and finally tapers down forming
the rack
gear pin 16b. The rack gear pin 16b extends directly into a small hole or rack
gear seat
7b located at the distal end of the rack gear 7a forming a snap-in fit between
the rack
gear pin 16b and the rack gear seat 7b.
In order to impart a more complete understanding of the rack slide action, it
is
necessary to explain in more detail the action of the handle. As seen in FIG.
10A, the
handle 20a is composed of a top handle section 20b, and a bottom handle
section 20c
connected to one another at the rear of each by a handle hinge 21a. This salad
tong
type configuration is held in the open resting position by the handle hinge
spring 21b
against the handle stop 21c. The handle stop 21c is a protrusion located on
the inside
of the bottom handle section 20c of the handle hinge 21a. As the bottom hinge
section
20c pivots back toward the open position, the bottom hinge section 20c is
prevented
from opening any further as the handle stop 21c comes into contact with the
rear
bottom edge of the top handle section 20b.
FIG. 10A¨ 100 are side views of the hand of an operator squeezing the handle
20a of the device from the open position FIG. 10A to the closed position FIG.
100 with
FIGS. 10B and 10C representing middle handle positions. With the device
depicted in
FIGS. 10A-10D shown appropriately positioned against a parting of hair lc, one
will
notice as one views these illustrations in sequence that the top handle
section 20b
(along with the attached head mounts 15 and head 14a) remains stationary
against a
parting of hair le while the bottom handle section 20c is the pivotal section.
As such,
one will notice, while again viewing these figures in sequence, the visible
actuator tine
18 (which is attached to the bottom handle section 20c) sliding from the
bottom to the
top of the head mount 15 and rack slide 16a.
Having established a more complete understanding of the role of the handle as
it
pertains to the sliding action of the actuator tines against the head mount
and rack slide,
one may now refer to FIG.8. The rack slide actuator tines 18 consist of two
rods
extending forward from the front edge of the bottom handle section 20c. The
tines 18
are positioned between the bottoms of the head mounts 15. The distance between
the
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tine ends 18 is such that the tine 18 on the left is in contact with the left
head mount 15
and the tine on the right 18 is in contact with the right head mount 15 as
well as the rack
slide 16a. (Refer to FIG .9A and 9B for the remainder of the paragraph.) With
the
actuator tines 18 in this position, squeezing the handle 20a will cause the
tine 18 on the
left to slide upward against the inside of the left head mount 15, and the
tine 18 on the
right to simultaneously slide upward against the right head mount as well as
the inside
of the rack slide 16a. As the bottom of the rack slide 16a is angled outward
(see bold
line 16c), the upward sliding motion of the right tine 18 against the angled
section of the
rack slide 16c causes the rack slide 16a to move outward stabilized by the
rack slide
mount 17 and head mounts 15 (see FIG. 10B). As the bottom end of the rack
slide 16a
is attached to the rack gear 7a by the rack gear pin 16b, the outward sliding
motion of
the rack slide 16a causes the rack gear 7a to move to the side. The rack gear
7a sliding
to the left in this manner causes the hooks 2a to pivot toward the closed
position over
the applicator nozzles 11a. In this manner, when the right actuator tine 18 is
in contact
with the bottom of the rack slide angle 16c, the hooks 2a are in the open
position (see
FIG.9A). Squeezing the handle until the right tine 18 is at the top of the
rack slide angle
16c causes the hooks 2a to move to the closed position (see FIG.9B). Releasing
the
handle will cause the rack slide 16a to return to the inward most resting
position against
the tension of the rack slide spring 19. The action caused by a continued
squeeze of
the handle 20a bringing the actuator tines 18 past the top of the rack slide
angle 16c will
be described later in this disclosure.
The bottom handle section 20c (see FIG. 8) employing only a single tine 18 on
the right side against the rack slide 16a may also be employed as an
alternative
embodiment.
As described in the summary, the present invention features a single squeeze
mechanism capable of, in series, entraining the hair and dispensing the liquid
hair color
onto entrained sections of hair. As described above, engagement of the hooks
occurs
during the first increment of the squeeze action applied to the handle. The
second
increment of squeeze action pivots the lever 24a so that it pushes up on the
level pallet
22. (See FIG. 8 for a detailed perspective view of the level pallet 22 and
lever 24a). As
both the level pallet 22 and lever 24a are hinged to the top of the bottom
handle section
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20c, the upward motion of the bottom handle section 20c toward the top handle
20b
section, combined with the mechanical action of the level pallet 22 and lever
24a
facilitates the movement of the liquid hair color out of the color container
51a and
through the channels that direct the color onto the entrained sections of hair
The following is a detailed description of the second in series mechanical
action
(dispensing of the hair color) and how this action coordinates with the first
action
(entraining of hair sections) as the device is in use. The mechanical action
will be
described while referring to FIGS. 10A 10B. (Note: FIGS. 10A¨ 10B depict side
views of the preferred embodiment of the device depicted in FIG. 8.)
As seen in FIG. 10A, an operator functionally holds the device by the handle
20a
as the device is in the resting position and places the head 14a of the device
appropriately against a parting of hair lc.
As seen in FIG. 10B, the operator squeezes the handle 20a causing the bottom
handle section 20c to lift toward the top handle section 20b. Consequently,
the tine 18
that is against the rack slide 16a moves upward to the top most point of the
rack slide
angle 16c (this point on the rack slide 16a appears as a bold square). This
causes the
hooks 2a to be in the closed position over the applicator nozzles lla with
entrained
stalks of hair lb between. The lifting action of the bottom handle section 20c
toward the
top handle section 20b also causes the button contact point 24c of the lever
24a to
contact the lever button 24d. This contact causes the lever 24a to pivot on
the lever
hinge 24e, thereby, pushing the level pallet contact point 24b of the lever
24a against
the bottom of the level pallet 22. This, in turn, causes the level pallet 22
to lift toward the
bottom of the color container 51a.
FIG. 10C depicts the handle 20a having been squeezed to the point where the
actuator tine 18 begins to slide along the section of the rack slide 16a that
is parallel to
the head mount 15. This allows the hooks 2a to remain in the closed position
while the
level pallet 22 comes into contact with and pushes up on the bottom of the
color
container 51a. The pressure of the level pallet 22 on the color container 51a
causes the
liquid color to begin to move from the color container 51a through the color
container
neck 52b and into the manifold intake 53c. Continuing through the manifold
53a, the
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liquid color flows through the manifold hoses 53b, into the nozzle hoses 12
and nozzles
lla and through the color aperture 5 onto the entrained section of hair lb.
The operator will continue to apply light squeeze pressure to the handle 20a
while watching for a small bead of color le to simultaneously form at the
front of each
hook (see FIG. 9C). When she sees these color beads le form she will know that
the
hair color has exited each nozzle lla aperture 5 and has surrounded the
portion of
each entrained section lb that is within the closed position. The moment she
sees the
beads of color le form, she will maintain the same pressure while slowly
pulling the
device away from the parting of hair lc. As depicted in FIG. 9D, she pulls the
device
away from the parting 1 c, the constant light pressure on the handle will
evenly surround
the entrained sections lb with hair color Id as the entrained sections Id pass
through
the closed position.
Once the operator has sufficiently coated the entrained sections of hair, she
will
generally proceed one of two ways; she can release pressure on the handle
allowing
the device to return to the resting position depicted in FIG. 10A; this
approach allows
the coated sections to drop back into the hair. The other option is to release
the handle
20a only to the point where hair color stops dispensing while maintaining the
entrained
sections in the closed position. This occurs as the handle 20a is released
enough for
the level pallet 22 to release from the bottom of the color container 51a but
not enough
for the actuator tine 18 to slide down beyond the top of the rack slide angle
16c; this
mechanical position is depicted in FIG. 10B (The top of the rack slide angle
is depicted
as a solid black square located on the rack slide). (The following description
of barrier
material application does not include correspondent drawings.) At this point,
the
entrained and coated sections are in a taut and stationary position, extending
between
the head of the recipient and the head of the device. The operator, while
maintaining the
entrained sections in this position, and having a free hand, may pick up a
folded section
of barrier sheet and place it over the entrained sections or perhaps place a
section of
cotton under the section close to the scalp; any number of barrier material
types and
techniques known by a person skilled in the art may be applied at this time
followed by
a controlled release of the barrier treated section into the rest of the hair.
Finally, the
operator may trace the tip of the parting stern 27 along the scalp, exposing
the next
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parting of hair to be serviced and thereby beginning a new pass of the device
along the
recipient's hair (see FIG. 10A for the parting stem 27). A pass of the device
through a
recipient's hair, such as the entire pass described above, may be repeated the
number
of times deemed appropriate by the operator or until the point at which the
upward
motion of the level pallet 22 onto the color container 51a is interrupted by
becoming
flatly parallel and directly adjacent to the top of the color container
housing 26, thereby
flattening and emptying the color container 51a (see FIG. 10D). The color
container 51a
may then be refilled or replaced.
The following is a description of two types of disposable color containers.
These
color containers are pre-filled (preferably by a manufacturer), loaded into
the device and
are discarded when empty.
Pre-packaged color containers that dispense two part oxidative color or
lightener
must include a means by which the two reactive components remain separate
inside the
container until just prior to use. FIG. 11A depicts an internal container 51f
within an
external container 52e, with each container accommodating one of the two hair
color
components. The internal container 51f is filled to capacity so that it is
firm. The external
container 52e is filled but not firm. In addition to the difference in
firmness between the
two containers, the internal container 51f is intentionally manufactured with
a
structurally weaker front seam and/or weaker plastic film than the external
container
52e. The difference in firmness in addition to the weak film allows the
operator to
moderately squeeze this dual container causing the internal container 51f to
rupture.
This rupture releases the color component within, into the other color
component
contained within the external container 52e. The operator will briefly knead
the dual
container thereby fully mixing the two color components. Also, the rear bottom
seam 51i
of the external container 52e and the rear seam 51i of the internal container
51f are
sealed together so that the internal container 51f does not float around
freely inside the
external container 52e giving the internal container 51f the opportunity to
move forward
and block the manifold port 51b of the external color container 52e from the
inside. This
dual container 52e, 51f may be discarded once it is empty and replaced by a
pre-filled
dual container 52e, 51f. For convenience, the manifold port 51b may feature a
puncture
seal 51g adhered to the front. In order to accompany the puncture seal 51g, a
puncture
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spike 53h will be affixed to the manifold intake 53c. This puncture feature
allows the
operator to mix the components without mess, opening the manifold port 51b
only at the
point where it engages the manifold intake 53c.
FIG. 11B depicts another preferred dual color container embodiment 52a; the
purpose of which is to keep the two components of the liquid hair color
separate until
the two components exit the color container 52a. The two (2) components of the
liquid
hair color are of equal texture and viscosity and are kept separate within the
dual color
container 52a by a barrier 52b. The barrier 52b essentially forms two separate
color
containers of equal volume arranged flatly against one another. Each side of
the divided
color container 52a opens to each side of the dual manifold port 52c.
When pressure is applied to this dual color container 52a, both hair color
components enter each side of the dual manifold port 52c. The two components
then
enter the manifold intake 53c where they pass through a section of helical
static mixer
52d and begin to mix. The partially mixed color then enters the inner tube 53g
of the
manifold 53a. The color is further mixed as it passes through the inner
manifold tube
53g as it also contains a section of static mixer 52d. Fully mixed color now
exits both
ends of the inner manifold tube 53g and enters the main outer manifold tube
53f, then
the nozzle hoses 53b and finally exits the nozzle aperture 5. The operator
will proceed
with the color service as described previously.
The following describes the process of reloading the device with color as well
as
cleaning the various color channels of the device.
A color container featuring a refill port 51d (as seen in FIG. 8) will not
need to be
disassembled and can be refilled using a syringe or baster type mixing
container with a
hollow dispensing stem. The operator mixes the two components of the hair
color in the
reservoir of the mixing container, secures the lid over the reservoir and
injects the mixed
color into the color container 51a through the refill port 51d. Having
completed this
stage of refilling, the operator secures the lid 51e onto the refill port 51d.
Pre-packaged color containers will need to be removed from the device when
empty and replaced with one that is full. The following example will be
described with a
single chamber color container 51a (see FIG. 8), although a dual chamber color
container 52a could be used for the explanation as well. In order to do this,
the operator
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will release the back of the color container 51a from the back of the color
container
housing 26a by disengaging the fastening tabs 51h from the fastening pins 26c
(see
FIG. 8 and FIG. 10A). She will then disengage the manifold mounting bracket
53e from
the rack slide mount 17, remove the manifold intake 53c from the manifold port
51b of
the color container 51a (see FIG. 8), bend the manifold 53a forward which will
disengage the manifold intake 53c from the manifold port 51b of the color
container
51a. She will then disengage the manifold port 51b of the color container 51a
from the
manifold port bracket 26b (see FIG. 9A and 10A) She will then be able to pull
the empty
color container 51a out from the color container housing 26a. With the
manifold 53a still
bent forward on the flexibility of the manifold hoses 53b, thereby exposing
the frontal
opening to the color container housing 26a, she will then slide a full and
sealed color
container 51a into the opening until the full length of the color container
51a occupies
the full length of the color container housing 26a. Then she will push the
manifold port
51b of the color container 51a onto the manifold port bracket 26b in order to
secure this
port 26b as well as the front of the color container 51a onto the front of the
color
container housing 26a. Next she will push the fastening tabs 51h onto the tab
pins 26c
thereby securing the back of the color container 51a to the back of the color
container
housing 26a. Finally, she will urge the manifold intake 53c onto the manifold
port 51b
and snap the manifold mounting bracket 53e onto the rack slide mount 17.
Having refilled the color container 51a or, having exchanging an empty single
color container 51a or dual color container 52a with a full one, the operator
will now
prime the device by squeezing the handle 20a until the color exits all of the
nozzle 11 a
apertures 5 (See FIGS. 10A-10B and 9C). The first squeeze with a new color
container
51a, may cause some color to exit some apertures 5 before others; therefore,
the
operator will perform this operation over a cleanable surface, paper towel,
sink, etc. as
the hair color may drip, out of some of the nozzles 11a until color is exiting
all nozzles
11 a. The operator will simply wipe the excess color from the nozzles 11a with
a paper
or cloth towel and proceed with the color service.
In order to minimize the overall number of drawings in this disclosure, the
following description of the cleaning procedure does not have supporting
illustrations.
Refer to FIG. 8 for an approximation.
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In order for the operator to clean the refillable color container 51a and
manifold
53a, she will disengage the color container 51a as described above, cap 51e
the refill
port 51d, inject water or cleaning fluid into the color container 51a through
the manifold
port 51b and place a finger over the manifold port 51b. Then she shakes and
kneads
the color container 51a and pours the liquid out of the refill port 51d and/or
manifold port
Sib. She will repeat this step until the container 51a is clean. In order to
clean the
manifold 53a and nozzles 11a she simply engages the color container 51a into
the
device following the reload procedure described earlier, and then fills the
container 51a
through the refill port 51d and places the cap 51e over the port 51d and
squeezes the
handle 20a. Water will jet out of the nozzle 11 a apertures 5 thereby cleaning
the
nozzles lla and nozzle hoses 12 as well as all of the hoses and channels of
the
manifold 53a. She may also insert a slender cleaning implement into the
various hoses,
ports and nozzles during the cleaning procedure.
Although an operator may rely on disposable color containers 51a for regular
use, it is advisable for the operator to have a refillable container 51a
available to fill with
water or cleaning fluid in order to utilize the cleaning method just
described.
Other types of color containers may be employed in the device such as a caulk
gun type or syringe type arrangement. Also the varied types of containers may
be
compressed manually, compressed using an electric motor or the color may be
dispensed by means of a color container that is under pressure.
The color containers 51a, 52a (see FIGS. 8, 11A and 11B) are preferably formed
from polyethylene, polypropylene or other type of liquid proof and chemical
resistant
flexible and easily sealable film. The main tube of the manifold 53f (along
with the hose
couplings 53d that are molded into it) is preferably molded from one of a
variety of liquid
chemical resistant plastic material while the hoses 53b may be formed from one
of
several types of liquid chemical resistant rubber or silicone tubing. The
hoses 53b may
be glued or clamped to the manifold couplings 53d; or, all of the couplings
53d may be
barbed allowing the hoses 53b to be removed from the coupling 53d yet, attach
firmly
when in use. The sections of static tube mixer 52d will also preferably be of
the
chemically resistant plastic variety and may be a separate part or formed
directly into
the inside geometry of the manifold 53a. Separate static tube mixers 52d may
be
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removable through a threaded cap located on one or both ends of the main
manifold
tube 53f. Removable static tube mixers 52d and/or threaded access caps located
on the
ends of the main manifold tube 53f are features that make the manifold 53a
easier to
clean. Also, the sections of static tube mixer 52d may also be located within
the
manifold hoses 52b. Alternatively, the entire geometry of the non ¨ mixing
manifold 53a,
including the hoses 53b and manifold intake 53c may be molded as one part from
a
liquid chemical resistant rubber or silicone.
When considering the functionality of the manifold 53a, notice the L-shaped
manifold hose 531,. This L-shape provides a corner that acts as a weak
leverage point
and allows the pressurized liquid filled hose 53b to bend easily as the head
14a of the
device conforms to the curve of the scalp.
Another unique feature of the device is a mechanical arrangement that gives
the
operator the ability to stop the flow of color to individual applicator
nozzles while
allowing other applicator nozzles to flow. The mechanism effectively pinches a
hose
closed with the push of a lever.
As seen in FIG. 12A ¨ 12C, each end of the rigid plastic manifold tube 53f is
detachably affixed against the top of each of the head mounts 15 by a manifold
mounting bracket 531; one additional manifold mounting bracket 53e extends
from the
top center of the main manifold tube 53f and attaches to the rack slide mount
17. Fixed
along the length of the manifold tube 53f are several short lengths of rigid
tube that
function as couplings 53d for the lengths of hose 53b that extend away from
the
manifold tube 53f. Fixed to the front of the manifold tube 53f are clamp lever
mounting
brackets 54e; one above each of the hose couplings 53d. Attached pivotal to
each of
the lever mounting brackets 54e is a clamp lever 54a. The top of the clamp
lever 54a
extends back across the top front of the handle a short distance and at a
slight angle
while in the resting position. This top section of the clamp lever 54a is flat
and serves as
a thumb contact 54b. The bottom section of the clamp lever 54a extends
straight down
to a point just below the bottom of the hose couplings 53d. At this point the
clamp lever
54a makes a sharp angle back to a point where it has extended slightly behind
the
bottom of the hose coupling 53d. Now this bottom end of the clamp lever 54a
makes a
final sharp turn and crosses the back of the hose slightly below the hose
coupling 53d
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forming the clamp lever hose contact 54c. This being the shape of the clamp
lever 54a,
when an operator places a thumb onto the thumb contact 54b and presses down,
the
bottom of the clamp lever hose contact 54c moves forward against the hose 53b
just
below the point where the hose 53b attaches to the coupling 53d. As the
operator
continues to press on the thumb contact 54b, the clamp lever hose contact 54c
pinches
the hose 53b forward against the pinch plate 54f thereby stopping the flow of
color
through that hose 53b (see FIG.12B and 12C side views depicting the hose
clamping
mechanism in the disengaged and engaged positions respectively). Once the
operator
presses the thumb contact 54b down to the farthest point, two interlocking
hooks 54d,
one on the bottom of the thumb contact 54b and one on the front top of the
head mount
15, will lock together thereby holding the clamp lever 54a in the hose
pinching position.
The operator simply needs to move the thumb contact slightly to the side and
the clamp
lever lock 54d disengages restoring color flow to the tube 53b.
FIGS. 12A¨ 12C depict a necessary variation of the actuator tines. Since it is
chosen, although not necessary, to have all of the parts of the present hose
clamping
mechanism built onto and around the manifold in such a manner that the
manifold in the
present embodiment sits lower on the head mounts than in similar embodiments
described; including the actuator tines, as they have previously been
arranged, into the
present embodiment will cause the actuator tines to run into the manifold
before they
have a chance to slide the functionally necessary distance up the length of
the head
mounts and rack slide. Therefore, depicted here are telescopic actuator tines.
As
viewed in FIG. 12A, the slide tine on the other side of the device, although
not visible,
will have all of the features of the visible slide actuator tine described in
the following:
The rear end of the slide actuator tine 93 is within in a slide tine seat 94.
The
front end of the slide actuator tine 93 has, fixed and extending away
perpendicular to
the outside, a slide actuator tine channel pin 96. This channel pin 96 is
seated within a
channel 95 formed into the head mount 15; said channel 95 extends the entire
length of
said head mount 15 and is open to the inside.
The bottom handle section 20c, as well as the slide tine seat 94 that is fixed
to it,
as seen in FIG. 12B, are farther away than said parts of FIG. 12C. As the
front of the
bottom handle section 20c moves closer to the top handle section 20b, the
front of the
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bottom handle section 20c also moves closer to the head mounts 15. This is why
fixed
actuator tines eventually run into the main manifold tube. The sliding
actuator tine 93
overcomes this problem. FIG.12B shows the front of the slide tine 93, with the
fixed
channel pin 96 seated inside the tine channel 95, (the channel pin 96 is seen
as a bold
dot) fully extended from the tine seat 94. FIG. 12C shows that, as the bottom
handle
section 20c moves up and gets closer to the head mounts 15, the tine channel
pin 96
follows the tine channel 95 and causes the tine seat 94 to move forward over
the slide
tine 93. This arrangement allows the front of the tine 93 to track the length
of the head
mount 15 thereby remaining in the same position relative to it.
This novel actuator tine arrangement may be included in any embodiment of the
device that requires actuator tines.
Another multi-hooking mechanism device embodiment of the device allows the
hooking mechanisms to be positioned closer together than the multi-hooking
mechanism device embodiment described previously. The previously described
embodiment discloses a row of hooking applicators that are positioned side by
side in
such a way that the pivoting motion of the hooks are parallel to the line
represented by
the row of hooking applicators. This means that the more open the hook is
relative to
the applicator nozzle, the farther away the individual hooking applicators
must be from
one another. This is because the hook can only open so far as the point at
which the
hook makes contact with the applicator nozzle of the neighboring hooking
applicator.
The closer the neighboring hooking applicator, the less the hook can open.
Another
solution to this problem is to make the hooks smaller. This however may not be
a
desirable solution as this may cause the sections of hair that are entrained
to be smaller
than desired.
To overcome this shortcoming, the present embodiment features a row of
hooking mechanisms that are at an angle to one another so that when each hook
is in
the open position, each hook is positioned, in front of each neighboring
applicator
nozzle; therefore, each hook does not bump into each neighboring applicator
nozzle.
One way to accomplish this is depicted in FIG. 13. This figure depicts a top
view of a
row of hooking applicators la arranged side by side and angled as described
above.
This row of hooking applicators la is arranged as a device head 14a; yet, this
head 14a
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is depicted without the rest of the device. The rest of the device is omitted
as no further
mechanical change is required of the device in order to accommodate the head
14a
arrangement described below. FIG. 13 shows the tops of the gear box 6 cut away
to
expose a rack gear 7c with angled teeth 7d seated against an angled pinion
gear 8
arrangement. In addition to depicting the angled pinion gear 8 position and
angled rack
7a gear teeth 7d, FIG. 13 also depicts the hooks 2a in the open position in
front of the
adjacent nozzle 11a rather than against the nozzle 11a as per the previously
described
device head 14a arrangement; therefore, this angled hooking applicator la
embodiment
solves the above stated shortcoming by allowing the hooks 2a to remain the
same size
while positioning the hooking applicators la closer together.
As an alternative to the previously described rack and pinion gear means, the
following describes an embodiment of the device that utilizes a mechanical
lever action
as a means to pivot the hooks. As per the device head embodiment described
immediately prior, this device head embodiment likewise features a series of
hooking
applicators that are arranged in an angled configuration so that the hook
axles are at an
angle relative to the parting of hair, thereby, allowing the hooks to pivot in
front of the
adjacent nozzles. Although the present embodiment features hooking applicators
that
are arranged in said manner, this lever action embodiment may also be arranged
such
that the pivotal relation of the hook axles to the parting may also be
approximately
perpendicular as per the first device head configuration described in this
disclosure.
It is necessary to state the following at this time; the many parts of the
device that
are not mentioned in the following description will be assumed to function in
like manner
to the first embodiment of the device described in this disclosure. This, in
order to avoid
redundant descriptions.
As seen in the two different angles of front view (FIG. 14A and 14B) depicting
the
lever action hooking applicator 70, the present embodiment features a hooking
applicator 70 with a hook 2a that pivots on a hook seat 68, said hook seat 68
being
located at the top front of the hooking applicator body 69. The hook 2a
features a lever
65 that extends away from the back of the hook 2a. The hook 2a pivots as the
hook
slide 61, and therefore, the hook slide tip 63 slides forward, guided within
the hook slide
bracket 64. As the hook slide 61 moves forward, it slides underneath the hook
lever 65
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causing the lever 65 and therefore the hook 2a to pivot. The hook slide tip 63
will slide
forward against the hook lever 65 until the hook 2a closes over the nozzle
11a.
Conversely, as the hook slide 61 backs away from the hook lever 65, the hook
2a pivots
back to the open position, pulled as such by the tension of the hook spring
66.
Having described the mechanical action of the individual lever action hooking
applicator 70, the following is the series of mechanical actions that occur in
order to
simultaneously pivot all of said type of hooks along a device head comprised
of multiple
lever action hooking mechanisms.
As viewed in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the handle 20a of the device compresses and
the actuator tines 18 begin to slide up against the angled bottom section 55b
of each
slide rack lever 55a. (The angled bottoms of the slide rack levers 55a are
indicated in
FIG. 15A by two bold black lines.) As the actuator tines 18 continue to slide
upward
against the rack slide lever angles 55b, the slide rack levers 55a begin to
close against
the head mounts 15. As seen in FIG. 15B, the inward closure of the slide rack
levers
55a against the head mounts 15 cause the slide rack actuators 56 (which are
fixed to
the outside of the slide rack levers 55a) to begin to enter the actuator
channels 57;
these channels 57 are openings located on the slide rack mounts 58. Each slide
rack
mount 58 is fixed to each head mount 15. As the slide rack actuators 56
continue to
enter the actuator channels 57, the angled fronts of the slide rack actuators
56 cause
the slide rack seats 59 and the slide rack 60a on which they are attached to
move
forward.
Sandwiched between the two slide rack plates 60b of the slide rack 60a are the
top sections 62 of the hook slides 61. Continuing to view FIG. 15B, the bottom
sections
of these hook slides 61 are fixed to and extend forward perpendicular to the
top
sections 62 forming the I' shaped hook slide 61. The hook slide tips 63 move
back and
forth in the hook slide seats 64. While the rack slide 60a moves forward, the
top
sections of the 'L' shaped hook slides 62 and therefore the hook slide tips 63
also begin
to move forward. As the hook slide tips 63 move forward within the hook slide
brackets
64, the hook slide tips 63 push forward on the hook levers 65 causing the
hooks 2a to
move from the open to the closed position. As the operator releases the handle
20a the
above mechanical process reverses, the hooks 2a return to the open position by
the
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tension of the hook springs 66 and the rack slide 60a returns to the resting
position by
the tension of the rack slide spring 67.
The next mechanical operation of this lever action hooking applicator
embodiment to be described is the curvature conformation feature (refer to
FIG. 16A
and 16B). As described above, the mechanical relationship between the slide
rack 60a
and top sections of the hook slides 62 are responsible for the pivoting action
of the hook
2a. In addition to this function, the top sections of the hook slides 62 and
slide rack 60a
also give the device the ability to conform to the curve of the head. In order
for the head
14a of the device to curve, the individual hooking mechanisms 70 must be able
to move
up and down a short distance relative to the head mounts 15 as well as pivot
to the side
slightly. The contiguous way in which the top sections of the hook slides 62
are
positioned within the slide rack 60a allow the top portions of the hook slides
62 to move
up and down as well as pivot side to side radially. Now, when the head 14a of
the
device is urged against the scalp, each hooking applicator 70 moves from the
resting
position to the position it must assume in order for it to cooperate with the
other
attached hooking mechanisms 70 in assuming the particular degree of curvature.
As
each hooking applicator 70 moves, so does the top portion of each hook slide
62
sandwiched within the slide rack 60a. Now as the top portion of each hook
slide 62
changes position pivotally from side to side as well as up and down
differently from the
other top portions of the hook slides 62, they do not change position
pivotally from front
to back as the slide rack 60a prevents this front to back pivoting. So, the
slide rack 60a
can move forward and back, thereby causing the hooks 2a to pivot from the open
to
closed position in unison even as the individual hooking mechanisms 70 pivot
from side
to side as well as move up and down differently from one another.
The final difference that will be described is a variation of position and
shape of
the color manifold. Considering an embodiment of the device which employs a
rack and
pinion gear arrangement to pivot the hooks, this gear driven embodiment
eliminates the
option of positioning the manifold hoses so that they extend from the manifold
directly to
the applicator nozzles through the area where the rack and pinion gears are
positioned
thereby eliminating the applicator hose. A mechanical arrangement that allows
the
manifold hoses to run straight to the back of the applicator nozzle renders a
device
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head with less plumbing and therefore easier cleaning. In addition to a head
with less
plumbing, the manifold hoses can be shorter, and therefore, take up less
space.
As seen in FIG. 17, the present lever action hook embodiment features a low
manifold color container 52f with a single hose 52g (see also FIG. 15A) that
extends
from the front, extending down to the low manifold 52h located level with and
in back of
the applicator nozzles 11a. Also, the low manifold hoses 52i extend forward
away from
the manifold 52h a short distance and connect to the applicator nozzles 11a.
Hose connectors as well as any other pertinent part not described in this low
manifold color container 52h arrangement may be adapted to here from
previously
described color container arrangements.
Any embodiment of the hooking applicator may substitute liquid color
application
onto entrained sections of hair for the application of hair color chalk,
mascara or any
other type of hair color or hair treatment that can be formed into a solid or
semi solid
stick. As depicted in FIG.18, this embodiment of the hooking applicator 71
features a
spring 73 loaded tube 72a that is positioned open end 72b down between the
front foot
4a and rear foot 4g of the hooking applicator 71 so that the open end 72b of
the tube
72a will be centered within the hollow of the hook 2a in the closed position.
This tube
72a is positioned in such a way that it may be fixed or detachable to the
front foot 4a
and rear foot 4g. If it is detachable, the spring 73 loaded tube 72a will have
a tab 74b
fixed to opposite sides of the tube's open end 72b. The upper portion of the
front foot 4a
and rear foot 4g will have a tab seat 74a indented centered on the upper
inside. Now,
the tabs 74b of the spring loaded tube 72a will snap securely into and out of
the tab
seats 74a. A stick of hair treatment 75 is positioned between the compressed
spring 73
and the bottom of the tube 72b. The stick of hair treatment 75 is held from
springing out
of the opened end of the tube 72b by two flexible, thin, intersecting cross
members 76.
These cross members 76 are attached to the open end of the tube 72b and
intersect at
or near the center of the opening of the tube 72b. Alternatively, the cross
members 76
may be substituted for one or more tiny flexible tabs attached to the edge of
the tube
open end 72b in such a way that they face toward the center of the tube open
end 72b
and may or may not connect as they may radiate only partially toward the
center.
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The viscosity or hardness of the stick of hair treatment 75 must be such that
it is
soft enough to wear away easily from the stick 75 onto the section of hair
that passes
over the exposed tip 77 of said stick 75 yet the stick of hair treatment 75
must be of the
viscosity or hard enough so that, as the stick of hair treatment 75 is being
pushed
against the cross members 73 by the spring, the stick 75 will not extrude
through the
cross members 76 while the device is not in use.
The hollow of the hook, features an indentation 2b that is the diameter and
shape
of the section of the rounded tip 77 of the stick of hair treatment 75 that is
protruding
from the open end 72b of the tube 72a. Now, as the hook 2a closes over the tip
77 of
the stick of hair treatment 75, the tip of the stick 77 seats accurately into
the indentation
2b in the hollow if the hook. As the hook 2a entrains a section of hair, the
front foot 4a
and rear foot 4g center the entrained section of hair over the indentation 2b
located in
the hollow of the hook 2a. Once the hook 2a has closed over the tip 77 of the
stick of
hair treatment 75 with the entrained section of hair, the hair will move
through the
closed position and will be coated with the hair treatment. As the tip 77 of
the stick of
hair treatment 75 wears away with repeated runs of entrained sections of hair
it will be
continually fed to the tip 72b of the tube 72a against the tension of the
spring 73. The
intersecting cross members 76 hold the tip 77 of the hair treatment stick 75
in place at
the end of the tube 72b and allows the tip 77 of the stick hair treatment 75
to wear away
evenly as the cross members 76 are able to move slightly during repeated runs
preventing un-worn away ridges from forming on the tip 77 of the stick of hair
treatment
75 directly under the cross members 76.
The operator will feel the need to adapt the way she uses the device to better
accommodate the various needs and requests of the patrons seeking hair color
variegation services. The operator has the option to vary the distance between
the
rows of color treated hair. This allows the recipient to choose within a range
of more or
less color treated sections placed in the overall color service. In addition
to this, the
recipient may choose within a range of thick or fine individual color treated
sections. If
the operator places the head of the device close to a parting of hair, the
device will
entrain and therefore treat finer sections of hair. The farther away the
operator places
the head of the device from the parting of hair the thicker the entrained and
treated
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section will be. While keeping the head of the device parallel to the parting,
the operator
may also slightly stagger the successive placements of treated rows from side
to side.
By adjusting the three technical variables described above, various aspects of
the final
appearance of the color service may be changed by using a single device head.
However, far more variation in the final appearance is possible with a device
that has
multiple device heads to choose from. Detachable and interchangeable device
head
embodiments will now be described and illustrated.
A wide range of varied head types may be embodied by creating a range of
hook/hooking applicator sizes and arranging them at various distances from one
another onto heads of different widths. A larger hook/hooking applicator will
entrain a
wider/larger section of hair and, conversely, a smaller hook/hooking
applicator will
entrain a narrower/smaller section of hair. Also, a head with hooks that are
spaced
farther apart or closer together will render each entrained section along the
row of
entrained sections farther apart or closer together from one another.
Obviously then, a
wider head will render a wider row of entrained sections.
FIG. 19A depicts a device head 14a with three larger hooks 2a arranged at a
greater distance from one another comprising a head 14a of perhaps medium
width.
FIG. 19B depicts a device head 14a with five smaller hooks 2a arranged at a
closer
distance to one another forming a head 14a of perhaps medium width. FIG.19C is
also
perhaps a medium width device head 14a with four larger hooks 2a arranged
closer to
one another. FIG.I90 is a device head 14a of three larger hooks 2a positioned
close to
one another comprising a head 14a of narrower width. FIG.19E depicts six
smaller
hooks 2a positioned close to one another along a wide head 14a. There are many
more
head variations possible and may it suffice to state that all will occur as
obvious in light
of what has thus far been disclosed.
There are numerous mechanical arrangements that may be employed to create a
head that quickly and easily detaches and reattaches to the body of the
device. One
preferred embodiment of the detachable head is depicted in FIG. 20A and 20B.
These
figures describe a head 14a that includes roller couplings 14d that pull away
from the
head mounts 15 as well as a manifold intake 53b that pulls away from the color
container coupling 51b and a rack gear pin 1613 that pulls away from rack
slide seat 7b.
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Re-attaching the head in this instance simply requires the operator to re-
attach what
has been detached.
Another detachable head embodiment is depicted in FIG. 21A ¨ 21C. These
figures describe an embodiment of the device featuring a detachable
arrangement
where the head 14a of the device as well as the head mounts 15 and actuator
tines 18
detach. This arrangement allows the width of the head 14a to vary from one
detachable
head to another. The FIG. 20 detachable head arrangement alone does not.
The FIG. 21A -21C embodiment utilizes small spring loaded release levers (78a
and 78h). FIG. 21C is included in order to provide a magnified view of the
type of
release lever (78a and 78h) used. The head release lever 78a allows the front
portion
of the top hinge plate 20b to detach. In this manner, the head 14a, head
mounts 15,
rack slide mount 17 and rack slide 16a detach from the device with one press
of the
head release lever 78a trigger 78b. An actuator release lever 78h allows the
front
portion of the bottom hinge plate 20c and therefore the actuator tines 18 to
detach.
Actuator tines 18 that are detachable are necessary because a wider head mount
15
requires actuator tines 18 that are wider.
As mentioned above, a head release lever 78a is positioned on the front of the
top handle section 20b. The trigger 78b side of the lever 78a is curved down
following
the contour of the distal front of the top handle section 20b and the latch
side 78c
extends straight back and then ends at a short right angle bend forming the
latch pin
78d. In the resting position, the latch pin 78d rests in a small hole or latch
pin eyelet
78e. The eyelet 78e opens on the inside to the hollow insert seat 79 of the
detachable
front of the top handle section 20b. The insert seat 79 of the detachable
front of the top
handle section 20b is open at the back and fits over the insert tab 80a
attached to the
distal front of the top handle section 20b as it is in the detached state. An
indentation or
pin seat 80b is located on the top surface of the insert tab 80a. The pin seat
80b lines
up with the pin eyelet 78e when the insert tab 80a is the fully engaged
position over the
insert seat 79. This allows the latch pin 78d to seat through the eyelet 78e
and into the
pin seat 80b thereby locking the detachable front of the device onto the body
of the
device with the tension of the elbow type latch spring 78f holding the latch
pin 78d in the
pin seat 80b. In order to detach the front of the device from the body, the
operator
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simply presses down on the trigger 78b of the lever 78a causing the trigger
side 78b
and latch side 78c to pivot on the hinge 78g. As the trigger side 78b of the
lever 78a
pivots down, the latch pin 78d pivots up and out of the pin seat 80b against
the tension
of the latch spring 78f. With the latch pin 78d lifted out of the pin seat
80b, the operator
simply pulls forward on the detachable front of the device and it simply
slides off (FIG.
21B depicts the detachable head in the detached position). As the latch pin
78d is
angled on the back, the operator simply slides the insert seat 79 over the
insert tab 80a
and the latch pin 78d lifts as it slides over the tab 80a and then clicks down
into place
within the latch pin seat 80b urged by the tension of the latch spring 78f.
Also depicted in FIG. 21A and 21B, the actuator tines 18 detach from and
reattach to the front of the bottom handle section 20c utilizing the actuator
release lever
78h. See the description of the action of head release lever 78a above for the
action of
the actuator release lever 78h.
Another preferred detachable head embodiment is depicted in FIG. 22A-22F.
This embodiment utilizes a dial with a spiral thread to adjust the width of
both the head
mounts and the rack slide actuator. The dial adjustable head mounts will be
described
first followed by a description of the dial adjustable rack slide actuator. It
is important to
note while considering the following dial adjustable head mount mechanical
arrangement that the rack slide 16a, rack slide mount 17 and rack slide spring
19 are
appropriately attached to one of the head mounts.
FIG. 22A shows each of the two head mounts 15 consists of a slide plate 81 and
a head mount 15. Each slide plate Bus mounted separately onto the front of the
top
handle section 20b. Fixed to the top front of the top handle section 20b are
two slide
rails 82 that run parallel to and are a short distance from one another. Each
slide plate
81 has two slide rail fittings 83 formed into it. Each fitting 83 tightly
surrounds each slide
rail 82 on three sides but not so tight as to prevent each fitting 83 from
sliding along
each rail 82. This slide arrangement confines the movement of each slide plate
81 as
well as the head mount 15 fixed to it to a side to side slide. FIG. 22A and
22B show a
single dial 84 is positioned over both slide plates 81 as they are fitted onto
both slide
rails 82. The dial 84 is mounted over the slide plates 81 by an axle 85 that
is fixed to the
top handle section 20b. The dial 84 is positioned in such a way that the dial
84 presses
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down firmly onto the rail fittings 83 yet the dial 84 can turn. A knob 86 or
more
preferably a key slot 86 will be positioned at the center of the dial 84 so
that the
operator can easily turn the dial 84. A key slot 86 is more preferable because
the dial 84
is also the thumb rest for the operator; therefore, a key slot 86 will be less
obstructive
for this purpose. The device will also include a key that is similar in
dimension to a coin
so that the operator may also use a coin to turn the dial 84.
Radiating from the axle 85 along the bottom of the dial 84 to the outside edge
of
the dial 84 are two threads 87. These threads 87 are curved thin grooves that
form a
spiral across the bottom of the dial 84. Fixed to and protruding from the top
surface of
each slide plate 81 is a short small and perhaps cylinder thread insert 88. As
the name
implies, the thread insert 88 seats into the thread 87 of the dial 84. Now, as
the operator
turns the dial 84, each thread insert 88 will move back and forth along each
thread 87 in
turn causing each slide plate 81 and head mount 15 to slide back and forth
along each
slide rail 82.
There are numbered dial positions 89 aligned with the back of the dial 84. The
area where the numbers are located is raised to the same level as the slide
rail fittings
83. There may be any number of dial positions 89 indicated but preferably the
number
of positions will be the same as the number of head widths available to the
device. Our
preferred dial embodiment has three positions.
A setting indicator 90 mark is positioned on the back edge of the top surface
of
the dial 84. Positioned on the bottom of the dial 84 directly under the
setting indicator 90
is a small protrusion 91. Positioned along the raised numbered area of the top
handle
section 20b are indentations 92. There is one indentation 92 positioned under
the dial
84 directly in front of each dial position 89. Also, each indentation 92 is in
line with the
dial protrusion 91; so, as the operator turns the dial 84, the protrusion 91
will snap into
the indentations 92. Each snap-in, numbered dial position 89 corresponds to a
specific
width of a particular detachable head.
FIGS. 22B, 22C and 22D are all depictions of three dial 84 positions as well
as
each corresponding head mount 15 position. FIG. 22E depicts the dial
adjustable head
mount embodiment including the head 14a.
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FIG. 22F depicts a bottom view of the device showing the actuator tines 18a
with
the same dial 84 controlled adjustability feature as the head mounts 15. Each
of the two
actuator tines 18a consists of a slide plate 81 and an actuator tine 18a. Each
slide plate
81 is mounted separately onto the bottom front of the bottom handle section
20c. Fixed
to the bottom front of the bottom handle section 20c are two rails 82 that run
parallel to
and are a short distance from one another. All other mechanical aspects of the
dial
controlled adjustability feature of the actuator tines are identical to the
mechanical
aspects of the dial controlled adjustability feature of the head mounts
described
previously.
FIG. 23A depicts a preferred pen or marker type embodiment of the device that
is more compact and less complicated to use than the previous embodiments.
This
embodiment may be the most likely, of all of the embodiments presented so far,
to be
directed to the consumer market as it features only a single hooking
applicator 1a
making it more possible for consumers to use the such a device on one another;
or, on
him or herself.
In general, FIG. 23A depicts a single hooking applicator or head 28 of the
device
fixed to a body plate 50a along the side of the gear box 6. Extending away
from the rear
of the body plate is a parting stem 27. A squeeze plate 44, approximately the
same
dimensions as the body plate 50a, is positioned a distance from and face to
face to the
body plate 50a.
Although the present embodiment features a single hooking applicator, this
embodiment may also maintain nearly the same ease of use and mechanical
configuration while featuring two or more hooking applicators as the head of
the device.
For instance, the present embodiment may feature a head comprised of two or
three
hooking applicators that are joined to one another level and side by side.
This head may
also have a body plate fixed to the side of one of the gear boxes, and so on,
including
all of the mechanical features described in the following. Furthermore, like
the single
hooking applicator head, this two or three hooking applicator head does not
require a
head conformation feature as does the four or more hooking applicator head
described
previously. This is because the span of the two or three hooking applicator
head is
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narrow enough that a certain fixed orientation of said head will overcome the
need for
the head to bend or flex into the varied curvature of the scalp.
An illustrated description of the hooking applicator has been presented
earlier in
this disclosure; therefore, a description of the hooking applicator in the
following will
occur in a cursory manner in order to coordinate it with the detailed
illustrated
description of the mechanisms involved in hook engagement and liquid hair
color
discharge.
The present single hooking applicator head embodiment features a similar
sequential hair entraining and color dispensing trigger function to the
previously
described multiple hooking applicator head embodiment. The mechanism
responsible
for this will be described below.
As seen in FIG. 23B, a single trigger 29a is hinged 30 to the front of the
body
plate 50a to both body plate wings 50b. As the trigger 29a moves from the open
resting
position, it does so against the resistance of the trigger spring 32. The
wound pivotal
section of the spring 32 is positioned with the trigger hinge pin 31 running
through it.
The trigger spring 32 is leveraged on one end to the trigger 29 and on the
other end to
the top body plate wing 50b by the trigger spring eyelet 33.
As seen in FIG. 23C, the trigger 29a pivots on the trigger hinge 30 toward the
squeeze plate 44 causing the hook 2a to pivot from the open toward the closed
position
facilitated by a series of coordinated lever and slide hinge mechanisms that
originate at
the trigger 29a. The following is a detailed description of this mechanical
operation.
While viewing FIG. 23B and 23C in sequence (also, see FIG. 24A and 24B in
sequence), the trigger 29a pivots from the resting position toward the squeeze
plate 44
causing the trigger slide 35 to pivot on the trigger slide hinge 36a while
being pushed
forward on the trigger slide hinge 36a by the trigger slide push rod 36b. This
slide
forward of the hinged back of the trigger slide 35 occurs as the push rod 36b
is hinged
to both the trigger slide 35 as well as the trigger slide hinge 36a on one
side while being
hinged to the back of the body plate 50a by the squeeze plate stabilizer hinge
46 on the
other side; therefore, it is the coordinated hinged slide lever action of the
push rod 36b
and the trigger 29a that pushes the trigger slide 35 at an angle forward
through the
trigger slide guide 37.
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As the trigger slide 35 moves forward, sandwiched between the trigger slide
guide 37 and the top wing 50b of the body plate 50a, the front of the trigger
slide 35 is
confined to a specific angled forward path as the trigger slide channel 39
moves with
the fixed trigger slide guide pin 38 positioned within. As the distal front of
the trigger
slide moves forward, it encounters the contact angle 40b (indicated by the
single short
bold line) of the slide wedge 40a. The movement of the front of the trigger
slide 35 over
the slide wedge contact angle 40b causes the slide wedge 40a to slide downward
against the tension of the slide wedge spring 40d, guided as it is sandwiched
between
the body plate 50a and the slide wedge bracket 41. This downward motion of the
slide
wedge 40a causes the wedge section 40c to wedge between the front of the body
plate
50a and the rack gear slide 42a. As the rack gear slide 42a is fixed to the
rack gear 7a,
the rack gear 7a slides to the side. This motion of the rack gear 7a causes
the pinion
gear 8 to turn thereby bringing the hook 2a to the closed position over the
applicator
nozzle 11a. Squeezing the trigger 29a to the point where the hook 2a becomes
closed
over the applicator nozzle lla causes the trigger squeeze plate contact point
29b to
come into contact with the squeeze plate 44. Continuing to squeeze the trigger
29a
maintains the hook 2a in the closed position as the trigger slide 35 simply
continues to
move forward over the fully engaged slide wedge contact angle 40b, while the
trigger
squeeze plate contact point 29b continues to push the squeeze plate 44 toward
the
body plate 50a.
As seen in FIG. 238, the movement of the squeeze plate 44 is confined to a
face
to face approach toward the body plate 50a by two (2) slide mechanisms: a
squeeze
plate slide hinge 48a positioned at the front of the body plate 50a and a
squeeze plate
slide stabilizer 45 positioned at the back of the body plate 50a. The squeeze
plate slide
hinge 48a guides this end of the squeeze plate 44 to slide back and forth face
to face
toward the body plate 50a along the squeeze plate slide hinge channels 49a.
The
squeeze plate slide stabilizer 45 also guides the movement of the squeeze
plate 44 to a
back and forth face to face slide at the back of the squeeze plate 44;
however, this
rectangular shaped rod 45, as it is hinged to the body plate 50a on one side
and hinged
slidable to the squeeze plate 44 on the other side within the squeeze plate
stabilizer
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slide brackets 47, allows the squeeze plate 44 to approach the body plate 50a
along the
same axis (x) as the trigger 29a pivots with little wobbling edge to edge
along the y axis.
As seen in FIGS. 24A ¨ 24D, the approach of the squeeze plate 44 toward the
body plate 50a occurs against the tension of the dual elbow squeeze plate
spring 48b
located along the bottom front of the device (In order to provide further
clarity, the dual
elbow spring 48b, although it is positioned along the bottom of the device, is
shown in
bold black in FIG. 4A). As the squeeze plate 44 approaches the body plate 50a
it does
so preferably at an angle back relative to the body plate 50a so that the back
of the
squeeze plate 44 conies into contact with the back of the body plate 50a first
(as seen
in FIG. 24C) followed by an angled forward approach of the front of the
squeeze plate
44 toward the front of the body plate 50a until the full length of the squeeze
plate 44 is
in full face to face contact with the body plate 50a (as seen in FIG. 24D).
This approach
of the squeeze plate 44 toward the body plate 50a is preferred in order that,
when a full
color container 51j, such as the preferred type depicted in FIG. 24A, is
loaded
functionally into the device, the color container 51j is gradually, through
successive runs
of the device through a head of hair, emptied from back to front. In practice,
each of
said individual runs will begin as the squeeze plate 44 and body plate 50a
appear in the
position depicted in FIG. 24A and will gradually follow, through successive
individual
runs, the entire FIG. 24 mechanical sequence until the squeeze plate 44 and
body plate
50a meet face to face as depicted in FIG. 24D having emptied the color
container 51j.
This back to front emptying process of the color container 51j is assured as
the
dual elbow spring 48b is located at, and therefore, creates tension between
the front of
the squeeze plate 44 and the front of the body plate 50a, thereby, tensioning
the front of
each of the two plates away from one another to the open most position. This
tension is
maintained as one elbow of the dual elbow spring is attached on one side to
the body
plate 50a and on the other side to the squeeze plate slide hinge pin 49b. The
attachment between the spring and the front of the squeeze plate is maintained
as the
bottom squeeze plate slide hinge pin 49b extends through the center of one of
the two
spring 48b coils. This spring 48b coil attachment is also the pivot point of a
second
preferred squeeze plate 44 tension. This front pivotal tension urges the back
of the
squeeze plate 44 to the open most position away from the back of the body
plate 50a
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when the trigger 29a is released. Since both of the outward tensions described
above
are located at the front of the two plates, inward pressure applied to the
middle of the
squeeze plate 44 by the contact point 29b of the trigger 29a will, through
successive
runs of the device through a head of hair, cause the back of the squeeze plate
44 to
move toward and contact the back of the body plate 50a first, followed by the
approach
of the front of the squeeze plate 44 toward the front of the body plate 50a.
As seen in FIGS. 23B and 24A, the point in each individual run where the
trigger
29a is released causes the trigger 29a to pivot out to the open position with
the tension
of the trigger spring 32. Said mechanical action causes the squeeze plate 44
to move
away from the body plate 50a, thereby, returning the squeeze plate to the open
resting
position against the tension of the dual elbow squeeze plate spring 48b.
Concurrently,
the trigger slide 35 returns to the resting position and, in doing so, slides
off of the slide
wedge contact angle 40b. This release of the slide wedge contact angle 40b
causes the
slide wedge 40a to slide upward with the tension of the slide wedge spring
40d, which,
in turn, raises the wedge section 40c of the slide wedge 40a out from between
the rack
slide 42a and the side of the gear box 6. The rack slide 42a is then released
to slide
inward, guided by the rack slide seat 43 in which it is slidably seated,
toward the side of
the gear box 6 with the tension of the rack slide spring 42b. Finally, as one
side of the
rack gear 7 is attached to the rack gear slide 42, the inward motion of the
rack gear
slide 42a causes the rack gear 7 to move back to the resting position along
with the
pinion gear 8 and therefore the hook 2a.
The color container valve, neck and coupling are the same as the color
containers described in the multi- hooking applicator embodiment described
earlier in
this disclosure only embodied in the singular.
As the device has been described in use above, the hooks move from the open
position FIG. 1A to the closed position FIG. 1B, thereby, entraining a section
of hair into
the closed position FIG. 1B. As this occurs, each entrained section of hair
becomes
automatically positioned directly under the color aperture 5 of each
applicator nozzle
ha. Now, as the operator squeezes the handle of the device and draws the
device
away from the scalp, the color exits each aperture 5 and deposits a bead of
color only
onto the top of each entrained section 1b. The entrained sections lb,
therefore, exit the
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closed position with a bead of color Id applied to the top of each entrained
section lb.
This is because (as seen in FIG. 3D) the distance between the hair color
aperture 5 of
the applicator nozzle lla and the front foot channel 4c is quite small,
causing the
entrained sections lb to exit the closed position before the beads of color Id
have an
opportunity to be thoroughly pressed into the entrained sections of hair lb.
Although the
controlled depositing of a bead color Id onto entrained sections of hair lb is
a useful
and novel feature of the device, a more complete saturation of the hair color
id into the
entrained sections of hair lb may be desired.
An effective way for the beads of color Id to be suffused completely into the
bundles of hair lb as they convey through the device is to elongate the closed
position.
An elongated closed position gives the color, as it exits the color aperture 5
of the
applicator nozzle 11a, more time and space to fully press into and saturate
the
entrained section lb before the color treated entrained section id exits the
front of the
closed position.
It may be assumed that simply widening the hook 2a and applicator nozzle lla
would sufficiently serve this purpose; however, a limitation becomes apparent
when the
hook 2a is widened. When the hook 2a is widened slightly beyond what has been
presently depicted, the hook 2a becomes too wide to effectively entrain a
section of hair
lb. The following embodiment includes the additional structures that allow the
closed
position to be elongated without widening the initial hair entrainment portion
of the hook
2a.
As Seen in FIG. 25A and 25B, the hooking applicator la is shown in the same
open and closed position respectively as seen in FIG. 1A and 1B. Notice, also,
in FIG.
25A and 25B the additional structural features attached to and extending
forward from
the fronts of both the hook 2a and front foot 4a. The structure attached to
the front of the
hook 2a is the hook extension 100a; the triangular, visco-elastic foam filled
structure
attached to the front foot 4a is the foot extension 101a. When the hook
extension 100a
and the foot extension 101a are in the closed position relative to one another
(as seen
in FIG. 25B) with a section of hair lb entrained between, the hook extension
110a and
foot extension 101a form the saturation chamber 102a. This saturation chamber
102a
represents a second stage of color application. The hook and applicator in the
closed
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position is therefore the first stage. With the addition of the hook extension
100a and
foot extensions 101a (second stage), the liquid color has an additional foam
channeled
distance to travel through, along with the entrained section of hair, thereby,
giving the
liquid hair color more opportunity to blend into the entrained section.
FIGS. 26A through 260 depict a series of bottom views of the hooking
applicator
Ia. These figures show the process of hair entrainment from the fully open
position,
through intermediate rotational hook 2a positions, to the fully closed
position with a
section of hair 2b entrained within.
Notice as the hook 2a and hook extension 100a move from the fully open
position depicted in FIG. 26A to the intermediate position depicted in FIG.
26B, a
section of hair lb has been entrained by just the hook 2a. The hook extension
100a, at
this point has not yet interacted with the entrained section of hair lb.
FIG. 26C depicts the next rotational position in series and shows the
entrained
section lb having been entrained by the hook 2a and making initial contact
with the
hook extension 100a. As depicted, the hook extension 100a is attached to the
front of
the hook 2a a distance away from the point of the hook 3a. This arrangement
allows the
hook 2a to fully entrain the section of hair lb prior to encountering the hook
extension
100a. This represents a preferred method of widening the closed position 2a
without
jeopardizing the ability of the hook 2a to consistently entrain a section of
hair lb.
FIG. 26D depicts the hooking applicator la along with the extensions 100a,
101a
thereof having entrained a section of hair lb into the fully closed position.
Notice the
entrained section of hair lb is fully positioned within the entire width of
the combined
hook 2a and hook extension 100a. Also, notice that the hook extension 100a is
attached
to the hook 2a in such a way that the inside surface of the hook extension
110a is
attached to the outside surface of the hook 2a (see FIGS. 26A ¨ 26D and FIG.
27A for
front view of this placement). This placement provides an advantage. As the
hook 2a
rotates and entrains a section of hair lb, this lower position of the hook
extension 100a
relative to the hook 2a combined with the slightly rounded front corner 100b
of the hook
extension 100a allows it to slide easily under the entrained section lb rather
than
bumping into it and pushing it to the side.
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Now that the present embodiment featuring the saturation chamber has been
described in the context of hair entrainment, what follows is a description of
said
embodiment in terms of controlled and thorough color application onto the
entrained
section of hair.
While viewing FIGS. 27A and 27B Notice the foam seal 101b occupying the
space within the foot extension 101a. A section of foam 101b is folded and the
corner of
the fold is attached to the inside corner 101c of the foot extension 101a with
both sides
of the fold extending out; the distal end of each side of the folded section
wraps around
the outside edges 101d of the foot extension 101a and are attached to each
respective
outside edge 101d.
While viewing FIGS. 27A and 27B in series notice, as the hook 2a pivots from
the open to the closed position, the outside edges 100c of the hook extension
100a
come into contact with and firmly compress the foam wrapped edges 101d of the
foot
extension 101a. Also, while in the closed position 27B, the foam is thick
enough that
most of the inside surface of the hook extension comes into light compression
contact
with the foam from the outside edges toward the fold, with the fold being the
narrow
channel that does not come into contact with the hook extension. This foam
arrangement creates a seal along both foam wrapped edges 101d of the foot
extension
101a thereby preventing color from leaking from these areas, while the fold of
the foam
(foam channel 101e) directs the color, along with the entrained section of
hair through,
and then out of the front of, the closed position.
This channeling together of the hair section and hair color through this
additional
length of closed position 102a assists in causing a fully color saturated
section of hair to
exit from the front of the saturation chamber 102a. The thickness and density
of the
foam may be adjusted in order increase or decrees the size of the foam channel
and
therefore, the flow of color or to accommodate differences in color viscosity.
Varying, in particular ways, the inside geometry of the closed position also
assures that a fully color saturated section of hair emerges from the closed
position.
The lower position of the hook extension 100a described above creates such a
variation
of said inside geometry. This preferred variation is in the form of a step
down 100d from
the front edge of the hook 2a to the back edge of the hook extension 100a (see
FIG.
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26A-D). This step down 100d creates an open space under the entrained section
of hair
lb as the entrained section lb is still in the closed position. Now, as the
hair color flows
out of the aperture 5, the color flows onto the top of the entrained section
lb in the first
stage of color application, then as the color flows from the first stage to
the second
stage of color application, the space beneath the entrained section lb at this
step down
100d point gives the color an opportunity to flow under the entrained section
of hair lb
while the entrained section of hair lb, moves through the closed position. So
the
additional foam channeled distance of the closed position travelled in
combination with
this step down 100d point along the way causes the entrained section lb of
hair to
become entirely coated with hair color before exiting the closed position.
The following describes an embodiment of the invention in the form of another
modified hair comb type grooming appliance. Said comb is mechanically modified
to
entrain sections of hair into the closed position as well as apply hair color
to said hair
sections.
In order for the comb to perform the first of these functions, a series of
hooks
move from the open to closed position between some or all of the teeth of the
comb.
The preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 28A thru 28C show 4 of said hooks
103b
resting in the open position in front of every other tooth 104a for a total of
4 comb teeth
104a with a hook 103a in front. Notice each hook 103a is attached to the slide
member
103b. This slide member 103b extends across the spine 104b of the comb section
104c
and continues to extend back across the top of the handle 105a. The slide
member
distal end 103b is angled down toward the bottom of the handle hinge 105b with
the
slide member distal end 103b touching the contact point seat 105d of the hinge
bifurcation 105c. Now, when an operator squeezes the handle 105a, the handle
hinge
105b pivots forward causing the contact point seat 105d of the hinge
bifurcation 105c to
push forward on the slide member distal end 103b. As the hooks 103a are
attached to
the slide member 103b, the hooks 103a therefore move from the open to closed
position by squeezing the handle 105a. Like the squeeze handle 105a action of
previously described embodiments, the first increment of squeeze of the
present
embodiment (see FIG. 28B) causes the hooks 103a to move from the open to
closed
position while the second increment of squeeze (see FIG. 28C) applies color
dispensing
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pressure to the color container 106a while maintaining the hooks 103a in the
closed
position. The bifurcation spring 105e of the hinge bifurcation 105c allows the
hooks
103a to advance no farther than the closed position while the handle 105a may
continue
to close to an ever greater extent to the point where the color container 106a
is empty.
The handle hinge 105b and bifurcation 105c move in unison until the hooks 103a
reach
the closed position. Once the hooks 103a are closed, the hinge 105b will
continue to
pivot forward but the bifurcation 105c will remain stationary while
maintaining forward
pressure on the slide member 103b and therefore the hooks 103a in the closed
position. This is because the bifurcation spring 105e does not have enough
tension to
resist the pivot of the handle hinge 105b yet has enough tension to maintain
pressure
on the closed position of the hooks 103a. When the operator releases the
handle
105a, the hooks 103a return to the resting position. This occurs as the slide
member
distal end 103c contiguously rests within the contact point seat 105d. As the
operator
squeezes the handle 105a the contact point seat 105d pushes the slide member
103b
forward; conversely, as the operator releases the handle 105a the contact
point seat
105d pulls the slide member 103b back.
In use, the operator draws a preferably 4 to 10 cm straight parting of hair
along a
scalp of hair using the parting stem 107. The operator then gathers together
the hair
comprising the top of the parting and secures it temporarily up and away from
the
parting exposing the part line lc along the scalp. Next, the operator draws
another
parting under, adjacent to and parallel with the first parting and maintains
the parting
stem 107 in this position parallel to the scalp and the first parting with the
section of hair
draped over it. The distance between the first and second parting is
preferably between
1 to 10 mm. The operator will now carefully move the parting stem 107 away
from the
scalp causing the draped section of hair to separate out and away from the
rest of the
hair. With the section of hair lh now separated away from the scalp if, the
operator,
with her free hand, will lift the draped section of hair lh away from the
parting stem 107
and hold it there. She will pull the section of hair lh comfortably taut so
that all of the
hair in the section lh is projecting straight away from the scalp If at a
preferably 90
degree angle. The operator will now turn the device so that the comb section
104c is
flatly facing the scalp if, and is preferably above the separated section of
hair lh with
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the teeth 104a of the comb 104c pointed down toward the section of hair lh.
She will
push the teeth 104a into the section of hair lh so that the entire section
separates into
individual bundles of hair lg between all of the teeth 104a of the comb 104c.
She will
continue to push the teeth 104a of the comb 104c into the section of hair lh
until each
section of hair lg between each of the teeth comes into contact with the spine
104b of
the device. See FIG. 29A depicting the bundles of hair lg separated between
the teeth
104a against the spine 104b.
The operator will, at this point, begin to squeeze the handle 105a.
See FIG. 28A and 28B in series for the following. As the operator squeezes the
handle 105a, the handle hinge 105b pivots forward causing the contact point
seat 105d
of the handle hinge bifurcation 105c to push forward on the slide member
distal end
103c and therefore the slide member 103b. This causes each hook 103a to slide
from
the open position to the closed position by crossing each respective space
between the
comb teeth 104a. See FIG 29A and 29B in series for the following. As each hook
103a
travels across each space, each hook 103a will encounter a stalk of hair lg
positioned
within each space. In this manner, each hook 103a entrains a bundle of hair lb
and
pushes the bundle of hair lb against the applicator 108a.
The operator has, at this point, entrained bundles of hair lb between every
other
comb tooth 104a. This, of course, means that there is a stalk of hair lg
between every
other comb tooth 104a that is not entrained. As the operator has pushed the
teeth 104a
of the comb 104c down onto the projected section of hair lh, the operator can
simply let
go of the projected section of hair 1 h with the hand that is not holding the
device and
the hair lg that is not entrained into the closed position will simply fall
out from between
the teeth 104a of the comb 104c and into the rest of the hair If.
Liquid hair color is moved from the color container 106a to the applicators
108a
through a tubular channel formed lengthwise along the neck 104d and spine 104b
forming a primary supply line 109a (see cross section view FIG. 30). As viewed
in FIG.
31, this supply line 109a runs along the opposite side of the comb spine 104b
from the
hooks 103a and applicators 108a. As depicted, this primary supply line 109a
branches
toward and opens out of the bottom of every other tooth 104a into each color
applicator
108a; therefore, squeezing the handle 105a loaded with a container 106a of
hair color
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causes the hair color to exit from each color applicator 108a and onto the
entrained
sections of hair lb.
The applicators 108a are very similar in function to the applicators described
earlier. As seen in FIG. 32, each applicator housing 108b is preferably
composed of a
rectangular box that is open on the side facing the hook hollow 103d. The
applicator
housing 108b is preferably occupied by an insert of viscoelastic foam 108c
that partially
extends out of the applicator housing 108b toward the direction of the hook
hollow
103b. The front of this outwardly extending portion of the foam insert is the
applicator
face 108d. As the applicators 108a are positioned along the front of the comb
section
104c, a channel 108e is formed into the foam face 108d extending from the
front of the
applicator 108a to the opening in the foam 108f. As seen in FIG. 31, a branch
109b
from the supply line 109a opens into the applicator housing (see FIG. 32) and
this
opening connects to the foam opening 108f. This face channel 108e is in line
with the
section of hair lg that occupies the space between the teeth 104a once the
hair section
lg is brought into contact with the spine 104b of the comb (see FIGS. 29A
29B).
When the hook 103a closes over the section of hair lb as such, the section of
hair lb
will be pressed into this face channel 108e as well as the opening in the foam
108f.
With the section of hair lb entrained into the closed position, liquid hair
color will travel
through the supply line 109a and into the applicator housing 108b. From this
point the
color continues to move through the opening in the foam 108f, onto the
entrained
section of hair lb and through the face channel 108e where the color then
exits the
closed position only from the front along with the color coated entrained
section of hair
lb (see FIGS. 29, 30, 31, 32).
FIGS. 33A-B depict an additional embodiment of the foot extension 101a'. This
embodiment is similar in shape and function to the foot extension 101a
described in
FIGS. 25A-B. An additional feature of the foot extension 101a' seen in FIGS.
33A-B is
the rubber facing 101f attached to the front. FIG. 33B depicts an entrained
section of
hair lb emerging from the closed position as would be seen immediately as the
operator begins to squeeze the handle and draw the device away from the head
of the
recipient. As the entrained section of hair lb emerges from the closed
position, it does
so through a squeegee type tension between the top surface of the hook
extension
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100a and the bottom of the rubber facing 101f. This occurs as the rubber
facing 101f is
fixed flat to the front edge of the hollow foot extension 101a'. As the hook
extension
100a is in the closed position against the foot extension 101a', this facing
101f is open
only along the bottom edge that contacts the hook extension 100a, between the
inside
edges of the foot extension 101a'. Also, this opening is located over the area
of the
hook extension 100a that the entrained section lb passes. This arrangement
precisely
channels the color onto the entrained section lb and causes the color to
dispense more
uniformly. The embodiment depicted in FIG. 25A-B may also utilize the rubber
facing
101f.
FIGS. 34A¨B depicts the hooking applicator la with the present intention of
featuring the additional embodiment of the foot extension 101a', with the
rubber facing
101f removed from the front; this, in order to more entirely view the nozzle
seal lib,
and foot extension seal 101b, as each are depicted in halftone (The nozzle
seal lib
and foot extension seal 101b are actually one continuous seal). Notice, every
surface
joining the hook 2a and hook extension 100a with the applicator nozzle ha and
foot
extension 101a in the closed position is sealed in said closed position.
Notice the difference between the foot extension seal 101b in FIGS. 27A-B and
FIGS. 34A-B. Said FIGS. 27A-B seal nearly fill the saturation chamber 102a
thereby
utilizing the shape of the seal fold or foam channel 101e to direct the color
exclusively
onto the entrained section of hair as the entrained section passes through and
emerges
from the saturation chamber 102a. In comparison, the FIGS. 34 A-B seal 101b
occupies only the surfaces of the foot extension 101a that come into contact
with the
hook extension 100a while leaving the space within the saturation chamber 102a
open.
Therefore, the sole purpose of the FIGS. 34A-B seal 101b is to prevent color
from
leaking from the closed position and allowing color to flow exclusively from
between the
center bottom edge of the rubber facing (see FIG. 33B, 101f) and the front,
top of the
hook extension 101a. This seal 101b also allows the inside of the saturation
chamber
102a to fill with color, helping to saturate the entrained section lb before
emerging from
the saturation chamber 102a.
As the space within the saturation chamber 102a is open in FIG. 34A-B, any
number of color spreading elements may be incorporated into the space. In
addition to
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the step down 100d described earlier in FIGS. 26A-D, these elements may
include a
ribbed 100f inside surface of the hook extension 100a (see FIG. 35). Bristles
101h may
extend down from the inside of the foot extension 101a (see FIG. 36). Also, an
internal
squeegee 101i may be positioned inside the foot extension 101a (see FIG. 37).
Numerous geometric variations of the inside of the closed position will
interact with the
entrained section of hair and divert the color in and around the entrained
section as it
moves through the closed position.
The following description will be referring to surfaces in straight front
views FIGS.
38A-D. FIGS. 38A-D. As these are not perspective views, the precise location
of
several of the referenced surfaces are not visible and are actually located on
the
opposite side of the surface on which the lead line points. This inconvenience
is
necessary as the primary interaction of surfaces described is best depicted in
this
straight front view. For a more precise location of the surfaces described in
this section,
refer also to FIG. 34A-B Continuing with the differences between the two
embodiments,
notice that the foot bridge 4d as well as the portion of the foot extension
101a extending
up from the foot bridge 4d is narrower and positioned farther toward the
outside right on
the FIGS. 38A-D embodiment than that of the like surfaces of FIGS. 27A-B
embodiment. Positioning the foot bridge 4d in this manner allows the hook
point 3a to
pivot farther away from the scalp If and closer to the closed position before
encountering the foot extension seal scissors edge 101g. See FIGS. 38A-D in
sequence and notice the position of the hook point 3a as it pivots from the
open to the
closed position. FIGS. 38A and 38B depict the hook point 3a pivoting toward
and along
the scalp If respectively, while FIGS. 38C and 38D, having entrained a section
of hair
lb, is pivoting away from the scalp If and has pivoted farther before
encountering the
foot extension seal scissors edge 101g, as compared to the FIGS. 27 A-B
embodiment.
This increased distancing factor allows the entrained section of hair lb more
opportunity
to slide farther back on the hook hollow 2d before the hook point 3a
encounters the foot
extension seal scissors edge 101g. This distancing factor also prevents the
hook point
3a from continuing to entrain hair lb too close to the position that the hook
point 3a is
encountering the foot extension seal scissors edge 101g; this creates an
opportunity for
strands of hair to become pinched between the hook 2a and said seal edge 1019
while
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in use. In like manner, this hair pinching issue is also avoided in the
context of the
entrained section lb being consequently scooped into the hook extension 100a;
the
entrained section of hair lb has more opportunity to slide farther back on the
hook
extension 100a prior to the hook extension contact edge 100e making contact
with foot
extension seal 101b.
Described here is an alternative mechanical means for coordinating, in series,
the opening and closing of the hooks with the dispensation of the hair color
by a
squeezing and releasing of the handle of the device.
An explanation of how the lever 24a interacts with the lever button 24d in
order
for the lever 24a to act on the level pallet 22 as a mechanical means of
squeezing hair
color out of the color container 51a as the handle 20a' is squeezed has been
described
previously in this disclosure (See description of FIGS. 10A-D). This
mechanical
operation is functionally identical to this earlier description, and
therefore, will not be
described in the following. What is different is the mechanical means
responsible for
coordinating the squeeze and release of the handle 20a' with the opening and
closing of
the hooks 2a. See FIGS. 39A-D for a description of these mechanical means.
The FIG. 8 drawing depicts a single rod seemingly bent at multiple right
angles in
order to form the head mounts 15 and attached to the top handle section 20b of
the
handle 20a as a separate part. Notice that the head mounts 15' in FIG. 39A are
flat,
wide and are molded in such a manner that the top handle section 20b' and the
head
mounts 15' are one continuous part. The present FIG. 39A version of the head
mounts
15' is more conducive to the rack slide assembly that will be described in the
following
as well as being an improvement from a manufacturing and aesthetic
perspective.
FIG. 39A also depicts the head 14a apart from the head mounts 15' in order to
show how the head 14a is attached to this alternative head mount 15' of the
FIG. 39A
embodiment, and to more clearly show the head bracket 14b and rack gear 7a
unobstructed by the parts that appear in front of it.
Continuing to view FIG. 39A, with the head 14a assembled to the head mounts
15', notice that the ends of the head brackets 14b as well as the end of the
rack gear 7a
are seated within, extending out of but not fixed to the head bracket seats
14g and the
rack gear seat 14h. The head brackets 14b and rack gear 7a end on the side of
the
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head 14a that is not visible is also seated in like manner but not fixed. This
allows the
head 14a to more easily flex into the curve of the scalp. A removable peg 141,
cotter pin
or the like may also be seated at one or more distal ends of the head bracket
14b to
allow freedom of movement of the head brackets 14b as they are seated in the
head
bracket seats 14g while eliminating the possibility of an unintentional
disengagement of
the head brackets 14b from the head mounts 15'.
The following describes the series of mechanical motions that causes the
initial
squeezing of the handle 20a' to bring the hooks 2a to the closed position.
This series of
mechanical motions involves the rack gear 7a, split slide 110, split slide
actuator 111a,
actuator tine 112a and pivot rod 113a; these parts will be referred together
as the rack
slide assembly.
See FIG. 39A-D for the following description of the functional sequence of the
rack slide assembly. FIG.39B includes a transparent head mount 15'and a
partial
exploded view of the rack slide assembly in order to provide greater visual
clarity
throughout the entire rack slide assembly description.
FIG. 39A-B shows the device and therefore the rack slide assembly in the open
resting position.
FIG. 39C shows the handle 20a' having been compressed from the fully open
position to the handle 20a' position that fully engages the hooks 2a without
pressing
against the color container 51a. Also, notice that this partial compression of
the handle
20a causes the tine tip 112b of the actuator tine 112a to move up the split
slide actuator
111a. This upward movement of the actuator tine tip 112b against the split
slide
actuator 111a causes the split slide actuator 111a to pivot at the head mount
pivot point
111b. As the split slide actuator 111a pivots on the head mount pivot point
111b, the top
of said actuator lila levers forward while the bottom of said actuator lila
levers back.
Consequently, the split slide 110a moves back as the split slide peg 110c,
which is
located at the rear of the split slide 110a, is seated to the bottom of the
split slide
actuator lila at the split slide actuator eyelet 111c (also see FIG.39B for
actuator
eyelet 111c).
Now, while the split slide 110a moves back, the wedge contact point 113b of
the
pivot rod 113a slides along the gradually outward extending angle of each
wedge
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section 110b of the split slide 110a causing the wedge contact point 113b of
the pivot
rod 113a to move to the side. The pivot rod 113a is strictly confined to a
side pivot as
the opposite end of the pivot rod 113a is positioned within the pivot rod seat
113c (see
FIG. 39A for pivot rod seat 113c).
(Still viewing FIG. 39C) notice, as the wedge contact point 113b of the pivot
rod
113a is positioned within the pivot rod eyelet 113d of the rack gear 7a, the
side
movement of the pivot rod 113a causes the rack gear 7a to likewise move to the
side
(see FIGS. 39A-B for pivot rod eyelet 113d and rack gear 7a). The split
configuration of
the split slide 110a positions one wedge section 110b of the split slide 110a
above the
rack gear 7a and one wedge section 110b below the rack gear 7a. This split
configuration allows a balanced sideways tension to be exerted on the rack
gear 7a by
the wedge contact point 113b of the pivot rod 113a. The distance that the rack
gear la
moves is equal to the width of the wedge section 110b of the split slide 110a,
therefore,
the distance that the hooks 2a pivot is determined by the same.
Finally, as seen in FIG. 39C, the rack gear 7a, having been moved to the side
by
the wedge contact point 113b of the pivot rod 113a, causes the hooks 2a to
pivot to the
closed position.
FIG. 39D shows the split slide actuator 111a remaining in the position
depicted
in FIG. 39C even as the handle 20a is in the fully closed position with the
tine tip 112b
of the actuator tine 112a lifted out of contact with the split slide actuator
111a. This
allows the handle 20a to be fully squeezed to the closed position while
maintaining the
hooks 2a in the closed position.
When the handle 20a' is released, the tine tip 112b moves down and encounters
the split slide actuator stop 111d. Said stop 111d is the widened, sloped
portion at the
bottom of the split slide actuator 111a. When the tine tip 112b pushes down on
the split
slide actuator stop 111d, with the tension of the handle hinge spring 21b, the
split slide
actuator 111a pivots back to the resting position depicted in FIG. 39A-B,
along with the
remaining parts of the rack slide assembly, thereby causing the rack gear 7a
and hooks
2a to return to the open position.
The following is a description of a useful embodiment feature that enables the
operator of the device to adjust the size of the entrained sections of hair.
While viewing
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FIGS. 40A-B notice the dial 114a positioned on the right head mount 15'. The
purpose
of this dial 114a is to adjust the distance between the tips of the hooks 2a
and the inside
edge of each foot bridge 4d. The space between said parts (generally within
the range
of: the point where the hook tip 3a has pivoted close enough to the scalp for
hair
entrainment to occur, and, the point where the hook tip 3a encounters the foot
bridge
4d) is approximate to the width of the section of hair that is entrained by
each hook 2a.
This dial 114a consists of a small raised circular disc 114a that is turned by
the finger
and thumb tip. A shaft 114b extends fixed and centered on the inside of this
dial 114a,
through an opening in the right head mount 15'. This opening is approximately
the
diameter of the shaft 114b. The shaft 114b extends out of the opposite side of
the head
mount 15' and is fixed to another oval shaped disc 114c, therefore, turning
the outside
disc 114a causes the inside disc 114c to turn. With the handle in the fully
open position,
the bottom edge of the split slide actuator tine 112a is in contact with the
top edge of the
oval disc 114c. In this manner, the oval disc 114c functions as the rest stop
of the
bottom handle section. Now, with the handle released to the open position, the
operator
may turn the dial 114a back and forth one half of a complete rotation. As this
occurs, it
will be noticed that the two hinge sections that make up the handle will
slightly close
toward and open away from one another in tandem with the turning of the dial
114a.
This slight opening and closing occurs as the oval disc 114c attached to the
dial 114a
is, again, an oval 114c and therefore, causes the top edge of the oval disc
114c to be
higher or lower relative to the shaft 114b and dial 114a. See FIG. 40A to view
the dial
114a in the low position and FIG. 40B to view the dial 114a in the high
position.
As described earlier, the rack slide assembly is engaged and therefore the
hooks
2a are turned by the initial squeezing of the handle. In like manner, the
slight initial
squeezing of the handle that is caused by the turning of the dial 114a also
causes the
hooks 2a to turn slightly. Consequently, different dial 114a positions cause
the space
between the hook tips 3a and the foot bridges 4d to vary. FIG. 40A shows the
dial in a
position that causes the space between the hook tip 3a and foot bridge 4d to
be wider
while FIG. 40B shows the dial 114a in a position that causes the space between
the
hook tip 3a and foot bridge 4d to be narrower.
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This dial 114a is attached to the head mount 15' tightly in order to create
enough
turning friction that the dial 114a remains in place once the dial 114a is set
and released
by the operator. An arrow or dot may be placed on the edge of the dial 114a.
This arrow
or dot may line up with indicator markings place on the head mount 15'. These
markings partially surrounding the dial 114a so that, as the dial 114a is
turned, the dot
or arrow may line up with the markings as an indication of specific widths of
entrained
hair bundles.
FIG. 41 depicts a preferred embodiment of the device including a head hood
115a and a hinge hood 116. The head hood 115a and hinge hood 116 represent an
aesthetic as well as an ergonomic and safety feature. The head hood 115a is
hinged
115d to the front of the top section of the handle 20b. The head hood 115a is
held down
in place by the hood latch 115b and hood peg 115c. As depicted in FIG. 41A,
the head
hood 115a may be lifted by turning the latch 115b up and away from the peg
115c and
simply lifting the head hood 115a. Both the head hood 115a and the latch 115b
may be
spring loaded so that the head hood 115a lifts open automatically when the
latch 115b
is lifted. The front of the latch 115b is shaped and positioned in order that
when the
head hood 115a is closed, the side of the peg slides along the front of and
lifts the latch.
The once the hood is fully closed, the spring loaded latch 115b automatically
engages
with the peg 115c.
Also depicted in FIG. 42A and 42B is the manifold retractor 117a. When the
operator loads a color container 51a into the front of the device, the
operator will lift the
head hood 115a thereby exposing the manifold 53a. As the manifold hoses 53b
are
composed of rubber, the operator may grab the manifold retractor 117a on the
front of
the manifold 53a and bend the manifold 53a down and place the manifold
retractor
117a onto the manifold hook 117b thereby holding the manifold 53a down and out
of
the way in order to allow the operator better access to load a color container
51a into
the front of the device.
The following (See FIG. 43A-C) is a description of yet another Hooking
Applicator 1a iteration utilizing the squeegee action between the bottom edge
of a
rubber or flexible facing 101f (or, from this point forward, what will be
called the
'squeegee' 101f) and the top surface of the hook extension 100a (see FIG. 33A-
B for
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previous hook extension 100a) in a more controlled manner; and this, while
integrating
the structure and action of the hook and the extension 100a more completely
into the
main body of the hook 2a'. Now, this hook extension 100a (or what will now be
referred
as the hook offset 118a) occupies the entire front edge of the hook 2a'and
also extends
to the hook point 3a'. This now wider hook 2a' allows the sections of hair to
be
entrained onto the hook offset 118a more easily than the previous hook
extension 100a,
as the hooked hair would often get caught on the side edge of the hook
extension 100a
and therefore fail to occupy the effective top surface of the hook extension
100a.
Essentially, the entire hook 2a' became wider with a hook offset 118a along
the front
edge, and the extension 100a was eliminated.
Another hook feature presently described is the hook shield 118b. This hook
shield 118b is attached to the front edge of the offset 100a' in such a manner
that the
back surface of said hook shield 118b is contiguous to a portion of the bottom
front
surface of the squeegee 101f, as the hook 2a'and applicator nozzle 11a are in
the
closed position. Now, with the hook 2a'and applicator nozzlel 1a in the closed
position,
a portion of the bottom of the squeegee 101f is sandwiched between the back
surface
of the hook shield 118b and the front edge of the nozzle contact surface 118c
of the
hook 2alwith the entire length of the bottom edge of the squeegee 101? in
contact with
the top surface of the hook offset 118a. Also, with the hook and applicator in
the closed
position, the open portion of the front and back of the squeegee 101? (that
is, the
portion of the bottom front and back surfaces of the squeegee 101f that is not
sandwiched between the front edge of the nozzle contact surface 118c of the
hook 2a'
and the back surface of the hook shield 118b) is located along the front of
the color
channel 2b. This arrangement seals the sandwiched portion of the bottom of the
squeegee 101f' while confining an un-sandwiched yet bottom sealed section of
the
bottom of the squeegee 101f to the front of the color channel 2b. Another
feature of the
squeegee 101? that adds yet another element of color distribution control to
the action
of the bottom edge of the squeegee 101? is the squeegee recess 101h. This
squeegee
recess occupies the portion of the front side and bottom edge of the squeegee
that is
positioned in front of the color channel 2b of the hook 2a'. This squeegee
recess 101h
is thinner than the remaining portion of the squeegee 101f as said squeegee
recess
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101h is the portion of the squeegee 101f' that conforms to the entrained
section of hair
and allows hair color to coat the entrained section as said entrained section
conveys
through the closed position. If said squeegee recess 101h portion of the
squeegee 101f
were as thick as the rest of the squeegee 1011', the bottom edge of the
squeegee 1011'
would pinch the entrained section of hair against the hook offset 118a with
more force
than is functional. In addition to said malfunction, the liquid hair color
would be
prevented from coating the entrained section of hair as said hair conveys
through the
closed position. However, this thicker portion of the squeegee 1011' allows
for a
stronger seal for the locations along the closed position that are meant to
seal while in
said closed position.
Now, as the hook 2a' pivots and entrains a section of hair within the closed
position between the hook 2a' and the applicator nozzle 11a, the side edge of
the hook
shield 118b (the side edge adjacent to the color channel 2b) gathers the
entrained hair
directly over of the color channel 2b. Now, the entrained hair is gathered
directly over
the color channel 2b from both sides, one side from the hook shield 118b and
the other
side from the scissors edge 4f of the foot 4a. Now that the entrained section
of hair has
been gathered over the color channel 2b of the hook la', the entrained section
is also
sandwiched between the hook offset 118a and the bottom edge of the squeegee
recess
101h. Now, as the hair moves through the closed position, and as color is
dispensing
onto the entrained section of hair, the color is spread or 'squeegeed' onto
the entrained
hair in a controlled manner. This control stems from the visco-elastic
property of the
squeegee 1011' as the bottom edge of the squeegee recess 101h of the squeegee
101f will conform around the entrained section of hair through a range of
densities of
entrained sections, while maintaining the seal against the hook offset 118a on
either
side of the entrained section. In addition to this, as described above, the
squeegee
recess 101h in front of the color channel 2b is not sealed front to back as is
the rest of
the bottom of the squeegee 101f. This allows for the full 'squeegee action' of
the
squeegee 1011' as the squeegee recess 101h can flex forward slightly (as per
said
'squeegee action') as the entrained section of hair moves through the closed
position,
thereby allowing the liquid color to coat the entrained section of hair as it
slides between
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the squeegee recess 101h and the hook offset 118a without said hair color
leaking from
any other point along the bottom of the squeegee101f.
Another benefit of this squeegee 101f' arrangement is the fact that, although
the
squeegee recess 101h is free to move forward when acted upon by the movement
of
the hair through the closed position, and thereby allow liquid hair color to
escape onto
the entrained section as the section moves through the closed position;
without the
presence of hair moving through this closed position, the bottom edge of the
squeegee
recess 101h in front of the color channel 2b will remain sealed to the viscous
hair color
even under moderate liquid pressure inside the closed position. This allows
for several
liquid control factors:
The flow of the liquid from the color container 51a into the (hair section
occupied)
closed position is aerated, as air can escape under the internal pressure
caused inside
of the closed position (by the squeegee 101? and the nozzle seals lib) faster
than the
viscous hair color can dispense. This prevents dry spots from occurring on the
color
treated sections of hair, during a pass of the device, from small air bubbles
that are
present in the liquid hair color.
(See FIG. 42A while envisioning said figure featuring the present hook 2a' and
squeegee 101f. Do this while considering the following.) Another benefit of
the present
liquid control factor is a clean initial priming of the device just after a
color container 51a
has been loaded and just before device use. After a color container 51a has
been
loaded and the manifold 53a engaged, the operator must squeeze the handle 20a,
thereby pushing some of the hair color out of the color container 51a and into
the
manifold 53a, manifold hoses 53b and applicator nozzle 11a. Since the closed
position
of the hook 2a' and applicator nozzle 11 a is sealed to the viscous hair
color, but the air
can escape, the operator may squeeze the handle 20a moderately, for a period
of time,
and all of the air from the applicator delivery system will escape through the
applicator
nozzle 11 a but the color will not dispense from the closed position of the
hook 2a' and
applicator 11a. This is the action of 'priming' the device before use.
Yet another benefit of the present liquid control factor arises in the context
of an
iteration of the device featuring multiple hooking applicators la. In this
case, as an
operator is making a pass of the device close to the hairline and only has
room to place
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one of the two or more hooking applicators la against the scalp, the operator
is free to
entrain hair into one of the outside hooking applicators la and dispense color
onto only
that one entrained section without the mess of color dispensing from the other
unoccupied hooking applicators 1a as the operator makes the pass.
As an operator completes a pass with the device, and releases the handle 20a,
there will be residual color left in the applicator nozzle 11 a and color
channel 2b of the
hook 2a'. As the operator prepares for a second pass of the device, the
operator will
place the device on the scalp of the recipient and entrain hair. If the amount
of residual
color left in the applicator nozzle 11 a and color channel 2b is excessive,
the hook 2a'will
close over the applicator nozzle 11 a and a portion of the excessive residual
color will be
squeezed out in an uncontrolled manner from between the hook 2a' and
applicator
nozzle 11a. This causes an inconsistency of the color application onto the
entrained hair
through successive passes of the device. A solution to this problem is to
create a
vacuum inside of the manifold 53a' in order to produce a suction that draws a
portion of
the residual color out of the applicator nozzle lia between passes. Described
below is
a simple mechanical process that utilizes a manifold 53a' with a flexible
backing 53j that
is compressed by the squeezing of the handle 20a and decompressed by releasing
the
handle.
A manifold 53a5 with a flexible backing 53j is achieved in the present way by
replacing the (see FIG. 42A) vertically positioned sections of the 'L' shaped
manifold
hoses 53b with a (see FIG. 44A) flat rectangular box that occupies
approximately the
same position and area as the three vertical sections of the manifold hoses
53b
combined. Then reposition the manifold couplings along the front bottom of the
rectangular box while maintaining the manifold intake in the same position as
the
previous manifold. ridged rear wall of the manifold 53a with a thin sheet of
rubbery
material such as silicone rubber or a similar visco-elastic material and
attaching a plate
to the outside of the visco-elastic sheet. Now, a mechanism that is actuated
by the
squeezing of the handle 20a will press on this manifold compression plate 53k
creating
a flexible manifold 53a' of reduced volume. Conversely, when the handle 20a is
released, the compression plate 53k springs back outward by the tension of the
flexible
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backing 53j and the volume of the flexible manifold 53a' increases creating
suction or
vacuum within the flexible manifold 53a'.
The following is a description of a mechanical arrangement that, when arranged
appropriately within the series of mechanical operations that are actuated by
the
squeezing of the handle 20a, gives the device the ability to suction away a
portion of the
residual hair color left in the and applicator nozzle 11 a after each pass of
the device.
(See FIGS.44A-D for the following.)
As the handle 20a is squeezed, the distal front edge of the bottom handle
section
20c establishes contact with the manifold slide lever 119 (see FIG.44B). As
the handle
20a continues to be squeezed, the manifold slide lever 119 pivoting on the
latch rod
121, establishes contact with the manifold compression plate 53k that is in
front of and
. contiguous to flexible backing 53j of the flexible manifold 53a'.
Continuing to squeeze
the handle 20a causes the compression plate 53k of the flexible backing 53j to
compress a small distance approximately flatly into the back of the flexible
manifold
53a' (see FIG. 44C). At this point in the handle 20a squeeze action, the
compressing of
the back of the flexible manifold 53a' causes the volume inside the flexible
manifold
53a' to decrease. The contact rails 120 of the manifold slide lever 119 are
pivotally
oriented with the angle of approach of the front edge of the bottom handle
section 20c
in such a way as to allow the manifold slide lever 119 to maintain a
consistent
compression position of the compression plate 53k against the flexible backing
53j as
the handle 20a is squeezed from the point of first compression contact (see
FIG. 44C)
through to the point where the handle 20a is squeezed to the fully closed
position (see
FIG. 44D). Through this compression operation, the body of the flexible
manifold 53a' is
held from the opposite side against the pressure of the manifold slide lever
119 by the
manifold brace 122. As the handle 20a is released, the front edge of the
bottom handle
section 20c slides down along the contact rails 120 of the manifold slide
lever 119
thereby allowing the manifold slide lever 119 to back away from the
compression plate
53k. The compression plate 53k, therefore, flexes back outward to the resting
position
causing the volume of the flexible manifold 53a' to increase. In summary,
squeezing the
handle 20a causes an ordered series of mechanical operations to engage. The
first
increment of handle 20a squeeze action causes the hooks 2a' to pivot to the
closed
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position. The next increment causes the volume of the flexible manifold 53a to
decrease. The last increment of handle 20a squeeze action causes the liquid
color to
dispense from the color container 51a and into the flexible manifold 53a of
less volume.
Releasing the handle 20a causes this series of mechanical operations to
disengage in
reverse order. As the operator releases the handle 20a, the pressure on the
color
container 51a ceases. The next increment of handle 20a release causes the
compression plate 53k to flex back out to the resting position thereby
creating the
vacuum that suctions a portion of the liquid color back out of the applicator
nozzle 11a,
and therefore, the closed chamber created by the hook 2a' and the applicator
nozzle
11 a in the when closed position. Finally, the last increment of handle 20a
release
causes the hooks 2a' to return to the open position with enough color removed
from the
applicator nozzle 11 a and color channel 2b of the hook 2a' that residual
color left in the
applicator nozzle 11 a and color channel 2b is no longer an issue when the
hook
2a'closes back over the applicator nozzle 11 a at the beginning of the next
pass.
The following is a description of a variation of the device that is suited for
use on
one's self, though it is not limited to this type of use (see FIG. 45A-C for
the following).
This iteration employs a flat plate 123a in place of a rounded hook, and a
tube that is
flat on the bottom side as an applicator 124a. Said flat bottomed applicator
124a is
closed at the distal end and features one or several openings located on said
flat bottom
side. These openings serve as the apertures 124b through which the liquid
color flows.
This flat bottom side of the applicator 124a serves as the receiving surface
for the top
surface of the hinged and pivotal plate 123a. In use, the flat plate 123a and
flat
bottomed applicator 124a reciprocate relative to one another between an open
and
closed position as does the previously described hook and applicator
arrangement (FIG.
43A-C, ha). The purpose for this reciprocating action is also the same as said
previously described hook and applicator arrangement. Said shared purpose is
to
sandwich a section of hair between the top surface of the flat plate 123a and
the
receiving surface of the flat bottom applicator 124a. A functional action that
is not
shared between the two said mechanical arrangements is, the way a section of
hair lb
becomes sandwiched between the plate 123a and the flat bottom applicator 124a
as
compared to the hook and applicator arrangement 1 a. The plate 123a and flat
applicator
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124a arrangement requires the operator to manually choose a section of hair lb
from a
parting of one's own hair 1c and then manually place said section of hair
between the
plate 123a and flat applicator 124a. Once this manual selection and placement
of hair
into said position is achieved, the operator then squeezes the lever 125a of
the
handle/device body 126a and the plate 123a pivots on the plate hinge 123b into
the
closed position against the flat applicator 124a with the section of hair
between lb. As
the operator continues to squeeze the lever 125a and begins to slowly pull the
device
away from the scalp, the mechanical means and sequence of said means that
apply the
color onto the sandwiched section of hair are similar in function to the
previously
described hooking applicator (see FIG. 43A-C, la).
(Compare FIG. 43A-C with FIG. 45A-C for the following.) In addition to the
shared general function and purpose of the present plate 123a and flat
applicator 124a
relative to the previously described hook 2b' and applicator nozzle 11a, the
two said
arrangements also share the foam seal 124c and rubber squeegee 124d color flow
control features and action. The difference between said foam seal 124c and
squeegee
124d of the present iteration and the foam seal llb and squeegee 101f of the
previously described applicator nozzle 11a is in shape. The hooking applicator
la
features a rubber squeegee 101f with a rounded bottom edge as well as a foam
seal
11 b that is oriented to the rounded cylindrical shape of the applicator
nozzle 11a.
Comparatively, the top and bottom edges of the rubber squeegee 124d featured
on the
flat applicator 124a are likewise straight, along with a foam seal 124c that
is oriented to
the flat bottom surface of said flat applicator 124a.
(See FIG. 43A-C and 45A-B for the following description of comparative
squeegee seating.) Another difference of note between said arrangements is how
the
outside bottom edges of each type of squeegee 124d, 101f is sealed and
immovable in
the closed position, while each squeegee recess 124e, 101h retains the forward
movement required for the squeegee action. As the plate 123a moves upward on
the
plate hinge 123b, the outside edges of the present squeegee 124d, lower into
the
squeegee edge seats 123c located on the top surface of the plate 123a. With
the
outside edges of the squeegee 124d secure against movement and leakage, the
present squeegee recess 124e is likewise secure to distribute liquid hair
color onto the
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sandwiched sections of hair consistently in like manner to the previously
described
hooking applicator 1a squeegee, in the closed position, sealing arrangement
101f,
101h.
The following is description of the present device in use as well as a
description
of the mechanical actions that are engaged while using the present plate and
applicator
iteration of the device.
(See FIG. 46A and 46B for the following) Before the operator can begin the
treatment using the device, the operator must open the body 126a of the device
by
manually pressing inward on the release tabs 126d of the body 126a. One
release tab
126d is located on either side of the device body 126a. Each release tab 126d
is a
longitudinal partial separation of the front of the device body rear section
126c. Each
release tab 126d is partially separated from the device body rear section 126c
by two
open longitudinal slits that extend back parallel to one another for a short
distance along
the front of the device body rear section 126c, thereby forming a slightly
flexible tab
126d that is attached to the front of the device body rear section 126c. The
front end of
each tab 126d extends forward a short distance beyond the front edge of the
device
body rear section 126c and features a wedge 126e that is tapered at the front
and
extends back to a raised lip thereby forming said wedge 126e at the front of
each tab
126d. Said tabs 126d of the device body rear section 126c snap accurately into
the tab
seat openings 126f located at the rear of the device body front section 126b.
This
occurs as the operator slides the two telescopically oriented device body
sections 126b,
126c together. In the closed position the front body section 126b and the rear
body
126c section are held in firm and accurate mating to one another by two
opposing radial
body closure lips 126g. One lip 126g extends around the rear, inside surface
of the front
body section 126b and the other lip 126g extends around the front outside
surface of
the rear body section 126c.
The operator, having released the rear body section 126c from the front body
section 126b, will see a puncture fixture 127a protruding from the inside of
the front
body section 126b. The following is a description of the color pouch that will
be pressed
securely onto this puncture fixture 127a.
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(See FIGS. 47B-C for the following) Each color pouch that will be described
features an exit port 128d with a puncture seal 127c fastened over the top of
the exit
port 128d. Said puncture seal 127c may be fashioned from a variety of material
including foil or plastic. FIG. 47A shows a pouch 128a.
(See FIG. 47B for the following.) The operator now mixes a dual pouch 128b of
two component bleach. The dual pouch 128b is preferably vacuum sealed and is
large
enough in size to contain the appropriate, premeasured amount of chemical
components while maintaining an amount of slack within the outside pouch walls
128e.
This slack is important for the thorough manual knead mixing required of such
packaging and this while not damaging the outside pouch wall 128e. This dual
pouch
128b is therefore mixed by squeezing the dual pouch 128b in a kneading motion
until
the internal pouch 128f with the liquid developer 128g bursts and the powder
bleach
128h and liquid developer 128g are thoroughly mixed. This internal pouch 128f
bursts
without bursting the external pouch 128e because the walls and seams of the
internal
pouch 128f are assembled to be weaker and the walls tighter than the external
pouch
128e. Also, at least one side or seam edge of the internal pouch 128f is
joined to at
least one side or seam edge of the external pouch 128e to avoid the now empty,
internal pouch 1281 from moving forward inside the external pouch 128e, while
in use,
and therefore, blocking the flow of liquid color from the exit port of the
pouch 128b.
(See FIG. 47C for the following.) The double pouch 128c is two separate
pouches joined by a neck 128i. Both joined pouches 128c are preferably vacuum
sealed with some wall slack as mentioned in the previous pouch description. An
exit
port 128d extends from the top of one of the pouches. A removable, preferably
plastic,
paper clip type pinch barrier 128j separates the two joined pouches 128c from
prematurely mixing through the open neck 128g that connects the two pouches
128c.
The bleach powder 128h is contained within the pouch without the exit port
128d and
the liquid developer 128g is contained within the pouch that has the exit port
128d.
Before mixing these chemical components, the operator removes the clip barrier
128j
from the neck 128g joining the two pouches and empties the pouch that contains
the
developer 128g into the pouch that contains the powder bleach 128h. This may
be
accomplished by pinching the entire width of the pouch containing the
developer 128g
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between two fingers and sliding the fingers from the exit port 128d side of
the pouch to
the bottom of the pouch until the entire contents of the developer pouch 128g
is
contained within the powder bleach pouch 128h. The barrier clip 128j is now
placed
back over the neck 128g and the pouch that now contains both components is
kneaded
as described above. Having thoroughly mixed the components, the barrier clip
128j is
once again removed, the entire mixture is pinched back into the exit port 128d
pouch
and the barrier clip 128j replaced once more. The empty pouch can simply be
folded
over the full pouch and placed into the device in this manner or the empty
pouch may
be cut off. This double pouch 128c design lessens the chance that the two
components
become prematurely mixed do to damage during shipping and handling. This
design
also eliminates the possibility of unmixed powder clogging the exit port 128d
while
mixing.
After the operator prepares the color pouch 128a-c, the operator will then
push
the sealed exit port 128b of the pouch 128a-c onto the puncture fixture 127a
until the
operator feels the lip inside the exit port 128g engage with the puncture
fixture lip 127b
at the rear of the puncture fixture 127a. Then the operator fits the engaged
color pouch
128a-c into the rear body section 126c and closes the rear body section 126c
over the
front body section 126b until the release tabs 126d snap into tab seat 126f
openings.
The operator will now need to prime the device for use. This priming procedure
is simply
pressing on the lever 125a until color dispenses from the applicator 124a
before
beginning treatment. While the sections are shown for the embodiment of FIG.
45A, the
hooking applicator embodiment could also employ the reieasably attachable
sections.
First, the operator will select a functionally appropriate sized section of
hair from
a parting of the operator's own hair at the scalp with one hand. The parting
may be
drawn with the parting stem of the device and then the top portion of the
parting may be
preferably clipped away prior to the hair section selection. The operator will
slide the
fingers down the length of the selected section until the fingers are holding
said section
taut and by the ends. With the other hand, the operator holds the device by
the body
126a, with the thumb of the same hand resting on the lever 125a. The operator
then
moves the device into place so that the handled section of hair is positioned
between
the plate 123a and the applicator 124a (while in the open position),
preferably at the
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root of the handled section of hair. The operator then begins to press down on
the lever
125a.
(See FIGS. 46B-D for the following.) The first increment of distance that the
lever
125a drops causes the plate 123a and applicator 124a to close over the section
of hair.
This occurs as the bottom of the lever 125a urges downward onto plate closure
slide
129a. As this dual prong plate closure slide 129a lowers, each plate pivot end
123d
seated within each closure slide pivot seat 129b (each pivot seat 129b is
located at the
bottom of each prong of the closure slide 129a), is also urged to lower.
Consequently,
as the plate pivot ends 123d lower, the plate 123a rises toward the applicator
124a. As
the closure slide 129a continues to slide downward, each plate pivot end 123d
is urged
pivotally out of each closure slide pivot seat 129b to a position where each
pivot end
123d is completely unseated. This unseated pivot end 123d position causes the
top of
the plate 123a to be in the fully closed position against the bottom of the
applicator
124a, effectively sandwiching the section of hair between the plate 123a and
the
applicator 124a. Through the remaining description of the present series of
mechanical
motions, each pivot end 123d remains unseated and the plate 123a remains
closed
against the applicator 124a with the section of hair sandwiched between, as
each plate
closure slide 129a prong continues to slide downward against each pivot end
123d.
(See FIGS. 48A-B front view for the following) The second increment of
distance
that the lever 125a lowers involves a second mechanical action by the plate
closure
slide 129a. As said slide 129a continues to lower, each stem compression slope
129c
located on the inside of each prong of the plate closure slide 129a urges
inward on each
hinged flap 130c located on either side of the rear of the stem 130a. This
rear section of
the stem130a features an open square formed into each side of the rear of the
stem
130a. A rubber tube 130b with a matching outside diameter to the inside
diameter of the
stem 130a is positioned and fastened to the inside of the stem 130a in a
manner that
allows the rubber tube 130b to be exposed through each open square of the stem
130b
yet the entire stem 130b remains sealed from leakage. This rear section of the
stem
130b may be widened diametrically larger internally than the remaining section
of the
stem 130a to accommodate a section of rubber tube 130b that is larger,
creating a
widened chamber section of said stem 130a. The inside surface of each hinged
flap
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130c is positioned flush against the outside of the exposed rubber tube 130b
section.
Considering this orientation of each hinged flap 130c, and considering that
each hinged
flap 130c is hinged to the top of each open square of the stem 130a, as each
stem
compression slope 129c urges inward on each hinged flap 130c, the section of
the
rubber tube 130b that each hinged flap 130c is seated against compresses
inward. This
effectively creates a stern 130a of lesser volume than the stem 130a in the
uncompressed state.
Now, with a section of hair held sandwiched between the plate 123a and the
applicator 124a and with the stem 130a held compressed into a lower volume,
the
operator continues to press down on the lever 125a of the device. (See FIGS.
46B-C for
the following.) As the lever 125a lowers yet another increment of distance,
the
downwardly extruding distal front of the lever 125a contacts the pair of
curved push
arms 131a. As the distal top of each push arm 131a is urged downward, the
distal rear
of each push arm 131a extends into the front of the body of the device 126a
guided
inward by each push arm slide seat 131b. Adjacent to the distal rear of each
push arm
131a, and seated inside the front of the device body 126a, is the spring
action pump
piston 132b. Said piston 132b has front and back slightly outwardly flaring
skirts, both
being of annular configuration and being adapted for snug sliding contact with
the
interior surface of the pump chamber 132a. The piston 132b also reciprocates
back and
forth over a centrally fixed receiving tube 132c. The central, cylindrically
shaped
receiving tube opening of the piston is likewise adapted for snug sliding
contact with the
exterior surface of the receiving tube 132c. This snug fit of the piston 132b
against the
inside walls of the piston chamber 132a prevents liquid from leaking into the
space
behind the piston 132b as it moves forward and pressurizes the liquid in front
of the
piston 132b.
The receiving tube 132c is centrally attached to the inside of the front wall
of the
pump chamber 132a. Said receiving tube 132c is open to, and serves as an
extension
of the tubular interior passage of the stem 130a. The receiving tube 132c
extends
toward the rear pump chamber wall 132d a distance from the inside of the front
wall of
the pump chamber 132a and is distally open, said opening thereby facing the
rear pump
chamber wall 132d a slight distance from said wall 132d. A separate short
section of
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tube is centrally attached to the outside of the rear pump wall. This puncture
fixture tube
132e is the same diameter as the receiving tube 132c and, as described
previously,
features a conically shaped, cage-like puncture fixture 127a at the distal end
of puncture
fixture tube 132e. This puncture fixture tube 132e also contains a ball valve
132f.
Another ball valve 132f is located inside the receiving tube 132c.
Now, as the operator continues to press down on the lever 125a, and the distal
ends of the push arms 131a press against the piston 132b, the piston 132b
moves
forward against the tension of the piston spring 132g and creates fluid
pressure inside
the pump chamber 132a. This fluid pressure pushes the ball of the ball valve
132f
located inside of the puncture fixture tube 132f toward the rear of the device
and into
the closed position thereby preventing the flow of the pressurized liquid from
re-entering
the pouch. As the receiving stem 132e is open at the distal rear to the pump
chamber
132a, this same fluid pressure pushes the ball of the ball valve 132f located
inside of
the receiving tube 132c toward the front of the device and into the open
position. Now,
as the operator continues to press on the lever 125a, the push arms continue
to press
on the piston 132b and the liquid hair color is directed only into the
receiving tube 132c
and, consequently, into the applicator 124a. So, as the operator maintains an
appropriate pressure on the lever 125a, the operator may now draw the device
slowly
away from the operator's own head and thereby dispense the liquid hair color
onto the
sandwiched section of hair.
At the end of this pass of the device, the operator will release the lever
125a and
the above described series of mechanical operations will disengage in reverse
order. As
the operator releases the lever 125a, the color flow to the applicator 124a
stops and the
piston spring 132g pushes the piston 132b in the reverse direction thereby
creating a
liquid suction. This suction pulls the ball of the ball valve 132f located in
the puncture
fixture tube 132e toward the front of the device and therefore, to the open
position.
Concurrently, the ball of the ball valve 132f located inside of the receiving
tube 132a is
pulled toward the rear of the device and therefore, to the closed position.
Now, as the
piston 132b continues to move in reverse, the liquid color flows out from the
color pouch
into the widening space between the piston 132b and the rear pump chamber wall
132d, and not back out from the receiving tube 132c. Once the lever 125a has
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away from the push arms 132a, the plate closure slide 129a has also been
lifting
against the tension of the closure slide springs 129d. This causes the stem
compression slope 129c (see FIGS. 48A-B front view) portion of the plate
closure slide
129a to lift away from the rubber tube section 130b of the stem 130a thereby
creating a
suction inside the stern 130a. This suction draws a portion of the liquid hair
color back
out of the applicator 124a just prior to the plate 123a lowering away from the
applicator
124a. (See FIGS. 46B-D for the following) Finally, the plate closure slide
129a lifts back
up to the resting position against the tension of the closure slide springs
129d, causing
each plate pivot end 123d to slide back into each closure slide pivot seat
129d, thereby,
returning the plate 123a to the open resting position relative to the flat
applicator 124a.
The entire liquid hair color application process described above may be
repeated by the
operator until the desired number of liquid color treated sections of hair has
been
achieved.
Another variation of the embodiment described above (see FIG.46B) involves the
replacement of the plate 123a and flat applicator 124a portion of the front of
the stem
with the previously described hook and applicator arrangement; therefore, all
of the
serial mechanism disclosed in the plate 123a and flat applicator 124a
description above
will remain the same with the exception of the previously described hooking
applicator
(see FIGS. 43A-C, la) along with minor modifications of the mechanism that
engages
the hook 2a' into the closed position against the applicator nozzle 11a. A
difference in
device use may also be noticed as the operator may use the automatic hair
entrainment
feature novel to the hooking applicator la rather than manually selecting a
section of
hair (although the operator may also manually select a section of hair and
place it
between the hook 2a' and applicator nozzle 11a as well).
As stated, the difference in this iteration compared to the previously
described
plate 123a and flat applicator 124a iteration is the mechanism that engages
the hook
2a'. (See FIGS. 49A-C for the following) The present iteration utilizes a worm
gear 133a
positioned over a hook shaft 133b. A gear pin 133c is fixed to the shaft 133b
and
extends through the worm gear thread 133d. A worm gear slot 133e is formed
into the
rear of the worm gear 133a. A hook pivot bracket 133f is formed into what was
above
referred to as the plate pivot end 123d (see FIG. 46B). Said hook pivot
bracket 1331
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seats contiguous within said worm gear slot 133e. In use, the hook pivot
bracket 133f is
urged downward by the what is now the hook closure slide 129a' and the hook
pivot
bracket 133e pushes against the worm gear 133a. The worm gear 133a then slides
forward over the hook shaft 133b. This forward slide of the worm gear 133a
causes the
worm gear thread 133d to push on the gear pin 133c thereby causing the hook
shaft
133b to rotate. This hook shaft 133b rotation causes the hook 2a' to rotate
into the
closed position over the applicator nozzle 11a. When the lever 125a of the
device is
released, and because of the addition of the hook pivot channel 133g and the
worm
gear slot pin 133h, the reverse of this mechanical action causes the hook to
return to
the open resting position.
The next variation of the previously described plate and flat applicator
iteration
(see FIGS. 45A-C) is the present hair slice color applicator (see FIGS. 50A-
E). This
variation features both an elongated plate 123a' and flat applicator 124a'.
The
elongated plate 123a' features a downwardly sloped point 134a at the distal
open end
and a parting tooth receiving opening 134b. The elongated flat applicator
124a' features
a parting tooth 134c. These features are the only differences from the
previously
described plate and flat applicator iteration described previously (see
FIGS.45A-C).
The purpose of this iteration is to give the operator the option of using such
a
device to easily and consistently apply liquid color to longer continuous
slices of hair
along a parting of hair rather than intermittent variegated bundles of hair as
per the
variation of the device that features a plurality of hooking applicators as
described
previously.
(See FIGS. 50A-E for the following) In use, this variation is preferably used
by
an operator on the head of hair of another person. In practice an operator
draws a
parting of hair lc with the parting stem 27 and clips the top portion of the
hair parting
out of the way. The operator then places the plate point 134a against the
bottom of the
parting of hair lc a functionally appropriate distance below the parting (in
order not to
pick up more hair than the device can thoroughly and consistently apply liquid
color to in
a single slow pass) and pushes said plate point 134a under the hair (see FIG.
50B).
The operator now pushes the plate point 134a across the parting of hair lc
maintaining
a consistent distance from the line of the parting until the initial edge of
the lifted hair
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that has slipped onto and across the plate reaches the edge of the plate
support 123e
(see FIG. 50C for hair slice). This initial edge of the lifted hair reaching
the edge of the
plate support 123e determines the appropriate width of the hair slice on the
plate
support 123e side of the plate 123a'. The applicator tooth 134c determines the
appropriate width of the slice of hair from the plate point 134c side of the
plate 123a'.
The applicator tooth 134c determines this, now, total width of the hair slice
11 as the
plate rises to meet the applicator. As this lifting of the plate 123a' occurs,
the applicator
tooth 134c penetrates through the hair slice 1j that has lifted onto the plate
123a' and
therefore separates the hair 1j intended for treatment by the plate 123a6 and
applicator
124a' on one side of the tooth 134c from the hair unintended for treatment on
the other
side of the tooth 1j (see FIG. 50D). (See FIG. 50A for the following) Said
tooth 134c
extends down from the applicator 124a from a fixed position near the inside
edge of the
foam seal 124c so that the outside edge of the hair slice 1i is very close to
the inside
edge of the foam seal 124c as the inside edge of the foam seal 124c determines
the
outside boundary of liquid color application onto the sandwiched slice of hair
1i on the
tooth 134c side of the applicator 124a'. (See FIG. 50A and 50D for the
following) In
summary, the appropriate width of each hair slice Ii treated is consistently
determined
on the plate support 123e side of the plate 123a' by the inside edge of said
plate
support 123e, and likewise determined on the plate point 134a side of the
plate 123a'
by the applicator tooth 134c.
(See FIG. 50E for the following) Finally, as the operator presses on the lever
125a and draws the device away from the parting of hair 1c with a slice of
hair Ii
sandwiched between the plate 123a' and applicator 124a', the hair that was
separated
out of treatment by the applicator tooth 134c simply falls away from the plate
123a as
the separated hair slides down the plate point 134a slope.
The final description of an iteration of the device (see FIG. 51 for the
following) is
an update of the comb version of the device. Referring to the earlier
description of the
comb iteration of the device depicted in FIGS. 30-32, most of the mechanical
elements
described in these drawings remain the same in the present updated version of
the
comb iteration. The changes depicted here include the incorporation of the
squeegee
124d' as well as the changes in the geometry of the hook 103a aspect of this
iteration
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that support the proper function of the squeegee 124d' in applying color to
the bundles
of hair that fall between the applicable comb teeth 104a. These additional
geometric
elements of the hook described here are the squeegee edge seat 123c and the
hook
color channel 21)'. May it suffice to say that when the slide member 103b
moves to the
side thereby bringing the hook 103a to the closed position against the foam
face 108d
of the applicator 108a, with a bundle of hair between, the color application
process will
be very similar to the color application process described in the above plate
123a and
flat applicator 124a version of the device described previously (see FIGS. 45A-
45B).
The final description of an iteration of the device features a liquid hair
color pump
arrangement that may be adapted to any of the preceding variations of the
device
described herein. What will be presently described is a dual pump arrangement.
This
arrangement mechanically functions as described previously in the first plate
and flat
applicator description.
The significant difference is, in instances where the both color components
are
liquid (which is very common in the overall hair color industry) that there
are two
separate pumps that may simultaneously pump each of the two components, a
different
component for each pump, into a stem containing a removable mixing louver rod.
The
benefit of this iteration is that the chemical reaction of the hair color
remains freshly
mixed for each pass of the device thereby achieving a more consistent process
throughout the application service. Another benefit is that this color
component mixing
method drastically reduces waste as the components stay separated until they
are
mixed in the stem. The louver mixing rod is removable for easier cleaning of
the device.
In essence, this dual pump device would just have two hair product containers
and two
mechanisms to convey the hair product to the mixing louver rod and the output
of the
mixed hair product is then conveyed to the hooking or clamping applicator as
described
above.
The following describes a new use for the present invention. A hair
texturizing
service may be performed using any previously described hair color variegation
iteration
of the device. Rather than dispensing hair color with the device, the operator
may load
the device with any kind of a hair product, e.g., styling products. For
instance, the
device may be loaded with hair gel instead of hair color and said gel may be
applied in a
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likewise variegated manner to a whole or partial head of hair. Having
completed this
variegated hair gel service and, furthermore allowing the gel to dry in the
hair, the
completed service renders a head of hair a unique variegated texture with
intermittent
rigid gathered sections dispersed throughout the loose untreated hair. The
recipient of
this texturizing service may now further arrange the hair into various styles.
This
variegated texturizing service may be administered using the present invention
using all
manner of liquid styling products, including but not limited to oils,
fixatives, pomades,
conditioners and protectors. Any one of said types of styling products may
also contain
color pigment. Permanent texturizing products, such as permanent wave solution
may
also be applied in the present manner.
The various hooking applicator and plate applicator variations, whether used
singularly or in plurality, that are described throughout this description may
be adapted
to the application of a wide variety of liquids to a wide variety of head hair
as well as
eyelashes, Wigs, and pieces and extensions, and more generally, any elongated
flexible members such as fibers, cords, wire, string, animal hair and so on,
that require a
process of liquid coating. The hooking and plate applicator arrangements
described
herein may be incorporated into various manufacturing processes to achieve a
variety
of one as well as two or more chemical reactive coatings that, once applied in
any of the
previously described manners to said variety of fibers, cords, wires, and so
on, may
render a coating, to said receiving structures, of various properties
including visco-
elastic, solid, semi-solid, insulating, conductive, etc.
