Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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HAIR BRUSH
The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to
vibratory devices wherein gyratory movements are translated
into pulses, typically for massage or cleaning, but in this
case, for enhanced detangling of curled or unbrushed hair
wherein brushing and detangling can occur with less effort
and with less damage to the hair.
A problem with most prior vibrating hair brush devices is
the communication of the vibrations through the handle to
the hand of the user. The hand can function as a
substantial dampening force on the vibratory movement,
thereby reducing its effectiveness, and also, over time, the
absorption of the vibrations by the hand can become
uncomfortable and unpleasant to the user. U.S. Patent No.
2,465,250 discloses soft cushions 7, 11 in a vibratory hair
brush providing a floating support for edges of a brush
plate but are limited in their usefulness due to their
structural position relative to the vibrating actuator and
the bristles, and thus, also in purposeful translation of
the actuator vibrations to a desired bristle movement.
Accordingly, there is a need for a vibrating hair brush
which is comfortable to both a user's hand and scalp during
operation.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a
vibrating hair brush which is more comfortably used by the
user. In this description, it should be understood that the
term "vibrating" should be understood to include oscillating
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and the term "brush" should be understood to include
embodiments that might alternatively be described as combs.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a hair brush for
detangling a user's hair comprising a head and a handle,
wherein the head comprises an upper part which is connected
to the handle and a bristle-bearing pad which comprises a
vibrating motor, the brush further comprising an isolator
assembly, the isolator assembly comprising a first
connecting member for connecting to the bristle-bearing pad
and a second connecting member for connecting to the upper
part of the head.
The isolator assembly thus provides the mechanical link
between the bristle-bearing pad and the upper part of the
head, and thus the handle. Preferably, the bristle-bearing
pad and upper part of the head are not connected to each
other.
Accordingly, the vibration of the brush as a whole is
controlled by the isolator and by using independent
connecting members the isolator is able to damp vibrations
to the handle without damping vibrations to the bristle-
bearing pad.
In a preferred embodiment the first connecting member is
disposed transversely to the second connecting member. By
transversely mounting the connecting members one is able to
tailor the vibrating pattern of the bristle-bearing pad.
Tailoring can be effected by changing the physical nature of
the members such that different degrees of vibration are
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transmitted by the different members. Preferably, the first
and second connecting members are disposed generally within
the same plane and more preferably the plane is parallel to
the general bristle-bearing plane of the bristle-bearing
head. Where the bristle-bearing surface is curved the
general plane of the bristle-bearing pad is the plane of the
outermost edge of the pad.
Preferably, the isolator comprises a pair of first
connecting members located at opposite sides of the
isolator.
Similarly, the isolator may comprise a pair of second
connecting members located at opposite sides of the
isolator.
Preferably, the first connecting member is rigidly fixed to
the bristle-bearing pad and more preferably it is rigidly
fixed by screws, adhesive or other such fixing means.
Preferably, the second connecting member comprises an arm
which is shaped to fit into a notch on the upper head part.
Preferably, the second connecting member comprises a
vibration damper. The vibration damper damps the vibrations
made by the motor and so reduces the transmission of
vibrations from the bristle-bearing pad to the handle. This
then makes the device more comfortable to use for the user.
Preferably, the damper comprises an elastomeric section to
the member. In one embodiment the elastomeric section is
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sandwiched between a rigid end-piece which connects to the
upper part of the handle and a rigid extension piece which
is contiguous with the remainder of the isolator.
Preferably, the second connecting member is disposed in a
direction which is transverse the general longitudinal axis
of the brush. This allows the designer to tailor the
vibrational pattern of the bristle-bearing pad. It also
further reduces the incidence of vibration in the handle of
the hair brush without reducing the vibrations of the pad.
Preferably, the second connecting member is substantially
resilient. This maximises the damping effect of the
vibrations and so reduces the vibration of the handle during
use.
Preferably, the isolator is substantially resilient. This
increases the isolator's efficiency in damping vibrational
movement to the handle during use. Preferably, the resilient
materials include elastomers such as styrene butadiene block
copolymers and silicone elastomers.
Preferably, the motor is housed within a motor mount and the
isolator is fixedly connected to the motor mount.
Preferably, the motor drives a drive shaft which is
connected to an eccentric counterweight. The eccentric
counterweight provides vibration in the motor housing as it
is rotated about the motor's drive shaft axis.
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Preferably, the motor is vertically mounted such that the
drive shaft rotates about an axis which is orthogonal to the
general plane of the bristle-bearing pad. A vertically
mounted motor enables oscillation of the eccentric
counterweight in a direction which produces oscillation of
the bristle-bearing pad in the general plane of the pad thus
decreasing discomfort to the user when the brush is held too
closely to the scalp.
Preferably, the eccentric counterweight is connected to a
counterweight axle which is maintained by a recess in the
counterweight at one end and a bristle-bearing pad base
plate at its other end. This provides an additional means
for transferring the vibration of the motor housing to the
bristle-bearing pad since the axle is directly connected to
the base plate of the pad.
Preferably, the bristle pad is supported within the brush
head by a vibrating motor and isolator assembly disposed for
directing a vibratory movement of the motor to a bristle pad
movement in a plane generally parallel to a user's scalp.
The motor and isolator assembly effectively translate a
circular vibratory movement of an offset weight into an
elliptical movement of the bristle pad while insulating the
vibration caused by the movement of the weight from a handle
to the brush. The elliptical movement has a greater axis in
a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of a
user's hair.
Preferably, the vibrating motor and isolator assembly
includes an elastomeric interface having a first stiffness
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in the handle axial direction and a second stiffness
perpendicular to the handle axial direction, both of these
directions being in a plane generally parallel to a user's
scalp. It is preferred that the first stiffness is less
than the second stiffness so that the elliptical movement
generated has a longer elliptical axis in the handle axial
direction.
Another aspect of the subject embodiments is that the
vibratory movement is intended to operate in a frequency
range generally lower than most prior art vibratory brushes.
Empirical evidence has determined that highly effective
detangling can occur with the vibrating bristles operating
in a frequency range between 20 - 100 Hz and more preferably
between 30 - 65 Hz, with the most efficient detangling of
the hair, in terms of the user effort required to pull the
brush through hair, being either one of 42 Hz or 65 Hz.
Thus, an improved method for detangling hair comprises
brushing the hair with a brush having vibrating bristles
operating in a frequency range between 20 to 100 Hz and
disposes to operate in a curvilinear direction within a
plane positioned generally parallel to a user's scalp, or
possibly for longer hair, an extending plane of a user's
hair as the hair extends from a user's scalp. The brushing
comprises the bristles operating in an elliptical pattern
having a first longer axis of movement in a direction
perpendicular to a user's hanging or extending hair
direction and a second shorter axial movement parallel to
the user's hanging or extending hair direction.
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Embodiments of the invention will now be described with
reference to the following figures in which:
FIGURE 1 is a top planar view of one embodiment;
FIGURE 2 is a side planar view of the embodiment of
Figure 1;
FIGURE 3 is a front planar view thereof;
FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the embodiment of Figure
1;
FIGURE 5 is a top view with a top cover plate removed;
FIGURE 6 is a broken out sectional side view;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view generally showing the
embodiment in use by brushing a user's hair;
FIGURE 8 is a reference diagram of an elliptical plane;
and
FIGURE 9 is a flowchart of a method of operating the
embodiment.
With reference to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, it can be seen that
the subject embodiment comprises a handle portion A and
brush head portion B. In this description, it should be
understood that the term "brush" encompasses embodiments
that might alternatively be described as combs. The handle
portion is ergonomically configured for ease of use while
being held in a user's hands. A longitudinal axis of handle
A is generally along the lines C-C of Figure 1. The brush
head portion B comprises a plurality of bristles 10 which
normally extend from a bottom wall 12 of the head portion in
a manner to engage and extend through the hair of a user.
The illustrated embodiment shows a somewhat spherically
configured bottom wall 12 as one species of an embodiment,
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but it is intended that other bottom wall configurations can
be included as an alternative embodiment, such as flat or
tubular. Bristle stiffness can vary from relatively stiff
to soft, although it is preferred that they are relatively
stiff; the bristles typically having a cantilevered beam
stiffness of greater than about 100 Newton/meters when
attached to the bristle pad.
As will be discussed herein in more detail, the head portion
B is intended to vibrate and such vibratory movements are
insulated from the handle portion A so that the vibrations
are diminished in translation to the handle and a user's
hand. For the avoidance of doubt, the term "vibrating
movement" should be understood to include an oscillating or
reciprocating movement. Accordingly, a brush head upper
housing comprising a top wall 14 is spaced from the handle
as at area 16 to accommodate the vibratory movement without
tapping contact to the handle portion A.
With reference to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, the subject brush
includes a motor 20 operating an actuator 22 comprising an
offset or counter weight relative to motor shaft 24 so that
as the motor rotates the shaft, the weight 22 will cause an
eccentric bias relative to the shaft inducing a vibrating
movement of the motor and weight assembly. Such a movement
will generally have a circular momentum in an actuator plane
essentially parallel to a plane defined by the lines C-C and
D-D of Figure 1. In this description, it should be
understood that the term "brush" encompasses embodiments
that might alternatively be described as combs.
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An aspect of the subject embodiment includes the translating
of the motor and weight circulatory vibratory motion into a
curvilinear pattern, such as an elliptical movement, of the
bristle pad in a particular plane of movement. An isolator
elastomeric member 40 is affixed to the motor 20 and also
affixed to the bristle pad assembly 10, 12, 14 so that the
vibratory motion induced by the motor can be translated to
the bristles 10. The motor 20 is received within a cavity
42 of the bristle pad head portion sized to allow receipt of
the motor 20 and the rotational movement of the offset
weight 22 that causes the desired vibratory movement. The
vibrations created by the off center weight are transmitted
to the brush head 14 due to the motor and weight assembly
being connected to the brush head by hard, stiff
connections. The isolators 40 allow this motion to exist by
letting the head move mostly independently from the handle
by close receipt of the isolator ring lobes 50 within mating
lobe cutouts 52 and the clamping of the lobes within the
cutout 52 by sandwiching the lobes between the brush head 14
and upper motor cap 56. The top wall 14 and cutouts 52 are
affixed hard plastic pieces ultimately supporting the
bristles 10. The particular configuration of the isolator
40 is such that the lobes are closely received within the
cutouts 52 and a webbing 60 includes a slot 62 for close
mating reception of cap cutout 64 of fastening cap 56. In
addition, the end portions of the elastomeric lobes 50 and
webbing 60 are also received within handle portion cutouts
70 so that the isolator 40 effectively isolates the
vibratory movement of the head portion away from the handle
portion A. As can be seen with reference to FIGURES 5 and
6, the head portion assembly thus can float within the
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handle portion A because the vibrating actuator and motor
assembly including cap 56 is spaced from the interior wall
80 of the handle portion. Except for that portion of the
elastomeric ring received within the handle cutouts 70, the
ring is affixed within the cutouts 70 when the upper handle
half 78 is fastened on to the lower handle half 76. Other
items shown within FIGURES 4 and 5 include a battery
compartment 90 (although the device could also be a corded),
electrical wire passage ways for the motor 92, an on-off
switch 94 and a switch pad 96. A decorative cover 98 within
the handle 78 covers the motor cap 56.
Another aspect of the isolator 40 is that it is configured
to translate the circular vibratory movement of the
eccentric weight 22 into an elliptical movement in a plane
generally parallel to the bristle pad. More particularly,
it can be seen that the isolator 40 is not supported along
the direction of the axis CC (Figure 1), but is supported
along a line perpendicular to the axial direction and a
second stiffness perpendicular to the handle axial
direction, the first stiffness being less than the second
stiffness. The effect of such mounting assembly is that the
vibratory movement of the motor and weight will be greater
in a direction along the lines C-C than along the line D-D.
(See Figures 1 and 8) If a user's hair (see Figure 7) is
mostly aligned with line D-D (see Figures 1 and 8), then the
vibratory movement of the bristles 10 will be to effectively
vibrate in a manner having a greater extent perpendicular to
the hair's extending direction than along, i.e. parallel, to
said direction. This tends to untangle twisted or knotted
hair by the bristles separating the hairs by slightly
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pulling them apart, and even more slightly pushing and
pulling the hair in its extending direction for better
detangling the hair with less effort and less damage to the
hair in the detangling process. A related benefit is that
friction between the bristles and the hair, in particular
the static friction, is reduced.
With reference to FIGURE 6, another aspect of the present
embodiments is that the vibratory movement of the head
portion B is in a curvilinear plane generally normal to a
user's scalp to avoid vibrating the bristles into the scalp,
which has been observed to result in an unpleasant sensation
to a user. In the perspective view of FIGURE 6 the
eccentric weight 22 is clearly seen as to how, upon rotation
of the motor shaft, an eccentric bias is imposed on the
motor 20 and thus also onto the isolator support member 40.
However, since the rotation of the weight 22 is merely in an
actuator plane generally defined by the engagement line 82
between the upper and lower half shells 12, 14 of the head
portion B, the resulting elliptical movement of the bristles
10 is in a plane generally parallel to the actuator plane.
With reference to FIGURES 7 to 9, a method of operating the
present brush embodiment for enhanced detangling of hair
comprises turning on the brush so that the bristles vibrate
120 in the desired elliptical plane parallel to the bristle
pad plane 82 (Figure 6). The brush is then aligned 122 in a
position relative to the user's hair so that the extending
direction of the hair is generally aligned with axial
direction D-D of the brush head, i.e., where the ellipse
major axis is perpendicular to the hair direction. Brushing
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of the hair along the extending direction of the hair will
thus provide a detangling effect that is more efficient in
the hair detangling with less user effort to pull out the
tangles and with minimum fatigue to the user's hand.
For hair that does not normally hand such as shown in FIGURE
7, i.e., very curly hair that may extend fairly outwardly
from the user's scalp, similar principles apply except that
the user's brushing of the hair comprises a pulling along
the length of the hair, or a picking thereof, to induce the
hair's extending direction outwardly from the scalp, instead
of falling there from. The present invention is
particularly useful with such hair and with hair that is
long (i.e. beyond chin length) and with hair that is dry or
damaged.
The subject embodiment have also been described with
reference to the brushing of human hair, but the subject
brush can also be employed to untangle other things such as
animal or pet hair or even tangled strands of other
materials than hair.
The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference
to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and
alterations will occur to others upon reading and
understanding the preceding details description. It is
intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as
including all such modifications and alterations insofar as
they come within the scope of the appended claims or the
equivalents thereof.
